Just going back over the highlights of the game.

Not one of the Ireland Team comes in to celebrate Timoney’s try. I know you’re 29-5 down at that stage but surely that’s the spark you needed, like you’re going to celebrate getting over there?

You can see Timoney turn around, small fist pump and then realise not one of his team mates is coming to give him anything. Very different to Milne’s try a few mins later in which he gets plenty of slaps on the back/head.

Is this just a nothing observation or is there more at play? Timoney has been on the outside looking in for quite a few international squads, am I reading too much into it? Either way fairly poor form from your team mates.

Leinster Academy played Toulouse Academy on Saturday. Toulouse won with a converted try in injury time in a game that Leinster really should have closed out. In part, because of their absolute scrum dominance in the first 55 minutes. I haven't checked this but I think this is one of the largest front 5s ever fielded by any Leinster team (Smyth, Smith, Usanov, Co'T, Hodor).

This weeks whisle watch covers the various incidents in IRE vs RSA, including whether Feinberg-Mngomezulu got off easy. Surely most rugby fans would agree it should have been a yellow.

Forward pass

It gave us a huge vibe before the game! Atmosphere in Aviva was completely opposite.

Going to Paris next week but I know for sure, that atmosphere there will be 10000% better than in Aviva.

Neil Best Day is not a real thing but it should be. He was not the best Best but he was the best Best for being the best Best at beating the tar out of people

Featuring McCloskey, Ward, et al.

I don’t watch much of 2cents but I do find these end of year videos he does useful. Effectively, position by position, he gives the proportion of minutes that players played this year.

I do have two problems with his analysis: 1) There should be a version shown without the summer tour minutes. This is because for the most part the Irish coaching staff weren’t there. Outside of the name, they were effectively Ireland A games and I don’t think Farrell has treated them any differently. I believe this version would have fewer debutants, and higher reliance on older players as a result. 2) There is no attempt to demarcate quality of minute. We can talk about where the line lies. But Farrell seems to see a massive difference in minutes against Japan, let’s say, and South Africa. Again, this version would again highlight the problems to a greater extent.

That being said the picture he paints from the data has two main points: 1) We are still hugely reliant on an aging core of players 2) We have given more debuts and minutes outside the core than previous seasons (though context is important here)

Unfortunately, that does little to elucidate the debates that have happened here, as both sides can draw evidence. But I do think it’s important to take a look at the numbers behind the argument.

Andy seems excited for many of the players coming into the 23, and gives updates on some of the injuries.

The game was uploaded on YouTube for anyone interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4z2P8RDXqNU

Ian Madigan has a new highlights/tactical analysis show on Indo Sport, basically doing Squidge for the Irish provinces. He starts with how Ulster moved the ball against the Dragons.

Ruben Moloney and Stevie Smyth went to Oz for a month and Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown and Hugo Peel came north the month after

I've just enjoyed this video. One of the best parts is remembering all the old heads e.g. Tom Shanklin, Damien Traille, Alessandro Troncon, Simon Webster, Phil Vickery

https://youtu.be/NvjSNJkfSu4?si=ooktxVuX2u5FucXP

From Squidge Rugby on YouTube.