bigb6969 says...

Kearney was not a yellow, but two yellows should have been given again Ireland in first test. Line broken, try scoring opportunities, and players were held back.

We had a penalty but it was blatant ignoring of the rules in not issuing a pair of yellows. The first test could have blown out to 60 as well

Posted 10:37 27th June 2012

blametheref says...

The worst bias in the Irish press is that few are calling for sweeping changes and Kidney's head in the Irish set-up and are willing to accept mediocrity in Irish team performances with all sorts of crazy excuses (we haven't the strength in depth, the players etc), this is the starting point as to why Irish teams fail and cannot perform with any degree of real belief and consistancy because the level of expectation is low to begin with. This is even reinforced by the coach with his "win some, lose some" attitude and his favourite mantra "we're getting there." The reason our media are like this is because most of them have a cosy access relationship with the IRFU and the coaches, it's always a wonder how some of these journalists always seem to get the team sheet right days before it is announced. Liam Toland, I will say is one of the better analytical journalists who will speak his mind and is not so biased as the writer above maintains, though he is passionate to see Irish teams win, no doubt.

The IRFU has failed a golden generation of Irish players over the past 15 years. Proof of this is that they kept coaches who have consistantly underperformed for years when any other country in the top 10 nations would have sent them packing years before. As an Irish fan, I'm ashamed that a sport we can excel in is being denegrated so much when it should so different......All I can do is swallow my pride and say, "hail to Irish mediocrity", cheers!

PS. Want to know what it's all about NH v SH? Check out the reaction of Rob Howley of Wales and Irish coach Declan Kidney in contrast to Pierre Spies reaction to South Africa having not lost a match in the recent series...says it all really!

Posted 09:45 27th June 2012

startledwombat says...

I'm baffled by some of the comments here. If PR's coverage and editorial is not to one's taste, maybe spend time on other sites not this one?

There's no point in hanging around with The Guardian when your views are catered for on Fox News.

Posted 09:17 27th June 2012

any1buttheABs says...

liam2me says

Is this PR's excuse when writing pro-English tripe that is never warranted by the facts?

All Blacks vs Ireland, Welsh Referee ??? I see your point, England are the villains here !!!!

Posted 08:39 27th June 2012

sandal says...

I tried to read Toland's article before this Loose Pass appeared. It was very difficult, for a couple of reasons.

First, he criticised on a level of detail that wasn't always appropriate to the difference in the views that he and Owens had -- particularly on that scrum towards the end where Ireland were penalised.

Second, and more importantly, because his article did not acknowledge many areas where Kiwis might object to the ref's decisions -- such as the penalty where Reddan appeared to dive over a prone Ali Williams' foot, or the penalty against an injured Thomson for not rolling away.

I couldn't help thinking, "We are Ireland, only our players get injured, only our teams suffer from questionable decisions."

In short, Toland was tallying one side of the ledger and largely ignoring the other side. That isn't journalism, it's fanaticism. I must acknowledge that I simply wasn't able to read the whole Toland article.

Most Irish fans here have shown a degree of realism and graciousness that puts Toland to shame.

Posted 01:53 27th June 2012

Tamjon says...

I was a bit dissapointed by the dirty tactics employed by the Irish during their tour, I have always liked the Irish team and didn't think they would stoop to this type of behaviour (apart from the game a couple of years ago where McCaw got kneed in the head). In one part of the game, Sexton came from behind and illegally took Dagg out of play when he did not even have the ball, at exactly the same time there was an Irish player rubbing his elbow in Whitelock's face. With Thompson's try, Barrett passes the ball to Thompson, immediately there is an Irish player holding onto Barrett to prevent him from taking any further part in that play. These are just a couple of examples from a continuous string of them. I cannot see how the Irish have any cause to complain about the ref, when they continued to employ these sorts of tactics, while only once getting punished for them.

Posted 23:56 26th June 2012

new_j4a says...

@GCP_JONES says..."If Ireland were to host a test series against a team ranked 8 places below them,they would hope to but a cricket score on them too"

Hope, yes....that is the operative word in Irish rugby, but I am not so sure. Ireland's win rate against Namibia is 50%....won 2 and lost 2....and Namibia is ranked down between 18 and 28....so usually between 12 and 20 ranking positions below Ireland. Have you considered a feel good tour of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Mauritius?

Sorry to rub it in, but you guys do invite ridicule with your french like defense of gouging.

Posted 22:57 26th June 2012

curates_egg says...

A country that has made a speciality of winning from late drop goals? I can think of 2 examples where Ireland have won from late drop goals in 10 years. Methinks you confuseth Ireland with Munster - which it most certainly isn't.

As for the rest of the Kiss argument, it was complete bluster...but Kiss is a Kiwi after all, isn't he?

Toland's excellent analysis was top notch. Owens' very public response was the height of unprofessionalism and is something that a top ranking referee should simply not engage in. There is no defending it (regard of whether he was right or wrong).

Posted 22:07 26th June 2012

marzie says...

"He's an Irishman, writing for an Irish paper with a pro-Irish agenda. It's his job to be biased and find in favour of Ireland."

If this is Planet Rugby's take on journalistic ethics then it explains a lot of the bias and agenda-setting on this website. Liam Toland's a journo writing for a quality newspaper. Ex-player or not, he's employed to be neutral.

Posted 18:53 26th June 2012

Carpelone says...

Nobody is arguing whether McCaw had the right to be there, which should be the starting point of this discussion.

Posted 16:29 26th June 2012