Printable View
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.