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5 Reasons for Irish Fans to be Optimistic Following the 6 Nations
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<blockquote data-quote="snoopy snoopy dog dog" data-source="post: 555451" data-attributes="member: 13611"><p>Good post, I agree with most of it.</p><p></p><p>Declan Kidney going will help hugely. The team has stagnated under him and are playing a redundant brand of rugby which worked under the old rules at Munster but doesn't work any more. One person who has escaped criticism is Gert Smal. I think he's the weakest member of the coaching staff. The lineout continues to be a shambles and Ireland don't bully anyone up front despite the provinces frequently getting the better of their opponents at club level. </p><p></p><p>While Ireland have a lot of young players coming through the system at the moment, that is counter balanced by keys cogs like Brian O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell nearing retirement. I think Ireland will struggle for consistent results for the next 18 months but hope that we'll see the same players expand their skill sets over the same period - think Wales prior to the 2003 World Cup. Kidney has singularly failed to get the best out of his players.</p><p></p><p>One small error on the problem positions point, Paddy McAllister plays loosehead prop. Seemingly Ulster are trying to beef him up and try him as a tighthead longer term though. Ireland will continue to be over reliant on Mike Ross until November 2014 at which point Nathan White will be Ireland qualified. That'll see Ireland through the 2015 World Cup upon when hopefully Tadhg Furlong, Martin Moore and, ugh, Stephen Archer may be ready.</p><p></p><p>Connacht's improvement off the field is staggering. They've beefed up their academy which is beginning to filter into their first team. A word for David Humphreys who gave an impassioned speech before the season began imploring the IRFU to back Connacht equally to the other three provinces- four strong provinces is better than three. It's for that reason and his successful lobbying for more financial support for Ulster that I believe he'll be an ideal candidate for the new Director of Irish Rugby role which is soon to be created. Bets are off that Declan Kidney will get it though.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="snoopy snoopy dog dog, post: 555451, member: 13611"] Good post, I agree with most of it. Declan Kidney going will help hugely. The team has stagnated under him and are playing a redundant brand of rugby which worked under the old rules at Munster but doesn't work any more. One person who has escaped criticism is Gert Smal. I think he's the weakest member of the coaching staff. The lineout continues to be a shambles and Ireland don't bully anyone up front despite the provinces frequently getting the better of their opponents at club level. While Ireland have a lot of young players coming through the system at the moment, that is counter balanced by keys cogs like Brian O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell nearing retirement. I think Ireland will struggle for consistent results for the next 18 months but hope that we'll see the same players expand their skill sets over the same period - think Wales prior to the 2003 World Cup. Kidney has singularly failed to get the best out of his players. One small error on the problem positions point, Paddy McAllister plays loosehead prop. Seemingly Ulster are trying to beef him up and try him as a tighthead longer term though. Ireland will continue to be over reliant on Mike Ross until November 2014 at which point Nathan White will be Ireland qualified. That'll see Ireland through the 2015 World Cup upon when hopefully Tadhg Furlong, Martin Moore and, ugh, Stephen Archer may be ready. Connacht's improvement off the field is staggering. They've beefed up their academy which is beginning to filter into their first team. A word for David Humphreys who gave an impassioned speech before the season began imploring the IRFU to back Connacht equally to the other three provinces- four strong provinces is better than three. It's for that reason and his successful lobbying for more financial support for Ulster that I believe he'll be an ideal candidate for the new Director of Irish Rugby role which is soon to be created. Bets are off that Declan Kidney will get it though. [/QUOTE]
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5 Reasons for Irish Fans to be Optimistic Following the 6 Nations
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