Rugby Union 2009

The Boks front row is in disaray & far from it being over-rated it's their main area of concern, presumably because for years its been their strenght. That said they were strong against Italy in the scrums and I think we'll do well to get parity.

http://www.sarugby.net/newsarticle.a...team=&newscat=

From what's available it's as strong a side as they could put out it won't be easy....

That was a great kick by Sexton to take the lead, tonnes of pressure but he looked as cool as a cucumber.

Great to see that team go unbeaten for the year. They play like they believe they're better than any side and that's all too rare in Irish sports teams, I wouldn't bet against another grand slam.

Great performance. Too monkeyed to do it justice. More tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by joeSoap

Sexton plays because we have a fantastic coach that looks beyond the next game, and is targetting the next World Cup. He is the next in line and deserves his chance, pure and simple. This is not a case of O'Gara being dropped. It's a case of experimentation. We are no longer dealing with Eddie O'Sullivan or Warren Gatland, who's ambition lay strictly with winning the next game no matter what. So what if we lose on Saturday. So what if Sexton fcuks up. He gains invaluable experience playing against the best team in the world in a pressure cooker environment. It will prepare him for cauldrons like Twickenham and the Stade de France for the 6 Nations should Kidney want to pick him. So far, he has done everything asked of him, and a little more. I have no fears for his ability on Saturday. My only concern is that he can be a little petulant when things aren't going his way (his stamping on Mafi's face in Thomond Park a couple of seasons ago springs to mind), but hopefully he has grown out of that and give us the option of two world class out-halves to choose from in major competition.

I can see us winning this one, but my main worries lie in the usual areas. The front row will take another hiding...thats for sure so we must limit basic errors that concede scrums. Their lineout is the best in the world bar none. Again, keeping the ball alive when we are in possession as much as possible is imperative. Heaslip for me is a worry. Defensively he has to step up to the plate and get involved a lot more in the tight. That said, I'm confident that we can secure enough quality first phase possession to keep the Boks pinned back, where they will concede penalties. They don't like pressure and it tends to rattle them. France did it to them expertly a couple of weeks ago, and a similar game plan can undo them.

Incidentally, Paddy Power offers 3/1 on Sexton scoring 15 points or more. I'm having a cut off that...:cool:

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Wow joesoap...you should become a pundit. EXCELLENT PREVIEW, AND SPOT ON PREDICTIONS!!

well if steyn had've hit those penalties it would've been quite different. pretty even game overall with ireland very good at line-out and attacking the rucks (essential when facing a player like brussow).

Anyone else here the story that Matfield heard O'Connell counting in Afrikaans?
http://www.sport24.co.za/Content/Rug...d_in_Afrikaans

[QUOTE=ken foree;1285492]well if steyn had've hit those penalties it would've been quite different. QUOTE]

And if my Aunt had :ball::ball: 's she'd be my uncle.

Ireland missed 2 kickable penalties also and Tommy Bowe was almost de-capitated in front of the posts - on another day Ireland could easily have had 24 points.

Id be sceptical that we could beat them come world cup time but take nothing away from Saturday's performance - we are a few front row players from having a good chance in 2011. Next years tests in the Southern Hemisphere will be the genuine yardstick on how far we have progressed.

[QUOTE=Real ale Madrid;1285893]

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Originally Posted by ken foree

well if steyn had've hit those penalties it would've been quite different. QUOTE]

And if my Aunt had :ball::ball: 's she'd be my uncle.

Ireland missed 2 kickable penalties also and Tyrone Howe was almost de-capitated in front of the posts - on another day Ireland could easily have had 24 points.

Id be sceptical that we could beat them come world cup time but take nothing away from Saturday's performance - we are a few front row players from having a good chance in 2011. Next years tests in the Southern Hemisphere will be the genuine yardstick on how far we have progressed.

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we scraped it and were (as much as i've seen lately) near our attacking best, running from deep and quick to the breakdown. boks were tired after a long season, showed in their recent tour defeats, and normally steyn would be aceing those kicks. we tripped over the line in cardiff, i just don't think that kind of 'luck' (or whatever word you choose to use, that which makes other teams miss an unusually high number of penalties/chances) can hold, and 2 out of 3 of the big s. hemisphere teams would likely beat us in the w. cup (kiwis/boks).

[QUOTE=Real ale Madrid;1285893]

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Originally Posted by ken foree

well if steyn had've hit those penalties it would've been quite different. QUOTE]

And if my Aunt had :ball::ball: 's she'd be my uncle.

Ireland missed 2 kickable penalties also and Tyrone Howe was almost de-capitated in front of the posts - on another day Ireland could easily have had 24 points.

Id be sceptical that we could beat them come world cup time but take nothing away from Saturday's performance - we are a few front row players from having a good chance in 2011. Next years tests in the Southern Hemisphere will be the genuine yardstick on how far we have progressed.

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Think you'll find it was Tommy Bowe

If we dont peak too early(NZ before last world cup) and can replace john hayes, i think we can at least get to the semis, and if all goes to plan win the world cup.

[QUOTE=ken foree;1285948]

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Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

we scraped it and were (as much as i've seen lately) near our attacking best, running from deep and quick to the breakdown. boks were tired after a long season, showed in their recent tour defeats, and normally steyn would be aceing those kicks. we tripped over the line in cardiff, i just don't think that kind of 'luck' (or whatever word you choose to use, that which makes other teams miss an unusually high number of penalties/chances) can hold, and 2 out of 3 of the big s. hemisphere teams would likely beat us in the w. cup (kiwis/boks).

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I agree with you re. the world cup as it stands today - but your assertion that we are always lucky to be winning is incorrect in my opinion. We went through the entire year unbeaten - luck will only get you so far. Both sides missed kicks on Saturday - you can just as easily say Sexton should have got his penalties if you are going to use that argument for Steyn.

The test for this team now is beat the same teams on the road in Paris, Australia and NZ over the next 12 months.....

[QUOTE=Real ale Madrid;1285995]

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Originally Posted by ken foree

I agree with you re. the world cup as it stands today - but your assertion that we are always lucky to be winning is incorrect in my opinion. We went through the entire year unbeaten - luck will only get you so far. Both sides missed kicks on Saturday - you can just as easily say Sexton should have got his penalties if you are going to use that argument for Steyn.

The test for this team now is beat the same teams on the road in Paris, Australia and NZ over the next 12 months.....

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my turn to agree with you - we are definitely a quality side and very difficult to beat, luck didn't win us the six nations. i just feel that if we gave away those penos on another day, we would've been routed. conversely i never get the sense that we are able to trounce a top team, even on our "best day", know what i mean?

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Originally Posted by drummerboy

Think you'll find it was Tommy Bowe

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Once you've seen one token Nordie you've seen them all ;)

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Originally Posted by kellco88

Anyone else here the story that Matfield heard O'Connell counting in Afrikaans?
http://www.sport24.co.za/Content/Rug...d_in_Afrikaans

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I heard it flagged before the game that South Africa hadn't changed their lineout calls for a while (on newstalk I think) - I guess Ireland just second guessed the obvious way for them to get around that.

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Originally Posted by paul_oshea

If we dont peak too early(NZ before last world cup) and can replace john hayes, i think we can at least get to the semis, and if all goes to plan win the world cup.

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All going well, a reasonable replacement/sub should be good enough for the next world cup (hopefully someone to come through for the future).

Very good display from Ulster especially without Botha or Wallace, Humphreys was very good both in terms of kicks and opening up the Stade defence. Ulster may well have cause to regret not securing the bonus point though because for a while it really looked to be on as Stade were playing so poorly.

Good weekend for the Irish provinces:

-Good deserved win by Ulster
-Likewise for Connacht
-BP win for Leinster (against an awful Scarlets)
-Lucky win for Munster, but to win when you play badly is always a good sign

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Originally Posted by dantheman

Good weekend for the Irish provinces:

-Good deserved win by Ulster
-Likewise for Connacht
-BP win for Leinster (against an awful Scarlets)
-Lucky win for Munster, but to win when you play badly is always a good sign

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Wonder what odds that was in the bookies?

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Originally Posted by bennocelt

Wonder what odds that was in the bookies?

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It paid around 9/1 I think. A friend of mine did it. Connacht let me down, had the other three

you bet against them you?! you bastid!