The IRISH RUGBY thread

[Tony Baloney]

Ireland team v Italy:
15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Craig Casey; 1 Jeremy Loughman, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 James Ryan, 6 Cormac Izuchukwu, 7 Caelan Doris (capt.), 8 Jack Conan

Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Tom O'Toole, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 Tadhg Beirne, 21 Nick Timoney, 22 Jamison Gibson-Park, 23 Jack Crowley

A few changes in the Ireland team and panel from the trimming at the hands of the French.

Italy are a decent team and it will be tight enough on Saturday, but not to win will leave Ireland in a bit of a dead season, might mean more new blood which wouldn't be a bad thing long term.

Good to see Farrell firing a few shots. The were criticised for lack of pace and not fronting up physically against France so Baloucoune and Conan are obvious responses to that. Big Edogbo coming off the bench will do no harm either.

[Tony Baloney]

Yes he should, he bigger than most previous flyhalfs for Ireland.at about 6ft 2in, but a basic of rubgy is knowing how to tackle. The fact that its common knowledge he missed so many, means he actually invites more players to run down his channel trying to force breaks.

I think he's closer to 6'4" and he's about 95kg so he's not going to bully many boys off the ball but he should be able to make a tackle.

[trileacman]

Yes he should, he bigger than most previous flyhalfs for Ireland.at about 6ft 2in, but a basic of rubgy is knowing how to tackle. The fact that its common knowledge he missed so many, means he actually invites more players to run down his channel trying to force breaks.

I think he's closer to 6'4" and he's about 95kg so he's not going to bully many boys off the ball but he should be able to make a tackle.

Straight down the gullet he can tackle. He doesn't lack the physicality. His problem is that he's slow and so he's late to pretty much every back field tackle. He'd be much better off in the defensive centre and letting the wings and full back mark the back field. I mean like he's criminally slow on the cover. Slower even than Ramos who's pretty bad too.

[trileacman]

Ireland team v Italy:
15 Jamie Osborne, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Craig Casey; 1 Jeremy Loughman, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 James Ryan, 6 Cormac Izuchukwu, 7 Caelan Doris (capt.), 8 Jack Conan

Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Tom O'Toole, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 Tadhg Beirne, 21 Nick Timoney, 22 Jamison Gibson-Park, 23 Jack Crowley

A few changes in the Ireland team and panel from the trimming at the hands of the French.

Italy are a decent team and it will be tight enough on Saturday, but not to win will leave Ireland in a bit of a dead season, might mean more new blood which wouldn't be a bad thing long term.

Good to see Farrell firing a few shots. The were criticised for lack of pace and not fronting up physically against France so Baloucoune and Conan are obvious responses to that. Big Edogbo coming off the bench will do no harm either.

Ballsy selection. I like balacoune, he has size and speed, the modern winger. Very harsh on Beirne who wasn't a problem last week. I look forward to seeing edogbo and izchukwu playing despite the fact I don't think either are up to it. Edogbo in particular is a media darling simply because he looks like he'd be effective. The rugby reality can often be quite different.

[JPGJOHNNYG]

Loads of possession but a lot of poor decisions and terrible passess already ffs

[gallsman]

All a bit crap really.

[Blowitupref]

All a bit crap really.

Irish team lacking spark. Italy lead 10-5 after 33 minutes.

[johnnycool]

Ireland are poor here.

Italy looks like they smell blood in the water

[JPGJOHNNYG]

Pretty much everything they are doing is going wrong. After last week's farce you would have expected some reaction but no it's more of the same crap. The card was a joke but those are the rules. SP has been woeful yet again

[gallsman]

Card was fine. ITV commentary was saying Casey was unlucky as he got stepped a bit but I didn't see much. He has less of an excuse than anyone else on the pitch for not getting low. If anything he got somewhat lucky that the the Italian guy the forearm up and smashed him backwards or the head contact could have been worse.

[Blowitupref]

Deserved half time lead for Italy. Ireland surely can't be as poor 2nd half?

[gallsman]

Could do with trying to look hard a bit less and just getting on with it. Ryan was daft there at the end with everyone else already running off.

[Captain Scarlet]

Italy nearly had an intercept try. Then the little kick down the middle, similar to the one that France scored off, nearly caught us again.
Casey and Prendergast on more than one occassion just stopped and were unsure what to do with ball in hand.

[Blowitupref]

10 each after 43 minutes need to kick on now.

[Milltown Row2]

Is the kickers eyes painted on? f**k me!