This game is a great thought experiment in what it's like to play a test against a team who literally can't win a single high ball in a game where it's raining

Rest in peace, URC cameraman Andrea Scialpi.

Boks just too good. Squad is too deep. A red card, rotating and they still produced a top class performance. Unbelievable physicality.

I previewed #IREvAUS here. Essentially, what have Australia done this season so far, how might today be different, and how does that intersect with what Ireland are trying to do. Pretty data-heavy. Get access for €3 a month. www.patreon.com/posts/green-...

Christian Foley from Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick Big game off the bench for Ireland 20s last night

It's not necessarily about jettisoning everyone north of 32 — every good team has those veterans there. But the issue is when most of the team in core areas is the wrong side of 30. That's when you start to see guys still playing, but not hitting anywhere near what they were at their peak.

Whenever I see former Irish internationals talking about how the Irish system promotes "longevity" as a response to criticism about the Irish team all getting older, I think back to the 2011 Maldini Project at Munster and what an unmitigated disaster it was. www.joe.ie/uncategorize...

Let's see what's going on over on Four Jug Twitter oh oh no

Personally, I want to see how Prendergast goes against fresh sides from the start at this level. Same with Paddy McCarthy

IRELAND NAME TEAM FOR #IREvAUS Brought to you by @ntesit.bsky.social

One thing I really hate about the "sure weren't we getting hammered by the All Blacks in 2012" line of thinking is that it assumes it's a default way of being that's OK to slide back to.

The Indo have finally found their man to blame for Ireland's lineout problems — Jack Crowley.

One of the biggest things I hear about when talking to journalists working in other sports in Ireland (and abroad) is how servile the Irish rugby media have been to the Irish head coach, be it Schmidt or Farrell, over the last 10+ years.

SUPER DELUXE WALLY RATINGS :: Ireland 41 Japan 10 Ireland played... pretty decently. And that, in itself, is the problem. www.patreon.com/posts/super-...

I would also say that the idea of who's "good enough" and who isn't in this Irish bubble is very much up for debate over the last 18 months.

If we're looking at lineout callers in an Irish context, one of the guys who's not in the squad who perhaps could be is Fineen Wycherley. At a younger level, I know Evan O'Connell is rated quite highly for his lineout calling too. It really is a distinct skill set all on its own.

The real question is whether "mush" is OK

Does a good 30 minutes against a tired Japanese side ranked 13th in the world give you back the #10 jersey? It probably does, actually. Sure, it's like changing the candle colour on a birthday cake on the Titanic at this point but we are where we are.

The game really broke up in the last 20 as Japan tired and rotated to a mostly inexperienced bench. Ireland put them away, as you'd expect in those circumstances, but big, big issues remain. Bank the win, but two massive games to follow

I wrote a piece about Movember and how I'm not a mental health advocate. www.threeredkings.com/when-novembe...

Matt Williams rent is due, plainly

The statement Beauden Barrett provided for Tadhg Beirne's disciplinary hearing. "I take responsibility for entering contact in a high position, as that contributed to the nature of the collision." Barrett praised Beirne for "good awareness" to prevent a more serious collision.

IRELAND NAME TEAM FOR #IREvJPN Brought to you by @ntesit.bsky.social

SUPER DELUXE WALLY RATINGS #315 :: #IREvNZL Their race isn't run, but this great Irish side needs a deep refresh to stay at the top of the test game. Get access for €3 a month, or buy just this article for €10. www.patreon.com/posts/142734...

Watching late-era Johnny Sexton being reshaped into an irreplaceable, perfect rugby player who supposedly never made mistakes during games or had dud performances to explain poor Irish performances two full years after he retired is very funny, as copes go.

I've been trying to find what's been "wrong" with this Irish side over the last 18 months. Something factual I could point at. Some hard numbers. And then, this week, I think I found them.

This has been a great Irish side. And they have good performances left in them, but there will be more days like last night going forward in the short and medium term.

For me, anyone clinging to the #10 debate in November 2025 after that game is either hustling or delusional. Lineout at 69%. Post contact metres flatlining. No consistency in the collisions. Once Furlong went off, we looked done. There are far, far bigger issues at play.

Hate losing to that lot. Issue for me is that the pack is in decline and we don't have physical game breakers to switch it up off the bench.

“Argentina are the last remaining southern hemisphere juggernaut that the Irish province are still to beat, so there’s a vacant page in the history books ready to be written.” www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/...

I've been trying to find what's been "wrong" with this Irish side over the last 18 months. Something factual I could point at. Some hard numbers. And then, this week, I think I found them.

THE GREEN EYE #280 :: #IREvNZL It's Chicago. It's Ireland vs the All Blacks. And there's more at stake than meets the eye. Get the most detailed preview for this game anywhere for just €3 a month. www.patreon.com/posts/green-...

MUNSTER NAME TEAM FOR #MUNvARG Brought to you by NTES #SUAF

IRELAND NAME TEAM FOR #IREvNZL

When you're in the Irish inner circle, you're never out of form, just back in form when it's safe to say that.

SUPER DELUXE WALLY RATINGS #314 :: #MUNvCON www.patreon.com/posts/142236... Get a full year of TRK Premium for 31% off today only on Patreon www.patreon.com/join/threeredkings #SUAF

SUPER DELUXE WALLY RATINGS #314 :: #MUNvCON www.patreon.com/posts/142236... Get a full year of TRK Premium for 31% off today only on Patreon www.patreon.com/join/threeredkings #SUAF

It was the young lads who turned that around. O'Connell in the lineout, Shay McCarthy hitting hard, O'Riordan bringing control and accuracy at #9 on his debut, Quinn winning big collisions and Ronan Foxe announcing himself with a powerhouse display. 5/5

THE RED EYE #279 :: Connacht (h) Make no mistake, everyone inside Munster has their eyes peeled for this one. Get access to the most detailed match preview in the business for just €3 a month. www.patreon.com/posts/red-ey... #SUAF

MUNSTER NAME TEAM FOR #MUNvCON Brought to you by NTES #SUAF

THE GIF ROOM #220 :: Ten Minutes of Hell Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. The real power comes from taking that punch, spitting out a tooth, and going again with a smile on your face. www.patreon.com/posts/141796... Get access for €5 a month #SUAF

Been a bit of talk about Leinster winning that game at the weekend on "Expected Points". I've been doing a lot of work on stats over the summer and, from what I can gather, that XP is based on the amount of 22 entries Leinster had against Munster and then...

SUPER DELUXE WALLY RATINGS #313 :: #LEIvMUN The hunters. www.patreon.com/posts/141640... Get access for €3 a month, or buy this article for €8 #SUAF

That was all the more satisfying because we beat Leinster in the exact way that they tend to lose games. Give them no defensive energy, make them attack, kick at a very high volume and then defend like you hate them.

Fucking nice one mush

I've come around to the power of "mush". It's perfect. Best friend? Alright mush Some guy? Alright mush

Matt Williams being somewhat interested in the wallet inspection that is R360 is very on brand.