ConnachtCows wrote: Just last season, I had to email the RTE website, querying why they had only included sub headers for Leinster, Munster and Ulster in their Heineken Cup section

Ha, good man. I emailed them last year too giving out comparing their coverage of one of our matches with Irish Times coverage. IT gave us a full article and a couple of mentions elsewhere whereas RTE had nothing

sea_point wrote:

Creedence wrote:

sea_point wrote: But indeed the Irish Rugby media does not for balance sake need another Munster mouthpiece, they are pretty well covered already...

Picked up and Indo on Saturday on the way to the Cabbage Patch and there was one page (compact edition) given to Connacht who remember were playing the Premiership Champions and possibly one of the main contenders for the HCup, while Munster who weren't playing the winless Edinburgh until then day got over Two pages....

Hardly unjustified. Munster are still in contention, we weren't; and more importantly, Munster rugby articles would be of interest to a greater number of readers.

Hardly justified IMO, their games wasn't until the next day and we have Sunday Papers, the got the same coverage as Leinster who were actually playing on the Saturday...

I'd disagree with you slightly here sea_point

We dont garner the same interest as Munster or Leinster, or even Ulster, to receive the same amount number of inches as them in the papers.
If we had been playing on the Friday, and Munster on the Saturday, I could see your point, but some of the papers consider their Monday to Saturday and Sunday papers as separate entities, and if they hadnt included anything on Munster in their Saturday papers, it would be very strange indeed, imo.

In the end, the papers have a better idea than us, as to what stories people buy the papers for, and what stories people will read regardless.

The fact that we're getting as many inches in the paper is great, if you compare it to what we used to get.
Just last season, I had to email the RTE website, querying why they had only included sub headers for Leinster, Munster and Ulster in their Heineken Cup section

Creedence wrote:

sea_point wrote: But indeed the Irish Rugby media does not for balance sake need another Munster mouthpiece, they are pretty well covered already...

Picked up and Indo on Saturday on the way to the Cabbage Patch and there was one page (compact edition) given to Connacht who remember were playing the Premiership Champions and possibly one of the main contenders for the HCup, while Munster who weren't playing the winless Edinburgh until then day got over Two pages....

Hardly unjustified. Munster are still in contention, we weren't; and more importantly, Munster rugby articles would be of interest to a greater number of readers.

Hardly justified IMO, their games wasn't until the next day and we have Sunday Papers, the got the same coverage as Leinster who were actually playing on the Saturday...

sea_point wrote: But indeed the Irish Rugby media does not for balance sake need another Munster mouthpiece, they are pretty well covered already...

Picked up and Indo on Saturday on the way to the Cabbage Patch and there was one page (compact edition) given to Connacht who remember were playing the Premiership Champions and possibly one of the main contenders for the HCup, while Munster who weren't playing the winless Edinburgh until then day got over Two pages....

Hardly unjustified. Munster are still in contention, we weren't; and more importantly, Munster rugby articles would be of interest to a greater number of readers.

_nobody_ wrote:

The rumour I heard was George only got the job because Ronan O'Gara recommended him to the Indo's sports editor. Hence the recent cheerleading pieces he's had published. The comments under his articles online are hilarious

That all makes sense now. Yes I agree, I get quite a laugh from looking through the online comments on his articles.

If you look through his twitter over time there is plenty of giving out about the Independent being a Leinster favoured paper. Never a good idea to publicly give out about your future employer

Didn't seem to do him any harmm in fairness...

But indeed the Irish Rugby media does not for balance sake need another Munster mouthpiece, they are pretty well covered already...

Picked up and Indo on Saturday on the way to the Cabbage Patch and there was one page (compact edition) given to Connacht who remember were playing the Premiership Champions and possibly one of the main contenders for the HCup, while Munster who weren't playing the winless Edinburgh until then day got over Two pages....

[/quote]

The rumour I heard was George only got the job because Ronan O'Gara recommended him to the Indo's sports editor. Hence the recent cheerleading pieces he's had published. The comments under his articles online are hilarious[/quote]

That all makes sense now. Yes I agree, I get quite a laugh from looking through the online comments on his articles.

If you look through his twitter over time there is plenty of giving out about the Independent being a Leinster favoured paper. Never a good idea to publicly give out about your future employer

menacethedenis wrote:

Darragh507 wrote: Wonderful piece by gerry thornley this morning lads. Really hits the nail on the head re eos.

I think he does his bit for connachts cause as a journo. More than most.

Definitely. For a very long time Thornley was the only nationally printed journalist who had anything remotely positive to say about us. You'll see him up The Sportsground every now and then, nice fella, very approachable.

Yeah, I met him briefly in The Sportsground after some match a couple of years ago and he was very happy to have a quick chat about the match

_nobody_ wrote:

Darragh507 wrote: Wonderful piece by gerry thornley this morning lads. Really hits the nail on the head re eos.

I think he does his bit for connachts cause as a journo. More than most.

As for Conor George i the independent, there is something strange going on in that mans head.

The rumour I heard was George only got the job because Ronan O'Gara recommended him to the Indo's sports editor. Hence the recent cheerleading pieces he's had published. The comments under his articles online are hilarious

Darragh507 wrote: Wonderful piece by gerry thornley this morning lads. Really hits the nail on the head re eos.

I think he does his bit for connachts cause as a journo. More than most.

Definitely. For a very long time Thornley was the only nationally printed journalist who had anything remotely positive to say about us. You'll see him up The Sportsground every now and then, nice fella, very approachable.

Darragh507 wrote: Wonderful piece by gerry thornley this morning lads. Really hits the nail on the head re eos.

I think he does his bit for connachts cause as a journo. More than most.

I have always felt that Thronley is the best rugby journo in Ireland. For as long as I can remember he has wrote honest articles about Connacht and often criticized when it is needed.

Well done Gerry, and thank you!

As for Conor George i the independent, there is something strange going on in that mans head.

Wonderful piece by gerry thornley this morning lads. Really hits the nail on the head re eos.

I think he does his bit for connachts cause as a journo. More than most.

Yeah, really looking forward to him starting. The more I read about him, the more I like him. I was talking to a few Quins lads at the weekend and they were very impressed that we landed him

Comes across as a top guy i thought. Passionate, hard edged, young.

Craic Head wrote: Interesting interview, he says that he will have 4 coaches and that Connacht are supplying them? Did I get that right? Millard, McFarland and Nigel for the Academy?

No he's talking about the main squad, so not about Nigel (not sure he will have responisbility for that appointment). Currently there are five coaches for the senior squad...

Dan McFarland - Asst & Forwards
Billy Millard - Backs
Mike Forshaw - Defence
Tom McLoughlin - Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
Jim Molony - Senior Strength & Conditioning Coach

Interesting interview, he says that he will have 4 coaches and that Connacht are supplying them? Did I get that right? Millard, McFarland and Nigel for the Academy?

Extended interview with Pat here. The interviewer is far more interested in Auckland than Connacht though

www.3news.co.nz/Extended-Interview-Pat-L.../282879/Default.aspx