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[tag]Eddie O’Sullivan[/tag] has made five changes to the [tag]Ireland[/tag] team that beat [tag]Australia[/tag] in November. This [tag]Irish[/tag] starting 15 is similar to the “traditional” 15 that I guessed at last week but I got a fair few wrong:

1. Horan
2. Flannery R Best
3. Hayes
4. O’Connell
5. O’Kelly O’Callaghan
6. N Best S Easterby
7. Wallace
8. Leamy
9. Stringer
10. O’Gara
11. Hickie
12. D’Arcy
13. O’Driscoll
14. Trimble
15. Murphy Dempsey

O’Kelly was forced out due to a knee injury, but I’m confused over the selection of Simon Easterby before Neil Best (ok, so it’s a tight call), and I really thought that Murphy had done enough during Leicester’s destruction of Munster’s home record last week to warrant a start – EOS’s play-at-home prejudice again perhaps?

Finally to hooker – hand on heart, Rory Best is just not as strong as Flannery, sorry Ulster boys! I wonder if it’s fitness related? If things are tight going into the last 20 expect that substitution for sure.

Here’s the team list in full:

IRELAND v [tag]Wales[/tag]: G Dempsey (Leinster), A Trimble (Ulster), B O’Driscoll (Leinster, capt), G D’Arcy (Leinster), D Hickie (Leinster), R O’Gara (Munster), P Stringer (Munster), M Horan (Munster), R Best (Ulster), J Hayes (Munster), D O’Callaghan (Munster), P O’Connell (Munster), S Easterby (Llanelli Scarlets), D Wallace (Munster), D Leamy (Munster).

Replacements: J Flannery (Munster), S Best (Ulster), N Best (Ulster), M O’Driscoll (Munster), I Boss (Ulster), P Wallace (Ulster), G Murphy (Leicester).

Rugby.ie: Dempsey wins landmark (70th) cap

[tag]Trevor Brennan[/tag] is [tag]Irish[/tag] [tag]rugby[/tag]’s answer to [tag]Vinny Jones[/tag] – a genuine [tag]hard man[/tag], not the kind of guy you’d pick a fight with. Last weekend he flipped during the [tag]Ulster[/tag]’s visit to his home town of [tag]Toulouse[/tag], and “allegedly punched” an Ulster supporter in the face.

When I say “[tag]allegedly punched[/tag]” I mean “beat the crap out of, in front of thousands of witnesses, reporters and cameras, leaving his victim in shock with a suspected fractured skull”. That kind of “allegedly punched”.

I’ve always been a fan of Brennan, he’s the kind of honest hard man, straight up. I really enjoy Trevor Brennan’s Diary, ghost written by Gerry Thornley.

I am also a big fan of rugby’s honest [tag]toughness[/tag], I like to compare it to the ancient salute – [tag]Strength and Honour[/tag]. None of the diving and rolling around on the floor you see in soccer these days.

But no matter what the provocation, that behaviour was not acceptable. He should not have done it no matter what the perceived insult to himself, his family or his beer. There is no place in [tag]professional sport[/tag] for [tag]athletes[/tag] [tag]losing the cool[/tag] like that.

[tag]Eric Cantona[/tag] was wrong. [tag]Roy Keane[/tag] was wrong. [tag]Zinedin Zidane[/tag] was wrong. And Trevor Brennan was wrong.

Not so long ago I’d have told you there’s no way I’d see a [tag]chiropractor[/tag] – that they were untrustworthy [tag]charlatans[/tag] selling the [tag]medical[/tag] equivalent of snake-oil.

Well now I’m getting a chance to find out first-hand! As I mentioned before I’ve had serious problems with my back, to the point where my [tag]GP[/tag] has been able to help me arrest the slide, but not improve my condition.

I’ve taken a colleague’s [tag]recommendation[/tag] and am now attending his [tag]chiropractor[/tag]. The guy seems like a good guy, and I’m delighted that one of the first things he wanted was an [tag]x-ray[/tag] – he seems to be following some sort of [tag]scientific methodology[/tag] :)

In case you were wondering why the sudden drop-off in [tag]cycling[/tag] posts, now you know why I haven’t been out much on my beautiful Cross-Check, nor out on the [tag]rugby[/tag] pitch for that matter!

I mentioned earlier, [tag]Ireland[/tag] are heading to [tag]Wales[/tag] for a pre-Six Nations warm-up match their [tag]Six Nations[/tag] opener in the [tag]Millennium Stadium[/tag] and I’m sure that the [tag]official blogger[/tag] for the [tag]Irish rugby[/tag] team is required to be in attendance.

[tag]Welsh folk[/tag]: I’m looking for [tag]your suggestions[/tag] of a [tag]venue for a pint[/tag] of your finest local beverage, before heading off in search of the elusive bugger.

Where do you suggest in Cardiff (near the stadium) for a few pints on the eve of this sure to be fantastic match?

[tag]Ireland[/tag] have announced their [tag]squad[/tag] for their opening [tag]Six Nations[/tag] game against [tag]Wales[/tag] in [tag]Cardiff[/tag]:

Forwards: N Best, R Best, S Best, S Easterby, J Flannery, J Hayes, M Horan, D Leamy, D O’Callaghan, P O’Connell, M O’Driscoll, M O’Kelly, F Sheahan, D Wallace
Backs: I Boss, G Dempsey, G D’Arcy, D Hickie, G Murphy, B O’Driscoll, R O’Gara, P Stringer, A Trimble, P Wallace

Because we have such a tough match for the opener I would initially guess at a fairly traditional starting 15 looking something like this:

1. Horan
2. Flannery
3. Hayes
4. O’Connell
5. O’Kelly
6. Neil Best
7. Wallace
8. Leamy
9. Stringer
10. O’Gara
11. Hickie
12. D’Arcy
13. O’Driscoll
14. Trimble
15. Murphy

Of course with some strong new players in there, e.g. uncapped Ulster prop Simon Best, there is plenty of room for an alternative team featuring Isaac Boss and cohorts. Your thoughts on the squad, and potential starting 15? Post a comment or trackback.

Despite believing that [tag]Lance Armstrong[/tag] was a drug using cheat, I really enjoyed his first book “It’s not about the bike“. It was a well written, compelling story. Lance is a wonderful example for everyone, not just – [tag] cyclists[/tag] or [tag]cancer[/tag] patients, regardless of whether he’s using [tag]performance enhancing substances[/tag] or not.

“[tag]It’s Not About The Bike[/tag]” was not near enough to dissuade me that Lance’s actions on [tag]Stage 18 of TDF 2004[/tag] were anything but the actions of a bully forcing a smaller man to keep his mouth shut and not speak out against drugs in cycling. Even after the stage [tag]Lance[/tag] said:

I was protecting the interests of the peloton. The other riders were very grateful.

It’s difficult to interpret this statement and his “zip your lips” message to [tag]Simeoni[/tag] in a positive light, in any other way but “don’t speak pubically about drugs”.

After reading “It’s Not About The Bike” I had a strong admiration for Lance and the way he got through his cancer ordeal, and his [tag]cycling[/tag] performances were phenomenal, [tag]drugs[/tag] or no drugs.

What about “[tag]Every Second Counts[/tag]“?

Well the first thing I’ll say is that I picked this up at about 1am on a worknight as some light reading before I went to sleep. I turned off my bedside lamp at 5.30am hoping that I’d survive the day on 3 hours sleep after reading all 250 pages straight through. Bonus point to Sally Jenkins – what a fantastic writer! If you are a world-famous athlete wanting to tell your story with a ghost writer, there’s no one better.

The story takes us from his preparation for his second [tag]Tour de France[/tag] victory in 2000 all the way to his fourth consecutive victory in 2003. As a cyclist and sports fan I really enjoyed his description of training and the races themselves. The other part of the story is human – dealing with the events of September 11th 2001, dealing with children, his cancer foundation, the annoyance of dealing with shameful French beaucracy.

He did mention Stage 18 ‘04, giving his side of the story in a few words. Although I’m not convinced by his explanation and I still think it showed the character traits of a bully, I must admit that the book has definitely influenced me back to believing he is a clean rider. I can’t pinpoint exactly why. I think it’s a combination of the way he talked about the drugs tests and their effect on his life. The book is very personal at times and after reading it I feel I know how the guy thinks. I may not like him, but I have massive respect.

Another aspect of the book is that it is [tag]inspiring[/tag]. This guy took on the world and not just survive, but conquered – his message is that you can too.

To summarise: this is an excellent book – [tag]10/10[/tag]. It’s better than his first, and better than most sports autobiographies you’ll find. I recommend that everyone read this book, you might find it inspiring, or simply a captivating page-turner.