Wales v Ireland, 02/02/13

[Jockstap]

Ross is limping and we have England next week, that's the scariest sentence I've said in a while.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

BBC just had to get in at the last minute to mention the England vs New Zealand game, no talk after the game either and I'll expect a good 15 minutes from the England Scotland match. Typical.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Sean O'Brien you are a beautiful man 20+ tackles. Great commitment shown by Wales second half, I though after O'Driscoll's try they'd go away but they came back unbelievably well.

 

[Draggs]

The papers are going to gloss ignore the first 45 minutes and talk about what could have been.
Rubbish rubbish rubbish. Awful, clueless, inept. Tipuric MUST start next week. James for Jenkins, Ryan Jones for Shingler or Tipuric for Shingler/Warburton (Robshawesque penalty calling), someone who can pass for Davies, and we will probably lose North for his boot. Halfpenny, Faletau, and Coombs were about the best of our lot. Coombs took about the first quarter to adjust but tackled and made hard yards. Halfpenny has pure guts. If we are lucky enough to have one player for the Lions, it should be him.

 

[lynam1104]

Wow brillant game, totally exhausted. credit to wales not giving up and great work from Ireland playing with 14 for the last 20. Best would've been MOTM without the yellow.

 

[dullonien]

BBC just had to get in at the last minute to mention the England vs New Zealand game, no talk after the game either and I'll expect a good 15 minutes from the England Scotland match. Typical.

To be fair, there's a quick turnaround in games and we did have a good 15min build-up to the Wales v Ireland game.

 

[Tony Manx]

Best would've been MOTM without the yellow.

Should have been but for the romanticism of the Irish git who was trying to commentate (after 15 minutes said that "Wales had by far the majority of possession" until the screen with the stats came and showed it was Ireland whe he quickly back tracked!!) and who decided to give it to BOD as he wont get too many more chances!!

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

To be fair, there's a quick turnaround in games and we did have a good 15min build-up to the Wales v Ireland game.

I know, but we're not all English, I'd like to hear some talk about the game to be honest.

 

[SelimNiai]

This is one of those games that its really difficult to properly analyse. To use the well worn cliche it was truly a game of two halves. First half was up there with one of the worst performances I have seen in recent times, nothing was done with any conviction and belief, sloppy basic errors and shoddy defence. The closing couple of minutes of that first half showed glimpses of that passion we need and the second half was like a new team had arrived. You could, and most will do, point to the fact that the Irish slowed down (I hate that cop-out excuse) but we came out all guns blazing, the running rugby was there, the angles and the intensity was ramped up to the point that the Irish couldn't cope.

Personell-wise, again its hard to say who was good and bad as those who were named as being particularly poor in the first weren't in the second. Biggar, Coombes, Davies all played far better in the second than they did in the first 40. Also I was quite pleased to see the subs putting their hands up and saying "what about me for starting next week". Tips, James and Lloyd Willaims all did that in my eyes.

However a gripe, I was livid with the Irish antics at rucktime, especially when defending in their own 22. They were moving away yes but really slowly and always, not often, always crawling either over the ball itself or into the scrum half. There were perhaps 4 or 5 (not including the two that were binned) that you could say that the ref could have given more yellows.

Overall, I'm gutted and annoyed yet cautiously optimistic because of that second half. It was a cracker of a game as the neutral to watch though. It's why we love the 6 Nations and it's why we love rugby.

 

[Peat]

To be fair, there's a quick turnaround in games and we did have a good 15min build-up to the Wales v Ireland game.

There is a quick turn around, but some analysis beats Dally talking about himself while Robshaw looks uncomfortable. Even beeb analysis.

Do you think Howley should have started James? I had the scrum being a big advantage for Wales, didn't happen and really helped Ireland build their early platform imo, and thinking James might have helped with that.

 

[TVH11]

I think its fair to say that if this game has shown one thing, is that the welsh public and members on this forum should choose the Welsh starting 15.

Front row seemed much better once Geth was subbed for Paul James. Gethin Jenkins is looking like a man that hasn't played much rugby. Always loved him and what he brings to our game, but he's lacking game-time at Toulouse.

Backrow functioned better with Tipuric on. Injected some pace and some stability in ball retention at Ruck time. In saying that we might be without him after the sexton face ruck incident.

First half and opening to second let us down! Thought we should have taken 3 points when we had the chances to, but I guess no guts no glory and all that.

Disappointed but more positives to prevent embarressment in Paris next week!

 

[dullonien]

The papers are going to gloss ignore the first 45 minutes and talk about what could have been.
Rubbish rubbish rubbish. Awful, clueless, inept. Tipuric MUST start next week. James for Jenkins, Ryan Jones for Shingler or Tipuric for Shingler/Warburton (Robshawesque penalty calling), someone who can pass for Davies, and we will probably lose North for his boot. Halfpenny, Faletau, and Coombs were about the best of our lot. Coombs took about the first quarter to adjust but tackled and made hard yards. Halfpenny has pure guts. If we are lucky enough to have one player for the Lions, it should be him.

Warburton was poor today. God blown away at the ruck and made dubious calls. Shingler was way off the pace though, showed that he's barely played recently, and that was a poor call by Howley, even if I did understand his reasons for the lineout (where Shingler was barely used in the end!).

Faletau was great today, as was Halfpenny. Those two were involved in everything for Wales. Other than a knock-on at the start Coombs was impressive I thought. Good on him.

Roberts wasn't in the game, even in the second half. Jon Davies didn't have a great game, but at least he was involved in everything in that second half.

Biggar was good apart from that big mistake in getting charged down. I think he'll learn from that and won't make the same mistake again though. Otherwise, he attacked the line really well. Some of the forwards were getting in his way at the start though, again highlighting the apparent lack of preparation.

Still not happy with Howley. We improved with Gats back in charge, especially against Aus, but we looked totally undercooked again for the first 45 mins today. Not sure how much we can take from throwing caution to the wind when we're 27 points down, especially from a coaching point of view.

 

[monkeypigeon]

Great performance from the pack. All of them were brilliant.

People have been slamming Murray whenever he plays for Ireland, thought he was great today...not perfect, but the best he's been for Ireland.

D'Arcy and BOD were class, Earls dodgy at inside centre (but he's never been remotely decent there).

Kearney was very good, can't wait to see him back at his best though. Zebo was brilliant. Gilroy was excellent in defence but his kicking is woefull. I'd like to see Luke Fitz there net week,


Worried about Ross and Darcy injuries. Hopefully we play a decent centre if Darcy is out.

 

[Draggs]

The sad thing is that many will be pacified with the last half. It wasn't a structured attack of anything, just realising that we had nothing left and to just go for it.
Midfield was nonexistant. Too much lateral movement and no gains. Backline doesn't know how to use appropriate depth, and our midfield can't straighten up.

 

[dullonien]

Do you think Howley should have started James? I had the scrum being a big advantage for Wales, didn't happen and really helped Ireland build their early platform imo, and thinking James might have helped with that.

Pretty much all of Howley's close calls went the wrong way. Coombs being the exception.

James should have started ahead of Jenkins. Jenkins put in a few good cover tackles early on, but he struggled in the scrum I thought. That was disappointing.

Owens should have started ahead of Rees. Much more prominent in the loose, although the lineout fell apart a little when Owens came on. Looked like there was a lapse in understanding there.

Tipuric should have started ahead of Shingler. Shingler was poor today, looked short of matchtime which he was.

Backline doesn't know how to use appropriate depth, and our midfield can't straighten up.

I thought North did all he could today. Beat players, and always made ground. Didn't get held up in the choke tackle either, despite Ireland trying it a couple of times. Other than his try, Cuthbert was diabolically bad. His defence was an absolute joke, and he really didn't keep his depth in attack (still mistakes from Davies for chucking it into touch twice).

This bring me to another issue. Why have we not found a way to combat the choke tackle yet. Faletau had no issues with it, because he drove low and ultimately used Ireland's tactic to their disadvantage. How many times did Evans go in too high and get held up? We know Ireland are going to do it at every opportunity, and I think it's possible to turn it on it's head and make Ireland pay for over using the tactic.

 

[lynam1104]

If D'Arcy is out we're quite f*cked Earls and BOD isn't a good center combination. Ross didn't look as bad and I have much more faith in Fitzpatrick coming in then Earls. I wash harsh and Zebo before the game, eating my humble pie he was great today made the call to come in and make the hit and pulled it off countless times along with Gilroy, who was a little shaky at times but held his own happy with him. BOD was great just fantastic not a fault I can think of other then that box kick but that just tipfies him as a player stepping up and doing the job no else was sure they could. Pack was great SOB with 20 tackles just out standing.

 

[TVH11]

Also being an Ospreys/Neath supporter I'm inclined to notice and therefore over react at any mistake made by a Scarlets/Llanelli player!

Last year's 6N made me forget that Jon Davies is greedy and has the inability to pass when an overlap is present! He had some strong runs, but his passing was God awful!

Also on an Ospreys note, Biggar will obviously be slated by most regarding his charge down kick which led to the try, and yes he was extremely slow (almost happened twice). But seemed to get a little better in second half, as the whole of the team did, including the turks

I hope the Paper's go to town about the match 2morro. Need to be realistic! We were back to 90's/00's performances in 1st half! Was depressing to watch!!! Hopefully the write up's will be harsh, accurate and to the point!

 

[coonor]

First of all what a match! A stand by my opinion that IRE V WAL is the match up of the 6N!

Fair play to Wales, they showed how good they can be!

Before anyone bemoans this Irish performance, remember momentum is key and when you have it suddenly everything goes for you!

 

[Peat]

Hadn't realised Shingler was only just back from injury as well. No wonder you looked half-cooked with all these players feeling their way in. Ryan Jones injured?

The lineout wobbled with Rees there as well, always going to happen with a new locking combination, reckon it'll settle with the tournament - you could have really used one of the 'softer' sighters to ease yourself in.

And - controversial maybe - but Shingler or no, I think Tipuric should have been started. Looked far more useful than Warburton who really looks a shadow of himself.

Who would you replace Jon Davies with, if you were to? Really looked the poorest of the backs to me.

 

[SelimNiai]

Also being an Ospreys/Neath supporter I'm inclined to notice and therefore over react at any mistake made by a Scarlets/Llanelli player!

Last year's 6N made me forget that Jon Davies is greedy and has the inability to pass when an overlap is present! He had some strong runs, but his passing was God awful!

Also on an Ospreys note, Biggar will obviously be slated by most regarding his charge down kick which led to the try, and yes he was extremely slow (almost happened twice). But seemed to get a little better in second half, as the whole of the team did, including the turks

I hope the Paper's go to town about the match 2morro. Need to be realistic! We were back to 90's/00's performances in 1st half! Was depressing to watch!!! Hopefully the write up's will be harsh, accurate and to the point!

Even the teams then managed to win at home occasionally. We've lost 5 in a row at home for the first time ever. So according to the record books its basically Wales 1995> Wales 2013