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is anyone else puzzled as to why, being gifted two easy opening games against the minnows, that EOS didnt play/start his fringe players in those games?
It would have been interesting to see how the likes of David Wallace (great player), Quinlan, O'Kelly (to a lesser extent), Carney and Murphy would have done against Georgia and Namibia. Or try Trimble in the centre. Just mix and match it a bit and you have hungry players who have something to prove playing against, lets be honest, bad bad teams.
It prevents the niggly injuries of the top players, you have players who feel they have something to play for and you know exactly what they are capable of doing.
I dont know, i really feel that Eddie has messed up big time. He really has a heck of a lot to answer for. This feels like the early-to-mid 90's all over again. :mad:
Superhoops
25/09/2007, 9:53 PM
......It would have been interesting to see how the likes of David Wallace (great player), Quinlan, O'Kelly (to a lesser extent), Carney and Murphy would have done against Georgia and Namibia......
Assume you mean Paddy Wallace?
David Wallace played in both these games. Replaced 10 minutes from time by Best against Namibia and yellow carded against Georgia.
my bad. :o i meant Paddy.
bring back Richard Wallace!
Paddy Wallace great player? That doesn't make sense either
why is youngirish the only poster allowed to rant irrationally??? :o
RogerMilla
26/09/2007, 7:36 AM
why is youngirish the only poster allowed to rant irrationally??? :o
LOL!! i have wondered that myself...:D
drinkfeckarse
26/09/2007, 7:51 AM
is anyone else puzzled as to why, being gifted two easy opening games against the minnows, that EOS didnt play/start his fringe players in those games?
I think lots of people have, after all it's O'Sullivans insistance on playing the same team over and over again that has got us in this mess in the first place.
He never had a plan B for when players are off form. This team peaked about a year and a half ago IMO.
OneRedArmy
26/09/2007, 9:36 AM
Best quote from O'Sullivan's comical press conference yesterday (comical only in the sense the man is clearly deluded at this stage) was when asked about why he hadn't changed the backrow, he replied that he was "happy with the balance" of the current selection.
Christ on a bike. Did he mean they were all equally bad? How bad/anonymous would they have to be to be unbalanced?
They collectively haven't taken lineout ball, picked and drove, punched holes in defences or linked back and forward play, nor have they put opposition fly halves under much pressure. Which is pretty much all a back row is supposed to do.
Didn't think Easterby was that bad against France.
Problem was that the first two pool games were being treated as warm up games - in hindsight that looks like a mistake. However, if the first game had been a comprehensive win and/or performance, I'd say we would've seen changes for the Georgia game. He had to try and get the team to play into form.
Whether we should've written off the last championship and autumn series to blood players is the real debate, which wasn't really convincingly had at the time. And I'm not convinced really, as the team was in such good form it was probably right to try and keep it going. Should more of the first team have gone to Argentina, with more of a mix in those two games rather than total second string, considering the lack of game time for certain players?
why is youngirish the only poster allowed to rant irrationally??? :o
See the Report button? Click on that if you have a problem. Moderators cannot read every post.
joeSoap
26/09/2007, 10:51 AM
I'm an eternal optimist. I'm praying Hernandez is out, and that we get to bust up Dr. Phil at out-half. Then they won't like it too much, and Geordan Murphy and Dennis Hickie score two tries each and give Eddie the fingers afterwards.
IsMiseSean
26/09/2007, 11:51 AM
Geordan Murphy and Dennis Hickie score two tries each and give Eddie the fingers afterwards.
And then probably be dropped for the next game :rolleyes:
Over the post
26/09/2007, 2:30 PM
And then probably be dropped for the next game :rolleyes:
God yeah. We'd have to revert to the defensive strategy that served us so well against the French when we take on the All Blacks. :D
PinBallWizard
26/09/2007, 2:40 PM
ROG probably had Namibia, Georgia and France all backed with the handicap...ching ching..
Rovers fan
26/09/2007, 10:01 PM
ROG probably had Namibia, Georgia and France all backed with the handicap...ching ching..
Lol!!
SkStu
26/09/2007, 10:25 PM
ROG probably had Namibia, Georgia and France all backed with the handicap...ching ching..
classic :D
joeSoap
27/09/2007, 10:09 AM
Simon Best has been admitted to hospital in Bordeaux after feeling ill, and losing the feeling on the right side of his body. Sounds like a stroke of sorts. Hope he's okay.
shakermaker1982
27/09/2007, 10:47 AM
Simon Best has been admitted to hospital in Bordeaux after feeling ill, and losing the feeling on the right side of his body. Sounds like a stroke of sorts. Hope he's okay.
Heard about that on BBC news, terrible. Hope he's ok.
joeSoap
27/09/2007, 11:20 AM
Looks like he had a stroke of sorts. Tony Buckley from Shannon being flown over as cover.
NeilMcD
27/09/2007, 7:43 PM
Am I right in thinking that if France beat Georgia with a bonus point that we are basically out as we would have to hammer Argentina by more than 50 points.
Schumi
27/09/2007, 7:52 PM
The opposite is the case.
If France win with a bonus, they finish on 15 points. If we beat Argentina with a bonus point and stop them getting one, we & Argentina finish on 14 points. In that case we finish second as we beat Argentina. If France win without a bonus point, they also finish on 14 points and points difference in the pool decides the order so we have to beat Argentina by 50 points.
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/rules/index.html
NeilMcD
27/09/2007, 8:04 PM
Cheers
kingdom hoop
27/09/2007, 8:21 PM
Cheers
Big ears.
Wait. This isn't the word association thread is it?:D
NeilMcD
27/09/2007, 8:42 PM
John Delaney
onceahoop
27/09/2007, 9:42 PM
The biggest mistake was not having a few more warm up games prior to the competition. When his first 15 performed so badly EOS was in the sh1t. He'd never encouraged the fringe players to put it up to the so called star players by starting them in competitive matches.Can't understand his attitude to Quinlan and still think Heaslip should have gone with the squad. Murphy's only playing because Dempsey's injured which says more about the manager than the player.
Stuttgart88
28/09/2007, 8:40 AM
Has Tonga any chance of beating England?
ifk101
28/09/2007, 9:06 AM
Has Tonga any chance of beating England?
I doubt it - England are likely to win a lot of ball off Tonga's lineouts and I think they'll win by 10+ points.
OneRedArmy
28/09/2007, 9:13 AM
The biggest mistake was not having a few more warm up games prior to the competition. When his first 15 performed so badly EOS was in the sh1t. He'd never encouraged the fringe players to put it up to the so called star players by starting them in competitive matches.Can't understand his attitude to Quinlan and still think Heaslip should have gone with the squad. Murphy's only playing because Dempsey's injured which says more about the manager than the player.If we had more warm up games Eddie would simply have continued to play his first XV, as he always has done.
The biggest mistake is O'Sullivan. His approach and mindset was fine 5 years ago but professional rugby is a young sport and the world has moved on since then.
Has Tonga any chance of beating England?
7/1 apparently. Good value odds as they have decent kicker, strong forwards & some pace in the backs.
England were much better in their last game (back to basics) so are strong favourites. They will still get beaten by the Aussies but maybe not the hammering it would have been a couple of weeks ago.
joeSoap
28/09/2007, 10:28 AM
The biggest mistake is O'Sullivan. His approach and mindset was fine 5 years ago but professional rugby is a young sport and the world has moved on since then.Can't agree with you entirely there. O'Sullivans performances were fine up to the end of the last 6 nations. Nobody had any problem when we were winning 4 triple crowns. He has made mistakes by not being adventurous enough in team selection, but performances haven't all been his fault.
In my mind the biggest culprit has been O'Gara. He has been atrocious. He is lying too deep, depriving his backs of any type of quality ball as a result, and his kicking has been brutal.
Stuttgart88
28/09/2007, 10:37 AM
I doubt it - England are likely to win a lot of ball off Tonga's lineouts and I think they'll win by 10+ points.I was at the game at "HQ" in 99 where they won by 100+ points. What a bore that was.
OneRedArmy
28/09/2007, 11:03 AM
Can't agree with you entirely there. O'Sullivans performances were fine up to the end of the last 6 nations. Nobody had any problem when we were winning 4 triple crowns. I mentioned a few pages back that a lot of people have been critical of O'Sullivan for years, including most of the rugby media (and me too!).
Triple Crowns aren't worth toffee anymore (and we've won 3, not 4 under Fast Eddie) and its a damning indictment that a mediocre Welsh side managed to win a Championship and a Grand Slam (the prizes that matter) and we won neither in that period.
Failing to take the last step as we have on 3 occasions will be Eddie's legacy, in addition to failing at this World Cup and not preparing for next generation of international players to break into the team.
RogerMilla
28/09/2007, 11:28 AM
a mediocre Welsh side managed to win a Championship and a Grand Slam (the prizes that matter) .
and if i live to be 100 i'll never figure out how they won that game in paris , fair play to them.
strangeirish
28/09/2007, 1:32 PM
Has everyone got their shirt for the game? I've got mine.
Aberdonian Stu
28/09/2007, 1:37 PM
and if i live to be 100 i'll never figure out how they won that game in paris , fair play to them.
I think some teams are just suited to playing entertaining games against one another. Wales-France is generally one of the more reliable fixtures for liveliness even when the score isn't terribly close.
CollegeTillIDie
29/09/2007, 11:12 AM
New Zealand are playing Romania as I type this, and the Romanians have
started reasonably well. But as I was watching the pre-match festivities,
I was wondering what other countries could do, as a reflection of their cultural inheritance , in response to the Kiwis Haka to intimidate them in return
Ireland: Something involving Hurleys '' A Clash of the Ash perhaps''
Romania: Pelting them with dumplings :D
Scotland: A sword dance .. you think you're hard this is how we clip our toenails !
England: A bunch of lager louts come on the field looking for a row.. :D
France: The entire team crack open some cloves of garlic ... it would reduce the Kiwis to tears...:D
Anybody else any suggestions?
CollegeTillIDie
29/09/2007, 11:17 AM
Has everyone got their shirt for the game? I've got mine.
Ok where did you buy it? :D
strangeirish
29/09/2007, 12:42 PM
Anybody else any suggestions?
Ireland-Riverdance. At least it would keep us awake.
Ok where did you buy it? :D
;)
Pauro 76
29/09/2007, 1:08 PM
Here's hoping for tomorrow. Just caught the start of the New Zealand - Romania match. Romania's kit makers. O'Neills! Complete with GAAH style lettering! :eek:
Wales 3 Fiji 25 just coming up to half time. Some electrifying rugby from Fiji! :cool:
Edit: 8-25 now.
beautifulrock
29/09/2007, 4:03 PM
Fantastic try by Shane Williams, Wales are flying now 22 - 25,Wales should win it from here
3 tries in 10 minutes. 29-25
Unexpected comeback to say the least. Fiji were down to 14 men but they also look shell shocked. :eek:
beautifulrock
29/09/2007, 4:18 PM
amazing Fiji now two points up, what a game.
FULL TIME WALES 34-38 FIJI. Wow! :cool:
It was like watching Sevens rugby from Fiji with 15 players.
In fairness Wales only played when had extra player. Fiji nearly threw it away with late intercept try but came back to get the crucial try.
holidaysong
29/09/2007, 5:04 PM
Great game, well done to Fiji.
geysir
30/09/2007, 12:14 AM
But as I was watching the pre-match festivities,
I was wondering what other countries could do, as a reflection of their cultural inheritance , in response to the Kiwis Haka to intimidate them in return?
Not a smart idea to rile up the All Blacks in that way.
OneRedArmy
30/09/2007, 2:35 PM
I see Wales didn't hang around, Jenkins sacked this morning.
Yet again the stupidity of giving O'Sullivan a new contract before the tournament is shown.
With significant funds committed to the new stadium we can't afford to get rid of him.
OneRedArmy
30/09/2007, 3:44 PM
O'Gara has had a collosal number of mistakes. He's missed more touch kicks than he's found.
Game of 2 number 10s.
Great piece of skill by O'Driscoll for the try.
osarusan
30/09/2007, 3:52 PM
The difference has been kicking so far. Ours have been misplaced or just aimless, while Argentina's have been well placed and part of a definite plan.
They're far more likely to score 4 tries than we are, in which case we're out before the game ends.
Their second try was a stunner - great catch and offload, then the try in the corner.
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