France vs Ireland - 13/08/2011 RWC Warm up

[Feicarsinn]

I didn't notice anything particularly awful about Steve Walsh today. He was a bit slow on the scrum calling, but that aside I wouldn't say either team is too disappointed.

 

[DorceOutSide]

trimble played well as did felix jones and rob kearney.

 

[DorceOutSide]

trinh-duc was nothing without para.

 

[munstermuffin]

Lads was just talking to Conor Murray to congratulate him on his first cap and well he was telling me he not too confident in being in the 30. I don't know exactly but I'd really prefer him in my top 3. Again I'm glad Kidney did experiment tonight because we did learn a few things.
And well can I ask 1 thing to any Leinster man with knowledge - Has McFadden any experience at 10?
I think we seen tonight that McFadden is the better man than P.Wallace and well while I always liked Wallace I think McFadden has all the skills to be a cover 10 like Wallace and would gamble bringing McFadden as that Centre/3rd choice 10 in slim chance we actually needed 3rd choice 10.

 

[coonor]

Any highlights would be much appreciated as I missed the game.

I have been hearing different things but my main question is what do people who watched the game think was the main reason why Ireland quickly improved in the second half?

I am still concerned with the position of hooker and the lineout and I am still not convinced with our attack. These warm up games have shown how important players like BOD, Bowe, D'arcy and Sexton playing together add so much to our attack.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I think McFadden has all the skills to be a cover 10

....except a strong passing and tactical kicking game. He's a good goalkicking utility back but he's not an option at 10, even in an emergency, in my opinion.

I thought Trimble, Kearney, Jones, O'Connell and Leamy were Ireland's best players. Buckle was given a chance to stake a claim as primary prop backup but failed abysmally. I wouldn't take him to New Zealand.

 

[raziel_eire]

I think we seen tonight that McFadden is the better man than P.Wallace and well while I always liked Wallace I think McFadden has all the skills to be a cover 10 like Wallace and would gamble bringing McFadden as that Centre/3rd choice 10 in slim chance we actually needed 3rd choice 10.

Agreed, McFadden will offer more in the positions where he will most likely be needed and utilised, that being centre or wing. He really needs to be given a proper chance in the midfield in the event that D'Arcy or BOD are unavailable. By proper chance I mean 50-60mins in a team featuring a core group of 1st XV players, not in a 2nd string like that featured against Scotland.

In the unlikely event that either ROG or Sexton are injured proper during the RWC, then by all means call Paddy Wallace back from Ulster as an injury replacement to sit on the bench. But up to now, he's had his chance at centre for Ireland and IMO offered nothing and wouldn't feature in the RWC pool games ahead of the likes of McFadden.

Would like to see Mike McCarthy get in ahead of D Ryan as the utility cover for both lock and back row, just not impressed by Ryan so far and feel that McCarthy would offer more consistency if called upon.

Straight toss-up for me between Fitzg and Jones, Jones looks that bit more impressive/enthusiastic to me even with his few touches tonight, whilst Fitz hasn't shown an awful lot for a player of his supposed calibre in the time he's been given thus far. His experience however, and ability if he finds the form will probably see him get the nod for NZ however.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Well Tony Buckley was absolutely dreadful. He really is just a liability. Hayes, Healy, Horan, Ross, Court, even Hagan would have been able to build up the adrenaline to put in a good scrum when we were on their 5 metre line at the end. He's just a really terrible player.
The other big problem today was the hooker. Best was rubbish when he was on. Flannery was slightly better but that throw at the very end was horrendous. Had our set piece functioned today we would've won.

There's plenty of positives as well though. Reddan and O'Gara played real well together. Murray was very good when he came on. He should be given another shot on the bench if not in the starting XV next week. Our back 3 functioned well I thought. That's where Kidney will have the biggest selection head ache. Earls also looked good.

My team for next week would be as follows;

1. Healy
2. Flannery
3. Ross
4. Cullen
5. O'Connell
6. Ferris (If fit)
7. Jennings (If fit)
8. O'Brien
9. Murray
10. Sexton
11. McFadden
12. D'Arcy (if fit)
13. O'Driscoll (if fit)
14. Bowe
15. Jones

Replacements:

Best, Court, O'Callaghan, Heaslip, Stringer, O'Gara, Earls

 

[Feicarsinn]

I'd like to see Kev McLaughlin given a game or two before the WC. Ryan hasn't worked well at 6 or 4 and to me has played himself out of contention. Utterly anonymous in both appearances. I'd also like to say that SuperJesus Kearney has been excellent in both of his showings. Hopefully all it was was a little ****le today. We bloody need him.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Missed the game, but Clerc scoring against Ireland is just old.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Always good to hear Buckley put in a good shift at the coal face.....

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Decent first half, but we didn't find any answer when Ireland started to engage an inverted defense. Just a problem of extraction speed ? not sure about that...

 

[munstermuffin]

I'd like to see Kev McLaughlin given a game or two before the WC. Ryan hasn't worked well at 6 or 4 and to me has played himself out of contention. Utterly anonymous in both appearances. I'd also like to say that SuperJesus Kearney has been excellent in both of his showings. Hopefully all it was was a little ****le today. We bloody need him.

Strange that every journalist and rugby expert says the opposite in that point over both games. I not saying I disagree 100% with this just stating.

And Snoop I was just wondering had McFadden any experience but if he doesn't then Wallave it is. I think (and it strange to say this ) Trimble is taking Luke Fitz's ticket to NZ away on current form and really pushing to replace Earls on the wing.
Thankfully we seem to have 2 10's in good form and a few of our big players seem to be up for battle.

Seeing Buckley coming on at loosehead gave me the shivers. I had a flashback to the H Cup in 08 and Gloucester vs Munster. Buckley started there and was a disaster so Freddie (with no warm up and 3 burgers before the game) had to get gear and come straight in to the action and did a superb job.

Felix Jones I think deserves a spot in the 30 but won't be selected and as I said earlier the same can be said for Murray.
But again Kidney will be happy to a certain extent because he is learning.

Heard too that a few players are set to be cut from squad in next day or 2 so will be interesting to see who.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Strange that every journalist and rugby expert says the opposite in that point over both games. I not saying I disagree 100% with this just stating.

Our breakdown work has been poor in both games, as has been our lineout work. Ryan is a common factor. I hav en't seen him turn ball over, carry particularly well or have much of a say at the lineout. Not good enough imo.

 

[Irishflanker]

Our breakdown work has been poor in both games, as has been our lineout work. Ryan is a common factor. I hav en't seen him turn ball over, carry particularly well or have much of a say at the lineout. Not good enough imo.

He has certainly put himself about better than Cullen, who I rate btw. The lineout wasn't functioning for a few reasons such as poor throwing and questionable calls. Never would have thought Ryan was of good international standard myself, but he has probably given the selectors a lot to mull over.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I was away the 9 days and missed both matches. Has the standard of play been promising and are looking like they could peak at the WC?
Also what has the centre partnership been like? Who was better McFadden or Earls?*

Thanks for any answers.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Watched the game, found it really boring.

 

[monkeypigeon]

Watched the game, found it really boring.

That was probably because it was for the most part really boring.

 

[Ulster]

Why are people saying Earls played well yesterday? He was terrible! He can't attack from 13, he can't pass, and he has bad hands. Before buckley came on he was by far and away Ireland's worst player!

Pluses - Trimble, Kearney, the scrum, O'Connell.

Negatives - Lineouts, general play in the 1st half, Earls at 13, D.Ryan, Cullen, Buckley.

I'm glad we're finding these things out now, Deccie will have a much clearer notion of his starting XV after these first 2 matches. Here's my team for the last warm up...
#1 Healy
#2 Best
#3 Ross
#4 O'Callaghan
#5 O'Connell
#6 O'Brien
#7 Wallace
#8 Heaslip
#9 Reddan
#10 Sexton
#11 Trimble
#12 D'Arcy
#13 O'Driscoll
#14 Bowe
#15 Kearney
Res. Flannery, Court, Cullen, Ferris, Murray, O'Gara, McFadden

 

[munstermuffin]

Why are people saying Earls played well yesterday? He was terrible! He can't attack from 13, he can't pass, and he has bad hands. Before buckley came on he was by far and away Ireland's worst player!

Pluses - Trimble, Kearney, the scrum, O'Connell.

Negatives - Lineouts, general play in the 1st half, Earls at 13, D.Ryan, Cullen, Buckley.

I'm glad we're finding these things out now, Deccie will have a much clearer notion of his starting XV after these first 2 matches. Here's my team for the last warm up...
#1 Healy
#2 Best
#3 Ross
#4 O'Callaghan
#5 O'Connell
#6 O'Brien
#7 Wallace
#8 Heaslip
#9 Reddan
#10 Sexton
#11 Trimble
#12 D'Arcy
#13 O'Driscoll
#14 Bowe
#15 Kearney
Res. Flannery, Court, Cullen, Ferris, Murray, O'Gara, McFadden

If Best starts ahead of Flannery then we are in a bad way, and well Ferris is like D'Arcy - a massive doubt for the World Cup so unlikely they will feature next week.

What we need for last game before offical squad is announced next Monday.
- A Win
- O'Driscoll to get time at 13
- Earls deserves a chance in his best position on the wing. Trimble has played 2 games on wing and done well so rest him as I think he has booked his ticket
- Flannery needs to start and get 60mins
- We need to link our best backrow and half back combos and give the guys who will be playing together time to play there.
- We need to test another 15 (Jones or Murphy) because we need options there.