Rugby World Cup

**pete** · 16/09/2007, 11:40 AM

Something I have noticed before & has been evident in both WC games so far is that the Ireland team never change tactics during games. I think O'Sullivan gives them strict game plans which is great when it works but when not working no plan B. Ireland kicked away so much possession last night it was criminal. Surely with all their supposed skill the backs would have run at Georgia & wore them down?

**geysir** · 16/09/2007, 12:27 PM

I wouldn't know what an offside flanker is, but are things not bad when there are shouts of Boss to replace Stringer after the replacement's performance?

Regardless of what everybody else was or was not doing on the pitch, what could explains O'Gara's kicking performance? A team just gone inexplicably off the boil?
You start off thinking about margins of victory then you�re thinking the bonus point looks difficult, then you�re wondering about victory. You could see Argentina had a difficulty against Georgia but that game in the last 1/2 hour was played in the Georgia half with them hanging on.

**onceahoop** · 16/09/2007, 12:42 PM

The Georgian tactics were brilliant as was their kicking The kept pinning us back in our own 25 and we couldn't handle it. The amount of turnover ball we conceeded when in great atacking positions was embarrasing for players who are supposed to be up there with the best in Europe. Players kept getting themselves isolated and we couldn't get to the breakdown quick enough. There was an embarrasing lack of composure from some players under pressure. I think O'Gara had one decent kick. Stringer has been way off his best for some time (take a gamble and play Reddan). O'Callagan's stupid concession of a penalty was unnacceptable at is level, more akin to something in Junior 3rds.

I wonder will the Georgians be able to repeat that performance against their paymasters, The French.

**bennocelt** · 16/09/2007, 1:26 PM

Enjoying the World cup, apaprt from my bet France messing up in the first game, that French manager hasnt a clue
Some of the games are an awful mismatch, but thats always going to happen
Portugal and Georgia look like they could make a step up in a few years times, with money and good coaching
Man Georgia could have won that game last night, pity!

funny to see Henderson in shock last night, considering he tipped ireland to make the final

**onceahoop** · 16/09/2007, 2:33 PM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

Enjoying the World cup, apaprt from my bet France messing up in the first game, that French manager hasnt a clue
Some of the games are an awful mismatch, but thats always going to happen
Portugal and Georgia look like they could make a step up in a few years times, with money and good coaching
Man Georgia could have won that game last night, pity!

funny to see Henderson in shock last night, considering he tipped ireland to make the final

The French have invested a lot of money in Georgian rugby. They've even sent 4 full time coaches there. Most of the Georgians play the club rugby in France.

**joeSoap** · 16/09/2007, 4:34 PM

Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

yeah I'm disappointed but just been reading the independent and leinsterfans.com forum and the slagging they are getting from all angles makes me want to defend them!

Why? They deserve every bit of criticism they get, and more...

Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

They are clearly off the pace and well below par but they won - we'd have usually caved in under that much pressure.

We won, without a bonus point which was very much expected and very badly needed...against a third worlf rugby nation.

Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

Stringer and Best need to be replaced by Boss and Flannery.

Best yes, but Boss for Stringer? Get real. That has to be one of the most ridiculous suggestions ever.

**shakermaker1982** · 16/09/2007, 5:46 PM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

Why? They deserve every bit of criticism they get, and more....

What is criticism from us going to achieve? The players know they are in a rut themselves, this team has brought us a lot of wins and I still have faith in them. The English/British media attitude of hounding the players after 2/3 games is OTT and it's spilling over into Ireland. The team needs support IMO.

Originally Posted by joeSoap

We won, without a bonus point which was very much expected and very badly needed...against a third worlf rugby nation.

if we beat France and Argentina we don't need bonus points. A big if but all I was bothered about in the last 20 minutes was getting the WIN.

Originally Posted by joeSoap

Best yes, but Boss for Stringer? Get real. That has to be one of the most ridiculous suggestions ever.

Well I'm not alone on that suggestion. I must have read 'drop Stringer' at least 200 times today by different posters/so called rugby experts. Don't get me wrong I'm no fan of Boss but O'Sullivan will have to seriously consider a change at number 9. Stringer is struggling (more than anybody IMO - I have never seen him so hesitant) and throwing somebody that out of form into the biggest match Ireland has played in years could seriously backfire on us. People have gone as far as wanting Reddan in at scrum half but that is way too risky for this game - Boss at least has game experience in the green shirt.

I admit it would be a risky move in breaking up the O'Gara/Stringer partnership but competition for places is defintely taking place at number 9 (something we lack in most positions). I wouldn't make wholesale changes, just those 2 positions and maybe Trimble in for Hickie

**geysir** · 16/09/2007, 6:02 PM

When Boss came on for Stringer last night he was adding more problems to an already bad situation.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 16/09/2007, 6:04 PM

Originally Posted by Hibs4Ever

Flannery and Boss must start v France IMO

Best in injured so Flannery will start.

**shakermaker1982** · 16/09/2007, 6:23 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

When Boss came on for Stringer last night he was adding more problems to an already bad situation.

he messed up once when he broke away and kicked the ball out of hand straight to a Georgian but other than that I thought he didn't do too badly. Maybe Stringer will bounce back. I hope so - he cannot get any worse!

**Superhoops** · 16/09/2007, 6:56 PM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

Best yes, but Boss for Stringer? Get real. That has to be one of the most ridiculous suggestions ever.

Stringer is passed his sell-by date. Telegraphs his passes, is too slow around the base of the scrum and has no pace.

The only reason he is still selected is that he and O'Gara are used to each other but World Cups (or indeed qualification for the later stages) will not be achieved on sentiment.

For the same reason, it is about time that O'Connell was dropped, has not played well in any game for 12 months or more. Reputation does not guarantee performance.

**joeSoap** · 16/09/2007, 9:00 PM

France have set their stall out with an emphatic victory. 87-10. Their confidence will be sky high having had a big win and us playing like under 14's. Still, at least we know that if we beat them we're through. What an if.

**Rovers fan** · 16/09/2007, 9:28 PM

frances win over namibia quashes ant chances that namibia are actually any good. iv heard the only reason best starts for irelnd is because they have to play at least one protestant. cant see any other reason why he would start ahead of flannery. our forward play has disimproved so much. we used to dominate teams up front. cant see how we could have gone backwards, odonovan has to take some flak

**endabob1** · 17/09/2007, 8:16 AM

Stringer is still the best scrum half we have, Reddan is a far better 9 than Boss, to play Boss against France would be akin to suicide.

O'Callaghan had a very poor game but so did all of the pack, Best was very poor (in both games now there has been a marked improvement when he's gone off), O'Connell is supposed to be a leader in the pack he was annonymous, the back row were consistently out fought at the breakdown.
It's difficult to do a lot with the pi$$ poor quality of ball the backs were getting but O'Gara kicked very poorly, I've never seen him miss as many touch kicks. The 3/4 line were tryng to play Hollywood rugby Running from inside their own 22, losing posession and then spending 10 minutes defending desperately.
We will get battered by the French and Pumas, that �20 on us to go out in the group pahse looks a sensible bet at the moment.

**Dodge** · 17/09/2007, 9:21 AM

Originally Posted by Rovers fan

iv heard the only reason best starts for irelnd is because they have to play at least one protestant. cant see any other reason why he would start ahead of flannery.

He's a far better scrummager.

our forward play has disimproved so much. we used to dominate teams up front.

Not in the the last 10 years we haven't. In fact I can't remember an Irish pack ever dominating a game

**geysir** · 17/09/2007, 11:02 AM

Team is announced early.

A few changes,
Reddan Trimble and Flannery all in

**shakermaker1982** · 17/09/2007, 11:08 AM

good to see. I'd like to see Neil Best in there as well but throwing Stringer in at the deep end was not a clever idea.

**shakermaker1982** · 17/09/2007, 11:10 AM

Stringer doesn't even make bench........neither does Murphy??!!

**beautifulrock** · 17/09/2007, 11:37 AM

good shout, needed to be done. Big call on Redden but has played at the higest club level with Wasps. Would like to have seen Quinlan included, even if on the bench. France will suit Easterby as he is in the main a spoiler and will slow the ball down and this will be vital on Friday because if France cut loose we are dead in the water.