Commercially, will it be in the Lions interests in Oz to have a large Irish contingent on the team?
Yes
No
Commercially, will it be in the Lions interests in Oz to have a large Irish contingent on the team?
Unfortunately it could well make commercial sense for Murdoch to have a load of young Irish players foreshortening their careers playing for the dirt trackers and carrying tackle bags. After the nightmare we had with injuries last year I hope to f*ck that Gatland and Edwards are shamelessly biased and take a squad almost entirely composed of Welsh and English players.Originally Posted by The Last Stand
It looks like the No Camp is gaining Ground. I have voted no. I agree with PP JOEY and BUSBY. Perhaps PRL could consider taking over The Lions And ejecting The Irish Celtic contingent. I think we could do a deal with them on that Basis
Some of the nominally Irish contingent would be quite happy to play for the British Lions. It's not just plastic IreBrit Rory McIlroy who has dual identities. Ferris, Best and the like would have no trouble identifying with a British team, I imagine.
As for the rest, all the Irish players who've been on Lions tours are desperate to go on another one. Whatever the fans think, the players recognise that selection is an award and an honour more tangible than an IRUPA or IRB trophy. It's an experience out of the ordinary for players who play the same teams with the same team-mates year after year. And it makes the IRFU loads of money too, which is always welcome.
Twasn't just the Irish that were crocked after the Lions.
I'll be looking forward again to running down to Cloh's from work to see the selected players like in 2009.
The place errupted the last time when Keith's and Quinnie's names were announced by Gerald Davies.
“You don’t have to be a structural engineer to know that if you load the top and weaken the bottom, even the mightiest of towers can fall with a crash.”- Eddie Butler
“You don’t have to be a structural engineer to know that if you load the top and weaken the bottom, even the mightiest of towers can fall with a crash.”- Eddie Butler
But, HenryFitz, the poll was asking the question of fans not players. No one disputes that the players want to go on the tour; although I would wager that their "passion" might not be quite so universal as everyone thinks were the remuneration not to be quite so generous. I don't criticize players wanting to fill their boots in a short playing career, although whether that career is further foreshortened by going on such a high intensity tour at the end of a long season is a moot point
The other thing I would doubt is the long term financial benefit to the IRFU of Lions tours; who picks up the tab for the long term injuries suffered by Irish players, who pays the wages, who pays for the recuperation? If it is insurance as I am sure someone will tell us, does the insurance pick up for the raft of injuries that POC, Fitzgerald and Fez have had after the initial damage was done on the Lions tour?
As I have said before, my plasticity precludes my opinion having any merit on nationalist grounds. I don't think Irish players, from the North of the Island, the south of the Island or indeed plastic, such as myself, should be involved in the thing for many other reasons which I won't repeat as I don't want to bore people senseless.
I don't want anyone involved with it. We put the SH on a pedestal by saying we need four teams to beat their one. The tour takes the best NH players and requires them to extend their season by six weeks at least, having had one summer off since playing unbroken for two years in a RWC year.
It is completely bonkers that the best players in the NH do this and it really is little wonder that the SH love the whole thing. Of course they get all the financial benefit as well. On the video, Huwie, it is unfortunate that at the precise moment Gerald Davies says the players are good people there is footage of Ickle; not likely to enthuse most Munster fans!?!
Ha, didn't spot that. good stuff.
Thought we'd all agreed not to mention him on here ever again.
“You don’t have to be a structural engineer to know that if you load the top and weaken the bottom, even the mightiest of towers can fall with a crash.”- Eddie Butler
Three simple words: F**k the Lions!
It's too long, too demanding and the vast majority of people don't give a s**t anymore. All a stupid money making racket that all too often get's referred to as just the British lions. The only type of tour like this that I think would be worth while would be a 6N select versus a Rugby Championship select (NH v SH) on a much much shorter tour schedule.
"We've got to be really careful we get our backyard right before we start looking over the fence."
Rob Penney - Rugby coach and Philosopher
According to the poll at the top of this page circa 68% do care about the Lions tour otherwise I'd assume there would be more no's to the question. It's an awful lot shorter then in amateur days and I believe the tour to Australia next year will be one of the shortest Lions tours since rugby went pro. The money goes back into rugby nothing stupid about that. Plus those invited to tour get to earn additional income I'm sure they appreciate that as well. From what various players have said who have toured with the Lions they really enjoy it (except Clive's tour) and consider it to be an honor to be invited to tour with what in most cases can be considered the best players that Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales have to offer.
4 Feb 2011 - Gilmore on the General Election
"Frankfurts way or Labours way."
28 Feb 2012 - Gilmore on a yes vote for the fiscal treaty
"A vote for economic stability and a vote for economic recovery."
10 games in 5 weeks McCloud starting a week after the rabo play off final.
Crap never spotted the poll. That squashes my "no one gives a ****" argument alright. Think I just let my own personnel disliking of the Lions get the better of me there for a second! Apologies
"We've got to be really careful we get our backyard right before we start looking over the fence."
Rob Penney - Rugby coach and Philosopher
At least you can vote BOK and up the 'no' percentage, we will grind them down in the end!?!?Crap never spotted the poll. That squashes my "no one gives a ****" argument alright. Think I just let my own personnel disliking of the Lions get the better of me there for a second! Apologies
Done and Done, I'll always vote to support a good cause
"We've got to be really careful we get our backyard right before we start looking over the fence."
Rob Penney - Rugby coach and Philosopher
Hmm the Yes side has gone from 62 to 63. Are you sure you hit the right buttonDone and Done, I'll always vote to support a good cause
4 Feb 2011 - Gilmore on the General Election
"Frankfurts way or Labours way."
28 Feb 2012 - Gilmore on a yes vote for the fiscal treaty
"A vote for economic stability and a vote for economic recovery."
I honestly can't make up my mind how I feel about our players going on a Lions tour .. yes it would be great for them to get that recognition, but it can be such a disheartening experience too if they lose or the they don't make the test side etc.
Plato: \"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.\"
Last edited by Huwie; 19th-September-2012 at 14:19.
“You don’t have to be a structural engineer to know that if you load the top and weaken the bottom, even the mightiest of towers can fall with a crash.”- Eddie Butler
No one would doubt the history Huwie. I have always enjoyed the Lions but the demands of modern pro rugby render the tour nothing more than an accident waiting to happen. Now if you have the number of players England has then that wouldn't be a problem but, in Ireland we cannot afford to ship the injuries we do on every tour.
The only interest for me will be hoping the Irish players don't get injured, I won't be supporting the team and if, as I wish, there were no Irish players playing I would be hoping for Australia to win three nil.
Ah cheer up you auld grouch.
“You don’t have to be a structural engineer to know that if you load the top and weaken the bottom, even the mightiest of towers can fall with a crash.”- Eddie Butler
new avatar for you paddy
"Lads, your not to miss practice unless your parents died or you died" Frank Leahy
Thought the tour was 2009 not 2008?
I realised I was dyslexic when I went to a toga party dressed as a goat
Scandalous TPP. You should be run out of Great Britain for this.
twas WLThought the tour was 2009 not 2008?
nearest one i could find
"Lads, your not to miss practice unless your parents died or you died" Frank Leahy
If you really wanted it, that would be simple enough to change in photoshop or even MS Painttwas WL
nearest one i could find
“You don’t have to be a structural engineer to know that if you load the top and weaken the bottom, even the mightiest of towers can fall with a crash.”- Eddie Butler
With a LIONS Special about to start on Sky Spurts thought I might give this poll/ thread a bump.
PP ...The best non Lions fan on MF who loves talking about Lions
I have zero faith . . .zilch, zip, nada, náid . . . . . faith in Gatland picking the actual best players.
All part of the campaign.PP ...The best non Lions fan on MF who loves talking about Lions
The Alastair Campbell of MF
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