Ahern Should Go Now
31/03/08 08:27 Filed in: Politics
The longer Bertie Ahern
allows his difficulties with the Mahon Tribunal to
continue, the worse it becomes for everyone involved.
The by now familiar dance goes like this:
- Tribunal uncovers new evidence that appears to contradict previous evidence given by Ahern.
- Opposition parties, media commentators, etc. call for clarification of previous evidence.
- Cabinet colleague sent out to bat for Taoiseach, attacking Tribunal.
- Useful fools like Jackie Healey-Rae (Audio link to Morning Ireland interview) and Eoghan Harris offer their tuppenceworth in support.
- Ahern says he will clarify evidence the next time he attends to give evidence.
- A legal challenge to the Tribunal may feature at some point in the process.
This time it's more serious for Bertie, as now we are hearing the calls for clarification coming from his coalition partners as well as the opposition. We're also hearing more trenchant calls for his resignation, or at least for him to set a date, as the Irish Times did last Saturday.
Given that he won't be before the Tribunal again until May, waiting until his next appearance for clarification simply isn't good enough. What will show up next?
Des O'Neill: So, Mr Ahern, can you explain this substantial lodgement to your account on 14 June 1993?
Bertie Ahern: Well, you see, I won de-de-de-de-de Lotto around dat, eh, time…
O'Neill: And this one here a week later?
Bertie: …twice.
By allowing this charade to drag on, Ahern is undermining the office of Taoiseach, his government, his own party, the credibility of his ministers, and his own legacy. The referendum of the Lisbon Treaty is also in danger of being undermined, as it could easily end up as a referendum on Bertie. (We had an opportunity to vote in that particular referendum last year. It was called the General Election, and we fluffed it.)
He should go, so that this matter no longer distracts from the business of being Taoiseach. He's been in the job for almost eleven years. If he thinks he can present entirely innocent explanations for his varied transactions, then he should do it and get all of this sorted out. If he can manage to wriggle his way out of all of this, then he can be sure that a plum job in the European Commission or elsewhere will await him. If he can't, well that's his own doing. He should stop taking us for fools and move to sort his difficulties with the Tribunal as a matter of urgency.
By the way, if you didn't see the Late Late Show last Friday night, there was a wonderful moment when Eamon Dunphy nailed Eoghan Harris to the wall. I'm not a fan of Eamo by any means, but this was great.
The by now familiar dance goes like this:
- Tribunal uncovers new evidence that appears to contradict previous evidence given by Ahern.
- Opposition parties, media commentators, etc. call for clarification of previous evidence.
- Cabinet colleague sent out to bat for Taoiseach, attacking Tribunal.
- Useful fools like Jackie Healey-Rae (Audio link to Morning Ireland interview) and Eoghan Harris offer their tuppenceworth in support.
- Ahern says he will clarify evidence the next time he attends to give evidence.
- A legal challenge to the Tribunal may feature at some point in the process.
This time it's more serious for Bertie, as now we are hearing the calls for clarification coming from his coalition partners as well as the opposition. We're also hearing more trenchant calls for his resignation, or at least for him to set a date, as the Irish Times did last Saturday.
Given that he won't be before the Tribunal again until May, waiting until his next appearance for clarification simply isn't good enough. What will show up next?
Des O'Neill: So, Mr Ahern, can you explain this substantial lodgement to your account on 14 June 1993?
Bertie Ahern: Well, you see, I won de-de-de-de-de Lotto around dat, eh, time…
O'Neill: And this one here a week later?
Bertie: …twice.
By allowing this charade to drag on, Ahern is undermining the office of Taoiseach, his government, his own party, the credibility of his ministers, and his own legacy. The referendum of the Lisbon Treaty is also in danger of being undermined, as it could easily end up as a referendum on Bertie. (We had an opportunity to vote in that particular referendum last year. It was called the General Election, and we fluffed it.)
He should go, so that this matter no longer distracts from the business of being Taoiseach. He's been in the job for almost eleven years. If he thinks he can present entirely innocent explanations for his varied transactions, then he should do it and get all of this sorted out. If he can manage to wriggle his way out of all of this, then he can be sure that a plum job in the European Commission or elsewhere will await him. If he can't, well that's his own doing. He should stop taking us for fools and move to sort his difficulties with the Tribunal as a matter of urgency.
By the way, if you didn't see the Late Late Show last Friday night, there was a wonderful moment when Eamon Dunphy nailed Eoghan Harris to the wall. I'm not a fan of Eamo by any means, but this was great.
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I Can Has Influenz?
25/03/08 22:58 Filed in: General
Nonsense | Blogging
Speaking of the
Observer, a few weeks ago they ran a feature entitled
"The 50 Most Powerful
Blogs".
It featured mostly the influential American
political sites like Huffington Post, Talking
Points Memo, etc; as well as the gossipy ones like
Perez Hilton and Gawker.
But up there at No 8 was none other than "I Can Has Cheezburger?", the world-famous Lolcat site. Now I can understand it being in a list of popular sites, or it being recognised as an internet publishing phenomenon, but as a "powerful blog"?
If by powerful, you mean ability to set the narrative or break a story of national or international importance, then ICHC is anything but.
moar funny pictures
But up there at No 8 was none other than "I Can Has Cheezburger?", the world-famous Lolcat site. Now I can understand it being in a list of popular sites, or it being recognised as an internet publishing phenomenon, but as a "powerful blog"?
If by powerful, you mean ability to set the narrative or break a story of national or international importance, then ICHC is anything but.
moar funny pictures
Mixed Messages
25/03/08 21:55 Filed in: General
Nonsense
It's for the magazine
that I buy the Observer most Sundays. Often the main
part of the paper ends up in the green bin having
been hardly read at all. I enjoy Jay Rayner's
restaurant reviews, particularly the delightfully
bitchy ones; and Tim Atkin is to my mind the best
wine writer in any newspaper across These Islands™
today.
However, the publishers of the Observer sometimes allow one or two conceits to creep in. The first is the themed issue, like The Gardening Issue or The Fashion Issue. The other is the Guest Editor, usually some pompous celeb. Last Sunday, they did both, and Thom Yorke of Radiohead was in the editor's chair for The Climate Change Issue.
Now, I know that climate change is a pressing issue, but self-indulgent nonsense like this just annoys me. Is Thom Yorke a respected climatologist? No, he's a rock musician, and as such has about as much claim to the editorship of the Observer's Climate Change Issue as any other punter with an opinion on the subject. The least they could have done was get someone with a contrarian viewpoint - a climate-change sceptic, or maybe someone that sees the problem but disagrees with how we are combating it.
The one thing I found amusing among all this po-facedness was the fact that thirteen full pages of the magazine were given over to advertising cars, five of which were double page spreads.
However, the publishers of the Observer sometimes allow one or two conceits to creep in. The first is the themed issue, like The Gardening Issue or The Fashion Issue. The other is the Guest Editor, usually some pompous celeb. Last Sunday, they did both, and Thom Yorke of Radiohead was in the editor's chair for The Climate Change Issue.
Now, I know that climate change is a pressing issue, but self-indulgent nonsense like this just annoys me. Is Thom Yorke a respected climatologist? No, he's a rock musician, and as such has about as much claim to the editorship of the Observer's Climate Change Issue as any other punter with an opinion on the subject. The least they could have done was get someone with a contrarian viewpoint - a climate-change sceptic, or maybe someone that sees the problem but disagrees with how we are combating it.
The one thing I found amusing among all this po-facedness was the fact that thirteen full pages of the magazine were given over to advertising cars, five of which were double page spreads.
Sole Man
20/03/08 22:09 Filed in: Food &
Drink
Living in the Midlands
means that we don't have the same access to good
fishmongers that we had when we lived in de Shmoke.
If you like fish, the only way to buy it is from a
fishmonger. (I remember a cartoon, years ago, in The
Phoenix with two guys behind a fish stall. One says
to the other "Well, don't just stand there - mong,
for God's sake!")
I don't buy fish in supermarkets, as I find that it usually has at least a day more out of the sea than I would like. If fish isn't absolutely spanking fresh, it's not good.
These days, what we tend to do is to buy in bulk from a fishmonger, have it vacuum packed and then freeze it. Normally, we do this when we go to Cork, where there are several good fishmongers. The best known of them is Kay O'Connell's in the English Market, who have a magnificent display of fish at their stall. If we're in town and want some fish for dinner that night, we usually get it there.
However, if we're buying in bulk, we head for Carrigaline and stock up at Denis Good's. The main business here is fish processing and wholesale, but they have a retail outlet at the front of the building in the industrial estate on the Crosshaven Road. Our regular order is €100 worth of whatever is on offer on the day. Along with staples like salmon and cod, we include things like John Dory, ray, hake, turbot, scallops and lemon sole in the selection. As soon as we get back to my wife's folks' place, the lot goes in the freezer, and when we're going home, it goes in a coolbag with some freezer blocks.
Some purists will say that freezing ruins fish, and that it has to be eaten fresh. In an ideal world, I might agree, but freezing is a compromise I am willing to make, as the end result is far superior to what I have available to me otherwise.
The other consideration is how to cook it. I look on it two ways. If it's big and chunky like a fillet of cod or salmon, roast it. If its thin and flat like sole or plaice, then coat it in seasoned flour and fry it. Some people don't like fish because they think it's bland. Most fish needs something acidic to complement it and bring out the flavour. It can be something as simple as lemon juice, or maybe a salsa verde (lemon juice, capers, garlic and parsley). But best of the lot is a glass of crisp, dry white wine.
I don't buy fish in supermarkets, as I find that it usually has at least a day more out of the sea than I would like. If fish isn't absolutely spanking fresh, it's not good.
These days, what we tend to do is to buy in bulk from a fishmonger, have it vacuum packed and then freeze it. Normally, we do this when we go to Cork, where there are several good fishmongers. The best known of them is Kay O'Connell's in the English Market, who have a magnificent display of fish at their stall. If we're in town and want some fish for dinner that night, we usually get it there.
However, if we're buying in bulk, we head for Carrigaline and stock up at Denis Good's. The main business here is fish processing and wholesale, but they have a retail outlet at the front of the building in the industrial estate on the Crosshaven Road. Our regular order is €100 worth of whatever is on offer on the day. Along with staples like salmon and cod, we include things like John Dory, ray, hake, turbot, scallops and lemon sole in the selection. As soon as we get back to my wife's folks' place, the lot goes in the freezer, and when we're going home, it goes in a coolbag with some freezer blocks.
Some purists will say that freezing ruins fish, and that it has to be eaten fresh. In an ideal world, I might agree, but freezing is a compromise I am willing to make, as the end result is far superior to what I have available to me otherwise.
The other consideration is how to cook it. I look on it two ways. If it's big and chunky like a fillet of cod or salmon, roast it. If its thin and flat like sole or plaice, then coat it in seasoned flour and fry it. Some people don't like fish because they think it's bland. Most fish needs something acidic to complement it and bring out the flavour. It can be something as simple as lemon juice, or maybe a salsa verde (lemon juice, capers, garlic and parsley). But best of the lot is a glass of crisp, dry white wine.
Eddie Walks
20/03/08 07:59 Filed in: Sport
Finally, Eddie
O'Sullivan has done the decent thing and
stepped down as coach of the Irish
rugby team. Statements from both himself
and the IRFU following the disastrous World Cup
last year indicated that he was going to brazen it
out, but a fourth place finish in the Six Nations
sealed his fate.
Lest anyone think I have it in for E O'S, I don't think he's a bad coach, but as his tenure went on, it was clear that he was running out of ideas. To have such a talented group of players and win nothing in seven years (and by that I mean nothing, Triple Crowns don't count as "anything") is a failure that speaks for itself.
The new coach, whoever he will be, will have to shake up the system in a big way. He will need to develop new talent, especially in such key areas as prop and half back, so that we have strength in depth, and also genuine competition for places. He will have to rebuild the shattered confidence of the players and make them fearless of any team they face. He will have to develop a varied game plan capable of overcoming our serial tormentors like France and New Zealand.
The IRFU needs to cast its net widely in its search for a new coach, and a genuine world-class coach won't come cheap. Does anyone have Tony O'Reilly's phone number, by any chance?
And finally, I would like to wish Eddie O'Sullivan all the best in whatever he does in his future career.
Lest anyone think I have it in for E O'S, I don't think he's a bad coach, but as his tenure went on, it was clear that he was running out of ideas. To have such a talented group of players and win nothing in seven years (and by that I mean nothing, Triple Crowns don't count as "anything") is a failure that speaks for itself.
The new coach, whoever he will be, will have to shake up the system in a big way. He will need to develop new talent, especially in such key areas as prop and half back, so that we have strength in depth, and also genuine competition for places. He will have to rebuild the shattered confidence of the players and make them fearless of any team they face. He will have to develop a varied game plan capable of overcoming our serial tormentors like France and New Zealand.
The IRFU needs to cast its net widely in its search for a new coach, and a genuine world-class coach won't come cheap. Does anyone have Tony O'Reilly's phone number, by any chance?
And finally, I would like to wish Eddie O'Sullivan all the best in whatever he does in his future career.
New Camera
16/03/08 22:35 Filed in: Photos
Six years ago, I
purchased my first digital camera. It was an
Olympus C-200
Zoom,
which I bought in Jersey for £200 (about €330 at
the time.) It was the size of a sod of turf, had
2.1 megapixels and ran on AA batteries.
I remember
feeling smug, seeing it in a camera store in Dublin
soon after my purchase, with a price tag of €500 on
it. It served me very well over three years, and once
I upgraded, I gave it to my Dad, who made good use of
it for another while. It finally packed in last
summer. I took some very good pictures with it,
including this one, which I have framed on my wall at
home.
The next camera in my life was a Nikon Coolpix 5200, a very compact point-and-shoot job. At 5.1 megapixels, it was a significant step up from the Olympus. I paid €259 for it, buying it from the Apple Store online.
I realised soon
after buying it that it had some serious
shortcomings. It was hopeless for use in dark indoor
settings, as I discovered at my sister's wedding.
Even though it had a red-eye-reduction feature, it
still plagued the photos I took, especially those of
children. Kids tend to look straight at a camera when
a photo is being taken, which leads to red-eye. Last
years at a family event, I took a photo of my parents
with all of their grandchildren. Nearly everyone of
the kids had red-eye. Still, it served us well for
three years, recording about 3,500 photos, including
many our little darling Aoife.
I had been thinking about upgrading for a while, and for a good while had more or less made up my mind to take the step up to DSLR. It was going to be a Canon EOS400D or a Nikon D40x. Not being able to afford either, the decision was left on the long finger. Over the last few months, the Coolpix was starting to bug us badly, so the issue came to the fore again. The more I thought about it, I realised that a DSLR wouldn't be the right choice this time around. Apart from the money factor, the other main reason was the way that we use our camera. We tend to have it at the ready and take photos on the fly. It slips into the pocket when we're going to Emo for a walk. Neither my wife nor I is serious enough about photography as a hobby to warrant buying a DSLR.
So then, what to buy? In the three years since the last purchase, digital compact cameras have moved on a lot. There is a huge increase in the megapixel count, with compacts available now boasting 12 MP. However, some experts have stated that this doesn't necessarily lead to better photos, as the form factor of a compact negates the benefit of the extra pixels.
Reading many online reviews, one name kept cropping up - Ricoh, and in particular the Ricoh Caplio R7. It has 8.2 MP, and a really good lens.
It has a good few
of the features that you see in modern compacts like
face recognition, but it's not packed with
unnecessary, gimicky features. It has a good 2.7"
screen, and the controls are laid out well. Retail in
Ireland is about €220-€250. I was in London last week
and spotted one in a camera shop in the West End for
£154, including a free 1GB SD card. Sold.
It's a nice camera and a definite improvement on the Nikon. I'm still getting used to the various modes and settings, and am having some minor problems with under-exposure, but overall it's taking some really nice shots. Here's a small selection that I have taken in the last couple of days. Click on them to go see full resolution versions.
Aoife looking straight at the camera. Flash used but no red-eye reduction.
Back facade of the house at Emo Court. Good definition, even though conditions were dull.
A daffy up close, using the Macro mode.
A plant in the grounds of Emo Court. The colours came out well on this.
The next camera in my life was a Nikon Coolpix 5200, a very compact point-and-shoot job. At 5.1 megapixels, it was a significant step up from the Olympus. I paid €259 for it, buying it from the Apple Store online.
I had been thinking about upgrading for a while, and for a good while had more or less made up my mind to take the step up to DSLR. It was going to be a Canon EOS400D or a Nikon D40x. Not being able to afford either, the decision was left on the long finger. Over the last few months, the Coolpix was starting to bug us badly, so the issue came to the fore again. The more I thought about it, I realised that a DSLR wouldn't be the right choice this time around. Apart from the money factor, the other main reason was the way that we use our camera. We tend to have it at the ready and take photos on the fly. It slips into the pocket when we're going to Emo for a walk. Neither my wife nor I is serious enough about photography as a hobby to warrant buying a DSLR.
So then, what to buy? In the three years since the last purchase, digital compact cameras have moved on a lot. There is a huge increase in the megapixel count, with compacts available now boasting 12 MP. However, some experts have stated that this doesn't necessarily lead to better photos, as the form factor of a compact negates the benefit of the extra pixels.
Reading many online reviews, one name kept cropping up - Ricoh, and in particular the Ricoh Caplio R7. It has 8.2 MP, and a really good lens.
It's a nice camera and a definite improvement on the Nikon. I'm still getting used to the various modes and settings, and am having some minor problems with under-exposure, but overall it's taking some really nice shots. Here's a small selection that I have taken in the last couple of days. Click on them to go see full resolution versions.
Aoife looking straight at the camera. Flash used but no red-eye reduction.
Back facade of the house at Emo Court. Good definition, even though conditions were dull.
A daffy up close, using the Macro mode.
A plant in the grounds of Emo Court. The colours came out well on this.
Taking Stock After The Six Nations
16/03/08 20:58 Filed in: Sport
Six Nations 2008 will
be one that Irish rugby supporters will want to
forget in a hurry. Finishing fourth meant that we had our worst
final table placing since before Five became Six
back in 2000.
Several truths were laid bare during the campaign. The first was that Ireland's dismal World Cup was more than just a 'blip', as had been claimed by the team's coach and the IRFU. Secondly, it proved beyond doubt that Eddie O'Sullivan's position was untenable, and that the IRFU's decision to award him a new four-year contract before the World Cup last September was a big mistake. Thirdly, it demonstrated our shocking lack of strength in depth in key positions. And fourthly, it showed that if you take an average side with a few world class players, under the right coach they can actually win the Grand Slam. In fact, they can even do it twice in the space of four seasons.
Despite a good start at Twickenham yesterday, once England got into their stride, Ireland had no answer. Poor defending let England in for three tries, while a lack of creativity meant that Ireland's last score of the game was registered at seven minutes. Our midfield, lacking talismanic captain Brian O'Driscoll, had a torrid time. We were unlucky to lose Denis Leamy so early in the game, and also to see Geordan Murphy coming off early in the second half. But this didn't lose the game for us. England were just too good and their outhalf and centres made hay.
So where do we go from here? First up, Eddie just has to walk. Someone has to take responsibility for Ireland's dismal form over the last twelve months, and as he is the man in charge of player selection, coaching and motivating the players, then he has to be the one that takes the blame when things go wrong. That's what Wales did after the World Cup, when they - like us - failed to qualify from the pool stage. Gareth Jenkins got the boot, Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards took over and reinvigorated the team, who went on to win their second Six Nations Grand Slam in four years. Hopefully the IRFU will have the balls to do it, bearing in mind the new contract was signed only six months ago. If they choose not to, expect them to present the Genesis Report as their fig-leaf.
Whoever is the Irish coach going forward has to start looking for new talent. The IRFU needs to facilitate the development of up and coming players by giving them as much opportunity as possible to play their non-international rugby at home with the provinces. If this isn't possible, then the union needs to have someone keeping an eye on Irish-qualified players plying their trade overseas, to make sure that no potential international players go unnoticed. There needs to be genuine competition for places so that the established players don't get complacent. A player that gets dropped has to be assured that he can get back into the team, but will have to earn his place.
Brian O'Driscoll has been captain for several seasons now, and in my opinion, it is time to hand the armband over to someone else. He has done his due, and freedom from the burden of captaincy might help him to concentrate on his game. ROG would be the natural contender for the position, but given his age, we should be looking for another candidate for the longer term.
After this campaign, and the World Cup before it, will have left Ireland's international players with their confidence at a very low ebb. Whoever takes over will have to be able to re-instill the confidence that was once there. He will have to enable them to rediscover their winning mentality, and also to convince them that it really is possible to beat France and to win the Six Nations.
The bottom line is this - Wales have done it, so can we.
Several truths were laid bare during the campaign. The first was that Ireland's dismal World Cup was more than just a 'blip', as had been claimed by the team's coach and the IRFU. Secondly, it proved beyond doubt that Eddie O'Sullivan's position was untenable, and that the IRFU's decision to award him a new four-year contract before the World Cup last September was a big mistake. Thirdly, it demonstrated our shocking lack of strength in depth in key positions. And fourthly, it showed that if you take an average side with a few world class players, under the right coach they can actually win the Grand Slam. In fact, they can even do it twice in the space of four seasons.
Despite a good start at Twickenham yesterday, once England got into their stride, Ireland had no answer. Poor defending let England in for three tries, while a lack of creativity meant that Ireland's last score of the game was registered at seven minutes. Our midfield, lacking talismanic captain Brian O'Driscoll, had a torrid time. We were unlucky to lose Denis Leamy so early in the game, and also to see Geordan Murphy coming off early in the second half. But this didn't lose the game for us. England were just too good and their outhalf and centres made hay.
So where do we go from here? First up, Eddie just has to walk. Someone has to take responsibility for Ireland's dismal form over the last twelve months, and as he is the man in charge of player selection, coaching and motivating the players, then he has to be the one that takes the blame when things go wrong. That's what Wales did after the World Cup, when they - like us - failed to qualify from the pool stage. Gareth Jenkins got the boot, Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards took over and reinvigorated the team, who went on to win their second Six Nations Grand Slam in four years. Hopefully the IRFU will have the balls to do it, bearing in mind the new contract was signed only six months ago. If they choose not to, expect them to present the Genesis Report as their fig-leaf.
Whoever is the Irish coach going forward has to start looking for new talent. The IRFU needs to facilitate the development of up and coming players by giving them as much opportunity as possible to play their non-international rugby at home with the provinces. If this isn't possible, then the union needs to have someone keeping an eye on Irish-qualified players plying their trade overseas, to make sure that no potential international players go unnoticed. There needs to be genuine competition for places so that the established players don't get complacent. A player that gets dropped has to be assured that he can get back into the team, but will have to earn his place.
Brian O'Driscoll has been captain for several seasons now, and in my opinion, it is time to hand the armband over to someone else. He has done his due, and freedom from the burden of captaincy might help him to concentrate on his game. ROG would be the natural contender for the position, but given his age, we should be looking for another candidate for the longer term.
After this campaign, and the World Cup before it, will have left Ireland's international players with their confidence at a very low ebb. Whoever takes over will have to be able to re-instill the confidence that was once there. He will have to enable them to rediscover their winning mentality, and also to convince them that it really is possible to beat France and to win the Six Nations.
The bottom line is this - Wales have done it, so can we.
England v. Ireland
14/03/08 22:33 Filed in: Sport
In the normal scheme of
things, a St Patrick's weekend England-Ireland clash
would be something to savour, especially if there had
just been a good week for the Irish in "Chiltnim."
There might be a championship up for grabs, or at
least a Triple Crown. But not this time.
Both Ireland and England are in the doldrums, both having lost two games in the championship so far. Whoever wins tomorrow will finish third in the final shake-up, and the loser will finish fourth. It's a dead rubber in other words.
For the second time in two weeks, Eddie O'Sullivan faces a team coached by one of his predecessors. This time however, that predecessor is under more pressure than O'Sullivan, and neither is he carrying any baggage into the fixture. If England lose tomorrow, Brian Ashton may well lose his job. If Ireland lose, Eddie will more than likely keep his.
There is little point in analysing the Irish team. Losing BOD is a big blow, but one upside is that it finally gives Ronan O'Gara the captain's armband. ROG has been the de facto captain this season so far, so it is good to see him get the job de jure. Murphy is back at full-back, which should add an extra attacking edge. But all of this is irrelevant, because as we have seen for several months now, the Irish team as a whole adds up to a lot less than the sum of its parts.
Ireland's record against England has been very good in recent years. We have won the last four encounters against them, and a win tomorrow would be a three-in-a-row for Ireland at Twickenham. However, I don't think it's going to happen. The creative juice has been squeezed out of this team, and they can be read like an open book. Watch Danny Cipriani tomorrow. He's going to cause us problems.
England by a score, I reckon.
Both Ireland and England are in the doldrums, both having lost two games in the championship so far. Whoever wins tomorrow will finish third in the final shake-up, and the loser will finish fourth. It's a dead rubber in other words.
For the second time in two weeks, Eddie O'Sullivan faces a team coached by one of his predecessors. This time however, that predecessor is under more pressure than O'Sullivan, and neither is he carrying any baggage into the fixture. If England lose tomorrow, Brian Ashton may well lose his job. If Ireland lose, Eddie will more than likely keep his.
There is little point in analysing the Irish team. Losing BOD is a big blow, but one upside is that it finally gives Ronan O'Gara the captain's armband. ROG has been the de facto captain this season so far, so it is good to see him get the job de jure. Murphy is back at full-back, which should add an extra attacking edge. But all of this is irrelevant, because as we have seen for several months now, the Irish team as a whole adds up to a lot less than the sum of its parts.
Ireland's record against England has been very good in recent years. We have won the last four encounters against them, and a win tomorrow would be a three-in-a-row for Ireland at Twickenham. However, I don't think it's going to happen. The creative juice has been squeezed out of this team, and they can be read like an open book. Watch Danny Cipriani tomorrow. He's going to cause us problems.
England by a score, I reckon.
Plan B? There Is No Plan B!
08/03/08 21:46 Filed in: Sport
Well, we're back to
square one again, aren't we? Ireland were deservedly
beaten today by Wales in a really poor match. In the
end they were flattered by the scoreline, as
opportunities aplenty were squandered by the men in
red.
It seemed as if Ireland simply had no game plan whatsoever. The limit of their ambition seemed to be to deny the Welsh any possession, but sadly, they had no idea of what to do with that possession. Half an hour in, the Welsh had them sussed, and as a result Ireland were left chasing shadows. The only Irish players that seemed to have any creative nous were Rob Kearney and Jamie Heaslip, but whenever they got a head of steam going, they were let down by the support players.
Looking forward to next week, I expect Wales to close out the deal by beating France in Cardiff. Unlike Ireland, Wales aren't scared of their shite of France, and also unlike Ireland, they can actually go all the way, as they did three years ago. Ironically, I wouldn't be surprised if Ireland were to beat England, as this seems to be the sum total of Eddie O'Sullivan's ambitions.
This will not be remembered as a vintage Six Nations year (except in the Valleys, of course.) No team has stood out, and to be honest, Wales, even though they will probably land the Slam next week, are no great shakes. A good three-quarter line, decent half-backs and Martyn Williams, and that's about it. Let's face it, any team with Gavin Henson in it can hardly be considered great.
Currently, Ireland are second in the table, but will fall to third tomorrow once France beat Italy. If we lose to England next week, we will finish fourth, our worst ever finish in the Six Nations. In one way, it might be a good thing as then it would be further impetus for the IRFU to say "Adios" to Eddie O'S.
It seemed as if Ireland simply had no game plan whatsoever. The limit of their ambition seemed to be to deny the Welsh any possession, but sadly, they had no idea of what to do with that possession. Half an hour in, the Welsh had them sussed, and as a result Ireland were left chasing shadows. The only Irish players that seemed to have any creative nous were Rob Kearney and Jamie Heaslip, but whenever they got a head of steam going, they were let down by the support players.
Looking forward to next week, I expect Wales to close out the deal by beating France in Cardiff. Unlike Ireland, Wales aren't scared of their shite of France, and also unlike Ireland, they can actually go all the way, as they did three years ago. Ironically, I wouldn't be surprised if Ireland were to beat England, as this seems to be the sum total of Eddie O'Sullivan's ambitions.
This will not be remembered as a vintage Six Nations year (except in the Valleys, of course.) No team has stood out, and to be honest, Wales, even though they will probably land the Slam next week, are no great shakes. A good three-quarter line, decent half-backs and Martyn Williams, and that's about it. Let's face it, any team with Gavin Henson in it can hardly be considered great.
Currently, Ireland are second in the table, but will fall to third tomorrow once France beat Italy. If we lose to England next week, we will finish fourth, our worst ever finish in the Six Nations. In one way, it might be a good thing as then it would be further impetus for the IRFU to say "Adios" to Eddie O'S.
Ireland v. Wales
06/03/08 21:18 Filed in: Sport
This weekend sees the
first ever visit of the Welsh rugby team to Croke
Park. They're not the first Welsh team to run out
onto the hallowed ground though - the football team
came here last year, and Stephen Ireland scored the
first soccer goal in Croker in a 1-0 win for the home side.
Eddie O'Sullivan would take the rugby equivalent of a 1-0 win next Saturday. His charges won unconvincingly against Italy in the opening match of the Six Nations, followed by the customary defeat to an ordinary French side the following week. Then last Saturday week, Ireland notched up a five tries to one win over a hapless Scotland.
On the other side of the draw, Wales shook off their 20-year Twickenham hoodoo with a win over England in their opening match, followed by solid home wins against Scotland and Italy. They remain the only unbeaten team in the competition.
Both teams go into Saturday's match on the back of wins and good performances, and on paper there is little to separate them. Ireland have a relatively settled team (although Eddie has made a few changes, some by choice, others forced upon him.) Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards are finding their feet in the Principality, and so are using each game that comes along to test new combinations of players.
Wales are a confidence team. When they play well and string together a few wins they become unbeatable, like in 2005, when they won the Grand Slam. But when they are lacking confidence, they are dreadful. This season their tails are up, the passes are sticking, the breaks are working, and they are getting the benefit of the doubt in the refereeing decisions. They will come to Croke Park on Saturday expecting nothing less than another notch on the 2008 Grand Slam belt.
Ireland have been dealt a blow by losing both their first and second choice full-back to injury. It means that Rob Kearney will have to start at international full-back for the first time, with Tommy Bowe switching wings and Shane Horgan coming in. Having a rookie at full-back is always a worry, particularly with as wily an out-half as Stephen Jones in the Welsh team. Hopefully Kearney will have as assured a performance at full-back as he has had at wing so far. My worry is Horgan's fitness. He's not had a happy season so far, blighted by injury and struggling to find form. He'll have Shane Williams to contend with on Saturday, and will need to be on top of his game to contain the Taffy Twister.
The restoration of Paul O'Connell to the second row means that we have leadership in the pack for the first time this season. The leader of the front eight is normally either the hooker, a second row or the No 8. Jackman and Best have had mares at the lineout, and in all we have coughed up roughly one in four. Jamie Heaslip is too inexperienced at this level to be a true leader yet. So it's good to see POC back, as hopefully he will be able to keep things steady upfront and ensure that we manage to get and retain possession.
I'm not going to call it. It's too close. However Ireland have the experience, the capacity and the home advantage to prevail on Saturday. Let's hope they do.
Eddie O'Sullivan would take the rugby equivalent of a 1-0 win next Saturday. His charges won unconvincingly against Italy in the opening match of the Six Nations, followed by the customary defeat to an ordinary French side the following week. Then last Saturday week, Ireland notched up a five tries to one win over a hapless Scotland.
On the other side of the draw, Wales shook off their 20-year Twickenham hoodoo with a win over England in their opening match, followed by solid home wins against Scotland and Italy. They remain the only unbeaten team in the competition.
Both teams go into Saturday's match on the back of wins and good performances, and on paper there is little to separate them. Ireland have a relatively settled team (although Eddie has made a few changes, some by choice, others forced upon him.) Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards are finding their feet in the Principality, and so are using each game that comes along to test new combinations of players.
Wales are a confidence team. When they play well and string together a few wins they become unbeatable, like in 2005, when they won the Grand Slam. But when they are lacking confidence, they are dreadful. This season their tails are up, the passes are sticking, the breaks are working, and they are getting the benefit of the doubt in the refereeing decisions. They will come to Croke Park on Saturday expecting nothing less than another notch on the 2008 Grand Slam belt.
Ireland have been dealt a blow by losing both their first and second choice full-back to injury. It means that Rob Kearney will have to start at international full-back for the first time, with Tommy Bowe switching wings and Shane Horgan coming in. Having a rookie at full-back is always a worry, particularly with as wily an out-half as Stephen Jones in the Welsh team. Hopefully Kearney will have as assured a performance at full-back as he has had at wing so far. My worry is Horgan's fitness. He's not had a happy season so far, blighted by injury and struggling to find form. He'll have Shane Williams to contend with on Saturday, and will need to be on top of his game to contain the Taffy Twister.
The restoration of Paul O'Connell to the second row means that we have leadership in the pack for the first time this season. The leader of the front eight is normally either the hooker, a second row or the No 8. Jackman and Best have had mares at the lineout, and in all we have coughed up roughly one in four. Jamie Heaslip is too inexperienced at this level to be a true leader yet. So it's good to see POC back, as hopefully he will be able to keep things steady upfront and ensure that we manage to get and retain possession.
I'm not going to call it. It's too close. However Ireland have the experience, the capacity and the home advantage to prevail on Saturday. Let's hope they do.
N8 Numpty
05/03/08 22:10 Filed in: General
Nonsense
I drive a lot in the
course of my job, and while I would never consider
myself to be the best driver on the roads, I come up
against a lot of idiot drivers on the highways and
byways of our fair isle.
Like the one I encountered this morning as I drove to Cork. I overtook a few slow-moving vehicles just south of Urlingford, and as often happens, the overtaking lane ended before I had a chance to get past one particular truck. This was a big artic, carrying ESB poles or something like that. It couldn't go much above 60 km/h. However, I wasn't the only one in this position, as there was a Nissan Primera in front of me and behind the truck.
The truck driver obviously knew that there was traffic building up behind him, and did what he could to allow it to overtake him. But our friend in the Primera made such a meal of the manoeuvre that it wasn't until we were beyond Horse and Jockey that he finally got past him.
For the first mile or so, it wasn't feasible to try to overtake as there was too much traffic coming against us. Then when it cleared, Numpty in the Primera puts on his right indicator and promptly hits the brakes. So I hung back, as this would normally be an indication that he was going to turn right. But he didn't, he just went on for another mile or so with his indicator on. The truck moves over to the hard shoulder to let him go, and Numpty starts to overtake. Some traffic appears from the other direction, and yer man panics and slams on the brakes. He could have gone safely, having not crossed the central line, but instead aborted the manoeuvre. Then we get to Turnpike, so the truck has to pull out of the hard shoulder. Between Turnpike and H&J Numpty thinks about it once or twice again, but decides to stay put.
Then after Horse & Jockey, the truck practically goes into the ditch to give him enough room. He hesitates for a while, but finally makes his move, out way over the central line (even though his own lane was completely clear, the truck having all its wheels in the hard shoulder), and forcing an oncoming car into the hard shoulder on the opposite side. I got out past the truck right after him, but of course he's now right up against the white line. Eventually I got past him.
Today it was announced that penalty points will be dished out to car owners who allow their registration plates to become illegibly dirty. Surely they could put in a category for idiocy too?
Like the one I encountered this morning as I drove to Cork. I overtook a few slow-moving vehicles just south of Urlingford, and as often happens, the overtaking lane ended before I had a chance to get past one particular truck. This was a big artic, carrying ESB poles or something like that. It couldn't go much above 60 km/h. However, I wasn't the only one in this position, as there was a Nissan Primera in front of me and behind the truck.
The truck driver obviously knew that there was traffic building up behind him, and did what he could to allow it to overtake him. But our friend in the Primera made such a meal of the manoeuvre that it wasn't until we were beyond Horse and Jockey that he finally got past him.
For the first mile or so, it wasn't feasible to try to overtake as there was too much traffic coming against us. Then when it cleared, Numpty in the Primera puts on his right indicator and promptly hits the brakes. So I hung back, as this would normally be an indication that he was going to turn right. But he didn't, he just went on for another mile or so with his indicator on. The truck moves over to the hard shoulder to let him go, and Numpty starts to overtake. Some traffic appears from the other direction, and yer man panics and slams on the brakes. He could have gone safely, having not crossed the central line, but instead aborted the manoeuvre. Then we get to Turnpike, so the truck has to pull out of the hard shoulder. Between Turnpike and H&J Numpty thinks about it once or twice again, but decides to stay put.
Then after Horse & Jockey, the truck practically goes into the ditch to give him enough room. He hesitates for a while, but finally makes his move, out way over the central line (even though his own lane was completely clear, the truck having all its wheels in the hard shoulder), and forcing an oncoming car into the hard shoulder on the opposite side. I got out past the truck right after him, but of course he's now right up against the white line. Eventually I got past him.
Today it was announced that penalty points will be dished out to car owners who allow their registration plates to become illegibly dirty. Surely they could put in a category for idiocy too?
Health Service - Same Old Same Old
05/03/08 21:46 Filed in: Politics
Today, the third report
in to the breast cancer misdiagnosis scandal at the
Midlands Hospital in Portlaoise was published. The best Mary Harney (Health
Minister) and Brendan Drumm (head honcho of the
Health Service Executive) could do was say
"Sorry". (When I heard that it reminded me of an
episode of Father Ted, when Father Jack is ordered
to apologise to Bishop Brennan for exclaiming
"arse biscuits!" in his episcopal presence.)
The big problem with or health service is that it is a power struggle between competing vested interests, but the sector that relies upon it - the patients - are the ones with no power at all. The medical and administrative staff can withdraw their labour if they can't get what they want. The government and HSE can withdraw funding or close down services if they don't get their way. But what can the patients do? Sod all, in truth. They can't withdraw their illnesses and injuries. About the only thing they can do is try to shame the system and its people into doing what is right. But only so many people can talk to Joe. So for every misdiagnosed cancer patient that manages to scramble onto the radar of the national consciousness, there are dozens more whose voices remain unheard and whose health, or even lives, are at risk.
So sorry, Mary, I don't buy your act of contrition. You and your buddies in FF have had eleven years to sort this mess out. The only thing of significance that you have done is to create the HSE, whose only function seems to be as a convenient target of blame for shortcomings within the service.
The big problem with or health service is that it is a power struggle between competing vested interests, but the sector that relies upon it - the patients - are the ones with no power at all. The medical and administrative staff can withdraw their labour if they can't get what they want. The government and HSE can withdraw funding or close down services if they don't get their way. But what can the patients do? Sod all, in truth. They can't withdraw their illnesses and injuries. About the only thing they can do is try to shame the system and its people into doing what is right. But only so many people can talk to Joe. So for every misdiagnosed cancer patient that manages to scramble onto the radar of the national consciousness, there are dozens more whose voices remain unheard and whose health, or even lives, are at risk.
So sorry, Mary, I don't buy your act of contrition. You and your buddies in FF have had eleven years to sort this mess out. The only thing of significance that you have done is to create the HSE, whose only function seems to be as a convenient target of blame for shortcomings within the service.