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Wales v Ireland

I fancy this to be a cracking game that could go either way. Just got a feeling Wales will sneak it by 3-5
 
Logorrhea said:
No offence but I wasnt the one talking about The Brand, and O'Brien and what Lydiate was going to do to O'Brien. This thread was wayy off topic, I just focused a few minds.

Anyhoo laughing aside, most of what I said is semi true but I've obviously exaggerated it for dramatic purposes.

Roberts is not the player he was, neither is Ryan Jones. I'm not saying they are finished but I believe Wales would be a stronger team with both of them on the bench. I'm not sure if you have options at 8, but you should be playing Hook and Davies in the centres. Lydiate and Warburton are nothing but hype at the moment. I haven't seen a truly dominant performance from either of them either at club level or at international level. Sure they seem to be strengthening an area where Wales were pretty weak in the past (haven't had a proper 6 in years have you) but I'm not convinced that they are quality yet.

I not actually too bothered who wins this game. As one of the other posters said, its meaningless really. Sure I want Ireland to win it, but once we continue to improve their discipline, reduce the errors and score tries with ease we are going in the right direction. If we do that and lose by 10 I won't actually be too disappointed. I'd like Ireland to peak in August, not in February so this is all about progression.
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Yeh, no problem with your assesments of Roberts, Ryan Jones and possibly Lydiate. Roberts hasn't quite lived up to the hype from the Lions tour, but he's by no means a poor player, infact he's probably still the best 12 in the competition, partially down to the fact that all the other's have been poor. He still crosses the gainline every time he get's the ball, and that's normally with a minimum of two players hanging off him. The main reason he's not as effective anymore is because he get's marked out of the majority of games, but that does create space for others. Alot of people comment on the way Roberts was shut out of the England game last year by Worlsely, but the reality is that Roberts also took Worsely out of the game, and away from the jobs he should have been doing. If the opposition have to pay such special attention to one player like that, then he's a player that's worth having. If Ireland pick O'Gara to start, you can guarantee that Wallace will have to help him out in defence with Roberts running down his channell. Great, that'll keep Wallace away from the backrow work he should be doing.

I said before that I'd have Heaslip in my team ahead of Ryan Jones. But Jones is still the best option we have untill Faletau matures a bit, or Ben Morgan possibly. There is no denying we're short of quality at 8, but Ryan Jones is playign well at the moment. He doesn't offer the rampaging runs some other 8's offer, but the rest of his game is superb again. And he makes a good second row, as highlighted by several motm award in that position at both Magners and Heineken levels. Lydiate should be classed exactly the same as O'Brien. Young newcomers who have had an impact. Different kinds of players, Lydiate's all about the hard graft, O'Brien about his running game. You obviously don't watch the Dragons play all that often, because Lydiate is often the best player on the pitch for them, and carries the team on his shoulders. Just because he plays for a poor team doesn't make him a poor player. Ferris has been in a similar position to him at Ulster for the past few years, did that make him a poor player.

Your analysis of Warburton is terrible. The standout 7 in this years 6 nations, and of the home nations during the Autumn. He hasn't had a bad game for Wales full stop. Matched McCaw when playing NZ, matched Pocock when playing Aus, and has been dominant in all other games. He was a little quiet against England, but was still one of Wales' best performers. Motm against Scotland, and was Wales; best performer against Italy. He will be good against Ireland, I really have no doubt. He's shown more than just potential.

Please don't say that was another WUM. If it was, then you're good, very good.
 
With regards to the backrow. I spose the Leinster fans have the luxury of watching new talent come through seemingly every few months.

We are playing Scarlets this weekend, without Jennings, O'Brien and Heaslip (our first choice backrow) yet we still get to put out a backrow of Dom Ryan, Ruddock and McLaughlin. Excuse me for not wetting myself over two of the great white hopes coming out of Wales. I suppose our standards are just a little higher over here :)

I do try but I just cant help myself. :)
 
Ok, ok. Pipe down you!!

Should be a good battle between the Leinster backrow and the Scarlets backrow which will likely contain McCusker, Turnbull and Morgan.
 
Logorrhea said:
We are playing Scarlets this weekend, without Jennings, O'Brien and Heaslip (our first choice backrow) yet we still get to put out a backrow of Dom Ryan, Ruddock and McLaughlin. Excuse me for not wetting myself over two of the great white hopes coming out of Wales. I suppose our standards are just a little higher over here :)
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So high you have to steal the Welsh rejects (Ruddock)
and Wales has to steal the English rejects (Morgan)
Yes, i realise England are the masters of stealing other countrys players, but at least we steal them from the SH, not our neighbours ;-)
 
I believe the polite way to describe them are "hand-me-downs".
 
welsh fans and most irish fans are saying itill be a close game Seperated by 3-5 points could go either way but the english fans seem to think wales will have a feild day sean o'brien played badley against the scots and rog isnt as good as everyone thinks he is which is all UNTRUE!
 
DorceOutSide said:
welsh fans and most irish fans are saying itill be a close game Seperated by 3-5 points could go either way but the english fans seem to think wales will have a feild day sean o'brien played badley against the scots and rog isnt as good as everyone thinks he is which is all UNTRUE!
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Depends who you talking about when you say 'everyone'. If it's the press, then yes he isn't as good as they think he is. If it's the average trf poster, including the Irish posters, then no-one really rates him anymore. He was good against Scotland, but that's the first good game I've seen him play for Ireland for a long time. There's every possibility the competition with Sexton has spurred him into a new lease of life, but jury's still out there.

Don't think anyone has said O'Brien played badly, just not quite as awesome as some Irish fans are making out.

Bookies have Wales as slight favourites. That's where to look if you want a completely impartial view of things. Even then it's close, with a couple of bookies having Ireland as favourites, and a few evens. Home advantage could sway it, but then again home advantage doesn't seem to mean all that much in the 6 nations!
 
Logorrhea said:
The welsh are still ****** they lost out on the two Ruddock brothers. Either way, both these lads were born in Dublin, to an Irish mother.

Kieran Bracken!
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Ciaran was born in Wales and won't make it anyhoo.

Also, I believe there have been times when the entirety of Ireland's back line was English born. Bracken's just a tiny acknowledgement of our generosity.
 
Logorrhea said:
The welsh are still ****** they lost out on the two Ruddock brothers. Either way, both these lads were born in Dublin, to an Irish mother.

Kieran Bracken!
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I'm not that ******, better players coming through the ranks anyways. Played against one of them a few years ago, decent don't get me wrong but not international level. But who am I to judge, He's getting payed to play rugby and i get payed to play music (so i guess i'm not 100% qualified to make statements like the above). Ah well back to the match.

I think if Wales were to bring Adam Jones straight back into the starting lineup would be extremely unfair to Mitchell (who's been solid, not great but solid). Adam Jones is a class above him, but we panicked when we lost adam, so why not try and build some confidence in some replacements. If everything goes t!ts up in the scrums against Ireland, bring adam on for his "experience" and "expertise" (All of this of course depends on whether he's 100% fit or not). If so, his return will definitely bring confidence to our guys :D :D (fingers crossed
 
On that I have to add in I think Rhys Ruddock will be international class when fully developed like he is still young
 
Yeh Rhys Ruddock looks a quality prospect. It's not certain that he'll make it, but the sign are promising.

I was disapointed when they chose Ireland, despite their mother being Irish. I think that the way Mike Ruddock was treated by the WRU was a big reason for it. Can't have been nice for them to see their fathers name dragged through the dirt in the media at the time. Mike himself doesn't appear to want much to do with Welsh rugby in a professional way either and who can blame him. He's still a hero amongs alot of Welsh supporters though, and most will wish him and his sons all the best.
 

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