Printable View
Simple point I was making and not really that hard to understand. What I am saying is that his effort and commitment deserves more tht he is getting, real rugby follower will have seen his worth so perhaps thats what matters most.Quote:
Originally Posted by OneRedArmy
I laughed at that too. 1 change enforced by injury & 2 players dropped to the bench. 1 addition to match day 22. What would RTE call it if there were say 5 changes? :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by OneRedArmy
So anyone who doesn't rate Easterby isn't a real rugby follower?:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by beautifulrock
Do you still think he should be in the side? What in particular is wrong with the way he's being treated?
Go and watch a few French Top 14 or Super 14 games and see whats expected of a 6 in the modern game.
France make 6 changes by rotating their bench & probably improving their team.
RTE.ie
:DQuote:
Ambitious France transform winning line-up
I would have preferred Tommy Bowe to Geordan Murphy, and possibly Mick O'Driscoll to Mal, but from what was available to him, I believe he has picked the right team. Horgan on the bench after one shocking comeback performance against the Saxons has O'Driscolls influence written all over it. Bowe was our one true performer in that game, and should be at least on the bench on merit ahead of Horgan.
Looking at the side the French have picked, I believe that if we can get at Skrela early and upset him, we have a chance. If we let them start like they did against the Scots.....Goodnight !!
I predict: France 23-15 Ireland.
Not good at all. They look lost, as if they've no idea what they've to be doing. I was defending EOS last week but this problem is certainly down to him.
"The man eats pressure for breakfast."
Ireland lost that game. Stupid line out throws when every throw to O'Callaghan was won. Turnover ball gives France 3 tries. In the last minute instead of keeping the ball in hand they try a dink to the corner. Ireland were the better team. Mistakes and headless chicken tactics at the lineout cost them the game.
I watched it on BBC. Can't bear the Hooray Henry Rhyle Nugent or the buffoon George Hook who is the rugby's version of Drunkphy.
Very disappointed.
Typical Ireland, moral victory or glorious defeat.
they were unlucky. Should have kept amongst the forwards in the last move. Jackmans lineout throwing didn't hold up unfortunately. Heaslip made an impact. They just gave france too much of a head start. France lost interest and we could easily have won it in the end. Hooke was right though france are working towards the future we aren't. Buckley got about 4 minutes game time.
The line out was absolutely terrible AGAIN!!!! Have to say same old story in Ireland France games give the french a massive lead and have to fight like fcuk to get back into it in the second and come up short!! And I must say for all the kicking he does O Gara is playing really poorly from open play. His handling today was shocking poor. Countless time he funbled an attack. And add that to Vincent Clerc who is the best winger in the world in my opinion we were terribly unfortunate today tipified by their first try in the second half that came up off Bod and into your mans hands!
o'gara fcuked up about 5 attacks with a poor pass. He isn't finding the touchline with his kicks from hand. There was a programme on rte today, something about the best player for every position in irish rugby history. O'gara was nominated for out half. The clips they showed reminded me of what O'gara's kcking from hand used to be like. He used to be able to kick it in behind the outside backs from anywhere leaving us deep into opposition territory. He doesn't do that anymore.Add to that what used to be an excellent lineout and we were a very good team. Unfortunately those two aspects have dis improved greatly.
Do you mean Reddan?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rovers fan
Much improved today.
I thought O'Gara was particulary poor today. He threw lots of errant passes which ended Irish moves and his kicks out of hand were right down the throat of the French full back, who just ate the grass today with his orange boots. His attempt at converting Dave Wallace's try was embarrassing.
Next time out just throw Mick O'Driscoll into the pack and were sorted.
Ya, Mick made a huge difference in the scrum. It was a great game, much improved hopefully we can win the triple crown again.
The triple crown ain't worth **** anymore.
no george hookQuote:
Originally Posted by Superhoops
O'Driscoll & Flannery have to start next game. Possibly also Horgan if fit.
O'Sullivan could have won the game if used his bench earlier. What is the point of bring any player (Buckley) with 5 minutes left?
I thought Reddan was the best choice but have mixed opinions now. He has great pace & his break can be deadly but his passing is really poor. Then again it was suggested he keeps the back row forwards honest (they have to cover his breaks) which creates space for the centres.
Was it O'Driscoll who chipped the last ball into the cover?
no it was Murphy, who went missing for two of Clerc tries as wellQuote:
Originally Posted by pete
Murphy is not a winger and was exposed big time- Bowe has to come in. He looks a million dollars for Leicester but I cannot remember the last time he played well for us (maybe Scotland in the WC warm up).
Very good second half performance and to be fair we were the better team in the first half but just got sucker punched on the counter. Our scrum has never looked so good but our lineout worried me every time it was our throw in - something that is usually 95% rock solid. I think O'Kelly needs to step aside and I'd be happy with MOD or Cullen coming in to play Scotland.
The bloody French have done us again - I hate us playing them.
I think it was o'gara. Murphy tried to run onto it but didn't get there. Still can't believe he kicked it tbh. If we kept it amongst the forwards the chances are we would have scored a try.Quote:
Originally Posted by beautifulrock
Good from 1-10 (Jackman's throwing and O'Kelly excepted).
Poor otherwise (though Trimble & Kearney did ok).
We are seriously lacking in pace in the backline. What age is Simon Geogehan these days?
haha! ya bring back simon, if nothing else he can lift someone over his head and throw them back down again...
in fairness eddie made the changes that ppl were saying he should make, and he has been justified they aren't up to it, jackman for example was very poor. People said wallace should be dropped, he was making great yardage on saturday. At the end of the day osullivan cant be held accountable for stupid errors/mistakes. Thats why we lost it on saturday.
we miss bloody Hickie! Fitzgerald is quick but I'm not sure if he's able to make the transition yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by OneRedArmy
No, it was Murphy who needlessly kicked it away. For the last 25 mins, we reverted to a 'Munster' style game, and it killed the French. If we maintained it, and didn't revert to fancy dan shyte then I have no doubt we would have scored given the position we were in.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rovers fan
Jackman, although very good in the loose, couldn't hit a barn door with a cannonball. There was no pack leader, so all the calls were in disarray, and therefore we lost 5 of our own lineouts. Flannery and O'Connell would have won that game for us on Saturday if they played. Fair play to Mick O'Driscoll....he had a massive game when he came in. Buckley should have been brought in earlier.
All in all, its just more hard luck stories, which to be honest, I'm just about sick of.
Flannery won't be ready for Scotland due to injury.
Although I think I'd be able to hook against Scotland and we'd still win.
Given the way MO'D played, I'd give him the start against Scotland and bring O'Connell back off the bench. Not need to rush him back as he's been out a long time.
Also, as a couple of the papers identified, there is sweet fa point in having Easterby on the bench. He's a specialist 6 and isn't a impact player and we really could've done with a fresh pair of legs in the last 10 mins as the 3 lads were busted after putting in a great effort.
Seen that now. Terrible decision.Quote:
Originally Posted by beautifulrock
Murphy will be dropped from starting team. EOS might keep him on the bench as covers different positions.
Could do with 1 speedster winger - look how many tries Shane Williams gets for Wales on pure speed alone. Heymans also burned Ireland on saturday.
My guess is that Shaggy will play for Leinster this weekend and start against Scotland if he comes through the match uninjured.Quote:
Originally Posted by pete
There's no real need for Murphy on the bench as Kearney covers all the same positions (and better) but Eddie's not the type to leapfrog someone like Bowe or Fitzgearld above Murphy in the pecking order. My guess is that Geordan will sit on the bench for 80 mins like Easterby last weekend.
Thats a tad harsh on Murphy, as two of the three tries came from turnovers when we were attacking. His running lines would have changed to attacking ones and he would have been more infield as part of whatever move we had at the time. The blindside flanker usually covers the wing position, but Clerc was way too quick for Leamy on the first occasion.Quote:
Originally Posted by beautifulrock
I also believe that once we decided to play the game tight, in the Munster way, Stringer should have been brought on for Reddan. I think we would have won the game if he was on, simply because a back would not have gotten near the ball in the last 5 mins with him marshalling the base of the scrum.
That said, his kicking of the ball at the end was inexcusable. If he is to play for Ireland, then it must be as a full-back, and to be honest, I rather Dempsey at the moment. He does exactly what it says on the tin, and rarely lets you down.
My team for Scotland would be:
Dempsey; Bowe, O'Driscoll, Trimble, Kearney; O'Gara, Reddan; Horan, Flannery(if fit) Hayes; O'Callaghan, O'Connell; Leamy, Wallace, Heaslip.
Subs: Luke Fitzgerald, Paddy Wallace, Stringer, Buckley, Jackman, Quinlan, Mick O'Driscoll.
It's probably going to be:
Dempsey; Horgan, O'Driscoll, Trimble, Kearney; O'Gara, Reddan; Horan, Best, Hayes; O'Callaghan, O'Driscoll, Leamy, Wallace, Heaslip.
Subs: Murphy, P.Wallace, Stringer, Buckley, Jackman, Easterby, O'Connell.
I like reading your posts on the rugby joeSoap - always top drawer.
Now I'm off to copy your fantasy team :D
To continue joesoaps preferred and probable teams, my preferred would be
Fitzgerald
Bowe
Trimble
O'Driscoll
Kearney
O'Gara
Redden
Horan
Best
Buckley
O'Callaghan
O'Driscoll
Leamy
Jennings
Heaslip
Subs
Healy
Jackman
O'Connell
Wallace
Keane
Sexton
Horgan
The probable team will be as joe's post.
My line up:
Dempsey
Bowe
BOD
Trimble
Kearney
O'Gara
Reddan
Horan
Jackman -unless Flannery fit
Hayes - Buckley on at 55
O'Callaghan
MOD
Leamy
Wallace
Heaslip
Bench
Buckley
Best
O'Connell
Stringer
Fitzgerald
Sexton
Horgan
How on earth anyone can pick Jackman is beyond me, unless you are proposing someone else throw the ball in.
He could play as well as Vincent Clerc in the loose and still shouldn't get on the pitch until he sorts his lineouts out. Winning 90% plus of your own throws is crucial in the modern game. Its no conicidence we gained more territory when Jackman went off.
Best had a shocker the week before. The players pointed out in the post match interviews that it was more to do with the call system going wrong than the actual throw ins - maybe it's BS I don't know but O'Callaghan seemed to indicate that other teams can read our lineout much easier than before.
I'd have Flannery over the two of em anyday of the week. Fingers crossed his hand mends.
plus the french fella only weighed about 14 stone as well, they were throwing him up for everything fierce quick and easy.
There's a long running rumour (started by Clive Woodward in the late 90's)that the French bug the hotel rooms of the opoposing teams and also the away dressing room and therefore know the line-out calls and thats why they have so much success on the away teams line-outs when playing at home in Paris. Personally I think its bull sh1t but ther French lineouts away from home are traditionally weaker that when they play at home, so maybe there is something to it....:rolleyes:;)
Niall O'Donovan has to get the finger out regarding the line out. Jackman or Best aren't always to blame when lineouts are lost, but in some cases the throwing is just shoddy. For example on Saturday, we had a lineout 5 metres from their line and Jackman tried to go long...Bonnaire got lifted like he was an O'Brien crane and we got picked off. A simple ball to Donncha at 2 and a maul and we were in...it really is that simple.
During the last Lions tour didn't Woodward have their 'tactics room' scanned for spy equipment and had the room guarded by bodyguards at all times when not in use? :) fat lot of good it did the end......
what kind of codes do they use? Numbers, names, places? How complicated must it get before everyone gets confused and the lineout implodes?
At about the same time the French stopped competing for Irish ball.Quote:
Originally Posted by OneRedArmy
As Gaeilge ;) I blame Munster Irish.Quote:
How complicated must it get before everyone gets confused and the lineout implodes?