EOYT: Ireland XV v Fiji, 17/11/2012

[UlsterRugby2012]

Murray should be able to stand above the crowd in that game. He played last week, is experienced and supposedly Ireland's best scrum half. However he was probably Ireland's worst player! Makes Jackson's showing even more impressive.

I can't see how anyone can thing that McFadden had a bad game, he looked very strong. Heaslip had a good second half.

I thought he had a good game - I still wouldn't play him next week though.

 

[osullie6]

While a few players looked really good last night, it's hard to make any real judgement of them based on the quality of the opposition. I think someone mentioned the quality of the handling given the damp weather a page or two back and,while it was good, the Fijian defence put absolutely no pressure on the players receiving the ball, and I'd say that if there had been defensive pressure there would have been more handling errors. Then again the Irish players can't be blamed for that.

The mistakes in the third quarter were also pretty disappointing, given that the Fijians weren't in the game at all.

Like most other people I thought the standout players were Gilroy, Luke Marshall and Henderson, though in fairness Gilroy and Henderson had been heralded well before this game.

I thought the Irish back play was better than it had been for quite a while, in terms of structure, vision and lines of running. I hope that's not simply down to the coaching staff not having enough time to train all the innovation out of them. Gilroy's try near the end directly off a scrum was our first try in ages off first phases ball, which was nice to see.

Does anyone know how Gilroy's defence is? For some reason I seem to remember him being questionable in that area, but I could be wrong. Although I suppose Zebo's defence is questionable at times, and that hasn't kept him out of the first team.

 

[irelandfan123]

and source on this?
if so in the name of sweet baby jesus. the 2012 conspiracy must be right

I was watching his interview on after the match when sexton got injured that he brought in earls as he can play in that position I almost died of shock

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

Does anyone know how Gilroy's defence is? For some reason I seem to remember him being questionable in that area, but I could be wrong. Although I suppose Zebo's defence is questionable at times, and that hasn't kept him out of the first team.

He makes his tackles, I don't think I've seen him miss many but by no means is he excellent in defence. I don't think it should be a concern though?

 

[irelandfan123]

and source on this?
if so in the name of sweet baby jesus. the 2012 conspiracy must be right

Kidney said
"He picked up a bit of a groin strain kicking and we felt that it wasn't prudent for him to be there," Kidney said after watching a much-changed selection put eight tries on the hapless Fijians.
"We always have one or two guys on standby â€" they are never in the exact position you want, but Keith Earls could have stepped in there,"
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/sexton-injury-scare-ahead-of-showdown-with-pumas-3296871.html

 

[Peat]

Does anyone know how Gilroy's defence is? For some reason I seem to remember him being questionable in that area, but I could be wrong. Although I suppose Zebo's defence is questionable at times, and that hasn't kept him out of the first team.

Some people will tell you he chickens out of tackles, that's arrant ********. However, his positioning isn't always great - although I think criticism might be overstated here - and if he gets his position wrong, he's not strong enough to stop big guys with arms tackles all the time. It's good enough though.

 

[Amiga500]

Does anyone know how Gilroy's defence is? For some reason I seem to remember him being questionable in that area, but I could be wrong. Although I suppose Zebo's defence is questionable at times, and that hasn't kept him out of the first team.

IMO, it has seriously improved from last year to this, however, that opinion is based on quite limited gametime this year.

But as Peat says, his body shape still isn't great at times - leading to tackles which are little more than flailing arms. On a decent pitch, at home, I would take him over Andy Trimble.

Away from home, on a wet bog of a pitch in January... Trimble is exactly what your looking.

[But in a year or two... Gilroy might become my choice regardless of weather/pitch.]