RBS 6 Nations - Ireland vs Italy - 25/02/2012, 13:30

[coonor]

I think it comes back to your game plan, you need to play a style that fits your team. Against Wales we knew their main threat against us would be in the backs and they manage to attack effectively even with slow ball because of there strength. We attacked the rucks way to much, and although we slowed the ball down we were left defensively weak out wide. I always think players should attack the tackle not the ruck but instead we just piled in players even though the ball was lost. D'arcy and McFadden are competent tacklers but the key to beating Wales was flooring their players quickly instead if tackling them high and trying to wrestle them.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Ah here lad...That's how you pull a bird at a junior cert disco..

Sorry I get mixed up sometimes. I am famous for complimenting girls on their rugby knowledge.

 

[Feicarsinn]

But in fairness Ireland don't have that big physical centre like Nonu (NZ) Roberts (Wales) Tuilagi (Eng) the French have a few and well Downey is probably th closest but not sure is he international class

Ageed. Downey isn't international class.Similar situation with Brendan Macken. But the bottom line is that you don't need big centres. They're handy if you want to play the game in a certain way, but you can get around it easily enough. We have lots of impressive carriers in the back row so the need for a chunky centre is diminished. Therefore we should look to have guys with either serious gas, excellent footwork or top notch distribution. And of course they must be up to it defensively. To me none of Earls, McFadden or D'arcy meet these criteria. Therefore they're only stop gap measures. I think our best prospects at centre are Fitzgerald, Cave, O'Malley and JJ Hanrahan. O'Malley needs to bulk up a bit and Hanrahan needs to get himself into the Munster starting team. The other two are prime candidates and should be paired together in one of the tour games this summer at the very least.

 

[big ginger 8]

Sorry I get mixed up sometimes. I am famous for complimenting girls on their rugby knowledge.

Not really though. You're not allowed artistic license.

 

[munstermuffin]

Well in fairness for our kicking game all we need is a few Usain Bolts

We have good players just don't play right game. Sextons not a kicking 10, his gam is a running game. Earls Bowe and Trimble can easily adapt to that and perform but noone performs to constant kicking. Yes there is times we need to kick but not all the time.

 

[coonor]

I like a distributor as 12 and either big player or quick/sparky player at 13.

I personally think our best long term prospects are in Hanrahan, Griffin, Farrell but I think Cave and Spence have potential but will need to show they are competent and consistent at international level, and personally I don't think that will be the case. As Feic said we basically are just having to fill these positions with the players on best form untill the younger prospects are ready. I am happy to play BOD untill another option becomes more viable but the problem is with 12, D'arcy has been well below par for along time we need to be looking for another option. In my opinion McFadden should be given time at 12 and Cave deserves an opportunity at 13. I don't like moving players but Fitz may be a good option at centre and I would to see if he would work well there.

 

[bushytop]

Is Kidney asked about this by the Irish media (as well as the whole unbalanced back row)... because as an outsider looking in he seems oblivious to these two failings within his team?

 

[Feicarsinn]

Is Kidney asked about this by the Irish media (as well as the whole unbalanced back row)... because as an outsider looking in he seems oblivious to these two failings within his team?

Not really, no. The problem is that Ireland's foremost rugby journalist, Gerry Thornely, absolutely loves Kidney and is incredibly reluctant to criticize him or the players. A shame too, because he used to be a very good writer. Most of the others are either one-eyed or incompetent.

 

[bushytop]

Explains a lot.

 

[Dicey]

I think it comes back to your game plan, you need to play a style that fits your team. Against Wales we knew their main threat against us would be in the backs and they manage to attack effectively even with slow ball because of there strength. We attacked the rucks way to much, and although we slowed the ball down we were left defensively weak out wide. I always think players should attack the tackle not the ruck but instead we just piled in players even though the ball was lost. D'arcy and McFadden are competent tacklers but the key to beating Wales was flooring their players quickly instead if tackling them high and trying to wrestle them.

I have watched the Ireland and Wales game on 3 occasions now and I would say you kicked possession away on a few too many occasions and your back line was exposed in the absence of ODriscoll.
I have just come back from Ireland and was made very welcome. I will be cheering you guys on against Italy

 

[coonor]

Is Kidney asked about this by the Irish media (as well as the whole unbalanced back row)... because as an outsider looking in he seems oblivious to these two failings within his team?

Kidney is also very slipery when it comes to media events. He basically structures his answers to every question in the same way. On team selection he always says it was a close call and on this occassion ......... is given the opportunity.

He also always says how well players who have been controversally selected have been training. I might be reading to much into this but in my opion this is because he knows that very few people see training and therefore can not argue the point with him =.

 

[Peat]

That was some of the fruitiest rugby chat I've ever seen.

So, how long do you think it'll be before Kidney recalls David Wallace, now that he's fit and training again?

 

[Luimneach18]

That was some of the fruitiest rugby chat I've ever seen.

So, how long do you think it'll be before Kidney recalls David Wallace, now that he's fit and training again?

I Highly doubt that trust me, the backrow isn't going to change unless injuries to SOB Ferris and Heaslip.

 

[big ginger 8]

We can't lose we've got the Carlow sportsperson of the year on our team.

Tommy Bowe's birthday today as well. How much do you bet the commentators bring it up?

 

[lynam1104]

Based on the team I hope Italy win.

 

[Me 1]

Italy team-
Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Giovanbattista Venditti, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Luke McLean, 10 Tobias Botes, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (captain), 7 Robert Barbieri, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Michele Rizzo.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D'Apice, 17 Fabio Staibano, 18 Antonio Pavanello, 19 Simone Favaro, 20 Fabio Semenzato, 21 Kristopher Burton, 22 Gonzalo Canale

 

[LittleGuy]

I really don't like Botes in for Burton, Italian team nose dived when he entered the England game, and he couldn't have been more awful in his kicks at goal.

 

[Draggs]

Yeah, as poor as Burton is, at least he can kick.
It's a pretty handy Italian backline, save for the halfbacks.

 

[bushytop]

I really don't like Botes in for Burton, Italian team nose dived when he entered the England game, and he couldn't have been more awful in his kicks at goal.

Both are absolute pants... I never saw Burton pass the ball once against England, just kick possession away... luckily for Italy, England were following yhe same gameplan.

Italy have a decent backline so whoever plays at pivot should just give them some ball.

 

[big ginger 8]

Anyone else hear McLean and Canale calling Ireland the best in the world at slowing down ball without being penalised? Thoughts?