Saturday, February 09, 2008

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1. Always found it strange that Scotland do so well. They play Rugby in 3 villages in Scotland - Gala , Hawick and Jedfforest. Thus they have 43 players to chose from. They also have the added disadvantage of having to hold a bagpipe under their right elbow whilst they are playing the game. Difficult.

   Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 12:00 AM

2. you can uncircle the wagons Proud Brit.....the empire is dead !

   Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 01:22 AM

3. We had them beat......all we had to do was play it down the middle, keep the ball to hand, play tight from the breakdown and we could have had the try we needed possibly another penalty try.
   But oh no kick the feckin ball away with no time on the clock. Moronic decision. Compare that with the last few mins of the super bowl last weekend, now that was composure under fire.
   O’Gara should have conceded a penalty when caught on the halfway by holding on, cynical perhaps but , he is long enough in the tooth to realise that. Instead they scored another try.
   Some very poor tactical decisions made but what a cracker of a game. I do have serious doubts about O’Driscoll’s captaincy.
   Anyways it’s a disappointing result but certainly an improvement from last week.

   Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 01:40 AM

4. Worst result possible.  An absolute hiding would have been better.  EOS’s job is now secure for another year at least.  Sides like Wales and France are in transition - bringing in new coaches, young players and changing their appraoch to the game.  Ireland are virtually unchanged from an absolutely horrific RWC.

   Okay we rallied towards the end yesturday, but by that stage the french coach had blooded his young guns - players that may actually be around for the next RWC!  Those young french players, along with their coach will have gained a lot from that game - more that couple of 6 nations points. 

   I agree with a commenter above with regards to Reddan.  He looks great when he makes those runs, but he gets snagged all to often and in addition, his pass isn’t much faster that Boss’s.  Stringer may well be knocking on the door again.  Jackman was very poor at 2.  Out on his feet in the second half and he was throwing basketball lobs from the sidelines.  He’s hardly one for the future either.  To top it all, Murphy was an absolute joke on the wing.  Horgan or Bowe must be in for the next game.  A few of you are a bit harsh on BOD.  He’s a mouthy pain in the ass but he gives 150% and is immense in defence. 

   We should and probably will beat scotland - but it may be a similar game to the Italian afair.  Wales at home will be one hell of a game.  Home advantage may be enough, but if they get their expansive game going we could struggle.  England are very unpredictable, They looked the business in the first 40 against Wales but in the 2nd half they went to pieces.  Jury’s out on that one.

   The RWC is 4 years away, now is the time to be blooding the likes of Fitzgerald and Caldwell.  Give them time off the bench and build for NZ.

   Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 10:39 AM

5. I’ve given up predictions but can’t resist - a famous, historic afternoon in Rome anyone?

   Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 10:51 AM

6. I can’t see it Dewi.  The english pack should hold their own and if Johnny has a half decent game they should be able to play the game in the Italian half.  Italy were very poor against Ireland, whilst england had good periods against wales.  In addition, Italy was goal-kicking issues.  That said, if England get rattled like they did last week, then it could go close. 
   If you force my hand, I’d go for a 23-9 england win.

   Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 11:12 AM

7. againstthehead

   RWC? Lets walk before we can run - we have not even won the championship in donkeys. This ranting against EOS is mainly based based on the unrealsitic view of just how good we are. EOS played the team that the majority of his critics have been calling for but they do not have the good grace to say well done Eddie when he changes the selection. Keith Wood who was there for the move from Gatland to EOS still thinks he is the man for the job and he is outside the tent and could piss in he he choose. Yesterday was a brilliant performance with more game time the backs will click ( though I personally would put in Fitzgerald or Bowe) and of course there were mistakes particulalry the shocking decision by Murphy at the end to kick the ball away. This is as good as it gets - and it probably wil get a lot worse when the current crop of excellent players finish. Enjoy.

   Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 11:13 AM

8. That Kearney fella not bad Sammy.

   “If you force my hand, I’d go for a 23-9 england win” Have faith mun aginstthehead. Italy 36 England 3.....

   Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 11:19 AM

9. I think the point “Proud Brit” is trying to make is that she’ll support anyone other the (the Rupublic of) Ireland! ! ! !

   Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 01:27 PM

10. I was down in Dublin 2 years ago watching Ireland play SA and Oz off the park.  Then came the 6 nations we were proably the best side on show - just lacked the nerve against the french.  We were ranked, I think 3rd in the world at one point.  Since then it;s been a shambles.  You telling me those performances against Scotland, italy, namibia, georgia, france, argentina and italy again are as good as it gets sammy?

    Of course we should prepare for the RWC, that’s what its all about.  Yes, triple expressos are all very well but we have 4 years to build, rather than let the walls fall down.

    Looks as though I was a bit harsh on england.  They’re doing a workmanlike performance.  Lot of potential in that side - just lack confidence.  Another couple of years and they will be streets ahead of ireland I’m afraid.

    Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 03:23 PM

11. Damn that English lineout! - Sammy - get me a ticket for Croke Park will ya?

    Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 04:34 PM

12. againstthehead,

    the RWC was a shambles but lets be honest we should concentrate on the Euro title. Our record in 6N since it started is 2nd to the French. This is unprecedented in Irish rugby history. Of course nobody really knows whether its coach or players ( not even coach and players themselves irrespective of which country you look at ) but EOS has reigned during this period and should therfore as is the convention be left in place without personages with an unrealistic view of the world jabbering at him. This is a fantastic championship with Eng v Wales and Fra v Goodguys stupendous games. If the silly rugby authorites knew how to organise a competiton properly and synchronise kickofs for the final round of games it would be even better. 

    Dewi, have had but distributed tickets for game between Engleze’s most violent colony ( former?) agianst Engleze’s first colony.

    Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 05:02 PM

13. Italy better team - just stupidity in the lineout - should have mixed things up a bit - gone for 4 man or 3 man lineouts. Too scared to win I think.

    Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 05:16 PM

14. Dewi,

    I think Italian backs have had 2 good games in a row - but needed to play the fancy stuff when they were closer to Engleze’s line. They cetainly look more dangerous than the Scottish backs.

    Enough there to make Wales a bit nervey as there pack could rumble if confidence is up and if Bortolami is back in.

    It is now probably in Wales’s and Ireland’s interest that Engleze’s beat frogs - these are strange times indeed.

    Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 05:37 PM

15. Don’t care what England do against Frogs Sammy - bring the French and Irish on! (More worried about the Italians)

    Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 05:39 PM

16. And please can we all agree that Brian Moore is an annoying shit.

    Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 05:54 PM

17. No way Dewi.  Moore is a total legend.  I love the way he’s goes mental at the english players!!  last 2 games have been halarious.  Yes, he’s biassed, but he’s a laugh a minute.  Other observers make excuses for england misfiring, Moore generally tells it how it is.  I guess he’s so bad, he’s good!

    Wales have a great chance - should win their next game and have every chance against Ireland.

    Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 06:25 PM

18. Dewi,

    Re. Brian Moore.

    No I can’t agree with you - he’s over-emotional, understandably pro-Engleze and he totally lost it today as they started to fall apart - but he’s my kinda guy as he shouts his mouth off.

    Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 06:27 PM

19. Sammy - did u see Dirty Sanchez on Scrum Five? Hilarious! Disagree with you both about sweet Brian - its like having the bloke down the pub doing the commentary......

    Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 07:19 PM

20. Moore is an objectionable prick.
    He is biased but he does know his onions and reads the game very well. He is one of those guys that you’d rather play with than against.
    All that said at least he isn’t a homongenous and boring commentator so Brian can stay!!!

    Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 08:07 PM

21. one of the few commentators who actually knows what the heck is goin on in the front rows.  Well, at least he lets on he does! 
    Greenwood, now he is an ass! and I’m sure we can all agree on that one!!

    Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 08:26 PM

22. Agreed againsthehead, Greenwood is useless
    As a former prop myself that objectionable twat Moore came out with the statement “all props are liars” which had me slabbering at the telly!!!

    Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 08:34 PM

23. Moochin - a former prop who can spell objectionable?  Never !!!

    Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 08:40 PM

24. againstthehead

    Got to say I agree with you about EOS. The 2nd half performance yesterday doesn’t make up for what has been a hugely disappointing period for Irish rugby since the England game at Croke Park.

    More heads than just Stringer’s should have rolled after the WC and IMO it’s criminal that a group of players like what Ireland currently have have not won the 6 nations in the past 7 years under O’Sullivan. Arguably, this is the best group of players that Ireland have ever had and they’ve consistently underperformed.

    What is with his team selections? Why has it taken so long for Reddan to get into the side - after all he plays week in, week out for the best club side in Europe. Geordan Murphy on the wing? Why? He is a full-back - stick Tommy Bowe there. How D’Arcy has not got dropped until his injury forced EOS’s hand is beyond me too.

    Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 08:42 PM

25. Dewi
    ha it was better than just calling him a gobby cunt i suppose ;-) spell check is a wonderful thing

    Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 09:52 PM
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