How often are the IRFU going to penalise Connacht
By Sea_point April 7 2008
Once again the IRFU has seen fit to look after the interests of the other provinces to deny Connacht any hope of qualification for the Heineken Cup. In this instance Ulster get the benefit as their postponed Magners League home fixture has been allowed to be re-scheduled for two days after Munster's Heineken Cup semi-final against Saracens.
Once again the IRFU has seen fit to look after the interests of the other provinces to deny Connacht any hope of qualification for the Heineken Cup. In this instance Ulster get the benefit as their postponed Magners League home fixture has been allowed to be re-scheduled for two days after Munster's Heineken Cup semi-final against Saracens.
Well if you want to know where we fit into the IRFU thinking on the Magners League and Europe read on. Bear in mind folks that the Irish teams re-scheduling has recieved tacit approval from the IRFU.........
Anyone care to guess how many front line players Munster will be able to muster two days after their Heineken Cup SemiFinal against Saracens?
At the very least this has to be a massive incentive for the Connacht team to put their professional pride on the line and do everything in their power to get maximum points from this Friday night's critical Magners League fixture.
From the Ulster Rugby Website today:
Ulster v Munster: Fixture confirmed for 29th April
Ulster's Magners League match against Munster postponed on the 4th January due to weather conditions will be played at Ravenhill on Tuesday 29th April at Ravenhill, kicking off at 7pm.
It means a congested end to the season for Ulster who have five Magners League matches remaining but represents an opportunity to claim some vital league points with every game is now crucial for Ulster who are aiming to secure their future in the Heineken Cup.
The rearranged date means that the Ulster team will play two home games within the space of four days, so the players now more than ever need your support at Ravenhill for this fixture.
The mood in the camp remains upbeat and the players are pleased to have the fixture confirmed so they can get the training mix right, Ulster Captain Rory Best said this today,
"Our games against Munster are always massive and we are pleased now that we have dates confirmed so we can get on with preparation. We have four home games left and each one is vital for this season and seasons ahead. We know that Tuesday evening isn't a traditional Ravenhill night but we hope that our supporters will come along and recreate the infamous Friday night Ravenhill Roar!"
With former European Champions Munster playing in the Heineken Cup Semi Final against Saracens just two days before the game, Ulster will be hoping to collect some vital points against the southern province before the final run of the games at Ravenhill.
Chief Executive Michael Reid said; "There were over 12,000 tickets sold initially for the game on the 4th January and hopefully when supporters take into account the fact that we are playing our interprovincial rivals and with so much at stake for Ulster in terms of our position in the Magners League table, it won't matter that the game is going to be played on a Tuesday - it's a perfect opportunity to claim a scalp from one of the sides in contention for Heineken Cup success this season and boost our League points as well."
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StumbleuponRe: How often are the IRFU going to penalise Connacht
Posted by: Overstrander (IP Logged)
Date: 08/04/2008 08:02
From Irish times today, in two articles, one by Gerry Thornley and one by John O'Sullivan:
Kidney's intuitive knack should be embraced
It's now abundantly clear that Munster are better coached, better picked and plain better than Ireland have been this season, writes Gerry Thornley
HISTORY HAS a way of putting eras into perspective that, well, makes history the definitive judge. Apologies for the football analogy, but take for example Chris Coleman at Fulham. A year ago this week Mohammed Al Fayed sacked the Welshman and the feeling then that the Harrods owner had acted too hastily has only been reinforced by the intervening 12 months.
Despite Lawrie Sanchez spending €25.4 million on new players, and Roy Hodgson subsequently taking over, Fulham have won five of their subsequent 38 league matches and are doomed to relegation. Reflecting on their four years under Coleman in the relatively safety of mid-table, Fulham fans may come to regard his time there as a golden era.
History has yet to judge the Eddie O'Sullivan era but already it is starting to pass an unfavourable verdict. At the very least the jury is still in its hotel.
Coming in the same season as both a dismal World Cup and a largely wasted Six Nations, Munster are one game away from a Heineken European Cup final, with Leinster set fair to win the Magners League and Munster as their main challengers.
Munster's wonderful win in Kingsholm sets up next Saturday's latest Leinster-Munster instalment at a capacity RDS nicely. Leinster's lead of 11 points looks a little bigger than it actually is given Munster know that victory on Saturday along with their game in hand would trim that lead down to one result, in effect, and with four other rounds to go.
Alas, that being said, the league was probably decided by the tournament organisers yesterday.
Leinster may well have won the title anyway, and deservedly sit atop the table after being the most consistent side by far over the season, but the decision to rearrange the Ulster-Munster game for Tuesday, April 29th, 24 hours after Munster secured a European Cup semi-final in Coventry just two days beforehand, defies belief.
At a stroke, Munster's first 15 to 22 players have been ruled out of that match. Ulster, true, are also playing four days beforehand, but that game is also at Ravenhill.
Connacht, who travel to Ravenhill this Friday, probably wouldn't have overhauled Matt Williams's side anyway, but they could be forgiven for thinking that there are ulterior forces at work here yet again.
It's also, by the by, the same week as the AIB All-Ireland League semi-finals. Truly astonishing. You wouldn't let these people market Pedigree Chum.
Munster's semi-final issue on sale tomorrow
JOHN O'SULLIVAN
Munster must also contend with the ludicrous rescheduling of their postponed fixture against Ulster at Ravenhill - which was called off because of snow on January 4th - to Tuesday April 29th, just two days after their Heineken Cup semi-final against Saracens.
Quite how the province is expected to play matches on a Sunday afternoon in Coventry and the following Tuesday night in Belfast beggars belief.
Nor is it likely Connacht will be enamoured of the farce given the importance of their running battle with Ulster at the foot of the Magners League table.
Kidney's intuitive knack should be embraced
It's now abundantly clear that Munster are better coached, better picked and plain better than Ireland have been this season, writes Gerry Thornley
HISTORY HAS a way of putting eras into perspective that, well, makes history the definitive judge. Apologies for the football analogy, but take for example Chris Coleman at Fulham. A year ago this week Mohammed Al Fayed sacked the Welshman and the feeling then that the Harrods owner had acted too hastily has only been reinforced by the intervening 12 months.
Despite Lawrie Sanchez spending €25.4 million on new players, and Roy Hodgson subsequently taking over, Fulham have won five of their subsequent 38 league matches and are doomed to relegation. Reflecting on their four years under Coleman in the relatively safety of mid-table, Fulham fans may come to regard his time there as a golden era.
History has yet to judge the Eddie O'Sullivan era but already it is starting to pass an unfavourable verdict. At the very least the jury is still in its hotel.
Coming in the same season as both a dismal World Cup and a largely wasted Six Nations, Munster are one game away from a Heineken European Cup final, with Leinster set fair to win the Magners League and Munster as their main challengers.
Munster's wonderful win in Kingsholm sets up next Saturday's latest Leinster-Munster instalment at a capacity RDS nicely. Leinster's lead of 11 points looks a little bigger than it actually is given Munster know that victory on Saturday along with their game in hand would trim that lead down to one result, in effect, and with four other rounds to go.
Alas, that being said, the league was probably decided by the tournament organisers yesterday.
Leinster may well have won the title anyway, and deservedly sit atop the table after being the most consistent side by far over the season, but the decision to rearrange the Ulster-Munster game for Tuesday, April 29th, 24 hours after Munster secured a European Cup semi-final in Coventry just two days beforehand, defies belief.
At a stroke, Munster's first 15 to 22 players have been ruled out of that match. Ulster, true, are also playing four days beforehand, but that game is also at Ravenhill.
Connacht, who travel to Ravenhill this Friday, probably wouldn't have overhauled Matt Williams's side anyway, but they could be forgiven for thinking that there are ulterior forces at work here yet again.
It's also, by the by, the same week as the AIB All-Ireland League semi-finals. Truly astonishing. You wouldn't let these people market Pedigree Chum.
Munster's semi-final issue on sale tomorrow
JOHN O'SULLIVAN
Munster must also contend with the ludicrous rescheduling of their postponed fixture against Ulster at Ravenhill - which was called off because of snow on January 4th - to Tuesday April 29th, just two days after their Heineken Cup semi-final against Saracens.
Quite how the province is expected to play matches on a Sunday afternoon in Coventry and the following Tuesday night in Belfast beggars belief.
Nor is it likely Connacht will be enamoured of the farce given the importance of their running battle with Ulster at the foot of the Magners League table.
Re: How often are the IRFU going to penalise Connacht
Posted by: tohellorto (IP Logged)
Date: 08/04/2008 10:30
I'm speechless! For the IRFU to facilitate these fixtures is simply unbeleivable. Shame on you IRFU!
Re: How often are the IRFU going to penalise Connacht
Posted by: lgwt@castlebar (IP Logged)
Date: 08/04/2008 12:17
It's a further blow to the Magners league that those in charge just shovel in a fixture with little or no regard to the bigger picture. Would the Premiership soccer heads organise a fixture that saw Champions League semifinalist being asked to fly home and play another fixture two days later. Not on yer nellie! Else Fergie's "hairdrier" would be at status meltdown.
We all know that the average Munster-hanger-on-to-the-tailgate-of-the-bandwagon doesn't give a rats rectum for the Magners League (the difference in attendances between it and the HEC prove this) but for the organisers to snub it in this fashion is despicable and beggars belief.
Saddest of all it doesn't come as that great a shock...
We all know that the average Munster-hanger-on-to-the-tailgate-of-the-bandwagon doesn't give a rats rectum for the Magners League (the difference in attendances between it and the HEC prove this) but for the organisers to snub it in this fashion is despicable and beggars belief.
Saddest of all it doesn't come as that great a shock...
Re: How often are the IRFU going to penalise Connacht
Posted by: GubRugby (IP Logged)
Date: 08/04/2008 12:40
Plus ca change, plus le meme chose!!!
The point is well illustrated again, stay in your box Connacht!
a disgrace....again
The point is well illustrated again, stay in your box Connacht!
a disgrace....again
Re: How often are the IRFU going to penalise Connacht
Posted by: connacht abú (IP Logged)
Date: 08/04/2008 13:25
Nothing new here. We all knew this would happen, its still a shame and a disgrace though.
Re: How often are the IRFU going to penalise Connacht
Posted by: RogueXV (IP Logged)
Date: 08/04/2008 15:58
Once this fixture was postponed we knew the refixed dated would always favour Ulster. Apparently the week between the end of the ML and the HC final would not do. After discarding that there is no way to fit the game in reasonably.
I would certainly give the Munster seconds a chance against Ulster but depending on how the match goes against Saracens they could be without that games entire 22 and that will put a toll on their pack for Ulster.
I would certainly give the Munster seconds a chance against Ulster but depending on how the match goes against Saracens they could be without that games entire 22 and that will put a toll on their pack for Ulster.
Re: How often are the IRFU going to penalise Connacht
Posted by: green-devil (IP Logged)
Date: 08/04/2008 17:21
Have to agree with rogueVX that we all knew in our hearts that this was going to happen.
It is now up to our boys to put all the moral victories behind them and get a real one.
The coaching staff have to be able to use this to our advantage.
When we beat Ulster and Munster beat Leinster, the Munster lads will need a bonus point against Ulster anyway.
Looking at DK's latest selection, it goes to prove in munster that you are only as good as your last game and every place is up for grabs, so the seconds could be playing for a hec final place and show that they want the jersey.
green-deveils forever.
It is now up to our boys to put all the moral victories behind them and get a real one.
The coaching staff have to be able to use this to our advantage.
When we beat Ulster and Munster beat Leinster, the Munster lads will need a bonus point against Ulster anyway.
Looking at DK's latest selection, it goes to prove in munster that you are only as good as your last game and every place is up for grabs, so the seconds could be playing for a hec final place and show that they want the jersey.
green-deveils forever.
Re: How often are the IRFU going to penalise Connacht
Posted by: Borders no.2 (IP Logged)
Date: 08/04/2008 18:17
It is a disgrace but it was well flagged.
Basically we can complain about whoever we like but Ulster and the Dragons are both likely to finish with less than 30 points and still finish ahead of us which isn't acceptable for us.If we did the business on the pitch we wouldn't need fixture favours.
We know we will always be screwed by the top brass.Its time we stood up and started winning our own games.Its easy blame others but bottom line is we wouldn't be in the position we are in now if it wasn't for our own failures.
Basically we can complain about whoever we like but Ulster and the Dragons are both likely to finish with less than 30 points and still finish ahead of us which isn't acceptable for us.If we did the business on the pitch we wouldn't need fixture favours.
We know we will always be screwed by the top brass.Its time we stood up and started winning our own games.Its easy blame others but bottom line is we wouldn't be in the position we are in now if it wasn't for our own failures.
Re: How often are the IRFU going to penalise Connacht
Posted by: RogueXV (IP Logged)
Date: 09/04/2008 04:01
Quote:BN2 states the cold hard facts
Its easy blame others but bottom line is we wouldn't be in the position we are in now if it wasn't for our own failures.
How true this is and it is really a matter of just two wins especially if one of them was the Ulster game at the Sportsground. You make your own good luck by winning.
Re: How often are the IRFU going to penalise Connacht
Posted by: Sea_Point (IP Logged)
Date: 09/04/2008 23:16
Quote:Belfast Newsletter Online
Munster seek date change
MUNSTER are understood to have lodged an application to Celtic Rugby Ltd to have their rearranged game with Ulster at Ravenhill on April 29, moved to another date.
The Southern Province are playing a Heineken Cup semi-final away to Saracens on Sunday, April 27, which gives them only one full day to recover and prepare for the clash with Ulster.
The game had been postponed from January 4 due to snow and ice, and a new date was set for either April 25 or April 29, depending on Munster's progress through the knockout stages.
Declan Kidney's side impressed in a win over Gloucester, winners of Ulster's pool in the European Premier competition, which put them into the semi-finals. Monday's draw saw their game being played on the Sunday.
Ulster have already made arrangements for the reorganising of tickets for the match on April 29 and a further change would add to the administration already involved.
It is a case of waiting to see what the Magners league organisers, in association with broadcasters, Setanta, decide to do with what would be seen as a reasonable request.
Interestingly, it is also understood that Ulster Rugby were requesting their yet to be arranged game over the weekend of May 3, be played on the Saturday night.
Ulster coach Matt Williams said on Tuesday: "A three day turnaround is really too short, so we have asked that a request be made to the organisers."
Last Updated: 09 April 2008 11:09 PM
Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.
Muhammad Ali
Re: How often are the IRFU going to penalise Connacht
Posted by: Borders no.2 (IP Logged)
Date: 17/04/2008 21:36
Good section about Connacht on Newstalk tonight.The usual comments by gt about institutionalised racism and Noel Mannion giving his view as well.Well done to Newstalk for their continual support for Connacht rugby but as the presenter said things are unlikely to change in the short run at least.
Re: How often are the IRFU going to penalise Connacht
Posted by: lgwt@castlebar (IP Logged)
Date: 18/04/2008 11:06
Yes indeed Newstalk should be lauded for their continued airing of Connacht issues. Oisin and his researcher Michael are knowledgeable people. I've spent longer chatting off air with them than live on the weekend show. Packie likely can echo that statement too.
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