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14 reasons we’re glad The Sunday Game is back

The boys are back in town [RTÉ studios] tomorrow.

14. The Premier League is over and the MOTD2 lads are off to Brazil, God help ‘em

MOTD2 John Hartson and Robbie Savage have differing views on smart casual. BBC BBC

13. This angry lad and his chums aren’t back on Sunday nights yet

NIDGE Relax Nidge, Marty and the lads are on the way. RTE RTE

12. At some stage during the summer they will all be accused of having agendas against certain counties

sunday RTÉ Sunday Game hurling analysts, Cyril Farrell, Tomás Mulcahy, Brendan Cummins with presenters Michael Lester and Des Cahill. INPHO / Cathal Noonan INPHO / Cathal Noonan / Cathal Noonan

11. We get to marvel at Davy Fitz after his latest staring contest, emotional outburst or ‘small fish’ comments

RTÉ Sport / YouTube

10. Only after watching the Sunday Game will fans decide whether a red card is justified

Tommy Walsh of Kilkenny is sent off by referee Michael Wadding Tommy Walsh of Kilkenny is sent off by referee Michael Wadding. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO

9. It’s been on the go for a long time and has aged well

ForKingAndCountry2014 / YouTube

8. The straight-up bizarre analogies as the pundits get too worked up to make sense

Dubs Meme 1

Dubs Meme 4 RTE RTE

7. There’s two new lads — Brendan Cummins and Tomás Ó Sé — in the pundits’ chairs this year

Brendan Cummins Former Tipp goalkeeper Brendan Cummins (the chap in the suit). Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

Brendan Cummins and Tomas O'Se Tomás Ó Sé will be a pundit this summer. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

6. That excellent insight into post-match, victorious dressing rooms

RTÉ - Ireland's National Television and Radio Broadcaster / YouTube

5. Fans will make homemade signs to express their views on the punditry

Mayo fans make there way to Croke Park James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

4. This man’s views on the hurling will be interesting

ger-loughnane-meme RTE RTE

3. We can watch this man have the toughest refereeing job in the country

DES Des Cahill often restores the Sunday peace. RTE Sport RTE Sport

 

2. When these three debate the merits of black cards

Sunday Game panel SF Calm before the storm: Joe Brolly, Pat Spillane and Colm O'Rourke. RTE RTE

2(a). When Brolly goes off, watch out (we’re looking at you Sean Cavanagh)

themadhair / YouTube

1. And this tune is the sound of summer

HurlingGoals / YouTube

9 injured players we’ll miss seeing in action in this summer’s championship

9 young players to watch out for in this summer’s football championship

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    Mute Brendan O'Callaghan
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:11 PM

    So many penalties against Leinster makes me look at the ref again. When you see the ref awarding 50/50 decisions in one direction suggests the dice is loaded. France rugby and English rugby are in cohoots with the sponcers against Irish rugby.

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    Mute teuO6nLS
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:13 PM

    @Brendan O’Callaghan: just look at last year’s final. Carley screaming abuse at Ross Byrne for asking if Jenkins can get medical attention.

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    Mute robert kelly
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:16 PM

    @Brendan O’Callaghan: ah yea blame the ref for Leinster’s poor performance so far

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    Mute Michael Corkery
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:27 PM

    @Brendan O’Callaghan: that time when the Bristol player played the ball on the ground after VDF broke and nearly scored. Outrageous from ref – he just invented a knock on to avoid giving the Bristol player a YC for very cynical play. Leinster discipline has been poor though

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    Mute Mick Joe
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:36 PM

    @robert kelly: Who is blaming the ref for Leinster playing bad? Weird chap.

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    Mute robert kelly
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:48 PM

    @Mick Joe: Co the jets there Mick I must say it seemed to me like you and Brendan were blaming ref and making excuses… I’m just a neutral watching a game of rugby

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    Mute damien reidy
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:13 PM

    @Brendan O’Callaghan: this is Top14 reffing, it’s a different beast you can get 3 yellows at once if your really lucky

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    Mute brian o'leary
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    Dec 8th 2024, 8:42 PM

    @Michael Corkery: did josh not lose the ball forward just prior to that?

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    Mute teuO6nLS
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:04 PM

    I thought Prendergast couldn’t carry or threaten the line?

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    Mute Jofus Soap
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:10 PM

    Ref doesn’t do refing.

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    Mute Lulu
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:40 PM

    Can’t believe the whinging by the goys on here tonight….. unbelievable Jeff!

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    Mute Jofus Soap
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:01 PM

    Ref doesn’t do scrums.

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    Mute Michael Corkery
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:28 PM

    @Jofus Soap: yea, some very dodgy calls. Typically French

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    Mute Barry Leahy
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:24 PM

    Give me Leinster with Lancaster any day before this Nienbar tripe

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    Mute Gary Galligan
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    Dec 8th 2024, 4:39 PM

    Leinster by 15

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    Mute Shanie
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:17 PM

    Leinster by 14

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    Mute Gary Galligan
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:24 PM

    @Shanie: one more for my big bet bro

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:30 PM

    @Shanie: 14 point win would be nice, BP even better, but I am not sure it will be that easy. Really hard to tell which teams will show up for CC in the first round. Hopefully Bristol will be thinking more about the Prem.

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    Mute Shanie
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:48 PM

    @Paul Ennis: TBH just messing it will be a tough game

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    Mute Shanie
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:48 PM

    @Gary Galligan: Hopefully you get your 25 cent win

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    Mute Gary Galligan
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:57 PM

    @Shanie: 40 euro

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    Mute Shanie
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:01 PM

    @Gary Galligan: Interesting

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    Mute Mick Joe
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:59 PM

    Was this referee born in Bristol?

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    Mute Jofus Soap
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:43 PM

    No arms tackle by Sam ?
    Soccer slide tackle by Sam.

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    Mute Mick Joe
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:50 PM

    @Jofus Soap: He was penalised for it.

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    Mute Jofus Soap
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:55 PM

    @Mick Joe:
    indeed

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    Mute Mick Joe
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:57 PM

    @Jofus Soap: Thanks for your commentary. Keep up the good work

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:24 PM

    @Jofus Soap: Are you one of these supporters who have Sam Error Alert set on your phone so you don’t have to bother enjoying watching the rugby??

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    Mute Jofus Soap
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:56 PM

    @Paul Ennis:
    Sam’s a sound young lad.

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    Mute teuO6nLS
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:12 PM

    So TMO comes in for that but doesn’t bother with blatant hands in the ruck on Bristol’s own line? Absolute cheats

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    Mute robert kelly
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:19 PM

    @teuO6nLS: it was a blatant trip from a try scoring opportunity

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:26 PM

    @robert kelly: Agreed. TMO absolutely had to come in for that. But he also should have checked hands in the ruck 5m from the line. Also a try scoring opportunity and resulted in a scrum to Bristol followed by a penalty given away by JGP. Ref cannot see everything but I think that is worthy of a TMO intervention. Bristol try also looked like it had a Leinster hand under it.

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    Mute teuO6nLS
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:28 PM

    @robert kelly: the complete lack of consistency is my point. Blatant hands in a ruck on your own line when the referee has called a knock on and you don’t get involved? But a questionable “trip” from a player still completing a tackle has you suddenly getting involved?

    Either call both or neither. Only calling one stinks of bias

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:34 PM

    @teuO6nLS: Difference is that one is classified as foul play and the other is cynical play. You cannot trip a player – it will be a yellow card anywhere on the pitch. A different TMO on a different day may have intervened.

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    Mute robert kelly
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:37 PM

    @teuO6nLS: yea fair enough. Deegan knew exactly what he was doing tho you can clearly see it on the replay. I think the majority of the penalties have been justified and calling the ref a disgrage is a bit extreme. I’m no rugby expert but the conditions are difficult which promotes a lot of unforced errors. Scrappy but also entertaining game so far with a little bit of niggle adding to it

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    Mute robert kelly
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:41 PM

    @teuO6nLS: got away with one there Mccarthy could probably on a yellow as that trip was bordering blatant as well

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    Mute teuO6nLS
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:47 PM

    @robert kelly: a “trip” where he’s got an arm wrapped around the opposition player? It’s a tackle

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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:58 PM

    Lads relax. If Leinster come away with losing bonus point, it will be a good day out. They are hopeless.

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    Mute Mick Joe
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:05 PM

    @Ray Ridge: Ray ….your trolling is extremely poor. I’d expect higher class trolling from a kid in primary school. You’re an example of where practice does not make perfect.

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    Mute Shanie
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:08 PM

    @Ray Ridge: Your hopeless

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    Mute Shanie
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:01 PM

    @Ray Ridge: you were saying ?

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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:15 PM

    @Shanie: They were hopeless. That first half performance won’t get them within an asses roar of the top French sides.

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    Mute Carmine Lorenzo
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:29 PM

    @Ray Ridge: Rugby is an 80 mins game fyi

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    Mute Lesidees
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:40 PM

    @Ray Ridge: that one hasn’t worn too well….

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    Mute Raymond Darcy
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:47 PM

    @Ray Ridge:

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    Mute Tony McGrath
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:38 PM

    Chokers should win no trophy on offer

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    Mute Mick Joe
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:44 PM

    @Tony McGrath: You’re a pathet1c boy.

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    Mute James
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:18 PM

    @Tony McGrath: You’re sound like an expert on choking……probably have really hairy hands as a result

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    Mute David Clarke
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:59 PM

    @Tony McGrath: your a complete tosser

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    Mute teuO6nLS
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:11 PM

    Disgrace of a referee.

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    Mute Jofus Soap
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:44 PM

    Leinster by 5

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    Mute Shanie
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:02 PM

    Class

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    Mute Raymond Darcy
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:23 PM

    Leinster by 13

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    Mute Owen Taaffe
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:12 PM

    Refereree adjudicatior should keep that man away from a rugby pitch for quite a while.

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    Mute Marcus
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:37 PM

    Farcical end to that game

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    Mute Shanie
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:39 PM

    That some mullet on the number 10

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    Mute 5sZl1dX2
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:10 PM

    Slimani has taken Cordero’s crown of being the most useless NIQ ever to play in Ireland

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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:31 PM

    @5sZl1dX2: Did you see Corderos pathetic attempt at a tackle in the 7th minute for Zebre opening try. The guy should be sent straight back to wherever he came from.

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    Mute Shanie
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:13 PM

    Leinster are hopeless says your man and yet there hammering the english side second in there league dumb dumb

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    Mute 5sZl1dX2
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:15 PM

    Jesus these Leinster pukes in the comment really don’t like when they get reffed do they? Pathetic

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    Mute Mick Joe
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:27 PM

    @5sZl1dX2: Are you even looking at the game kiddo?

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    Mute Lulu
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:37 PM

    @5sZl1dX2: Making up their excuses already ……. Donnacha OCallaghan was right when he Leinster are under huge pressure this year to win in Europe. They have spent as much money as the Children’s Hospital Lmao!

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    Mute mark sheehan
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:38 PM

    @5sZl1dX2: stick to mini rugby please.

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    Mute 5sZl1dX2
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:43 PM

    @Mick Joe: yes I am. Leinster are choking but what’s new?

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    Mute Mick Joe
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:48 PM

    @5sZl1dX2: At least they’re in the mixer. When was Munster last in the business end of a European competition? Remember the great Peter O’Mahony has won 1 trophy with Munster. He has more trophies with his Leinster buddies.

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    Mute 5sZl1dX2
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:54 PM

    @Mick Joe: and Fineen Wycherley has more club trophies than Joe McCarthy, does that mean he’s a better player? Flute

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    Mute Shanie
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:02 PM

    @Lulu: Come again?

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    Mute Mick Joe
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:03 PM

    @5sZl1dX2: You’ve completely missed the point there Harold. Not the first thing to go completely over your head.

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    Mute Lulu
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:07 PM

    @Shanie: Google it Sunshine!

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    Mute James
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:12 PM

    @Lulu: Money well spent by the looks of things. Pity Munsters big money spend in the past was such an abject failure. Makes it all the sweeter seeing him play so well for Leinster.
    And poor Jack is going to lose his #10 Ireland jersey as well…

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    Mute mark sheehan
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:40 PM

    @James: on his displays against Fiji, Australia and tonight he’s a raw attacking talent but can’t tackle to save his life. Will improve but needs constant game time with Leinster.

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    Mute James
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:56 PM

    @mark sheehan: Can’t tackle…a bit like Jack

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    Mute 5sZl1dX2
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:58 PM

    @James: hahahahahhahahahaha

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    Mute David Clarke
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    Dec 8th 2024, 8:02 PM

    @5sZl1dX2: tosser,stade were complete shite,otherwise you red muppetts eould have lost…really agsinst 13 players thats the best u could muster

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    Mute mark sheehan
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    Dec 8th 2024, 8:16 PM

    @James: spoken like a true totally biased dumdf# ck.

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    Mute Petter Sellberg
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    Dec 8th 2024, 8:18 PM

    @5sZl1dX2: the Munster lads coming out swinging hahaha love it!

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    Mute 5sZl1dX2
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    Dec 8th 2024, 10:00 PM

    @David Clarke: bahahahahhhahHhhH

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    Mute James
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    Dec 8th 2024, 10:11 PM

    @mark sheehan: That’s not what your ma moaned to me last night…..she’s some goer

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    Mute mark sheehan
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    Dec 8th 2024, 10:33 PM

    @James: that’s about your level, rooting around in graveyards.

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    Mute Gary Galligan
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:30 PM

    Easy money

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    Mute Shanie
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    Dec 8th 2024, 7:45 PM

    @Gary Galligan: least your good at preditions unlike some on here

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    Mute Oran Burns
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:13 PM

    It’s freezing here! Windy too!

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    Mute Shanie
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    Dec 8th 2024, 5:47 PM

    @Oran Burns: North poll

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    Mute Jofus Soap
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:37 PM

    Lucky boy all right.
    Instinctive though

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    Mute Jofus Soap
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    Dec 8th 2024, 6:58 PM

    Who’s that geezer !!

    1
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