Rugby World Cup

**SkStu** · 18/09/2007, 10:43 PM

seemingly it is a bit more complicated than that. Dont wanna say too much on a public forum though.

**inexile** · 18/09/2007, 11:18 PM

you have me intrigued stu, feel free to pm me with the details

**Soko** · 19/09/2007, 1:19 AM

Likewise. I must get out more, haven't heard any of this

Thank god I pulled the plug on going this Friday night, the thought of watching in on tv is making me sick

**RogerMilla** · 19/09/2007, 8:03 AM

Originally Posted by TheJamaicanP.M.

Some of you may recall Ireland going to Paris for a 6 Nations game in 1998. We went into the game on the back of some bad results and eveyone was expecting France to give us a hiding. However, our scrum-half that day (think it was Conor McGuinness) controlled the game with some excellent box-kicking. We ended up losing 18-16, but we should have won. I would hope that Reddan can put in a similar display on Friday night. Its important that he takes some of the pressure off O'Gara.
.

remember it alright , a nice piece of trickery by elwood conjured the irish try.

Originally Posted by geysir

Rugby is a funny game. We are just after escaping with a win against Georgia. There hasn't been a glimpse of form in the team since the 6 Nations. O'Sullivan calls a few changes, they are heavily criticzed and yet the prediction is for a 360 degree swing in form to achieve a victory against the French, in what would be our our biggest win ever in the World Cup against a class team in their back yard who last beat us on our home turf when we had form.
Thats a relief, for a while I was worried.

brilliant post , but perversely i think we can win , as a welsh mate of mine said the french fans will be coming to this game with a bugle in one hand and a tomato in the other. a few early scores for us would get them fickle bassas on their teams back.

**joeSoap** · 19/09/2007, 8:20 AM

French side picked. No Jauzion...he's playing Michalak, and their back row composition is strange to say the least. New hope.

**endabob1** · 19/09/2007, 8:30 AM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

French side picked. No Jauzion...he's playing Michalak, and their back row composition is strange to say the least. New hope.

Depends on which Michalak turns up.... Melbourne 2003 springs to mind, drove straight from Phillip Island the day after my wedding anniversary, into the stadium, game over inside 20 minutes....

**Aberdonian Stu** · 19/09/2007, 8:50 AM

On the allegations published this morning. Irrespective of whether there is any truth to them or not they are guaranteed to have an impact on mental preparations. What isn't guaranteed is the type of impact that will be and the mind games could well backfire for the French.

The Irish rugby team is a wounded animal right now, especially after the poor showings in the first two games, and the French press may just have just fuelled the hunger within for one big, merciless attempt to regain some pride.

**pete** · 19/09/2007, 10:00 AM

France: Poitrenaud; Clerc, Marty, Traille, Heymans; Michalak, Elissalde; Milloud, Ibanez, De Villiers, Chabal, Thion, Betsen, Dusautoir, Bonnaire.
Replacements: Szarzewski, Poux, Nallet, Nyanga, Beauxis, Jauzion, Rougerie.

Chabal in the 2nd row so maybe a weakness at the line out?

Appears to be a lot of chances from the Argentina game...

Ireland are 4/1 to win which is very long when only 2 teams.

**lofty9** · 19/09/2007, 10:05 AM

Look at The Football World Cup, Italy always get off to a slow start but are always there or thereabouts. Hopefully, a few changes and the obvious rustiness will have gone to help lift the standard of performances. Those really bad performances could be a blessing in disguise for O Sullivan, as the fringe players could come in and do a better job. O Sullvan was always wary of changing his starting 15 no matter who the opposition were.

**ifk101** · 19/09/2007, 10:08 AM

Ireland are currently 6/1 with bwin.

**Schumi** · 19/09/2007, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by lofty9

Look at The Football World Cup, Italy always get off to a slow start but are always there or thereabouts.

Saudi Arabia usually get off to a slow start too though.

**lofty9** · 19/09/2007, 1:17 PM

Originally Posted by Schumi

Saudi Arabia usually get off to a slow start too though.

Touch� !

But in Rugby terms we are at a level much much higher than that of Saudi Arabia.

**OneRedArmy** · 19/09/2007, 1:23 PM

Originally Posted by lofty9

Touch� !

But in Rugby terms we are at a level much much higher than that of Saudi Arabia.

Not based on our warm up games we aren't.

Also, if rumours are true, I'd be starting Wallace at 10.

**beautifulrock** · 19/09/2007, 2:00 PM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Not based on our warm up games we aren't.

Also, if rumours are true, I'd be starting Wallace at 10.

Did the French papers print "the story" then?

**Aberdonian Stu** · 19/09/2007, 2:11 PM

They said on Ireland AM this morning that L'�quipe ran the story today. I don't know if they had actually seen it or if they were just saying it.

As for the rumours/Wallace, I would disagree. Wallace is too weak and with his back in the corner the man facing the flak might come out swinging for the first time this tournament. There are two ways a sportsman can deal with this type of pressure in the short term. He can crawl into a shell or he can come out fighting. I pray it's the latter in this case.

**pete** · 19/09/2007, 2:11 PM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

Also, if rumours are true, I'd be starting Wallace at 10.

Unless O'Gara has two broken legs playing Wallace would be a disaster. If he is playing might as well give the French a by. Among other things his kicking is woeful.

**OneRedArmy** · 19/09/2007, 3:23 PM

Originally Posted by pete

Unless O'Gara has two broken legs playing Wallace would be a disaster. If he is playing might as well give the French a by. Among other things his kicking is woeful.

Who has been the fly-half for our last 4 games?!

Lets face it ROG has hardly set the world on fire lately and the news breaking today gives one possible answer why that may be.

In fact, he's done nothing of note since the Autumn, apart from the England game. His line and tactical kicking were poor throughout the Six Nations and his goal kicking accuracy has fallen away too. He sits too deep in the pocket and when he can't find the corners he hasn't got the 3-dimensional game to try anything different.

Don't get me wrong, Wallace is unproven at best, erratic and unable to control a game at worst, but he does play the game at the gain line, shows flashes of brilliance from time to time and is considerably better passer than O'Gara.