Decent squad and the matches with France at least show Ireland are competitive. I just hope they get it together and push for 2nd place.
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Decent squad and the matches with France at least show Ireland are competitive. I just hope they get it together and push for 2nd place.
My test team for the Australia game as it stands would be:
Healy
Flannery
Ross
O'Callaghan
O'Connell
Ferris
Wallace
O'Brien
Murray
O'Gara
Trimble
McFadden
O'Driscoll
Bowe
Kearney
I'd currently start O'Brien at 8 instead of the under performing Heaslip. This gives us the best balanced backrow at the moment.
I'd be worried about our midfield defense, esp after saturday, so i'd be hoping McFadden has been brought to put pressure on Darcy for his place.
I'd start Trimble, who is in great form at 11, and along with Bowe and Kearney - if fit gives us the best back 3. We absolutely need Bowe and Kearney, fit and playing well if we are to have any chance in the big games.
Murray would be a gamble at this stage but - Reddan and Boss and not international quality scrum halves in my opinion, if he shapes on his potential then we could have the young star of the tournament.
Overall we should beat Italy , but its a huge ask against Australia and then probably South Africa. I can's see us winning either of those games, given our performance on saturday. Hope more than expectation.
Don't agree Heaslip's been underperforming. With O'Brien in the team he has a more understated role but he carried well and made a couple of important steals in the second France game.
I would pick Trimble ahead of Earls but I have a feeling that if Bowe is fit Earls will get the nod on the left wing. Then again I underestimated Kidney with his squad selection so you never know.
His stats don't back that up at all - he had 15 yards off 7 carries and Turned the ball over once. I'd have Sean O'Brien in at 8 to make the yards that Heaslip should be making for a player of his ability. And what does understated role mean anyway?Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
My memory must be playing tricks on me then. Although I'm sure he stole the ball at least twice. Understated as in less visible - doing the grunt work rather than receiving the ball and hitting the line.
He is either No.8 or not. His role should not change regardless of who is around him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Not true. Before O'Brien came along, Heaslip was the man who would run from deep and take the ball at pace into the line. O'Brien is more effective so that's now his role. Heaslip still does great work at the back of the scrum which will be important as we'll probably be up against it with the English scrum on Saturday.
I don't understand why our No.8 can't attack the opposition line just because O'Brien is in the team. This is one of the No.8's primary roles esp. from the back of the scrum.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Exactly the point I'm making, Drop Heaslip, bring in the more effective player, and play an effective openside and blindside with him,Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Does he ? I didn't see much on Saturday - see stats above.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
He can - we just use O'Brien because he's more effective. Heaslip is still by far the best no. 8 in the country.Quote:
I don't understand why our No.8 can't attack the opposition line just because O'Brien is in the team. This is one of the No.8's primary roles esp. from the back of the scrum.
O'Brien more effective yet Heaslip by far the best No. 8 ? I'm lost. All I saw Saturday was an ineffective No.8 - Piccamoles had a field day - now there's a good back-up No.8.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Well, playing as a no. 8 involves more than just running attacking lines...
Does it ? Well maybe you would like to point out some of the amazing specalized stuff he did on saturday to make him " by far the best no 8 in the country", instead of just waffling.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
He had 3 takes at the back of the lineout.
He had 0 line breaks.
He turned over 0 balls at ruck time also.
Did he even run with the ball from the back of a scrum ?
Defensively I saw nothing special either - highlighed by Picamoles 106 yards with ball in hand . We were generally second best at the breakdown all game.
I have to reiterate, Heaslip does nothing that O'Brien can't do better at the moment, thus giving us the option to play Ferris at 6 and Wallace - our only openside in the squad, at 7.Hopefully Heaslip has a big game on Saturday against England to give Kidney a big selection headache
Seems like O'Brien may be injured anyway.. http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugb...p-2857248.html
Team to play England:
15 – Geordan Murphy (Leicester)
14 – Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
12 – Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
10 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
9 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 - Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
3 - Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 – Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster) Captain
6 – Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
7 – David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
8 – Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)
Replacements:
16 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
17 – Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
18 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
19 – Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
20 - Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
21 – Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
22 – Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
There are his stats:Quote:
Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid
O'Brien made 1 line break to Heaslip's 0.
O'Brien made 8 tackles but missed 2, while Heaslip made all of his 6 tackles.
O'Brien received the ball 18 times and chose to run 15 times, as you'd expect from the main strike runner.
Heaslip received the ball 15 times, passing 8 times and running 7 times, which you'd expect from a player receiving the ball in the line.
The stats indicate that neither had a particularly great game but they were clearly performing two different roles in the team.
Your stats do nothing for your argument that Heaslip is by far a better No.8. If you argue that his role involves less carrying, even then, his 15 yards from 7 carries is less than impressive. I would argue if O'Brien plays No. 8 he gets even more opportunites to run from set play and he gets even more yards.Heaslip hasn't been dynamic enough for me regardless of who is the main strike runner. He must do more from the base of the scrum where a good number 8 demands the ball. I hope he plays well on saturday and I think he needs to .Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
You guys appear to be basing an argument off one game. Heaslip, even in tandem with O'Brien, has proved to my mind to be a fantastic no.8. What's wrong with giving him the benefit of the doubt? Last week wasn't many player's finest hour. Though as you say Real ale, he could use a big game on Saturday (along with a few others).
WC is nearly upon us and there isn't any posts?
How will Ireland fare? Q Final defeat to the Boks or could they shock the Aussies in the group stages and get to a semi final?
It's been a busy week.
Now, can I justify breakfast beer on Sunday?
Think we have more of a chance of beating the boks than the Aussies as it stands. I'd be happy if we just beat Italy at this stage. If we hit form anything can happen, and no doubt we are overdue a good run in the tournament. But realisitically we are looking to beat a Southern Hempishpere team in the Southern Hemisphere for the first time in 32 years. Hope more than any expectation.
I'd definitely Draft Richard Dunne up to the rugby squad, he could do a job in the back-row :)
Ah yes. So that's that.
Kiwis win but it was delightful to see them up against it in the second half. George Clancy reffed it very well. It was a delight to see a contest at the breakdown. Shocked the Kiwis and as a result McCaw got away with nothing (ie had to stay onside) and was practically anonymous.
Delighted so far.
Interesting game. NZ were clinical but Tonga didn't really do anything right the first 40 minutes. No intensity and falling off tackles. Second half will probably stand well to the All Blacks. Sonny Bill probably played himself out of a starting place in the second half as Nonu's class shone through.
Normally that sort of second half would stand to most teams but NZ will be put under pressure after that.
On second half performances you'd drop Carter and McCaw; Williams will start the next day.
Ireland team for USA game:
15 - Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers)
14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)*
13 - Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) Captain
12 - Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)*
10 - Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)*
9 - Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)*
1 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)*
2 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3 - Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)*
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
6 - Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)*
7 - Shane Jennings (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)*
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)*
Replacements:
16 - Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
17 - Tony Buckley (Sale Sharks)*
18 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)*
19 - Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
20 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
21 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
22 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
*Denotes Rugby World Cup debut
Very harsh on Trimble who has been very good recently. To some extent Kidney seems to view this as one last warm-up game.
Frightening how close Buckley is to getting on.
Romania were 24-21 up on Scotland with about 8 mins remaining, until the Scots finally got their act together and scored. Not a bad game actually - Scots destroyed in the scrum a few times.
Japan giving France a hell of a game!
This has great world cup written all over it.
Stonker of a game here now. Poor watch technically but you just can't take your eyes of it.
Terrible refereeing decision at the end to decide it sooner. Cracking game though. So that's Saturday over... Eddie's Eagles tomorrow!!!
I was forced to watch all games via ITV, and shock horror, English commentators whinge about decisions given against English players. It was possibly the worst commentary I've ever heard on sports, they even went so far as to start the "Come on England" crud! England were blessed, both kickers were awful, but the English did their utmost to take out the best Argies. It was cynical, cruel and will backfire on them. Not a nice game to watch but for sheer edge of the seat stuff it was good. Japan were unlucky to make so many passing errors, but they showed up France to a degree. I wonder now, though, will the "minnows" settle in for more beatings after their one big showing. Which makes me worry for tomorrow morning.
I was watching RTE's Sports news at 9 0 clock tonight. They interviewed two rugby fans ( seperately ). They both had their girlfiends beside them saying nothing, just staring in awe at their men not having a clue what they were talking about. It was funny..... There really is a big difference between Rugby fans and football fans.
Rugby fans have thicker girlfriends?
Just watched that now, the second girlfriend seemed particularly doe-eyed :D
Never thought I'd ever feel so blasé about a Rugby World Cup. Haven't watched any of the games so far, will prob watch ours now in the morning and hopefully get into the thing in general.
I think part of me believes NZ will run away with this tournament; in the past they've tended to peak the year before World Cups, but I think they've probably learned their lesson and will bring some serious rugby to this one.
Australia will win it. NZ and France are too brittle. Us and England aren't good enough. Zud afrika are too old. Wales, Scotland, Samoa and Fiji... ha. Aussies just about to start.
Caught the end of Aussie-Italy, neither of them looked like world beaters. Very tight group and USA will come out firing, especially with the day that's in it. I'd love to make reference to events 10 years ago in a lighthearted way though for some reason everybody seems to be taking it overly seriously.
It was 6-6 at half time. Italy were disappointing in the second half and let in some tries that you'd expect them to stop if they were fully fired up. You get the impression they're targeting our game and never believed they could beat Oz.
Im putting a score on us to beat aus. just woke up in time for this after hearing a bang.
I think Irish female rugby world"fans" in general are thicker....in more ways than one. Irish rugby world"male" fans probably don't have a clue either half of them
Hmmm, after this morning, you'd hardly put money on us to roll over Italy.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
Wales should have beaten SA.
missed a sitter of a drop goal and a kickable penalty in the last few minutes.
I think rugby fans in general tend to come from a social background that tells them they're very clever and knowledgeable at everything.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
Ireland were poor today. Even allowing for the rain, they look sloppy and sapped of confidence. Hoping they can pull something major out for the Australia for the game because I think South Africa will get better after their scare today.
Need O'Brien back. Without Wallace and O'Brien the only other player who can get over the game line is Ferris. Where the hell has Heaslip gone? Very quiet again. I thought Best played well and that is about it.
The Aussies could could cut lose next week.....huge performance required to stay with em.
Same problem as against the minnows last time - they need to play what's in front of them, rather than stick to the plan.