Rugby World Cup

**Torn-Ado** · 14/09/2007, 2:52 PM

Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

what would be an acceptable win margin? If we win. 30 points? 40 ?

Nothing less than 30 in my opinion. We should be able to rack up a 50 or 60 point difference.

**dfx-** · 14/09/2007, 10:43 PM

South Africa 36-0 England.

Springboks with an ok-ish route to the semis

**onceahoop** · 14/09/2007, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by dfx-

South Africa 36-0 England.

Springboks with an ok-ish route to the semis

The chariots wheels have come off.

**Rovers fan** · 15/09/2007, 12:40 AM

Originally Posted by onceahoop

The chariots wheels have come off.

well they have been fairly shaky for a good while!

**bennocelt** · 15/09/2007, 7:30 AM

Originally Posted by pete

BTW i noticed TV3 got massive TV viewing figures for Sundays which is a surprise until you realise anyone without Setanta only had the other option of UTV. Watching Sport on UTV makes TV3 appealing

im actually enjoying ITVs coverage so far, it isnt that bad, and they have an Aussie guy commentating on Ireland games who is very funny (Who is he?)
I cant watch Conor Mcnarama, just too annoying

**Dodge** · 15/09/2007, 7:50 AM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

im actually enjoying ITVs coverage so far, it isnt that bad, and they have an Aussie guy commentating on Ireland games who is very funny (Who is he?)

He's a New Zealander called Murray Mexted (?) and by far the worst commentator I've ever heard

**bennocelt** · 15/09/2007, 8:33 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

He's a New Zealander called Murray Mexted (?) and by far the worst commentator I've ever heard

yeah but dodge we are pretty much opposites anyway in everything

and i have seen your TV recommendations!

**pete** · 15/09/2007, 11:28 AM

Just seen that Portugal have a new tactic to compete with the All Blacks. Keep the ball on the ground & kick it up the pitch. New Zealand are hopeless at football.

**Torn-Ado** · 15/09/2007, 1:46 PM

Originally Posted by pete

Just seen that Portugal have a new tactic to compete with the All Blacks. Keep the ball on the ground & kick it up the pitch. New Zealand are hopeless at football.

We still wouldnt beat them.

**osarusan** · 15/09/2007, 4:35 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

He's a New Zealander called Murray Mexted (?) and by far the worst commentator I've ever heard

Really?

He commentates on the Super 14 competition which I can watch from Japan - he always seemed knowledgeable to me. What dont you like about him?

**Dodge** · 15/09/2007, 9:00 PM

He made jokes about the "wild Irish" and players drinking guinness. Also got 4/5 players names wrong, "John O'Driscoll" being our captain apparently.

Ireland squeek past Georgia 14-10. Georgia had all the ball

**Soper** · 15/09/2007, 9:01 PM

Embarressment.

**joeSoap** · 15/09/2007, 9:11 PM

I now retract all previous praise I have given Eddie O'Sullivan. This is a beaten Irish side mentally and physically. 'World Class' players aka O'Driscoll, D'Arcy, O'Gara, Leamy, and O'Connell no longer have any right to be considered so in my book. I have played and supported rugby all of my life. I now am embarrassed by this Irish team.

I also have no doubt that O'Sullivan won't change this team too much either. Based on this performance, I would line out against the French with this team: Dempsey; Trimble, O'Driscoll, D'Arcy, Carney, O'Gara, Stringer; Simon Best, Flannery, Hayes, O'Connell, O'Kelly, Neil Best, Alan Quinlan, David Wallace.

Drastic I know, but they need a kick in the arse. Hickie is finished. Horan and Rory Best are passengers, Donncha is away with the fairies and Leamy is just plain poor at the moment.

Jesus, I'm depressed now.

**FarBeag** · 15/09/2007, 9:24 PM

What is happening to Irish sport? A week of utter S*ite from both the Rugby and Football team.We will be torn apart by the French and the Argentineans. We are a shadow of the side that so nearly won the championship. I feel sorry for all our supporters having to put up with this nonsense.

**Stuttgart88** · 15/09/2007, 9:41 PM

I just said this in a footy thread, but the only good thing is that soccer will probably reclaim about 50,000 schoolkids fron rugby now!

**pete** · 15/09/2007, 9:50 PM

You can't fault the players as they are trying but they do not look up to the pace of the WC. O'Sullivan seems to think they can pick it up another level next week & maybe he will be proven right but I doubt it. They might be good enough by the time Argentina game comes around but it could be too late.

Ireland look better than they really are in the 6 Nations because:
* Wales, Scotland & Italy are poor
* England & France are run by club sides so little time to prepare
* Ireland pay the players so I would guess they train together twice as much as France & play less games.

In the WC the "club team" like advantage is lost as even the minnows train together 6-8 weeks before the tournament. To use a football example this is how South Korea got to a WC semi final.

The sad thing is this is the glory years for Irish rugby as the 2nd string players coming through are not very good. Once some key players retire it will a couple fo years of poor results to know if the newbies are up to the level. We'll still have England to beat though.

**ifk101** · 15/09/2007, 9:58 PM

Georgia played the game of their lives tonight and everything they had Ireland withstood. I think Ireland deserve credit for that.

**Stuttgart88** · 15/09/2007, 10:12 PM

I think to an extent that's correct. In the circumstances, other sides would have lost given the momentum they had at the end. Their pack was immense and that guy with the left foot - what a kick from hand, enormous.

Goergia may well have beaten another 6 nations country, dare I say it, the defending world champions. Hard to say.

Anyway, it's good that the RWC is becoming more competitive.

You can't afford to take your eye off the ball in international sport these days. Close followers of football here know that ther former minnows are tough opponents these days. Holland needed a 90th minute winner in Albania last week.

**Hibs4Ever** · 15/09/2007, 11:04 PM

Flannery and Boss must start v France IMO

Gutted with that performance tonight

**shakermaker1982** · 16/09/2007, 9:32 AM

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! They are clearly off the pace and well below par but they won - we'd have usually caved in under that much pressure. Stringer and Best need to be replaced by Boss and Flannery. I'm still in a bit of shock but Georgia were fantastic. This often gets forgotten in the media, like a poster says above they'd have been a handful for any 6 nations side last night. Maybe trying to match them up front was a suicide mission.