So we are sitting here, 1 cheek on the chair and 1 cheek in the air. Nervous excitement and fear whiff through the air. Ireland moved on from the group into the quarter finals. Not just any normal quarter final but a chance to take a shot at the world’s greatest team.
As we sit here on a Monday morning, gutted and confused, I think it is time to kill some myths that have popped up since the match against a monster Japanese side.
So now the trick is not getting carried away, even though it is really hard not to get carried away after the last 12 months. Coming into the match on Sunday morning, we all were sitting on the fence. Supporters wondered if Ireland still had it, would they be able to execute and strangle the … More Ireland bust some myths and Scottish hearts in RWC opener.
Brought to you by The Dugout – Live in D2 on Harcourt St – 6th September So another weekend of preseason is over. Ireland ventured to Cardiff with sore arses after having them kicked in all areas of their lives. If they went on twitter – arse kicked, when they got back to camp – arse … More Ireland oil the machine against Wales, but are there still skeletons in the mental closet?
Brought to you by The Dugout – Live in D2 on Harcourt St with Bernard Jackman and RALA! During the season you know there will be tough blogs to write. Where things go so spectacularly wrong that you are left pulling out what little hair you have left. I didn’t expect to be writing this in … More The Chariot runs over Ireland, but is it all doom and gloom?
The odd feeling of putting on the green jersey is back within my spirit. After a night screaming in front of the Foo Fighters in the RDS, it is a more serious time. Ireland plays the old enemy, I wish I was more mature to not mention that but I am not. England welcome (is … More Ireland v England, ego over process ?
Ok so I am going to level with you. I am still very upset. But not upset at the Irish team, management organisation. I am upset with the lazy narratives coming out of a really tough 6 Nations tournament. A tournament that has sent shockwaves through Irish rugby. A tournament that nothing went right and … More A journey through the psychology of Ireland’s 6 Nations campaign
I am just going to say it, I have 6 Nations fatigue. The 2 gaps in the tournament kill the momentum and kill me emotionally and spiritually. So the big question coming into this weekend and the welcoming of an unchanged France team to the Aviva was, would Ireland be in the same position as … More Work ons, bonus points and looking forward to the trip to Cardiff – Ireland vanquish an impotent France
So here we go. Ireland are over the half way mark in this year’s 6 Nations and I don’t think there has been an emotional rollercoaster like it since that year that we don’t need to mention. Wales on the other hand played rope a dope with England and are a great bet for the … More Wales play rope-a-dope with England while Ireland just play with the rope in Rome.
So here we go. The provincial jerseys have been put away, the inter county rivalry has been put away and the green jersey is clean and ready to be worn and doused with Guinness. The 6 Nations is here and Ireland arrives as favourites, as expectant winners and with all the pressure.
So the table was set, the lucky pub was visited, the nervous Guinness drinking was at a level seldom seen. Would Ireland be able to slay the giants of world rugby? Would Ireland be able to show that they belong at the top table and are to be feared by all around them? My nerves … More ‘Ireland baby! We did it!’,The world champions toppled in Dublin
Don’t forget to listen to The Couch Pundit Podcast So we roll into the opening game of the November series expectant like a woman who is 10 months pregnant. But what will we get? Much like the expectant mother, we are not really too sure.
Don’t forget to listen to The Couch Pundit Podcast So we are approaching the time of the year where we put our provincial jerseys back in the cupboard and take out our beautiful green jerseys, some still stained with the tears of another 6 nations win all over them. Or is that the celebratory Guinness? Either … More Ireland take on the world this November, with mind games.
Brought to you by The Couch Pundit Podcast – ITunes Podbean Stitcher Player FM Spotify So, any news over the weekend? Anything exciting happening? Anything surprising? Well for me the answer is yes, yes and no. Ireland marched into Twickenham and won easily. Well maybe comfortable is the better word (as corrected by the aul lad post-game on Saturday). There … More The Grand Slam, the how and the differences that lead to raising the cup.
Brought to you by The Couch Pundit Podcast ITunes Stitcher Podbean Player FM This week there is only one piece of news from the weekend, no it is not round ball, not it is not politics, it is Ireland winning the 6 Nations championship with 1 game left and a grand slam at steak.
Brought to you by The Couch Pundit Podcast (Itunes link) (Stitcher – Link) (Podbean – Link) We are on the run in to the finish of the 6 Nations 2018. As we stand, Ireland are in the driving seat with the Scots coming to Dublin this weekend followed by a St Patricks day match against the old … More Ireland v Scotland – a preview
Brought to you by The Couch Pundit Podcast So we roll into round 2 of the 6 Nations and sitting here on a Monday morning I am a broken man. That is mainly from my K-1 fight yesterday, the rugby has been great to watch. Starting in Lansdowne/Aviva Stadium where the Italians made a welcome visit. … More 6 Nations round 2, the visiting Italians and not knowing how to feel afterwards
Brought to you by The Couch Pundit Podcast So now that we have finally gotten over the heart attack that was the final 41 phases of play and THAT kick in Paris, it is time to move on to the visit of Italy to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Brought to you by The Couch Pundit Podcast Are you not entertained? Was the opening weekend of the 6 Nations not exciting enough? If not, then I think your excitement-o-meter might be slightly different to mine. Concentrating on the match in Paris, Ireland went to take a win in a stadium that has been as … More 6 Nations tension, breaking ducks and never giving up.
Brought to you by The Couch Pundit Podcast So here we go! The 6 Nations Championship kicks off this weekend. Ireland and France have announced their team. The media on both sides is trying to keep the supporters calm. One side saying ‘it’s not as bad as it looks’, the other saying ‘calm down calm down’ … More The 6 Nations, Being favorites and playing a team with nothing to lose
Happy Monday! Rugby v football , the Irish provinces in Europe and the homme kick https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-couch-pundit/id1315569500?mt=2&i=1000397055378
So in a saga that is dragging on longer than the ross and Rachel will they won’t they (90’s reference) the contract negotiations of the Munster / Ireland stalwarts CJ Stander and Peter O’Mahony is dragging on, a bit like the former saga did.
Happy Monday! Keego tackles god, Brexit, politicians, rugby and muses about motorways https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-couch-pundit/id1315569500?mt=2#episodeGuid=thecouchpundit.podbean.com%2Fepisode-11-god-brexit-tangents-rugby-and-the-familiar-ending-24b00f90dd1700f333f1ee8f1a4eedd1
Happy Thursday! Keego babbles on about dogs in restaurants, Conor McGregor, Munster rugby and needles a few opposition supporters https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-couch-pundit/id1315569500?mt=2&i=1000395465319
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And so it with a tear in my eye that I say goodbye to the November internationals of 2017. My favourite part of the sporting year is over again. Last year we have the All Blacks initiating gang war on the turf of Lansdowne road to close it off, this year we had a professional … More November wrap up, the old old enemy and the future
Another emotional weekend of Irish sport is behind us. Ireland took on the mighty Fiji in Lansdowne road on Saturday night and it was a game of 3 halves. Don’t let my ordinary level maths confuse you. But it was a game of 3 halves. The team selected kept only 2 started from the previous … More Ireland v Fiji, New Faces and a frustrating weekend.
Well, that was unexpected. The might Springboks marched into Dublin with their heads up after running the All Blacks thisclose two weeks ago. They had the mind games going all week by talking up Ireland and being overly complimentary. Knowing that Ireland rarely stand up to the tag of favourites, the ‘Boks where needling through … More Springboks, New faces, results and Bright Futures
Week 4 of the 6 Nations in the books and a feeling of calm numbness washes over me. This won’t be an in-depth blog about game plans, spacing and field position. There are people far more qualified for the jargon. This will be about psychology. The psychology of the match on Saturday was fantastic to … More Ireland v Wales, England and Rugby Psychology
