France v Ireland

[shtove]

Pie-charts! I love 'em. Thanks.

It was really unthinkable that the match would end in such a way after the first 60 minutes. Les Bleus were really impressive. Comfortable, easy, and especially lethal in counter attack, a bit like South Africa in the World Cup.

I believe that after this try insolently easy by Heymans we tought it was over… and the changes were decisive too.

Murphy is stupid, kicking the ball while the time was over is an enourmous mistake.
[/b]

I don't think France were that impressive early on. The midfield was strong in attack, but Ireland's drift defence did OK. Apart from that, les Bleus were mostly disruptive at the breakdown and lineout, so Ireland had no time or space to crack the defence. Of course the counter attack was lethal, awesome, shocking.

Overall I think Ireland were the more balanced team. Their scrum has improved a lot, and they had the edge even before the replacements. But France have plenty of players to choose from in the front row, so a few monsters should settle them down.

And Murphy did so many things wrong today, but I suspect France targetted his wing and filled it with runners so he was left with hard choices.

 

[MunsterMan]

Mick O'Driscoll has to start against the Scots. What an impact he had. I'd just drop Mal and but O'Connell on the bench.

Reddan was average, he was tackled taking the steps he always takes before passing in Frances 22, spilled the ball and France counter attacked their way into our 22. A problem you would never have with Stringer.

Brian O'Driscoll made a lot of mistakes, I wish we had a credible alternative in the center.

I'm still f***ing gutted.

 

[getofmeland]

<div class='quotemain'>
I would personally not like to call Clerc the best player in the NH at this moment in time, I think he fell apart during the second half, but I would say he is on the Road to becoming one of the best players in the NH, if not the best...

After every World Cup, there is the opportunity for players to make a HUGE impression on the international stage, and stake a claim at he the best new player in the world...

The Six Nations is the best time for this to happen...
[/b]

Note: Five tries in two games and two MoM awards in two games.
If not yet, he's pretty much touching that ***le (of best NH player) with his fingernails.
In my opinion, he's already there. [/b][/quote]

Your jumping the gun slightly, it is 2 games in his international career... You need to judge him over a Year to say that he is the best player in the Northern Hemisphere... Today wasn't a perfect game for him, it was a good game attacking but to be the best player in the Northern hemisphere you need to have the all round game, which includes the defensive aspect... Also to consider him the best player is a bit poor just because he has scored 5 tries in 120 Minutes, which is superb but the first try he scored today he walked in after a superb bit of vision..

I will make my judgement after the 6 Nations and in Next Years 6 Nations... Hopefully for France he will turn out to be the best... Could be an interesting couple of months for him...

 

[shtove]

Brian O'Driscoll made a lot of mistakes, I wish we had a credible alternative in the center.[/b]

Yeah, but the mistakes came from trying to crack a strong defence. No other way through - ROG didn't attempt a single cross-field kick because of the counter attack danger. I guess BOD will have to have a miracle match to convince the doubters.

The performance from the pack will keep us in the running. Just have to cut out the defensive crap on Murphy's wing - bring back Horgan, who also opens up the cross field kick option.

 

[habib]

i'm agree with you about Murphy's game but BOD didn't play very well and I think Ireland need an other center for the next game (maybe D'Arcy if he is ok??)

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

To be a bit more precise about Clerc, not only 5 tries in the last 2 matches, but 20 in the whole 30 caps he now has.
Would place him behind Rockosoko, but before Habannah, because more dangerous even if he starts with low speed and no space around him.

 

[shtove]

i'm agree with you about Murphy's game but BOD didn't play very well and I think Ireland need an other center for the next game (maybe D'Arcy if he is ok??) [/b]

I've never seen BOD have anything other than a very good game. Without him, Ireland would leak tries. He's actually underrated!

 

[Prestwick]

To be a bit more precise about Clerc, not only 5 tries in the last 2 matches, but 20 in the whole 30 caps he now has.
Would place him behind Rockosoko, but before Habannah, because more dangerous even if he starts with low speed and no space around him. [/b]

People keep mispelling Rokocokos name. I'm waiting for the day when someone refers to Rokocoko as "Rock-em' Sock-em' Jetpack!" :huh:

 

[riders of the storm]

Great finish to the match, but I think Ireland could've gotten alot more. There were just so many missed oppurtunities where France were on the backfoot but Ireland couldn't capitalise. I thought Reddan was lively, but his service was average. The Irish looseforwards were brilliant, in particular Heaslip and Wallace. The tightfive were brilliant when O'Driscoll came on in the 2nd half. Vincent Clerc was awesome as well as Julien Bonnaire. Overall, Ireland can take something from this performance, but I had the feeling they really should have won and did what Wales did in 2005 to the French.

 

[nam97]

Just watched the replay, what a game. The France back 3 are easily one of the best in the world and the Heymans/Clerc partnership runs like a dream, brilliant to watch.

Impressed with the French backrow, Ouedraogo was a menace in the lineout as was Bonnaire and Dusautoir did his usual stuff around the park.

BOD played crap, I don't care what everyone says but he made stupid errors such as the chip out on the full.

And how the hell can you be awarded a penalty try from a collapsed scrum 5m out? Yes they did it twice, but there is no clear way of telling Ireland would have scored. Penalty tries are awarded on the basis of the attacking team's ability to score in that certain situation, no way was that clear cut enough for a penalty try. A regular penalty and a yellow card would have been the correct option.

Well done France all in all, did well to fend off a brilliant Irish comeback.

 

[Stillknox]

And how the hell can you be awarded a penalty try from a collapsed scrum 5m out? Yes they did it twice, but there is no clear way of telling Ireland would have scored. Penalty tries are awarded on the basis of the attacking team's ability to score in that certain situation, no way was that clear cut enough for a penalty try. A regular penalty and a yellow card would have been the correct option. [/b]

I agree, objectively that penalty try was a bit harsh... the Irish were 'far' from the line and just before, the french scrum had the upper hand, but Reddan refused to introduce.

 

[shazbooger]

Nonsense. The French were in serious trouble in the scrum, especially after they made the changes. The only time the French got a shove on was BEFORE the ball went in, hence Reddan got the ref to reset. The other two scrums the Irish had the French going backwards easily enough. It was an EARLY decision, but not a harsh one. If the French didnt bring it down, it WOULD have been a pushover. I have no doubts about it.

On the BOD performance. I thought he had a good game. Made a few mistakes, but most of em were when he was trying to offload out of the tackle and the support runners werent there (they should have been). If they came off we'd have been away.

Bit daft focusing on BOD when Murphy had a mare, Dempsey was annonamous, and Trimble hardly set the pitch alight.

 

[Stillknox]

It was an EARLY decision, but not a harsh one. [/b]

Actually we agree, that's what I wanted to say. I do not deny the fact that the Irish scrum destroyed us.

 

[el_tk]

Mick O'Driscoll has to start against the Scots. What an impact he had. I'd just drop Mal and but O'Connell on the bench.

Reddan was average, he was tackled taking the steps he always takes before passing in Frances 22, spilled the ball and France counter attacked their way into our 22. A problem you would never have with Stringer.

Brian O'Driscoll made a lot of mistakes, I wish we had a credible alternative in the center.

I'm still f***ing gutted. [/b]

Mick O'Driscoll had no impact except to replace a tiring O'Kelly. He's a pedestrian player at HEC level and a nonentity at international level. Rory Best was the only sub who you could say had a positive benefit by securing the lineout at the expense of Jackman's ball carrying.



Reddan may have made mistakes but he offers so much more than Stringer. I am so incredibly glad I don't have to watch Stringer pick up the ball in his little rat paws, stop, look around, and then fire a crappy pass slowing down the entire attack. Reddan can kick and his running is actually a threat. The Ospereys' lineout move that Ireland used in the last few minutes to put Reddan through would never have worked with Stringer.



Good and all as Ireland's comeback was you have to consider the French simply stopped playing at 26-6 much like they did 2 years ago in Paris at 43-3.



Shocking decision from Murphy to kick in the 22 with time finished

 

[shtove]

Reddan may have made mistakes but he offers so much more than Stringer. I am so incredibly glad I don't have to watch Stringer pick up the ball in his little rat paws, stop, look around, and then fire a crappy pass slowing down the entire attack. Reddan can kick and his running is actually a threat. The Ospereys' lineout move that Ireland used in the last few minutes to put Reddan through would never have worked with Stringer.[/b]

Poor old Stringer - now he's a rat. On Gwlad they call him the aborted foetus.

You have it wrong about his passing: he does throw out the odd daisy cutter, but otherwise his pass is much faster and more accurate than Reddan's. And he would have had the strength to complete that scoring pass on the left wing in the first half, except he wouldn't have made the break to get there in the first place! And his box kicking is pretty good. Is your hatred of him clouding your judgment?

I think at scrumhalf we're stuck with a similar situation to Wales at outhalf - one player to take chances, another to keep things steady.

Didn't Wales do that Ospreys line out thing last week with Philips bursting through? Or was it yesterday?

 

[Sir Speedy]

I can't remember Phillips doing it. Peel attempted it yesterday, but got pulled down after making about 6 or 7 metres.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotemain'> Mick O'Driscoll has to start against the Scots. What an impact he had. I'd just drop Mal and but O'Connell on the bench.

Reddan was average, he was tackled taking the steps he always takes before passing in Frances 22, spilled the ball and France counter attacked their way into our 22. A problem you would never have with Stringer.

Brian O'Driscoll made a lot of mistakes, I wish we had a credible alternative in the center.

I'm still f***ing gutted. [/b]

Mick O'Driscoll had no impact except to replace a tiring O'Kelly. He's a pedestrian player at HEC level and a nonentity at international level. Rory Best was the only sub who you could say had a positive benefit by securing the lineout at the expense of Jackman's ball carrying.



Reddan may have made mistakes but he offers so much more than Stringer. I am so incredibly glad I don't have to watch Stringer pick up the ball in his little rat paws, stop, look around, and then fire a crappy pass slowing down the entire attack. Reddan can kick and his running is actually a threat. The Ospereys' lineout move that Ireland used in the last few minutes to put Reddan through would never have worked with Stringer.



Good and all as Ireland's comeback was you have to consider the French simply stopped playing at 26-6 much like they did 2 years ago in Paris at 43-3.



Shocking decision from Murphy to kick in the 22 with time finished
[/b][/quote]

He really has to be finished with Ireland now, time and time again he just doesn't deliver at this level and how many times has he cost us with serious mistakes against the French!

Bowe has to be brought into the side for the Scots, cmon Eddie you've shown some progess in these 2 matches by using the bench and making necessary changes, so do the same again in a fortnight for **** sake.

I fear though if there is to be a change it'll more likely be Horgan instead of Bowe.

 

[d04689]

unlucky ireland, always slow to get going against france, vincent clerk was incredible though

 

[el_tk]

Poor old Stringer - now he's a rat. On Gwlad they call him the aborted foetus.

You have it wrong about his passing: he does throw out the odd daisy cutter, but otherwise his pass is much faster and more accurate than Reddan's. And he would have had the strength to complete that scoring pass on the left wing in the first half, except he wouldn't have made the break to get there in the first place! And his box kicking is pretty good. Is your hatred of him clouding your judgment?

I think at scrumhalf we're stuck with a similar situation to Wales at outhalf - one player to take chances, another to keep things steady.

Didn't Wales do that Ospreys line out thing last week with Philips bursting through? Or was it yesterday?
[/b]

It's what happens before the pass that gets me. Look out for it, it's much easier to see if you're at the match as you can choose what to watch, most of the time Stringer picks up the ball and then looks for ROG or the receiver which slows everything down because as soon as he touches it the defence goes. And his kicking is widely accepted as being poor, box kicks for wingers to chase are always overhit and his touch kicking isn't up to scratch. Overall Reddan is by far the better option.



The Ospereys lineout is all over the place now, they've had it for 2 years I think at this stage but Leinster have used it, Ireland have used in both their matches and Wales have used it too.





I like Murphy but he's been basically annonymous in these 2 matches, maybe he's so sick of being dicked around that he just doesn't care anymore. His opposite number scored a hat-trick and he was nowhere to be seen for two of them. In mitigation he is at his best from fullback and as Thornley says a back 3 of Murphy, Bowe, and Kearney could do some damage

 

[pallaovale]

High performance by Clerc. France could do better.