@derekcass.bsky.social
Thought he was excellent last year, often in losing teams but almost always gaining meters. He strikes me as a player Andy will love and great to hear him name check him a couple of times. Only time before he’s in a green jersey.
December 1, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Thought he was excellent last year, often in losing teams but almost always gaining meters. He strikes me as a player Andy will love and great to hear him name check him a couple of times. Only time before he’s in a green jersey.
I disagree it was inevitable. When we went through phases vs SA we really stressed them. Teams hate playing against it & are happy to send contestables. We’ve been a risk averse team for guts of a decade, do we really need to follow other teams in kicking the ball away for non percentage plays?
December 1, 2025 at 12:42 PM
I disagree it was inevitable. When we went through phases vs SA we really stressed them. Teams hate playing against it & are happy to send contestables. We’ve been a risk averse team for guts of a decade, do we really need to follow other teams in kicking the ball away for non percentage plays?
The contestables is an odd one. We seem to think that because teams are doing it to us we have to do it back. We were at our best with ball in hand going though phases. Our handling and attack shape has been poor recently. Honestly believe new systems at Leinster are hurting both them and Ire.
December 1, 2025 at 12:39 PM
The contestables is an odd one. We seem to think that because teams are doing it to us we have to do it back. We were at our best with ball in hand going though phases. Our handling and attack shape has been poor recently. Honestly believe new systems at Leinster are hurting both them and Ire.
Found the focus on scrums this week difficult to listen too. The nuances of the game meant we were always likely to suffer & it’s almost always fixable (eg Leinster vrs Saracens 2020).
The move away from what made teams fear us (which inevitably leads to more scrums) should be far more a concern.
The move away from what made teams fear us (which inevitably leads to more scrums) should be far more a concern.
December 1, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Found the focus on scrums this week difficult to listen too. The nuances of the game meant we were always likely to suffer & it’s almost always fixable (eg Leinster vrs Saracens 2020).
The move away from what made teams fear us (which inevitably leads to more scrums) should be far more a concern.
The move away from what made teams fear us (which inevitably leads to more scrums) should be far more a concern.
I missed the last 20 as well. Thought I’d be smart and write about Irish teams winning when losing the scrums but then came back to that🤦♂️. Jesus we like feeding narratives.
November 29, 2025 at 7:42 PM
I missed the last 20 as well. Thought I’d be smart and write about Irish teams winning when losing the scrums but then came back to that🤦♂️. Jesus we like feeding narratives.
It’s funny that TNT are trolling by asking fans to pick the best combined team in this match. Can’t wait to see the results.
November 29, 2025 at 4:47 PM
It’s funny that TNT are trolling by asking fans to pick the best combined team in this match. Can’t wait to see the results.
This is shocking by Leinster. How many entries!
November 28, 2025 at 9:13 PM
This is shocking by Leinster. How many entries!
Source: The Irish Times share.google/i9is8jU1UFx0...
Tadhg Beirne: ‘There’s so much more in us - we’re a far cry away from our potential at the moment’
Ireland backrow says he sees Rugby World Cup in 2027 as the ‘next big competition’
share.google
November 27, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Source: The Irish Times share.google/i9is8jU1UFx0...
The Irish times article where he talks about coming into his own in the last 10 minutes, when everyone else is flagging, really sums him up.
November 27, 2025 at 6:47 PM
The Irish times article where he talks about coming into his own in the last 10 minutes, when everyone else is flagging, really sums him up.
Glad to see Farley at 12. His best position imo.
November 27, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Glad to see Farley at 12. His best position imo.
It’s been creeping in. Lost a lot of rugby IP with Johnny leaving but also rush defense & contestable kicks means we don’t have as much structure. Need to get back to basics of what made teams fear us. Do wonder what Johnny referred to as nearly clicking, not seen much new attacking structure yet.
November 24, 2025 at 12:18 PM
It’s been creeping in. Lost a lot of rugby IP with Johnny leaving but also rush defense & contestable kicks means we don’t have as much structure. Need to get back to basics of what made teams fear us. Do wonder what Johnny referred to as nearly clicking, not seen much new attacking structure yet.
Looking back on game, we really did shoot ourselves in the foot in the worst ways, dropped restarts, kicks on the full. It’s like we were asking to be punished by scrums. Then silly penalties, Crowley, Doris crossing, Lowe tacking too early. Our attention/focus is nowhere near good enoughcurrently.
November 24, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Looking back on game, we really did shoot ourselves in the foot in the worst ways, dropped restarts, kicks on the full. It’s like we were asking to be punished by scrums. Then silly penalties, Crowley, Doris crossing, Lowe tacking too early. Our attention/focus is nowhere near good enoughcurrently.
Could it be a little like how some of our fans treat Scot’s regards 6N? SA view the WC above all else & since we’ve done nothing in it they don’t feel like we have the right to talk/act like one of the best teams in the world despite our record against them? Seems to wind them up more than others.
November 24, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Could it be a little like how some of our fans treat Scot’s regards 6N? SA view the WC above all else & since we’ve done nothing in it they don’t feel like we have the right to talk/act like one of the best teams in the world despite our record against them? Seems to wind them up more than others.
Yeah. They did a fair job of it but was it the right call? I’m not as ready as others to put this SA team on a pedestal. To many nuances in the game to make a proper assessment. 15 on 15 there wasn’t much difference & I’ve seen Irish scrums decimated before only to fix it the next time up.
November 24, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Yeah. They did a fair job of it but was it the right call? I’m not as ready as others to put this SA team on a pedestal. To many nuances in the game to make a proper assessment. 15 on 15 there wasn’t much difference & I’ve seen Irish scrums decimated before only to fix it the next time up.
Think this is missing in a lot of chat. It was clear Boks were more up for it. I was surprised to see the hand gestures to the crowds but Rassie probably had Matt Williams on repeat in the dressing room or some random Irish twitter account. It’s another reason I’m not as concerned about the result.
November 24, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Think this is missing in a lot of chat. It was clear Boks were more up for it. I was surprised to see the hand gestures to the crowds but Rassie probably had Matt Williams on repeat in the dressing room or some random Irish twitter account. It’s another reason I’m not as concerned about the result.
Yes, but also potentially missing Osbourne, def missing Keenan and any word on McCarthy coming back?
November 24, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Yes, but also potentially missing Osbourne, def missing Keenan and any word on McCarthy coming back?
The Leinster lineup in the next Champions cup game is going to be interesting.
November 24, 2025 at 9:46 AM
The Leinster lineup in the next Champions cup game is going to be interesting.
Don’t knock it. If we are to believe the reaction to yesterday’s game we might soon be grateful of the mighty Scotland choosing us as one of thier tier 2 opponents.
November 23, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Don’t knock it. If we are to believe the reaction to yesterday’s game we might soon be grateful of the mighty Scotland choosing us as one of thier tier 2 opponents.
💯, we need a solid 40 man squad and plenty have put their hand up
this series. Get lucky with injuries and we are def not far off. Ryan really screwed what could have been a good night for us but maybe this tough test will stand to us in the end. Just hope we don’t fall into the narrative trap.
this series. Get lucky with injuries and we are def not far off. Ryan really screwed what could have been a good night for us but maybe this tough test will stand to us in the end. Just hope we don’t fall into the narrative trap.
November 22, 2025 at 10:35 PM
💯, we need a solid 40 man squad and plenty have put their hand up
this series. Get lucky with injuries and we are def not far off. Ryan really screwed what could have been a good night for us but maybe this tough test will stand to us in the end. Just hope we don’t fall into the narrative trap.
this series. Get lucky with injuries and we are def not far off. Ryan really screwed what could have been a good night for us but maybe this tough test will stand to us in the end. Just hope we don’t fall into the narrative trap.
I don’t think we need to get carried away tbh. We have to be able to loss tough games like that and learn from them. Fix scrum issues (difficult I know) and that’s a different game. We have to take positives from this imo.
November 22, 2025 at 8:05 PM
I don’t think we need to get carried away tbh. We have to be able to loss tough games like that and learn from them. Fix scrum issues (difficult I know) and that’s a different game. We have to take positives from this imo.
You wouldn’t mind if he’s called the first one the same way. Probably a different game if he does but no excuses for Irelands card implosion thereafter.
November 22, 2025 at 8:02 PM
You wouldn’t mind if he’s called the first one the same way. Probably a different game if he does but no excuses for Irelands card implosion thereafter.
I loved it. Braindead decisions, feeling sorry for ourselves but we managed to keep it to that scoreline. Some players stood up &gave us plenty to work on. Get McCarthy back to shore up scrum, get lucky with a few injuries & there is plenty to look forward too. My only concern is still our attack.
November 22, 2025 at 7:59 PM
I loved it. Braindead decisions, feeling sorry for ourselves but we managed to keep it to that scoreline. Some players stood up &gave us plenty to work on. Get McCarthy back to shore up scrum, get lucky with a few injuries & there is plenty to look forward too. My only concern is still our attack.
Boys were too roiled up after it. It was a cheap show and def deserved a yellow but we have pretty stupid after that.
November 22, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Boys were too roiled up after it. It was a cheap show and def deserved a yellow but we have pretty stupid after that.
Is it wrong that I’m happy enough with the performance. Brainless cards but Jesus I’ll take that scoreline at half time. This is not over
November 22, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Is it wrong that I’m happy enough with the performance. Brainless cards but Jesus I’ll take that scoreline at half time. This is not over