The Rugby Thread

[Lord Knows]

Excellent performance from Ireland their physicality and intensity created mistakes under pressure from an inexperienced English side.

 

[Tredman]

Ireland were a smarter team, not a massive bad loss for England - will keep them grounded and learning.

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

Ireland were a smarter team, not a massive bad loss for England - will keep them grounded and learning.

Expected a win today but not by a 10 point margin. If we can beat Wales in 2 weeks then I think we can go on and win it

 

[Parkins left foot]

England lost that rather than Ireland winning - you cannot give that many penalties away at this level of International competition

 

[fizzwolf]

I didn't have the fortune of witnessing any of it been watching Liverpool v City, Norwich v Ipswich and now Chelsea Spurs.
Oh and I don't much care for rugby

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Wales v Ireland at Cardiff has just become VERY interesting. Ireland will rightfully go into the game as strong favourites after an excellent performance today, but if the proper Wales turn up then they can give them a good game and who knows what could happen.

Wales are still probably third favourites even with Italy as the last game, but at least the Championship remains interesting. An England win would have been a definite grand slam as France are completely dysfunctional and Scotland beyond woeful.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Goode was really poor today, should arguably have been hooked at half time. We never matched Ireland's intensity and kicked possession away all too readily - the long restarts right down Zebo's throat were a mystery too. No complaints about the result. For the good of the Championship I hope Wales beat Ireland.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

It would be nice to see it all come down to the last day. Our record against Ireland isn't too bad. Pretty much a 50:50 game I reckon. We will be well up for it, but Ireland are well equipped to deal with Gatland-Ball.

 

[Tredman]

Goode was really poor today, should arguably have been hooked at half time. We never matched Ireland's intensity and kicked possession away all too readily - the long restarts right down Zebo's throat were a mystery too. No complaints about the result. For the good of the Championship I hope Wales beat Ireland.

Odd, thought goode was one of the better players today - took the high balls well, kicking was OK, some good breaks and was steady in defence.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I thought he ran into traffic where there was never going to be any support far too often - resulting in turnovers in dangerous areas. Perhaps harsh but I would also like to see him be stronger on the try, I think Brown takes that ball.

 

[Tredman]

Can't blame him for the try, it was very well executed and unexpected - no way would Ireland have tried that without the daft high tackle Penalty first.

The running into dead ends as a full back comes when no one shows for the pass - goode made more metres than anyone else on the pitch, Ireland included.

Brown is possibly the better full back overall, but he's not been good this season.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Wow, didn't expect that, managed to combine intensity with discipline and being clinical, couldn't afford to make mistakes against England and they didn't shown up by the fact England didn't get a put-in to a scrum until well into the second half, nor did they get turnovers or penalties (bar 1) from 180 Irish rucks. England made a lot of mistakes but that was due to a lot of pressure as well, they were rarely able/allowed to do anything easily.

Everyone was worried about the front five especially at scrums, but the fact that held up and we probably won the line-outs meant we had a base to work from.

We do need to keep Sexton and Murray fit really do control the match, it was a different game when Sexton went off injured.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

It would be nice to see it all come down to the last day. Our record against Ireland isn't too bad. Pretty much a 50:50 game I reckon. We will be well up for it, but Ireland are well equipped to deal with Gatland-Ball.

I think you right, it is 50:50, suppose one thing in our favour is our record is that the away side always tends to do better in this fixture. It will be a test of Gatland's reputation as a coach especially against another Kiwi (and serious rival for next Lions job), last year he got outsmarted, no doubt he has been mulling that over for the last 12 months and how to combat Ireland.

 

[Tredman]

i (and serious rival for next Lions job),

Do we really want another foreign coach of the lions? Once was enough I'd have thought.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Do we really want another foreign coach of the lions? Once was enough I'd have thought.

Hadn't occurred to me to be honest, suppose depends on the selection boards philosophy and whats available? Fact that at the moment 3 out of 4 of the national coaches are Kiwis doesn't leave many alternatives out there if you want to go down the homegrown route.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

twice - graham henry did the job as well.

 

[Tredman]

Does it have to be a current coach of the home nations though, was McGeechan coach last time he did it? Just seems a shame to me, almost like saying to the southern hemisphere we've given up trying to be as good as you.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I wouldn't mind seeing Lancaster having a go at the job next.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

No it doesn't have to be a current coach but I think occasions where someone like McGeechan is available and not a national coach is rare.

I get what you are saying and certainly agree in an ideal world and it wont look good if we go to New Zealand with a Kiwi in charge of the Lions, but I cant see anyone off the top of my head from outside the national coaches who would have the experience/stature to do it, possibly Woodward but he made such a balls of it last time and hasn't coached since 2005 and the game has moved on an awful lot since then, seems to be a real famine of good British/Irish coaches.

if you look at the 6N, Last British coach to win a 6N title was Martin Johnson in 2011! In fact been only 4 Home based coaches to win it since 2000. Woodward, Ruddock who seems to be happy enough with the low-profile gig he has in Irish rugby now and Kidney. None of them you could forsee leading the next tour.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

I wouldn't mind seeing Lancaster having a go at the job next.

If we are going with a British coach then Lancaster is the only show in town.

But personally I don't think Lancaster is as a good a coach as the media makes out (there I have said it out loud now...)