The IRISH RUGBY thread

[JPGJOHNNYG]

Crowley one of the worst kick converting No.10s i ever seen, that kick was easy for this level!

Him and prendergast missing absolute sitters

[Wildweasel74]

Some no look pass there to be honest!

[screenexile]

I have no idea how Ireland will be able to turn this scrum around for next year!!

Fairly average performance this evening but Wales didn't give an inch to be fair to them.

[Blowitupref]

Got the win while not overly convincing. Ireland 27 Wales 17.

[Wildweasel74]

The biggest problem 10, has been since Sexton left. Reality was Sexton was one of the few elite No.10 in the game past 25yrs. We got 1 guy who cant tackle, devoid of confidence and the other limited in attack. Either cant shoot great. U relying on Park to dictate the play. Even if u had a great pack and lethal attack,this No.10 issue means we win nothing. Still a few very good players not playing with long term injury., to come bck, but we need the bck up players to have the bite in this game, we were lacking that the nite. Conan was very good.

[JPGJOHNNYG]

Wales very good in defense but not much in attack. Ireland really quite poor and the scrum is a mess

[Dag Dog]

Furlong is finished at this level.

[Wildweasel74]

His fitness is catching up with him, maybe better coming on as a replacement from nxt yr.

[Wildweasel74]

Scrum comes down to weight from 4 and 5 too, Ryan never a great scrummager, and the normal hooker and loose head to come bck,though Porter gives away fouls.

[SouthOfThe Bann]

Why is the standard of kicking so poor fron some teams in rugby.

Most junior teams in GAA have a place ball kicker capable of kicking 2 pointers.

Why cant proffessional rugby teams have nailed on kickers.

[GTP]

And why does James Ryan not know the rules? Someone with expertise might prove me wrong but the penalties he gives away seem very basic.

[Sportacus]

It's all a bit, not very exciting.

[thewobbler]

Why is the standard of kicking so poor fron some teams in rugby.

Most junior teams in GAA have a place ball kicker capable of kicking 2 pointers.

Why cant proffessional rugby teams have nailed on kickers.

Ireland have been perhaps a little spoiled the past 20 years with (latter stage version) Humphreys, O'Gara and Sexton all being big game kickers, and the likes of Madigan, Wallace and Jackson all being better than average under pressure.

Perhaps a downside of this productively from fly halves being so good at kicking points, is that coaches / teams at all levels have made place kicking into a specialist role for no.10s.

Whist getting a forward like John Eales or a winger like Niall Woods who doesn't  melt under pressure is a rare thing, it does seem odd that Ireland hasn't produced a full back or scum half in 30 years who has been happy to assume these duties.

[Wildweasel74]

Very few countries outside Francecl dont use a No.10 for Kicking. Barrett had do it a while as his replacement couldn't placekick for shit.

[thewobbler]

Very few countries outside Francecl dont use a No.10 for Kicking. Barrett had do it a while as his replacement couldn't placekick for shit.

Yes and I fully understand why it's natural for a fly half - who by nature has to be composed and have a strong leg (unless you're Bernie Larkham) - to be the most like place kicker in a team.

But Australia, South Africa and Scotland would have a long history of not forcing the job on the man in the 10 shirt. And Leigh Halfpenny kicked from full back for Wales for a decade. That's pretty much half of the tier one nations.