Ireland v England

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dullonien @ Mar 1 2009, 12:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

England blew a golden opportunity to upset the odds and derail Irelands Grand Slam hopes in this match. They were the better team.

There's not much more to say really, England gave this game away, they should have scored anyother try (Tait you idiot), and not being down to 14 for 20mins would have helped!

I can't see Ireland winning the slam, because I can't see them beating Wales in Cardiff! They were terrible yesterday, the pressure destroyed everyone but O'Driscoll. O'Gara would have been more usefull sitting on the centre spot, how's he gonna cope in the Grand Slam match at the Millenium?

Basically, Wales have been a better team that Ireland, just that we were beaten by a French team who turned up! So Ireland are still favourites for the championship (obviously), but no grand slam I'm afraid, just haven't got the bottle![/b]

In no way, shape or form were England the better team. Ireland were well below par yet thoroughly controlled proceedings. Had O'Gara brought his kicking boots (all his misses were easily within range), it would have been a 12 point victory; perhaps even 19 points if Ireland didn't switch off towards the end.

A positive aspect of the win is that there's plenty of room for improvement. Only 3 or 4 players played to their potential. If Ireland can improve by even 5% on yesterday's game they'll blow Scotland away.

Wales hold no fear either. Last season Ireland were dire yet a Grand Slam winning Welsh team only beat us by 4 or 5 points. They aren't better than Ireland. I'm 27 and can remember the 1990s when Ireland were rubbish. There was always one game which you'd consider close to a "gimme" year on year - the clash with Wales (I'm guessing Wales felt the same about Ireland mind you!). Most of the Ireland players are roughly the same age as me and I'm sure they'll hold no fear for the same reason as I wouldn't fear Wales. The provinces regularly win in Wales. The national team have only lost in Cardiff once in their last six visits (since the game went professional). Stop the Welsh centres and you stop the Welsh team. I'm confident we will. The Irish team is good enough to win a slam. It's time to live up to the hype and go achieve it.

 

[JohnBE]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dullonien @ Mar 1 2009, 12:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

England blew a golden opportunity to upset the odds and derail Irelands Grand Slam hopes in this match. They were the better team.

There's not much more to say really, England gave this game away, they should have scored anyother try (Tait you idiot), and not being down to 14 for 20mins would have helped!

I can't see Ireland winning the slam, because I can't see them beating Wales in Cardiff! They were terrible yesterday, the pressure destroyed everyone but O'Driscoll. O'Gara would have been more usefull sitting on the centre spot, how's he gonna cope in the Grand Slam match at the Millenium?

Basically, Wales have been a better team that Ireland, just that we were beaten by a French team who turned up! So Ireland are still favourites for the championship (obviously), but no grand slam I'm afraid, just haven't got the bottle![/b]

ahh what are you on about. Ireland were the better team ..


were you watching the game?.. O'Connell was unreal as always

infact by winning this game it shows ireland do have the bottle..

I don't mind constructive criticism and analysis but you are speaking through your arse

 

[dullonien]

lol, at the reactions.

Ireland were within Tait looking to his left of loosing that match. Englands backline was functioning better than Irelands (that's gotta be worrying) and ireland only managed to win by 1 point even though England were down to 14 for 20min! I know O'Gara missed his kicks, but he has done all championship, so what? Fine O'Driscoll and O'Connell were good, the rest of the pack was average and the rest of the backline were poor.

On that performance, and the one v Italy + the first half of the France game, I'm pretty confident Wales will beat Ireland in Cardiff, if that's enough to win the championship depents on the next round of fixtures.

Also, yes Ireland beat a French team playing well, but France were on another level v us and we were still within a last ditch tackle and Henson not passing of winning the game!

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dullonien @ Mar 1 2009, 02:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Also, yes Ireland beat a French team playing well, but France were on another level v us and we were still within a last ditch tackle and Henson not passing of winning the game![/b]

Of course you're going to think that France played well; Wales lost despite the hype which follows them so talk up the opposition! France started without a recognised 10. They started without a recognised goalkicker. They had about half a dozen starters who played just 5 days previously in the Top 14. They continued with an out of form captain and partnered him with a backrow! They gave a first cap to a 20 year old who has no vision other than bashing it up the middle.

Wales should have beaten that French side if Wales were as good as hype leads us to believe. They didn't. Wales should have demolished England. They didn't. Wales should have put Scotland to the sword after they racked up a score in the first half in Murryfield. They didn't. Wales aren't clinical enough and they'll pay for it. Ireland will do a job on them. Again.

 

[gingergenius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (snoopy snoopy dog dog @ Mar 1 2009, 02:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dullonien @ Mar 1 2009, 02:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Also, yes Ireland beat a French team playing well, but France were on another level v us and we were still within a last ditch tackle and Henson not passing of winning the game![/b]

Of course you're going to think that France played well; Wales lost despite the hype which follows them so talk up the opposition! France started without a recognised 10. They started without a recognised goalkicker. They had about half a dozen starters who played just 5 days previously in the Top 14. They continued with an out of form captain and partnered him with a backrow! They gave a first cap to a 20 year old who has no vision other than bashing it up the middle.

Wales should have beaten that French side if Wales were as good as hype leads us to believe. They didn't. Wales should have demolished England. They didn't. Wales should have put Scotland to the sword after they racked up a score in the first half in Murryfield. They didn't. Wales aren't clinical enough and they'll pay for it. Ireland will do a job on them. Again.
[/b][/quote]

Looking forward to the final week's banter definately.

I'm not saying Ireland have no chance against Wales, but I don't know how you lot can look at yesterday and think you'll beat Wales in Cardiff! Ireland were awful. Aside from the bit about England being the better team, Dullonien was right, especially about O'Gara.

Don't just count the 9 points O'Gara missed from the tee. Count the times when Ireland had easily kickable penalties and couldn't, because they have no backup goalkickers in the side, and cannot rely on a guy with 90some caps. O'Driscoll was even going into the pockets for the dropgoals.

Face facts, England, yes England, looked infinitely more threatening with the ball in hand. We scored a good try, should have had another cracker and created numerous overlaps. Ireland burrowed over for 1 try against 14 men and hardly got close for the rest of the game except the O'Leary kick which was a shot to nothing.

Ireland are of course a better team than England. But it perhaps highlights the weakness of the 6N that there are no sides who are unbeatable, and really England threw the game last night. If we weren't so indisciplined, O'Gara would never have had penalties to miss, and we could have defended the try easier. If we were more clinical we would have put you to the sword and run in a few more tries.

If Ireland play like they did against France, they'll be in for a tight game. But Wales are undoubtedly a better side and with home advantage they should certainly win.

 

[durbutter]

I dont think Ireland will beat Wales. But having said that Wales are not nearly as good as they think they are, and if the Welsh fans believe they are in a different class, that'll just put pressure on their team. If the hype is kept under control, odds sould be 4/1 for an irish slam.

 

[JohnBE]

I think ireland played better than england in that match and deserved the win


and also it looks really petty when english fans come on and complain about their loosing.. it's the most annoying thing



I think Wales in Cardiff will be a very very tough match.. and it'll be a Jones/O'Gara battle


whoever wins that, will win the game

 

[dullonien]

Ok, maybe England weren't the best team, but it's like arguing which is best - being kicked in the nuts or kneed in the nuts! Both teams were pretty awefull, and imo Ireland looked even worse than England due to the points Ginger has already pointed out.

No I don't think Wales are on another level, but don't expect me to be worried of an Ireland team playing like they did v Italy or England.

 

[An Tarbh]

Good lord in a game where defences dominated England only created a chance when we had the game won. If Ireland's defence is as good in Cardiff as it was yesterday then it's gonna be extremely difficult for Wales to break us down.

Yes O'Gara had a shocker with the place kicks but he's got enough character to bounce back from that, could be costly if Wales or Scotland think they can afford to give away penalties against us.

As for England being the better team yesterday don't make we laugh, we controlled that game from start to finish. England offered nothing in attack until the last 5 minutes. Ireland's pack was superb, not a poor performance from 1-8. O'Leary is still finding his feet at international level, bare in mind this is his first 6 Nations. Wallace in defence was a nice bonus and the back 3 certainly outclassed their opponents.

In what single facet of play were England on top, bar the penalty count?

 

[Sir Speedy]

Balls, posted this by accident.
I'll use this extra post to say IRELAND SUXXORS LOLOLOLOL.

 

[feicarsinn]

well according to rte last night rog missed 17 points, all of which were fairly kickable. add that to the equation and im quite happy we won. sure it was a bad performance but hey we've beaten england and france, our traditional stumbling blocks. while it is worrying how bad rog was the other day i doubt he'll be that bad in two weeks, personally i would have had paddy wallace take over kicking duties in the second half. still no complaints, a backline will never function with a **** poor 10, lets just hope that deccie has the sence to bring humphreys or sexton with him to scotland

 

[Sir Speedy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Mar 1 2009, 03:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

In what single facet of play were England on top, bar the penalty count?[/b]

Tell me why then, with such a startling amount of dominance, you only won by a point? If Tait wasn't an ignorant tosser you'd have been in deep ****. Simple really.

As for the final match, neither side will be fearing each other to be honest. It'll be cracking. And ROG hasn't put in a string of consistently good performances for Ireland since the '07 6N, so I don't see why he would suddenly turn up in Cardiff and destroy us... Stephen Jones recently has been a far better player, and if the winner of that game depends on the performances of the flyhalf, then Wales should surely be favourites (referring to JohnBE's post).

 

[feicarsinn]

no doubt wales are better at 10 but the game would most likely be won in the centres. im happy with wallace's defence after yesterday and well, we have brian :yahoo:

 

[JohnBE]

he didn't miss that many

thing is Jones has had a few terrible kicking games in the last while too




O'Gara played quite well apart from the goal kicking I thought, that really let him down.


but lets not get too worked up, wales have to beat italy first!

 

[durbutter]

Naw, Jones is miles ahead of O'Gara at the moment.

 

[dullonien]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JohnBE @ Mar 1 2009, 04:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

O'Gara played quite well apart from the goal kicking I thought, that really let him down.[/b]

lol, all that needs to be said really.

Originally posted by 'feicarsinn[b
']no doubt wales are better at 10 but the game would most likely be won in the centres. im happy with wallace's defence after yesterday and well, we have brian :yahoo:[/b]

Yeh ok O'Driscoll is looking good again, but Shanks was superb v France and Roberts and Henson aint no slouches. Can't wait .

 

[JohnBE]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (noidsay @ Mar 1 2009, 04:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Naw, Jones is miles ahead of O'Gara at the moment.[/b]

that wasn't in reference to what I said at all!

 

[gingergenius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Mar 1 2009, 03:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Good lord in a game where defences dominated England only created a chance when we had the game won. If Ireland's defence is as good in Cardiff as it was yesterday then it's gonna be extremely difficult for Wales to break us down.

Yes O'Gara had a shocker with the place kicks but he's got enough character to bounce back from that, could be costly if Wales or Scotland think they can afford to give away penalties against us.

As for England being the better team yesterday don't make we laugh, we controlled that game from start to finish. England offered nothing in attack until the last 5 minutes. Ireland's pack was superb, not a poor performance from 1-8. O'Leary is still finding his feet at international level, bare in mind this is his first 6 Nations. Wallace in defence was a nice bonus and the back 3 certainly outclassed their opponents.

In what single facet of play were England on top, bar the penalty count?[/b]

LOL the Irish back 3 did f*** all apart from fitzgerald picking a few nice angles. Not saying our back 3 was spectacular but it def. wasn't an area Ireland were on top... and LOL at O'Gara having character? When was the last time you heard of someone of his experience go completely AWOL in the 2nd half of a huge test match?

in fact, Ireland were better at: 1) discipline 2) turnovers 3) having leaders stand up

Aside from that, the only positive they can take from the game is that they defended well and that they won. They created nothing and in the end struggled to defeat a team determined to shoot itself in the foot. The French game aside, Ireland have looked like a decidedly average team since before RWC 07. Show me some more results/ performances that contradict that and I'll begin to think you lot don't all horribly overrate yourselves.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Mar 1 2009, 04:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Mar 1 2009, 03:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In what single facet of play were England on top, bar the penalty count?[/b]

Tell me why then, with such a startling amount of dominance, you only won by a point? If Tait wasn't an ignorant tosser you'd have been in deep ****. Simple really.

As for the final match, neither side will be fearing each other to be honest. It'll be cracking. And ROG hasn't put in a string of consistently good performances for Ireland since the '07 6N, so I don't see why he would suddenly turn up in Cardiff and destroy us... Stephen Jones recently has been a far better player, and if the winner of that game depends on the performances of the flyhalf, then Wales should surely be favourites (referring to JohnBE's post).
[/b][/quote]

down to England being such cheating ********, not their fault they got away with what they could, but the fact that the ref seemed to have little or no concept of the offside line, that made England's defensive effort all the easier and gave us less space with which to create.

 

[dundeesmiffy]

If I were in charge of handing out citings, I think I'd be a busy man today.

At least 3 would receive cautions (at least) for blocking the chaser after a kick and general foul play...it's like watching 15 Martin Johnsons on the field.