Coming into the weekend we had hope, we had late Saturday night rugby (never a good idea) and the possibility of silverware. How was your Saturday night? Going in I was hopeful but trying to remain realistic. I felt that if Ireland could stay close, stay strong and start well the French may retreat, especially … More Ireland v France, outbursts and mute buttons.
This Halloween Ireland march over the a locked down Paris to take on the resurgent French with the whiff of a title in the air. A whiff which is slightly different to the smell we had over the last 14 months. As I write this, only the irish team has been named but what are … More Ireland v France, for all the marbles.
I allowed an extra day to let the weekends results settle and to wait for the online backlash to subside a bit before reviewing the Irish exodus from Europe. Firstly, this is not the end of days like many would have you believe, losses happen in sport, it is all about what happens next after … More The Irish exit Europe, but it is not the end of days
Here we go! The biggest game of the season is hours away. The teams have been named and I haven’t been this excited to watch 30 fellas run around in shorts since…………… well that is private and for another blog Leinster welcome the scalp they want in Saracens to the Aviva this weekend and Saracens … More Leinster v Saracens, 2 teams chase 1 scalp.
The eve of the Guinness pro 14 final is upon us. Leinster take on Ulster in the culmination of a mad season. A season that delivered for the most part. 1 finalist is expected; maybe the other one is not? Coming out of lockdown and back into the season wasn’t easy for any team, and … More Ulster v Leinster: The Dog v The Machine
Red alert! Battle stations! We are back! Not only is rugby back in this part of the world but we start with the interpro’s, we start with the biggest interpro. Leinster v Munster kicks off on Saturday at 19:35.
What a difference a week makes. Last week the Irish rugby community online where wondering how the team would wake up and play better, how Murray gets picked and how Farrell is supposed to be adding tricks into the setup. Most thought that welcoming the Welsh would show where the team actually where, that being … More Ireland take the Welsh, Sexton takes Poite
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.
So we roll into game three of this world cup campaign and the rollercoaster of emotions continues to rumble onwards.
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.
Brought to you by The Couch Pundit website So after a settling performance against Scotland, Ireland now faces the hosts on Saturday morning at 8:15 (Bray standard time). So what should we expect? What is the general feeling ahead of the game and what way will Ireland play the game?
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 ?
After a self-imposed rugby break during the summer months to refresh and recharge after a tough season we find ourselves back in the old familiar green jersey, in the Aviva stadium welcoming our old friends Italy. This is a time of worry, complacency (new word for the new season) and even more worry coming off … More Ireland v Italy, expectations versus reality
I sit in my office chair slightly emotional. The club season is nearly over. The blue jersey is in need of its annual wash and to be put away for a few months in exchange for the retro green jersey. It has been a season of ups and downs for Leinster, so how will they … More Leinster v Munster – the psychological battle.
It is 12:01 on Friday the 10th of May. The Leinster team has been named for the biggest game in a very long time. Would the coaching ticket be able to keep everyone fit and healthy enough to have a full selection to choose from? How would the foreign players rule fit into their plans … More Leinster chasing the 5th star against another red powerhouse – a preview
Because there are alot of people who cannot make it to Newcastle for the Heineken Champions Cup Final, we are putting on an event to bring people together. Regardless of your team, your jersey or your province, you are welcome to come along Details below https://www.facebook.com/events/1149403251905268/
As we arrived to the Aviva stadium it was loud, it was getting cold and the volume was already at 11. Our Ulster cousins had arrived in full voice to stand with their team. Leinster and their blue army rocked up with confidence but the volume from them pre match was not at the high … More Ulster stand up but Leinster roll on to the semis
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
So Ireland ventured over to Scotland fighting the urge to change everything while managing enforced personnel changes and pressure to perform. Scotland where confident in what they were doing while finding away, knowing they had nothing to lose. Who would come out on top?
So here we go. Irish supporters are now holding their bums out of the bath for fear of getting scorched by a hungry Scotland. Every other week we would drop into the hot bath with confidence, but this week there is hesitation. So with that mental image, let’s have a look at Ireland’s trip to … More Back on the horse, the Shamrock v the Thistle, Ireland go to Edinburgh with pressure and expectation
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.
It was business time in the final round of the group stages of the Champions Cup. And you know when its business time, I am wearing my business socks! Leinster traveled to Coventry to take on a Wasps side that really needs something. A team that has players, have talent but are so far away … More Another clean sweep, but is all rosy in the Irish provincial garden?
What a weekend for the provinces, no one saw that weekend coming. All 4 provinces showed up and deserved the wins they got. Some had tougher opposition than others but the end results showed the Irish dominance on the club stage.
So here we go! The mighty Toulouse are welcomed to the RDS for the biggest game of the season for Leinster. A Toulouse team galvanised from their last encounter with the champions. They won it by a point at home with some classy play, some French flair and more than a little aggression. After that … More Leinster welcome Toulouse in a must win clash of the titans!
You know it is nearly Christmas when you wear the eskimo jacket to the Aviva Stadium to watch Leinster in December. It gets beyond cold, and when 44,000+ tickets are sold and you see much less than that you know who the supporters are and who the fans are. The volume was up, the supporters … More Leinster on the hunt in front of some fair weather fans, while the supporters enjoyed the cold
Leinster made their way to Downton Abbey in Bath to play a Bath side who haven’t frightened anyone so far this year. They were welcoming back the international players and expected a good performance and a decent points haul. Did this happen? Well not really.
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 Following on from our trip to Chicago, our decimation of Italy and our salivating over Jordan Larmour and his feet, we roll home into the Aviva stadium and welcome another old enemy. Argentina are here for a scalp; Ireland are here to exorcise a demon.
Don’t forget to listen to The Couch Pundit Podcast So we arrived in Chicago, left with a score line but did we leave with the performance? Did we leave with players putting the match day squad under pressure and did we see any improvement in the Italians? Well the answer to those questions are …. Kind … More The Irish in Chicago, Italy face the green machine.
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.
So tonight we went live on Facebook with Cian (twitter.com/rugbykino) to chat about rugby and the craziness of politics. Have a look, a like and a share
Dont forget to listen to The Couch Pundit Podcast and do go to see The Alex Forrest when they play on the 11th November The Alex Forrest – live in Dublin The first week of the Heineken Cup is in the books and it went even better than we dared to expect.
Don’t forget to listen to The Couch Pundit Podcast The opening weekend of the Heineken Cup is upon us. Aside from being delighted to call the competition by its real name again there is also the excitement of being on the precipice of another massive season for Leinster and an improving season from Munster. Ulster and … More The Heineken Cup round 1, The Irish in Europe.
Don’t forget to listen to The Couch Pundit Podcast So we sit here on the Monday morning after the last round of pre-European inter provincial games. The usual partial reviews of the game are flying around social media so I was going to try and review the proceedings with the blue shirt in the washing machine.
Don’t forget to check out The Couch Pundit Podcast In the words of our favourite ring announcer, HERE WE GO! Fight week excitement is real and is where we sit as we wait for fight night on Saturday, as we wait for the biggest fight in the history of MMA (until the next one) and we … More McGregor v a monster,UFC 229 and predictions.
The Couch Pundit Podcast With the Guinness Pro 14 still a baby in terms of the season it has already thrown up some very unexpected results and last weekend was no different. It is time for a look around the provinces.
Don’t forget to listen to The Couch pundit Podcast After a long week of ups and downs we arrived into Thursday night 10pm and the week turned around. The McGregor show is back in business and business is good!
Don’t forget to listen to The Couch Pundit Podcast Usually the opening few weeks of the season is the rugby equivalent of what we do when we get in the bath. We dip our toes, slowly test the temperature of the water with our hanging bottoms before diving in. I was expecting a similar approach from … More Leinster, week 2. It’s business time!
Remember to check out The Couch Pundit for more. And so we reach the end of the most important summer series in recent memory. Ireland ventured down under hoping to show squad strength and take a scalp of a southern hemisphere super power.
