RBS 6 Nations - Ireland vs Wales - (05/02/2012 -15:00)

[BDS12]

Maybe I was watching a different game to you but I thought Heaslip was one of Ireland's best players today along with Kearney, O'Callaghan and Murray.

I like Murray as a player, but his kicking was not good enough today. Unfortunately McFadden has a sharp lesson in international rugby as well.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Feic he could loose all 5 and will still get next years championship to redeem himself and the IRFU is a hard knit bunch and have a system at the higher level that Hitler would've been proud of.
You know as well as I do there will be minimal change

Well yeah, I know they're a bunch of idiots. Still, they sacked O'Sullivan under similar circumstances. It could all come down to public pressure. Unfortunately for us, Thornley and co. are all still firmly in the Deccie camp at the moment.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

**** sake. Sexton should never have gone for that halfway line kick had we gone for touch it would have been a different game. Also we only had one backing move today and it didn't work . Backing play is equally as bad as it was last year.

 

[SomeOke]

What a great game, so glad I have 6 nations to watch while nothing significant is happening in the Southern Hemisphere!
Have to say I think this:

****in Wales. Ireland just need to fix their crap game plan. Wales weren't particularly good, Ireland just defended awfully.

Is a bit harsh, the Welsh back line just seems to have that x-factor in their back line that Ireland lack. With the Exception of Kearney at fullback none of the Irish back line impressed me where as Mike Phillips, Davies, North and Roberts all seemed to make ground whenever they got the ball particularly North and Davies.

The two big areas of concern for Wales seemed like the poor kicking out of hand of Rhys Priestland (not to mention a few missed place-kicks) and also defending their own line-outs and retarts (although it's quite possible that it's more the immense presence of O'Connel rather than Wales lacking). Also at times their centres seem a little selfish as sometimes I felt they could have spread the ball a little more.

All and all good performances by both teams but if I look at the game as a whole I do think that Wales deserved it.

 

[Peat]

He did get two tries mind. The first try was hardly his fault if you're referring to that as one of them. He was literally jumping up and down trying to get numbers over to that side and his team mates were just standing watching.

He scored one any winger could have done, I was more impressed by what he did to make Rory's. Wouldn't blame him too much for the first try as you say, although once he commits to Priestland he has to stop the offload. Didn't do very well with North for his try, did appallingly for Davies for his charge, spilled ball into touch... I know he's a class act but I can't see how on form he deserves to keep his place.

 

[Rhondda Rudie]

What a great game.Definite red card for Davies.Shouldn't have been a yellow card for Ferris but thought it was a penalty.Thought Wales just about deserved to win.

 

[Me 1]

What a great game! So happy that we won Brilliant game all round, all our players, even Bradley Davies(though it should have been a red). I have to say unlucky Ireland. We deserved to win but you didn't play badly at all, and I do think the last penalty was harsh.

 

[OnTheBall]

Well deserved by Wales. While we could have won, I think the scoreline still flattered us a bit. Rode our luck throughout that game.
The ground made by Wales looked incredibly easy at times and North was phenomenal. Kidney is neutering the talent at his disposal and I fear for us going to Paris next week.

 

[SelimNiai]

Over the moon. I sore throat after that. What a great game and great result. By far the best game of the weekend. Im not going to enter into a disucssion about Barnes as its too asy to get annoyed. Reading this thread I offer a cyber handshake out the Irish posters, without sounding condescending you have handled the result well and aren't laying the blame squarely at one person/official.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

In the moment I thought it was a fine tackle but looking at it again he went horizontal and therefore it was a penalty. (Maybe not a yellow though) Ireland once again struggled without a seven being unable to steal ball and unable to get quick ball. Thinking about it there is a positive in this match, if Kidney takes it which he won't, is to say to himself that that was the "Golden era's" last chance and they blew it and flush them all out and bring in players who will need International experience for the future but instead what will happen is that we'll have a terrible 6nations this year but Kidney will keep going it will be followed by being whitewashed by the All Blacks and a crap Autumn series. He will then go on with the same old players waste another 6n and hopefully he'll decide to leave then. And then we'll have a new coach one and a half years out from the world cup with an old team and a lot of insufficiently experienced young players.

 

[Draggs]

Tipuric was simply excellent. Bottom of every ruck, played with passion and determination, great competition for Sam.
Pleased with Hook's contribution as well. Made some good ground and looked comfortable, not trying to force anything.
Ryan stepped up another notch, what an improvement from just over a year ago. Ianto held up well and it was good to see him make a full 80.

 

[SelimNiai]

Tipuric was simply excellent. Bottom of every ruck, played with passion and determination, great competition for Sam.
Pleased with Hook's contribution as well. Made some good ground and looked comfortable, not trying to force anything.
Ryan stepped up another notch, what an improvement from just over a year ago. Ianto held up well and it was good to see him make a full 80.

Was worried when I saw Sam go on but Tips really stood up to be counted, did more that half than SOB did all game I thought.

 

[Rhondda Rudie]

Thought O'Connell was immense today.

 

[psychic duck]

Tipuric was simply excellent. Bottom of every ruck, played with passion and determination, great competition for Sam.

Assuming Davies is cited and banned, I think Ryan Jones should move to 4 and Tipuric or Warburton to 6

 

[SelimNiai]

Assuming Davies is cited and banned, I think Ryan Jones should move to 4 and Tipuric or Warburton to 6

Think Tipuric would make a better 6 but I think we will look elsewhere for a lock replacement, keep Jones at 6 where he has just had a good game.

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Great and nice game Walles.
Of course yellow should have been a red, but on the other hand, Ireland should have been referred all match in the rucks like they were in the last 5 mins...

Can't wait for the Cardiif game, and don't be mistaken about the favorites, they are red.
Davies/Rougerie and North/Malzieu oppositions will be a cracker, as both teams have both a solid defense, a very high standard successful tackles rate.

 

[SelimNiai]

Great and nice game Walles.
Of course yellow should have been a red, but on the other hand, Ireland should have been referred all match in the rucks like they were in the last 5 mins...

Can't wait for the Cardiif game, and don't be mistaken about the favorites, they are red.
Davies/Rougerie and North/Malzieu oppositions will be a cracker, as both teams have both a solid defense, a very high standard successful tackles rate.

Also intrested to see the Fofana/Roberts clash, think we will see how good he is after meeting Jamie both in attack or in defence.

 

[Peat]

Ireland once again struggled without a seven being unable to steal ball and unable to get quick ball.

Personally feel Barnes had more to do with that than anything else in that he gave the man with hands on the ball virtually nothing while being very lenient to people getting in the way; Wales adapted better and were far more patient with their continuity play for my money. But the ref just didn't really allow a contest on the ground at all imo.

 

[dullonien]

Lydiate should be back next week. He was missed somewhat today, although Ryan had a good game aswell. Ryan will probably have to move up, which means we're very thin on the ground at lock with three players missing. Should we bring Shingler onto the bench as backrow/second row cover? Or should Lou Reed be on the bench?

 

[Bluemoon]

Congrats to you guys by the by, looking good for a go at a slam.

Many thanks. I think a lot of the Ireland players really put their hand up. Heaslip is absolutely immense as he always breaks the gain line taking about 4 defenders with him. Irelands backrow are experts are carrying forward, targeting the fringe area, giving the momentum for usually a very dangerous backline. I think, perhaps, the Irish backline looked a little stale in attack and for long periods of the game did not always play at the intensity they had when they scored the trys.

I understand what you are saying about momentum with Wales and I totally agree. But England away and Scotland at home are always massive occasions. Im hoping for the fairytale of playing France for a grand slam after the WC defeat, but most of us in Wales have suffered enough heartache to keep our feet on the ground!

Pob Lwc for the rest of the tournament.