Caolán Scully

Some friendly advice for Rugby Country from your long-suffering football cousins Rugby analysis is suddenly veering into existential debates about structures and pathways that are usually the staple of the football fan.

my column this week - a letter to Rugby Country from the laureates of existential despair www.the42.ie/rugby-countr...

Looking for a Super Rugby hub?

Go follow Brett and the lads. You won’t regret it

Remember the old #SuperRugbyPacific tipping panel back in the day, with @BMcSport.bsky.social, Geoff Parkes, Harry Jones and co?

Well, it's BACK!

And back with some big guns: Martin Devlin, Sean Maloney, and AN AI BOT! 😮 🤖

Rd.1 tips are live now, on #89Rugby

open.substack.com/pub/89rugby/...

Technically, all the province and most of the country but lookit 😅

Zebo: Edogbo ready to 'set the game alight' Simon Zebo has backed Edwin Edogbo to "set the game alight" when he makes his international debut for Ireland against Italy on Saturday.

Zebo: Edogbo ready to 'set the game alight' (✍️@RTErugby) #Ireland #SixNations #EdwinEdogbo

Cobh is proud of young Edwin Edogbo

Ah lads come on in fairness to Nucifora…

…

A truly novel concept 😅

Across just 2 games, France will have capped 6 different centres

Y. Moefana (age: 25)
N. Depoortere (23)
K. Gourgues (20)
F. Brau-Boirie (20 - debut)
E. Gailleton (22)
N. Nene (21 - debut)

Impressive evolving from Fabian Galthié

The more things should change…

The more they stay the exact same

YouTube video by The Global Gainline Les Shambles in Paris - Can Ireland Be Saved? | Inter Pro Show

A podcast so wild, it got Lee banned from one provincial Reddit group...

Opinion: It's Time To Bring 'Em Home Volume of rugby IP abroad is a hindrance to Ireland

New Article ✍️ Bring 'Em Home

The sheer volume of Irish rugby IP working and flourishing abroad is a hindrance to the game here; as is playing out with inability to evolve.

Italy are in red hot form coming to Dublin on Saturday, but their record in Ireland leaves a lot to be desired

Their only road win was in 1997, and the last one score game was back in 2008 (Ire 16-11 Ita)

The clubs are also 1/19 in Ireland in the URC era (Zebre beat Ulster in January 2025)

A Green Giant No More After Night to Forget For Ireland Six Nations Round 1, In-Depth Review

NEW ✍️ Ireland v France Debrief ☘️

"There are never any positives from a 22 point loss"

A 1,300 long-read on why and how Ireland lost + the current trajectory of Andy Farrell's men.

Read here:

There's no reason any Irish national side should struggle against Wales right now; not when the provinces are consistently beating the regions

My Predicted Ireland 23 vs Italy ☘️

🧹 Sweeping changes with 15/23 changed up
3⃣ debutants in Edogbo, Doak and Postlethwaite
©️ Dan Sheehan captains from hooker
🔙 Returns for Lowe and Baloucoune

Thoughts? 💭

If you have 10 minutes to spare, I highly recommend reading this

The Irish slide has been inevitable because ultimately, no team keeps winning

But the reason why Ireland look *this way* right now, is well laid out

A big ask

Yeah it’s not the biggest issue for sure, but it’s one that will need to be looked at

Honestly after the last night there’s not too many “front liners” who should feel comfortable of starting next weekend

Oh yeah for sure, and Ireland’s transition phases were pretty poor the other night too

It just looked so disjointed at times

Well this is it too. Wales are generationally bad, Italy are no great shakes.

Look at England and France using the summer to blood players. By contrast, Ireland didn’t really create a pathway from summer tour to November

I think undercooked backups will remain as a theme as long as this coaching ticket keep with the same selection philosophy ultimately

5 Players Who Stood Out As Ireland XV Suffer Heavy Defeat To England A | Balls.ie Less than 24 hours after Ireland's disasterous Six Nations opener, the Ireland XV representative team took to the field in Thomond Park to take on a strong Engl...

It was another worrying night for Ireland as the XV squad were trampled by an impressive English outfit.

That said, despite Ireland’s cohesion void, some players stood up, and here’s who impressed most:

He is now, but only after Bundee’s suspension

I don’t get why we didn’t call up Jude and Kelly tbh. Especially with Keenan banged up and Osborne covering 15 more so.

It’s the training reps argument again

15+ disinterested parties in green tbh, you missed little.

I still have Hume stocks. Good all round 13.
Kelly is good. Regardless of Munster’s form, he never puts a foot wrong. Should be in the squad over Farrell imo.
Jude, I agree. Great prospect but still up and down, as is normal

I know they weren’t great last night but Kelly and Hume (along with Jude) are all more than good enough imo

Like, I sincerely think Ireland would benefit more from a more all round 13, with Ringrose as a blitzing winger.

Has he got the speed or aerial game? I’m not sure. But right now, he’s not near his best, and isn’t the only one that could do with that reinvigoration

I agree and disagree.

Kick chase rugby shouldn’t be as hard as we’re making it look tbh. Especially when it’s not about catching, but retention.

But, yes, evolution is hard. And it’s harder when you try to square a circle and get every last drop of juice out of guys

Really tackled it head on………