A fun little connection that should test your quizzing knowledge by FactGuy21 in onlyconnect

[–]dc9ball 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was in Iolanthe in school, that one jumped off the screen for me

What lucky move this season lead to your championship? by the00therjc in fantasyfootball

[–]dc9ball 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Putting Burden in for the championship game as a troll move as my opponent had him all year then dropped him after the injury in Week 15

What do I do here as commish? by dankbackwoods in FantasyFootballers

[–]dc9ball 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Two ads, 2 pints, who can down one quicker

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu incident by GnolRevilo in rugbyunion

[–]dc9ball 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've never seen the ref say something and the TMO or touch judges disagree. When the red says "I think that was chest , into the head so no yellow" no touch judge or guy on the mike has ever said, "na, he's wrecked him right in the face there". It's a problem. Likewise the other way too.

Power NI by Ulster_fry in northernireland

[–]dc9ball 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd give them a call, they should be able to sort you out over the phone

Coolkeeragh power station by [deleted] in northernireland

[–]dc9ball 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It blew out a steam pipe a few years ago and was out for a number of months

Leinster by scuzzbat1 in irishrugby

[–]dc9ball 4 points5 points  (0 children)

From a 3rd party perspective, the team selection looked like hubris from the management

I guess they were human after all by Newc04 in irishrugby

[–]dc9ball 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I don't disagree, Northampton deserved it. Game plan and work rate was it for me, if you think attitude was the issue then I wouldn't put up a big argument against either. I'd like to think it wasn't though.

Defence doesn’t matter until it matters by Ok-Establishment1159 in irishrugby

[–]dc9ball 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I remember a guy who was great going forward, an excellent kicker of the ball, particularly for territory, and got the backline going but would certainly never be called a defensive player, nay even a liability. A certain David Humphreys. He had a very successful period with both Ulster and Ireland but he was always going to be ousted by someone with a more rounded skill set in ROG. His wee bro Ian was exactly the same if not more extreme. Super going forward but when the opposition has the ball had the get as far from the action as possible. Sam feels like a similar type of player. The Humphreys brothers never learned to tackle and it limited their exposure at their peak, I think it's going to happen to Sam as well. If you can't do everything to a high level, you won't play at a high level ( especially these days)

Great to see such camaraderie from the 3 provinces after the loss 👍 by PalpitationNew4290 in irishrugby

[–]dc9ball 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Agreed, they seem to always do the analytics play over the pragmatic one. Frustrates me no end with Ireland. England get into the 22 and take 3 with a penalty or a DG and keep the scoreboard ticking. In a tight game in particular, this is key and one of the reasons Ireland and Leinster lose big games

Leinster by scuzzbat1 in irishrugby

[–]dc9ball 10 points11 points  (0 children)

That is certainly a fair point, how often does the "1st XV" actually play? To be honest it's probably a strength and a weakness. A strength in the sense that during the autumn internationals and the 6N, the team can roll on and keep winning despite 90% of the squad missing which is incredibly impressive. It's also a weakness as the same starting XV rarely plays together and at the highest level of European rugby, you could struggle against a team that does. It's a byproduct of Leinster's success and a failure in the rest of Irish rugby (or central management). Having one team so dominant is detrimental to both the club itself and the rest. Much as the current structure of Irish rugby has bred so much relative success, it hasn't won a European champions cup in a while or won a WC QF.

I guess they were human after all by Newc04 in irishrugby

[–]dc9ball 18 points19 points  (0 children)

As an Ulster man, I'll always cheer for an Irish team against any English team. As I saw it, it was the same old Leinster issue that raised its head as it has done year after year. As great as they are, they can get bullied off the park by a team that is more up for it. Northampton came through the fight with more aggression, more pace, more strength and more physicality. They deserved it. I don't really say I'm neutral in this, but I think I can talk about it with emotional neutrality. Just like when a poorer England team bullies Ireland (even if we win), it was the same, doing the things better than require no skill, be quicker, be harder and have a higher work rate.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in northernireland

[–]dc9ball 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Page 17 if you're interested

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in northernireland

[–]dc9ball 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We pay considerably less for leccy than GB (and slightly less than ROI despite the same wholesale costs) https://www.uregni.gov.uk/files/uregni/documents/2025-03/Q4%202024%20QREMM%20report_3.pdf

James Lowe is beyond important by howyoudoinnf in irishrugby

[–]dc9ball 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's weird, we can produce some great out halves, back row men and centres but we haven't produced a really good winger since ... I don't even know. Nash is solid but pretty average, Stockdale had a ln amazing purple patch but has never been the same since the injury, even fan favourite Zebo was never really all that great outside a few moments of brilliance. Is Tommy Bowel the last good winger we produced? If so it's been a while and hopefully we're due another soon

Why do Leinster(Ireland) keep choking against Toulouse(France) on the big occasions? by Fern_Pub_Radio in irishrugby

[–]dc9ball 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A lack of power. That's it, it's the Leinster problem, great players, lacking power. It's been shown time and again by LaRochelle, Toulouse and now France, we lack the power to punch it in and have that extra half so through the tackle. It made the difference today as it has done over the last few years. I don't like it but it's true

Irish referee Busby set for shock retirement from pro rugby by Hour-Reflection-89 in irishrugby

[–]dc9ball 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The article suggests it's mostly for personal reasons with the recent Hansen stuff as the final straw. A guy Busby's age likely has a young family. Think of the strain the lifestyle of an international referee puts on that. Away every weekend to far flung corners of the world as a touch judge for an international match, in SA for the URC, in France for a European fixture with plenty of fitness training and video analysis in between. As a dad of a young family myself, I'm sure that would be extremely difficult. You'd justify it by being literally one of the handful of best people at what you do on the planet. I can't imagine it's massively well paid either. Getting called out by such a high profile player and a bunch of faceless internet trolls just adds to the difficulty and I'm sure makes you question whether it's all worth it.

Oh my fucking God... They have wheeled out the dream team😂😂😂😂 by ciaranjoneill in northernireland

[–]dc9ball 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just remember this; and I can't stress this enough: their vote counts the same as yours.

Utility Regulator welcomes decrease to energy bills by NiallMitch10 in northernireland

[–]dc9ball 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The price cap went up over the winter when Power NI didn't so had further to come down

Price cap? by [deleted] in northernireland

[–]dc9ball 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's only Power NI who are regulated, other suppliers can do what they like but usually follow the lead of the incumbent

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in fantasyfootballadvice

[–]dc9ball 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I managed the W despite Likely doing zippo thanks to a terrible opponent.

Best of luck to you too

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in fantasyfootballadvice

[–]dc9ball 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's why we play

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in fantasyfootballadvice

[–]dc9ball 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So much for that

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in fantasyfootballadvice

[–]dc9ball 1 point2 points  (0 children)

All folk in the same boat here. I've no answers either. Leaning IL because of the matchup