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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon
@hugogordon.bsky.social
1.6K followers 840 following 6.6K posts
Dubliner in London. Sports nerd (and general nerd). Views described as "top bilge" by award-winning journalists
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 7m
With a 6-2 bench it was always likely to be Frawley. Harry will get lots of gametime over the coming weeks in any case.
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 12m
All (or most) guns blazing for Munster as the rest of the uninjured Lions return. Notable votes of confidence for Paddy McCarthy and Soroka who both start after impressing in the first few games of the season. That's a punchy reserve front row.
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 1h
With all that said, while I would like to see more changes, important not to overdo the idea that Ireland isn't bringing in new blood. 20% of this squad didn't have a cap a year ago.
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 2h
Like watching a bullet train against an old steam freight
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 2h
They've got him and Bolton backwards
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 2h
Yet another Ulster player whose international career has been harmed by the general issues at the province the last couple years
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 2h
TOT has been deeply unlucky in that despite never playing badly for Ireland he got squeezed out by a surprising resurgence in national TH depth, and at a time when he might have reskilled to cover LH instead Ulster had so few THs they couldn't afford to move him there.
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 2h
Sorry, didn't mean that to come across as harsh! I'm likewise a bit surprised we're not seeing Milne, he's earned a run imo
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 2h
Don't think it's as simple as "not at Leinster, not playing", part of the reason Milne moved from Leinster I think was because he saw McCarthy supplanting him long term, but for now Milne is the better player.
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 2h
Tbh I'd have also put Milne in ahead of McCarthy (although Irish coaching set up has clearly been grooming McCarthy for some time). McCarthy looks a good player but Milne is that step ahead for now and playing really well.
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 3h
Sigh.

It's good that we'll get a full edition in 2027 but I don't think it's a good sign that one of the sport's major international tournaments won't happen every four years because two of the teams involved would rather just play each other.
irishtimes.com
The Irish Times @irishtimes.com · 3h
Rugby Championship squeezed off 2026 calendar due to All Blacks’ South Africa tour
Rugby Championship squeezed off 2026 calendar due to All Blacks’ South Africa tour
The southern hemisphere competition will return in 2027
www.irishtimes.com
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 3h
I'm hoping that the change of coach will help, this year's vintage maybe didn't have quite the talent of previous years but they also looked badly managed
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 3h
Will we have one of the oldest squads at the WC? Our pack isn't particularly old, it was positively ancient in 2023.
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 3h
I don't quite agree there's no plan, there is a process of refreshing/ renewal going on, we've seen it in the pack. We're just not seeing it to same extent in the backs. Maybe it is Farrell's intent to have this midfield in 2 years, not quite ready to call that yet but time is certainly running out.
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Reposted by Hugo Gordon
youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com
Marie Le Conte @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com · 4h
urgently need you guys to know that this French politician below 1) didn't know he'd been appointed as a minister until he saw it on TV 2) reacted by going: "bah pfff voilà"
liberation.fr
Libération @liberation.fr · 4h
Le nouveau ministre de la Ruralité, Michel Fournier, raconte avoir appris sa nomination à la télé

Le plus vieux ministre nommé sous la Ve République précise avoir discuté avec le Premier ministre «deux jours avant», sans que rien ne soit arrêté. «Comment j’ai réagi ? Bah pfff voilà», résume-t-il.
Le nouveau ministre de la Ruralité, Michel Fournier, raconte avoir appris sa nomination à la télé
Le plus vieux ministre nommé sous la Ve République a précisé avoir discuté avec le Premier ministre «deux jours avant», sans que rien ne soit arrêté.
www.liberation.fr
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 4h
We all know they'll never nominate a prop though.
hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 4h
I hadn't really thought about my personal shortlist until Thala posted this but (with the caveat that I wasn't able to watch as much of the Rugby Championship as I'd have liked) this would probably be mine as well (maybe Sua'ali'i instead of Ikitau).
thalamsutu.bsky.social
Thala Msutu @thalamsutu.bsky.social · 1d
Assuming the World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year won’t consider (much of) the November internationals, what would your ballot be considering rugby from November 2024 until now?

My final ballot:

Louis Bielle Biarrey 🇫🇷
Dan Sheehan ☘️
Ox Nche 🇿🇦
Len Ikitau 🇦🇺
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 4h
This is the thing, it's not like our issues at 7 or 15, there are plenty of options there, although Forde arguably hasn't progressed as I'd have liked.
hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 4h
The thing is there are lots of very good Irish centres coming through, Hugh Gavin chief among them. But they're all quite young, there's a gap (other than Osborne) in that mid 20s level. And they need caps.

We are genuinely short at full-back, Keenan playing every game for years papered over cracks
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 4h
It's a weird one because Faz clearly really rates Timoney, he wouldn't have him in camp if he didn't. He just won't ever play him.
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 4h
I would have loved to have seen Gavin included.

Realistically Doris is always going to be picked if fit for the big games but I'm actually not so concerned there given Conan is in great form and steps up when needed. My worry is that when Josh is injured our next option seems to be Doris at 7
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 4h
And with Osborne likely to be covering 15 this Autumn (and Farrell seems to see him there longer term), our youngest midfielder will therefore be Ringrose, who turns 31 in January. The average age of the centres is nearly 33. This DOES need to be addressed at some stage.
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 4h
I just don't really see what we're getting by including Blade in particular (yes he brings a bit of Ireland camp experience but since he's unlikely to play a major game unless JGP or Casey gets hurt, why not bring in the likes of Murphy or even Doak?).
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 4h
I will say this is more a problem in the backs than the forwards. There is a bit more youth in the depth chart now for the tight 5 in particular than there was at this stage prior to 2023 WC. And while the backrow looks familiar, it's still relatively young (we desperately need depth at 7 though).
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hugogordon.bsky.social
Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 4h
But over the next year we need to find some ways of getting these players caps in proper games and opportunities are dwindling before the World Cup.
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