Sports show presents House of Brooky hello and you’re all very welcome to House of rugby it was a busy weekend in the URC which saw Conor beaten for the first time this season olster staged a comeback to get the better of monster in kingspan stadium and lster defeated
The dragons and Rodney parade on Sunday afternoon and to look back on the weekend’s action I’m joined in Studio by Lindsay Pete and joined remotely by Johnny Murphy how are we doing story Debbie wre Havoc but we’re here in some shape or for him well it brings new
Meaning to Debbie Downer huh who’s put a downer on a Monday morning for us I’m sure well I know Johnny Was the Same the kids went in school as yours were late so yeah put everyone under a bit of pressure on a Monday morning when you
Don’t need it exactly but we’re here now and I suppose if we start by looking back on the weekend’s interpro olster they got the better of monster really entertaining game and a finish 2114 and a great comeback from olar and an important win for them an important one
Considering their lost to conact last week and I think for me this season I’d like to see oler just put some consistency together um and in the first couple of weeks um Dan McFarland has kind of mixed up his teams he’s mixed up his pairings he kind of did it again
Like a young pack that started but then the experience came off the bench and and won them the game and they started slow like they really did it wasn’t until burns like little Crossfield chip into Stockdale that kind of got the mot and now Nan do is he had two penalties
To kind of keep them within distance but monster started well and they looking at their team Sheet they probably should have came away with a win and a better performance yeah they’d be very frustrated um by that performance and that result Johnny but what was the difference in oler’s performance from
Last week do you think H I think they were more uh physical uh certainly their scrum was dominant being kind of quite shaky early on you know in the first kind of five to 10 minutes it looked like monmer on top there but then you know the clear they were very very
Dominant and obviously the winning try comes from um you know from from a a turnover I think they just had a bit more you know you see Rob hering and and the World Cup guys returning they just had a bit more power than they did last
Week um and they played some some really good rugby you know kind of from 20 minutes on uh they look to spread the ball a bit more um and I think all in all they were probably just there was a really good reaction from the week
Before in the sports grind but all in all I think they were just that bit more physical than than where they were and and that comes with who they had available to them but you would would have been been happy with it I think Lindsay is Right monster were probably
Dis they were disappoint you know they would probably be very disappointed with themselves um to not close that game out and and really in the last five minutes when they got back in and they were pushing for the draw they never really looked like they were really put oler
Under pressure defensively I know they got a break at Rory scan to put them back in in the 22 but for me olster looked comfortable in the last five minutes to finding their line yeah monster I suppose they they gave away an 11-point lead and they hammered away as
Johnny said for the last 10 minutes of that game but the comeback was way too late they looked rudderless really up until then yeah like I looked at their team like jermany L lman was there D Baron um like Craig Casey um Crowley was there like they had an experienced team
And this is on the back of GR round Tre really like developing his young Squad last year so like some reports so oh the young Squad went up to kingspan and didn’t come away with the win I’d be disappointed with that grand rry was very vocal you know postmatch to say
That that wasn’t themselves he was disappointed they discussed that in the change room and the thing about it is Johnny is right that uler used their physicality their mall was exceptional their their scrum was exceptional um their physicality was certainly they won that battle at the breakdown 100% And
They’re the key areas in any rugby match it doesn’t matter what level your playing that if your set piece isn’t function and you’re not looking after your breakdown that’s really going to be you know your Achilles heal and I think it summed it up in this scel uh you know
Breakaway they they allowed Rob pering to to turn over that ball and win the game now it was fitting for him on his the celebration of his most Capman and 230 at cap however um to beat an olster team with that physicality as gra alluded it their their breakdown was
Poor they didn’t move the ball quickly they didn’t move oler around the park to create those gaps and that quick ball that they’ve been working on last season that really was a difference in their game and was so successful for them last year and brought in the athleticism that
They have in a lot of their players like Calvin Ash is there as well Shane Dy like these were exceptional players who who won them games last year with these quick balls and moving the ball quickly and we’ll move on to ler we see we saw them doing exceptionally well against
Dragons so I think that’s what let them down setpiece as well was was really key and oler’s defense Johnny deserves a lot of credit but Monster’s handling was really off and they just couldn’t handle oler’s kicking game no and I I think they controlled you know along with um
Their good defensive line um you know they good defensive line speed they controlled you know particularly from 20 minutes on where the game was played they control the air which again is unlike monster um and all in all you you they were just Monster were just just
Off but I think that’s down to probably the reaction of what happened last week from molster and you know you have to have that physical Edge going up to to Raven Hill it’s a tough place to get a win um but having had such a good start yeah just a
Frustrating evening evening for them um and they looked they as you said they their accuracy was off um you know of the main guys coming back in from the World Cup you probably be the most disappointed with the monster Lads compared to the other the other provinces um they just didn’t look as
Slick and it should be on a surface that should suit you know that that should suit monster and how they want to try and play Under Mike prender gas compared uh to pre uh to previous years um yeah all in all a very disappointing a very disappointing evening but very good from
From olster um their basic core kind of you know setpiece defensive line uh physicality at the breakdown they were putting on a number of shots and they looked very very comfortable when when moner were were thrown everything at them and and as you said they looked kind of unusual for this monster team
Because they looked kind of very much like a one outside coming around the corner and that’s not how Mike pagas wants to play at all um so yeah frustrating evening for them but puts oler back you know back in it’s very early to say in the hunt but but it’s a
Good win at at a timely the timely phase in the season when all their World Cup guys are coming back in and that was the difference and Johnny mentioned mentioned it the impact that the bench made um and Rob Herring Ian Henderson and Scott Wilson is another player from
Last year’s under 20s Grand s making his debut who had a huge impact on the game huge congratulations to him I watched his postmatch interview and it was so humbling to to basically allude to the fact that he was in the stands you know
All his life as an olderman as a as a and as a supporter and then to actually being a an oldstar Jersey coming off the bench was a dream come true and he was key to that Nick timony tro at the end ridic LLY powerful in this grr but also
Were like Johnny lud they played in good position so they were patient when they got in there do you know and I said they they got momentum in the mall they wasted they wasted they wasted and Nick himy obviously put it down so um Ian Henderson I thought coming up to the
World Cup after his injury he was plagued for a long time with injuries and finally you know he’s such an experienced guy he’s so physical he’s so smart and that’s the difference with the experience whether it’s running lines or just little moments where he can turn it
Over same with Rob hering he just waited and waited and bed his time and then get in there for a turnover at the end so his throwing as well was exceptional um but you John Cooney on the bench as well um Henderson Herring obviously Tom Shir took the captaincy this week which is
Nice to see so it’s nice to see a nice mix of experience and the the underage Academy players coming up through H Stuart Moore as well there um as well he’s really making his presence felt in that back row and there’s a lot of competition now yeah and competition
Breeds excellence and that’s the difference you need to have a deep Squad where you’re injuryf free and especially with the longevity of the Season where International Players be coming in and out you know there will be injuries for them maybe you know players who are playing well we’ll get their opportunity
Coming up to the Six Nations we’re now starting a new cycle with the Ireland team so you’d hope to see like new players taking their opportunity so um yeah hopefully we won’t see the last of Scott Wilson now one area where um olster struggled and monster did as well
Was at line out time what do you put that down to Johnny because this is an area if we’re looking at moner that they struggled with last last season as well um yeah it’s hard to put your your you’re kind of put put everything on that you know to to get clear guidance
Is it a mixer of guys coming back in but they’re kind of four games into the season now um yeah they’re they they just seem to struggle a bit and obviously you know they’re down you know to line out oper operators in John Klein and and and orj San so there’s a younger
Dynamic there managing that um line out calls could be just an adjustment period to to to th to those guys but it is something that they need to be better and I know having no having played with with um with gra rry you know he’ll be absolutely disgusted with their setpiece
Both scrome and line out time um and it’s a big work on for them most teams now need their line out to function we saw that during the World Cup it’s watch so many teams launch off um and you know teams getting up and competing um and putting them under pressure because you
Know they’re they’re seeing that that it’s not the the kind of weapon it was of of previous year so that’s something that that they need to there’s so many different moving Parts but it is something that they need to to get a hold of properly and graem rry you
Mentioned him there his message as you said Lindsay was that was not us it wasn’t good enough and they have standards now and they will not be happy to let those standards Dro from last year no and the thing about a line out like obviously between globe and
International like no more than the scrum it’s can sometimes be an area of of confidence so when yeah you know Johnny makes a good point with Lads coming back in but these aren’t players who haven’t not played together before like so de Baron has played you know the
Season um yes they have a young team but again it’s I would still consider last season being sort of the foundations and the basis of what to build on and that’s where I can see understand gra round tre’s disappointment no more than Mike penas with the attack with the set piece
With the thing we line out is just win the ball you know sometimes we make it so compated some teams don’t need movement just pick the area if you’re winning the ball at two just continue to win it on two and then build your confidence in do you know make the other
Team gives the team huge momentum huge momentum and sometimes it can be all of the components just aren’t working all together so sometimes your line out thrower is having your hook is having a bad day the timing’s off on the lift it’s the wrong call on the line out and
Sometimes it just is gone absolutely terribly so sometimes you just need to win the ball and you know we’ve gone to sometimes where you just actually don’t even lift the player just throw it in at the at the prop at the front just to get
The ball in and keep the other team on their toes so I think they’ be disappointed but it’s nice to have a key area to work on it’s nice to have it at the early stages of the season I think it’s something that might be just a kick
Up the backside for Monster to really press on and sometimes young players and young teams and more than old players like myself need a reminder that you’re not Invincible that one just one week because you’ve had a really good uh game you have to build consistency in that
And you have to always be ready and switch on Raven Hill Kings fan is a tough place to go to but at the same time every team now is so competitive in the URC that you just have to be on your game all the time um so I think it’s a
Good learning cve for for young young players who will Thrive off this if I’d say it’s going to be a tough week of training but uh I think we’ll see a good reaction from them this week coming in yeah that’s it and Johnny monster won’t go into crisis mode now but it will
Sharpen their FOC certainly and with those international players coming back in and the stormers coming to town next weekend you would imagine that they’ll come out fighting in tomman park yeah it’s big couple of weeks for all the provinces now they have to reintegrate all the World Cup Lads um and then reach
The heights ahead you know ahead of couple of big in Pros um so yeah but like you know the lineary time Pete is obviously a key driver in that area you know you you have your your returning you know John Klein you have Murray coming back in you have more guys to to
To get stuck into that and and kind of develop that as they go um but yeah it’s this is a it’s a critical kind of two weeks for all provinces get everyone back up to speed on on the provincial calls making sure the energy is good and
I think that’s probably something as I said already that the other provinces were were were bang on um where they were probably probably just a slight bit off up on Raven Hill for from a moner from a monster side so um yeah it’ll be an interesting week this week in
Training I’m sure and obviously stormers first and they think they’re into you know the the interpro which everyone sees as the you know the first fixture you look at us when when when we playing lster so they need to get right over the next couple of weeks and it’s probably a
Good time for the stormers to come to town now they were beaten by beneton last weekend they’re missing their World Cup players of course as well so it’s probably a good time to meet them yeah I think so un like you’re looking at the team of I suppose there when you’re
Looking at the team she from oner EG dogbo who I’m a huge fan of but I suppose when you look at him he’s still such a young guy who’s going to get your front football is he ready to take on the responsibility of of being a line
Out caller maybe not but he’ll build in confidence the same with fine mitchley so there are probably young guys that need just there’s so many areas especially in a front five so many facets of the game where you’re trying to get experience being a line out Coller and taking on that pressure then
Without the likes of P Mani just to reassure you or uh snimon or Jean Klein or even even Joey Carby maybe at 10 not saying that crowdy but like your 10 is giving you what options they want in the lineup whether it’s a fiveman Fullman when their Mall depending on what area
The pitch are so I suppose to come in and build a bit of confidence against a big team like the stormers will be it’ll be a good time that you don’t have the experience of World Cup winners um in their you know in their play in their
Team Sheet to to kind of build that confidence again especially going into Lancer because they’ll be skin and hair flying now in two weeks absolutely looking at olster and what lies ahead for them um they face the Lions they come to Kings ban next Friday night again they’ll be missing their
Internationals looking at oler’s style of play are you seeing a bit more of an expansive style in the first few rounds this season Johnny thereafter saying that that’s what their goal is they have the three pitch in there as well and stocka was saying after the game that
They’re encouraged now to play more of this running rugby have you seen any change in their style yeah I have um and um you know it’s something that obviously that that surface suits them now um and you have to kind of play quick fast will be on that on that
Surface so they’ve I think they’ve obviously had a blip in in in the sports ground and you know where they played well for you know early and then they just couldn’t fin finish it out um it’s do or it’s not do or die it’s the wrong phrase but it’s time that olster
Really step up now they’ve been the nearly men for for too long in my opinion uh they’ve built a good squad they’ve really good you know they’ve a really good coaching uh coaching team up there um it’s time for them to deliver and I think you know they need to try
And get some medals around their around their neck they’ve been there they abouts in playoffs for a number of years but half lift to the trophy so I think this year is a pivotal year for for the group they have a good mixture of of of
Kind of older and and younger guys um guys that have played you know Season ail players younger guys that are now 24 that have have taken that step up after playing our 20s um and along with that kind of expans expan expansion of how they want
To play they’re playing a bit more with they have a really good kicking game as you saw the other knes but it’s time that they they deliver I think this season um they need to be pushing getting into the playoff spots and trying to get some medals around their
Neck I think it’s time that you know and without that you know they’re going to have to look at where they had G forward but it’s kind of now and never in my opinion for for that as Lindsay was saying it’s that consistency that olster have lacked in Seasons up until now yeah
Like last year they started you know they were probably the team that were going to challenge H lster until they met ler um and and got a poor poor loss and then kind of the wheels came off the car it absolutely capitulated we didn’t know whether it was the attitude whether
It was something inh house that was happening um but they they were just nearly like petulant and refused to perform do you know and they were well capable like some of the performances they put together last season but it was just really really inconsistent um and they just couldn’t piece together a good
Run and and they are actually and I used to last year and I apologized but they were infuriating because you you want the best for them and you know their potential and when you look at the names you know in their squad you’re like these Lads should be doing a lot better
So I agree with Johnny I think it’s something but you could kind of say we we’ll move on to kuk they’re kind of the same until their backs are against the wall so I suppose it’s how to build that consistency and that confidence in this playing group to try
Now see the game of rugby has evolved into something that’s I suppose so marable it’s so quick it’s expansive it’s skillful and it’s now really honing in on you know getting players getting more Spectators into to watch it and it is such an exciting game to watch now
With all the the changes and what they how they want to develop the game but to now change your style and not have an identity I think that’s going to be the interesting point for me over the next couple of weeks with aler to see what is
Their style now we we saw Stuart Mor even over the last two weeks little chip screws Crossville kicks so if they can build that patience and that decision making and when they they kind of Chuck it up and keep it with their forwards to they they should move away from the mall
Either that was such a weapon for them yeah so now it’s about decision making you know if they’re getting a penalty and they’re putting teams Under Pressure do the kick to the corner their mall is now a weapon so you’ve kind of now this Armory where what options are they going
To take in different areas of pitch so if they can you know have an expansive style where they can keep the ball with forwards or they can get it out to the backs J mloy is a guy who gets your front football all the time but now you
Billy Morton he’s a playmaker Cooney when he’s on form Nathan jok same thing so how do you get all those players jelling together making the right decisions and making them in the right part of the pitch to get your scores and kind of the you know reap the rewards of
The fruits of your labor so like it’ll be interesting for me now to see how they they form that identity now over the next couple of weeks and put the consistency together well before we move on to conu a word on Andrew Conway Johnny he had to hang up his boots
Unfortunately at the age of 32 and a really cruel blow after working so hard to get back on the pitch after such a cruel injury and missing all of last season and he was such a real talent yeah absolutely good for for Andrew uh I actually lived with him for two for two
Years uh when he first came down um we’d be we’d be really good mates um yeah it just good at for him I I I didn’t realize uh up until I heard and I was quite shocked uh been I hadn’t talked talked to him for about three or four
Weeks I was talking to him when he got back con congratulated him on his 150th and that kind of stuff and then yeah um yeah just really disappointed firm um Top Class player um you know really um you know the last year that we lived together he kind of made the first year
Under Axel he he really made that slot his own he worked so hard on his Basics and made parts of his game better than anyone else in the country be it you know high ball received um you know and and and his work ethic
Off the ball I I I think was it was similar to a rugby league Winger he was popping up everywhere um and then off the pitch um yeah he’s just a a really good guy good friend to be around great fun um and yeah just just really good at
Fir him um he he’s uh he’s going to be a loss to to monster because I know what a big character he is within the dressing room uh and obviously on the pitch he’s he’s a massive loss for both monster and Ireland but I can’t speak highly enough
Of a Conway he’s a he’s a great L and I’m just genuinely gooded for him he was such a talent in that monster backline and for Ireland as well like his strike rate speaks for itself 15 tries and 30 appearances in green 50 tries for Monster 150 caps as Johnny said there
And we’ll all remember his individual moment of ma magic against tulon in 2018 yeah the amount of I was ex players and people who took to their social media just to to give Andrew uh come the congratulations he deserves but what stood out for me was not only the
Exceptional player he was but the amount of people who actually just said he was such such a good guy off the pitch as well um and I hope he felt all the love that he deserved last week to have such a talent RoR at 32 and there was still a
Lot of playing Left in him is is very sad um but I suppose for him to take the opportunity when when he worked so hard um and got to see the best them is something that doesn’t always happen for every professional athlete whether it’s rugby or whatever sport we’re talking
About so um it was lovely to see him just be he’s one of the most exceptional players to have graced a green jersey or a monster Jersey over the last probably number of years so congratulations to him and hopefully the future HS and as you said the glowing tributes we’ve
Heard from former teammates and coaches and fans speaks volumes of the person um he is as well and but for Monster as Johnny said there himself and Keith ears now to lose that experience in the backline and with Joey carbury out as well you know maybe they’re a bit light
In that backline do you think they are but I’m hoping those three Lads will be around the training area because I think because you’re not on a pitch doesn’t mean that you can’t be helping Lads with their extras or going through their video with them you know there’s always
A place for experienced and good men like that to to give back um and also for them to just I’d say to just have your career cut short and to have to no more than Dan Dan leave you to have that your career Cuts short at such a young
Age with so much potential still left in you is hard you know so to just all of a sudden be cut I suppose or have that decision so abruptly um be given to you I hope he stays within monster you know to offer that personality and that experience back in because I think
Monster are in a really good place with some fabulous young players and I’d love to see them build on last season and some of the successes and those three guys will be key to that even though they’re not on the pitch they’re certainly key to how they will perform
On us with the other well his experience would be invaluable and we wish him all the best Johnny we need to let you go now thanks a million for joining us no problem thanks million for having us guys talk to you soon talk to you soon
We’ll move on to Conor now Lindsay their unbeaten run came to an end chps Ben Healey with his last gasp drop goal broke Conor’s TS um and that’s the first time since 2002 the conu were on the verge I suppose of winning um four games
In a row at the start of the season but it credit to Edinburgh and they deserve that win they did um where do I start about your native Province like I just sometimes want to throttle them I’m like you know what it always seems to me that
They’re backs have to be against the wall and I love the underdog tag and look we as a nation Ireland know the underdog tags but I’d love to see kuk for the amount of work and the exceptional players they have there just to believe in themselves and actually
Dominate teams from start to finish so so um I think they’d be kicking themselves now turning their back in a on a penalty 5 MERS from their Tri line which which gave Ed Edinburgh that Supremacy and probably that it was a turning point really in a game they also
Gave away two trys from really deep edur attacking between V murva having that break um and did another break in the first half so there’s just moments where there’s nearly like lapses in concentration with them um and I don’t think they doing themselves any justice because they probably could have won
That you know they just put they just gave Edinburgh the position to go through the phases and look Ben hedi was exceptional in in being able to take that pressure and and nail that drop kick with in the 80th minute to Wi to win by and he he just looks like he is
So confident he has settled in really well to his new club by the looks of it and it’s something that Edinburgh have been lacking that reliable goal kicker absolutely and like I’ve been there you’re out half and and a kicker to to be able to put over three points when
You’re you’re having a lot of work and as a team you’re putting in a lot of work you’re putting through a lot of phases but you’re just not getting over the the line to keep tapping over and we saw it with South Africa in the World
Cup just to be able to take that opportunity because psychologically you get into the opposition’s head yeah you know they’re working so hard defensively but even to put three points on and I suppose I was guilty of that as a player not thinking everything was about tries
But to keep tagging on three points in good positions and coming away from what we’d call the green zone or your or your scoring area on a pitch to Come Away with something is essential and I think Ben is is key to that now for Ed on forward people were saying that they
Should have went to the corner because they had the penalty advantage and they could have gotten the bonus point but I suppose when you’re guaranteed those points and you can win the game that was what they what Ben Healey was thinking oh 100% And like the URC especially at
The minute with uh World Cup players not being back integrated but even when they will teams are very competitive right now in the URC I mean last year we saw it there was so many up like every week there was so kind of this unexpected result and you’re like oh this is nice
And it’s it’s exciting and we have the batons putting in now you know wins against the the stormers and stuff like that and these unexpected wins that keep it exciting both for players teams and ourselves as Spectators so um teams will just be happy enough to get the points
On the board for the win you know um and it’s a Pity because to be fair edmer had such a good team V MVA being back King Horn being back like they have some exceptional players there so for kanuk to go away with a strong teams themselves yeah and being in with a
Chance of winning I think they’d be very very very disappointed now they they really will because this is something Pete Wilson has focused on because they only won three out of their nine away fixtures last year so they really need to improve on their away form if they
Want to be in with a Fighting Chance at the end of the season and as you said they had that chance they had come back um what was the score they came back and it was 22 all with four minutes to go and they were in a winning position or
They could have won that ball back off the scroll but it shows maybe a lack of game management and panic kind of creeping into the team yeah and I think you know even Edinburgh had a yellow card do you know so even when you’re managing you know the opposition being down a player
Um and I think that’s key to decision making what do you do when you have the ball um and that is key to your halfback pairing and as a team I think sometimes they do lack that and not every team has that you know you’ve you would we would
Have had it with lenser with with Johnny Ros bur and then trying to fill those shoes but you’ve also sometimes it might be your Center it might be your fullback it might be in your pack that you have these leaders that help take pressure off just this one player having all
Decisions there but yeah definitely I think the key game management um decisions are something that conic really need to work on because their Endeavor and their physicality and their want and you know is there we just need to put it all together yeah and it’s probably one of the most frustrating
Aspects of that performance they will look at all of their little I suppose the battles with Edinburgh throughout the game but it was the lack of composure that cost him that game in the end well yeah even the quick tap um as I said they they just weren’t switched on
Like everyone having their back to a penalty with five me it’s just not on do you know because you’re just I don’t know what’s going through and you know I’ve noticed even playing myself you’re kind of well when you’re in on attack you’re kind of like oh look you know
These are narrow here where we can but sometimes it’s actually just having the the confidence to take the quick tap and do something different you know sometimes as humans and as players we want to always stay in that comfort zone or we’re um but I think fair play to
Edinburgh for just being quick thinking you know but conut they won’t be it won’t be all doom and gloom they have three wins under their belts they’re on the road now to South Africa and they face the Sharks and maybe it’s a dangerous time really to be coming up
Against the sharks who haven’t won a game yet this season so they’ll be in Durban and they be really going to win this game against conut but on paper conu should have the better of them yeah and if memory serves me right I think conu would one of the few Irish
Provinces to go to that afria to win last season so they would be confident to get down there I mean there it’s not all doom and gloom like it’s probably a nice again reminder that you have to be switched on small little margins small decisions in games that will get you
Over the line it would be nice going sou Africa with four wins and having a new record set however a nice reminder that you know go to South Africa and get two big wins on the road we’ll put them in a very very confident position when they
Come back to play um lster in the first round in December if I’m not mistaken with that yeah in two weeks time and I suppose they’ll be looking forward to having their Internationals back again which would be huge for con huge I mean Bundy was absolutely exceptional one of
The stand out players you know of the World Cup to have him back to have M Hansen back um would be huge um and they will just add I suppose hopefully a bit of confidence on to an already very you know they’ve some very very good players
Ion who have put some good performances together they you know and they need to be confident in that go down to South Africa with your chest out you know it’s a nation that absolutely loves their rugby driving it driving it and don’t be the guys who who perform when they backs against
The wall go down there with confidence and bring the game to to the South Africans you know that’s what I would love to see because you know um when I say about frustration with your home province is again comes from a good place we just want every you know you
Want the provinces to do well you are screaming into the pillow watching them at times yeah moving on to lster um they jumped from 9th to second in the table after yesterday’s win in Rodney parade and as you mentioned there earlier it shows how tight things are in the League
This season um terrible conditions but another straightforward win from lster and it and it shows that they’re building week on week now yeah what I love to see was the just the variation of their tries and that’s what we saw last year with this success so Scott
Penny off them all Dan off them all but then D with a turnover that puts um Charlie and Nat true on a break and then just the the really good decision for um him to then Tommy O’Brien gets the ball uh Charlie Nat Nat I struggle I
Apologize um picks up the ball so he doesn’t wait he plays nine gets it to Ross bur um and then it’s you know over and back it was nearly like uh Barcelona with the one twos uh between um shean and uh who played fullback he’ll come to
Mey fry that’s it k um geez I haven’t had enough coffee today left but yeah I just thought the variation of tries Dani and I thought was exceptional John McCarthy as well so just it’s lovely to see Tommy o’ br’s having a really good start of the season I have to say he’s
He’s lightning H and it’s lovely seek K on folley now back after such a long injury since I think that’s two tries uh in two weeks so um yeah I thought they were very good to go away and I know the Welsh team you know the Welsh regions
Haven’t been really foreign now the last two seasons so but it’s those little away wins on the road uh with young players and even like we could afford to have Scott penny come off the bench you know what I mean so yeah it’s Lov to see the young guys coming in but they’re
Foreign as well they’re performing and danin you mentioned in there he was invaluable to them and was instrumental in so many of what lster did on Sunday and he was handed the captain’s arm band for the first time and it’s amazing with five returning World Cup players and
Blend into the squad how well lster can blend these players seamlessly back into the team it’s it’s hugely it’s how do you even say it for young guys to able to adapt and just slot in and not only the players coming back from World Cup slot in but the
Players who are removed or the players who are playing around them um I think adaptability is something that is just brandish around but it it’s huge to how it doesn’t knock your performance um if anything it just yeah they knock famly in and it was good to have two
Consecutive wins on the road good win last week had home against Edinburgh so I just think um I I was thinking about this during the World Cup I was like how would I feel if I was part of the laner squad coming back you’re trying to build
On some of like obviously the losses last season so trophyless and then you’re coming in going well right we’re watching the World Cup we’re kind of simmer along you’re going to naven and playing them that’s no disrespect to the opposition but you’re trying to really make most of the games while you can
They played Trinity and out last week so really thinking outside the box and just getting Lads good standard of game time to keep them in because you can train all the time you know so to try to keep firing their bellies and keep them firing and waiting and waiting and Bing
Their time so very place them for having the patience um and now we’re up and running and it’s good to see them kind of Unleashed I suppose Joe McCarthy was another standout performer for lster man of the match performance from him and looking at himself and Dani and Jimmy
O’Brien who slotted in a scrum half you were talking about versatility he went in a scrum cor mle went off it shows that there’s no World Cup hangover with these players they’re hitting the ground running no I’m delighted for Jimmy I thought he was exceptional when he come
On you know um against the All Blacks he really was stand out his foot work his just what willingness to kind of get arand on the front foot and the same thing with that I think he’s just stood up and he’s used that confidence and that experience you know to bring it
Back to ler and it’s lovely to see far in their belly because you could e you know carry the disappointment and kind of come you wouldn’t you’d forgive them to come back a bit lack cluster and disappointed but no quite the opposite um and it’s lovely to see him I’m sure
At some point during school or underage rugby I’m sure he he played as a nine number more than um Gary ring R was at one stage when he was with black rock so it’s funny to see but it’s it’s lovely to see the confidence to just go in and
Play any position and I think that’s going to be key to because the length of the Season again with players been in and out whether it’s International or just through injury um I think it’s going to be key to how successful ler are and and you know with Johnny gone
And new players having to step up it’ll be good to see you know how theya but Joe McCarthy and Don Chun are well beyond their years you know by age you know how they’re playing they’re well beyond their years and Lee Barn is another player James Khan Ben Murphy Leo
Colen name check the academy players and they’re tipping away at this time of the season with these young players coming in giving them game time and it’s invaluable for them if they need to step in or will step in again throughout the season and when it comes to the big
Games well last week I think it was Kahan I watched his stats if I’m not mistaken if it’s hopefully I’m right with him um and like he had a try the amount of meters made like it’s it’s not only that they’re coming in to perform
Like to come in to fill a jersey they’re actually coming in to perform and that’s the difference with what I’d like to see with young players given the opportunity take it take it by the Scruff or neck because as an an experienced player myself or when I was younger and the two
Was on the other foot your job is come in and take that Jersey take the opportunity and stay in it because what that does then is just brings the competitive nature and everyone has to up their game if you really want to play that’s only going to breed a successful
Environment for lster do you know that level of competition um and it’s lovely and it’s something I said it last season and I’ll say it again I am fascinated with I suppose training environments that are able to cater for everybody that you don’t have any egos coming
Through and no one’s petulant or if they’re getting taken off if they’re rotated like it’s just like everyone is in this Brotherhood and fraternity where they’re just happy that it is the lanster jersey with the winds it doesn’t matter who’s in it um and we saw it a
Little bit with monster as well last year with gr rry given the younger the younger players who who are starting who are starting now this season yeah um it’s lovely to see them bring on you know the next stage of monster rby or the next stage of lster rby so and it’s
The lster mindset as well like they were so clinical even though they had that game wrapped up they they know when to score in the Championship minutes before the before halftime right after the break as well they take their opport opportunities and they’re able to kick on like it wasn’t a a perfect
Performance the the weather had a lot to do with it as well but they were able to sharpen up on those things that let them down the handling erors in the first half and sharpen up on them in the second half and really kick on well to
Scor her 33 points I’ll pronounce my T just for um in a really like a really crappy day is is again Testament to the stand that they uphold for themselves and it’s it is not easy playing a game a rby they could have you would have forgiven them to just go really short
And narrow and carry up the ball but they weren’t afraid to play expansive style rugby and like rosb gave probably a 20 meter pass out to Kieran fry to get that in back inside Sheen who back out to to Kieran fry and they’re just a team who enjoy playing together and it’s
Really it’s really energizing to even look at that and I can’t even imagine how nice it is to play in that you know environment where you’re just allowed to express yourself and play and that’s it one players can step in and step out with Jack Nar coming in now he’s due to
Aring lster this week how quickly will we see his fingerprints on this team now I think what I’d like what I’d love to see I don’t think he’s going to change too much I think he’s just going to maybe tweak some areas where even on the mental side of things where like we
Saw them like over the weekend that they were clinical but no offense it’s a way to the dragons which again we’ve said the Welsh regions haven’t been very successful over the last seasons and and they to look after that size of things but there are going to be some tough
European pool games that are coming up there’re going to be some tough away fixtures to to conu and at home to monster and they’re going to be key I suppose building blocks in the trophies that we could potentially win this season do you know so um I know there’s
Been stories and even looking at kesi how he spoke of Nina bar taking him from under 7 and so many of the that Squad there to still have the level of respect and thank from from a player he’s obviously an exceptional man as well as
A coach and I think that was my biggest fear when we lost Stuart Lancaster is this was a guy who worked with Leo Cullen that actually nurtured but also taught so there’s again it’s just a fascinating balance to see see the young men that’s in front of you but also set
The standards that they have to uphold and keep um so to have love and care on one side but this Standard Bearing I suppose template on the other and marry the two I think he’s just going to come in and build on what the lads have have really built up there
Before shk Lancaster left um I think he’s going to put his own little tweak on different things but I think it’s going to be a fresh impetus uh of energy from a a guy’s ridiculously experienced and I think they’ll be fascinated by him considering the success of the South
Africans at the recent World Cup yeah he’ll bring all that winning energy into the dressing room so it’ll be really fascinating to see over the next few weeks how how we see him um come to the four with the lster setup now they welcome the Scarlets to the RDS next
Weekend as you mentioned the wealth sides are really struggling all four teams lost in the URC this weekend will we see more Internationals coming into the side now um as they look ahead to the inter Pros against conon monster I think so I think it’s going to be it’s a
Key area of the season now that you just need to pick up as many wins Before Christmas there’ll be different times I think he’ll still use this game to bring in maybe get some game time for some Internationals but I think he’ll still reward the young players who would be
Performing over the last number of weeks and I think they should do that because you need to take time where you can balance given young players that experience at game time and then obviously in the bigger games not if they deserve it or you feel their time
Is there and that’s a coaching decision that to integrate them with probably more the experienced players to increase the pressure on them to perform under that pressure and see how they do and I think that’s going to be key but I’d say yeah I can see the likes of McCarthy uh
Getting back in danen as well they also have to be kept injury free do you know so it’s it’s going to be a game management but I think maybe we’ll see another mix of experience and um and youth this weekend before we go into it probably a key couple of weeks scary
Prospect for Scarlets coming to town yeah and iise that’s one thing I I didn’t say about Nar I think the fascinating side of how they managed uh the 71 split and I know obviously that’s mainly Razzy as well but I think that side will also Fascinate lster players
And probably fans to see how they he manages and what little key bits of magic that he’ll bring from the South African dressing room as well and his personality he seems like a really good guy so it’d be interesting to see but um yeah I pray for the Scarlets this
Weekend looking at other results before we finish up zebra claimed a first win since April 2022 after nail biting victory over the Sharks and it’s really good to see the start that zebra has have have put to have made to the season because they’ve claimed five bonus
Points in their opening round um more than any other team and it just shows that they’re very close and that won’t be the only scalp they’ll take this season Benetton are still unbeaten so it would be really good for the league to see the Italians competitive I think
It’d be good for Italy and the Italian uh rugby communities to see Italian teams do well as well beneton I thought were exceptional last season some of the rugby they put together was it was an absolute joy to watch and they got some deserving deserving win so um it’d be
Lely to see because zra still were the whipping boys last last season so it’s lovely to see them with a good confidence start to this season and considering Italy’s poor form of That World Cup um not what we’d like to see uh I think it’s going to be a nice
Reminder that there’s such potential in Italy so I think they deserve some I I suppose some joy in their rugby lives considering their poor World Cup yeah well when you look back at last season they only managed to get 11 points throughout the whole season they’re already at nine points this season so
You know it’s a huge step forward for them and it’ll be a difficult place for teams to go yeah but like if you’re the amount of look they probably put together some good Snippets of performances but not full performances last year but confidence breeds just something different so the fact that
They’ve started so well whereas last year because they were under the caution always always losing and losing tight games it just I suppose you become defeated and it’s very hard then to pick yourself up week in week out um so I think the confidence that they’ve started with with you know the teams
They played with a lot of strong experienced players still not back for other uh teams in the World Cup I think it will stand to them and I think they’ll be very confident going into some of the bigger games what about Benetton do you see them being
Competitive this season we if we think back to 2019 when they played in the quarterfinals and were beaten by monster in tomman park they didn’t really kick on from there no they didn’t um and I think that that’ll be the I can see zebra and Bon having a good season but I
Think when it comes down to bigger games I still don’t think they’re there yet you know um but I think that the likes of fwa going to um to Benetton this season and stuff like that will only add you know to to what they built on if they can get
More experienced players but that’s the the issue they face because if you’re not teams in European uh with European competition then you struggle to attract really big players that you need to help kind of galvanize a season or really bring you up to the the upper echelons
Of of League standing so I think that’s just going to always be the issue with them until they can really be a team to attract bigger players you know or their underage structures come true but that’s very hard to just rely on you know ler don’t do rely on solely their underage
Structure however it forms a huge nucleus of their success same with monster now that we can see their their youth coming through so yeah there’s a lot of variables for for different teams and every team struggles whether you’re looking at the English premiership or even Super Rugby it depends those bigger
Teams that are historically successful will attract the the the bigger names and that helps their underage structuring and that uh cycle of success just continues well we hope for a few more exciting weeks ahead in the URC it’s been great chatting to you today Lindsay my thanks to Lindsay and to
Johnny Murphy two wins from four for the Irish provinces this weekend but all four provinces are still holding their own on the top half of the table in the URC we’ll be back looking back on round five of the URC on House of rugby next week until then from myself and Lindsay
And Johnny Long of all sports show presents House of rby
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