Rugby World Cup

**Dodge** · 10/09/2007, 9:30 AM

Originally Posted by osarusan

Sorry, you're right. That is what I meant actually-to deny Argentina a bonus point by winning by more than 7, while claiming that same bonus point against France should we lose, will be the crucial point.

No it won't. If we beat France the minimum points we'll have is 14, and the maximum they could possibly get is 13. Beating France is the crucial bit

After that game we can think of other options

**osarusan** · 10/09/2007, 9:35 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

No it won't. If we beat France the minimum points we'll have is 14, and the maximum they could possibly get is 13. Beating France is the crucial bit

After that game we can think of other options

Beating France is the crucial bit to winning the group, I agree.

But, I said "should we lose" to France.

Of course the best thing is to win the game and win the group, but I was replying to Pete, who said

Originally Posted by pete

Ireland now need to beat both France & Argentina as will be very difficult to get through on points difference.

I was just talking about qualifying from the group.

**onceahoop** · 10/09/2007, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by DvB

Knowing the task facing us to qualify from what is easily (on paper) the toughest group, that team knew exactly what was required of them in this & the upcoming Georgia games to give ourselves the impetus to tackle the two heavyweights afterwards, to me it stank of a lack of professionalism that they produced such an all round poor performance!

In the second half to have only scored a try that clealry never was & penalty try against the worst team in the tournament is quite frankly unacceptable if this team has any ambitions of progressing!

Then again maybe we're just simply not as good a team as we thought we were & the poor attitude & application came through in last nights performance!

Personally i'm hopimng they realise the standard is unacceptable & they'll raise the bar for the next game, TBH its probably a good thing now its Georgia, i'd hate to be facing France or Argentina so soon!

Agree with most of that DvB. But we're a way better team than that.
It appeared to be a lack of mental preparation as much as anything. Dropped passes, too much turnover ball when players got isolated. We were so much on top in the first half hour that we weren't prepared for a backlash. Yet everyone knows that in every game you play no matter what code and no matter how much on top you are, the opposition will have a go at some stage if for nothing else but their pride.

We then tried to run the ball from our own twenty five instead of playing to our strengths which, for this team, has been O'Gara kicking for position and sending the opposition back. Our pack never got the maul going either. It was just inept. Why??? Well you could argue that it's come a month too soon for the Northern Hemisphere clubs. Previous Cups in the Northern hemisphere have started in October. The advantage is with the Southern teams. Some of our players haven't played since March while the Ausies, Kiwis and Boks have just come off the Tri Nations.

The number of games played prior to the tournament was totally inadequate. In soccer it's believed that it takes up to five games at least to get match fit and sharp. For a squad of thirty players to play just 3 games is ludicrous. David Wallace, who in fairness is just back after injury, was not at the races. O'Sullivans inexplicable decision not to provide cover for him could come back to haunt him.

Tom McGurk was on Gerry Ryan this am. He claims that the squad spent so much time in the gym that they only started ball work three weeks ago. The evidence of the gym work is there for all to see in their increased bulk. So too the lack off ball work.

**joeSoap** · 10/09/2007, 11:57 AM

It's all a part of a masterplan....

**Dodge** · 10/09/2007, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by onceahoop

The number of games played prior to the tournament was totally inadequate. In soccer it's believed that it takes up to five games at least to get match fit and sharp

So we should be spot on for the France game? That'll do me...

**paul_oshea** · 10/09/2007, 12:00 PM

...to fool the argies and france that we are crap?

they are doing a good job so.

Lads, to be honest I wouldn't worry about this performance, we arent going to get past the quarters anyhow, but we will play a lot better in the big matches.

**OneRedArmy** · 10/09/2007, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

...to fool the argies and france that we are crap?

they are doing a good job so.

Lads, to be honest I wouldn't worry about this performance, we arent going to get past the quarters anyhow, but we will play a lot better in the big matches.

Paul, there's a lot of confused logic in your post.

To even get through to the quarters, we are going to have to play at a level that will make us good bets to get even further in the tournament.

I don't believe Argentina are a much better team than France (regardless of Fridays result) and I still think we have a better chance of beating Argentina than France.

You wouldn't perhaps be led by having tickets for the second placed team in our Group playing the winner of New Zealands group?

We'll either win the pool (can't see it myself) or come 3rd.

**paul_oshea** · 10/09/2007, 1:17 PM

You wouldn't perhaps be led by having tickets for the second placed team in our Group playing the winner of New Zealands group?

I could be, but I can honestly see us drawing with argies ( losing to France, getting same amount of bonus points, but losing on on points against ) and not even getting to the quarters - note I just said we wont go further than the quarters, not that we will definitely get there.

On that, I could also see us beating france and losing to argentina, with max bonus points taken for all teams does that not mean we would also finish second, assuming that we dont lose to argentina by more than we beat france?

**Dodge** · 10/09/2007, 1:28 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

On that, I could also see us beating france and losing to argentina, with max bonus points taken for all teams does that not mean we would also finish second, assuming that we dont lose to argentina by more than we beat france?

Do you have my posts blocked or wha?

If we beat France, we're through and France are out. Regardless of margins etc.

**OneRedArmy** · 10/09/2007, 1:46 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

I could be, but I can honestly see us drawing with argies

Brave man to predict a draw in rugby, its not the GAA!

You'll get great odds for that.

**Torn-Ado** · 10/09/2007, 1:46 PM

Originally Posted by Flea

Yes the team were bad, but this comment made me laugh. O'Gara is top class. The ball handling was pathetic, we got a try that wasnt a try, and I dont think anyone else will get caught out as easily again as the one Trimble scored. But the players wont need to be told it wasn't good enough.

Great kicking from his hands, great passing and attacking play but his kicking from the ground can be shoddy. If the angle is anyway challenging, he'll miss. Against Italy in the six nations he couldn't buy a score.

**paul_oshea** · 10/09/2007, 1:57 PM

Brave man to predict a draw in rugby, its not the GAA!

You'll get great odds for that.

Ora, I can see a last minute penalty/drop goal from the argies to draw it

**pete** · 10/09/2007, 2:04 PM

All I can wonder if what have the Ireland squad been doing for the last 10 weeks of preparation?

All of this will be forgotten if Ireland qualify for the quarter finals.

I know he has been our most successful coach but IMO O'Sullivan should resign if we do not get at least get to the quarter finals. Triple Crowns are all very well but not getting past the WC group stages in 2 finals is failure given the resources available to the team.

**Soko** · 10/09/2007, 2:15 PM

Originally Posted by Torn-Ado

Great kicking from his hands, great passing and attacking play but his kicking from the ground can be shoddy. If the angle is anyway challenging, he'll miss. Against Italy in the six nations he couldn't buy a score.

The mitre ball is a pos, like kicking a baloon

But continue to harp on about his kicking, the rest of the performance was a cracker

**joeSoap** · 11/09/2007, 9:15 AM

Originally Posted by Soko

The mitre ball is a pos, like kicking a baloon

But continue to harp on about his kicking, the rest of the performance was a cracker

The mitre ball may be a 'pos' whatever that is, but it's no excuse.

Especially as they're using Gilbert balls, the same as the 6 nations ball, official IRFU ball and one that O'Gara is most comfortable with.

**DvB** · 11/09/2007, 9:56 AM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

The mitre ball may be a 'pos' whatever that is, but it's no excuse.

Especially as they're using Gilbert balls, the same as the 6 nations ball, official IRFU ball and one that O'Gara is most comfortable with.

A far better ball to kick with as well, especially for penalties etc, tends not to drift as much in the air for longer kicks.