S
snoopy snoopy dog dog
Guest
I've seen this type of thread pop up on a couple of other websites and think it would work well here given the fact that TRF has posters from many different countries. So what are your rugby hopes (domestic, international, sevens or league) for the coming year?
Internationally:
More running rugby.
Georgia, Romania and Russia qualify for the World Cup thus giving the sport more of a presence in Eastern Europe.
Martin Johnson and Rob Andrew get 30 year binding contracts to remain with team England.
Argentina's entry into an expanded Tri Nations is ratified.
More opportunities for tier 2 countries to host tier 1 teams.
Sevens:
Brazil, Germany and Russia are the three nations bidding for the final hosting of the World Cup in 2013. The iRB are in an enviable position. Do they give the hosting rights to a country which will host the first Olympic tournament in 2016 thus giving the market a taste for the sport (Brazil), do they give it to an economic giant which is rapidly rising through the ranks (Germany) or does it go to a country which has put in place a pro league, is on the verge of securing significant government funding and is hopeful of qualifying for it's first XV a side world competition in 2011 (Russia)? Hopefully the iRB make the right choice - I'm not sure which way they should turn!
Putting my Irish hat on:
Ireland win the 6 Nations.
We pick up a victory during June against either NZ or Australia.
Beat NZ next November.
Jonny Sexton continues to develop into a quality 10.
Ronan O'Gara comes back into form - Ireland need him as a backup for the 2011 World Cup.
A replacement for John Hayes, any replacement, is found.
Stephen Ferris stays fit for more than 2 weeks at a time.
Brian O'Driscoll is cloned.
Cian Healy usurps Marcus Horan.
Sean Cronin becomes a viable alternative to Jerry Flannery and Rory Best.
Play a couple of away tests against 6 Nations "B" countries.
Wearing my Leinster hat:
Sign Sean Cronin from Connacht! Jackman looks a spent force and Fogarty is a very good backup but not quite international class.
When Joe Schmidt is appointed head coach, he gets Leinster's backline playing consistently attacking rugby like he's done with Clermont Auvergne.
Retain the coaching services of Jono Gibbes and especially Kurt McQuilkin.
Academy players Rhys Ruddock, Dominic Ryan, Brendan Macken, Ian McKinley and Andrew Conway establish themselves as viable members of the full squad.
Regain the Magners League playing sexy rugby.
Retain the Heineken Cup playing sexy rugby.
Get full houses at all games in the RDS leading to an increased capacity - it's been mooted that the capacity may rise to 24000+ with the renovation of the Anglesea Stand and increasing the size of the North and South Stands.
Bring in a new backup No.8 to prevent Jamie Heaslip being flogged week in, week out.
Other Irish provinces:
Ulster make 4 or 5 key additions (scrum half, second row, full back, backup flyhalf and props) and continue their resurrection from European also rans into contenders. Ian Humpheys develops some more consistency with the boot. If he does so, he could win international caps. Brian McLaughlin continus to trust his young players. Chris Henry becomes an international number 8. Tommy Bowe returns.
Munster lose the Heineken Cup and Magners League finals to Leinster! Felix Jones becomes an option for Declan Kidney. Donnacha Ryan pushes Donncha O'Callaghan for a starting place. Peter O'Mahony or Tommy O'Donnell push Alan Quinlan out of the team. Keith Earls settles on a position.
Connacht appoint Matt Williams as Director of Rugby with Eric Elwood as head coach in a structure which mirros that which Ulster currently employ (dr.Humphreys as de facto Director of Rugby and Brian McLaughlin as head coach concerned with picking the team). Williams is an outstanding organiser and talent recruiter - at Ulster he brought in Timoci Nagusa, Ian Humphreys, Cillian Willis, Tamaiti Horua, Robbie Diack, Dan Tuohy, Ed O'Donoghue and Andy Kyriacou on a shoestring budget and all (bar Horua) have been very good signings. Of his signings, only BJ Botha and perhaps Clinton Schifcofske would be out of the reach of Connacht's budget. Williams also gave Darren Cave, Ian Whitten and David Pollock regular game time while he converted Paddy Wallace and Tom Court successfully to full time inside centre and loosehead respectively. Isn't a boss who can run a team on a small budget while also developing players exactly what the westerners need?
Internationally:
More running rugby.
Georgia, Romania and Russia qualify for the World Cup thus giving the sport more of a presence in Eastern Europe.
Martin Johnson and Rob Andrew get 30 year binding contracts to remain with team England.
Argentina's entry into an expanded Tri Nations is ratified.
More opportunities for tier 2 countries to host tier 1 teams.
Sevens:
Brazil, Germany and Russia are the three nations bidding for the final hosting of the World Cup in 2013. The iRB are in an enviable position. Do they give the hosting rights to a country which will host the first Olympic tournament in 2016 thus giving the market a taste for the sport (Brazil), do they give it to an economic giant which is rapidly rising through the ranks (Germany) or does it go to a country which has put in place a pro league, is on the verge of securing significant government funding and is hopeful of qualifying for it's first XV a side world competition in 2011 (Russia)? Hopefully the iRB make the right choice - I'm not sure which way they should turn!
Putting my Irish hat on:
Ireland win the 6 Nations.
We pick up a victory during June against either NZ or Australia.
Beat NZ next November.
Jonny Sexton continues to develop into a quality 10.
Ronan O'Gara comes back into form - Ireland need him as a backup for the 2011 World Cup.
A replacement for John Hayes, any replacement, is found.
Stephen Ferris stays fit for more than 2 weeks at a time.
Brian O'Driscoll is cloned.
Cian Healy usurps Marcus Horan.
Sean Cronin becomes a viable alternative to Jerry Flannery and Rory Best.
Play a couple of away tests against 6 Nations "B" countries.
Wearing my Leinster hat:
Sign Sean Cronin from Connacht! Jackman looks a spent force and Fogarty is a very good backup but not quite international class.
When Joe Schmidt is appointed head coach, he gets Leinster's backline playing consistently attacking rugby like he's done with Clermont Auvergne.
Retain the coaching services of Jono Gibbes and especially Kurt McQuilkin.
Academy players Rhys Ruddock, Dominic Ryan, Brendan Macken, Ian McKinley and Andrew Conway establish themselves as viable members of the full squad.
Regain the Magners League playing sexy rugby.
Retain the Heineken Cup playing sexy rugby.
Get full houses at all games in the RDS leading to an increased capacity - it's been mooted that the capacity may rise to 24000+ with the renovation of the Anglesea Stand and increasing the size of the North and South Stands.
Bring in a new backup No.8 to prevent Jamie Heaslip being flogged week in, week out.
Other Irish provinces:
Ulster make 4 or 5 key additions (scrum half, second row, full back, backup flyhalf and props) and continue their resurrection from European also rans into contenders. Ian Humpheys develops some more consistency with the boot. If he does so, he could win international caps. Brian McLaughlin continus to trust his young players. Chris Henry becomes an international number 8. Tommy Bowe returns.
Munster lose the Heineken Cup and Magners League finals to Leinster! Felix Jones becomes an option for Declan Kidney. Donnacha Ryan pushes Donncha O'Callaghan for a starting place. Peter O'Mahony or Tommy O'Donnell push Alan Quinlan out of the team. Keith Earls settles on a position.
Connacht appoint Matt Williams as Director of Rugby with Eric Elwood as head coach in a structure which mirros that which Ulster currently employ (dr.Humphreys as de facto Director of Rugby and Brian McLaughlin as head coach concerned with picking the team). Williams is an outstanding organiser and talent recruiter - at Ulster he brought in Timoci Nagusa, Ian Humphreys, Cillian Willis, Tamaiti Horua, Robbie Diack, Dan Tuohy, Ed O'Donoghue and Andy Kyriacou on a shoestring budget and all (bar Horua) have been very good signings. Of his signings, only BJ Botha and perhaps Clinton Schifcofske would be out of the reach of Connacht's budget. Williams also gave Darren Cave, Ian Whitten and David Pollock regular game time while he converted Paddy Wallace and Tom Court successfully to full time inside centre and loosehead respectively. Isn't a boss who can run a team on a small budget while also developing players exactly what the westerners need?
