Rugby World Cup 2011

[Main Street]

You'd think O'Connell would break into a smile seeing as this is the second game of any note, that Ireland have won at a rugby world cup.

[amallon]

Unreal atmosphere, O'Driscoll was almost drowning in adrenaline at the end when giving his speech.
Tough on Murray not getting the try, we all shared his exclamation but ultimately it didn't matter, it wasn't a day for coming up short.
Is there any harm with having both Sexton and O'Gara on at the same time? Sexton just does not inspire confidence at any time from any distance with his penalties, he just does not gather any confidence from converting one or two, that you can say 'yes he'll pop this 25m kick over nice and easy'. The missed easy penalties just demonstrated the unquenchable belief this team had on the day, that they had the beating of Australia in all areas.

I'd be interested to know if this could work as well.  Sexton misses too many important penalties for Ireland. 

It was some win! 

[Main Street]

A proud O'Gara brimming with patriotic tears in his interview.

I'm about 30 mins behind real time.

[Donnellys Hollow]

Great performance and finally revenge for twenty years ago in Lansdowne! Really didn't see that coming at all.

The pack were immense particularly the front row. I'd have expressed reservations about Best in the past but he had his best game for Ireland out there. This result really gives us a great shot at getting to at least a semi-final. The aftermath of the match was good to see. There was no lepping around the place at the final whistle and all of the interviews were quite grounded and measured.

What is very encouraging is that there is still room for improvement. Sexton kicked poorly and left at least six points behind. We also should have had at least one try. Heaslip too was fairly quiet and is yet to find form. Kearney should also come on a bit for the 75 minutes or so he played.

[Celt_Man]

magic, magic.....

[Main Street]

I hope these players remember they are professionals representing their country, in the middle of a world cup tournament, when they talk about (wild? uninhibited?) celebrations.

[gawa316]

I was screaming like a little girl when Bowe intercepted that pass and ran up the field at the end. Great stuff.

Snap, we scared the shite outta the cub by squealing like school girls as Bowe made the break

[Celt_Man]

Why was Murray's try disallowed?

[Shamrock Shore]

I too screamed like a little girl when Bowe almost did a Noel Mannion.

I was glad I was so wrong about my thoughts that a shoeing was on the cards.

Great stuff Ireland - now please go find a few dwarfs to throw and a few blondes to grope.

[Milltown Row2]

Why was Murray's try disallowed?

Offside, they said!! as i nearly dropped my computer when he ran through

[muppet]

Today was a great day to be Irish, I'd imagine the lads in Oz like Stephenite and Aerlik are walking 20 feet tall.

Some performance by the tight 5, but we need to keep them all fit. Back row were awesome as well with Heaslip looking slightly ordinary but mainly because the flankers were demolishing the Aussies. But it is a worry with Wallace and Flannery gone there isn't much quality to come into that pack. Pray they all stay fit.

We have a problem at 9 where we have guys with different strengths and weaknesses. Both players today made some poor decisions at times and in a big game sometime they won't have such an amount of quick ball. I'd like a look at how Boss is playing so I hope he starts against Russia with Murray coming on.

Sexton was ok, a couple of kicks aside but I would persevere with him. O'Gara is a great man to bring on especially behind a pack that has won its war.

12 is going to be a problem, McFadden to start the next day and hopefully he has a stormer. Kearney started awfully but to his great credit he recovered fully from that and played well especially in the 2nd quarter. Earls (first touch apart) and Bowe both played well will very little ball.

We now face possibly 3 games as favourites which is a different proposition to today. The squad needs to be rotated wisely, e.g. Cullen will start and be Captain the next day but does he rest both O'Cs or just O'Connell? O'Callaghan looks super-fit to me so could conceivably play every week but we might regret that later. Maybe Ryan starting next week?

Credit to Kidney fo today. He has got it spot on, tactically and selection wise.

[quit yo jibbajabba]

dont know the ins and outs of this oul game, but like watchin irlande all the same, unreal pride in the country etc;

after ten mins, and after knowing all the pre-wc defeats, i wasnt ready to turn over, but i was gonna start doin bits and pieces round the house while keepin an eye on her...then it all kicked into place!!!

wonderful, wonderful performance, obrien and healy are savage men, takin nothin away from the rest of them; would have been some try by bowe had it went over;

fcuk does the hook man ever be happy??
O'Gara near in tears sums the whole thing up;

take a bow boys (and a dozen pints)

[Celt_Man]

O'Gara damn near in tears being interviewed about the pride he has in his country and team was great to see and fairly touching tbh too...

Nearly wish the Russia game was in the morning (4.30am KO - can't wait for that).  Hopefully Deccie avoids the failing of Eddie the Eagle and starts damn near everyone else the next day.  Just thinking on my feet here but...

McFadden; Wallace; Cullen and Ryan; Leamy; Court; Cronin, Boss; Varley to get game time; Buckley (God forgive me!); Jennings; Murphy and Trimble should all see significant game time to keep everyone in the zone...

13 names there which would leave 9 boys involved today in the match day 22, with 3 or 4 starting - which is probably a decent balance

[Declan]

Good post muppet. agreed 100%- O'Gara's interview was fantastic

[muppet]

On again on TG4.

Much more relaxed watching it this time!