The IRISH RUGBY thread

[Olaf]

Is Sexton the rugby equivalent of Floyd Patterson - a fine rugby player but cursed with a glass jaw?
His careless play after receiving a few whacks, cost the team 5 points out there.
Has he got the mettle to survive at this level of physicality?

He made a few good  tackles and brings a bit of steel to the defence of the inside backs.He has the attributes to be a good international out-half.  He varies his game well but sometimes seems a bit hurried in his play and over complicates back moves. Patience will come with time.

O'Gara has survived (except for a couple of "bruisings" on Lions Tours) without getting involved in the physical aspects of the game for 10+ years now.

D'Arcy, whilst having had good performances over the years for Ireland  has been really poor and Kidney must really have no faith in Wallace whatsoever in not bringing him on yesterday. His supposed weakness in defence is a fallacy IMHO. I have seen him miss one tackle this year which unfortunately led to try. His handling and general awareness on the pitch is far superior to D'Arcy at the moment.

Earls hasn't impressed and doesn't go looking for the ball. I think that he is a good footballer with gas but maybe a bit lightweight at this level. Hasn't really found his feet at international level.

[Hardy]

What's with this booing of opposing players? Is rugby the new soccer?

Can the people who know here explain that decision where O'Gara missed touch with his penalty and the French player knocked it forward? Now we're playing advantage, right? Scrum if no advantage. Then a French player plays it while offside. Penalty given. Why does it not go back to the scrum? Does a penalty offence while playing advantage override the original decision?

[johnneycool]

What's with this booing of opposing players? Is rugby the new soccer?

Can the people who know here explain that decision where O'Gara missed touch with his penalty and the French player knocked it forward? Now we're playing advantage, right? Scrum if no advantage. Then a French player plays it while offside. Penalty given. Why does it not go back to the scrum? Does a penalty offence while playing advantage override the original decision?

Was wondering that myself unless the ref believed the french lad played the ball in a cynical attempt to prevent any advantage accruing to Ireland.

[Olaf]

What's with this booing of opposing players? Is rugby the new soccer?

Can the people who know here explain that decision where O'Gara missed touch with his penalty and the French player knocked it forward? Now we're playing advantage, right? Scrum if no advantage. Then a French player plays it while offside. Penalty given. Why does it not go back to the scrum? Does a penalty offence while playing advantage override the original decision?

Was wondering that myself unless the ref believed the french lad played the ball in a cynical attempt to prevent any advantage accruing to Ireland.

Should have been a scrum for original offence.

[mackers]

Fed up watching this team with all the knock-ons and giving away penalties.
Week in week f**king out thats all you get

The penalty count was very frustrating especially as the vast majority were needless, that's to say that we weren't under any real pressure of conceding tries for any of them.

Is it not fair to say that Kidney is trying to get them to play more expansive rugby? A tactic that the Southern Hemisphere teams are going with and what we need to do if we're going to compete at the World Cup. These knock ons are annoying at this point but if the expansive style is persevered with they should be eliminated by the World Cup. One option to cut out the knock ons would be to play more conservatively but I don't think any of us want that.

I'd be a glass half full man myself and would be encouraged about the way we are trying to evolve our game plan with the World Cup in mind.

[Dinny Breen]

What's with this booing of opposing players? Is rugby the new soccer?

Can the people who know here explain that decision where O'Gara missed touch with his penalty and the French player knocked it forward? Now we're playing advantage, right? Scrum if no advantage. Then a French player plays it while offside. Penalty given. Why does it not go back to the scrum? Does a penalty offence while playing advantage override the original decision?

I know the ref was booed but didn't notice any players.

As for your question, if the ref deemed the player played the ball deliberately it is a penalty, if he thought it was accidental it would have been a scrum, school boy error from the French really.

[thewobbler]

Unless Kidney has muddled up his principles enough to risk World Cup progess against an outside chance of a Triple Crown, then the next 3 games must be used foremost  to blood and test players. I'm not talking wholesale changes - aside from the penalty count, Ireland were the better team yesterday. But, it must be time to work out if:

- Cronin is capable of keeping composure at this level.
- The team would actually miss D'Arcy's contributions, or would be better off without his mistakes. Trimble, Earls or Bowe might be better options at 13.
- There is merit in getting Shane Jennings involved as a scrapper no.7 instead of Wallace against some opponents, if not all.
- Paddy Wallace is capable of delivering at either OH or centre at international level. If not, Ian Humphreys should get some game time as a specialist OH as cover for the WC.
- Leo Cullen and DOC can work as a lock partnership, so that POC might actually get a rest during the WC.
- Tomas O'Leary has got compromising photos of Kidney.

I'd be thinking that if Kidney put out 10-12 of his first team in each of the remaining games, and allowed 3-5 players the opportunity to shine amongst the experienced regulars, it would only serve us well in this important of years.

[Bord na Mona man]

What's with this booing of opposing players? Is rugby the new soccer?

Can the people who know here explain that decision where O'Gara missed touch with his penalty and the French player knocked it forward? Now we're playing advantage, right? Scrum if no advantage. Then a French player plays it while offside. Penalty given. Why does it not go back to the scrum? Does a penalty offence while playing advantage override the original decision?

I know the ref was booed but didn't notice any players.

Chabal got booed when he cam on and when he got the ball.

[Donnellys Hollow]

What's with this booing of opposing players? Is rugby the new soccer?

Can the people who know here explain that decision where O'Gara missed touch with his penalty and the French player knocked it forward? Now we're playing advantage, right? Scrum if no advantage. Then a French player plays it while offside. Penalty given. Why does it not go back to the scrum? Does a penalty offence while playing advantage override the original decision?

I know the ref was booed but didn't notice any players.

Chabal got booed when he cam on and when he got the ball.

Chabal was not getting booed by the Irish supporters. That's some noise the French crowd make to salute him.

I thought the same every time he touched the ball in Croke Park two years ago but it's not the case.

[Bord na Mona man]

Is it not fair to say that Kidney is trying to get them to play more expansive rugby? A tactic that the Southern Hemisphere teams are going with and what we need to do if we're going to compete at the World Cup. These knock ons are annoying at this point but if the expansive style is persevered with they should be eliminated by the World Cup. One option to cut out the knock ons would be to play more conservatively but I don't think any of us want that.

I'd be a glass half full man myself and would be encouraged about the way we are trying to evolve our game plan with the World Cup in mind.

Yep, I think if Ireland had used the same gameplan as two years ago, they would have won.
Back then, O'Leary, O'Gara and Kearney kicked everything that came their way deep into the French half. The French being...the French spent the day running it back again from every angle and occasionally ballsed up.

Kidney is adamant he is sticking to the running game, so we should at least give it a chance to play out I suppose.
A few players look a bit out of their comfort zone and we'll see how they adapt.

[Hardy]

What's with this booing of opposing players? Is rugby the new soccer?

Can the people who know here explain that decision where O'Gara missed touch with his penalty and the French player knocked it forward? Now we're playing advantage, right? Scrum if no advantage. Then a French player plays it while offside. Penalty given. Why does it not go back to the scrum? Does a penalty offence while playing advantage override the original decision?

I know the ref was booed but didn't notice any players.

Chabal got booed when he cam on and when he got the ball.

Chabal was not getting booed by the Irish supporters. That's some noise the French crowd make to salute him.

I thought the same every time he touched the ball in Croke Park two years ago but it's not the case.

That's good to know and makes sense - couldn't figure out what he'd ever done to be the only (rugby) player to be singled out for abuse at Lansdowne Road.

[Myles Na G.]

Fed up watching this team with all the knock-ons and giving away penalties.
Week in week f**king out thats all you get

The penalty count was very frustrating especially as the vast majority were needless, that's to say that we weren't under any real pressure of conceding tries for any of them.

Is it not fair to say that Kidney is trying to get them to play more expansive rugby? A tactic that the Southern Hemisphere teams are going with and what we need to do if we're going to compete at the World Cup. These knock ons are annoying at this point but if the expansive style is persevered with they should be eliminated by the World Cup. One option to cut out the knock ons would be to play more conservatively but I don't think any of us want that. I'd be a glass half full man myself and would be encouraged about the way we are trying to evolve our game plan with the World Cup in mind.

Agree with that. Would rather see Ireland make mistakes trying to play the right kind of game, than see us sneak a win playing a limited, pick and drive style. Hopefully the unforced errors will be cut out against the Scots.

[AZOffaly]

Jaysus lads, what's happening down in Thomond Park tonight? Are Edinburgh's scrum that bad? It's years since I saw a Munster front row dominate in the scrum, but they are shoving Edinburgh down the Ennis Road at times.

Buckley's playing too, is he only deciding to play now that he's gotten the move to Sale?

The Munster tight 5 is Du Preez, Varley, Buckley, Donnacha Ryan and Micko

Munster still only winning by 3 and not playing that well other than that.

[Capt Pat]

Munster will have 2  international tightheads playing for other teams next year, add in sean cronin and you can see why munster are heading downhill.

[AZOffaly]

Munster will have 2  international tightheads playing for other teams next year, add in sean cronin and you can see why munster are heading downhill.

True. I'm hopeful a new forwards coach might bring that back as a strong point. Cronin is a loss, but Varley can play a bit as well. I'd have liked Ross to come to Munster alright, but I don't count Buckley as an international tight head.