Rugby World Cup 2011

[ExcellentDriver]

Any word of the other groups?

Thank God Freeview has ITV4 so I can see the likes of Canada or Japan! 

[Dinny Breen]

I think Ireland need to focus on their own strengths and not what Oz can do, make it a war of attrition up front, Wallace, Ferris, Heaslip and O'Brien are all dynamic ball carriers, the Australian midfield isn't great and if we minimize the number of rucks Pocock who isn't in great form will have less influence.  Wallace by the way is no more a natural 7 than O'Brien.

Ireland have the game to beat Australia and we don't fear them.

Need to beat France and England though or forget about it.

[mc_grens]

I think Ireland need to focus on their own strengths and not what Oz can do, make it a war of attrition up front, Wallace, Ferris, Heaslip and O'Brien are all dynamic ball carriers, the Australian midfield isn't great and if we minimize the number of rucks Pocock who isn't in great form will have less influence.  Wallace by the way is no more a natural 7 than O'Brien.

Ireland have the game to beat Australia and we don't fear them.

Need to beat France and England though or forget about it.

I agree with you 99% Dinny, I just would rather see Wally in at 7, he's not a natural traditional 7, but better a man that's been doing a good job there for province and country for years, than a newly converted 6.

[thewobbler]

Wallace by the way is no more a natural 7 than O'Brien.

This is a most valid point. Rewind to 4 years ago and people were telling you Ireland have no chance against McCaw without playing a groundhog openside.

Nothing has changed in Wallace's game since then to make him a more valid option for that role now.

Personally I like the thought of three bruising ball carriers targetting weak midfields. If it works just once a game it'll make up for losing a few rucks.

[Dinny Breen]

I think Ireland need to focus on their own strengths and not what Oz can do, make it a war of attrition up front, Wallace, Ferris, Heaslip and O'Brien are all dynamic ball carriers, the Australian midfield isn't great and if we minimize the number of rucks Pocock who isn't in great form will have less influence.  Wallace by the way is no more a natural 7 than O'Brien.

Ireland have the game to beat Australia and we don't fear them.

Need to beat France and England though or forget about it.

I agree with you 99% Dinny, I just would rather see Wally in at 7, he's not a natural traditional 7, but better a man that's been doing a good job there for province and country for years, than a newly converted 6.

If Wallace was starting in the morning I wouldn't be bothered, been a fan for years but age is not on his side but as you state his experience could be vital.

[Donnellys Hollow]

I don't think Trimble has good enough hands to play in the centre at international level.

I think O'Driscoll with McFadden outside him would represent our best chance of success but looking at the teams for the weekend he's probably behind D'Arcy, Wallace and Earls as a potential centre. If McFadden does travel it will probably be instead of Fitzgerald as a back up winger.

[whitegoodman]

If Ferris, O Brien and Heaslip start Ireland wont have a prayer against Oz imo.  Its all well and good being dynamic ball carriers but what is the point of you cant get the ball.  Would love to see Ferris being the impact sub coming on with 30 to go.

Someone else mentioned playing Earls at 12.  He simply doesnt have the ball skills to play this position and isnt big enough to be a crash ball centre either.  I await the backlash but i think the guy is a bit overrated.  He has been tried in just about every back position other than half backs and hasnt been brilliant at any.  Given Trimbles current form i would think it would be very harsh to drop him for earls and Bowe, if fit has to play.

1 month before the world cup a coach like kidney is not going to start trying Drico at inside centre so people would need to get that out of their head as well.  12 is going to be between Wallace and Darcy and I personally would pick Wallace.

[Donnellys Hollow]

O'Driscoll has played plenty of rugby at inside centre for Ireland and Leinster over the past few years. He always wears the 13 shirt for merchandising purposes.

[whitegoodman]

Are u saying that Darcy or wallace have played at outside centre?

[Donnellys Hollow]

D'Arcy has often played as an outside centre. Himself and O'Driscoll have regularly switch positions during games.

Personally don't think Paddy Wallace is robust enough for international rugby. He gets blown away too regularly in the physical exchanges and he doesn't have enough attacking threat to compensate. If he wasn't able to cover at 10 and at full-back (in an emergency) I doubt he would have got half the chances he has been given down the years.

[whitegoodman]

I have seen to many Leinster games in person but ive been to croker and Aviva quite a bit and fail to recall seeing drico at inside centre for the majority of the game.  He may have done it for a certain phase of play or at a certain set piece move but other than that i cant recall it.  Or maybe i have missed it completly.

I have to laugh at this myth created by southern media "experts" like George Hook and Neil f**king Francis who criticise Paddy Wallace defending.  If you watch him against France last wk or more importantly when Ireland went down under a few years ago he wasnt exposed defensively at all. I happen to think Drico plays better beside him for Ireland than Darc.  Only my opinion though and I know im in the minority

[Dinny Breen]

A minority of one I say, I actually like Wallace as a player but his defence is too passive and he his line speed is too slow, look how many times he slips a tackle through poor foot placement. He simply played more for Ireland because of his defence, he was messed around too much in his early career.

BOD is 32 years of age, he could play 12 no problem and not just the occasional  cameo.

[muppet]

Best v Flannery - Best hasn't played well in a while but on form is worth his place. Flann is plagued by injury problems but when fit can be very influential. Verdict - I think Best will start.

O'Callaghan v the Rest - Disappointed Kidney hasn't a young lock on the way through but the only serious challenger is Leo Cullen who is older, has less international experience, doesn't have the tried and trusted partnership with O'Connell and didn't win a World Cup with Kidney - Verdict - there is no way Kidney will change his mind here.

Backrow - Kidney will start O'Brien, Heaslip & Wallace as 6, 8 & 7. If Ferris is fit and those 3 keep their respective form enough to keep him on the bench, we will have had some WC imho.

SH - Murray should go and might pip Boss depending on the three games. O'Leary will start unless he can't throw the ball out of his way against France. Mind boggling from Kidney really.

Wings - Bowe if fit and Earls. Trimble has done well and will get game time.

Centre - Kidney really should have developed an alternative other than Wallace (another Kidney World Cup winner) but he hasn't. I seriously doubt he will go with McFadden unfortunately. D'Arcy to start with Wallace as back up.

FB - Earls played here against England in our best 6N performance but they never really tested him, Jones is getting a chance but will Kidney really go for something new here? Luke blew it in the 6N and I would love to see Murphy travel. But Kearney will start.

16 forwards will be starters Healy, Best, Ross, POC, DOC, SOB, Jamie, Wally with Court, Flannery, Cullen, Ferris absolute certs if fit. That leaves four probably Buckley(!), Cronin, Leamy and Ryan/McCarthy.

14 backs will be 3 scrum halves, ROG, JS, starting back four of Earls, D'Arcy, BOD & Bowe, leaving 5 which will include Trimble, Wallace, McFadden and 2 from Luke, Jones and Geordan.

[screenexile]

We've learned a right bit from that pish today. D'arcy, O'Leary, Earls, Jones and Jennings should not be near our starting team.

A lot of poor performances today and as I suspected the tactic of trying to maul instead of creating a ruck won't work against the stronger teams. Surprisingly our scrum and lineout functioned well but we got creamed physically.

There's a lot to work on for the WC but I'm not completely down hearted Kearney, Bowe, Ferris and Flannery will strengthen the team. I am at a loss about who will play 12 though... Is Fitzgerald an option at all?? That's our biggest weakness!!

[Capt Pat]

These games don't count for anything. Build up confidence my arse. Go out and play at 100% and win today by 30 points and the same against England next week would only make us over confident and set us up for a fall. The only bad thing to come out of today was a bad injury to Felix Jones.