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

[welshglory]

I think thats especially a big problem with Flyhalves in both Scotland and England. I remember even when i was in school playing against English schools. Their 10's always played a very structured and coached game. Rarely looking up and seeing what was in front of them. And the players that do have this trait usually get it coached out of them when they join an academy or club.

 

[killer08]

so 13 next week, stick with mcfadden, go back to earls or bring in trimble or bowe, assuming that d'arcy is at 12

 

[Irishflanker]

First off congrats to the Welsh! Your 3/4 line is pretty awesome! I'm quite frustrated by the Irish performance today though, our pack on the whole carried well, and save for the first few minutes was good at the breakdown, slowed a lot of welsh ball down. While both DOC and D'Arcy had good games today they just shouldn't be our first choice 4 and 12, Ryan at 4 gives us the aggression and determination that O'Callaghan always brings but adds extra skill and mobility around the park. I also feel one of our backrow should have drifted out towards the wing or around the centers to try and protect Bowe a bit more, we were terribly exposed down his side of the pitch.
I thought Murray was very good today and gave a massive defensive performance tackling everything in his sight. Heaslip also had a good game, his carrying was actually the best I've seen from him in an Ireland shirt in a long time. Kearney was very good again, his take over the top of a welsh back early on was immense.

 

[ORothlain]

So, I haven't watched the match yet...because I live in America, and blah, blah, blah. Waiting to downloaded it. However, I couldn't escape the horrific news as my twitter feed was ja-blown up with the sad, sad news. I'll hopefully be able to watch it tonight and lament further. Someone bring me a Welshy to punch...where's Matty when I need him?

 

[Peat]

All three of them are brilliant worldclass individuals but their not that balanced with no proper openside fetcher. This is the match where they will probably be showed up the most as Wales are masters of the chop tackle and have an amazing 7 in Warburton and Tipuric was really good as well. They should work well against England, Italy and Scotland though. However to compete against the real top tier of teams (no offense to those listed) we probably need a proper 7. If we beat New Zealand in the summer with that backrow I'll eat my words.

You can fetch Richard Hill and Michael Jones back in a time-machine, make them Irish and add them to the mix and you're still gonna take a beating from NZ down under because the team as a whole isn't good enough - and your tactics still aren't good enough. Not going to say it isn't an issue, but Ireland have bigger concerns than their back-row balance imo.

 

[big ginger 8]

You can fetch Richard Hill and Michael Jones back in a time-machine, make them Irish and add them to the mix and you're still gonna take a beating from NZ down under because the team as a whole isn't good enough - and your tactics still aren't good enough. Not going to say it isn't an issue, but Ireland have bigger concerns than their back-row balance imo.

We've a good chance of beating them in the summer mainly because of the timing if we picked the right players and had a decent coach we would be so good but they're big ifs. Here's the biggest one "IF ONLY Joe Schmidt could coach both Ireland and Leinster.

Also Richard Hill wasn't a proper 7.

 

[Peat]

We've a good chance of beating them in the summer mainly because of the timing if we picked the right players and had a decent coach we would be so good but they're big ifs. Here's the biggest one "IF ONLY Joe Schmidt could coach both Ireland and Leinster.

Also Richard Hill wasn't a proper 7.

Your blasphemy has been noted.

What's so good about the timing of the summer? Who are the right players that will magically change things?

Schmidt would be a major improvement on Kidney, but he's not a miracle worker. NZ in NZ? I don't think there's a NH team at the moment that do that.

 

[AlexB]

BiG Match!!!.....solid Ireland......but the Reds today bit like hummer.......

 

[big ginger 8]

Your blasphemy has been noted.

What's so good about the timing of the summer? Who are the right players that will magically change things?

Schmidt would be a major improvement on Kidney, but he's not a miracle worker. NZ in NZ? I don't think there's a NH team at the moment that do that.

The team are just coming together few retirements, maybe a few injuries, new coaching team, maybe a bit of experimentation or resting of players apart from 2010 we've come incredibly close the last few times down there. On their day I think France, Wales and Ireland could all beat New Zealand in N.Z. anything can happen in a one off game. We'd need an absolutely brilliant performance and N.Z. to have a bad day but anything can happen.

A 22 of:
1. Healy
2. Best
3. Ross
4. Ryan
5. O'Connell
6. Ferris
7. Heaslip
8. O'Brien
9. Marshall
10. Sexton
11. Fitzgerald
12. McFadden
13. O'Driscoll
14. Bowe
15. Kearney

16. Cronin
17. Court
18. Tuohy
19. O'Mahony
20. Murray
21. O'Gara
22. Trimble

with the right gameplan is one I think could put it up to any team in the world. Besides I'm ever the optimist.

 

[Saintjay]

We've a good chance of beating them in the summer mainly because of the timing if we picked the right players and had a decent coach we would be so good but they're big ifs. Here's the biggest one "IF ONLY Joe Schmidt could coach both Ireland and Leinster.

Also Richard Hill wasn't a proper 7.

Ireland have never beaten the All Blacks and to be honest I can't see that changing anytime soon.

 

[Teh Mite]

I was wondering how long it would be before the "we could beat anyone in the world" comments started. It being [strike]idiot season[/strike] Six Nations time n'all...

 

[coonor]

I don't think our backrow was the problem tbh. We got plenty of quick and slowed the Welsh ball down a fair amount. It was our defensive structure that less us down we stood back and allowed them to come at us. Wales were really good at stretching Ireland using the widths well.

I actually think everyone on the pitch had pretty good games. To concentrate on Ireland I actually think everyone played quite well apart from maybe Bowe who mixed good with bad but we just don't play the right style. We need to base our game from a 10, 12, 13 channel instead of carriers just off 9. We need to use our big ball cariers coming off Sexton not just picking the ball up and running or just getting a pass from Murray. We really need to improve our kicking game aswell. It seems like we quicked at the wrong times and I have no problem with kicking but only when there is space behind the defence.

One question worth asking is had we had BOD would have we won?...... I know Wales were missing alot of players but credit to them it seems like their replacements fitted in quite well and none of their injured players our quite as talismanic as O'Driscoll, if he was playing even with McFadden at 12 would we have won?

I'm not using this as an excuse for us losing I just want to know people opinions on the real importance of BOD

 

[big ginger 8]

I was wondering how long it would be before the "we could beat anyone in the world" comments started. It being [strike]idiot season[/strike] Six Nations time n'all...

Oh just shut up have you ever said anything positive can't wait for amazingly witty comeback.

 

[Teh Mite]

Oh just shut up have you ever said anything positive can't wait for amazingly witty comeback.

Beat Wales first. Then France. Looking convincing in the process.

Then make comments like "we could beat New Zealand".

Simples.

 

[osi]

Lads I would love to see just for a little while Rog at ten and Sexton at 12...I feel this could work

lucky;, if those two had played against wales today roberts and j davies would have looked even better than they did , ......." sexy n' rog "would have been smashed !

 

[Peat]

The team are just coming together few retirements, maybe a few injuries, new coaching team, maybe a bit of experimentation or resting of players apart from 2010 we've come incredibly close the last few times down there. On their day I think France, Wales and Ireland could all beat New Zealand in N.Z. anything can happen in a one off game. We'd need an absolutely brilliant performance and N.Z. to have a bad day but anything can happen.

A 22 of:
1. Healy
2. Best
3. Ross
4. Ryan
5. O'Connell
6. Ferris
7. Heaslip
8. O'Brien
9. Marshall
10. Sexton
11. Fitzgerald
12. McFadden
13. O'Driscoll
14. Bowe
15. Kearney

16. Cronin
17. Court
18. Tuohy
19. O'Mahony
20. Murray
21. O'Gara
22. Trimble

with the right gameplan is one I think could put it up to any team in the world. Besides I'm ever the optimist.

You'd still have a backline of midgets, a 10 who has establish himself and put in consistent good international performances, the tight five's a bit samey in that most of them charge around and scrap and work hard but only Healy is an outstanding loose carrier, Ross is barely adequate in the loose at international level, neither Cronin or Court really offer reliable oomph off the bench, and of course the misbalanced back-row.

I will close my eyes and pretend I didn't see Paul Marshall's name as it makes me giggle hysterically.

Don't get me wrong. It'd be an improvement. With a good international coach, it might really take off, and a lot of the flaws fade away. But I think a lot of Irish people are overrating the building blocks, and I honestly can't see beating NZ in their own backyard.

No reason you shouldn't slap around Wales at home though.

 

[TPenn]

I don't think our backrow was the problem tbh. We got plenty of quick and slowed the Welsh ball down a fair amount. It was our defensive structure that less us down we stood back and allowed them to come at us. Wales were really good at stretching Ireland using the widths well.

I actually think everyone on the pitch had pretty good games. To concentrate on Ireland I actually think everyone played quite well apart from maybe Bowe who mixed good with bad but we just don't play the right style. We need to base our game from a 10, 12, 13 channel instead of carriers just off 9. We need to use our big ball cariers coming off Sexton not just picking the ball up and running or just getting a pass from Murray. We really need to improve our kicking game aswell. It seems like we quicked at the wrong times and I have no problem with kicking but only when there is space behind the defence.

One question worth asking is had we had BOD would have we won?...... I know Wales were missing alot of players but credit to them it seems like their replacements fitted in quite well and none of their injured players our quite as talismanic as O'Driscoll, if he was playing even with McFadden at 12 would we have won?

I'm not using this as an excuse for us losing I just want to know people opinions on the real importance of BOD

Slightly different situation, but just like Ireland had to adjust without BOD, this was the first time Wales were without Shane Williams. I'm not sure how much BOD would have made a difference in terms of the game as a whole because of the amount of ball Ireland were kicking away. Might well have been one of those games that just passed him by without giving him the chance to impose himself.

 

[killer08]

poor decision making today, kicking from hand killed us, bring back sextons loop its a simple but effective

 

[big ginger 8]

Beat Wales first. Then France. Looking convincing in the process.

Then make comments like "we could beat New Zealand".

Simples.

You'd still have a backline of midgets, a 10 who has establish himself and put in consistent good international performances, the tight five's a bit samey in that most of them charge around and scrap and work hard but only Healy is an outstanding loose carrier, Ross is barely adequate in the loose at international level, neither Cronin or Court really offer reliable oomph off the bench, and of course the misbalanced back-row.

I will close my eyes and pretend I didn't see Paul Marshall's name as it makes me giggle hysterically.

Don't get me wrong. It'd be an improvement. With a good international coach, it might really take off, and a lot of the flaws fade away. But I think a lot of Irish people are overrating the building blocks, and I honestly can't see beating NZ in their own backyard.

No reason you shouldn't slap around Wales at home though.

As I say I'm an optimist and I'll stand by what I've said I could well be proven horribly wrong but it's the type of match we are suited for. I said for months Ireland would beat Australia and nobody believed me yes they lost 3 key players and are not quite as good as N.Z. but something similar could happen. Peat have you seen Cronin play this year not exactly lacking oomph... also N.Z. don't exactly have a backline of Wales' gargantuan proportions and there is nothing wrong with picking that backline as long as your smart and stick to their strengths.

Again ever the optimist.

 

[Darwin]

After watching both this match, and the Scotland v England match, I have to ask the question: was I watching the same sport? I thoroughly enjoyed this match, though I do wonder when players are going to finally get it through their heads that spear-tackling is not ok!

For Ireland I was impressed with Rory Best and Jamie Heaslip in the forwards, and while O'Callaghan was solid, Ryan really impressed with his work-rate when he came on. Most of the Irish backs were pretty quiet in attack (as they really didn't get much ball). I thought McFadden did a pretty solid job at centre, and made a heap of tackles (though did miss one crucial one on North).

I thought Gill looked pretty solid for Wales, and Davies looked good at lock - apart from his horrible spear tackle (which will likely see him miss the rest of the 6-nations). Not sure what happened to the Welsh lineout, as they lost a few against the throw. Ryan Jones had the best match I've seen him play for a while at international level, and like others I was very impressed with Tipuric when he came on in the second half. Halfpenny looked to have continued to strong form at fullback, but the two standouts in the backs for me where Davies and North. Davies seems to be really growing into his role at centre, and while I'm still not 100% convinced with the Roberts / Davies pairing, individually they are both playing very well. What I really like about North is that he is not just some big, strong and fast kid playing on the wing... it is that he is a big, strong fast kid, that can play rugby! He seems to have a good ability to read the game, and a knack of turning up at the right place at the right time.