Rugby Union 2009

**Rovers fan** · 28/02/2009, 9:54 PM

In all fairness O'Gara hasn't been at his best for a few years. There was a period there where he was immense. His kicking from hand has disimproved. He used to be able to kick it deep into the 22(out for a lineout) more often than not from distance, now he rarely does it.

**Jinxy** · 01/03/2009, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by SunnySweeney

cheers lads.

O'Driscoll was immense - he really answered them. England have only themselves to blame for giving away those penalties.

Originally Posted by Rovers fan

In all fairness O'Gara hasn't been at his best for a few years. There was a period there where he was immense. His kicking from hand has disimproved. He used to be able to kick it deep into the 22(out for a lineout) more often than not from distance, now he rarely does it.

Why do people always use this word when describing someone having a good game in rugby?
Maybe it's just me, but have ye ever heard someone say "Robbie Keane was immense for Ireland tonight"?
I blame Tony Ward.

**The Fly** · 01/03/2009, 2:15 PM

O'Driscoll was .......sorry Jinxy..........immense!

Anyway, as I have often said to anyone listening, O'Driscoll is the greatest Irish sportsman I have seen in my lifetime.

**tetsujin1979** · 01/03/2009, 3:47 PM

Despite the official attendance being given as 81,100 the atmosphere in the stadium wasn't great. From what I could tell, the crowd only really got going when the opposition fans started the "swing low" chant. The performance on the pitch didn't help the nerves, especially the early missed penalties from O'Gara, and you'd have gotten long odds on the game being scoreless on the 25th minute. England equalising right on half time put a stop to any build up in atmosphere that there had been.
The second half started as a different affair, as Ireland seemed to spend most of the first 20 minutes in or around the England 22 metre line, and O'Driscoll going over for the first try of the game gave the spectators something to sing about. However, more missed penalties from O'Gara, as well as the conversion, and the second attempt at a drop goal from the outstanding O'Driscoll just added to the frustration.
Despite spending 20 minutes of the game with only 14 men on the pitch, England only conceded 8 points in this time, and we really should have taken more advantage of this. Certainly the French would not have let them off so lightly.
When England went over for the late try, Armitage outracing a cleary exhausted Horan to reach the loose ball and score, I really did fear the worst. Visions of France in 2007 (not to mention Macedonia twice, Israel twice, Croatia, Slovakia, etc) danced in my head so it was a massive relief to hear the final whistle sound the end of the affair following a forward pass from England.
The crowd seemed more relieved than anything else, and most streamed out immediately. Very few stayed to applaud the team. I could be wrong, but I thought I heard boos and whistles as the teams left the field?

**shakermaker1982** · 01/03/2009, 6:33 PM

I was worried beforehand we'd be dragged into a macho forwards game of rugby and so it proved. Delighted we got the win but we can definitely improve and nothing would make me happier if we hit top gear and destroyed the Welsh (Scotland first I know but that is also likely to be a forwards head on collision).

We do need to get quicker ball. England may have been delaying it but it also seemed that O'Leary was very reluctant in throwing it out wide? Was he ordered to do this by the forwards/Kidney? Slow ball makes it impossible to gain yards. Felt a tad sorry for Paddy Wallace because he wasn't given the opportunity to do anything.

Our kicking game was also hopeless yesterday. O'Leary and O'Gara wasted a lot of ball by kicking needlessly. Frustrating.

The big positives were Ferris and O'Driscoll no question. We also didn't give too many penalties in our own half which restricted England's chances of scoring. How the commentators could say that England would have won the game were it not for the two yellow cards is beyond me. They offered very little going forward and even with us stuck in second gear we were always comfortable (tense last minute I admit).

**Macy** · 02/03/2009, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

How the commentators could say that England would have won the game were it not for the two yellow cards is beyond me. They offered very little going forward and even with us stuck in second gear we were always comfortable (tense last minute I admit).

And if O'Gara had been in any kind of form we would've been well out of reach after ticking over nicely points wise.

**Dodge** · 02/03/2009, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

How the commentators could say that England would have won the game were it not for the two yellow cards is beyond me

I watched it on BBC as I think Eddie Butler is as good a commentator as there is in sports and neither himself nor Brian Moore tried to say that the Irish team didn't deserve to win. Moore, quite rightly, pointed out that no team can expect to win at this level if they play with 14 for 60 minutes.

**ifk101** · 02/03/2009, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

I watched it on BBC as I think Eddie Butler is as good a commentator as there is in sports and neither himself nor Brian Moore tried to say that the Irish team didn't deserve to win. Moore, quite rightly, pointed out that no team can expect to win at this level if they play with 14 for 60 minutes.

They played with 14 for 20 mins, right

?

Anyways I think Ireland were deserving winners. England were intent on slowing the game down and I can't really recall them presenting much of an attacking threat.

**rambler14** · 02/03/2009, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Macy

And if O'Gara had been in any kind of form we would've been well out of reach after ticking over nicely points wise.

He missed 17 points which means Ireland would have won very comfortably had he got them.

**Dodge** · 02/03/2009, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by ifk101

They played with 14 for 20 mins, right

?

Yep, but that doesn't mean he thought they'd win if they had a full side out there. It just means they've absolutely no chance with the sin binnings.

I thought O'Gara missed 4 kicks. 3 pens and a conversion so he missed 11 points?

**rambler14** · 02/03/2009, 10:25 AM

RTE panel said 17.

**Dodge** · 02/03/2009, 10:28 AM

They could be right. Either way, the actual figure doesn't matter

**ifk101** · 02/03/2009, 10:41 AM

He missed 4 out of 6 kicks; 3 penalties and a conversion - ie 11 points. The total points he could of scored was 17. That's probably where RTE got the 17 from.

**Shilts** · 02/03/2009, 3:10 PM

Does anyone know how many Rugby internationals have come from each of
PBC (Cork) and CBC (Cork) in comparison to the large Dublin schools? Info needed to shut up a guy once and for all

**pete** · 02/03/2009, 3:14 PM

Ireland seem to have a deliberate policy of slowing the ball down at their own ruck to ensure they maintain possession. O'Leary was slower than usual as he seemed to ensuring forwards did not get isolated. It isn't the worst tactic as England give up penalties in those areas...

**Dodge** · 02/03/2009, 3:23 PM

Originally Posted by Shilts

Does anyone know how many Rugby internationals have come from each of
PBC (Cork) and CBC (Cork) in comparison to the large Dublin schools? Info needed to shut up a guy once and for all

What would that prove? That there's more rugby playing schools in Dublin (and surrounds) than Cork?

**paul_oshea** · 02/03/2009, 4:50 PM

Originally Posted by Shilts

Does anyone know how many Rugby internationals have come from each of
PBC (Cork) and CBC (Cork) in comparison to the large Dublin schools? Info needed to shut up a guy once and for all

ogara and stringer were Presentation along with sheahan i think. Or do you mean in general?

**shakermaker1982** · 03/03/2009, 6:49 AM

Originally Posted by pete

Ireland seem to have a deliberate policy of slowing the ball down at their own ruck to ensure they maintain possession. O'Leary was slower than usual as he seemed to ensuring forwards did not get isolated. It isn't the worst tactic as England give up penalties in those areas...

if O'Gara was on form to punish them then fair enough but I think that tactic of slowing ball down to snail pace will eventually result in a turnover or losing yards. Maybe the Munster lads fancied their chances at the expense of the backs and a win is a win but Christ it was a close finish to a game we should have won by a decent margin.

**Shilts** · 03/03/2009, 9:26 AM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

ogara and stringer were Presentation along with sheahan i think. Or do you mean in general?

Sorry if it wasn't clear. I meant - which schools have produced the most rugby internationals ever and how many? In particular PBC and CBC (both Cork) and Blackrock (Dublin).
Any info much apreciated.

**Aberdonian Stu** · 03/03/2009, 11:24 AM

If you are looking at all time I would be shocked if it wasn't Rock followed by one or two of the Northern schools to be honest. PBC and CBC would certainly be high enough up the list though. Can't think of a good place to get exact numbers.