Six Nations hype with the kid Cronin
Saturday 11 February 2012
How's it going my rugby buddies! As the Six Nations swings by it's a great couple of months for all rugby fans in the Northern Hemisphere. On the flip side it's a tough few months for us domestic teams as this is when it's crucial that you have depth and quality in your squad to cover international players who are away on their duties.
It's not for the first time this season that we're without the international boys either. With the World Cup at the start of the season Glasgow Warriors took a huge hit missing nine players to international duties. Obviously it's hard having some of your top players away but on the positive side it's a great opportunity to show the quality and depth of the squad and for the youngsters to showcase their talent. Also with the main leaders on the team not around it's a chance to see the quality of management a team has with even more pressure put on the coaches to perform their role.
Last weekend the Six Nations started off with a bang. My game of the week was the bone crunching match between Ireland and Wales. With a questionable referring decision in the dying seconds Wales were very lucky to snatch the victory. While watching the game it triggered memories of when I was a little kid growing up in New Zealand. Glimpses of George North reminded me of this huge Tongan fella who was on every billboard, McDonalds adverts and ran over rugby players for fun. I think everyone will agree that this guy is the next Jonah Lomu. Big statement?
As the hype of the Six Nations is so massive, most of you will agree that every game is treated like a Heineken Cup final. Most of us can only imagine what it's like to play in the Six Nations, so to get some inside information into the life of an international player involved in such a massive competition I decided to catch up with my old Connacht teammate and Irish International Sean Cronin.
The Irish International hooker (also known as the flying nugget) has been capped 20 times for his country. Nugget is a fine product of the Munster academy. He had a three year stint with Connacht and was then signed by European champions Leinster. Sean is probably one the best hookers I've seen play and had the privilege of playing with. With a chest like Ronnie Coleman and the speed of Usain Bolt he has been recored as one of the fastest hookers in European rugby. So while having our weekly catch up over a Skype I decided to pick his brain and ask him a few questions that we all would be interested in.
-So bro, Congrats on your third Six Nations campaign, What's the Six Nations build up like compared any other Summer International or a World Cup game?
The build up is pretty intense. It's a short time frame to get everyone on the same tune so it's full on in the build up for Test matches
-Who was your rugby idol?
My rugby idol apart from Tee-roi Nathan would probably be one of the great Irish stalwarts from back in the stone age like Peter Clohessey and Keith Wood, both massive Limerick men and legends.
-I know it's me, but who else has been your toughest player you've played against?
Toughest player I've played against, hmmm there have been a few. Gorgodze from Montpellier is a tough player.
-For all your Leinster supporters, how you enjoying the Dublin lifestyle/rugby?
Dublin has been great; it's a really cool and fun place to live, there's great banter in the squad and I'm really enjoying the rugby.
-What was your highlight of the Rugby World Cup?
Highlight of the Rugby World Cup would definitely be beating the Aussies and Italians, the crazy Irish support that was there, it was mad.
-Best player in the world at the moment?
Best player at the moment would probably be Dusautoir of Toulouse. The guy is always consistent and a huge reason why the French got to the World Cup final
Cheers to the Nugget for the great catch up. If you want to catch up on Sean's rugby adventures you can follow him on Twitter @SeanCronin2 He's great banter!
Thursday night is an unusual night to be playing footy, but after a few weeks off we battled out a fourth place spot against the Scarlets to recommence the Rabo Direct Pro 12 campaign again. Currently sitting in fourth position it was vital that we get the win as the table is so tight. The Firhill freezer was electric with the vocal Glaswegian support adding to the intensity of the close battle. After some silky attack and strong defensive display we managed to grind out a 19-9 victory.
Next week will probably be, for me, the most exciting week so far this season as I return to Ireland to play my old club Connacht. It will be a strange encounter having spent just under four seasons in Galway where I learnt my Northern Hemisphere rugby and sometimes got to enjoy a fine Guinness and some fresh Galway Bay oysters. I'm guessing many of you have experienced this situation playing against your old team but for those 80 minutes of rugby you have to forget that these boys are your best mates and think of them as just another team that you're there to beat! Here's a quick view we might be in for : http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=GB#/watch?v=LnCTqhVYbBs
With the Six Nations up and running that means Super Rugby is just round the corner. I'm planning on having a few catch ups with some Southern Hemisphere mates soon.
Until next time, I hope you are all fit and healthy.
Here's a good quote to start your weekend off on
"Set your goals as high as the moon, if you don't quite get there at least you're up with the stars"
Stay cool,
Troy
@dizTroy_
