MichaelRobartes

Great to see Tommy get some recognition. A good opportunity for him. I was hoping that he was Taunton Irish but you can't have it all.

Is Joshua concussed? Odd as hell.

I honestly don't know. I think there are a few guys unavailable or not selected who could come in and improve the team. I don't worry too much about World Cups because we tend to perform so poorly in them.

If we played in the WC QF next weekend, you'd still knock us out I think Chicago was massive for Ireland. We got so used to losing against NZ that it was hard to see where that first win would come from.

Hands off lads. Ye already left him go For me its still the Grand Slams but it's really special. Growing up watching us get hockeyed by NZ (and most other teams) I'd have laughed you out of the room if you'd said we'd win a test against them anywhere. A series win in NZ is unbelievable.

Absolutely. Really nice to see a great ride from Froome. Just a brilliant couple of days all round.

Two of the best stages in recent years. Magnificent.

I certainly did! Series decider will be interesting. Really good to see so many third test deciders this summer. It looked like we'd be in for at least a couple of whitewashes this time last week. On Eddie, SA also appointed Rassie at the end of June 2017 halfway through a WC cycle and did okay in 2019. Who would England realistically get to replace him?

What a stage.

Village spinner. G'wan Jack!

He's going to have lived the dream after having played for both of the clubs that are special to him. Good on him. Hope he has a brilliant season for Bristol and arrives in Galway on top form.

Exactly. It might even explain the really early announcement, but I suppose there are loads of possible reasons for that.

With a couple of exceptions (Sexton at R92 and Geordan Murphy at Tigers spring to mind), Ireland don't pick players who don't play in Ireland. I remember Tadhg Beirne being selected for Ireland whilst still under contract at Scarlets, but I think it was after the season had finished and he was joining Munster in a month or two anyway. Theoretically it's possible, but probably unlikely. No idea if he'll even be on Farrell's radar but if he starts well with Connacht then who knows. He'll only be 29. I wonder how much of the decision is based on his international ambitions. and how much is IRFU-led. He's a few U20s caps for us and the IRFU are generally keen to get Irish-qualified players on board. It's not every day that a guy with Joyce's experience becomes available. He may also just want to live and play in Ireland before he retires. Either way it's a really good signing for Connacht.

That's a great signing for Connacht. Irish-qualified as well. The picture may look very different in a year, but second row isn't an area of huge strength for Ireland at the moment and there's a World Cup next year...

Was that the Boxing Day match that got rearranged after torrential rain? The only home postponement I can recall in 25 years.

One of the more bizarre rugby stories: https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/300586820/bristols-defence-coach-accused-of-being-behind-anonymous-social-media-attacks-on-pat-lam

I was watching us beat Ulster in Belfast (smugness overload) but I saw the Bristol result. Looked a mad enough game.

Then it makes a lot of sense for us. They must like what they see. Incoming players don't often get 3 year contracts at Munster.

Lucky for us then. We have some good players in midfield but are losing Damian de Allende so getting the opportunity to bring in a promising Irish-qualified player seems a no-brainer. Has he played more at inside or outside centre? We'll have Chris Farrell and Malakai Fekitoa to play 13 next season so my feeling is that he'll be looking to compete for the 12 shirt.

I think a lot of people liked the format change but I expect them to go back to the normal pool stages too. In other news, I haven't seen much of this guy play. Should I be excited?

What are everyone's thoughts on the two-legged last 16 ties? I have to admit that I thought it was nonsense but I have to say we've had some brilliant ties. I wouldn't mind them keeping it after all.

All the wickets came whilst I was distracted from the livestream. You'll be pleased to hear I switched it off after the sixth wicket fell.

Mad game. Brilliant to watch as a neutral.

Sale really need to lower their tackle height. That could easily have been yellow as well. Poor technique.

Now a great maul set from Bristol. They set that up beautifully. Don't care what anyone says, a good maul try is a thing of beauty. Think Frank got the yellow spot on as well. I've criticised his reffing in the past but he's been decent so far tonight.