QuoteI said to someone that it was like a game from the 90s, Ireland could do nothing right.
Painful to watch.
I said to someone that it was like a game from the 90s, Ireland could do nothing right.
We're not arrogant, we're just better.
When the French get their tails up there's no better team, they thrive on confidence and play at a pace that we can't live with.
One bad result doesn't invalidate a great run of results, but I think its a good time to look at what brand of rugby we're trying to play and plot a path to the World Cup. I strongly believe we need to play quicker more direct rugby, with more offloads, less going to ground and slow mauling.
That will dictate changes in the team, Hayes should get his century but we need to blood Mike Ross or Tom Court, and Redden or Boss need to play at 9, ditto Sexton.
Whilst we might win a few more games in the short-term playing our current style of rugby, we should have confidence in our talent pool and for the first time ever look beyond the next game.
I really thought we'd have a plan or two up our sleeve in readiness for the French blitz defence. Oh well. Wales will at least try something in a couple of weeks.
Sexton and Redden have to start.
The French 9/10 pairing was class. France deserved their win but we could have done better. Slow ball = no chance against that type of defence.
Flannery? What the hell was he thinking?
Hopefully we'll have a few more backs on the bench from now on. Murphy not match fit? I don't think Kearney's injury helped with all the rejigging.
I cannot even blame Barnes for the poor performance (cannot stand him and dread any time he ref's an Irish game). Oh well roll on England.
Barnes was still dreadful as usual. He missed every single forward pass, one of which led to an Irish try.
The Welsh will be lifted by their win I see a closer call there, I hope they win it and if we beat England it throws the doors open againOriginally Posted by shakermaker1982
O'Gara's done little wrong to be fair but I tend to agree, I think O'Leary is too slow and predictable, Reddan at least will offer some variation
[The thing is up 'till the yellow card I thought we were the better team, a few grubber kicks behind the rush defence got them turned and going backwards, for some reason we stopped this entirely once we were behind.
No idea, especially in Paris the place where cool heads are most needed, it was effectively an 80 metre swing in territory, madness
Earls & Wallace are vital for the bench slots imo because they can play so many positions, I never really rated Wallace but I think he's been one of our better performers so far despite his limited involvement. If Kearney is out Earls goes to full back and our options become more limited.
easy now..... Barnes can still be blamed
Last edited by endabob1; 16/02/2010 at 6:15 AM.
"Your guilty conscience may move you to vote Democratic, but deep down you long for a cold-hearted Republican to lower taxes, brutalize criminals, and rule you like a king"
Sideshow Bob
Sexton in to see what he can do, I think TOL has to keep his place, with maybe a recall for Stringer on the bench, he'd offer something different and that tactic worked pretty well for us last year. Both are still a class above Boss and Redden if you ask me.
only just had the balls to check out this thread following saturday mornings "performance". The summaries from endabob and shakermaker82 (in particular) are spot on.
It ws terrible to watch, absolutely terrible.
(ended up buying it off i-Setanta by the way for US$20, robbed!)
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
Did you miss the link I put up or did it not work for you?
O'Gara & Kevin Myers slugging it out in the Indo, I have to say i think Myers article is a hatchet job by someone with little knowledge but O'gara shouldn't be taking the bait.
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/co...s-2064681.html
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/le...s-2070434.html
"Your guilty conscience may move you to vote Democratic, but deep down you long for a cold-hearted Republican to lower taxes, brutalize criminals, and rule you like a king"
Sideshow Bob
Reflects badly on both. Taking the first opportunity to call Ireland losers after so many games unbeaten shows Myers' attitude to all things Irish. No one takes his rugby pronouncements as anything other than uninformed attention seeking and O'Gara should have more cop on than to legitimise it by replying.
We're not arrogant, we're just better.
That Myers article is like something a 10 year old would write, its embarrassing that a national newspaper would print that. Ronan has had worse things written about him by real experts and not responded, its funny that this ****ed him off so much. Myers seems to have an uncanny knack of getting under peoples skin.
sorry for delay in replying SI - missed the post. I tried the link but it didnt work straight away so i went with the payment option... thanks anyway!
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
O'Gara is often made the scapegoat. He has his weaknesses but he also has many strengths. I'm glad Sexton is starting this weekend because I think it's his time. O'Gara on the bench as insurance if things go pear shaped. I am a little surprised O'Leary is starting. Hopefully somebody has shoved a rocket up his a$$.
Last edited by shakermaker1982; 24/02/2010 at 1:43 PM. Reason: spelling
I've always been Kidneys biggest fan, and still am, but he declared before the Autumn Internationals that players in form will be picked. Shane Horgan, Isaac Boss, Sean Cronin and Leo Cullen are all in better form than their selected counterparts. Best and Murphy are huge worries going into a game of this magnitude with so little game time under their belts.
England have won ugly in both their games to date. That worries me. Any side that contains the pace of Armitage, Monye, Tait, Flutey and Cueto, coupled with the power they have up front and a natural kicking machine to steer the ship has to be a threat. Luckily, Johnno seems to want to grind out games rather than let the backs loose and that will suit us.
We must limit the scrums. They WILL murder us in them. God help us if Tony Buckley has to come on. Sexton and O'Leary are crucial to this game. O'Learys box kicking has to improve 100% and he has to get back to his old game of being a ninth forward. Sexton, if he gets good ball, will use it.
I see the English targetting Earls under the high ball. He's not the biggest and could be suspect...Shane Horgan anyone???
I fancy us to win if England play the type of game they've played to date. If they start to move it, we're in trouble. Can't call it really.
Interesting selections I think Court is very unlucky to lose out, not even in the 22 considering he was one of the props to emerge with credit from Paris
O'Callaghan for Cullen is a mistake, cool heads required in Twickers, DO'C is not that.
Paddy Wallace is another one unlucky to lose out from the 22, I think he's been a real bright spot this season. I thought Earls would have gone to 15, Trimble or Horgan on the wing and Wallace as cover. Murphy's had very little game time but it could be argued he's very used to the opposition and has the experience, must have been a close call. Earls should be fine under the high ball, not the tallest but he played full back against the emerging Boks on the Lions tour in awful conditions and was probably the best player in a red shirt that evening.
No problems with Sexton for RoG although I agree with shakermaker, he's too often the easy scapegoat, in fact he's done very little wrong in the 2 games but Sexton's time is now.
O'Leary must in the last chance saloon, on current form he is arguably only the 4th best in the country at the moment.
Last edited by endabob1; 24/02/2010 at 9:06 AM.
"Your guilty conscience may move you to vote Democratic, but deep down you long for a cold-hearted Republican to lower taxes, brutalize criminals, and rule you like a king"
Sideshow Bob
Surprised to see O'Callaghan back in, I don't know how much more Cullen could have done.
We're not arrogant, we're just better.
I think we missed DOC work around the fringes. He does a lot of the ugly stuff and I think he compliments POC. Cullen was a monster in the lineout and did well but it's good to see the Munster man back.
I thought we'd have brought Horgan in just in case. Useful player to have on the bench. He can play on the wing or at centre.
Big test for Kidney. His team have went from heroes to zeroes but his man management skills are second to none and I'm sure the players will try and prove a point to some of 'our' journalists. If O'Gara comes on I'm sure he'll be brilliant. I was as disappointed as anybody after the French game but the sign of a good team is how they react to adversity. Beating England gets us back on track. Fingers crossed. The last time we went to Twickenham was a nightmare. Let us avenge that for starters!
DOC being back in is not a big shock Kidney is loyal to certain players type of manager he is. Cullen was excellent in the line out but as already said DOC gives you more at the breakdown which will be very important if England stick to what appears to have been there only plan to date bully there way forward using the pack.
TOL should not be starting he has been poor and very easy to read on games to date but who else Reddan having a bad season, Stringer not enough game time and if picking on form should be Boss best Irish scrum half last couple of Heinken Cup weekends for some reason though not even on bench. Maybe the rumoured move to Leinster will help him internationally.
Sexton for O'Gara is not a shock Sexton offers more attacking option yes his game is lacking in some areas but Sexton is a more modern fly half with a better all round game than O'Gara. O'Gara is a great player for Ireland but his lack to go forward is being highlighted more and more often. O'Gara should not be made the scapegoat for France Ireland not good enough against France and that is what it boils down to several Irish players did not produce on the day not just O'Gara and it is unfair to blame him alone
And Miles To Go Before We Sleep
Hat's off to Kidney, he got it spot on again. TOL stepped up his game and ROG did the business coming off the bench.
"Your guilty conscience may move you to vote Democratic, but deep down you long for a cold-hearted Republican to lower taxes, brutalize criminals, and rule you like a king"
Sideshow Bob
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