Australians hammer Irish...

[ballyb..]

Fair play to the Australians, they were too good. I was glad to see them win, if only to make the Series interesting. I have to say that the Irish preparation was appalling (two training sessions in a week, after losing the first test?!! Guys playing matches the day before this test?!!). The way they approached this Series, they deserved to get their arses kicked...

 

[Benny]

Totally agree Ballyb. I mean surely county boards could postpone club fixtures for a week or so to let players focus on the ultimate honour of playing for their country. Heres hoping that we get it right next year.
Also, for the second week in a row, you guys beat us at our own game. Forget about the behinds, you outscored us 2-15 to 1-13. We scored 1-11 last week and could only improve that by two overs. Not good enough lads,
Congratulations Australia. See you down under next year. (Oh, yea- a crowd of 60000. Not bad!)

 

[Pessimistic]

Football is a club game. It will always come before internationals. You might not aree with it but it's the fact

 

[NICK THE PIE MAN]

Cheers Benny, well said

 

[Bernie]

Great postings from our Irish comrades .. are you actually making the journey next year ? I'm sure you'll have a great time - maybe come a little early and catch the AFL finals to get a taste of the oval ball code.

I'm wondering if these games will affect the style ( and even the rules ) of Gaelic - the interchange, the mark, the tackle - because the Gaelic running game has certainly had an effect in AFL - the even changed the rules on taking possession during the pre season competition.

Apparently the Irish code used to use an oval ball and point posts in the 'good old days' ( prior to the invention of dental anesthetic and the bicycle ). Has anyone done any work on the relationship between the two codes in the 19th century ? Where's Peter P. ? There is a theory that the Irish settlers saw the Aboriginals kicking the inflated possum skin and went ...' that's just like our games ' etc etc. And it's come full circle with Michael O'Loughlin .

( Also the boomerang was invented to get the said possum ball out of the trees during the match ).


Also... I was watching the First Test and kept seeing all the usual suspects - Dipper, Healy, R. Walls, Cornes - as well as the ACTUAL coach , and it seemed that Mr. Walls was getting VERY involved.

It's also interesting to see that the spontaneous singing of Advance .. is OK. I must saw that I still cringe a bit as I think it's a crappy song and my generation had a chance to vote for something better but didn't. Anyway, to see the guys immediately jump into the song after the win was great and shows that these elite sportsmen relished the chance to get on a world stage.

Next time more Aboriginal players - D.White, Farmer , Pickett, Wanganeen - as well as Buckley, Harvey etc to REALLY show some ball skills.

Good stuff !

 

[Bloodstained Angel]

Congradulations also to Micky O'Loughlin

a great game, including a goal. Was concussed in the First Test but really made up for it in the second.

Go Micky you total legend !

 

[Broadie]

Great to hear from our Irish Brethren.

Commisserations on the series loss - seems the pattern of these series is that the home team just can't win!

 

[CJ]

I can think of only one thing to say!

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE

 

[S.Robbo]

Well done Aussies! Far too good for the irish. Movement of the ball was excellent as were the skills as well. Dermie definetly had them well drilled.

Great game by Micky O loughlin. Was a treat seeing him and Andy Mcloed carve it up in the forward line. Two of the most talented players in our game.

To the Essendon boys...well done. You all performed brilliantly in either of the games.

Well lead as well by Hirdy and Braddles.

Good effort fellas!

 

[Peter P]

My computer was down - and worst of all my vcr's timer didn't work for the 2nd Test - may have been human error. So all I caught were the brief highlights on Channel 2 news, but even from that -Micky O'Loughlan and Justin Leppitsch - you're champions!!

I'm not sure about the common or not origins of the two games - except that there are theories that the aboriginal game Marn Grook was influential and that returning Irish from the gold fields took the rules back to Eire.

200,000 plus at the last 4 games - and there were plenty turned away at the gate in 2 of those. Next year they'll get 90,000 to the 'G so the hybrid has sure set down roots this time. You'd have to be pathologically "pessimistic" to think otherwise.

I think IR will influence both games and over time they'll draw closer - seperated perhaps only by ball shape. But for a round ball game the IR shows how empty handed soccer is - it leaves it gasping yards behind.

One thing was clear from looking at the Irish press - they're kicking themselves. That sort of bitter defeat fuels come-backs and builds tradtion.

 

[Arch]

just on the topic-
does anyone ever catch the Today show on ch 9 in the mornings ????

Last week I heard Ian "Bear" Maurice in his monday sports round up, giving the IR series a good bagging, saying it was contrived and a waste of time and other such crap.

Then yesterday morning on the same show, I saw Richard Wilkins (of all bloody people), saying something similar, like what a crock it is etc etc.

This really pissed me off- because a) What the f*ck does "the bear" know about AFL? , let alone IR, as hes based in sydney and obviously follows thugby and because b) What the f*ck would Wilkins know about anything at all, let alone sports.

anyone else catch that ????

OK Im off my soapbox. That just really shat me.

A.

 

[Dan26]

I agree Arch. It's pathetic.

You'd think they would put the petty state vs state differences behind them and actually support Australia.

As to whether the series is a waste of time or not......this is determined by the fans. If the series produces bums on seats, then there is an interest.

I watched with amusement how Australia vs Papua New Guinea in Rugby League last week drew about 8,000 people and produced an embarassing 82-0 win for Australia.

Idiotic comments from Sydney based sports presenters won't determine whether International Rules is a success. They can laugh, but as long as 60,000 plus keep attending these matches, the AFL will be happy. Very happy. Attendances and public interest will determine it.

You can't tell the fans they don't care. The fans will decide themselves. Currently, they are voting with their feet, so Ian Maurice can shove it. If the fans care, then the Intenational Rules concept (which I LOVE by the way) will go from strength to strength

 

[RICE80SF]

Dan and Arch I'm shocked and horrified you guys don't religiously read all my posts

.

Take a look at the post started by Crowz4eva, with the scoreline of the first test as the subject. I have a go at the fat "sports expert" on the Today show.

I missed Richard Wilkins babbling on Arch, that would have been very amusing. Can't believe the gaul of these guys, slagging off something they know nothing about.

BTW the late Bomber inclusions Carra, Blumfield and Heffernan certainly shoved it right up the doubters (where are you GFE) he he he

. Oh and James was serviceable too

.

Cheers.

Cheers Guys

------------------
RED & BLACK BACK to BACK 2001!

[This message has been edited by RICE80SF (edited 19 October 2000).]

 

[Peter P]

I think the intensity of the Rugby League media going off at IR is because they're embarrassed by their own sport. In the last 3 internationals Australia has scored 242 and the opposition (NZ, PNG and NZ residents) have scored NIL ! The RL run the risk of destroying the sports first World Cup - though staging it in the UK will help England - but I think Australia is 25:1 odds on to take the cup - they'd be totally unbackable if not for England.

So in comparison - these Tests between Ireland and Australia stand up very well - 5 games out of 6 have been down to the wire and even the last one wasn't a shillacking as Ireland put respectablity back on the board with a gritty last half. The other point is they don't come out of nowhere - there's nearly 3 centuries of tradition from the 2 codes, Gaelic once had an oval ball and behind posts, aboriginal stars like O'Loughlin and Long have Irish roots etc etc.

 

[Dan26]

Rice,

I do read your posts actually. That was one of the things that made me mention Ian Maurice.