6 Nations

[Rovers fan]

no it was Murphy, who went missing for two of Clerc tries as well

I think it was o'gara. Murphy tried to run onto it but didn't get there. Still can't believe he kicked it tbh. If we kept it amongst the forwards the chances are we would have scored a try.

[OneRedArmy]

Good from 1-10 (Jackman's throwing and O'Kelly excepted).

Poor otherwise (though Trimble & Kearney did ok).

We are seriously lacking in pace in the backline. What age is Simon Geogehan these days?

[paul_oshea]

haha! ya bring back simon, if nothing else he can lift someone over his head and throw them back down again...

in fairness eddie made the changes that ppl were saying he should make, and he has been justified they aren't up to it, jackman for example was very poor. People said wallace should be dropped, he was making great yardage on saturday. At the end of the day osullivan cant be held accountable for stupid errors/mistakes. Thats why we lost it on saturday.

[shakermaker1982]

Good from 1-10 (Jackman's throwing and O'Kelly excepted).

Poor otherwise (though Trimble & Kearney did ok).

We are seriously lacking in pace in the backline. What age is Simon Geogehan these days?

we miss bloody Hickie! Fitzgerald is quick but I'm not sure if he's able to make the transition yet.

[joeSoap]

I think it was o'gara. Murphy tried to run onto it but didn't get there. Still can't believe he kicked it tbh. If we kept it amongst the forwards the chances are we would have scored a try.

No, it was Murphy who needlessly kicked it away. For the last 25 mins, we reverted to a 'Munster' style game, and it killed the French. If we maintained it, and didn't revert to fancy dan shyte then I have no doubt we would have scored given the position we were in.

Jackman, although very good in the loose, couldn't hit a barn door with a cannonball. There was no pack leader, so all the calls were in disarray, and therefore we lost 5 of our own lineouts. Flannery and O'Connell would have won that game for us on Saturday if they played. Fair play to Mick O'Driscoll....he had a massive game when he came in. Buckley should have been brought in earlier.

All in all, its just more hard luck stories, which to be honest, I'm just about sick of.

[OneRedArmy]

Flannery won't be ready for Scotland due to injury.

Although I think I'd be able to hook against Scotland and we'd still win.

Given the way MO'D played, I'd give him the start against Scotland and bring O'Connell back off the bench. Not need to rush him back as he's been out a long time.

Also, as a couple of the papers identified, there is sweet fa point in having Easterby on the bench. He's a specialist 6 and isn't a impact player and we really could've done with a fresh pair of legs in the last 10 mins as the 3 lads were busted after putting in a great effort.

[pete]

no it was Murphy, who went missing for two of Clerc tries as well

Seen that now. Terrible decision.

Murphy will be dropped from starting team. EOS might keep him on the bench as covers different positions.

Could do with 1 speedster winger - look how many tries Shane Williams gets for Wales on pure speed alone. Heymans also burned Ireland on saturday.

[Bald Student]

Murphy will be dropped from starting team. EOS might keep him on the bench as covers different positions.

My guess is that Shaggy will play for Leinster this weekend and start against Scotland if he comes through the match uninjured.

There's no real need for Murphy on the bench as Kearney covers all the same positions (and better) but Eddie's not the type to leapfrog someone like Bowe or Fitzgearld above Murphy in the pecking order. My guess is that Geordan will sit on the bench for 80 mins like Easterby last weekend.

[joeSoap]

no it was Murphy, who went missing for two of Clerc tries as well

Thats a tad harsh on Murphy, as two of the three tries came from turnovers when we were attacking. His running lines would have changed to attacking ones and he would have been more infield as part of whatever move we had at the time. The blindside flanker usually covers the wing position, but Clerc was way too quick for Leamy on the first occasion.

I also believe that once we decided to play the game tight, in the Munster way, Stringer should have been brought on for Reddan. I think we would have won the game if he was on, simply because a back would not have gotten near the ball in the last 5 mins with him marshalling the base of the scrum.

That said, his kicking of the ball at the end was inexcusable. If he is to play for Ireland, then it must be as a full-back, and to be honest, I rather Dempsey at the moment. He does exactly what it says on the tin, and rarely lets you down.

[joeSoap]

My team for Scotland would be:

Dempsey; Bowe, O'Driscoll, Trimble, Kearney; O'Gara, Reddan; Horan, Flannery(if fit) Hayes; O'Callaghan, O'Connell; Leamy, Wallace, Heaslip.

Subs: Luke Fitzgerald, Paddy Wallace, Stringer, Buckley, Jackman, Quinlan, Mick O'Driscoll.

It's probably going to be:

Dempsey; Horgan, O'Driscoll, Trimble, Kearney; O'Gara, Reddan; Horan, Best, Hayes; O'Callaghan, O'Driscoll, Leamy, Wallace, Heaslip.

Subs: Murphy, P.Wallace, Stringer, Buckley, Jackman, Easterby, O'Connell.

[ifk101]

I like reading your posts on the rugby joeSoap - always top drawer.

Now I'm off to copy your fantasy team

[OneRedArmy]

To continue joesoaps preferred and probable teams, my preferred would be

Fitzgerald
Bowe
Trimble
O'Driscoll
Kearney

O'Gara
Redden

Horan
Best
Buckley
O'Callaghan
O'Driscoll
Leamy
Jennings
Heaslip

Subs
Healy
Jackman
O'Connell
Wallace
Keane
Sexton
Horgan

The probable team will be as joe's post.

[shakermaker1982]

My line up:

Dempsey
Bowe
BOD
Trimble
Kearney

O'Gara
Reddan

Horan
Jackman -unless Flannery fit
Hayes - Buckley on at 55
O'Callaghan
MOD
Leamy
Wallace
Heaslip

Bench

Buckley
Best
O'Connell
Stringer
Fitzgerald
Sexton
Horgan

[OneRedArmy]

How on earth anyone can pick Jackman is beyond me, unless you are proposing someone else throw the ball in.

He could play as well as Vincent Clerc in the loose and still shouldn't get on the pitch until he sorts his lineouts out. Winning 90% plus of your own throws is crucial in the modern game. Its no conicidence we gained more territory when Jackman went off.

[shakermaker1982]

Best had a shocker the week before. The players pointed out in the post match interviews that it was more to do with the call system going wrong than the actual throw ins - maybe it's BS I don't know but O'Callaghan seemed to indicate that other teams can read our lineout much easier than before.

I'd have Flannery over the two of em anyday of the week. Fingers crossed his hand mends.

[paul_oshea]

plus the french fella only weighed about 14 stone as well, they were throwing him up for everything fierce quick and easy.

[joeSoap]

There's a long running rumour (started by Clive Woodward in the late 90's)that the French bug the hotel rooms of the opoposing teams and also the away dressing room and therefore know the line-out calls and thats why they have so much success on the away teams line-outs when playing at home in Paris. Personally I think its bull sh1t but ther French lineouts away from home are traditionally weaker that when they play at home, so maybe there is something to it....

Niall O'Donovan has to get the finger out regarding the line out. Jackman or Best aren't always to blame when lineouts are lost, but in some cases the throwing is just shoddy. For example on Saturday, we had a lineout 5 metres from their line and Jackman tried to go long...Bonnaire got lifted like he was an O'Brien crane and we got picked off. A simple ball to Donncha at 2 and a maul and we were in...it really is that simple.

[shakermaker1982]

During the last Lions tour didn't Woodward have their 'tactics room' scanned for spy equipment and had the room guarded by bodyguards at all times when not in use? fat lot of good it did the end......

what kind of codes do they use? Numbers, names, places? How complicated must it get before everyone gets confused and the lineout implodes?

[Bald Student]

Winning 90% plus of your own throws is crucial in the modern game. Its no conicidence we gained more territory when Jackman went off.

At about the same time the French stopped competing for Irish ball.

[paul_oshea]

How complicated must it get before everyone gets confused and the lineout implodes?

As Gaeilge I blame Munster Irish.