Mizen to Malin 2017

Night 1: Leg 1: Mizen to Schull

Day 1: Leg 2 Schull to Tralee

Kevin 12:21

Kevin 00:22

Tough enough day today. 140km to Tralee. 5.5 hours saddle time, but over 8 hours from start to finish. Lovely weather, lovely scenery. Two significant climbs, Caha pass and molls gap, but each of those is not steep and fairly steady. Just long. While 6 of us did a longer spin two weekends ago, we all felt grand after it. Made us all think we were sorted. But, same guys, me included, have fairly sore tired legs after today...not good!

Not a whole lot of craic after dinner tonight... Lots off to bed early, those that stayed were pretty quiet.

175km planned tomorrow to get to Galway, so it's new territory there. Must go to bed!

Day 2: Leg 3: Tralee to Galway

Kevin 08:06 

Heading out soon, heading for the ferry!

Kevin 16:05

Galway bay

Kevin 16.10 

Gorgeous... That cycle from Lahinch to here in Kinvara [inland] was one of the best ever...

Conor 22:09

Good day today. Left Tralee at 8:30 and were well on target for the ferry at Tarbert at 10:30. A puncture for one of the two lads with disc brakes meant it had to be fixed so we barely made it. Got off at Killimer and headed for Cooraclare and to Quilty. It was Wild Atlantic Way to Lahinch from there with a good breeze behind us. Lunch was at one of the lad's mother's house. We were of again by 2:00 and made our way through mid-Clare, Ennistymon, Kilfinora, etc to end up in Kinvara by 4:00. Time for a pint and we rolled out of there to Kilcolgan. From there it was a bit of a grind to Galway city and we arrived here at 5:40. 

Another big day awaits tomorrow!!

Preparation... And...nutrition! 😲

Day 3: Leg 4: Galway to Bundoran

Conor 20.10

Day 4: Leg 5: Bundoran to Malin

Conor 09:20

Getting there...

Conor

A few brief comments on yesterday's final stage. Kevin will have a different perspective as he is a fit as could be. 

The grand plan was to be in the road for 7:00 so that we would be finished by 3:00 - it didn't work out that way. The start was delayed to try and avoid rain but we were all fairly wet by the time we got to Donegal town. Barnesmore Gap was a grind but beautiful, even in poor enough weather. After the descent to Stranorlar and Ballybofey, the tone was set for the rest of the day as long drags started to feature - a killer after three long days (unless you are Kevin). In fact Kevin matched one of the Athlone dudes, Michael, whenever he felt like it. 

Ballybofey to Letterkenny was the worst of the weather so lunch at 10:45 was very welcome. Most lads did a near complete change of gear, especially top layers. Having that option highlighted the value of a support vehicle. From there to Buncrana was enjoyable as spirits were good. After coffee and the purchase of slabs of beer it was time to push on, on into a beautiful bog-land wilderness to Carndonagh. Sharon's sister, Michelle, gave us the lights as she passed us on the way to a call-out and Kevin had a lovely welcome from Maire and John McGeoghegan in Carndonagh who waited on the street to see us. 

The last leg was really scenic as the sun came out for us. We rolled along the coast before turning inland and up (some more) short steep ramps. Once we were within 5km we could see the tower at the headland so we pushed on in great spirits. One final push was needed to cover the last 500m as the road climbed steeply to the finish line at 4:20. I'm glad it wasn't a climb that I knew about as it was, at a guess, over 10% with a few bends at 15%. 

Cue great celebrations and relief and silly photos as we could finally say that the job was done. 

It sounds silly, but the return journey framed the achievement for me. I broke each day down into segments and tried to avoid the thoughts of long daily distances. It took a long time to get home and that's what made me realise, "Christ, this was a huge undertaking!" I got to bed at 2:30 but really glad to have knocked it off. I'm sore today, but the memories will live forever and the legs will be fine tomorrow.

The last few minutes of Mizen to Malin captured on Adrian's GoPro here! What a relief to get up that last steep little hill and see the painted "Start/Finish" on the ground! Kudos to all the team!

That's the elation at knocking it off! Bloody great day!

678 km, c. 5,500 m of vertical ascent.

Amstel Gold sportive 2017

Amstel Gold sportive 

15 April 2017 

150km and 1,600m of climbing 

15,000 particpants 

Back from the Amstel, I survived, Kevin thrived. He was something else.

 Saturday didn't dawn well as gloomy early morning light was dappled with sporadic raindrops on the windows. The so-called Amstel Gold breakfast was inadequate, I doubt if it would have fortified a doggy for sitting in a window, let alone a body facing 7 hours or more on the saddle. We collected rented bikes from a warehouse and pedaled down to register. With all of that done, we rolled out at 9:30 in chilly, misty conditions.

The severity of the challenge became apparent as heavier showers punctuated the mist. With many parts of the route trailing through open upland meadows there was no shelter from a sometimes gusting but always present wind. The first foodstop came after 49 km, it was in a field that wouldn't look out of place in the ploughing championships. It was a low point as we stood around shivering while Redmond Burke fixed his second puncture. We literally had to get going before the cold paralysed is but some 30 mins later Redmond was fixing his third puncture. He eventually resolved the puncture trilogy and after we had completed two really good, even climbs we all met up again at the point where the borders of the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium meet. This social occasion included coffee, chips and Paul Quinlan warming his feet while trying to dry his socks at a very swanky open fire.

At that stage, with 82 km completed and a descent ahead I was feeling more optimistic. Little did I know that the sight of heaven and the finish was to require a further purgatory as short, jagged climbs with average gradient of 8% and ramps of double that signposted the closing 50 km. Kevin didn't put a foot down while I cracked and crumbled on three of them. In truth only one was a source of later reproach as I just can't do beyond 10%. Meanwhile Kevin crowned his day by passing multitudes in the Keutenberg, (the steepest hill in the Netherlands, average of 11% which begins with 22%.

We eventually came down into Valkenburg and swung left on to the iconic Cauberg hill, one last km at 7% with 12% shortly after it commenced. I was out on my feet but stayed in the saddle and ground it out. The last 1800m of flat was pure relief and a place that seemed so far away for so much of the day. After a quick beer we solved a transport issue by having some of us cycle back to Maastricht. I didn't care, it was a level road, one of the few I had been on that day.

Ring of Kerry 2010

Got to Killarney after 7:00 pm on Friday and met up with the Tarrant clan aunt, uncle and cousins. James, the uncle, and Naomi, a cousin, were both signed up for the race. We toddled downtown to sign in and came back to assemble Naomi’s bike. She had just got a new one through the Bike to Work scheme. It will be fine for knocking around Dublin, but if I can remark that her bike lock seemed to weigh more than my bike, my heart sank for her there and then (She eventually finished at 7:15 on Saturday evening – all Steve Redgrave, but without the medas).

We three bikers went for a drink down town and watched Ghana throw it away. Kerry hospitality and gab meant that bed was a moving target. Poor enough night’s sleep despite being tired but woke to good, but very breezy weather.

Rolled out of the driveway at 8 o’clock and zeroed the clock at the Towers Hotel, we didn’t bother with the official start at the racecourse. We picked up James’ brother Billy at Fossa and pedalled on. I planned on taking it easy to Killorglin, but took it easier than planned to chat to Naomi. Passed a few tandems at that point but by then had already seen three unfortunates fixing punctures. I went off on my own from there and put the head down.

Coming out of Killorglin I wheelsucked a train of about 15 headed by the Oriel Cycling Club. The wind had picked up and was probably only 30 degrees off a full head wind. At this point the road rolls up and down quite a bit but it was all fairly relaxed at 27/28 kmh. Glenbeigh came sooner than expected and spectacular scenery followed. Out of Glenbeigh and feeling good I dragged upwards hugging the coast to Kells with great views of the Dingle peninsula. I had a good 20 minutes chatting to a work neighbour, but dropped him (Jaysus, you’d swear I was good at this cycling lark, stop laughing now) on the last 2km uphill before the gradual descent into Cahirciveen.

The full fury of the wind spoiled what should have been a blast into Cahirciveen. By now the scale of the event was becoming apparent as the road was clogged with cars being held up by bunches of riders that were hanging on for the first major break in the day. Speed was down to 10 to 12 kmh as I idled into the feed station with 66.5km done. Colaiste Na Scheilige was packed solid but a great break. I had thought about carrying on without stopping but I am glad I didn’t. Hunger knock would have ruined the rest of the day.

After food and water-bottle replenishment, things became more serious on the way to Waterville. I had my worst near miss ever on a steep down hill as a bottle fell off a bike in front of me and bounced just clear of my front wheel. Great crowd support in Waterville but Coomakista had me nervous. Map My Ride had been carefully studied so I knew where to pace myself for the 7 km of this climb. Scenery was staggeringly beautiful and there were plenty of glances over my right shoulder to admire Waterville Bay. The climb was dragged out rather than feeling steep, with great views of what lay ahead once I got around some of the corners. It was cool to see a procession of bright dots marking the road ahead, all moving steadily.

Coomakista topped out with 88km on the clock. I didn’t stop for the view and descended for the guts of 5km with most of it over 50 kmh. One of the best things about an event if this scale is that the roads are all but closed with plenty of scope to corner and maintain speed. A rattle had me worried and I spotted that the state of road had loosened a waterbottle holder so a quick stop was in order. After that it was a lumpy cruise to through Caherdaniel and Castlecove followed by one short, nasty dig at 7% which preceded a fast drop into Sneem with 115.4 km done

I didn’t eat much in Sneem, and with 60km or so to go, I was itching to get back on the bike. A lumpy ride of 27km to Kenmare started to sort out riders as the pace seemed to be dropping. By now many bodies were cramping onto bikes and some facial expressions seemed to be ushering in Halloween. I had a short break in Kenmare and chatted to a local who was putting his bike into a van. As a native, he had started in Kenmare at 6:15 so he was finished. He encouraged me that Moll’s Gap would be fine and that the distances were marked from 5km outwards.

Leaving for Moll’s Gap I had 142 km on the clock. I set off to Moll’s Gap with enthusiasm for the early part of it but it did get tougher. It is an easier climb than Woodcock Hill from the Moyross side but after 5.5 hr plus at that stage it was hard. Shortly after setting off I felt the early stages of a cramp in my left hamstring but I minded it for a few minutes and it faded away.

Like Coomakista, the road scales the side of a hill so there are great views of the progress of the climb. Unlike Coomakista, plenty of people were stopping to walk and get back on again. Naturally, this being Kerry, the cuter ones seemed to be feigning minor bike trouble or imaginary phone conversations to buy respectability. I went around the bend at the top of the Gap and stood on the pedals while a bus was waived off. After that it was helter skelter most of the way to Ladies View with one concerned motorcycle Garda waving at cyclists to slow down. Beyond Ladies View was the only bad part of the day as I was held up for ages behind a rented car that couldn’t find the courage to pass a slow cyclist ahead of it. Shamefully, I was at my xenophobic best on her back bumper.

I had tried not to set a target for the day, but 7 hrs of pedalling time was fixed in my mind. In Kenmare I felt it was on as I had 1 hr 22 mins left to do 33km. After Muckross I spotted the finish line and saw 6:59:20 on the clock.

I finished with 7:02 – that will bring me back for next year. In truth, I’ll be back anyway. It was a great day out and Kerry hospitality at its best. The organisation from marshalling, to food, to medical support was really top class.

I would like extend a big Thank You to Kevin McGrath, Redmond Burke and Declan O’Dalaigh who came along for some of the mad, long preparation rides in recent weeks. It can’t be easy to get up at 6:30 for 4 to 5 hrs in the saddle, when getting up an hour later for a saner distance would be an easier option. Cheer’s lads.

Saints March In ... Munster March On.

Started the day with a cycle and made sure to include Thomond Park on the route. Went past it at 9:30 on Saturday morning and knew that a day to be spent dying, wondering would unfold. By mid-afternoon, I was drained.
The ticket for lower East stand also had me drained - dehydrated is the correct term. I've been at games where the dark gloom has chilled visiting side with a big reputation, the stadium could't have been more welcoming for visitors on Saturday. Sunday's sore head had as much to do with bright sunshine as dark stout.
What came to pass from 5:30 onwards was hard to credit. The way the game flowed lessened the tension and the big start was everything. Each of the tries contained passages of play that stand up there with anything Munster have created in the last five years, passes from Earls and O'Gara for the first two, firm scrummaging and excellent running and passing by O'Leary for the latter pair.
O'Gara reshaped the soccer maxim that you can't score if you don't have the ball and hammered home the point that you are more likley to score if you are playing somewhere other than your own half. Even in the dark shadows of the West Stand, it was possible to pick put Chris Ashton's pink boots losing the races to his touchline, beaten each of three times by O'Gara's spiralling punts.
For too long this season Munster have played as if they must hold onto the ball at all costs. In this match they offered Northampton the ball regularly, confident that they would win it back and availing of the opportunites prsented to inflict physical damage in the contact zones.
Fear drove the players and the 23,000 red-clad fans in the ground that evening, it was a great occasion. Obituaries, mine included, are now in the bin, replaced by a view that Biarritz can be taken and anything can happen in a final. Munster for Paris.

Good Friday Awaits

Went to TP on Friday night to see half the Scottish Team play half the Irish Team. Overall a good win and a good performance by Munster.

Clearly the Scots' resources are thinner than ours. Glasgow brought back almost all their internationals from the win over Ireland but clearly they were very tired. Parks kicked well but O'Gara (one opening penalty miss aside) matched him, including a superb touchline conversion to make the game safe. The famed Killer Bees were good but not at the level that they showed at Croke Park.

One slightly worrying note was the scrum. Franno made the point that Kaplan seemed to have decided to police the Irish scrum very closely against the Scots and penalised Irreland unduly. Friday night was similar with Munster being lectured to constantly - and penalised readily. Glasgow went to town on this and caused even more disruption with scrums being reset and free-kicks awarded. The slow hand claps in the second half from the knowledgable, but increasingly impolite, attendance told it all. It was very disappointing to hear jeering (no matter if by a small few) of Parks at penalty kicks.

JDV was pure class,and Mafi will be hard to drop, but Earls is needed at 13. I see an outside chance that Warwick will be dropped to play Earls at FB; Warwick's confidence level looks very low and his kicking to touch was hopeless.

Our back row played well, they forced some excellent turnovers in the second half and even though two of them were replaced, continuity was not a problem. Unfortunately for Glasgow, and this is where their resources are thin, they struggled to integrate their subs as effectively as Munster.

Leinster await, let's hope its a good friday for us.

France v Ireland

Let's start with a few predictions: France 25 - 19 Ireland

For starters, the opposites in this match are amazing. We have a weak scrum, no such problems for them. We have excellent half-backs, their pair are nothing special. Our centres are slippery steppers, Jauzion and Basteraud are hybrids, they bash and step, but the more skillful player is at 12, not 13.

I think both sets of backs are equally good so it is down to the forwards. We have an excellent lineout, but on his day Harinorduquy is a one man wrecking ball on the opposition throw, cast your mind back to HEC final 2006, he pressurized Munster's lineout all day. My major fear is that the French physicality will last 80 minutes and they will knock us out in the last 15.

The one team to totally outfox them recently was New Zealand, they walloped them by going around them as much as possible. That's a high risk strategy for an Irish side.

Our X-factor is on the sidelines, Kidney is a better coach and he may make better decisions in reading and changing the game if it is close going into the last quarter.

What do ye think?

Conor

Reply from McG

man, this is one is to hard to call - if pushed to it, i think we will lose. and i wouldn't even rule out a draw.

Reply from Garbhán

If Sean O'Brien (Tullow Community College) makes his way onto the pitch in Paris this weekend, he will become the first rugby player from a vocational school
to represent Ireland in the 6 Nations Championship.....

"We had reached the day when we could endure neither our vices nor their remedies"

Titus Levy

Reply from McG

not sure if that's good or bad ;) but it's certainly v. interesting....

Reply from Conor

Excellent stat. Dunno if the GAA will be pleased ….

6N 09

Difficult not to get carried away by Saturday night and, overall, the weekend points to a showdown with Wales. Ranking them in difficulty, Saturday's game was #2 out of the five so to get over it with a victory was a great achievement.

I only watched the 1st half of Scotland vs. Wales because the game was over by then. It was a complete mis-match and dreadful for the neutral fan. If Ireland can put more than 20 points on the board, they will beat them, regardless of how much the Scots drag it down. Italy away will be tough, but if the forwards can take the hits and break even , we will win that one.

The one match that could be a bit sticky, if we are complacent, will be England. The English pack is good but lacking form. If they come good and bring in Shaw for Borthwick they will be awkward to deal with. If they bomb in Cardiff and decide to have a back three shoot-out with us in Croke Park, it could be a bit hairy yet.

One worry from Saturday is the amount of lineout ball O'Connell called on himself. I am surprised that Donncha was not used more often and it also seems to be a comment that our back row is not too lineout friendly. Neither Heaslip nor Ferris look light enough for regular lifting. Wallace is used very rarely, even by Munster (though this could be because Quinlan is good option). Having said all that, O'Connell was immense on Saturday in taking clean ball.

Anyway, it is onwards and upwards for now.

Munster V Sale, 16 Jan 09

A few observations are worth mentioning.

I will always take the view that more is learned in defeat than victory. I think a good starting point for Munster's preparations would be to look at a video analysis of the Sale performance - as will be prepared by the Sale coaching staff - and realize that no team is going to play that badly or stupidly against them again this season. The Ulster game video should remain on special offer as a reminder of what less than 100% commitment gets you, and not be consigned to the archives.

Sale's approach to defending in the three quarters was a joke. They gave Munster acres of space. If you looks the pass forward pass that Earls threw, and butchered a certain try, the defence is shocking. Not only did Earl's pass land well ahead of Dowling, it also landed well
ahead of the Sale backs which shows you how far they were standing off the Munster backs. Against a team like Wasps with a blitz defence that pass wouldn't have been on at all.

Tomas O'Leary has had a great season but he has to stop stepping before passing and stop getting caught out clearing the ball from rucks.

I hope that McGahan has the confidence to back the Warwick at 15, Earls at 13 experiment. This would be tough on Tipoki but I really think injuries have put paid to his form and his season. Earls is priceless and a real threat at 13 while Warwick is ultimately a very good footballer who slots in to all of the back 5 positions. Kidney wasn't afraid to drop Stringer last season and he brought in Denis Hurley for Shaun Payne. I think McGahan has to aim to get his best players on the pitch in the back 5 positions. With players of natural talent such as Warwick, Earls and Howlett, he can do this. Barry Murphy, too, is already a victim of this policy, he is a specialist, but average, 13 who is not really Heineken standard.

Across last season and this one so far I am struck by how Munster have got into the heads of their opponents. Gloucester blew it by missing three 1st half gimme penalties. Saracens couldn't keep their cool in the last 10 mins in Coventry; and Toulouse lost it mentally in the final in Cardiff. Brock James missed a pivotal drop goal chance 6 minutes from time in December in TP when all Clermont had to do was keep the ball tight. By forcing the issue they handed Munster a chance that was taken emphatically.

Munster are not a Kilkenny, in the sense that they do not gratuitously murder weak opposition, but they are very Kilkenny-like in the business end of the season. More than any other team they seem to understand the fact that six games in a group does not allow you the luxury of losing any game - losing in the sense that you get nothing at all from the game. Therefore, they have developed the ability to go away from home and either win or get a losing bonus point. If you look at the 17 group matches since the start of the successful 05/06 campaign to now, the 1st match - when the lost 27-15 to Sale, is the only time they have failed to take at least a point from a match. Even when they lost to Leicester in January 07, they got a losing bonus point.

People may talk about strength, skill and spirit, but brains are pretty important too.

Stade de France 21st September 2007

Last Friday night's visit to the match was born out of a drunken friend's frustration (Dave Hanly) at losing the proud Thomond record to Leicester Tigers last January. He reckoned that we wouldn't be going to the HCup final so this match was targeted instead.

I doubt if I will go through the same traval arrangements again unless I have a Sherpa to carry my bags. Shannon - Stansted - Liverpool St - Waterloo - Gare du Nord - Metro is a hard sell for the future.

Had a great day Friday, lunch in the sun, beers at the the Trocadero looking down towards the Eiffel Tower, lads and lassies from Belfast, Waterford, Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Clare and everywhere playing tip rugby and managing not to break a window. A bunch of English joined in too - the only ones who didn't buy in were the French security.

As for the match ... well the stadium is outstanding, not as steepling tall as the Millenium and good views all around. Much easier to get there, in, and out of than Croker.

Loads if Irish there - eternally optimistic, but praying for a loss by less than 7. Anthems were great. Ireland's call sung respectfully, la Marseillaise put the shiver up the spine and, as the teams broke up and lined up for the kick-off, a rousing unplugged Amhran na bhFiann. Some of the Norners near us were less than impressed.

We just didn't have it in the night. This was very disppointing as the French looked so poor at times. How often have France failed to put real width and pace on the ball across the backline in Paris? To be honest the French crowd only cheered three times in the whole match, the anthem and the two tries. Beyond that, it was sqeauky bums all around. Chris White delivered for the French, but we drove his van. Some of the ill-discpline was shocking and for me displayed a total lack of confidence/concentration/cohesion. Few players really showed the leadership on the pitch - Easterby, BOD, Hayes; hard to go beyond them without lowering standards. All in all I feel that they will all go home with reputations diminished and futures uncertain.

The wives watched the match in a bar outside the stadium, with some 60 year old dear. Her husband spotted Eithne and Fiona, and dropped her - he must have thought she was a grenade because he ran away like he was holding the pin. They watched the match in in a half empty bar amongst an attitude of expectant indifference. French supporters are like Kilkenny and Kerry - they just can't be arsed until the final is reached. No jersies, balloons, music - nothing. Just gouged people on prices.

Overall, a bad night but an experience. Time heals all wounds and the IRFU know they will sell out the three 6N home games next spring. Fans are fickle indeed - they forgive and forget.

Team for Sunday

This is what I hope EOS picks and hopefully it will deliver a victory. The required number of tries is another matter.

15. Demspey
14. Murphy 13. BOD 12. Darcy 11. Hickie
10. ROG 9. Reddan
1. Horan 2. Flannery 3. Hayes
4. Mal O'K 5. POC
6. Easterbunny 7. Quinny 8. Leamy

Bench
16. R Best 17. S Best 18. O'Callaghan 19. N Best 20. Stringer 21. Wallace 22. Horgan

Horgan is out for lack of form and clearly not recovered enough after injury. We need tries so Trimble goes as he is not a real finisher. Hickie offers something in this area. I still think that ROG has a big game left in him.

In the pack Donncha has got to go, big Mal won't weaken the lineout. Wallace is finished due to ankle injury so I would give Quinny a start as he has a wrecking ball presence and offers more than Neil Best who runs like Helen Keller on speed and steroids - all action, doesn't look, doesn't listen. Leamy just about survives, bring on Best for Leamy with 25 mins to go. I don't think that Wallace is anymore of a ground hog loosie than Quinlan in his current form.

I'd start Fla' over Best but if we start losing lineouts, EOS has to be ruthless and take him off immediately.

I don't agree with Franno's suggestions about BOD at 10. Mind you, given ROG's fragile state and Contepomi's familiarity with all of the Irish, he is in for a tough night.

Otherwise, we'll be fine. Let's give it a lash!

Gap closing

Yep Kev, the Argies got a good hammering around the pitch. Our lads will have nowhere to hide from the physical stuff. Bonus point in the last minute of the game clock (6th minute of injury time) tells a story.

I saw some of Italy v Romania last night, similar pattern of a real slugfest. Considering POC's comments on how he feels worst getting out of bed after an Italian game, he won't want to play these guys in a hurry.

One slight wory for the future is a scenario where we don't make the QFs and have to prequalify, we will be playing against teams like Romania and Georgia who have a physical approach well beyond what our lads are used to.

This RWC seems to me to be like the last 10 yrs of gaelic football. The gap between the good teams and their lesser opponents has been closed by fitness, workrate and brutal physicality.

RWC

That was some bag of you know what last night. Quick ball from two-man rucks? It just doesn't work. Which team wore the other down over the course of 80 mins? How many points did we score in the last quarter which is when the weaker teams cave in (traditionally)? I wonder is O'Connell asking if they put the fear of God in anyone? Nivea for girls night sums it up for me. What chance changes - not Eddie's style? How many more matches must we endure Stringer for? I wonder if last night was the platinum that O'Gara craves?

Some comments:

1. Horan - isolated in the loose, no impact in the scrum, spotted him slipping his binding a few times.
   
2. Best - rubbish, can only be in the team to bulk up the front row and compensate for Horan
   
3. Hayes - As usual, does the limited things well to very well, not fair to expect any more of him. He looks like the only guy who has lost bulk in all the conditioning work.
4. O'Callaghan - I find it hard to believe that he was on the pitch. He continues to represent the gulf in class between being a good Heineken Cup level player and real international class
5. O'Connell - really struggling with his game right now. Poor against Scotland and Italy, he had little impact and provided no leadership.
6. Easterby - one of the better players on the night
   
7. Wallace - totally off the pace apart from one excellent foray in support of Dempsey in the 1st half.
   
8. Leamy - like Easterby, provided some power in contact, too often iin isolation
9. Stringer - time to say good-bye, overshadowed by his opposite number - again. Have you ever honesty said he could displace any other teams' 9, apart maybe for England at present?
10. Happy to float out cut-out passes that had interception written all over them, place kicking malaise betrays serious problems.
11. Hickie - Clearly not the better of the clash of heads. Seemed intent on justifying his retirement announcement
    
12. D'Arcy - Some breaks made but seems to have a sign saying "I'll have the ball on a mo, I'm the one to tackle" on him. On the receiving end of most of the Stringer/O'Gara semaphore/telegraphs passes.
13. O'Driscoll - One of the better players on the night, struggling with the ineptitude all around him.
    
14. Trimble - See comments on O'Callaghan, gulf in class etc.
15. Dempsey - did nothing wrong but alway happy for others to take on the work of trying to change a game. Just another ordinary Girve game.

A few other observations:

• Clearly the forwards have done nothing but continuity work and neglected the basic set pieces. Scrums ineffective/insecure, lineouts similarly insecure and no longer a platform for rolling maul. Ball off the top is pointless if the 7 can't get to the first breakdown.
  
• Definite reluctance to embrace physicality and impose ourselves on other teams. Seem to have forgotten that you have to win the non-ball parts of the war also. No ability or desire to grunt the ball through rucks - they need a session with Jim Telfer.
• Total lack of confidence is now a huge issue.

Regards,

Conor