Ireland v Samoa

[munstermuffin]

What a disgrace of a bench.
Best - Shouldn't be on the bench as Varley is in so much better form and deserved the call.
Healy - Is getting time and well we all know it'll be John Hayes that won't last 80 so let Ross in instead of shifting Court.
Ryan - I can accept this although if Cullen needs time why not include him.
Ferris - We all know what he can do and with alot more options on fringes why not give them a chance.
Boss and Sexton - The correct call here as Sexton will benefit from getting back ASAP
Earls - WTF, Should be starting and getting game time, Johne Murphy deserves a spot in 22 also.

Overall I just think, while we will win, we wont get the correct benefits out of it

 

[Peat]

What a disgrace of a bench.
Best - Shouldn't be on the bench as Varley is in so much better form and deserved the call.
Healy - Is getting time and well we all know it'll be John Hayes that won't last 80 so let Ross in instead of shifting Court.
Ryan - I can accept this although if Cullen needs time why not include him.
Ferris - We all know what he can do and with alot more options on fringes why not give them a chance.
Boss and Sexton - The correct call here as Sexton will benefit from getting back ASAP
Earls - WTF, Should be starting and getting game time, Johne Murphy deserves a spot in 22 also.

Overall I just think, while we will win, we wont get the correct benefits out of it

I agree with everything you say except to ask which of Mike Ross and John Hayes you'd expect to cover loosehead if Tom Court got injured.

 

[munstermuffin]

True but that where management should be aware or even start Ross like we don't seem to be making the decisons that need to be made.

 

[lynam1104]

Just watched highlights from the Aus game in June Burgess try was pretty much the same as Smiths try last weekend seems that some players just can't think when something goes slightly out of line, there was no real pursuer in either.

 

[gingergenius]

Samoa: P Williams; D Lemi, G Pisi, Mapusua, A Tuilagi; T Lavea, K Fotualii; S Taulafo, M Schwalger (capt), A Perenise, F Lavea Levi, K Thompsen, O Trevarinus, M Salavea, G Stowers. Replacements: T Paulo, S Lemalu, I Tekori, A Aiono, J Poluleuligaga, G Williams, J Helleur.



That's a very strong looking side... there are quality players all through that XV. As is always the case, they'll struggle because they'll have had no time together. Ireland should win, but if these Samoans play as a team and get passionate and stay disciplined, they're good enough to nick it.




Ireland by 10.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I'm going to go with Samoa by <5

I'm interested to see who'll be doing the kicking for Samoa, P Williams has been knocking them over from past the halfway line for Sale, and has a high success rate

 

[Peat]

Just watched highlights from the Aus game in June Burgess try was pretty much the same as Smiths try last weekend seems that some players just can't think when something goes slightly out of line, there was no real pursuer in either.

I must have been dreaming Kearney haring back from his attacking position and nearly stopping Smith then?

Although that one has got me thinking. If Kearney was as fast as Earls or Jones, he'd have made that. If Reddan was as fast as TOL, he'd have stopped that. The fastest guy in that Ireland back line on Saturday was Bowe and he is not gas gas gas... its a slow back-line in general that and I think it costs Ireland. Happily a lot of the young generation do have wheels.

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

I'm going to have a stab at the margin (with this here knife) and I'll say that Ireland will win this about 25-15.

Sadly, I can see it being a rather dirty 3 tries to 2 affair, with Samoa catching them off-guard and cunningly sneaking it in through Ireland's backline to put them in an uncomfortable position for a while, until Ireland themselves start pumping forward, finally getting some of that famous Irish penetration. They'll be coming hard at Samoa make no mistake, until they eventually make a mess through the middle of their defence and leave them with absolutely nowhere to hide. At the end of the day Ireland will be on top of a very humbled Samoan outfit. It'll be that torrid.

Frankly I'm not sure I want to see it anymore, to be honest.

 

[munstermuffin]

Peat I agree with you but we gotta get young guns playing. Earls is been wasted on the bench and well 1 thing I will say is we do put YOL down occasionally but he is probably 1 of our best backs defensively and consistent in that area of his game

 

[lynam1104]

Peat i apologize i meant pressure nor pursuer Kearny did well to get as close as he did. On Redden he is pretty slow Heslip got there at the same time as him. After watching the try aging there was pressure but not a huge amount Redden just threw the ball into Smiths hand's he should have gone into contact, I'm not trying to sound childish but that's what TOL would have done.

Anyway on Samo, I think Ireland will win but if we don't take them seriously we could lose it they have a very strong side i was expecting a weaker side then what has been put out. I'm going to say it again Sexton and Stringer need to play as it could be lethal. I don't now if they will i think DK might try and keep the Leinster and the Munster Halfbacks together witch would be stupid i hope it doesn't happen. Ireland to win by 8+

 

[durbutter]

Peat i apologize i meant pressure nor pursuer Kearny did well to get as close as he did. On Redden he is pretty slow Heslip got there at the same time as him. After watching the try aging there was pressure but not a huge amount Redden just threw the ball into Smiths hand's he should have gone into contact, I'm not trying to sound childish but that's what TOL would have done.

Exactly. Tomas (and Boss) loves the physical stuff and is always taking the ball on against forwards, making breaks etc. Stringer has an accurate zippy pass.

What does Reddan have?

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Reddan's a halfway house between the other scrum halves. He likes to speed up the game with quick taps but lacks physical presence. He's a decent passer but it's not as fast as Stringer's and he struggles behind beaten packs. Reddan is okay, as is Boss but neither sill set the world alight. Their differing style work well for Leinster since there's always an option to change the game.

 

[Peat]

With you now Lynam, agree the right option was to accept the busted flush and take it in.

munstermuffin, your post confused me - the gas men I refer to are the younger guys. Granted they're not ready, but the likes of Spence, Conway, Zebo and O'Halloran have real speed. In the current Ireland squad I'd argue there's only Earls and Trimble... TOL's injured, Felix Jones keeps getting injured and Fionn Carr ran over Kidney's dog.

 

[coonor]

I have always thought people don't give O'leary enough credit. He keeps the defence guessing with the way he can bring the ball right up to the opposition before passing it. His box kicks are very good most of the time. He controls the game well and he is very good in defence. His down side is that his pass can be inaccurate under pressure but many other international scrum halves are the same.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

He keeps the defence guessing

He keeps his teammates guessing too. O'Leary is the best of a decidedly average bunch of Irish 9s.

 

[Peat]

He keeps his teammates guessing too. O'Leary is the best of a decidedly average bunch of Irish 9s.

An inability to produce scrum-halves seems to be an Irish thing.

 

[Darwin]

I'm going to go with Samoa by <5

I'm interested to see who'll be doing the kicking for Samoa, P Williams has been knocking them over from past the halfway line for Sale, and has a high success rate

I'm sure Paul Williams will be kicking as he's the only established goal-kicker in the starting XV (as far as I'm aware) - Gavin Williams is often the main goal-kicker for Samoa, but Paul has taken his spot...

That's a very strong looking side... there are quality players all through that XV. As is always the case, they'll struggle because they'll have had no time together. Ireland should win, but if these Samoans play as a team and get passionate and stay disciplined, they're good enough to nick it.
Ireland by 10.

I agree entirely with this assessment - the Samoan team is full of quality individuals, however the majority of them have played very little rugby together. If they could keep their team together for 6-7 games it could evolve into a very dangerous team, but at this stage they may be relying on the individual brilliance of the players involved rather than team play. It is hard to read how this game will go - it wouldn't surprise me is Samoa pulled off the upset, however I'm going to predict Ireland will win by 15 points.

 

[durbutter]

An inability to produce scrum-halves seems to be an Irish thing.

Nonsense. We have one of the best technical SH in the world in Stringer, and have several young lads coming through ( Williams and Murry). Also surely that up to last year all had Irish Sh indiacets that there are some decent 9's out there.

Can't wait to see Strings as a coach.

BTW How do people feel about giving Cranky Frankie a run at nine to see what he can do? On form he really is good.

 

[Sam Owen]

I'm going to go with Samoa by <5

Thank you, were gonna need all the support we can get. The Manu will receive it in spirit.

 

[Peat]

Nonsense. We have one of the best technical SH in the world in Stringer, and have several young lads coming through ( Williams and Murry). Also surely that up to last year all had Irish Sh indiacets that there are some decent 9's out there.

Can't wait to see Strings as a coach.

BTW How do people feel about giving Cranky Frankie a run at nine to see what he can do? On form he really is good.

Stringer's got good delivery, but he's no runner. And after him - plenty of runners, but inconsistent delivery. O'Leary's the only one anything near special. And pre-Stringer? I only ever really thought of this because Irish rugby fans I know pointed it out to me, but the quality of Irish scrum-halves has rarely been all that. And its certainly not at the moment. There's some good ML players floating around, but good internationals? Snoopy was on the mark with decidedly average.