Denis Hurley for Ireland

[joeriddick]

A big problem with people's perception on this thread is that they make up their mind as to who is or who isn't "international class" early on in a players career with no allowance for growth as a player included in their judgement. The Denis Hurley of two years ago was not Test standard and maybe this version won't be either but he's got a shot and I hope he knocks it out of the fu¢king park.

Bar the odd know it all b0llocks gurglers who don't rate him because of the colour shirt he wears or some preconceived doofus theory they had in their own head - like the troglodyte standing in front of me in Ballynanty who was convinced that he had "no pace whatsoever" - I think most would agree that Hurley can step in and do a job.

Good man Dinny.

[deadlyBuzz]

Gwan Dinny Hurley!
You Legend. Now "fork it into 'em hard and square all day long you f**king animal!"
"Moer hulle kliphard en reghoekig heeldag lang, jou fokken bees!"

[deadlyBuzz]

A big problem with people's perception on this thread is that they make up their mind as to who is or who isn't "international class" early on in a players career with no allowance for growth as a player included in their judgement. The Denis Hurley of two years ago was not Test standard and maybe this version won't be either but he's got a shot and I hope he knocks it out of the fu¢king park.

Bar the odd know it all b0llocks gurglers who don't rate him because of the colour shirt he wears or some preconceived doofus theory they had in their own head - like the troglodyte standing in front of me in Ballynanty who was convinced that he had "no pace whatsoever" - I think most would agree that Hurley can step in and do a job.

Good man Dinny.

The Denis Hurley who instill nightmares in the Perpingan Dressing room would argue, but I'm delighted for him.
He was shunted around to make room for "bigger" players (Earls on the wing and Jones in FB) and in some cases dropped without warrant, but if given a run in a given spot, has rarely dissapointed.
Now GWAN DINNY, Rob who??? isn't he Dave Kearneys brother???

[joeriddick]

The Denis Hurley who instill nightmares in the Perpingan Dressing room would argue, but I'm delighted for him.
He was shunted around to make room for "bigger" players (Earls on the wing and Jones in FB) and in some cases dropped without warrant, but if given a run in a given spot, has rarely dissapointed.
Now GWAN DINNY, Rob who??? isn't he Dave Kearneys brother???

Maybe not two years ago - my point is he's come along way.

Who's that Rob fella you mentioned? Is that the male model?

[Bromance]

Add Luke O'Dea's name to that list too.

Most certainly!!

[Simmental]

Delighted for Hurley. Hope he gets some good attacking ball to show off his line running and offloading.

[Munsterboy]

Gwan Denis, and feck the begrudgers.

[gavindillon]

Irish Times, Johnny Waterson:

NEWS: MUNSTER FULLBACK Denis Hurley has been drafted into the Ireland squad as an extra back, following the withdrawal of Brian O’Driscoll on Tuesday. O’Driscoll will miss the entire November international match series after injuring his ankle at the weekend playing with Leinster. Hurley, who played for Ireland against the USA in 2009, came into the Ireland camp yesterday and will train with the squad today.

That will give the Munster man a chance to listen to double bronze medallist Olympic Paddy Barnes, who according to Twitter is “off to beat up the IRFU at Carton House”.
The light-flyweight follows the path of Marvin Hagler, the undisputed world middleweight champion of the 1980s, who also gave a motivational talk to the Ireland squad during Eddie O’Sullivan’s reign as coach.
Several players have been released from the Irish base in Carton House back to the provinces for game time in the Rabo Pro12 matches over the weekend.
Paul Marshall, Craig Gilroy and Stephen Ferris have all been released back to play for Ulster against Edinburgh.
They play in Belfast tomorrow night.
Ronan O’Gara has also been sprung for Munster as has prop Declan Fitzpatrick. The Ulsterman was being managed on a graduated return-to-play programme following a concussion sustained last Friday night, but suffered a setback and will now be rested until Monday, at which time he will recommence the testing procedures. This makes him unavailable for selection until he has completed the full rehabilitation programme.
Following his release, O’Gara took part in training with the Munster squad yesterday and will be in contention for a place against Cardiff Blues in Cardiff Arms Park tomorrow.
The Ireland outhalf did not feature in Munster’s recent Heineken Cup encounter with Edinburgh due to a hamstring injury.
Assuming he pulls through the match tomorrow, O’Gara will be fit to play some part in Ireland’s opening match of the November series against South Africa on Saturday week, if selected.
Keith Earls, another player short on game time, has remained with the Ireland squad. Earls injured his groin prior to Munster’s first Heineken Cup match.
While Declan Kidney has not revealed who he is going to start against South Africa, it would be routine to release the player to his province to avail of some game time before throwing him into a full international.
Earls has not been released to Munster this week, suggesting that his rehabilitation has still some distance to go.
To bolster Munster’s man-power in the back row, CJ Stander arrived in Ireland earlier this week and introduced himself to the his new team-mates yesterday for the first time at training in the University of Limerick.
The 22-year-old, who joins Munster on a two-year contract, also took part in a routine medical but will not feature for Rob Penney’s side in tomorrow night’s match.
Stander, who is expected to remain in Ireland until he qualifies for Irish residency, looks likely to make his Munster debut in the home Rabo Pro12 encounter with the Llanelli Scarlets on Sunday, November 25th, at Musgrave Park.
He has mostly played blindside flanker this season although can play in all of the back row positions.
Stander will base himself in Limerick during his stay. He was previously South African Schools captain and an under-20 wing forward.
He played 13 times and scored four tries for the Bulls in his first season playing Super 15 rugby.
Connacht have added four new players to the Connacht Academy with 19-year-old Darragh Leader, 20-year-old Steve Macauley, scrumhalf Marcus Walsh and 20-year-old Peter Reilly all coming in to bolster the squad.

[Evil Omer]

You know what? O'Driscoll being out could be as good for Ireland as ROG being out would be for Munster. Until they're not available no coach has the sense to try something different so our future doesn't involve a big fecking gaping hole and no experience to fill it.

[rathbaner]

You know what? O'Driscoll being out could be as good for Ireland as ROG being out would be for Munster. Until they're not available no coach has the sense to try something different so our future doesn't involve a big fecking gaping hole and no experience to fill it.

True. It'd be like McCaw and Carter missing for the All Blacks, I bet they're green with envy at Kidney.

[Downsouthdukin]

the carter comparison is stretching it

[etcpostmaster]

Im sure he must be delighted to line up for the " all green and blecks"

[Dowlinz]

You know what? O'Driscoll being out could be as good for Ireland

Yes wasn't it just wonderful during the last six nations and POC being out during the summer, didn't the youngsters learn so much in those games without the crusty old men undeservedly taking their positions. Aren't we a stronger team now because of it and not in any way a shambles of a side crawling out from winning only 2 of our last 8 and sack looming over the coach?
It was akin to that smashing run Munster went on at the end of last season without ROG that sent McGahan out on a high.

[the plastic paddy]

Yes wasn't it just wonderful during the last six nations and POC being out during the summer, didn't the youngsters learn so much in those games without the crusty old men undeservedly taking their positions. Aren't we a stronger team now because of it and not in any way a shambles of a side crawling out from winning only 2 of our last 8 and sack looming over the coach?
It was akin to that smashing run Munster went on at the end of last season without ROG that sent McGahan out on a high.

Did you watch the Ireland team without POC, Ferris and Bowe play in Christchurch?

[Dowlinz]

Did you watch the Ireland team without POC, Ferris and Bowe play in Christchurch?

Was that the one where BOD, D'arcy, Sexton, Healy, Kearney, ROG and Best had monster games leading by example? Funny I don't recall the replacements of the players you mentioned McFadden, Tuohy or McLaughlin being significant in the outcome of that game.

[Evil Omer]

Was that the one where BOD, D'arcy, Sexton, Healy, Kearney, ROG and Best had monster games leading by example? Funny I don't recall the replacements of the players you mentioned McFadden, Tuohy or McLaughlin being significant in the outcome of that game.

Sorry but that's revisionism of the highest order, we played 3 tests, BOD was rubbish, not just by his standards but by international standards generally, in 2 of those games. He also wasn't that amazing in the good match, it was more others that drove us on.


As for your other comments, you'd have us fielding ROG until he was 50 based on some of your comments to date about Munster. Look we need to move on, we need to learn what others can do and we need to give them this experience or else, when BOD does retire, we'll be filling a gap from scratch. You don't learn what people learnt in those games in the space of a month or so, you learn that across the following season or two. We would have learnt more had Kidney's obsession with McFadden not meant that Zebo, clearly the better performer of the two, was dropped for no reason. Whether people like it or not any chance now to develop for the future has to be seen as a positive.

[Dowlinz]

Sorry but that's revisionism of the highest order, we played 3 tests,

It's revisionism to refer to the one game paddy specifically highlighted rather than looking at the whole picture of the full test? I'm sorry the discussion didn't suit your agenda.

[Evil Omer]

It's revisionism to refer to the one game paddy specifically highlighted rather than looking at the whole picture of the full test? I'm sorry the discussion didn't suit your agenda.

wasn't a question of that, you took the one game as being all the evidence we need that being without BOD is a terrible thing - in reality he was dire for the majority of the summer, a player pushing things without the levels (any more or just temporarily, who knows which) to support that.

[Dowlinz]

you took the one game as being all the evidence we need that being without BOD is a terrible thing

Provide me with the quote where I implied being without BOD for a single game was "all evidence" that it was a terrible thing.

Could have sworn I mentioned an entire years worth of games (and even numbered them) to back up my claim but I must be mistaken.

[etcpostmaster]

f*ck it Denis Hurley for captain of Ireland

[Mcork]

True. It'd be like McCaw and Carter missing for the All Blacks, I bet they're green with envy at Kidney.

Comparing carter & ROG? Wow!

[The Outlaw]

Sorry but that's revisionism of the highest order, we played 3 tests, BOD was rubbish, not just by his standards but by international standards generally, in 2 of those games. He also wasn't that amazing in the good match, it was more others that drove us on.


As for your other comments, you'd have us fielding ROG until he was 50 based on some of your comments to date about Munster. Look we need to move on, we need to learn what others can do and we need to give them this experience or else, when BOD does retire, we'll be filling a gap from scratch. You don't learn what people learnt in those games in the space of a month or so, you learn that across the following season or two. We would have learnt more had Kidney's obsession with McFadden not meant that Zebo, clearly the better performer of the two, was dropped for no reason. Whether people like it or not any chance now to develop for the future has to be seen as a positive.

Arguably his best performance at 13 in Christchurch in the second test. Yes he was poor in the other 2 but so was everyone else. You cant develop anything when you're losing. You need a core of experienced heads to play the youngsters with to ensure they cna win matches. This crack of throwing in 9/10 kids that people are suggesting is madness.

The reality is BOD is still the best 13 in Ireland this season. Now its up to Earls and the others to produce the sort of form to push them out. Form we havent seen this year. NZ still started Brad Thorn at 36/37 in a world cup final because he was the best in his position that they had available to them. They also had no qualms in starting Aaron Cruden when the occasion demanded. thats real player development.

[gavindillon]

f*ck it Denis Hurley for captain of Ireland

Definitely. Times a gazillion. Kidney classic to drop Dinny in from nowhere (HEC final anyone) AND make him the national captain. Saffers won't know what hit 'em. GWAAAN Captain Jack Sparr.. sorry... Hurley!!!

[lactose intolerant]

Definitely. Times a gazillion. Kidney classic to drop Dinny in from nowhere (HEC final anyone) AND make him the national captain. Saffers won't know what hit 'em. GWAAAN Captain Jack Sparr.. sorry... Hurley!!!

[rathbaner]

Comparing carter & ROG? Wow!

We did this about four years ago.

IMHO ROG has been as important to team Ireland as Carter has been to the All Blacks - at least before Sexton came up to scratch.

We never rate our own players as much as rate the foreigners. Quinlan, Wallace, Hayes, Flannery, Axel were all in the top 3 internationally in their position when they were fighting fit. We haven't had a line out worth the name since the Bull went. Axel is still our top try scorer and as for Wally and Quinlan, well I don't need to add anything there, they have their own threads on the go at the mo.

We should enjoy the skills of our greats while they're still around and stop dissing them in such a knee jerk way.

It's encouraging that Keats is doing so well and will be a fantastic payer, but ROG, like the others, is irreplaceable.

[Evil Omer]

Definitely. Times a gazillion. Kidney classic to drop Dinny in from nowhere (HEC final anyone) AND make him the national captain. Saffers won't know what hit 'em. GWAAAN Captain Jack Sparr.. sorry... Hurley!!!

only problem is that (by all accounts) it wasn't Kidney that wanted that, Payne just downright refused to be dragged into playing and backed Hurley for the place (again IIRC)

[Evil Omer]

Provide me with the quote where I implied being without BOD for a single game was "all evidence" that it was a terrible thing.

Could have sworn I mentioned an entire years worth of games (and even numbered them) to back up my claim but I must be mistaken.

sorry was going on most recent comments, it came across that you were saying losing BOD was terrible and citing that as the example. Problem again was that BOD hasn't been the same player for the past year or so that we should see him being out as don't bother playing. It's time to move on.

[Downsouthdukin]

only problem is that (by all accounts) it wasn't Kidney that wanted that, Payne just downright refused to be dragged into playing and backed Hurley for the place (again IIRC)

total horsecrap and it was the away quarter final against Glaws

[gavindillon]

Unhinged genius...

[scotscor]

only problem is that (by all accounts) it wasn't Kidney that wanted that, Payne just downright refused to be dragged into playing and backed Hurley for the place (again IIRC)

not according to any accounts i have read