THE IRFU HAVE expressed further dismay at the timing of Ireland’s rearranged Six Nations match with France.
On Saturday, the fixture at the Stade de France was postponed at the last minute by referee, Dave Pearson, due to a frozen pitch.
After much speculation and rumour that the game could could, in fact, be moved back as far as September; the tournament organisers yesterday set Sunday 4 March (3pm) as the re-fixed kick off.
This tweak has disgruntled the Irish union who felt that Saturday 3 March was the optimum date.
A statement by the union said:
“The IRFU had proposed to the Six Nations that the preferred alternate date for the game was Saturday, 3 March with an afternoon kick off.
“This was based on providing the Ireland team, who will be travelling for a second time to Paris, with a seven day turnaround between its remaining four fixtures in the tournament as well as providing any supporters wishing to attend the rescheduled game with an appropriate window of travel.”
Speaking on Newstalk last night Six Nations CEO John Feehan accepted Ireland’s grievances, but cited the number of club fixtures taking place on Saturday which could distract from the international test.
“We have to look at rugby as a totality and the tournament as a totality and not just from an Irish perspective,” said Feehan.
“What you have to realise is that the super 14 (sic) had a full schedule of games planned for the Saturday. That would be six games and only one scheduled for the Sunday. You’re talking about literally tens of thousands of people being discommoded on the back of having the game on Saturday.”
Feehan did add that certain concessions were made for the team – their return to Ireland to maximise recovery time would be made more swift by the absence of a post match function.
However, aside from reimbursement for the the cost of tickets, it seems that fans who wish to travel to the game would not see any further accommodations made. Feehan accepted that it is difficult for Irish supporters , but concluded:
“It’s a difficult one to round the circle on and the reality is: the only real option for us was to have the game on a Sunday.”
Great save by Kelleher near the end. Comfortable afternoon for him
Top player.
Super performance and result albeit against a woeful Watford. Unlikely to be a worse performance by any PL team this season. Salah is unbelievable and his goal was magical, give him the contract his performances and goals deserve. Great to see Firmino scoring. Though Kelleher had nothing to do he kept his concentration to make a very good save at the end. Gonna be a tight title race. Surprised Salah and Mane played the 90 minutes, Minamino could have done with game time especially against that Watford team.
Mo Salah is WOW!!! a pleasure to watch him…..Firmino not bad either : )
Time to sack Ranieri…….
@John S: dilly ding dilly dong
@Heckler davies: dilly ding, dilly gone
Class win and 3 more handy points. We will be hard to stop This season as we put last seasons blip behind us
Danny Rose will sleep tonight. Great performance against an albeit poor side!!
Give Mo all the money. Almost 0% chance of being able to replace him
Lewandowski and Salah are the best players in the world on current form.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a PL side as bad as that Watford side today….if they lost 10-0 it wouldn’t have been a surprise! Woeful…
@Ottomaaan: you forgot to mention that they were up against a solid side with a rampant front three, there, I fixed it for you…. :)
@Gordon Larney: no need to fix anything. That was the worst performance I’ve ever seen from a PL side, dreadful stuff and Liverpool could have put 10 past them.
@Ottomaaan: have to agree. I was at the game and never seen such a bad performance from a PL team.
Salah in great form. But how long canhe hold that form? He has 20-25 goals in him a season, but he’s up and down. If he held this form, he’d be close to 40 goals?
Bigger tests against Athletico and United on the way.
@Finn Faulkner: did you like your own comment…
@Finn Faulkner: how long can he do that. ? He has been doing it for the last 4 seasons. 104 goals in 166 games in the Premier league but you think he should score more. Okay so
@Finn Faulkner: you’re gonna need bigger bait on that hook ….
@WESHALLNOTBEMOVED: But by that metric 4 seasons at 40 goals would be 160 goals. He hasn t done that. But my point is that if he can keep that killer hat on his head for a prolonged period, and with our squad almost injury free, he could break records for us. I’m HOPING he keeps this lethal form indefinitely. He still can’t be put in the Messi/Ronaldo category until he starts being seriously clinical. I’d love to see him win the Balloon d’Or this year (or the next)
@len len: No, but seeing as you need likes, here, have mine. Have a lovely day.
@WESHALLNOTBEMOVED: you included his Chelsea stats there, it’s 102 in 153 for Liverpool
@Shane Roche: It’s still an amazing number of goals per season, but I think he can go even further, he needs to keep this current form. Biggest tests are against Athletico and then United.
That salah. Goal was pure roy of the rovers.. Pure art.. He must be a great dancer..
As good as Liverpool are, and they are really good. This in my opinion is all about Klopp.