Ireland v Argentina

[ckell]

:lol:



:lol: ... well I guess I got what I deserved huh ... Not the prettiest of matches, but well done Ireland for a comprehensive win - I really thought the Pumas would go a lot better than that, but I guess I was influenced by their game against France (and look how well they went against Australia)

hmmmn ... maybe I won't show as much solidarity with the teams from "just down the road" next time

 

[Shaggy]

I know everyone is unhappy with Irelands performance but their game plan worked. We new Argentina would go into the game and try and slow the ball down but they failed to do so. We were clinical and we looked threatning with the ball. Our defence was good and our scrum was dominant, I know the ref was biased but on some occasions we were the more powerful in the scrum. That was our biggest win ever against Argentina and we still have some pivotell players to come back form injury.

Exactly ... A win, is a win, is a win ... like I said, it wasn't pretty, but it was comprehensive

... I'm not sure if a Kiwi such as myself should mention "peaking to early" and "the Rugby World Cup" together , but from Ireland's point of view, you wouldn't want to be playing your best rugby now anyway ... any team that can push Argentina around in the scrums should be happy, and there's better things to come from Ireland IMO

 

[coonor]

officials need to be better come the world cup. No one can referee the scrum, there are to many different interpretations at the breakdown, and the TMO is poor. (how could he not award Earls that try). The referee was very bias today and the problem was the referee stopped the Pumas from playing their tight game based on the set peice and the breakdown but the Argentines didn't have a back up plan. A strong pack but such a boring and flat backline.

 

[munstermuffin]

I agree and we must realize Argentina aren't any pushover and this is a decent platform to build on

 

[gingergenius]

from a neutral's perspective, I'd say the strongest Ireland team is:

15. Fitzgerald
14. Bowe
13. O'Driscoll
12. D'Arcy
11. Earls
10. Sexton
9. Stringer
8. Heaslip
7. O'Brien
6. Ferris
5. O'Connell
4. O'Callaghan
3. Ross
2. Varley
1. pick Leamy and go for uncontested scrums.

 

[lynam1104]

I have to agree with you on all accounts Ginger.

 

[Jockstap]

So what would be everybody's Ireland 22 based on what we've seen in the November tests? Mine is..........

15. Geordan Murphy
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Brian O'Driscoll
12. Gordon D'arcy
11. Keith Earls
10. Jonathan Sexton
9. Peter Stringer

1. Cian Healy
2. Damien Varley
3. Mike Ross
4. Leo Cullen
5. Paul O'Connell
6. Stephen Ferris
7. Sean O'Brien
8. Jamie Heaslip

Subs: Sean Cronin, Tony Buckley, Donncha O'Callaghan, Denis Leamy, Tomas O'Leary, Ronan O'Gara, Luke Fitzgerald

The tight 5 needs to be overhauled. Ireland were bullied up front in every game.

Wow, Cullen and Ross made your 15 even though they didn't feature at all this November, that's just impressive.

Here's mine from the guys that actually played for Ireland this AI

15. Fitzgerald
14. Bowe
13. BOD
12. D'Arcy
11. Earls
10. Sexton
9. Stringer
8. Heaslip
7. O'Brien(Only because Leamy's not a 7)
6. Ferris
5. Toner
4. DOC
3. Court/Buckley(Depends on who we're playing)
2. Cronin(Must work on his darts though)
1. Healy

16. Varley
17. Court/Buckley
18. MOD
19. Leamy
20. Reddan
21. O'Gara
22. Murphy

Hopefully O'Connell comes back sooner rather than later to sort out the Lineout and restarts.

 

[lynam1104]

anyone have highlights?

 

[Conal]

http://www.irishrugby.ie/matchdaytv/play/media/id/6743

the ***le caught my eye
i nearly burst out laughing

 

[durbutter]

http://www.irishrugby.ie/matchdaytv/play/media/id/6743

the ***le caught my eye
i nearly burst out laughing

For serious? against one of the best scrummaging FR in the world, i thought we did quite well.

I'd also like to oint out that Ross was part of a Leinster FR that conceded a penalty try against the O's yesterday.

He improved his scrumming, no doubt, there's not that much between them in the scrum anymore.

 

[Peat]

I agree and we must realize Argentina aren't any pushover and this is a decent platform to build on

Personally, I thought Argentina were a pushover. Once the ref came to the incredibly bizarre conclusion that Argentina should be penalised in the scrum and Contepomi got a touch of the Giteaus, they had absolutely nothing.

Ireland had a good first half and a pointless second one.

If I were to pick an Irish 22 based on current evidence and no injuries...

15. Geordan Murphy
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Brian O'Driscoll
12. Gordon D'Arcy/Paddy Wallace (horses for courses, depends how you want to play)
11. Keith Earls
10. Jonathan Sexton
9. Peter Stringer

8. Jamie Heaslip
7. hmm... uhm... David Wallace, but given Sean O'Brien every chance to take the jersey.
6. Stephen Ferris
5. Paul O'Connell
4. Donnacha O'Callaghan
3. An electro shock machine. Difficult to shove around and can be used to cure backs of any tendency to kick the ball away needlessly. Elsewise, Tom Court.
2. Rory Best. Not bias, but a belief the best scrummaging hooker is needed and certainly doesn't lose out at lineout time to Cronin. Haven't seen enough of Varley to truly judge. Don't think Flannery will be ever truly fit again, hope I'm wrong. Obviously Flannery if available and firing.
1. Cian Healy

16. Cronin/Varley
17. Jamie Hagan
18. Leo Cullen
19. SOB/Wallace
20. Tomas O'Leary
21. Ronan O'Gara
22. Luke Fitzgerald/Andrew Trimble/Fionn Carr (Trimble looked good yesterday and offers something few other Irish players does, Carr's in a league of his own at what he does and deserves a shot and Fitzgerald does whathe does. Horses for courses and form).

 

[lynam1104]

my rish XV would be:
15. Fitiz
14. Bowe
13. BOD
12. D'arcy
11. Erals
10. Sexton
9. Stringer
8. Heslip
7. SOB
6. Ferris
5. POC
4. Cullen
3. Hmmm
2. Cornin
1. Healy

Didn't see the game yesterday do i can't judge on the most recent game. Thats the team i would like to see for the 6N hopefully Deicci only has minor case of Eddie syndrome and he sees whats in front of him.

 

[munstermuffin]

Lads we can predict all we want but facts are (right or wrong) Best/Flannery are our 2 main hookers if fit.
Buckley will always be first choice. Wally will now be 7 for world cup. O'Leary will be back at 9. When fit Kearney will always be at 15 and Luke and Tommy are starting when fit.

Was talking to Keith this morning and he is disappointed at only playing something like 48mins in 4 games. In a way Leinster have got a raw deal as Heaslip will be shattered returning as will D'Arcy and Healy as they've played alot of gametime. Add in they have possibly lost 3 backs for an important H'Cup double header.

But back on Earls subject the impression he is getting is that he's been considered as a13 only and will only be used on wings off bench if needed but while his versatility is a pro for bench it a con for starting which I find unsatisfactory

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Wow, Cullen and Ross made your 15 even though they didn't feature at all this November, that's just impressive.

Yep and so did Paul O'Connell. All three deserve to be in the team.

I'd also like to oint out that Ross was part of a Leinster FR that conceded a penalty try against the O's yesterday.

Indeed. I'd like to further point out that Leinster were down a man in the scrum and the hooker was a converted backrow.

 

[coonor]

Lads we can predict all we want but facts are (right or wrong) Best/Flannery are our 2 main hookers if fit.
Buckley will always be first choice. Wally will now be 7 for world cup. O'Leary will be back at 9. When fit Kearney will always be at 15 and Luke and Tommy are starting when fit.

Was talking to Keith this morning and he is disappointed at only playing something like 48mins in 4 games. In a way Leinster have got a raw deal as Heaslip will be shattered returning as will D'Arcy and Healy as they've played alot of gametime. Add in they have possibly lost 3 backs for an important H'Cup double header.

But back on Earls subject the impression he is getting is that he's been considered as a13 only and will only be used on wings off bench if needed but while his versatility is a pro for bench it a con for starting which I find unsatisfactory

I feel sorry for Earls. He played that little and still managed to have two tries disallowed by the TMO. Can't wait for O'Connell to come back we need him at the restart and lineout. DOC has been poor but hopefully when his buddy returns he will get back to playing well. We have alot of strength in the back row but O'Brien and Leamy are much better than Wallace at the moment. I have to say Ferris and Heaslip have really done well considering their stuck behind a rubbish tight 5. Ferris and Heaslip are both powerful, dynamic and skillful. They are also linking up very well.

 

[munstermuffin]

Darbutter in fairness to that as Snoop has said it was in a weakened scrum and Ross can't be blamed.
Also as Snoop said he has a team based on players in theory that should be fit for 6Nations.
But I really do think we didn't use these AI's intelligently and it could come back to haunt us.
Players like SOB and Earls needed significant gametime against big teams like NZ and SA. Although Earls got time neither got a decent chance. Only thing good for Keith was he had a fine 78 mins for Munster against Aus. But I also think Cronin had to be given a shot and while he got majority of NZ game that wasn't a management decision.
I think Paulie is vital for us as he is 1 of best lineout readers in World Rugby. Leo Cullen is a vital bit of bulk we couldve used in AIs. Also what worried me is we seemed to not pick on form for some reason

 

[Jockstap]

Yep and so did Paul O'Connell. All three deserve to be in the team.

Ah but that's not what you asked, you're right though, about O'Connell and Ross, they deserve to be in there, the jury's still out on Cullen. He's just a less physical and less talented version of O'Connell.

 

[munstermuffin]

In fairness Jockstrap Cullen is a physical presense and I hope to see Johne Murphy continue his form as he can force his way in to I feel

 

[TRF_Olyy]

During the 6N Cullen was top notch, one of the locks of the tournament.
Really think he should've been in the mix, especially with O'Connell out (Ireland almost didn't miss him with Cullen there in the 6N)

 

[coonor]

If Wallace, DOC, Kearney etc don't perform well in the 6 nations Kidney will be under alot of pressure to pick different players and he may crack. I would give O'Callaghan anouther chance and see how he plays at Munster with POC back. Toner has done well to be capped but I rate him 4th in line after POC, DOC and Cullen.

My Player ratings (out of 10):

1) Healy (8)- Did well in the scrum, good ball carrying and defence
2) Cronin (6.5)- Needs to improve his lineout throws but he is one of the most dynamic hookers in world rugby
3) Buckley(6)- Payed the referee exactly the right amount to get the decisions. Jokes aside he did play quite well in the scrum.
4) O'Callaghan(4)- Poor in the lineout and restarts. He needed to organise and take command
5) M. O'Driscoll(5)- poor at the restarts and not great at the lneout. Good workrate though.
6) Ferris(9)- Physical, Dynamic great game
7) Wallace(5.5)- Meh, Didn't do anything wrong but didn't do anything great either. We have better flankers.
8) Heaslip(8)- Good at the breakdown and great spacial awareness.
9) Stringer(7)- Did everything espected from a scrum half and kept up the tempo
10) Sexton(7.5)- perfect spot kicking. Made his tackles created alot in the backs
11) Trimble(7)- Good in the air and at the restart. Run some good lines
12) D'arcy(9)- Created alot in attack. Very phsyical and skillful
13) B O'driscoll(6.5)- Solid in defence and beat players in attack.
14) Bowe(7)- Always looking to create moves. His defence has also improved.
15) Murphy(7)- Better than kearney good at counter attacking.

Replacements

16) Varley(7)- A good impact sub
17) Court(5)- poor game actually worse in the scrum than Buckley
18) Toner(7)-Better than both starting locks
19) Leamy(7)- Always carrying the ball. Gets stuck in.
20) Reddan(6)- solid
21) O'gara(7.5)- I think O'gara makes a great impact sub especially when closing out a game.
22) Earls(7.5)- always looks to attack anouther good impact sub.