Gus was a massive part of the Irish U20's that basically dominated the 6N U20's and went back to back grand slams. He was captain in one of them competitions too as well as captain of the U20's that made the final of the U20's world cup in South Africa. Massive hype in Leinster on this player and one that has already played for Leinster as well as tour with the Emerging Ireland Squad.
France don't play their top players in the 6 nations so you can't read anything into it. France hammered Ireland in the WC when they went full strength
Cheers Mark. Looking forward to this. This Fiji will scare Ireland & somehow could take the scalp. I don't think that'll happen but there will be moments. Very much looking forward to the new lads & if cohesion improves or deteriorates. Great games ahead.
Hi Mark, really looking forward to this game, and seeing what these young bucks can bring to the match. Feel both nervous and excited, hoping it’s a good game to watch and an Ireland win please. Thanks for your podcast. ☘
Looking forward to seeing the new lads at test level. Cormac Izuchukwu could be a real handful in a few years. Some bonus if Tom O'Toole can really play at Loosehead and Tighthead. Jason Leonard was amazing for England. He was one of the few adept at both positions.
Agree, O'Toole could become the new Healy... although can he throw in at the lineout? 😂 Nah, seriously, I love my Ulster team, but O'Toole is not in the same league as those above him in the pecking order on either side of the front row. He might get there as a slow burner, but even I would say that he's far from the finished article at this point in time.
Great to see up and coming players getting their chance at test level. Hope Jacob S is back to form. His beautiful try against the ABs 6 six years ago I think, was absolutely a score for the ages. His defense was been poor, and this has kept James L in the 11 shirt.
Jacob did a carbon copy of his famous try v the ABs, only a few weeks ago, away from home in SA in the URC. He is back to his scary best - big, fast, a great finisher. When he has fitness and confidence, there are few better. p.s. don't fall into the trap that many have, in saying his defensive capabilities are rubbish. He's now 28 and has learned a lot. I watch all the Ulster games. He is now a much more rounded player than just the pure strike winger when he won Player of the Six Nations with six tries. But this year he has shown he still has that capability to strike from nothing. He may or may not show that tomorrow, depending on how the ball bounces, but, believe me, he has that in him.
The weather forecast for Dublin tomorrow is very bad. After a week or so of cold but dry calm weather a storm will be rolling in with high winds and lots of rain. This will probably suit Ireland more than it will Fiji but I can see this affect the quality of the game. I expect Ireland to win and win comfortably but Fiji are always a potential banana skin so I'm also wary.
Mark love your thoughts . One thing is please can you shorten your intro. Get to the meat more quickly. Otherwise I always welcome the views of an honest NZ pundit. Saffa here
Mark I liked the score prediction, please do that on all games so we can skin the NH bookies on the handicap , enjoy the texacte or dos x tonight , cabron.
Fiji needs to sought out their disciplines. Fiji has the calibre of players who can frustrate the Irish forwards & backlines. Hope your predictions are right. We'll see !!
Gus was a massive part of the Irish U20's that basically dominated the 6N U20's and went back to back grand slams. He was captain in one of them competitions too as well as captain of the U20's that made the final of the U20's world cup in South Africa. Massive hype in Leinster on this player and one that has already played for Leinster as well as tour with the Emerging Ireland Squad.
@joelyons886 brilliant, cant wait to watch him.
France don't play their top players in the 6 nations so you can't read anything into it. France hammered Ireland in the WC when they went full strength
BANG ON MARK!
Thank you
Cheers Mark. Looking forward to this. This Fiji will scare Ireland & somehow could take the scalp. I don't think that'll happen but there will be moments. Very much looking forward to the new lads & if cohesion improves or deteriorates. Great games ahead.
Hi Mark, really looking forward to this game, and seeing what these young bucks can bring to the match. Feel both nervous and excited, hoping it’s a good game to watch and an Ireland win please. Thanks for your podcast. ☘
@lizzyhanahoe4197 Indeed, some good young players will be tested, like you, I am really looking forward to it as well. Enjoy.
Looking forward to seeing the new lads at test level. Cormac Izuchukwu could be a real handful in a few years. Some bonus if Tom O'Toole can really play at Loosehead and Tighthead.
Jason Leonard was amazing for England. He was one of the few adept at both positions.
@lawLess-fs1qx
great comment, thanks for making it.
Agree, O'Toole could become the new Healy... although can he throw in at the lineout? 😂
Nah, seriously, I love my Ulster team, but O'Toole is not in the same league as those above him in the pecking order on either side of the front row. He might get there as a slow burner, but even I would say that he's far from the finished article at this point in time.
Gluck to the new lads
Yes indeed, thanks for the comment
Lets wait and see.
Great to see up and coming players getting their chance at test level. Hope Jacob S is back to form. His beautiful try against the ABs 6 six years ago I think, was absolutely a score for the ages. His defense was been poor, and this has kept James L in the 11 shirt.
@bikeman9899 plenty to enjoy in terms of the potential in this team, lets see how they go, enjoy the game.
Jacob did a carbon copy of his famous try v the ABs, only a few weeks ago, away from home in SA in the URC. He is back to his scary best - big, fast, a great finisher. When he has fitness and confidence, there are few better.
p.s. don't fall into the trap that many have, in saying his defensive capabilities are rubbish. He's now 28 and has learned a lot. I watch all the Ulster games. He is now a much more rounded player than just the pure strike winger when he won Player of the Six Nations with six tries. But this year he has shown he still has that capability to strike from nothing. He may or may not show that tomorrow, depending on how the ball bounces, but, believe me, he has that in him.
@RossoVerdeNero Good insights! Will be looking out for him. Go Ireland!
The weather forecast for Dublin tomorrow is very bad. After a week or so of cold but dry calm weather a storm will be rolling in with high winds and lots of rain. This will probably suit Ireland more than it will Fiji but I can see this affect the quality of the game.
I expect Ireland to win and win comfortably but Fiji are always a potential banana skin so I'm also wary.
Mark, how do you get to watch? It's on a subscription channel over here so I'd imagine it's harder from Mexico.
Think Ireland need to look at their penalty count as well!
Mark love your thoughts . One thing is please can you shorten your intro. Get to the meat more quickly. Otherwise I always welcome the views of an honest NZ pundit. Saffa here
@Andrewpc2023 thanks for the feedback.
Mark I liked the score prediction, please do that on all games so we can skin the NH bookies on the handicap , enjoy the texacte or dos x tonight , cabron.
@niallsheehan474 ha ha, lets see what I can do.
Bleeding the younger players is good. Hopefully John Hodnett or Sean Edogbo are capped next week.
John hodnett will never play for Ireland. They have a kiwi at Connacht who was brought over as a project play at 7.
Fiji needs to sought out their disciplines. Fiji has the calibre of players who can frustrate the Irish forwards & backlines.
Hope your predictions are right.
We'll see !!