[2016 RBS Six Nations] Round 2: France vs. Ireland (13/02/2016)

[corny]

Even them most loyal Leinster fans would disagree with you on Reddan. He's been very poor this year and McGrath has outperformed him by a bit.
Regards McFadden he's good yes but not at level of others anymore. And I think you under rate the French a bit. They'll have an extra week together, fresher bodies and will test us massively out wide too. We aren't the greatest defensively out there on wings either Saturday and lack a lot of pace. It's 2 contrasting styles.
Regards White at scrum statistically it was said he was the worst 3 of the opening weekend at scrum time.

Dave Kearney and McFadden are good defenders. Kearney had one bad game against the Argies and now the narrative is he can't defend. And lack a lot of pace? Genuine question. How do you know this? Do you know how quick Kearney is in a straight line versus Trimble or Bowe for example?

On White? Why is that statistic even relevant? White v Furlong is all that matters? We can't pick Dan Cole! Furlong had one scrum in dead time against a sub Welsh front row. No meaningful comparison can be made on that. As i said its a marginal decision but i'd trust Schmidt has more insight.

 

[FrenchFan]

Pressure is on Ireland to win. They're out of a slam. Must win for them.

 

[LukeFitzgerald]

My only gripe with the squad is 3 and 23.
Furlong should start and McFadden shouldn't be on the bench, although it's a tight call with Ferg considering Gilroy, Ringrose, Healy, TOH have no experience under Schmidt. McCloskey is a specialist 12 and would be a poor bench choice as we would be left with no back three options. We can't give McCloskey his first cap away to France in a must win 6N game.
Dave Kearney has been one of the form wingers in Ireland and is great defensively (which is where we need to be strong against France).
In terms of the back three, we've lost Fitzgerald, Bowe, Zebo and Earls.
McFadden is essentially our 7th choice winger and has 2 Heineken Cups and a 6N medal in his pocket along with almost 30 Ireland caps. All round he's a solid player, very hard working and strong defensively. If he comes on (hopefully not), he will help us out defensively and get stuck into everything, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
The rest of the team picks itself, due to form and injuries.

 

[profitius]

Kick, ruck, kick, ruck. Thats how Ireland will play this game.


Main positive for Ireland is SOB coming back. Himself and Stander could cause some damage in attack. I think Ireland will win because France are rebuilding and Schmidt has set the team up to pressurise the French and pounce on French mistakes.

 

[munstermuffin]

Dave Kearney and McFadden are good defenders. Kearney had one bad game against the Argies and now the narrative is he can't defend. And lack a lot of pace? Genuine question. How do you know this? Do you know how quick Kearney is in a straight line versus Trimble or Bowe for example?

On White? Why is that statistic even relevant? White v Furlong is all that matters? We can't pick Dan Cole! Furlong had one scrum in dead time against a sub Welsh front row. No meaningful comparison can be made on that. As i said its a marginal decision but i'd trust Schmidt has more insight.

Dave Kearney isn't a good defender no more than Zebo is. I don't think he will cost us a game but isn't a top defender. He fully deserves his place though. McFadden is a good reliable player. He's a workhorse type player I accept that. I know about Kearneys pace as its been exposed a few times in RWC and hence his lack of tries. I think he's even admitted it himself a few times that he's not pact but very good at getting out of tight spots. That's his strong point beating first tackler and keeping games going. Again I think most know it's common knowledge.

In 2nd bit wouldn't the stat matter if judging players no. I think White deserves another go as there was rumbling of the Welsh not scrummaging 100% legal but I never compared White to Furlong.

 

[Amiga500]

Dave Kearney isn't a good defender no more than Zebo is.

Ah now... Dave ain't that bad.

I'd near swear Zebo went to the iHumph school of defending.

 

[munstermuffin]

Ah now... Dave ain't that bad.

I'd near swear Zebo went to the iHumph school of defending.

Well I'd admit Zebo worst. But my point is Kearney isn't a top defending winger. Trimble and Bowe are top defenders as wingers c

 

[LukeFitzgerald]

Dave Kearney isn't a good defender no more than Zebo is.

Yes, Dave isn't a world class defender but he is a very good defender.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oKSQkaYDPI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWOp852ih9I

i know there are only 2 examples there (not bothered watching entire matches to pick out his defense) but he is a great defender if you actually watch him play

 

[munstermuffin]

Yes, Dave isn't a world class defender but he is a very good defender.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oKSQkaYDPI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWOp852ih9I

i know there are only 2 examples there (not bothered watching entire matches to pick out his defense) but he is a great defender if you actually watch him play

I do watch games and can put up some errors too but I'm not trying to prove he's terrible just he's average. He's nothing special. But as I said he won't let us down.

 

[Tony Manx]

Kick, ruck, kick, ruck. Thats how Ireland will play this game. .

It is how they have played and won for decades!!

Thomas......really? How many games has he played in the last 6 months?!!
Mind you it worked for Vakatawa!!!

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

It is how they have played and won for decades!!

Thomas......really? How many games has he played in the last 6 months?!!
Mind you it worked for Vakatawa!!!

We only started winning last decade thanks very much.

 

[munstermuffin]

It is how they have played and won for decades!!

Thomas......really? How many games has he played in the last 6 months?!!
Mind you it worked for Vakatawa!!!

Thomas is in Zebo style of defense though.

 

[Tony Manx]

We only started winning last decade thanks very much.

Nonsense......I can remember Ireland winning the odd match decades ago!!!

They also won a triple crown or two and made a song about it!!

 

[Chistera]

Thomas is in Zebo style of defense though.

Even more shaky I'd say.
Novès said that his attitude had been brillant, hope that he also was selected because he's in-form. If not, he'd be an easy target for Ireland.

 

[Peat]

French fans, how are you expecting your team to play this?

Dave Kearney and McFadden are good defenders. Kearney had one bad game against the Argies and now the narrative is he can't defend. And lack a lot of pace? Genuine question. How do you know this? Do you know how quick Kearney is in a straight line versus Trimble or Bowe for example?

If you're comparing Kearney to two 30+ wingers with big recent injury histories for pace, that sort of answers your question... ^_^

I keed of course. Decide him on his own merits. Since I've never seen him run particularly fast, but have seen him chased down by a lock, I willing to believe he's not that quick. And I've just sat through his tribute on YouTube to be sure (which on a complete tangent also shows him carrying the ball in his wrong hand a lot, surprised Schmidt hasn't trained that out of him).

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Wingers don't need to be fast. What does this look like, Southern Hemisphere fruitcake rugby?

 

[Peat]

Wingers don't need to be fast. What does this look like, Southern Hemisphere fruitcake rugby?

p.s. last sentence doesn't apply.

 

[big ginger 8]

The whole chased down by a lock thing is a bit unfair. First of all it was a lock noted for his athleticism who also plays 6. He also had the angle on DK and was at full stretch to get an ankle tap, which at 6'6" or whatever is a decent distance behind him. Finally it was over the first 20 where the distance that can be seperated is pretty minimal.

I have more of a case to say DK chased down Halai and that's not an amazing case.

He's not slow but he's not a speedster either.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

p.s. last sentence doesn't apply.

So... Like at her house or mine?

 

[munstermuffin]

The whole chased down by a lock thing is a bit unfair. First of all it was a lock noted for his athleticism who also plays 6. He also had the angle on DK and was at full stretch to get an ankle tap, which at 6'6" or whatever is a decent distance behind him. Finally it was over the first 20 where the distance that can be seperated is pretty minimal.

I have more of a case to say DK chased down Halai and that's not an amazing case.

He's not slow but he's not a speedster either.

Nobody said he was snail but he's nowhere near fast. He's average pace. I'd disagree in that I believe someone of a Zebo or Gilroy speed wouldn't have been caught by lock/6 in that scenario. But a winger isn't just about pace. But on ankle tap thing in that situation. Good footwork should've easily avoided that scenario vs England. Now I won't say DK has poor footwork as he is doesn't. He's good in tight areas but it's more in the open runs his footwork isn't as effective.