Jonah – A Tribute

Late last night the news began to filter through that All Black Legend Jonah Lomu had passed away at the age of 40. He will be remembered for his performances in an All Blacks shirt that saw him make his World Cup debut against Ireland in South Africa in 95 scoring two tries and announcing himself on the International stage. Later in that same tournament Jonah ran rough shod over England and scored 4 tries on the way to a 45-29 win for New Zealand in the World Cup semi-final.

He went to his last World Cup in 1999 and was again part of the New Zealand team that made another Semi Final that was played in Twickenham against France, this was another memorable game that saw New Zealand go in as favourites but France had not read the script on the day and fought back to send New Zealand backing from another World Cup. He played in two World Cup’s in 1995 and 1999 and scored 15 tries over the two competitions.

He and Bryan Habana are now level on 15 tries each with Drew Mitchell in second with 14 tries another ex All Black team mate Doug Howlett is 3^rd with 13 tries and Chris Latham in 4^th with 12 tries. He was of course the first real global superstar in Rugby Union , mention Jonah Lomu and everybody knew who you were speaking about , like Usain Bolt or Lional Messi.

He was 19 went he earned his first cap , he was 18 stone , 6 foot 5 and could do the 100 metres in in 10 seconds. He was a real problem for defences who now had to deal with a player in the back line that was like a forward in most teams. He has been a role model for a new generation of rugby players in New Zealand and abroad. He was capped 63 times and scored 37 tries in that time.

Jonah Lomu will be missed by not just the global rugby community and his family and friends but he will also be missed by organ donation awareness campaigns because he was a role model for organ donation and also dialysis. Since his body rejected his transplant kidney in2011 he has been on dialysis to help keep himself alive since then.

Earlier this year he revisited South Africa to see some of the men he faced in 95 and also visit his old friend Joost Van Der Westheizen who has been battling Motor Neurone Disease. This documentary showed the caring sensitive side to Jonah. He is fondly remembered in South Africa 20 years after the tournament.

Today Rugby lost a true gentleman and a real legend of the sport, he will be sadly missed by family , friends , supporters , team mates and the wider rugby public. Thanks for all the wonderful moments Jonah , Rest In Peace…

 

By

Cian Mc Gibney

18/11/2015

Jonah – A Tribute

Late last night the news began to filter through that All Black Legend Jonah Lomu had passed away at the age of 40. He will be remembered for his performances in an All Blacks shirt that saw him make his World Cup debut against Ireland in South Africa in 95 scoring two tries and announcing himself on the International stage. Later in that same tournament Jonah ran rough shod over England and scored 4 tries on the way to a 45-29 win for New Zealand in the World Cup semi-final.

He went to his last World Cup in 1999 and was again part of the New Zealand team that made another Semi Final that was played in Twickenham against France, this was another memorable game that saw New Zealand go in as favourites but France had not read the script on the day and fought back to send New Zealand backing from another World Cup. He played in two World Cup’s in 1995 and 1999 and scored 15 tries over the two competitions.

He and Bryan Habana are now level on 15 tries each with Drew Mitchell in second with 14 tries another ex All Black team mate Doug Howlett is 3^rd with 13 tries and Chris Latham in 4^th with 12 tries. He was of course the first real global superstar in Rugby Union , mention Jonah Lomu and everybody knew who you were speaking about , like Usain Bolt or Lional Messi.

He was 19 went he earned his first cap , he was 18 stone , 6 foot 5 and could do the 100 metres in in 10 seconds. He was a real problem for defences who now had to deal with a player in the back line that was like a forward in most teams. He has been a role model for a new generation of rugby players in New Zealand and abroad. He was capped 63 times and scored 37 tries in that time.

Jonah Lomu will be missed by not just the global rugby community and his family and friends but he will also be missed by organ donation awareness campaigns because he was a role model for organ donation and also dialysis. Since his body rejected his transplant kidney in2011 he has been on dialysis to help keep himself alive since then.

Earlier this year he revisited South Africa to see some of the men he faced in 95 and also visit his old friend Joost Van Der Westheizen who has been battling Motor Neurone Disease. This documentary showed the caring sensitive side to Jonah. He is fondly remembered in South Africa 20 years after the tournament.

Today Rugby lost a true gentleman and a real legend of the sport, he will be sadly missed by family , friends , supporters , team mates and the wider rugby public. Thanks for all the wonderful moments Jonah , Rest In Peace…

 

By

Cian Mc Gibney

18/11/2015

Jonah – A Tribute

Late last night the news began to filter through that All Black Legend Jonah Lomu had passed away at the age of 40. He will be remembered for his performances in an All Blacks shirt that saw him make his World Cup debut against Ireland in South Africa in 95 scoring two tries and announcing himself on the International stage. Later in that same tournament Jonah ran rough shod over England and scored 4 tries on the way to a 45-29 win for New Zealand in the World Cup semi-final.

He went to his last World Cup in 1999 and was again part of the New Zealand team that made another Semi Final that was played in Twickenham against France, this was another memorable game that saw New Zealand go in as favourites but France had not read the script on the day and fought back to send New Zealand backing from another World Cup. He played in two World Cup’s in 1995 and 1999 and scored 15 tries over the two competitions.

He and Bryan Habana are now level on 15 tries each with Drew Mitchell in second with 14 tries another ex All Black team mate Doug Howlett is 3^rd with 13 tries and Chris Latham in 4^th with 12 tries. He was of course the first real global superstar in Rugby Union , mention Jonah Lomu and everybody knew who you were speaking about , like Usain Bolt or Lional Messi.

He was 19 went he earned his first cap , he was 18 stone , 6 foot 5 and could do the 100 metres in in 10 seconds. He was a real problem for defences who now had to deal with a player in the back line that was like a forward in most teams. He has been a role model for a new generation of rugby players in New Zealand and abroad. He was capped 63 times and scored 37 tries in that time.

Jonah Lomu will be missed by not just the global rugby community and his family and friends but he will also be missed by organ donation awareness campaigns because he was a role model for organ donation and also dialysis. Since his body rejected his transplant kidney in2011 he has been on dialysis to help keep himself alive since then.

Earlier this year he revisited South Africa to see some of the men he faced in 95 and also visit his old friend Joost Van Der Westheizen who has been battling Motor Neurone Disease. This documentary showed the caring sensitive side to Jonah. He is fondly remembered in South Africa 20 years after the tournament.

Today Rugby lost a true gentleman and a real legend of the sport, he will be sadly missed by family , friends , supporters , team mates and the wider rugby public. Thanks for all the wonderful moments Jonah , Rest In Peace…

 

By

Cian Mc Gibney

18/11/2015

Jonah – A Tribute

Late last night the news began to filter through that All Black Legend Jonah Lomu had passed away at the age of 40. He will be remembered for his performances in an All Blacks shirt that saw him make his World Cup debut against Ireland in South Africa in 95 scoring two tries and announcing himself on the International stage. Later in that same tournament Jonah ran rough shod over England and scored 4 tries on the way to a 45-29 win for New Zealand in the World Cup semi-final.

He went to his last World Cup in 1999 and was again part of the New Zealand team that made another Semi Final that was played in Twickenham against France, this was another memorable game that saw New Zealand go in as favourites but France had not read the script on the day and fought back to send New Zealand backing from another World Cup. He played in two World Cup’s in 1995 and 1999 and scored 15 tries over the two competitions.

He and Bryan Habana are now level on 15 tries each with Drew Mitchell in second with 14 tries another ex All Black team mate Doug Howlett is 3^rd with 13 tries and Chris Latham in 4^th with 12 tries. He was of course the first real global superstar in Rugby Union , mention Jonah Lomu and everybody knew who you were speaking about , like Usain Bolt or Lional Messi.

He was 19 went he earned his first cap , he was 18 stone , 6 foot 5 and could do the 100 metres in in 10 seconds. He was a real problem for defences who now had to deal with a player in the back line that was like a forward in most teams. He has been a role model for a new generation of rugby players in New Zealand and abroad. He was capped 63 times and scored 37 tries in that time.

Jonah Lomu will be missed by not just the global rugby community and his family and friends but he will also be missed by organ donation awareness campaigns because he was a role model for organ donation and also dialysis. Since his body rejected his transplant kidney in2011 he has been on dialysis to help keep himself alive since then.

Earlier this year he revisited South Africa to see some of the men he faced in 95 and also visit his old friend Joost Van Der Westheizen who has been battling Motor Neurone Disease. This documentary showed the caring sensitive side to Jonah. He is fondly remembered in South Africa 20 years after the tournament.

Today Rugby lost a true gentleman and a real legend of the sport, he will be sadly missed by family , friends , supporters , team mates and the wider rugby public. Thanks for all the wonderful moments Jonah , Rest In Peace…

 

By

Cian Mc Gibney

18/11/2015

Ireland – Euro 2016 Bound!!

So Martin O Neill has masterminded a place at Euro 2016 with a 3-1 aggregate victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. After getting the all important away goal in Zeneca on Friday night, Ireland knew any sort of win or draw without conceding a goal was going to be good enough to see Ireland secure a place in France alongside Northern Ireland , Wales and England.

The “Home Nations” will have a serious following heading to France next June.  In the last few weeks , Ireland beat Germany 1-0 and were held to a 1-1 draw in Warsaw. They managed to secure a 3^rd place finish with a little help from a 1-0 win for Georgia over Scotland.

Heading into this 2 legged affair with Bosnia we were hopeful that we could at least get an away goal and maybe a victory to set up a winner takes all clash at the Aviva Stadium. Robbie Brady provided the moment of magic in Zeneca that almost secured a precious 1-0 win for the boys in green, Edin Dzeko the Roma striker pegged Ireland back with a goal in the 86^th minute.

Ireland made one change for the 2^nd leg with Robbie Brady moving to full back with Stephen Ward dropping out , Ireland looked like a team that were ready for anything and defended really well for the 90 minutes and will be well set for France in 2016. Jon Walters has been crucial in the last 3 games with 2 goals tonight. The campaign started back in Tbilisi with the first late goal by Aiden Mc Geady , one of many that would be critical to Ireland eventually making  it to France in 2016 , John O Shea scored a peach of a goal in Germany , while Shane Long had two major interventions scoring late against Poland and Germany. 3 keepers were used with Darren Randolph , Shay Given and David Forde all playing big parts in Ireland’s march to Euro 2016.

Unsung hero’s like Glen Whelan , James Mc Carthy emerged and provided the steel and protection for the little magician Wes Hoolahan to make some very telling passes that would help to see Ireland through some tough patches in particular against Germany in Dublin on a number of occasions he came deep and gave his back four an option to help them out of trouble. The pity is that Wes Hoolahan is over 30 and although he will go to France , Ireland will not be able to build a team around him. That aside he has been ably assisted in mid field by Jeff Hendrick with James Mc Clean and Seamus Coleman providing the width when needed.

Tonight saw Ireland score 2 goals and deny Bosnia any real chances, they were the customary hairy moments as has become common place , but that aside tonight is a night to celebrate another Irish appearance at a major finals to go along with Euro 88 , Italia 90 , USA 94 , Japan and Korea in 2002 , Euro 2012 and now major final number 6 , France Euro 2016 , how sweet does that sound in particular after the defeat to Scotland back in June.

Martin O Neill, Roy Keane and the rest of the Ireland management can now bask in the glory of achieving the goal they set out to when the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign began in September 2014 in Georgia.

To the Irish support, enjoy tonight and the next few days, get the calendar out and mark June 2016. Book your holidays now. Get the Credit Union books out, clear out that jar behind the couch and book your seats to France. December 12^th is another date for the diary when Ireland will find out who they will take on.

In the last two home games, the old Lansdowne Road Roar came back with vengeance and long may that continue. Roll on Euro 2016…

By

Cian Mc Gibney

16/11/2015

 

 

 

Ian Mc Kinley – Back from the Brink

The name Ian Mc Kinley may not ring a bell with many rugby fans but he was part of the Leinster squad in 2010 when he suffered an eye injury that would change the course of his life both sporting and everyday life.

 He was playing for UCD against Lansdowne when a stray boot connected with his left eye and he lost the sight in his eye. This injury didn’t just slow down his sporting career, it had a major impact on his everyday life. He couldn’t drive, he had trouble doing jobs around the house. He also couldn’t catch a ball while training. He did regain 70% of his sight but after 18 months he lost all of the sight in his left eye.

Ian then decided with the help of his brother to look into how he could continue playing the sport he loves. He got in touch with The National College of Art and Design and Medical Device Design. He was then put in touch with John Merrigan who produced the goggles in conjunction with Enda O Dowd.

In January 2014, World Rugby began to trial them and Ian has been able to continue playing the sport he loves thanks to these specially designed goggles. He managed to get back playing in the Professional game with Italian side Zebre and is part of their squad that plays in the Pro 12 and the European Challenge Cup. He has done incrediably well to fight his way back to full fitness and these goggles have given Ian the chance to continue to play sport.

The IRFU have of course stopped Ian from playing on these shores and banned the use of the goggles from all grades of Rugby in this country. The IRFU has said it is not happy to insure people that use them and also the safety of the user of the goggles and also his or her opponent.

From a personal point of view I would call on the IRFU to reconsider their decision and let every person no matter what their personal circumstance play the sport they want to. Ian Mc Kinley was on the fringes of the Leinster squad when this injury happened, who knows how things may have turned out if he hadn’t suffered this injury. The injury happened in Ireland and yet after he turned things around, He was then brought in as a permit player by Zebre to cover for players that were away at the World Cup. As far as I am aware I can’t see the harm in these goggles and I would like to help Ian get this decision overturned. Ian Mc Kinley truly is a man that came back from the brink.

By

Cian Mc Gibney

10/11/2015

Sam Burgess – Rugby League Great, Union Scapegoat

As Sam Burgess leaves Rugby Union behind and re-joins the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL , His 12 months will be remembered for a number of reasons. The great hype that greeted his arrival in Rugby Union was very much over the top and probably set the tone for his time in the game.

During his year, he firstly had to learn the rules of the game in a high pressured situation of the Premiership and even though he played a few A games for Bath where he was tried in the back row and he was quite successful. Yet when England came calling he was shifted in the inside centre role and was asked to learn the game in a very technical position and every move he made was scrutinised.

Bath felt they could put Burgess in whatever position they saw fit, as there owner Bruce Craig had paid the transfer fee of 750,000 pounds to release him from his contract with the Rabbitohs and he then signed a 3 year deal with Bath.

From the first day he played for Bath there seemed to be confusion as to where was his best position was , He wasn’t involved with England in November 2014 but he did play for the England Saxons down in Cork in January 2015. This was the first real signal that England were serious about having him involved later in the year at the World Cup.

He was seen as a superman figure , he was christened “ Slammin Sam” straight away , this after his exploits in the NRL Grand Final that saw him finish on the winning side with a broken cheek bone. He was really on a hiding to nothing , because he had to try and learn the game on the fly without any real support from either Bath or the RFU who were singing from two different hymn sheets from the off.

You had Burgess trying to master the Blindside role while playing for Bath and he seemed to be getting to grips with the role and things looked up until he played for the Saxons and came on for the last 20 minutes down in Cork in the centre and seemed to cope alright. He played against Leinster in the Aviva Stadium and had his best game in Union on the Blindside Flank.

He was selected in the extended squad for the World Cup that comprised of 50 players including Danny Cipriani who was exiled from the England set up since 2008. The squad went to Denver for warm weather training and reports suggested that Burgess was coping well with the demands being placed on him.

He was eventually selected in the 31 man squad ahead of the likes of Luther Burrell and Kyle Eastmond. This selection caused people to question Stuart Lancaster and his coaching team. People forget that Sam Burgess is not the first League player to make the cross over and play Union. In 2001 Jason Robinson did it and won the World Cup in 2003 and was in the squad that made the 2007 decider , Andy Farrell crossed over and made the 2007 squad , Ireland had their own cross over star Brian Carney made the move from the NRL and joined up with Munster .

He like Burgess came to Union with a big reputation and after a season in Union, his feats in Rugby League seem to have been forgotten about. It just goes to show that whatever you achieve in another sport it is quickly forgotten by those who only want to see success.

To Sam Burgess , thanks for the memories and go back to Rugby League and enjoy being at the top of that sport because no matter what you did in Union it was never going to be enough. He is one of the best ever Rugby League players and now back in Sydney with his brothers Tom and George he can get back to becoming a legend of the game in Rugby League that is !!

By

Cian Mc Gibney

06/11/2015

 

Rugby – Fee Paying School Sport or Sport for All !!

 

Rugby has been on most people’s minds in the last few weeks thanks to the Rugby World Cup that has just finished in England last weekend with New Zealand been crowned World Champions for a 3^rd time.

 This particular event has again raised a question in this country, is rugby a game for all or is it for people that are in private education?? Take one look at the 4 School Cup competitions in Ireland, The Leinster Schools Cup is arguably the biggest of the four and this is the most likely way for players to get into the Leinster academy and therefore this will give them the supposed best route to getting into the Leinster first team or any of the other provinces first team squad’s.

The Leinster Schools Cup is a sight to behold and is a top competition and with Roscrea winning this past year, it showed that even small schools can play with the big boys even if it is only for one year. In Ireland of course, rugby is behind GAA and Soccer in terms of popularity, there is a GAA club in every parish in every corner of the Ireland, there are Soccer clubs in most parts of Ireland. Rugby for a long time has had to play second fiddle to both of these sports.

The GAA is part of Irish identity and that will never change, Soccer has also found its home in Irish sport thanks to Jack Charlton and his squads that made history by going to Euro 88, Italia 90, USA 94. His tactics may have left and a lot to be desired but the feel good factor that swept across this Island while his team made each Tournament.

Rugby has struggled to find its niche in the Irish life. Only certain people would own up to watching or playing the sport in the past because of “The Ban”. In the last 20 years with the advent of the Heineken Cup and now the European Champions Cup, it has brought Rugby to a whole new audience. In Ireland of course people now know about the 4 provinces and how many of those people are involved with their local rugby club if there is one in your local area.

The IRFU is doing what it can to bring Rugby to the places in Ireland that it hasn’t already reached. In Ireland one has to think that no matter what success comes Ireland’s way in the next few years that it will still play second best to both the GAA and Soccer and that the way it is !!!

 

By

Cian Mc Gibney

04/11/2015

Referees are Human Too

In the immediate aftermath of the Rugby World Cup quarter finals on Sunday, South African referee Craig Joubert was in the spot light for awarding a penalty to Australia that proved to be the winning score and since that moment he has been vilified by ex-Scotland players, fans and World Rugby to some extent as they claim he was wrong to award that penalty to Australia.

Having spoken to referees in the past, they only have a split second to make a decision and they have to live with it until they get to see a replay of the game or it is brought to their attention by the referee’s accessor.

Referees do not have the luxury of 5 or 6 TV replays to help them with most decisions, yes in Rugby League and Union this is now different and you can call upon the Television Match Official to help you in certain instances but not for a penalty call like the one witnessed on Sunday.

If you call in the TMO to help with decisions like the one on Sunday in open play then every decision is up for discussion and you will have captains calling on referees to use the TMO more and more often and in that case you might as well do away with the on field referee and just let the TMO referee the game.

The concentration levels needed now to be a top official are incredible, be that in Gaelic Games, Football or Rugby. If a referee makes an incorrect decision he or she will be dealt with in the correct manner after the final whistle has been blown.

Referees are human as well and need to be treated as such, they are not robots that will when programmed obey commands that will make sure they do not make the same error a second time. This author has been non too kind to certain referees in the past but ever since I spoke to a few referees I have gained a better understanding of what it takes to be a referee.

Put yourself in their shoes for a second and try and make a clear decision when you have players , mentors and supporters on you back to get every call right. Yes there are some bad referees in all codes but most of the officials in every sport are of a decent standard and would not be in that position if they were not capable of doing the job well.

I realise that in the heat of battle that it is not easy for any player or coach to keep his or her head when things are going against you the first person you will look to put the blame on outside of yourself and the team is the referee.

In the GAA for example the abuse that referees suffer is toxic, all of the men or women in black are amateur and are doing it for a love of the sport. Yet when a game is in full flow and even before a game has started the referee will have something said to him or her. Look at it from there point of view why should they give up a week night or a Saturday or Sunday just so they can be abused and insulted from the start.

People have a tendency to lose the run of themselves at sports events where in everyday life they wouldn’t say a word against anyone. I realise you are entitled to follow your team and support them how you like. But before the start of the next game that you are at, take a quick look at the man or woman in the middle and realise they have a family too and they are human beings like everyone else.

If referees were not there no matter what the sport, no games would take place.  So appreciate and respect them these people because after all without referees they would be no sport.

By

Cian Mc Gibney

21/10/2015

Ireland’s Greatest Night

Ireland head into their final Euro 2016 qualifier with Poland in Warsaw on Sunday with everything to play for , a better result than 1 all will see Ireland grab automatic qualification and even in the event of Ireland being beaten  by Poland, Ireland will have secured a play-off place. After defeat to Scotland back in June, Ireland would have taken your hand off for the scenario that has since played out.

Ireland went into last night game with Germany knowing a draw would put them in a strong position to see Scotland off for 3^rd spot. Poland and Scotland played out an entertaining draw at Hampden Park that saw Scotland’s dreams of European qualification evaporate into the night.

Let’s not kid ourselves who in the in The Aviva last night would have foreseen that result coming. It was a rear guard action from minute one but Martin O Neill had his team well set up and they tucked in and defended in numbers. On more than one occasion they rode their luck but on a night like last night who cares!!   

From the moment Shay Given went off injured that seemed to galvanise Ireland into action and they took Germany on. They lived on edge with Mario Gotze and Mesut Ozil coming close in the first half. Ireland were reduced to resolute defending and clearances.  When Ireland did keep the ball they didn’t look that out of place. Wes Hoolahan and James Mc Carthy in particular kept the ball to good effect.  Germany did likewise and they created a number of chances put they could not find a way past Darren Randolph who had come on to replace Shay Given.

Germany came into last night’s game on the back of 5 wins on the bounce and they will still feel that they will cement top spot on Sunday evening by beating Georgia. Germany played a very high defensive line that saw Shane Long scamper in behind them to fire Ireland in front after 70 minutes.

It was a well taken goal after a long ball from Randolph it found its way all the way to Shane Long who took it down controlled it and fired it past Manuel Neuer to score one of those goals that will live long in the memory.

We now move onto Warsaw on Sunday evening to see can Ireland complete to remarkable turn around by beating Poland and therefore securing automatic qualification. Throughout this campaign Ireland have oven flattered to deceive but last night all of that was forgotten as Ireland secured the three points and in turn knocked Scotland out of contention.

For everyone in the Aviva last night it was a special moment. 50,000 people can say they were there to see Ireland defeat the current World Champions. How precious are the two late goals by John O Shea and Shane Long against Germany and Poland last year now.

So Sunday is a big day for Irish sport with the rugby team in action against France in Cardiff at 4.45pm and then Martin O Neill’s men go into action at 7.45pm against Poland with everything to play for on both fronts. Schmidt and O Neill are brothers in arms, both men can help keep the feel good factor going in Ireland well into next week.

From 4.30 on Sunday, close the curtains, take the phone off the hook , make sure the uniform for school is ironed and ready for road. Then strap yourself in and “DON’T FORGET TO BREATH “

By

Cian Mc Gibney

09/10/2015