RWC: Ireland - Italy (02-10-2011, 20:30)

[madflyhalf]

I don't know who's Defence coach, but he must to go away. With Mallett we always defend superbly, but since august warm-ups our only steady point began to crumble slowly, and today it imploded.

Why you have to wait?? Even in your 22 or 5m out of your goal, why the hell you're doing sliding defence??

 

[Peat]

Actually. The tele is making a good point. All the talk about O'Brien but Ferris was phenomenal aswell. Great player.

I am more than a tad jealous of Ireland getting to field both Ferris and SOB. It is an insanely physical back-row. It may be as balanced as the man with a chip on both shoulders, but it just doesn't seem to matter. Wales will test that I guess.

You'd best not have injured Rory. If you do, you'd best call up Sherry and not Kyriacajoomagoo (I'd do that anyway, Sherry's just the better player).

Well done Ireland. Everything seems to have come together for them at the right moment, just as with Wales... cracking qf coming up, and unless we/France raise our games, will decide who reaches the final imo. Obviously I hope its the Irish.

 

[munstermuffin]

@Olyy - Re: Earls. I think he was more doing it as he was on a high celebrating his birthday today but the English can hardly say anything as a list of players past and present can be found in the white of England doing the same.

As for Best, if rumours are to be believed there is a huge fear the collarbone is broke and that would hurt us as he is in great form and well since he's sorted his throwing he's been a big player. Cronin will be OK but doesn't offer as much and well Varley isn't in great form and will lower standard a bit. I agree with Peat if we get Sherry over there then he could be a big surprise to opposition and play a role off the bench.

Also I have to agree with most here that while O'Brien was immense it was Ferris who really led the way and it's great to see a fella who in January was worried about playing again is now lighting up the RWC.

And I think the biggest positive we're seen is that most of our players are on form now and we have an exciting 22 now.
Examples being Trimble on form and doesn't weaken the back 3 while Earls, Kearney and Bowe all in good form.
Sexton or O'Gara will start against Wales with the other playing a role and neither weakens the team.
At 9the same goes for Murray or Readdan, must say Murray had a great game today.
In the pack we need our first choice 8 fit as much as possible but for 20 min cameo's and back-up we have excellent option to use with the exception of maybe prop and hooker.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

@Olyy - Re: Earls. I think he was more doing it as he was on a high celebrating his birthday today but the English can hardly say anything as a list of players past and present can be found in the white of England doing the same.

I was joking
Whenever an English player does it people kick off, so I'm doing it whenever anyone else does now
e.g When Ashton dove in for a try vs Romania a South African poster said he wished Ashton would get injured in the match to teach him a lesson

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

When did England play Namibia?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Romania, even

 

[Jockstap]

I was joking
Whenever an English player does it people kick off, so I'm doing it whenever anyone else does now
e.g When Ashton dove in for a try vs Namibia a South African poster said he wished Ashton would get injured in the match to teach him a lesson

You see the difference is when Earls dived it was a more dignified arms close to his side, rugby union, birthday Irish dive. Not that brazen, uncouth, superman, English, rugby league, every other day of the week dive that Ashton does. It's chalk and cheese really,tut, tut , tut.

 

[munstermuffin]

I was joking
Whenever an English player does it people kick off, so I'm doing it whenever anyone else does now
e.g When Ashton dove in for a try vs Romania a South African poster said he wished Ashton would get injured in the match to teach him a lesson

As I said I can accept your view and in Earls defense I think he wasn't meaning to be disrespectful to Italy but more just fact it was his 24th birthday and he has had a few critics in Ireland and well today showed them. Just knowing him and anyone that has seen him play he isn't that type of player.

As regards Ashton I think it angers people abit more because he does it consistently and is involved in a few scraps too that annoys opposition, but I won't slam him either as it's his choice and if you get the time to do it you did something right.

On Rory Best, got a text that he is on the way to a hospital for an X-ray but supposedly it looks certain there is a break

 

[coonor]

A great result and a composed and well organised performance. A little bit worried about our maul defense but I'm sure that will be worked on. Other than that I think our outside backs were brilliant and D'Arcy had a great game.

 

[monkeypigeon]

Yeah, Murray did have a lively game today. Very good except for one patch at about 30 minutes when he knocked the ball on a couple of times at the back of the ruck.

 

[lucky number 7]

I must say that hearing fields of athenry blaring in the stadium was spine tingling....Irish fans making home games out there for the irish team.

 

[Groundhog]

great match for us the italians probably deserved a better result than this but im still pretty ****** off about the gouging incedent and bowes near try being called as a 22

 

[i tickle ur tum]

Yeah, Murray did have a lively game today. Very good except for one patch at about 30 minutes when he knocked the ball on a couple of times at the back of the ruck.

agreed on murray, he warmed to it as the game went on so thats good apart from a few blips in the 1st half!! i thaught reddin looked agreesive when he came on to & finally sexton had a good cameo as its usually rog! even darcy broke lines & heaslip stepped up...all in all im a happy man!

 

[j-dawg]

Has Sean O'Brien ever had a bad game?

 

[lyons234]

Once he was seven years of age and had flu. he is Immense but so too is Ferris thought he had a better game today but both of them were inspirational.

 

[j-dawg]

Having recently moved to the back row, I aspire to play like Sean O'Brien. Don't know how he trucks through people, almost effortlessly

 

[Peat]

As for Best, if rumours are to be believed there is a huge fear the collarbone is broke and that would hurt us as he is in great form and well since he's sorted his throwing he's been a big player. Cronin will be OK but doesn't offer as much and well Varley isn't in great form and will lower standard a bit. I agree with Peat if we get Sherry over there then he could be a big surprise to opposition and play a role off the bench.

Aye, you've broke him sure enough. Or so I am informed.

This will be the biggest game of Cronin's career by miles. His hands and throwing have been questionable. I think he possibly offers more than Best if he sorts it all out, but it will be a massive challenge. After that you've got players who look reasonably good at CL level (Varley, Kyriacou/Brady) or Sherry, who I really rate but is still in nappies...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Tony Buckley at 2?

 

[ORothlain]

Well done Ireland! So happy to have seen the turn-around of performance!

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Tony Buckley at 2?

Could turn out to be tactical genius!


If Best is injured that's a catastrophe as far as I'm concerned. He's been so key for Ireland in this World Cup. Cronin is good but I don't think he's nearly as good as Best.