A WEEKLY COLUMN LOOKING AT TOPICS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF OUR FEATURE MATCH OF THE WEEK
WRAP OF A WRAP
I have to be honest, those permutations had me nervous right up to kickoff on Saturday, especially the one where an 8-pt Scottish win put us out; my scrambled brain concocted a scenario where they led by 5 in the dying moments before the ref awards a contentious penalty that Russell slots to send us home…but that’s the life of a sports fan, logic rarely enters into the equation.
Let’s just say those thoughts had evaporated by the 2nd minute of the match!!!
And clearly by the time we sat down to do the wrap I was wondering what all the fuss was about, and this week it was the turn of Tom “@LeinsterRoyalty” Coleman and Ciarán “@PostToPostSport” Duffy to harp on the match as well as other events from the World Cup weekend, as ever they did a bang up job.
Just in case it needs pointing out, we here at Harpin Manor consider ourselves fans first and “experts” second. Sure, when you’ve played and followed a sport for so long, and especially when it comes to Leinster and Ireland you’ve watched every single match at least twice for over a decade, you pick up a few things, BUT it’s the fan element we like to promote more than anything else; we certainly aren’t trying to suggest we know more than the TV pundits.
Well, at least not ALL of them….
Anyway, for our bonus clip this week we wanted to lose the analytical hat for once and harp instead on what it’s like actually being a fan, and Tom & Ciarán helped me look at just how we get through a week before what is arguably the biggest test match in Irish rugby history.
IT CAN’T END IN TIERS
For this week’s TikTok opinion I had a look at how World Rugby handles the dilemma of navigating the space between the rock which is appeasing the corporate sponsors and the hard place which is fulfilling the mandate implied in their name.
On the one hand, we were always going to be chuffed here at Harpin Manor to have a TikTok reach over 10,000 views for the first time – over the past few weeks I’ve selected a portion of Ireland matches to focus on a particula positive aspect of Ireland’s play.
But….there’s another side to that coin. Obviously we’re not considered important enough to have our clips taken down by World Rugby???!!! In fact each time I put them up I’m EXPECTING them to be removed, but so far they all remain out there in TikTokLand so there you go!
Maybe I shouldn’t go focusing on the clouds when there’s such an obvious silver lining…
Following on from the Portugal point above, I’m hearing rumblings that despite Fiji’s loss there might be a chance they are admitted to an expanded Rugby Championship. I’m assuming World Rugby is looking for some kind of balance with the Six Nations so it’s possible Japan might be in with a shout as well, but we’ll have to see.
I’m mostly for moves like this, I just wish it was a more holistic approach to the game rather than admitting one or two nations to the top table every decade or so like it has been since the game went pro.
Again, a lot depends on what the plans are for this “World League”. I have a feeling it is not going to go down well with fans in general.
NEW MUNSTER POD
We’ve had Caolán Scully on the pod several times over the past year or so, and he has been hosting his own pod but it now seems he has put together a new project focusing on Munster for the upcoming season, best wishes to himself and Patricia for The Red Army Podcast, hopefully we’ll be able to get them on to harp about it at some point, possibly before the annual St Stephens Day match.
We will be coming to you each and every week with a range of guests so be sure to subscribe where you get your podcasts!! pic.twitter.com/CU4qooQBwi
— The Red Army Podcast (A Munster Fan's Podcast) (@RedArmyPod) October 9, 2023
W.XV KICKOFF
Speaking of World Leagues, the new Womens’ version gets underway this weekend. Ireland’s poor run of form puts them in a “third tier” but I THINK that promotion to the second one is possible.
Obviously I’m not happy with what I’ve been hearing from the Irish camp, about having to live in and around Dublin to name just one, and I’m definitely not happy about this tournament being held in Dubai for all the obvious reasons.
But, as fans when the green jersey is being worn we give them our support and for the next few weeks it’s important to get behind new coach Scott Bemand and his squad as they try to top this league.
The explanations of the format I’ve sought so far haven’t been great, but the way I think it works is that while the 6 teams in WXV3 have been separated into two groups of three, they actually only play the 3 in the opposite pool AND I’m pretty sure all six are presented in the same league table. It doesnt look like there are any playoffs, it’s just the team with the most points after 3 matches finishes first?
I will definitely update this if I learn any more, but best wishes to the squad nonetheless.
As for the top tier WXV1, I have to wonder about the timing…surely after already moving the Women’s World Cup to a different year to distinguish it from the men’s, the last day they’d want to launch this new product is the same weekend as RWC2023 semifinals?
Well I guess at least the Australian fans won’t have any conflict, amirite? Too soon?
WXV3 – Week 1
Fri Oct 13 FIJI V COLOMBIA IRELAND V KAZAKHSTAN (KO 4:30pm Irish time)
Sat Oct 14 SPAIN V COLOMBIA
PREMIERSHIP UPDATE
I know how we’re supposed to feel about English rugby but hopefully even the most hardcore Irish fans of the sport has to feel for the players, staff and fans of the clubs over there which have ceased operations over the past few years.
What’s left is an embarrassingly tiny Premiership of just ten clubs and in some ways maybe it makes sense that they’re kicking off on the same weekend that England are playing in a RWC quarterfinal.
The plan is to keep tabs on the results and such here this season much as we have done for other leagues.
ROUND 1
BRISTOL V LEICESTER EXETER V SARACENS BATH V NEWCASTLE GLOUCESTER V HARLEQUINS SALE V NORTHAMPTON
AIL UPDATE
After the women’s league has already had three rounds, the men got underway last weekend and by the looks of things defending champions Terenure didn’t have everything their own way against Ballynahinch yet still came out with a win to start the season.
New boys City of Armagh managed to get out of Cork with a losing bonus point while Tarf, Lansdowne and Shannon were the other winners from round 1.
Next up we have some interesting derbies, with top of the list being a repeat of last season’s final as Nure head to Castle Avenue as Young Munster host Shannon, all after the Friday Night Colours Match at Belfield Bowl.
Over in the women’s comp, Railway Union, UL Bohs and champions Blackrock all continued their perfect starts although Rock have only played twice over the three rounds so far. The trio have also been kept apart in Round 4.
#SupportYourLocalClub
WOMEN’S AIL
Round 3
SUTTONIANS 3-38 UL BOHS GALWEGIANS 5-63 RAILWAY UNION COOKE 15-24 BALLINCOLLIG WICKLOW 10-27 BLACKROCK
Round 4
SAT OCT 14 BALLINCOLLIG V WICKLOW BLACKROCK V GALWEGIANS OLD BELVEDERE V SUTTONIANS UL BOHS V COOKE
MEN’S AIL
ROUND 1
DUBLIN UNIV 24-34 CLONTARF LANSDOWNE 29-14 YOUNG MUNSTER SHANNON 27-22 UCD TERENURE 16-13 BALLYNAHINCH CORK CON 28-21 CITY OF ARMAGH
ROUND 2
FRI OCT 13 UCD V DUBLIN UNIV
SAT OCT 14 BALLYNAHINCH V CORK CON CITY OF ARMAGH V LANSDOWNE CLONTARF V TERENURE YOUNG MUNSTER V SHANNON
NEXT BATCH OF HARPIN’
Big, big week coming up, obviously we’ll be giving Ireland QF date with destiny the full Harpin treatment with a preview on Friday and a wrap pod on Sunday, and also take note that this time the team will be announced on Wednesday at noon Irish time.
So please comment, like, share & subscribe to our feeds & channels whenever the mood takes you.
And as ever, be sure to enjoy your rugby wherever you are. JLP
Josephine Boyd Fantastic performance from our boys in green a great win ☘️💚🏈💪💪👍👏
Alastair McDermott You have to be a little bit worried playing New Zealand in the quarterfinals. But just think: they are shitting it facing Ireland.
Angela Cassin Jackson Simply brilliant ☘️☘️☘️
Christy O’Connor What a performance, every player played their part. Ringrose was motm for me but so many put their hands up. Scotland were giving too much respect before this game by so many pundits. Was never in doubt
Kevin Kelehan Dan Sheehan was superb
Antoinette Nevin Zombie 👏👏👏👏
Hubert Gallagher Scotland outclassed. Hopefully injuries not too serious to Hansen, Lowe, Furlong and Ryan. 1 week to prepare for ABs! Another huge step up!
Join in the conversation by leaving your thoughts
after the full time whistle of Leinster & Ireland matches
IRELAND : 15 H Keenan 14 M Hansen 13 G Ringrose 12 B Aki 11 James Lowe 10 J Sexton (c) 9 J Gibson-Park
1 A Porter 2 R Kelleher 3 T Furlong 4 T Beirne 5 J Ryan 6 P O’Mahony 7 J van der Flier 8 C Doris
16 D Sheehan 17 D Kilcoyne 18 F Bealham 19 I Henderson 20 R Baird 21 C Murray 22 J Crowley 23 R Henshaw
SOUTH AFRICA : 15 Damian Willemse 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse 13 Jesse Kriel 12 Damian de Allende 11 Cheslin Kolbe 10 Manie Libbok 9 Faf de Klerk
1 Steven Kitshoff 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi 3 Frans Malherbe 4 Eben Etzebeth 5 Franco Mostert 6 Siya Kolisi (c) 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit 8 Jasper Wiese
16 Deon Fourie 17 Ox Nche 18 Trevor Nyakane 19 Jean Kleyn 20 RG Snyman 21 Marco van Staden 22 Kwagga Smith 23 Cobus Reinach
Rugby World Cup 2023 Pool B
Saturday September 23 KO 8pm (Irish time)
Stade de France
TV : RTÉ2
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
AR1: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)
AR2: James Doleman (NZR)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZR)
Also Leinster v Ulster, Fri Sep 22 6:30pm, Navan RFC
LEINSTER : 15. Chris Cosgrave 14. Tommy O’Brien 13. Jamie Osborne 12. Ciarán Frawley 11. Rob Russell 10. Harry Byrne 9. Cormac Foley
1. Jack Boyle 2. John McKee 3. Rory McGuire 4. Brian Deeny 5. Jason Jenkins 6. Max Deegan 7. Will Connors 8. James Culhane (C)
Replacements : Lee Barron, Paddy McCarthy, Thomas Connolly, Ross Molony, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Diarmuid Mangan, Scott Penny, Ben Murphy, Sam Prendergast, Andrew Osborne, Ben Brownlee, Liam Turner, Aitzol King, Jordan Larmour
A WEEKLY COLUMN LOOKING AT TOPICS BEYOND THE SCOPE
OF OUR FEATURE MATCH OF THE WEEK
WRAP OF A WRAP
For new readers, listeners, our main feature each week here at Harpin On Rugby is a “wrap pod” where we go through Leinster or Ireland’s match from the previous weekend. This week I was joined by Conor Cronin and Rich Mifsud with a couple of reports from Cian “RugbyKino” O’Muilleoir recorded from the stadium in Nantes on the night. Also there’s more “time travel” like last week, since we now record at 6:30pm for RWC it means we can’t give our report on the 8pm kickoff so we hand over to “Future Jeff” who will be getting a lot of work over the coming weeks. As ever the lads did a bang up job, click here to listen on Spotify or you’ll find it on most major platforms, see a small sample below.
Should have been PotM last week, deservedly was PotM this, so we decided to dedicate our bonus clip to Bundee Aki and how he has made a strong claim for Ireland’s 12 jersey for the big matches to come.
SH*T RASSIE SAYS
For the week that’s in it, this week’s harpin’ point for TikTok is about our good friend Rassie Erasmus.
Although of course we’re mostly wearing our green goggles these days, the blue need to be kept close – after the comprehensive win down in Musgrave Park a couple of weeks ago Leinster are closer to home this Friday evening as they host Ulster at Navan RFC. Just over a month to go until the URC kicks off so it will be interesting to see how the squad is shaping up. I have a ticket but I’m still not 100% sure I’ll be able to make it, fingers crossed.
#LETTHECLIPSPLAY
As a counter to the really annoying call from certain quarters of the ruggersphere to “Let The Boys Play”, I’m trying to get this hashtag going in defence of much more prolific content creators like Squidge who are being denied by World Rugby (although it has the whiff of corporate overlords about it) when it comes to sharing and analysing clips and images from the Rugby World Cup.
It’s 2023 FFS. No matter how much broadcasters might live in a world where fans only want to consume their output, the fact remains that a significant portion rely on the independent sector, and while I certainly wouldn’t expect myself to be included, I really do think accommodation should be made for the top influencers, it has to be good for the sport and also has to be good for the sponsors.
Obviously it needs to be monitored but isn’t that the case with all broadcast material mainstream or no? Let the clips play!!!!
PS – literally as I finished typing the above bit, I spotted this poll on “x” so you can probably guess how I voted…
In “Future Jeff”s report on England’s win over Japan at the weekend he may have been a little bit harsh about the English performance, I mean any team would take two wins out of two to start a World Cup however they were achieved, and however the opposition was playing.
But you still need to check the reactions, and many on English media, mainstream and social, seem to have forgotten what caveats are. Yes, yes, I know this is an Irish rugby site so we’re far from their biggest fans, but goggles aside, if England are genuinely happy with their performances to date, especially when you factor in the standards they should be expecting given player pool etc, then I’ll have whatever they’re having, thank you very much.
PS found this quote on “x”…
IT’S VERY SIMPLE, SIMON
“There was one tweet that pissed me off, however, because rather than come from a random fan this was by an actual member of the Munster squad. Only thing I will add to posting it below is this : imagine the uproar if it were a Leinster squad player after the boys in blue won a trophy. Articles would be written about it. Hang on never mind articles….PLAYS would be written.“
I wrote the above in the final 80+ column of the 22/23 season about a tweet by Simon Zebo and I was careful not to use his name because I really thought it was a “one off” but no, it really does look like he has little or no control over either himself or his social media accounts.
Now I guess we have to take him at his word about the posts he was “liking” (although if it really was his kids I’m not sure I’d be too keen to involve them in all of this) but even without that side of it, I have to say he really needs to make a simple decision as to whether he wants to slag off Leinster fans or be a serious pundit, and when I say “serious” of course I know they need an element of humour and banter but he really has been not only crossing “the line” but also catapulting himself way beyond it.
I guess I qualify as a “Dermot” to him so he probably wouldn’t listen to me but hopefully someone around him has had a word.
NEXT BATCH OF HARPIN’
Next up here at Harpin Manor we’re all about the clash with the reigning World Champions. Preview will drop either late Thursday or in the afternoon on Friday, we’ll be on “x” throughout the match and finally of course the wrap pod on Sunday. If I can make it to Navan on Friday I hope to do a TikTok report so keep an eye out for that as well. Please comment, like, share & subscribe to our feeds & channels whenever the mood takes you.
And as ever, be sure to enjoy your rugby wherever you are. JLP
HARPIN' ON RUGBY 