Monthly Archives: February 2013

Kidney call puts him in make or break territory

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Brendan Fanning

  We used to look at the decision in 2008 to run with Denis Hurley and Tomas O’Leary ahead of Shaun Payne and Peter Stringer for Munster as the high water mark for Declan Kidney’s capacity to surprise. And then … Continue reading →

Posted in Brendan Fanning, IRFU, Irish Rugby, Leinster Rugby, Munster, Munster Rugby, Rugby, Rugby News, Rugby Opinion, Scottish rugby, Six Nations, Sports Comment, Ulster, Ulster Rugby | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

If I knew then what I know now…

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Brendan Fanning

Lessons from the Cian Healy saga For the player: have a look at the ref before you wade in to mete out justice, whether you reckon it’s deserved or not. For the Six Nations disciplinary machine: issue a post-decision statement … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Healy lumbered with extra helpings

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Brendan Fanning

Question: when is a three week ban not a three week ban? Answer: Eh, when it includes a week where the guilty party is not likely to be active. In which case it becomes, effectively, a four week ban. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Brendan Fanning, British and Irish Lions, IRB, IRFU, Irish Rugby, Leinster Rugby, Refereeing, Rugby, Rugby News, Rugby Opinion, Six Nations, Sports Comment | Tagged | 1 Comment

Healy not looking at lengthy sentence

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Brendan Fanning

One thing we’ve learned from ugly optics on the rugby field is that what you see is not always what you get. So the seemingly awful stamp of Cian Healy on the ankle of Dan Cole was actually not as … Continue reading →

Posted in Brendan Fanning, British and Irish Lions, IRB, IRFU, Irish Rugby, Leinster Rugby, Munster, Munster Rugby, Refereeing, RFU, Rugby, Rugby News, Rugby Opinion, Sports Comment, Ulster, Ulster Rugby | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

IRFU’s succession strategy unofficially Mullered

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Brendan Fanning

If you’re confused by the announcement earlier today that Ulster have retained the services of Johann Muller then you are not alone. You thought that under the IRFU’s ethnic cleansing programme the NIEs (Non Ireland Eligible) had to move on … Continue reading →

Posted in IRFU, Leinster Rugby, Rugby Opinion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment