Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ryan Miller @mrdoorstep.bsky.social · 1d

..Leinster, Glasgow and Bulls likely to be top four. Then you have the Sharks, Stormers and Munster who all have a lot going for them but don't look as ironclad. The only properly crap sides have been Dragons and Zebre - but even they look a lot better than a year or two ago. URC is exciting!

1 1

Ryan Miller @mrdoorstep.bsky.social · 1d

That is certainly the likeliest point of failure. It's a huge season for Ulster. Richie Murphy probably won't get another contract of he doesn't get into the Champions Cup next year.

However, the difference between 6th and 14th in the URC looks paper thin...

1

Ryan Miller @mrdoorstep.bsky.social · 1d

This Ulster fan is pleased it's Moodie rather than Kriel.

Albeit it's still a strong Bulls team and could well give us a shoeing.

1

Ryan Miller @mrdoorstep.bsky.social · 1d

Yeah, although he shouldn't be in any nominal first XV anyway at this point.

Reposted by Ryan Miller

Caolán Scully @caolanscully.bsky.social · 1d

Richie Murphy has handed a first start to Juarno Augustus for Ulster's huge showdown with the Bulls on Saturday night

Jacob Stockdale and Rob Baloucoune return to start in the backline. while Iain Henderson captains the side

1 1 4

Ryan Miller @mrdoorstep.bsky.social · 1d

Neither Leo nor AF think Frawley is near the two Ireland tens, and Leo also prefers Harry Byrne. Fwiw, I broadly agree. Doesn't help that he's considerably older either.

1

Ryan Miller @mrdoorstep.bsky.social · 1d

Think this means Baird won't play at Croke Park. Ireland players need one rest week in the first four - per McMillan, explaining why no Crowley this weekend - and Baird started the first two matches also.

1

Ryan Miller @mrdoorstep.bsky.social · 7d

Sometimes* you just need a unit who plays vertically to tie the whole backline together. The buckle in the belt.

*almost all the time

1

Ryan Miller @mrdoorstep.bsky.social · 8d

I thought Leinster would lose both matches on this tour but the performance from last week (the easier of the two fixtures) was so awful that the pressure is on. A much better performance is a must but leaving South Africa with no league points would be a disappointing effort by any measure.

2

Ryan Miller @mrdoorstep.bsky.social · 9d

The team for Cardiff is strong, considering this.

Reposted by Ryan Miller

FactCheckNI @factcheckni.bsky.social · 22d

👥 Northern Ireland is getting older.

There are now more people aged 70+ than children under 10.

What does this mean for our future health, pensions & policies?

Read more ➡️ factcheckni.org/articles/dem...

#northernireland #demographics #factcheckni

2 4

Reposted by Ryan Miller

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 25d

I do feel like public policy discourse has just got…so much worse and I’m not sure why? Compare the document the Tories fought the 2001 manifesto on to, well, anything they say now: www.conservativemanifesto.com/2001/2001-co...

15 24 140

Reposted by Ryan Miller

Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 28d

Best Rugby Championship in years. Complete chaos, every team swinging between the sublime and the utter dogshit. Terrific stuff.

2 5 30

Ryan Miller @mrdoorstep.bsky.social · 28d

Rassie Erasmus - perhaps a crazy man, but definitely a smart one - has spent years trying to pick Libbok (and stop picking Pollard) and let him take the jersey. There are a lot of reasons why he's done this. Plenty of those on show today.

1 5

Ryan Miller @mrdoorstep.bsky.social · 29d

...a few others, are all guys I think could put in creditable performances in big matches for Ireland. As for Doris being 2nd choice, he's our best player and can play 6/7/8 no problem - which allows you flexibility. Timoney etc aren't just against JvdF, but also Conan and Beirne and Baird. 2/2

2

Ryan Miller @mrdoorstep.bsky.social · 29d

On the one hand, I agree with you both. In the biggest games, I think if JvdF was out they'd pick Doris to wear seven. On the other, it's not as bad as you make it sound, it's just that the vdF is a top class international and the other options - Timoney, Kendellan, maybe Hodnett, maybe... 1/2

1

Reposted by Ryan Miller

FactCheckNI @factcheckni.bsky.social · Sep 11

Does Belfast have the 2nd highest number of asylum seekers in the UK, and do almost a fifth of them live in BT12, as claimed by DUP MLA Edwin Poots?

❌ No.
📊Belfast ranks 20th overall.
👥With 0.6% of the local population (1 in 167 people).
➡️ No data confirms the BT12 claim.

1 13 20

Ryan Miller @mrdoorstep.bsky.social · Sep 10

You'd think Leinster would let him stay in SA as a fair exchange for van der Flier - but no, they're ruthless

1 1

Ryan Miller @mrdoorstep.bsky.social · Sep 6

For sure. But he's also a gamebreaker in every aspect of open play, and is A+ in both work rate and producing big moments. I wish he played for my team!

Ryan Miller @mrdoorstep.bsky.social · Sep 6

Bit of a shame for him that his career more or less immediately followed that long period of insane AB dominance. It means his individual ability risks not getting the kudos it deserves.

He's one of the very best back rowers ever (I think he is *the* best but obvs other opinions are available).

1

Ryan Miller @mrdoorstep.bsky.social · Sep 6

English fans and media couldn't get their heads around Ford 10, Farrell 12. Treated it as an abomination when it is one of their best ever combinations. From a discourse pov it was a solution in need of a problem. Their loss!

1 2

Reposted by Ryan Miller

Blood & Mud Rugby Podcast @bloodandmud.bsky.social · Sep 6

The game has the energy of 30 pacy drunks having an egg-and-spoon race.

I love it.

#AUSvARG

1 2 9

Reposted by Ryan Miller

FactCheckNI @factcheckni.bsky.social · Sep 5

📊 FactCheckNI has a new series exploring NI’s demographics-exploring age,religion and place of birth.

These articles are designed to be a reference point for what’s changed and what’s stayed the same over time.

➡️First up: place of birth.Where were people who call NI home born?

1 1 2

Reposted by Ryan Miller

FactCheckNI @factcheckni.bsky.social · Aug 28

Does Belfast really house more “illegal migrants” than every other UK city except Glasgow? Turns out, no.

This FactCheckNI article slices through the noise with clear, evidence-based insight.

Read our full analysis 👉 factcheckni.org/articles/imm...

#FactCheckNI #NorthernIreland #Belfast

3 4

Ryan Miller @mrdoorstep.bsky.social · Sep 3

Wing or midfield? Could unlock the team either way, I think.

1