CORMAC IZUCHUKWU INTENDS channelling the hurt from last Sunday’s 61-21 Champions Cup thrashing at Toulouse towards downing Bordeaux-Begles who visit Kingspan Stadium today for round two of the pool stages.
The 24-year-old was sprung from the bench at Stade Ernest-Wallon in a game which had already gone well beyond Ulster’s reach thanks to an Antoine Dupont masterclass, but the recently-capped Ireland forward in last month’s Fiji Test is eager to make an impression today against Bordeaux’s stars including Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
“It hurts a lot,” said Izuchukwu of the nine tries Ulster conceded at the start of the week.
“You want to be up there with the best in the world and it’s hard.
“I myself wasn’t up to it last weekend I felt like I didn’t have enough good moments (from the bench) and it kind of stays with you.”
“It’s a bit of an itch so hopefully this weekend I can fix that,” added the London-born but Tullamore raised player who can function at both lock and in the back row the latter position where he starts today for Ulster.
“Everyone here hates losing and as a team we really hate losing and it’s not a good environment to be around whenever we lose.
“Everyone wants to change that, and you can only change that by winning so this weekend we’re going to have to get stuck in and hopefully do what we can.
“I can’t wait for it and hopefully have a good game and do something special for the fans as when you’re back here (at the Kingspan) it’s a whole different feeling.”
Ulster need a good outcome today to not only stay in the Pool One mix but also avoid the uncomfortable situation which will see them having lost four games on the spin should last season’s beaten quarter-finalists Bordeaux, who won at home to Leicester Tigers in their opening European fixture, get the better of them.
“Their (Bordeaux’s) backline is really special, they’ve got power and speed same as Toulouse, but it’s just can we handle that and as forwards spread the field and take care of the challenges.
“Obviously, there’s a lot to fix and they (Toulouse) had certain players like (Antoine) Dupont doing certain things, but Bordeaux have a whole new set of players who can do a whole other set of things so it’s going to be a case of just take our medicine and hopefully move in the right direction this weekend.”
Ask 100 defenders who they’d rather play against Kalou or Torres and I reckon 100 would rather face Kalou. Shocking that Kalou was picked ahead of him. If Drogba stays Torres would be better off leaving.
Kalou was in for his defensive qualities of tracking back then booming forward again. He has been picked ahead of sturridge and torres this season in big games and was no surprise again last night.
What are you taking about? Kalou played on the right wing. Torres and him don’t even play in the same position.
@thinkshpake
When kalou went off who replaced him.??
Regardless of position Torres is a much better footballer than kalou, in fact me 4 yr old daughter is a better player than him, and Bosingwa for that matter.
Great tactical nous there Jambbie. When Kalou went off Chelsea changed formation and went with 2 up front, that’s why Torres came on. Fair enough though, you’re entitled to your opinion… ?50m well spent so!
Soccer players are grossly overpaid and have no pride or passion for their clubs. GAA players do not get paid and play for the love of their club and County. We are all tired of the constant moaning that these overpaid and insolent “players” continue with.
Who asked u GAA head
Yawn… Football is a world sport and therefore will attract more finances. GAA is small time, get over it. I’m sure you will put on a green jersey for the Euro’s though!
ha, how many GAA players would like to start getting paid for playing?
He’s complaining about not playing. Therefore, he’s getting paid about 200 grand a week for sitting on the bench. Do you not think its a person that would be unhappy sitting there collecting a massive pay packet every week that should be afforded as many opportunities as life throws at him?
Hurler, footballers have no pride because few of them are actually from the area their club represents. Theyre a business. They do it for the money. Irish people are fascinated with British teams for some reason. At least GAA teams make their entire county proud and also hold down jobs. Keep up the good work!
Waffle merchant.
Well then go and comment on bogball stories then.. Why do Gaelic soccer supporters always feel the need to attempt to slate footballers?? If they were in any way talented they’d play football like Shane long and Kevin moran but most of them are talentless and have to stick to bogball.. So go off and bitch with the rest of the goons about how talentless clowns would go through a wall for their clubs.. Morons!!
You are so wrong, county players nowadays couldn’t give a damn about club games or players within their own counties.
“Not in the way that was spoken of when they signed me.”
Yes, but they did also expect you to score goals when they signed you!
dry your eyes torres
Torres for Liverpool! We’ll swap for Carroll. I’m not joking.
They can keep them both!
Aren’t these GAA players great, doing all that work for nothing – no wonder it’s the most popular game in the world, watched and played by hundreds of millions all over the world!!
Soccer is played and supported by thugs. The supporters have to be segrated for their own safety. The average soccer supporter lacks basic levels of intelligence.
I’ve never seen a scrap in a GAA game
It is a professional sport where the owners and sponsors of teams make vast sums of money at the expense of the moron supporters.
Unlucky Spurs
Hurler 2012…would ya ever g’way with your boring troll posts?! I follow soccer, especially since I moved to Britain. I also am a proud Limerick supporter and have an equal interest in gaelic games. What is it with people’s preoccupations with taking the high moral ground on which sport is better?! I am not a moron, either are my friends who are respectful soccer fans. I once was at a GAA match when drunk idiots insulted my team after we had beaten them…GAA fans aren’t angels either.
Back to the subject of Torres, his move to London was disruptive from the beginning…hopefully it’ll get better for him.
Damien, before you start bashing GAA fans look at how many people attended GAA games in Ireland and how many attended any FAI game last year. Look at the facilities the GAA have compared to ‘soccer’ clubs and not just talking about Croke Park, but local clubs. Now shut up and stop being a fool.
I’ll tell you something hurler 2012. There are plenty of thugs in the GAA. To cite some examples, my cousin was playing while trying to get fit again, he was beating his marker to the ball every time and was playing great. His marker obviously couldn’t hack it and swing at him, it results in a broken jaw, several teeth being knocked out and a couple of teeth went through his lip. He ended up in hospital for quite a while. In another incident, I remember the older brother of a player ran out of the stands and attacked my other cousin because his younger brother was losing in a slagging match. The GAA board swept all of this under the rug, and particularly in the second incident the family were constantly pressured by the GAA commitee members and boards on high to drop any sort of case they were thinking of pursuing. I’ve often heard of fights between local GAA teams and/or their followers outside if nightclubs and pubs too.
Add to this the nepotism that is rife in the sport. I went to a school that won the School Senior All-Ireland A championship, and I can tell you the there are plenty of GAA Morons.
I’m not knocking the players that do play with pride and passion in GAA. I have great admiration for their dedication and am proud of the fact it’s the worlds largest amatuer sport. I think there the sport has a fantastic following. But please try not to brand football supporters morans and thugs when elements of the GAA can be just as bad.
Damien, thats why people like you follow football, its popular. You probably follow the latest trendy bands too.
You are a moany little cock roach
Ur going be stood all over by gaa fans
Soccer is popular because of British imperialism.
I am not anti-GAA but there are plenty of ‘thugs’ in GAA both players and supporters who have assaulted people during games.
There has been isolated incidents, however soccer has always attracted thugs, mainly so called supporters.
As a person who works in a bar they are far from isolated incidents hurler 2012 gaa attracts as many thugs as football
Look Mr. Tayto, feck off with your GAA crap, I’m sure there is a junior b provincial match report you can comment on.
I see that bad language is still as common as ever. You are a disgrace to sports people.
Isolated incidents, try front page of most sports pages on a Monday. 80 euro a ticket for that last set of all Ireland finals. What a fool you are. Oh yes the money goes back in usually to bail out the county boards that have over spent on managers and players expenses. Or just stolen which has also been the case in the recent past. Ah god bless you
Don’t listen to them. The rest of us are tired of hearing Gaa heads using the players wages as a stick to beat football players with. Its their job their high profile and 75% of the planet are interested in what they have to say. Not just a couple of million members of the Gaa. Just because he earns millions doesn’t mean he has to be happy with every aspect of how he earns it. I know an intercounty player who wasn’t happy on the bench so he left the panel and the only thing he misses is the 500euro expenses he was getting.
Peter, your views are typical of the morons who follow soccer.
Face it, soccer us supported by thugs.
Yes, and the GAA is supported by farmers and culchies…
See I can make completely untrue gross generalisations too.
Yes and gaa supporters are commonly seen as bastions of restraint and civility…
@hurler2012…you are an imbecile.
So GAA fans don’t fight with each.other or attack the match officials???? Some GAA “supporter” you are when you don’t know what’s going on in your own association.
You are probably that guy outside Croke Park with the “No Foreign Sports” placard whilst wearing a Celtic Football Club top.
Torres went there to play at “a top level club”. Chelsea probably expected a decent amount of goals for 50mil. Expectations unrealised all round.
Last point, what were you doing reading about a foreign game in the first place. You must have been one of the several HUNDRED MILLION That watched it last night. Sure maybe the stick ball will catch on someday outside of the twelve odd counties that bother with it. Your ignorance astounds me
As I say the truth hurts. You are obviously very upset.
The grass isn’t always greener Fernando
@ Hurler…….Obvious Troll is just a little too obvious…. Try harder!!!
I’ve decided to take the John Terry approach to dinner tonight.
I’m going to put on my chef hat to serve up the Sunday roast after my Mum spent all day cooking it.
Hi CIara, been a footie fan long before it was trendy! Wish i knew my name ‘as gailge’ – that would be trendy/ cool/ hip etc
Yeah imagine being able to spell the name on your birth cert!! Thats not trendy, thats called being educated. Im also sure you have no link to the footie team you claim to support except that you were told you were a fan from an early age. Now Thats very trendy!
Ciara, seriously give over. Let people off if they want to support whoever. Be it Chelsea or Cork City, people have strong connections to clubs that you can’t deny….and I don’t think people should apologise for following something as basic as a soccer team. Sport gives people alot of enjoyment…I can’t understand why people have to bicker and be so negative. The Premier League is big business, one that supports thousands of jobs. One example is in Glasgow, where both Celtic and Rangers are based in areas of the city that suffer from severe social decline and the clubs have gone some way in bringing people into the area and helping local businesses. Same can be said about Manchester City, the flow of money into Eastlands has boosted the local economy, whether people like the owners or not. Are you aware that soccer clubs have philanthropic duties to the local area that they’re based in? Celtic run a back to work scheme for young adults in Glasgow, training them in skills and helping them return to further education. QPR have a similar scheme going on at the moment with young travellers in West London and its been a big success. I have been impressed with Arsenal’s effort in this area aswell.
I don’t agree with the money some soccer players are on….I believe some players are on obscene amounts for kitting out. Many players have strong allegiances to their club. Do you really think Steven Gerrard would sing for Manchester United given the chance? Would Gary Neville or Paul Scholes sign for Liverpool? I doubt Torres himself would sign for Real, being an Atletico fan.
The end of the day, let people enjoy sport and have the freedom to choose who they wish to support.
I get all that but explain the irish obsession with British football teams? These are the first to call rugby fans West Brits when at least irish rugby fans support their irish team.
By the way, Rooney said ‘everton forever’ and look where he ended up!! Loyalty my arse!
Sher soccer is an international sport…and the Premier League is an international brand. Within that brand you have teams like Man Utd, Liverpool etc..massive brands in themselves. English rugby teams wouldn’t have a sniff of the international following that their soccer counterparts would enjoy. Imo (and I’m aware I’ll get red thumbs for this!!), Munster started off the whole mass support for the province teams in Ireland…bandwagon for many maybe but in places like Limerick, you can’t deny that the genuine passion exists for the sport.
Why paint all soccer players with the same brush…some players have loyalty to their ‘boyhood clubs’ and others don’t or have taken opportunities elsewhere. In Rooney’s case, the chance to play with one of the biggest clubs in the world at such a young age was a draw to him. A career move, in a similar way with Torres when he went to Chelsea.
I can’t really assess why Irish people have an obsession with British soccer teams, sorry about that! ;) Just let everyone do their own thing, like!
Eeeek I mistakenly made out that Celtic and Rangers were in the Premier League in my first post…serious faux pas there! Sorry to all the Scots that may be reading this! ;)
And aul Robbie keane! Sure its been his boyhood dream to play for all the clubs hes played for! he even dreamed of playing for LA Galaxy Im sure! Yeah, very loyal indeed!
Clue is in the name – professional football player, i.e their job.
Ye, all those empty terraces for league games, then come September they complain about not getting tickets for all Ireland- such loyalty!
You should support our national games, you might even enjoy them.
Why Italy, when you have the choice of every country in the world where the beautiful game is played
@hurler just stfu there are thugs in every walk of life and a minority that ruin things for others and I’m afraid you are in that minority
Theres no thugs in GAA though, is there??? Ahahaha. Theres plenty of teams & supporters bating the heads off each other & match officals week in week out. Yes, soccer is the only sport with thugs… :D :D :D
Of ALL the trolls the journal gets…a GAA one? Dont make me laugh.
Bog & stick ball.
Your comments are what one would expect from a soccer thug. The soccer leagues here in Ireland are a farce as all the so called fans support teams abroad. At least with the GAA we get real supporters to our games and not thugs.
Hurler 2012, I’ve read all your posts and your just delusional to say the least if u don’t think there are ‘thugs’ as you like to call them in the GAA… Firstly you don’t attend football matches in Ireland or abroad so don’t give an opinion on something you haven’t witnessed… Secondly I share an avid interest in both GAA and football to levels where my friends called me weird… I attend soccer matches at junior and senior level in Ireland during the winter and GAA during and have seen more altercations at GAA matches, even where the supporters of the same teams fight amongst themselves… Lastly it’s upsetting that you don’t think all sports should be given equal status in Ireland….
@hurler I’ve an avid intrest in sport gaa being first and soccer being a close second and my god are you making gaa people look bad so will you just shut the f*ck up
Missing the football already – Italian cup final on espn will have to do. Not sure how we got here from article re Torres!
You should move to Italy and give us all peace.
Delighted for you
Hurler2012 posts over 10 times on an article about football and 0 times on the gaa article. Says it all really
i think chelsea expected him to be a striker, pretty obvious, moaning bastid! What does he want , to be taken by the hand onto the pitch and a dummy and a hot water bottle after it!
But if Ronaldo joined Liverpool! By the way Hurler, it’s friendly banter
It would never happen so I never have to think about it… Ronaldo would never join them, he gave 100% in his last season at OT knowing he was moving to Madrid because Fergie promised him he would allow him leave… He would never upset Fergie or Utd fans by joining them
Memory foam mattress and a new sofa.Sorted…….
ha ha well said Andrew.
Few words for u hurler- Louth gaa fan punches ref and charged in court. By the way stop commenting on worlds greatest sport
No, Michael Owen will always be remembered for joining Real to win European cup, can’t seem to remember who won it the year he was bench warming in Madrid – maybe you could help me with that one!!
No he won’t Liverpool will remember him for joining United more than likely… Oh yeah we should be grudge players for moving to bigger clubs or following there dreams… I don’t hate Ronaldo for moving to Madrid… I appreciate him for what he did for Utd… Maybe I’m naive but that’s life
Typical Soccer “supporters”, fighting among yourselves. Get a life!
I’d call it more a difference of opinions but if you don’t like it, go post comments elsewhere where ur opinions are shared granted that’s probably in Cuckoo Land but we are in a world where u accept all individuals regardless of their believes
Thanks Alan, itv4 tuned in – cant wait for it. COYS
CIara, Irish and Jewish – check history of THFC
THFC…… Thursday night Channel 5
I think Torres will get more game time next year. From the looks of it Drogba will be heading to the Arab or Russian League. Roberto doesn’t fancy Sturidge and will ship him off to Arsenal.
After the goal against Barca his confidence seemed to be up then he was dropped again. If Drogba and Daniel go I’d like to see Torres get a proper go. With Mata and Lampard supplying him he should do well.
He should get a proper go?!?! I know i wasn’t the only one watching him go hours upon hours of missing chances, open goals and available runs. He had his go, they reverted back to drogba and won the cl. Torres is a spoilt child, this is him throwing his toys out of his pram…. Chelsea to buy the napoli duo and sell torres…. Cash in now before his time at liverpool is forgotten….
Whether you support GAA or soccer , both are enjoyable pursuits and remember it could be worse@ you could be following the church !
Anyone know how to tune in channel 5 on sky
Itv4 have Europa next year so I believe
And by the way, if this article was related to GAA and I started talking about soccer, I’m sure I would have been told to f**k off by all the GAA heads commenting on the story. So, to all the GAA fans commenting on this story… F**k off!!
get yourself a feesat card from uk…. or simply ru a cable from your sky dish if you have room on its lnb and get yourself a free to air box.. gets you all the uk channels for free… all bbc,itv’s and channel 5 along with a few others… simples!!!
I obviously have upset you. As they say the truth hurts.
Cian, when u said Owen was injured from November you didn’t mentioned which year. At least our reformed gooners managed a few games through the season
What point you trying to get at here?? You trying to imply its not right to sign ex-Liverpool as if a mortal sin…If you hold that view it must be terrible to have an ex Arsenal player to help ye gain a better league position.. We challenged for the league without relying on Owen and nearly won so I’m still lost as to what ur trying to get at
I would love to see him at United, top class striker when in form and Fergie would get the best out of him… Also could be a dark horse for top scorer at the Euros if he gets picked…
Is utd new home for ex Liverpool rejects, think Torres played more game time last night than Owen all season
Your comment would be funny if Michael Owen wasn’t injured since November and didn’t have a better goal per games ratio than Torres this season… You could probably say the same about Spurs, how many Arsenal or Chelsea players lined out for ur this season, curious to see if you agree that one Emmanuel Adebayour was an ex Gunner and your top scorer this season
Sorry one more thing, how often Michael Owen played for Man Utd doesn’t matter one bit the goal he scored against City means he’ll remembered for a long time at OT…
He won’t be picked……
Cricket is a much more enjoyable sport. Polo is also very invigorating.
@allsoccersupporters. Head over to some of the journals Gaa threads and get your own back by posting comments such as “tayto munchers” and “farmer grunters” and watch with glee at the ensuing flame wars.
Thejournal.ie loves a good trolling.
Your comments are typical of the unfortunate percentage of so called
supporters of soccer who ruin it for
everybody. I would not bring my kids
to a soccer match as your type of
Behaviour would unfortunately be in
evidence
The money spent on this guy is disgraceful and he has turned out to be rubbish.The bottom line he was bought to score goals and has not delivered.
Chelsea I am sure if they could get a good price would let him go.I bet Liverpool are happy but now they have an even bigger disaster with Carroll
Quite moany from Torres,he should be facing up to the fact that Drogba has been more critical to Chelsea’s success this season than him. He failed to do his talking on the pitch during most of this season.Yes,he has every right to be disappointed,but perhaps a look inward as opposed to the coach and others might be his best solution.Di Matteo and AVB gave him every chance to shine.Torres would be best served by a move back to Athletico Madrid and regular football.