Ireland

Rosbif says...

As a Frenchman, I'm embarrassed and annoyed about the whole mess. People will not look back and say this was our finest hour!!

But let's look forward, if we can. As far as I understand, Ireland are complaining about the re-scheduled game on the grounds of player burnout citing 1) a 6 day turnaround to prepare for Scotland at home, and 2) having to play 4 games in a row.

How is this any different for the French team?

Fra have a six day turnaround after the Eng game to prepare for (a possible decider vs) Wales away. Fra also have to play 4 in a row. And, most of the Fra players had to play T4 this weekend. Meanwhile, I think ROG ran out vs Treviso, Fergus McFadden vs Scarlets and Tom Court vs Cardiff. That's 3 players. Maybe some of the Irish fans can help explain what the other 20 blokes were doing this weekend? (Maybe the same thing they were doing the weekend before the first 6N game vs Wales, while most of the Fra players were once again betting beaten up playing T14)

I am happy for the FFR to take criticism for the mess-up last weekend. Heaven knows they deserve it. But I don't think we need to be lectured by the Irish about player burnout........

.....unless I am missing something, in which case I apologise and am happy to be put straight by those in the Irish camp who know more than me (which is, I'm guessing, most of you!!).

Posted 21:45 18th February 2012

jose_jones says...

@ Froggy,.. I know you are probably feeling a touch defensive over this but every call was down to the FFR,.. even "renting" a stadium without undersoil heating to play a winter season sport,... whch is the centre of the problem here. This lies at the door of the the FFR. Unless of course there is someway we can blame the 6NC for this too.

This is all a bit of a farce and we an only hope it is not repeated. I'm just glad I'm not one of those Irish fans who flew out to Paris for,... well,.. nothing really.

Last point,... When did they say this?

Posted 07:17 16th February 2012

froggy73 says...

@Jose_jones: 1) more French fans than Irish were actually affected by the postponing and 2) saying the FFR is the sole responsible of the mess shows you know very little about the subject 3) T14 teams (mainly Toulouse and Clermont) did not have any objection on any date proposed. Stop talking rubbish !

Posted 14:01 15th February 2012

thehat says...

@ Leinster goy.

from your comments you seem to not understand the structure of the IRFU.

The success of the Irish team is paramount. It is above all else, the provinces exist in the IRFU's eyes solely to supply players to the Irish team. If they can win competitions while doing that great but is not a driving force within the IRFU.

The Irish team will always come first in all situations. The 6 nations is their bread and butter. Like it or not thats the way it is.

Posted 13:29 15th February 2012

karup says...

@adamk and lawynd :

You can blame the FFR as much as you want and complain about its amateurism and incompetence but don't make such generalities like "the french", it means nothing.

The top 14 (aka LNR) has absolutely no responsibility in this case, and is just a victim, as the irish team. They just wanted the 6N comittee to take their interests into consideration, which has not been done (and is a good thing imo). So the french clubs, who are paying the international players over the 12 months of the year cannot use them for nearly half of the championship.

adamk : that's why they come into the equation and why 6N comitte sympathise with them. It's legitimate.

Posted 12:54 15th February 2012

Rickety_G says...

If the IRB or 6N committee want international rugby to remain the pinnacle of world rugby they need to stamp there authority on the matter instead of creeping around the place in fear of stepping on peoples toes. Otherwise it will become like soccer where the clubs and Pay-per-View televison rule the roost.

Posted 12:36 15th February 2012

Chancer says...

Ireland can use this as an excuse when they get beaten. Come on these are professional sportsmen, Top 14 and Aviva teams play every weekend, whats the problem.

Posted 12:05 15th February 2012

hougiebear says...

Great, I get to see Ireland get tonked when I have a hangover instead of when I am on my way to getting a hangover

Posted 11:07 15th February 2012

lawynd says...

@Axax - read the article again - the host union could have organised a postponement, or flagged up the issue far earlier. So the fault lies firmly with the FFR, IMO. The date should be when it is acceptable to Ireland, not when it is acceptable to the French; let the Top 14 and FFR lose revenue, that seems a suitable punishment for their incompetence.

@leinster_goy - I'm sure one of your fellow countrymen once mentioned here that 81% of the revenue generated by the Irish provinces was handed down directly from the IRFU...if that's the case, I wouldn't be so quick to bite the hand that feeds.

Posted 10:56 15th February 2012

jose_jones says...

I feel sorry for Ireland,.. the postponement wasn't down to them, yet they still have to make all the concessions because the Top 14 might miss out on revenue if they go up against a 6 nations game.

This whole fiasco is the responsibilty of the FFR, so why are the Irish fans and supporters are being kicked around because of it??

Posted 10:28 15th February 2012