Rugby World Cup 2011

[lynchbhoy]

Englands backs are probably bigger than the All Blacks forwards too. However they are still pretty shit at center. Tuilagi is talented but he is always cruisin for a bruisin or more likely a suspension. The English don't know how to run a backline against better teams.

I wish Ireland were as 'shit' at centre !!
The English backline is still experimental- I'd like to see that back division given a go in the wc - and with a bit of time training and a bit of gametime together, they could be superb.
Tuilagi or Tindell  - or Darcy - I know who i'd pick !

[Capt Pat]

We have O Driscoll as well

Englands backs are probably bigger than the All Blacks forwards too. However they are still pretty shit at center. Tuilagi is talented but he is always cruisin for a bruisin or more likely a suspension. The English don't know how to run a backline against better teams.

I wish Ireland were as 'shit' at centre !!
The English backline is still experimental- I'd like to see that back division given a go in the wc - and with a bit of time training and a bit of gametime together, they could be superb.
Tuilagi or Tindell  - or Darcy - I know who i'd pick !

[Capt Pat]

New Zealand took it easy just like England did in the last six nations game. England got hockeyed and were lucky not to be beaten by more. The all blacks almost won.

Whitegoodman, there's no doubt I've got tricolour tinted specs on.

Yet while I haven't missed the decline of the Irish team in recent seasons. at the same time, I must have missed the bit when SA, Australia and France showed themselves as reliable, world class performers.

The truth in my mind is that no team apart from NZ has any credentials worth talking about for this tournament.

Yep, only France or SA have the big game mentality to overthrow the All Blacks (and I really hope one of them does). But should that happen, realistically any of Ireland, Wales, England, Australia, SA or even Argentina could actually win it.

New Zealand were beaten by Australia yesterday... I don't understand why you think only New Zealand have the credentials to win the World Cup.

Ireland's best 15 playing at the max of their ability will have a shout against Australia or South Africa, no more no less. Even at that we'd need both of those teams not to be firing on all cylinders for us to win. Unfortunantely at the moment with Wallace out we won't have our best 15 and it is difficult to imagine how we will find form to win either of those two games.

To suggest however that our squad is the second best in the tournament is borderline lunacy.
France's second string only beat us comfortably two weeks ago. Matt Giteau can't even make the Australian squad.

[lynchbhoy]

We have O Driscoll as well

you miss my point
which would you rather have to select
Tindall
tuilagi
or
darcy.

to be honest, I'd also have tuilagi and tindall over darcy and odriscoll- both are gone.
O'Driscoll still a fantastic finisher at times though.
IMO the centre position needs bigger men than 5' 9" darcy and 5' 10 Odriscoll

[mc_grens]

We have O Driscoll as well

you miss my point
which would you rather have to select
Tindall
tuilagi
or
darcy.

to be honest, I'd also have tuilagi and tindall over darcy and odriscoll- both are gone.
O'Driscoll still a fantastic finisher at times though.
IMO the centre position needs bigger men than 5' 9" darcy and 5' 10 Odriscoll

Lynchbhoy, are you Martin Johnston in disguise? 

That's a knee jerk reaction to one bad result. Our superior midfield play has been one of the reasons we've had the upper hand over England in the last few years! Every so often a banger comes along who can also play ball for sure, but putting Tindall in the same class as O'Driscoll even at this stage of the latter's career is crazy.  Tindall and Tuilagi were afforded the chance to look much better than they are on Saturday because their pack was emphatically pushing ours around.

We need to find a way of becoming more dynamic at the breakdown- this is where the Southern Hemisphere sides are miles ahead of us. England are Donegal-esque in that they are set up purely to frustrate.

[GalwayBayBoy]

We have O Driscoll as well

you miss my point
which would you rather have to select
Tindall
tuilagi
or
darcy.

to be honest, I'd also have tuilagi and tindall over darcy and odriscoll- both are gone.
O'Driscoll still a fantastic finisher at times though.
IMO the centre position needs bigger men than 5' 9" darcy and 5' 10 Odriscoll

The game at the weekend was probably Tindall's best game for England since they won the WC in 2003. England fans have been desperately wanting him out of the team for the past 5 years at least. Tuilagi is a good prospect alright but he was up against a winger playing at outside centre and Earls has never been good defensively playing at 13. Tuilagi was always going to run through him at some point in that game.

[BarryBreensBandage]

This had better be a cunning plan for Kidney and his coaches not to show their hand, and for a different Ireland to show up at the WC.
I cannot for the life of me understand why the IRFU went and handed him a new contract before NZ - after doing exactly the same thing with O'Sullivan in 2007.

[Capt Pat]

This had better be a cunning plan for Kidney and his coaches not to show their hand, and for a different Ireland to show up at the WC.
I cannot for the life of me understand why the IRFU went and handed him a new contract before NZ - after doing exactly the same thing with O'Sullivan in 2007.

The same man Philip Brown is in charge. He has been there for donkeys years.

[orangeman]

Does anybody know what the nature of David Wallace's knee injury was ?

[Mayo4Sam]

Ligaments according to the BBC this morning, 6 months out

[redhandloo]

Are we allowed a replacement for Wallace?  If so, does Jennings get the nod?

[GalwayBayBoy]

Are we allowed a replacement for Wallace?  If so, does Jennings get the nod?

Jennings has already been called up.

[redhandloo]

Are we allowed a replacement for Wallace?  If so, does Jennings get the nod?

Jennings has already been called up.

Cheers GBB

[Capt Pat]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/worldcup/2011/0903/ireland_smalg.html

Gert Smal says Ireland have something special. FOr what its worth I agree and think we will beat the Aussies. After that who knows.

[GalwayBayBoy]

Looks like the squad are enjoying themselves anyway.