RWC: Australia - Ireland (17-09-2011 20:30)

[munstermuffin]

Haha you're right. It is a pointless argument but i do wonder "what if" sometimes

I do understand your point but in the circumstances:
- The game was won
- And yes 4 were chasing but James O'Connor was the only one who got close.

 

[shtove]

i can see this thread being the most active thread on TRF for the duration of the world cup.

Nah, the Ireland v ABs thread will break the forum. NZers talk infinite shite!

 

[Dizzy]

Nah, the Ireland v ABs thread will break the forum. NZers talk infinite shite!

really?..

 

[Dizzy]

on the Tommy Bowe intercept, i reckon if he had carried the ball in his other arm and tried to fend O'Connor he would've came closer to scoring.

 

[Peat]

I'd agree with all of that but I think that SOB had as quiet a day as Heaslip

SOB didn't run over/through people as predicted/he does in domestic rugby. In fact, he hasn't really done too much of that in international rugby full stop - a bit here and there, but between a misfiring Irish team, and just better defences, it hasn't really happened.

However, he did work his f**king ******** off start to finish and got through a massive amount of work. In a game that was all about attrition and physically bullying the oppo, that was what was needed, and it was a great performance imo. In my mind, he came of age today, and the world class label is now possibly appropriate.

edit: and f**k it, I may be accused of bias, he may be made of glass and AIDS infected syringes, but that was an equally phenomenal display from Ferris, one of many, and I'm going to stop hedging over whether he's world class or not.

I'll tell you what - Jamie Heaslip wants to watch himself. He's a fine, fine player, but he's not showing it. Ireland are arguably short a classic 7 and young Dom Ryan is going massive guns at it. His place is no longer secure long term, which is huge for Ireland imo. Huge day in general. Very pleased for them.

Plus we got to taunt the aussies at our club. Outstanding.

edit edit: Seen D'Arcy's injured. Serious? I hope not, as I smell a certain young Queen Elizabeth lookalike at Ulster going downunder should he miss out... plus, D'Arcy didn't stink the place out for once, would be harsh if he got crippled.

edit edit edit: How f**king good was Rory?

edit edit edit edit: There is nothing better in sport than watching Australia's dreams get smeared and suffocated in metaphorical fecal matter. Take that as a compliment ozzies.

 

[donmcdazzle]

Watching some of the game again, O'Brien and Ferris were really good. I guess Ireland just showed how to beat Aus (and NZ too I reckon). Both the ozzies and us AB's are vulnerable if we get beaten in set piece and can't get good ball for the backs. Neither of us really know how to win like Ireland just did (crank up set piece pressure and squeeze time and space of the opposition). I'm worried for the AB's after seeing that, and also how SA played against Fiji.

 

[shtove]

really?..

Really.

And I see your sig pic has a spike tackle from the "king". Bad habit.

 

[taibhe]

Have to say, SOB has been well found out by Aus - completely ineffectual in his runs tonight, just gets dropped straight away

Been here a few years and never felt compelled to reply, but such incessant chippyness grates after a time.This the same SOB that the Australian journo Paul Cully rated 9 and man of the match? England got a goodresult In the warm ups but Ireland haven't become crap overnight since giving England a spanking last March.Australia got a schooling yesterday and refereeing and luck had little to do with it. At least most of the Aussies have the good grace to acknowledge that. Ireland were ranked 2 places below Australia a month ago. An upset no doubt. A conspiracy of refereeing, a choke, a lucky sucker punch? No. Just one of those results that come up from time to time between teams ranked similarly.

 

[Dizzy]

Really.

And I see your sig pic has a spike tackle from the "king". Bad habit.

What does my sig pic have to do with the conversation?.
Call it what you want[spike tackle, spear tackle, criminal] in that era, tackles like that weren't sulked about as bad as they are now. You see the tackle Paul Williams got 10 mins for against Namibia? Nothing wrong with it and it wasn't a tip tackle or anything, just a good hard hit and he ended up sitting on the bench for 10mins for it. You see worse cleanouts/blowovers in the rucks that require more attention than a good hard hit.

 

[shtove]

What does my sig pic have to do with the conversation?.
Call it what you want[spike tackle, spear tackle, criminal] in that era, tackles like that weren't sulked about as bad as they are now. You see the tackle Paul Williams got 10 mins for against Namibia? Nothing wrong with it and it wasn't a tip tackle or anything, just a good hard hit and he ended up sitting on the bench for 10mins for it. You see worse cleanouts/blowovers in the rucks that require more attention than a good hard hit.

Sry, meant spear tackle - but the rules have no formal term for it.

Back to my comment, just going by the forum record in 2007, when the most brilliant team in history was beaten - I was delighted at the time that France played so well and then disgusted that we got the worst RWC final in history:

http://www.therugbyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?15445-New-Zealand-22-France-27

I have a soft spot for the ABs this time (unless they're playing Ireland), but I sense a bit of SH panic. Again. Mwaaahhaahhaa.

 

[UilamOsa]

Great Game. Great Atmosphere. World Cups are won by the best team, if you deserve to be in the World Cup final - then it'll work itself out no matter who you play.

Was disappointed - was waiting for SOB to run through Quade Cooper but ah well...

No panic from the AB's. Ireland hasn't beaten the AB's and this current Aussie side can't win at Eden Park.





Oh by the way - Someone like Matt Giteau would've helped out...



Oh for those that went to the game - apologies on behalf of the three Maori's that went and did the Haka during the Aussie National Anthem. That was mildly amusing but extremely disrespectful...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Been here a few years and never felt compelled to reply, but such incessant chippyness grates after a time.This the same SOB that the Australian journo Paul Cully rated 9 and man of the match? England got a goodresult In the warm ups but Ireland haven't become crap overnight since giving England a spanking last March.Australia got a schooling yesterday and refereeing and luck had little to do with it. At least most of the Aussies have the good grace to acknowledge that. Ireland were ranked 2 places below Australia a month ago. An upset no doubt. A conspiracy of refereeing, a choke, a lucky sucker punch? No. Just one of those results that come up from time to time between teams ranked similarly.

F****s sake, I said Ireland deserved the win - I'm not allowed to say that SOB didn't make many/any breaks?
That's just a fact (as agreed upon by others) - However he got through a bum load of work in the tight, so it all evens out in the end


Some people are far too precious...

 

[Surefire]

way to go Ireland!

 

[cardassian]

You're making alot of assumptions, and it's a good debate.

But here's the thing: Ireland's win just shifted the ground under SH rugby (I don't include SA). The best attacking team in the world was contained fairly handily by a drift defence that Ireland uses all the time in the 6N.

France has a stronger pack than Ireland, and if defensive discipline from the 6N has become dominant, then taking on SH teams multiple times won't be as as hard for them as it was in the past - they can do it. In other words, the necessary performances are just as massive whichever route France takes to the final. In other other words, the RWC is wide open and nobody is better positioned than France. Not saying they're the favourites - that's still the ABs - but France have the first opportunity to make a mess of the favourites, and they should take it rather than back off.

Can they do it to the ABs twice? I am looking forward to the answer.

Pretty sure Ireland hasn't contained us in a long time, and we are the best attacking team in the world by far (look at any tournament, anytime, anywhere ).

 

[smartcooky]

some people just seem to have a set list of complaints that are spouted out after each match.

Some people also think that its "unfair" for teams win by kicking scrum penalties when all they are really doing is exploiting to the max, their area of strength, and their opponents area of weakness.

For years, Australia and New Zealand have dined out on exploiting their areas of strength (and their NH opponents' weakness), running with the ball in hand. The shoe is now on the other foot. Australia has managed to con their way through the last 4 years of test rugby with a dysfunctional scrum, avoiding real scrummaging at all costs, deliberately taking the scrum to deck whenever they lose the hit. Eddie Jones was the chief architect of this plan, and George Gregan and Al Baxter implemented it for him. Their worst nightmare is a referee who makes them stay up and participate in a contest.

If "we" (Australia and New Zealand) don't wake up to the fact that "D" is the key, and that flashy, low percentage plays like Cooper tried to pull off last night, are going to put them under pressure, then we are going to see a 6N side win this World Cup.

 

[McTallshort]

Well like many I got that one wrong! See the Aussies have already started the whinging with comments like"boring" "bad reffing" coming out of the Aussie press but then thats the Aussie press for you, it probably makes the moment more sweet for the Irish

 

[TNT88]

Every 2nd comment seems to be: "oh look at those bitter aussies". (and most don't of these comments don't even seem to be from Irish people)

All i've seen is reasonable feedback from the game and credit where it is due for Ireland. Maybe some people wish we were more bitter?

 

[yage]

If "we" (Australia and New Zealand) don't wake up to the fact that "D" is the key, and that flashy, low percentage plays like Cooper tried to pull off last night, are going to put them under pressure, then we are going to see a 6N side win this World Cup.

Australia maybe, but NZ have far more depth, and even the Irish in last night's form won't be shutting them down. Not in front of the home crowds. AB's second cup is safe, don't stress

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Few points on things mentioned:
- Why would France want to put out a weakened team vs NZ, if they beat the All Blacks the amount of momentum and confidence they'd get would mean they'd fancy themselves to beat anyone in the RWC.

We already know that on one we can beat anyone, we also know that we can't do it twice. It's a challenge for sure but we don't have the organisation and the for it today
That's why a think (and hope) lievremont will have a bit of pragmatism.

Not to forget we're not comfortable on the bench with first line, as Mas is surely uncertain for NZ, and maybe also for the rest of the WR even if Marconnet has chances to come back.

 

[ACT1NUP]

Aussies are the new French. World beaters one game , chokers the next.