[2016 RBS Six Nations] Round 4: Ireland vs. Italy (12/03/2016)

[TRF_Olyy]

Had to be Heaslip.

 

[munstermuffin]

Ah **** off he was there or thereabouts. Could have gone to about 5 people

I think fact Alpha Bro despises Munster explains that.
Overall though anyone could've got it Italy were so bad and are well below tier 2 rate they were going

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Cormac Johne O'Stander was my MOTM for what it's worth.
Consistently the best player in green this Six Nations.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Whats your criticism?? He was great!

I think fact Alpha Bro despises Munster explains that.
Overall though anyone could've got it Italy were so bad and are well below tier 2 rate they were going

Or that he just wasn't the best on the pitch! Earls was certainly better too.

 

[munstermuffin]

Whats your criticism?? He was great!


Or that he just wasn't the best on the pitch! Earls was certainly better too.

How can any player be singled. Italy were **** poor. Ryan was our best player vs England so I'd say leave him have it. Agree with Olyy that Stander has been our best for consitency. But as I said before game nothing can be taken in to serious consideration Italy were that bad. 2 of their back 3 were club players who can't make Zebre or Treviso

 

[Car]

Can we introduce relegation from the Six Nations ASAP, please? In the past, Italy at least put up a good fight before they lost, but nowadays?

 

[Groundhog]

Out walking the dogs and I came across a full 8 pack of Guinness. Should I take them or is this some sort of Irish mouse trap?

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

How can any player be singled.

Based on performance? I really don't care though.

Italy were **** poor. Ryan was our best player vs England so I'd say leave him have it. Agree with Olyy that Stander has been our best for consitency. But as I said before game nothing can be taken in to serious consideration Italy were that bad. 2 of their back 3 were club players who can't make Zebre or Treviso

Agree with most of this but I do think that's an important match for us, it shows the players they can play, while finding out a couple who should be filtered out soon enough. It'll stand to us in the future.

 

[Peat]

Come off it, Madigan's had a good start and we're playing the type of rugby that everyone calling for McCloskey and Gilroy want. McCloskey will come in by the end of the year and Gilroy might if he's good enough. There's little to criticise here though.

Nice try from Italy.

Spanking Italy proves nothing about the ability to play the teams that matter.

They need to spend a lot of time on their defence next international window, I feel.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Spanking Italy proves nothing about the ability to play the teams that matter.

They need to spend a lot of time on their defence next international window, I feel.

Agree on both points but equally I don't think it would have been a huge help for any players brought in. That wasn't international standard rugby and no one learned much from it. Confidence was lost and gained and that's about it.

 

[munstermuffin]

Based on performance? I really don't care though.
Agree with most of this but I do think that's an important match for us, it shows the players they can play, while finding out a couple who should be filtered out soon enough. It'll stand to us in the future.

But fact is no performance was meaningful today.
How does being able to perform against a poorly coached team with mostly 2nd and 3rd choice guys be any bit useful.
That result will not stand to us in any stead going forward.
How can you say a guy can be filtered based on today or how does it show a guy he can play because he did it against a guy who's as poor as an amateur

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

But fact is no performance was meaningful today.
How does being able to perform against a poorly coached team with mostly 2nd and 3rd choice guys be any bit useful.
That result will not stand to us in any stead going forward.
How can you say a guy can be filtered based on today or how does it show a guy he can play because he did it against a guy who's as poor as an amateur

The result won't, the performance will to an extent. It shows that our rugby can work, we were clinical today and it doesn't matter a whole lot who was defending, when we got chances we took them. Chances will be fewer in other games but finishing against broken defences is very similar against anyone. If that can be developed and improved upon it'll stand to us and create a better environment to bring new players in.

 

[munstermuffin]

The result won't, the performance will to an extent. It shows that our rugby can work, we were clinical today and it doesn't matter a whole lot who was defending, when we got chances we took them. Chances will be fewer in other games but finishing against broken defences is very similar against anyone. If that can be developed and improved upon it'll stand to us and create a better environment to bring new players in.

Yes but it's like running against poor players won't cut it against decent teams. I disagree on fact you say it doesn't matter who was defending. We were under no pressure and that is the key part of performing. There was nothing clinical about today as Italy were so bad. We haven't introduced much new standards. Today was a really pointless day in terms of learning. Not Ireland's fault but Italy were so bad nothing can be taken at face value

 

[corny]

No, when the scrum is collapsed but the ball is available and all is safe it's game on.

Ryan motm is a true Munster call. Had to be Henshaw or Heaslip.

Was 'tremenjus' picking it? If so, former Munster lock picking MOTM selection shock. Ryan wouldn't have been in the top five performers for me. Toner contributed more in his time on. One turnover, couple of lineout steals, carried a lot of ball.

Good performance i thought. Yeah Zanni was the only Italian player who looked like he gave a **** but still. Patterns were good, execution was good and i'm sure scoring 60 points does a lot for dented morale.

I've had a change of heart on Zebo. Sometimes he doesn't fancy hard graft and his positional sense needs work but i'd accommodate him all the same. We're crying out for players who can influence the game with moments of quality. Zebo has that. Rob Kearney doesn't.

Payne's inclusion in midfield definitely improved our line speed and no doubt there's merit to him playing 13 but a McCloskey/Henshaw partnership has more scope. I hope its REALLY looked at in the summer. For now, we know the IRFU value the 6N's above all else so safety first from Schmidt is probably part of his brief. None of us agree but c'est la vie.

Fergus McFadden running sideways into Heaslips space was probably the poorest bit of play i've ever witnessed from an international back. It was criminal.

Oh and Sexton is head and shoulders the best playmaker in the NH. The amount of times he positively influences play is ridiculous.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I've had a change of heart on Zebo. Sometimes he doesn't fancy hard graft and his positional sense needs work but i'd accommodate him all the same. We're crying out for players who can influence the game with moments of quality. Zebo has that. Rob Kearney doesn't.

Nail on head. Jared Payne will be 34 come the next World Cup. Rob Kearney will be 33. The former lacks pace and the latter lacks attacking threat. Zebo has both. He can be frustrating as hell but has all the attributes needed to become a top 15 if he's coached up. It may have been "only" Italy but we saw him get on the ball and threaten far more than any other Irish fullback. It's an area we're woefully short of options at the moment.

Very pleased with Sean Cronin and Ultan Dillane's cameos.

 

[Peat]

Payne's inclusion in midfield definitely improved our line speed and no doubt there's merit to him playing 13 but a McCloskey/Henshaw partnership has more scope. I hope its REALLY looked at in the summer. For now, we know the IRFU value the 6N's above all else so safety first from Schmidt is probably part of his brief. None of us agree but c'est la vie.

Or McCloskey at 12, Henshaw to 15, Zebo to the wing in place of Trimble if Payne is non-negotiable.

 

[corny]

Or McCloskey at 12, Henshaw to 15, Zebo to the wing in place of Trimble if Payne is non-negotiable.

Yeah that can work but Henshaw getting to grips with the defensive work at outside centre is preferable. Payne just doesn't seem to threaten for 13. From fullback he's a nightmare to play against.

 

[Amiga500]

Ironically, only because italy were so poor is it kind of irrelevant that the wrong team was picked - we'd have learned f_k all anyway.

Although since I suppose they would have got some confidence on the international stage and because its clear we would never have lost the match - I'm still on Schmidt's back - wrong team, wrong bench - its stagnation, not conservatism.

 

[munstermuffin]

Yeah that can work but Henshaw getting to grips with the defensive work at outside centre is preferable. Payne just doesn't seem to threaten for 13. From fullback he's a nightmare to play against.

Thing is now Payne is confirmed as a 13 only in irish camp. Regards Henshaw from next season on he will be a centre only for club and country.
I can't comment on what ifs as Italy were desperate.

 

[munstermuffin]

Ironically, only because italy were so poor is it kind of irrelevant that the wrong team was picked - we'd have learned f_k all anyway.

Although since I suppose they would have got some confidence on the international stage and because its clear we would never have lost the match - I'm still on Schmidt's back - wrong team, wrong bench - its stagnation, not conservatism.

This is correct