The Great Rugby Projects

[Jim Lahey]

And how they are getting on?

Ulster's rebuild under Dan McFarland

Post- Paddy Jackson/Stuart Olding debacle, along with a few disgraceful seasons under Les Kiss and Jono Gibbes, on the whole Dan McF's reign has been a positive one. We are playing decent rugby (provided its not against a good team like Leinster) and have seen some very promising players emerge.

Still the odd head-scratcher selection decision, our complete inability to look like genuine contenders to win some silverware and the standard lack of ability to close a game out.

I think Dan McF has done an excellent job but has taken Ulster as far as he can, and that we need a big name coach that is a prpven winner to take us to the next level.

Munster

They seem to have been in perpetual rebuild since their golden generation started hanging up their boots.

I can't say I've seen much progress. On paper they have a shit front row but a very decent back 5 in the pack, good halfbacks, dogshit centres and a decent back 3. But like Ulster they just lack a winning mentality.

Scotland

The dark horses since 2000. Talked up every year (mainly by Andy Nicol tbf) and capable of the odd good performance, but just seem to self-sabotage in the end through poor discipline or poor decision making.

Are Scotland a noticably better team now than they were in the mid 00s or early 10s? I think they certainly have better players but I'm not sure their results have improved (happy to be corrected on this). Are there any decent prospects coming through the youth ranks that will push on the progress made by the current team?


Add in your favourite rugby projects

[Paddington Bear]

Scotland

The dark horses since 2000. Talked up every year (mainly by Andy Nicol tbf) and capable of the odd good performance, but just seem to self-sabotage in the end through poor discipline or poor decision making.

Are Scotland a noticably better team now than they were in the mid 00s or early 10s? I think they certainly have better players but I'm not sure their results have improved (happy to be corrected on this). Are there any decent prospects coming through the youth ranks that will push on the progress made by the current team?


Add in your favourite rugby projects

Yes they are absolutely a better team than they were, significantly so. Unless something radical happens in 2023 Townsend has wasted a golden generation and will be judged very harshly for it in 5/10 years IMHO

[Tichtheid]

The problem with Scotland is that if I were to pick the best team of the pro era all of the pack would be players who are long retired and all of the backs would be from the current era, bar scrum half

[sockwithaticket]

England have flubbed their rebuild, in part because it was left far too late. It should have begun after the last world cup, but it was mostly left until Summer 2021. It's to. Then there's also been intransigence on the part of Jones to fully allow the new blood to step up in key positions or to explore it at all - Marcus Smith has obviously been a shadow of the player he is for Quins and that can't be entirely divorced from him being sidelined in game for Farrell to do a lot of stuff that should be the 10's responsibility plus clearly not being allowed to run his natural game, Youngs has only very recently been deservedly stepped down and serious game minutes invested in a replacement, our outside centre options have been a complete merry go round and on the odd occasion Farrell's not available it seems no one gets two consecutive tests, etc. etc.

We can all see how France's rebuild has been going over the last few seasons, although they have begun to look a little regressive of late. I know the truism is that defence wins championships, but relying on forward carries and/or individual brilliance to provide scoring opportunities will only get you so far. Think they need to do a bit more work on maintaining their attack.

Scotland

The dark horses since 2000. Talked up every year (mainly by Andy Nicol tbf) and capable of the odd good performance, but just seem to self-sabotage in the end through poor discipline or poor decision making.

Are Scotland a noticably better team now than they were in the mid 00s or early 10s? I think they certainly have better players but I'm not sure their results have improved (happy to be corrected on this). Are there any decent prospects coming through the youth ranks that will push on the progress made by the current team?

Add in your favourite rugby projects

Against England their results have definitely improved (another thing to thank Eddie for...), but I don't think they've noticeably changed for any other teams except Italy.

[Sandstorm]

Damien Willemse - is he a 10, 12 or 15? No-one knows.

[Jim Lahey]

Damien Willemse - is he a 10, 12 or 15? No-one knows.

Can he pass?

If so, he's not a Bok 12.

Narrowed down the field for you at least.

[average joe]

Damien Willemse - is he a 10, 12 or 15? No-one knows.

Can he pass?

If so, he's not a Bok 12.

Narrowed down the field for you at least.

He can pass, but he can't kick

[Jim Lahey]

Damien Willemse - is he a 10, 12 or 15? No-one knows.

Can he pass?

If so, he's not a Bok 12.

Narrowed down the field for you at least.

He can pass, but he can't kick

Shoe-in for 9 then.

[Ymx]

Continuity theory - Ian Foster

I think the story tells itself.

[sturginho]

Zebre: 10 years and millions of euros down the shitter

[Niegs]

Zebre: 10 years and millions of euros down the shitter

Was thinking the same about the ramped up sevens series. (Ooh, look. We’re now in bed with the corrupt IOC… yaaaay )

[Slick]

Scotland

The dark horses since 2000. Talked up every year (mainly by Andy Nicol tbf) and capable of the odd good performance, but just seem to self-sabotage in the end through poor discipline or poor decision making.

Are Scotland a noticably better team now than they were in the mid 00s or early 10s? I think they certainly have better players but I'm not sure their results have improved (happy to be corrected on this). Are there any decent prospects coming through the youth ranks that will push on the progress made by the current team?


Add in your favourite rugby projects

Yes they are absolutely a better team than they were, significantly so. Unless something radical happens in 2023 Townsend has wasted a golden generation and will be judged very harshly for it in 5/10 years IMHO

Agree with Tichtheid, it’s certainly a golden generation of backs, not so sure about the forwards.

The problem with blaming Townsend is I’m just not sure how much you can blame a coach for idiotic on field penalties and decisions and an inability to see out games. Easier to blame if this was something that has just crept into Scottish rugby, but it has been there for a long time

[Kawazaki]

I was surprised Dan McFarland's name was never mentioned as a potential candidate for the England job.

[lemonhead]

Munster have been in 'transition' for over ten years but really only attempted a genuine rebuild once, under Rob Penney. It didn't work. Whether the players, coaching vision or general intransigence we didn't seem to want much in the way of evolution. Just results.

Having a chronically bad organisation at branch and academy level, local vested interests at club and a revolving door of coaches (now 5 in 8 years) means that we've generally lumped the new on top of the old, gave it a big old stir and hoped for the best. All the while watching the years go by, European finishes earlier in the season and new player pool start to dry up.

It felt like a real live risk a year or two back. Results had plateaued, whole operation felt stagnant and disconnected from the fans/wider province. We'd a low risk, low skill muck ugly game and were relying more on imports to shore things up. Didn't really feel like Munster anymore.

Organisational issues are still there but with this latest change up we have a good coaching team and a steady hand over the academy. It's a start.

May lead to feck all in the way of silverware but will resemble the player group of 2000 a lot more. Decent local talent, now learning to play and enjoy a skills based game not too dissimilar to the national team and a bond with the local community again. Anything beyond that right now (front 5 included) is a bonus.