Sexton Returns On A Weather Hit Weekend

January 12th,2010

Author: Shane Byrne
Final Year: 1989
Biography: Shane Byrne (1989) won 41 rugby caps for Ireland in 2005 he travelled to New Zealand with the Lions where he featured in all three tests. He retired from professional rugby in 2007 when he returned from playing with Saracens in England.He recently hung up his boots permanently, after spending the last two seasons with Blackrock, where he started playing senior rugby 18 years ago! Shane is currently Head Of Operations (Ireland), at Global Development Group and resides in Wicklow.
URL: http://blog.ireland.com/n/blogs/blog.aspx?webtag=itb_shanebyrne

In truth I'm surprised that any games are going ahead this weekend.

Ulster and Connacht have both really got the brunt of the weather, with their games against Ospreys and Newport cancelled.

You gotta feel for Connacht in particular, as this is their second call off and they haven’t really had any chance to keep the momentum, that they had generated during their European games, going at all.

Fixture backlog a big problem for connacht

And now they both must fit fixtures in somewhere, in an already packed 2nd half of the season.

Of all the teams it Leinsters game that I'm most surprised about that it’s still going ahead.

Munster at least had the luxury of moving to an already covered Thomond form Musgrave but Leinster had no such option and Dublin has been hammered!

Although it’s strange to ear now in these days of heath and safety, that it is more the roads leading to the grounds that have to be in good nick, as opposed to the actual pitch!!

Papers to read "Munster win!"

Anyway, at time of writhing it’s still on, Munster have the return of most of their big guns after last weekend loss to Ulster and whatever side they pick I would expect them to have a win under their belt come Mondays papers.

Great to see that word has it that Marcus Horan is close to returning but it will be Leinsters team that draws most of the headlines.

It will be what most people will be watching, the return of Johnny Sexton after his injury in the South African game.

Will Sexton keep form going?

Great to see and let’s hope with both the next ERC pool games and the 6 nations around the corner, that he hasn’t lost any of that confidence he was playing with before his injury.

Good to see Shane Jennings return froma far too long ban!

He is part of a strong side named by the Dublin side but that still has a couple of players looking to take a chance which are few and far between.

Happy to see Girv back and McFadden will be looking to make some ripples in the mid field and Jennings will want to hit the ground running, as his ban opened the door to Sean O’Brien, and the kid's done goodl!

Someone tell BOD to take a break!

Is it just me, or would it be much more comforting if our newly crowned “Player Of The Decade” (HA HA.. IRB!!) would take a rest now and again, someone please tell him he doesn’t have to play every game!!

Even with Glasgow’s fantastic run of form this season, history is still on the home teams side and I don’t expect this to change.

Many of you guys are debating our lovely rucking laws, and yes, they are the root of the reffing problem at the moment.

Bring back Shooing!!

If you asked any pro player, they would have no problem with the return to full blooded shooing, The only reason that this was taken out, was the fact that as rugby became more popular, they were worried about the effect it was having on the virginal rugby supporter, oh isn’t that barbaric!!

Also, the way it is now is that at ruck time it favours the defending side, hence all the kicking.

The problem is that when a player catches a ball and makes a break, if he is caught and there isn’t one of his own  players there with him  immediately he's screwed!

The very nature of a break is that he is through the 1st line of defence and away from his teamates.

Ruck law the cause of kicking game

The people closest to him will be the tackler that finally gets him and as the rules allow him to get up quicker he will always have the advantage, therefore kick it back!!

Changes must come.....