Ireland v Argentina

[Bullitt]

It's not that, we're all just hoping Ireland progress so you get bored of rugby for another 4 years and f*** off.

 

[eze76]

pumas 53 - ireland 3

 

[Tarasque]

Ireland 53 Pumas 3 B)

 

[shazbooger]

Currently i'm almost celebrating if a player catches a ball and runs a little! [/b]

Yeah I found myself doing that aswell. Leamy took a clean restart and I was up off my chair applauding him ............. before looking at my wife and saying "Jees were f***ed".

 

[nzpunker79]

ooo right

 

[brianlavery90]

I think Ireland can do but whether or not they will is a different story

 

[stormmaster1]

I think Ireland can do but whether or not they will is a different story [/b]

No indication of it actually happening. Problem for O'Sullivan is that one of the strengths that built the team was selection consistency. He knew the best half back combination and the best centre combos, he knew his favourite locks and front row, all well before the world cup. He made sure they got enough game time so the team should know each other inside out, rather than blooding any second choice players. Of course now all Irelands best players aren't playing as well as they normally do and he has no contingency plan.

 

[mirlos]

Ive read that O´Sullivan decides whether the players of the National Team could play for their teams or not, is that right? And did he decide O´Driscoll, because of a small injury, not to play lots of games for Leinster this year, so he got to this RWC with few games on his back? And i understand this happened with many other players. If this information is true, it could be one of the reasons of Ireland playing they way they did till now, dont you think?

 

[boydy]

In order to do it Ireland need a dramatic change... I'm just crossing my fingers.

 

[nam97]

I can't see why EOS is persisting with a below par Easterby at no. 6. He hasn't been at his best, and in saying that I would like to see Neil Best start. That would make for a more punishing back row along with Leamy and Wallace, perfect for combating the confrontational Argie forwards.

I would like see Ireland pull it off, only because it probably guarantees an easier 1/4 final for us. On the other hand it would be great to see the Pumas make it to the semis as they would have a cake walk against the Scots or Italians in the 1/4's.

 

[mimic]

I hope Ireland win, but not get a bonus point, as well as denying Argentina a bonus point.

That way we can see the All Blacks play Argentina in the QFs

 

[An Tarbh]

Ireland's cause won't be helped by what has happened to Simon Best, not sure whether Rory Best will have any involvement either cause all his family seem to coming over to France so it does look to be quite serious. It certainly puts a game of rugby into perspective though.

 

[charlievolano]

I am the only one who thinks that simply the other teams are now reading ireland tactical approach very easily and that the team should have changed somehow its gameplan?????

Plus i think the team was overrated over the 6th nations. With england doing **** for 4 years, france being very moody and scotland and wales having some good/very bad years alternatevely, the irish consistency suggested they were stronger that what they actually are.

 

[An Tarbh]

No it didn't really but one area that Eddie has refused to change was the lineouts which is what teams are now reading much easier than they have done previously, plus Eddie has got rid of O'Kelly who is a far superior lineout operator than Donncha.

Getting back to more serious matters though, it does look like Best has had a mini-stroke despite the fact that Eddie O'Sullivan won't speculate to the contrary, all the symptoms suggest it.

 

[shtove]

I am the only one who thinks that simply the other teams are now reading ireland tactical approach very easily and that the team should have changed somehow its gameplan?????

Plus i think the team was overrated over the 6th nations. With england doing **** for 4 years, france being very moody and scotland and wales having some good/very bad years alternatevely, the irish consistency suggested they were stronger that what they actually are. [/b]

They're a very experienced team, at the height of their athletic power, so if changes are needed on the field they should be capable. I think it's down to ROG being limited in his options: slow ball from the pack + midfield defences rushing up to cut out the D'Arcy/BOD threat.

Ireland weren't overrated - they should have taken the Grand Slam, and they put three SH teams to the sword last November. Argentina point to their record against France, and everyone thinks the ABs were powering for world dominance in 2006 - so it's fair to say that Ireland's record over the last 10 months showed their RWC preparations coming to the boil.

And it's all gone a bit cool - a mystery, that's what it is.

Anyway, it's not over yet.

Seems Best has no brain problems, so it mightn't be so serious - but he's definitely heading home.

 

[el_tk]

Ive read that O´Sullivan decides whether the players of the National Team could play for their teams or not, is that right? And did he decide O´Driscoll, because of a small injury, not to play lots of games for Leinster this year, so he got to this RWC with few games on his back? And i understand this happened with many other players. If this information is true, it could be one of the reasons of Ireland playing they way they did till now, dont you think? [/b]

Yeah EOS can pull the Irish based players from their teams if he wants to and it is something that occasionally happens to the Irish team (noticeably 2005 Autumn internationals) where they look over-trained and under-played, like now.

I think a large part of Ireland's problems are coming from the underperforming back row. This contributes hugely to the problematic breakdown area which leads to the slow ball which cause ROG problems and starves the backline and the backrow's poor performance mean they probably aren't giving ROG as much protection as he usually gets.

 

[lado]

There are so many things that must happen in order for Ireland to qualify.

Ireland should win with a bonus point (4 tries against the team that has not allowed any so far).
They should deny Argentina a bonus point (win with +7).
France should loose to Georgia.

First lets agree that France loosing a game is not likely, so they have at least 14 points.
Even if Argentina looses, but gets a bonus point Ireland is out (They will be tied with France to whom they lost).
If Argentina looses without getting a bonus point and France wins with 4 points then 3 teams are tied. They will have one won and one lost games between each other, so point difference decides and there is no way Ireland is gonna have a better point difference then any of the other two.

So there are only two options
1) Frances looses (unlikely) && Ireland wins no matter how.
2) France wins with a bonus point && Ireland wins with a bonus point && Argentina doesn't get a bonus point (all three must happen).

I like Ireland guys, but I guess you 'll have to wait till 2011.

 

[nam97]

I hope Ireland win, but not get a bonus point, as well as denying Argentina a bonus point.

That way we can see the All Blacks play Argentina in the QFs
[/b]

Now that would be good. I just really want to see a France - NZ final so anything which pans out in the right order to set up such a final I don't care.

 

[mirlos]

Yeah EOS can pull the Irish based players from their teams if he wants to and it is something that occasionally happens to the Irish team (noticeably 2005 Autumn internationals) where they look over-trained and under-played, like now.

[/b]

Wow, I dont think that a coach with so much power is good for a National Team.

 

[Ripper]

<div class='quotemain'> I am the only one who thinks that simply the other teams are now reading ireland tactical approach very easily and that the team should have changed somehow its gameplan?????

Plus i think the team was overrated over the 6th nations. With england doing **** for 4 years, france being very moody and scotland and wales having some good/very bad years alternatevely, the irish consistency suggested they were stronger that what they actually are. [/b]

They're a very experienced team, at the height of their athletic power, so if changes are needed on the field they should be capable. I think it's down to ROG being limited in his options: slow ball from the pack + midfield defences rushing up to cut out the D'Arcy/BOD threat.

Ireland weren't overrated - they should have taken the Grand Slam, and they put three SH teams to the sword last November. Argentina point to their record against France, and everyone thinks the ABs were powering for world dominance in 2006 - so it's fair to say that Ireland's record over the last 10 months showed their RWC preparations coming to the boil.
[/b][/quote]



Ireland were very overated - overnight they suddenly became the form team in the North just because they got lucky with the schedule - if it was the Irish who got to play the All Blacks on the November Tours last year instead of the French, no one would be talking about the Irish as they would've been roasted as badly, if not worse than the French were at Lyon that one fateful night.



Ireland haven't beaten the French since before the 2003 Rugby World Cup - And yet they were rated the best team in the North? They bumbled there way past Scotland by a solitary point and struggled to beat Wales by Double Digits, before losing to France for what... the 6th straight time, and they are now the best team in the North?