Wales v Ireland

[Leonormous Boozer]

Not true POC was good against Scotland he carried well which he never usually does on form anyway the lost line-outs were bad throws or lifts. Also not saying SOB was great against Scotland but he definitly improved from Italy and france.

 

[Teh Mite]

First job of a 2nd row: Win the lineout
Second job: Grunt in the scrum to assist the Prop do his job.
3rd job: Hit as many rucks as possible
Anything else is a bonus.

The bonuses are the bits which make you stand out, but if you're not doing the basics right you're nowt more then a liability.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I can't remember seeing POC (last few minutes aside) apart from in the lineout
Richie Gray was everywhere

 

[Logorrhea]

First job of a 2nd row: Win the lineout
Second job: Grunt in the scrum to assist the Prop do his job.
3rd job: Hit as many rucks as possible
Anything else is a bonus.

If you actually believed that you'd be screaming for Courtney Lawes to be dropped immediately (if he was fit)

Richie Gray was everywhere

Nothing like a mop of blonde hair to make a player better. If that doesnt work, add orange boots and fake tan.

 

[munstermuffin]

Lads Paul O Connell or even if Cullen was there can't do anything if ball in is poor and I thought myself POC was on ball more often. Best is known to be awful with darts so that doesn't help.
Donal Lenihan also had it spot on that Irelands downslide in lineouts is exactly in line with John Hayes been gone and Flannery been absent. Now you can say what you want about the Bull but he is one of best lifters in world rugby and has strength to lift on his own. Now I'm not saying bring him back in just pointing fact out

 

[Teh Mite]

If you actually believed that you'd be screaming for Courtney Lawes to be dropped immediately (if he was fit)

On the contrary, I actually pay attention when watching him so no he's very effective at all 3 roles. And also rather sharp at the bonuses.

Nice trolling though

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Skimming through this thread, it seems some are questioning Sean O'Brien's impact thus far. I'll have to check the stats again to get the figures but against Scotland he carried for more yards than anyone else (80ish), beat more defenders than anyone else and made 10 tackles (either the most or 2nd most on the team) without missing one. He's been playing bloody well so far.

 

[munstermuffin]

Some times Snoop though that not good enough for some
But I can't believe people question O'Brien as in my opinion he has been our best forward so far. Sometimes I wonder is there a raffle and player drawn is recieving criticism.

 

[Logorrhea]

Skimming through this thread, it seems some are questioning Sean O'Brien's impact thus far. I'll have to check the stats again to get the figures but against Scotland he carried for more yards than anyone else (80ish), beat more defenders than anyone else and made 10 tackles (either the most or 2nd most on the team) without missing one. He's been playing bloody well so far.

Blah blah blah blah. He hasnt got blonde hair though has he? Take your logic and remove it from this forum, there is no place for it.

 

[Draggs]

I actually think O'Brien is a decent player (at international level) but will no doubt improve. He's no Dan Lydiate, but then again, who is?

Any clue who will start at outside half for Ireland?

 

[munstermuffin]

I'm predicting ROG will start but it could easily be Sexton and well whoever does start I don't think will effect us too much

 

[dullonien]

Holy crap, one reply is enough surely. No need to get so upset.

You call me dillusional yet you question O'Brien and believe you actually have a backrow of your own? Your backline (apart from Hook) hasnt played rugby for two, maybe three years. You are struggling to score tries yet you think they just have to click? The only chance you have to beat Ireland is if the ref pings us off the park, and he wont.

Its not a matter of dismissing the Welsh team (I think the two Daviessss and James Hook are decent players), I just believe Ireland are a lot closer to meeting our potential, and we have a whole lot more potential then your lot do.

:lol:

Why shouldn't I question O'Brien. He ran well against Scotland, but there were still plenty of errors in his game. In what way do we not have a backrow? Lydiate wasn't great against Italy, but he was very good in the Autumn and the first two games. He's another newcomer to international level, so I class him on a similar level to O'Brien, still not prooven and can't be considered there yet. Warburton has been awesome for Wales all season, his performances have been up there with the best in the world. Ryan Jones is back to something resemling good form, I'd still have Heaslip over him, but Ryan Jones offers more graft. That's a pretty useful backrow if you ask me, easily on par with Irelands, and they will proove it in this game, I have no doubt.

Both teams are equally close (or far) from reaching their potential because both teams have similar problems. Basic errors, dicipline, a faultering set piece (scrum for Ireland, lineout for Wales), and coaches that aren't fond of change.

Well looky there, Irish poster thinks Ireland have more potential, Welsh poster thinks otherwise. Shock.

The bottom line is that you came into this thread commenting about people acting like school children, than went ahead and posted some very juvinile posts about how Wales haven't got a chance in this game and Ireland will basically blow us away, despite all recent form suggesting that it will be a very close game between two faultering sides, low on confidence. The performances the Irish team have put in so far could and maybe should have resulted in you guys sitting bottom of the table with 0 points. Whilst Wales have beaten a Scottish team that barely showed up and Italy with some difficulty.

 

[munstermuffin]

Just on discipline, I wonder will there be a difference in how the game is reffereed seen as it's a SH ref and it's Mr. K

 

[Logorrhea]

Well looky there, Irish poster thinks Ireland have more potential, Welsh poster thinks otherwise. Shock.

Shocking alright. I mean have Wales actually competed in International rugby for the past two or three years? Have they won a meaningful rugby match in that time? (Apart from beating Scotland and Italy every year)? While were at it, have the provinces competed in that time either? Seriously, your "potential" is based on blind optimism because your players havent shown it in years.

At least we beat the SH teams occasionally, and we dont have a problem beating France or England. Add to that our provincial teams are used to winning at the highest level in Europe. For us its a matter of transforming our provincial form into the international stage, for you guys its pulling it out of a hat of some kind.

You say we are a few plays away from a wooden spoon while its clear we should be playing for a Grand Slam against the English after we cruise past your lot.

 

[munstermuffin]

Lads let's all rejoice ha Ireland just beat England in cricket ha ha. How I'll never know but ha

 

[Logorrhea]

It was Johns(t)on, Mooney and O'Brien

 

[munstermuffin]

Ha ha that's like England beating Ireland at hurling ha and I'd say Irish lads barely know the rules although we did well last time too

 

[Teh Mite]

Why am I not in the slightest bit surprised who was the first person to even mention the CWC on TRF and in which thread it was said in...

 

[dullonien]

Shocking alright. I mean have Wales actually competed in International rugby for the past two or three years? Have they won a meaningful rugby match in that time? (Apart from beating Scotland and Italy every year)? While were at it, have the provinces competed in that time either? Seriously, your "potential" is based on blind optimism because your players havent shown it in years.

At least we beat the SH teams occasionally, and we dont have a problem beating France or England. Add to that our provincial teams are used to winning at the highest level in Europe. For us its a matter of transforming our provincial form into the international stage, for you guys its pulling it out of a hat of some kind.

You say we are a few plays away from a wooden spoon while its clear we should be playing for a Grand Slam against the English after we cruise past your lot.

All valid points. We thought the same after winning the grand-slam and beating the likes of Aus in '05 and '08, but things didn't materialise. Ireland were very good in '09, but have similarily tailed off since. I personally feel that Ireland have dropped another level this year, mainly due to the core group of players that have been great for so long, finally reaching their sell by date. DOC, POC, O'Driscoll and D'Arcy being the main four, with no youngsters really pushing for places in their place (although I rate McFadden at centre). The majority of older players in the Welsh team are being pushed hard for their places, or have been overtaken already by the younger rival as is the case with Warburton replacing Martyn Williams.

My optimism is based on the player base we have. There are genuine quality players available in practically every position. We're lacking depth in one or two positions such as fullback. There is no denying that we've struggled for results over the past two years, and that's hugely disapointing, but alot of the performances have been encouraging. We are not as poor a team as you are making out. Ireland aren't either, but then again, I've not said they are. I've been respectful of Ireland and critical of Wales, all I hear from you are how Ireland will cruise past us and reghtfully they should be competing with England for the Grand Slam, despite being extremely lucky to come away from Italy with a win, and a yellow card (which should have come) away from loosing to Scotland. Ireland looked half decent against France, but I thought France were always in control of the match.

 

[munstermuffin]

Why am I not in the slightest bit surprised who was the first person to even mention the CWC on TRF and in which thread it was said in...

It isn't often we play a match never mind win Had to bring it up ha ha.