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Four defeats and a draw for Derry boss Brian McIver (file photo). Presseye/Lorcan Doherty/INPHO

Derry's Division 1 place is hanging by a thread as Down go top of Division 2

Monaghan made it three wins in the league as they beat Derry by five points in Clones.

WINLESS DERRY ARE on the brink of Division 1 relegation after they were beaten by Monaghan.

Brian McIver’s side have managed just one point from five games and remain rooted to the foot of the table following an 0-15 to 0-10 defeat in Clones.

Conor McManus scored 0-6 and Dessie Mone added 0-4 for the hosts who moved up to third with their third win.

Their semi-final ambitions are very much alive ahead of a trip to face All-Ireland champions Kerry in a fortnight’s time.

Captain Mark Lynch finished with four frees for Derry, who had a goal disallowed with 10 minutes remaining for a square ball.

They face a trip to Croke Park on 28 March knowing that defeat against Dublin would seal their fate.

Meanwhile, Down cemented their promotion push with a 13-point win against Westmeath in Mullingar.

Arthur McConville and Donal O’Hare scored a goal apiece in the space of two second-half minutes to help the Ulster men to a 2-17 to 0-10 win.

They move three points clear at the top of Division 2 though Meath and Roscommon — who meet in Dr Hyde Park next Sunday — have both played a game less.

– First published 17.48, 15 March

Kerry repeat All-Ireland final win by seeing off Donegal as Keane and Moran bag the goals

Ruthless Dubs give Mayo an absolute walloping in Castlebar

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    Mute gnilrapsnhoj
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    Jan 18th 2018, 10:22 AM

    Has anyone thought about Grobler in this. He took the steroids, got caught and held his hands up. He’s served his ban and played a season in france. All this vitriol that’s being directed at him by a so called journalist (who was caught doping and wasn’t remorseful about it) is absolutely disgraceful.

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    Mute Big Smoke
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    Jan 18th 2018, 10:28 AM

    @gnilrapsnhoj: you wouldn’t happen to be a Munster fan now would you?

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    Jan 18th 2018, 10:28 AM

    @gnilrapsnhoj: I don’t think this is about him. Play the ball and not the man. We can’t reward steroid users or have anything to do with them ban served or not. I would boycott Leinster if they signed a player with a proven steroid history.
    We can’t parade players in Keep rugby clean tee shirts and pay people to play rugby who have taken drugs to make them a better player.

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    Mute Gavin Mitchell
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    Jan 18th 2018, 10:32 AM

    @Chris Mc: So you would rather those that committed offences and accepted and did their time don’t deserve a second chance? How very human of you. -_-

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    Mute gnilrapsnhoj
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    Jan 18th 2018, 10:34 AM

    @Big Smoke: regardless of who i support the vitriol being directed at Grobler is way over the top. The hypocrisy of certain journalists and players is astonishing.

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    Mute gnilrapsnhoj
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    Jan 18th 2018, 10:43 AM

    @Chris Mc: why didn’t del flava get all the vitriolic abuse with ulster?? Why wasn’t there this level of outrage for him??

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    Mute Pearse J. Montgomery
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    Jan 18th 2018, 10:49 AM

    @gnilrapsnhoj: In fairness to Kimmage he was never actually caught doping – he admitted it in a book after the fact. Still, he’s really not in a position for hopping on tall horses

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    Mute Chris McNamara
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    Jan 18th 2018, 10:57 AM

    @Big Smoke: maybe club allegiance is only secondary and he is concerned that a guy is getting absolutely battered on daily basis by people who never transgressed , guys with such conviction they go by the name big smoke . He messed up , he cheated yes . But he did his time , give the guy a break . There are murderers and thieves that don’t get the daily scrutiny from the papers . He should be given a chance to make a living , now if caught again , well then that would be different it would show he hadn’t learned and id support lifetime .

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    Mute Chris McNamara
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    Jan 18th 2018, 11:01 AM

    @Pearse J. Montgomery: yeah ,”he was never actually caught doping ” does not mean he did not dope , it mean that even with dope he could not match the better dopers which has left him boringly bitter , he constantaly crushes and maligns sports under the guise of a morality cop that found a niche in the market

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    Mute Big Smoke
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    Jan 18th 2018, 11:23 AM

    @Chris McNamara: Excuse me my friend, you can scour through every comment ever posted on this site (or any other site for that matter) and you won’t find one comment involving me “absolutely battering” Gerbrandt Grobler. I find some of the media’s remarks against Grobler just as uncalled for as you do. I simply replied on this thread with a playful comment intended as a joke. Typical hypersensitive Munster fans…

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    Mute Tom O'Gorman
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    Jan 18th 2018, 11:26 AM

    @Gavin Mitchell: Chris’s point is that if we accept the premise that sport should be drug free, for a multiplicity of beneficial reasons, then that is our stance and we should adhere to it.
    If we allow drug cheats to be caught and then given licence to carry on again, as with Grobbler, even if he did serve a ban, then the message ha you can use drugs all day until you’re caught, if you’re ever caught, and then you have to clean. If that’s the message I want no part of that !
    @ Chris – apologies if I’ve misrepresented your point

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    Jan 18th 2018, 11:29 AM

    @Gavin Mitchell: this issue is not about one man. It’s about cheating in the sport we love. Your defence of GG is mostly down to he’s a munster player. If he played for any of the other teams I’m not sure you’d feel the same.

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    Mute Paul O Mahony
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    Jan 18th 2018, 11:50 AM

    @Chris Mc: no you wouldnt boycott Leinster.

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    Mute Gavin Mitchell
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    Jan 18th 2018, 12:31 PM

    @Chris Mc: Wrong. I always believe in 2nd chances as long as those that are offered them make every effort possible to take them. Mate, Ive made some clangers in my life and always felt like I don’t deserve a second chance, but there are those who always tell me that everyone makes mistakes. Athletes, especially rugby players are no exception.

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    Mute Gavin Healy
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    Jan 18th 2018, 1:19 PM

    @Gavin Mitchell: I don’t think that Chris is suggesting that he is locked up in prison

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    Mute Chris McNamara
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    Jan 18th 2018, 1:35 PM

    @Big Smoke: “hypersensitive munster fan” – ok, given both your comments i think the lady doth protest .. do you own POC pj’s by any chance ?

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    Mute Pearse J. Montgomery
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    Jan 18th 2018, 4:57 PM

    @Chris McNamara: I quite clearly never said he didn’t dope. I’m saying that implying that he was caught is incorrect. Thanks for your reply though x

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    Mute Big Smoke
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    Jan 18th 2018, 6:15 PM

    @Chris McNamara: yes of course, I am superman after all

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    Mute Sean Lawlor
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    Jan 18th 2018, 11:07 AM

    Did it take a certain journalist six months to realize that this player had signed for Munster??

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    Mute Conor Paddington
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    Jan 18th 2018, 3:12 PM

    @Sean Lawlor: he signed the week of the 3rd Lions test and has been injured since then. It is only becoming relevant now.

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    Mute Gavin Healy
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    Jan 18th 2018, 8:58 PM

    @Conor Paddington: exactly. It’s puzzling that there are many suggestions of some sort of conspiracy amongst the media and pundits

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    Mute Sean Lawlor
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    Jan 19th 2018, 8:36 AM

    @Conor Paddington: it was relevant the minute he signed the contract….

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    Mute ktsiwot
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    Jan 18th 2018, 10:22 AM

    Munster and the IRFU made a balls of this, he should never have been signed and they have made a big stick to beat themselfs with. The aftermath has been very badly handled, they should have said they made an error and will put a process in place where it does not happen again, it has been very poorly handled.

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    Mute Gavin Mitchell
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    Jan 18th 2018, 10:30 AM

    @ktsiwot: As has it been badly handled by everyone outside of those you speak of, broadcasting this as if it was a heinous crime. Nationalism is a good thing for Irish rugby, but it did itself a disservice as well in this situation.

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    Mute Liam Flague
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    Jan 18th 2018, 10:34 AM

    @ktsiwot: let’s not forget that rassie Erasmus signed him when his own contract was up in the air and all the media attention surrounded him… This $h!t storm is down to him imo

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    Mute ktsiwot
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    Jan 18th 2018, 11:00 AM

    @Gavin Mitchell: surely it is a no brainer not to sign a player who served 2 years for anabolic steroids.

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    Mute Daniel Casey
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    Jan 18th 2018, 11:42 AM

    @ktsiwot: I’m echoing a point made by a few over the last few days here but why was this not brought up when Ulster signed Del Fava?
    And there is also a point on this guy taking the place of young players. Who are these young players? 3 second rows left in the summer before he signed and Fineen Wycherley is not up to scratch as of yet so I don’t see who he’s holding back!

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    Mute Gavin Mitchell
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    Jan 18th 2018, 10:44 AM

    @Chris Mc: Chris I understand he was completely in the wrong to do this in the first place, but it was a stupid mistake that he accepted. It’s fair enough if that happens, but if he did it again and was caught, then he’d make life very difficult for himself. That’s why he accepted and served his ban. It was purely a catastrophic error of judgement on his part.

    If he wants to move on and forget that part of his past, then so should everyone. He has cheated but don’t call him a cheat if he’s trying to come clean. It’s all part of learning.

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    Jan 18th 2018, 11:33 AM

    @Gavin Mitchell: this is not about him. I’m sure he’s a decent lad and by all accounts he’s sorry about what has happened. This is about steroid use in rugby. We can’t harp on about keep rugby clean and pay anyone to play the game who’s used steroids to make them a better rugby player.

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    Mute Mike
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    Jan 18th 2018, 11:49 AM

    @Gavin Mitchell: But he is a cheat, Gavin! If we have learned anything about drugs in sport, it’s that they’re so hard to detect. This guy was caught rotten so good riddance to him as regards a professional sporting career. Any day a doper is caught is a good day for sport. It’s a stain on Munster rugby that he’s down here. Too many people are sticking up for him as of we deserve his sympathy. What about the guys he climbed over by taking steroids who will never have a chance of a professional career? If we start having sympathy for dopers, we implicitly condone it. We’re good in Ireland for being ruthless with drugs cheats. The careers of Michelle Smith, Cathal Lombard, Michael O’Reilly, Martin Fagan etc have zero credibility nowadays because of their positive tests and rightly so.

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    Mute Gavin Mitchell
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    Jan 18th 2018, 12:28 PM

    @Mike: You are aware Mike that he was caught 3 years ago. It’s not like he was caught yesterday…..

    He was a doper then. But he isn’t now. Spend some time figuring out the difference.

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    Mute Anthony McFarland
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    Jan 18th 2018, 3:25 PM

    @Mike: Frankie Sheehan?

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    Mute Just Looking
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    Jan 18th 2018, 3:40 PM

    @Mike: Absolutely right. I’m disgusted by both him and Munster as a whole. Personally, I think they need to be sanctioned somehow for their appalling decision. Its a stain they’ll never be free of in my opinion.

    As you’ve said, it’s clear they condone doping, and it makes you wonder how many of their players are already doing so.

    They should be deducted points in both Europe and the Pro14, and I for one will be boycotting them for the foreseeable.

    There’s no sympathy needed here, only disdain.

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    Mute Mike
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    Jan 19th 2018, 1:41 AM

    @Gavin Mitchell: The timing is irrelevant Gavin. We either have a zero-tolerance approach to doping or we condone it. You condone it.

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    Mute David OfBrien
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    Jan 18th 2018, 10:55 AM

    Turned into a witch hunt now.

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    Mute k mcnamara
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    Jan 18th 2018, 11:42 AM

    He should never have been signed – for all the obvious reasons that have been well covered. It’s right that this discussion is being had. we must be clear what out principles are in respect of doping.

    However, I do take issue with Paul Kimmage who consistently personalises what are in fact systemic issues. Whether that be doping or residency rules etc. He can barely conceal his disdain for rugby and he appears to have lost his objectivity (if he ever had any). Have a look at the guys twitter feed ….obsessive and embittered.

    Back on point, like it or not (and i dont) the player is question has a contract and has served his time so Munster will probably play him and we have to accept that, or else it’s just a witch hunt. But we should never be in this position again.

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    Mute Brian Shaw
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    Jan 18th 2018, 11:05 AM

    World Rugby have a sanction in place for any player is caught taking a performance enhancing steroid…..A 2 YEAR BAN….why should the IRFU disagree with this. He pleaded guilty, he served his two year ban, and now he’s back playing.
    If they may have given Donnacha Ryan a contract in the first place, they would not be in this situation. Bunch of CLOWNS!!

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    Mute Tom O'Gorman
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    Jan 18th 2018, 11:28 AM

    @Brian Shaw: this has nothing to do with Ryan

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    Mute Paul O Mahony
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    Jan 18th 2018, 11:52 AM

    @Tom O’Gorman: he was Ryan’s replacement and part of the deal.

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    Mute Gavin Healy
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    Jan 18th 2018, 12:13 PM

    @Brian Shaw:
    The IRFU should disagree with this because there are only about 150 professional rugby contracts in Ireland, they sign off on them and they are responsible for the well-being and development of the game and its players in Ireland.

    That’s the issue, or at least it should be. It’s unfortunate that Grobler has been landed in this situation here and is somewhat of a fall-guy for some deception by the IRFU. There are plenty of professional outfits in Europe who don’t operate within the framework that Irish provinces do and I hope he puts himself in the shop window between now and the end of the season and secured a new contract at one of them.

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    Mute Tom O'Gorman
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    Jan 18th 2018, 2:24 PM

    @Paul O Mahony: this wider than just Grobbler Paul.

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    Mute bobby henderson
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    Jan 18th 2018, 11:39 AM

    Kimmage is an absolute disease to sports journalism , the chap is barely relevant in cycling and his career took off with the doping scandals, now he trods his way around other sports and pokes at some half controversial topic to keep himself relevant , the fact that this signing was groblers second contract since returning , he was signed as a stop gap for a year, he hasn’t featured as of yet and the management are a host of new faces in Munster… it’s pathetic and damaging the issue has been blown up now,
    No one disagrees doping is bad and there’s no place for it, he competed the internationally sanctioned penalty and has returned to playing professionally 18months ago.
    If kimmage didn’t need an agenda, this wouldn’t be met with such outrage at the moment.

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    Mute bobby henderson
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    Jan 18th 2018, 11:42 AM

    @bobby henderson: Irish rugby should be more worried about the damaging effect of giving validity to a leech like kimmage more so than doping

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    Mute Gavin Healy
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    Jan 18th 2018, 11:43 AM

    @bobby henderson:
    Kimmage is not valid?

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    Mute Gavin Healy
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    Jan 18th 2018, 12:40 PM

    @bobby henderson:
    Ah come on. Kimmage isn’t a disease to sports journalism, quite the opposite.

    He has strong opinions and he rubs a lot of people up the wrong way but his integrity and journalistic ethics are unquestionable. His motivations are sincere.

    It seems that he is not flavour of the month here because of his strong opinions on residency rules and drugs in sport. He is one of the leading sports journalists globally on the latter.

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    Mute Gavin Healy
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    Jan 18th 2018, 12:50 PM

    @bobby henderson:
    Also, “the chap is barely relevant in cycling”? That’s an extremely ignorant statement. He is one of the most relevant figures in cycling.

    He wrote *the* great cycling book, was a well known cycling pundit and was leading the crusade against Lance Armstrong while facing similar derision to what had been posted here. He is one of the most relevant figures in cycling despite not being a great cyclist.

    Rough Ride is one of the most significant sporting books that had ever gone to print and one of the great sport books. He published it at great risk to himself.

    He rubs people up the wrong way and is very opinionated but his journalistic integrity is beyond question. It’s disappointing to see rugby club loyalties cloud this

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    Mute bobby henderson
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    Jan 18th 2018, 2:19 PM

    @Gavin Healy: you said it yourself he wasn’t a great cyclist, that’s what I meant as barely relevant in cycling , sure his journalistic exploits are hugely relevant in cycling thereafter … and he is imo a disease to sports outside of this and rugby is one, the looking for a conspiracy and calling fake injury with healsip pulling out of the England game last March is just one example, the terrible timing of this tirade is another, where was his reports 18-20months ago when grobler featured back or in the summer when he signed.. but my point is the manner in which his journalism is there to shock and awe. He is trying to put his name down as an important journalist by picking his moments and he can by all means, as long as it’s not rugby , the public shaming doesn’t suit it

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    Mute Gavin Healy
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    Jan 18th 2018, 8:55 PM

    @bobby henderson:
    If you think he’s an opportunistic hack then that’s your prerogative but it’s far from the widely held opinion of him as a great sports journalist and author.

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    Mute Ro Molloy
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    Jan 18th 2018, 1:13 PM

    He got caught, served his punishment and deserves a chance. How would we all react if one of our own top players ended up in similar circumstances? How many south africans now at munster?

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    Mute Harry O'Callaghan
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    Jan 18th 2018, 6:07 PM

    Jesus Christ he was like 21. He was young and made a mistake. Move on like

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    Mute Michael Sherlock
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    Jan 18th 2018, 11:31 AM

    First it was Stander, then Aki and now this. Ye should really get another hobby besides harassing the players with this bullshit. He signed for Munster 6 months ago, get over it

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    Mute Eamonn coughlan
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    Jan 18th 2018, 1:17 PM

    @Michael Sherlock: but there all foringers coming over here and taking our jobs

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    Mute Paul O'Connor
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    Jan 19th 2018, 12:14 AM

    Why weren’t they learnt before? ‪Carlo Antonio Del Fava (born 1 July 1981) – Rugby Union , Position ‘Lock’ – 26 caps for Ulster – 2007 – 2009 – after serving a 2 year ban in South Africa, Del Fava served a two-year ban after testing positive for the banned substance stanozolol. No reports or news coverage??.‬

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