Our first post looked at the 40K team, now let's look at Team Ireland Fantasy. We're operating at a slight disadvantage as none of us have played for Team Ireland Fantasy. Despite the lack of expertise, I've gathered some key information.
1) The history of Team Ireland Fantasy starts a year earlier, in 2009.
2) Do not get into a lift with a drunken Woody.
3) Team development has been a slow-burning process.
Four Nations Championship 2009
There almost no information out there on this event but I have the final standings (below) and an artist's representation of some of the players (above). Majestic beasts from the time before. Not very good at the old Warhammer, though. I'm guessing it was a whitewash.
| Nation |
Game Points |
| England |
611 |
| Scotland |
420 |
| Northern Ireland |
374 |
| Ireland |
195 |
European Team Championship 2009
Ireland's first ETC team have a rough first outing, consoling themselves with some points stolen from our Northern neighbours. Despite the relentless beatings, morale remains very high. Sport psychologists trace this mental resilience to the lethal doses of alcohol consumed by the players. Really, this team shouldn't be alive.
Round 1: Czech Republic 100-60 Ireland
Round 2: Northern Ireland 95-65 Ireland
Round 3: Portugal 100-60 Ireland
Round 4: Scotland 100-60 Ireland
Round 5: Netherlands 100-60 Ireland
Round 6: Croatia 115- 45 Ireland
| Team | Points |
|---|
| 1. Italy | 571 |
| 2. Poland | 550 |
| 3. Denmark | 529 |
| 4. Germany | 511 |
| 5. Austria | 507 |
| 6. Slovenia | 504 |
| 7. Sweden | 503 |
| 8. Switzerland | 494 |
| 9. Finland | 490 |
| 10. Czech | 490 |
| 11. Australia | 486 |
| 12. Greece | 485 |
| 13. Norway | 478 |
| 14. England | 474 |
| 15. Russia | 469 |
| 16. Belgium | 466 |
| 17. Portugal | 464 |
| 18. France | 461 |
| 19. Northern Ireland | 455 |
| 20. Hungary | 448 |
| 21. Croatia | 447 |
| 22. Scotland | 437 |
| 23. Netherlands | 428 |
| 24. Ireland | 350 |
Home Nations Championship 2010
There's plenty of photos out there but very little detail on the round by round results. By looking at the final table, it does not appear to have gone well for the Irish. On a positive note, it can't be denied that they are closing the gap on the opposition. The Northern Irish and Welsh look nervously over their shoulders.
Because they don't want surprise hugs from naked, drunken Irishmen.
| Nation |
Game Points |
| England |
471 |
| United Nations |
453 |
| Scotland |
414 |
| Wales |
364 |
| Northern Ireland |
361 |
| Ireland |
311 |
European Team Championship 2010
A glorious tournament for Team Ireland. They are awarded the Most Sporting award and score their first win, paddling a probably surprised Welsh team. Their remaining opponents are less gracious but the defeats are not total. Note that they have played the Scots in every tournament thus far. The steady, if slow, improvement continues as they stumble off the bottom of the leader board into 25th place.
Round 1: Switzerland 100-60 Ireland
Round 2: Scotland 93-67 Ireland
Round 3: Latvia 95-65 Ireland
Round 4: Canada 89-71 Ireland
Round 5: Ireland 99-61 Wales
Round 6: Northern Ireland 97-63 Ireland
| 1 |  Denmark | 568 | (240) |
| 2 |  Italy | 565 | (282) |
| 3 |  Germany | 527 | (94) |
| 4 |  Australia | 511 | (116) |
| 5 |  Norway | 511 | (66) |
| 6 |  Russia | 509 | (54) |
| 7 |  Greece | 505 | (76) |
| 8 |  Poland | 505 | (50) |
| 9 |  Sweden | 503 | (68) |
| 10 |  United States | 498 | (76) |
| 11 |  Spain | 495 | (16) |
| 12 |  Slovenia | 494 | (82) |
| 13 |  Austria | 493 | (64) |
| 14 |  New Zealand | 493 | (30) |
| 15 |  Finland | 487 | (56) |
| 16 |  England | 485 | (48) |
| 17 |  Scotland | 484 | (12) |
| 18 |  Belgium | 484 | (-10) |
| 19 |  Northern Ireland | 480 | (-36) |
| 20 |  Croatia | 476 | (-22) |
| 21 |  France | 473 | (-10) |
| 22 |  Switzerland | 472 | (-26) |
| 23 |  Czech Republic | 463 | (12) |
| 24 |  Malta | 452 | (-48) |
| 25 |  Ireland (Most Sporting) | 445 | (-122) |
| 26 |  Portugal | 436 | (-76) |
| 27 |  Canada | 434 | (-126) |
| 28 |  Hungary | 433 | (-178) |
| 29 |  Latvia | 427 | (-134) |
| 30 |  Netherlands | 427 | (-182) |
| 31 |  Serbia | 416 | (-172) |
| 32 |  Wales | 382 | (-300) |
Six Nations Championship 2011
No photos of the Edinburgh tournament can be found but I think I've got the essence of it. The French replace the United Nations team to make it a true Six Nations contest. The Irish may lose most of their games but the results are better than in previous years as they hold close to the French.
Some make wild claims that they might make it out of the bottom quarter at the ETC proper.
Round 1: Wales 86-74 Ireland
Round 2: Scotland 100-60 Ireland
Round 3: Northern Ireland 94-66 Ireland
Round 4: France 81-79 Ireland
Round 5: England 100-60 Ireland
| Nation |
Game Points |
Victory Points |
| England |
483 |
48008 |
| Scotland |
440 |
47332 |
| Northern Ireland |
404 |
41153 |
| France |
397 |
38031 |
| Ireland |
339 |
38286 |
| Wales |
337 |
30371 |
European Team Championship 2011
We're not sure how it happened but the Fantasy boys become the first Irish team to make it into the top ten. Showboating pricks.
Drinking slightly less than normal, the Irish score three wins, including a heavy defeat of Scotland. Three years of brutal oppression are avenged. Their heaviest defeat comes at the hands of the champions, Poland. It's all a massive shock and they actually get more cheers for their performance than the actual winning teams. Totally not jealous though.
Round 1: Poland 94-66 Ireland
Round 2: Ireland 89-71 Czech Republic
Round 3: USA 86-74 Ireland
Round 4: Latvia 88-72 Ireland
Round 5: Ireland 94-66 Scotland
Round 6: Ireland 100-60 Belgium
| 1 | Poland | 573 | (242) |
| 2 | Denmark | 541 | (230) |
| 3 | Russia | 518 | (136) |
| 4 | Italy | 517 | (144) |
| 5 | Sweden | 516 | (144) |
| 6 | United States | 506 | (22) |
| 7 | Austria | 505 | (128) |
| 8 | Norway | 504 | (58) |
| 9 | France | 497 | (48) |
| 10 | Ireland | 495 | (30) |
| 11 | Spain | 494 | (58) |
| 12 | England | 493 | (54) |
| 13 | Finland | 478 | (28) |
| 14 | Germany | 476 | (38) |
| 15 | Switzerland | 476 | (-56) |
| 16 | Greece | 474 | (50) |
| 17 | Croatia | 473 | (-12) |
| 18 | Netherlands | 470 | (-36) |
| 19 | Latvia | 464 | (-14) |
| 20 | Scotland | 461 | (-8) |
| 21 | Czech Republic | 460 | (-40) |
| 22 | Belgium | 460 | (-88) |
| 23 | Northern Ireland | 450 | (-84) |
| 24 | New Zealand | 450 | (-94) |
| 25 | Australia | 438 | (-154) |
| 26 | Hungary | 417 | (-276) |
| 27 | Wales | 401 | (-210) |
| 28 | Serbia | 364 | (-338) |
Six Nations Championship 2012
We watched with interest as they marched off to somewhere up North. The unasked question was whether the ETC was a lucky fluke. It was not. Their ETC form continues as the Irish win three out of five games to achieve their best result at the championship to date. Like the 40K team, they win by large margins, reflecting a clear skill advantage.
Only a very strong French team can deny them the top spot but our hopes are raised...
Round 1: Ireland 100-60 Northern Ireland
Round 2: Ireland 94-66 Wales
Round 3: Ireland 88-72 Scotland
Round 4: England 83-77 Ireland
Round 5: France 95-65 Ireland
| Nation |
Game Points |
VP Difference |
| France |
452 |
10086 |
| Ireland |
419 |
2028 |
| Wales |
417 |
4969 |
| England |
410 |
4826 |
| Scotland |
392 |
-2788 |
| Barbarians |
300 |
-24121 |
European Team Championship 2012
From humble beginnings, Team Ireland Fantasy have built on their experience and gradually improved. I hope that the steady development will translate into steady progress in the ETC. Judging by their form at the Six Nations, I see Team Ireland holding their position in the top ten but I'm not sure if I see them pushing into contention for the medals this year. Happy to be proved wrong, though.
Labels: 2012, ETC, Newbreed, Overseas Tournaments, Team Ireland, Warhammer Fantasy
