Ireland V. Italy, Sat Feb 6th. Croke Park. 14:30.*Mod Warning Post no. 296*

pappyodaniel

I'd like to see Reddan, what we lose in physicality we gain in quicker distribution. Cullen deserves to stay, he is my MOTM. At outhalf who knows what Kidney will decide. McLoughlin played well but Ferris is a loss. I'd keep Trimble, Earls coming off the bench when the oppostions legs are getting tired is a better option.

Shiite match, but i wouldn't read too much into it. Italy are notoriously difficult to play against in the first 6 nations game of the season, just a pity they dragged us down to their level.

A win is a win.

bleg

That was an awful gap

stackerman

Wood 'It will have to get better'
No ****

The Kiwi is right toooooo

bleg

pappyodaniel wrote: »

I'd like to see Reddan, what we lose in physicality we gain in quicker distribution. Cullen deserves to stay, he is my MOTM. At outhalf who knows what Kidney will decide. McLoughlin played well but Ferris is a loss. I'd keep Trimble, Earls coming off the bench when the oppostions legs are getting tired is a better option.

Disagree. I think our half backs were the major difference. TOL and ROG should stay.

If DOC is fit I want him back.

Earls has to start.

Catmologen

keving wrote: »

But cant change game plan, even wallace has changed things

How many tries did we get when he was on the field? Did sweet FA if you ask me.

patmac

Ireland lost 8-6 since O'Learys try which was the last 45 minutes, terrible stuff, Kearney poor, O'Leary too slow, rubbish.

thomond2006

Healy - 7
Flannery - 7
Hayes - 8
POC - 9
Cullen - 9
McLaughlin - 7
Wallace - 9
Heaslip - 8
TOL - 6
ROG - 8
Trimble - 7
D'Arcy - 7
BOD - 8
Bowe - 6 (not his fault, never got the ball)
Kearney - 6

The front five and Wallace were excellent today. DOC will be anxious about his place next week.
Very pleased with the Irish scrum.

TOL was average at best, Boss should be there but it won't happen.

Kearney's kicking was poor, summed up by that charge down.

Squiggle

ROG will deffo stay imo.

sock puppet

bleg wrote: »

Disagree. I think our half backs were the major difference. TOL and ROG should stay.

If DOC is fit I want him back.

Earls has to start.

Ahead of who? Trimble was far better.

handsomecake

justin marshall is a brilliant pundit.his analysis is very good. he has done some super stuff on sky lately too .

outwest

kearney should of been the one to come off, trimble was the best of the back 3. atleast the scrum didnt get murderd.

healy 6
flan 6
hayes 5
cullen 7
poc 7
mac 6
wallace 7
heaslip 7
tol 6
rog 7
darcy 6, wallace should of played this game, better passer at 12, darcy better defender should start against france
bod 7
trimble 7
bowe 6
kearny 6

bleg

I thought Trimble was poor. Should have owned the ball that led to Kearney's chargedown and their try. I prefer a speedster at 11 (Fitz or Earls) and a power house at 14 (Bowe or Horgan), Trimble is better suited to right wing.

Bowe was anonymous.

toomevara

That was shockingly awful from both teams...International level, professional rugby? Not on your nelly...We played very, very poorly. Roll on England/Wales.

sock puppet

bleg wrote: »

I thought Trimble was poor. Should have owned the ball that led to Kearney's chargedown and their try. I prefer a speedster at 11 (Fitz or Earls) and a power house at 14 (Bowe or Horgan), Trimble is better suited to right wing.

Bowe was anonymous.

He should have but the try was totally Kearney's fault. Trimble was the most incisive back on the pitch today. No way he should be dropped. I'd drop Bowe possible and bring Earls in but that's a lot of changes I suppose

rebel girl 15

Hippo wrote: »

Sexton has been injured for a couple of weeks.

He hasn't according to reports - he pulled up with a dead leg on Tuesday, played in Leinster game on the 23rd of Jan, scoring a great drop goal. Unless you have some inside info that hasn't been leaked?? He probably was in pole position to claim 10 for the Italian game over O Gara

thomond2006

We weren't great but I doubt this performance will have any bearing on next week to be honest.

BoarHunter

Wasn't the best to watch from an external point of view ... once again i think, 5 minutes of brilliance for Heaslip try and a few O'Driscoll kicks and handling.

But for the rest of it ... these guys are all very talentes players but when the ball goes into the back line it seems it will never go over the line ... the is so frustrating !

PhatPiggins

Scrum did well, ROG was good, in general it was puke though

Whole bench got a run which is a plus

Hippo

bleg wrote: »

Disagree. I think our half backs were the major difference. TOL and ROG should stay.

If DOC is fit I want him back.

Earls has to start.

Good to see the provincial stuff staying out of the thread.

the immortals

i think ireland just switched off because we were never gonna lose this match

Pyr0

What was the ending score fellas ?

sock puppet

thomond2006 wrote: »

We weren't great but I doubt this performance will have any bearing on next week to be honest.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. I expect an improvment for sure, but the breakdown was major problem against Australia too. Kearney's form for Leinster has been a bit mixed also, so unless he pulls a huge performance out of the bag I fear we'll see more of the same from him.

bleg

Hippo wrote: »

Good to see the provincial stuff staying out of the thread.

Got to love the provincial "Get out of jail free card"

wixfjord

bleg wrote: »

Disagree. I think our half backs were the major difference. TOL and ROG should stay.

If DOC is fit I want him back.

Earls has to start.

Objectively looking at it

ROG- played very well should have MOTM imo, and will start
TOL- poor game, has been poor for Munster, shouldnt start but will
DOC- May not be back, Leo played very well today, shouldnt start but if fit probably will
Earls-Great speedster, didnt do too much when he came on, Trimble played well and tackled like a monster and shouldnt be dropped, but Earls is more of a threat and a better finisher imo. 50/50

Whats your grievences with this analysis bleg, cos I think its fairly accurate.

Catmologen

I think ROG will stay for next week based on todays performance and his experience. I do think that Sexton has a good chance of starting the other home games in the 6N though.
Earls has to come in on the wing as well, I thought Trimble was poor. We forgive Kearney for one bad game, im sure he'll bounce back next week.

wixfjord

Catmologen wrote: »

I think ROG will stay for next week based on todays performance and his experience. I do think that Sexton has a good chance of starting the other home games in the 6N.
Earls has to come in on the wing as well, I thought Trimble was poor. We forgive Kearney for one bad game, im sure he'll bounce back next week.

Why? Did very well for the first try and made two or three very big tackles. What did he do wrong?

Risteard

Catmologen wrote: »

I think ROG will stay for next week based on todays performance and his experience. I do think that Sexton has a good chance of starting the other home games in the 6N though.
Earls has to come in on the wing as well, I thought Trimble was poor. We forgive Kearney for one bad game, im sure he'll bounce back next week.

Why not forgive Trimble for 'one bad game,' when he played the best out of the back 3?

profitius

Poor from Ireland but they didn't set the world on fire on the way to winning the grandslam last year.

Catmologen

wixfjord wrote: »

Why? Did very well for the first try and made two or three very big tackles. What did he do wrong?

Exactly, thats all he did. Should have finished the 1st try on his own, indecision cost him. Offered very little in attack other than that. For me Earls offers a lot more.

Hippo

rebel girl 15 wrote: »

He hasn't according to reports - he pulled up with a dead leg on Tuesday, played in Leinster game on the 23rd of Jan, scoring a great drop goal. Unless you have some inside info that hasn't been leaked?? He probably was in pole position to claim 10 for the Italian game over O Gara

I'm pretty sure he got the injury during the LI game, worsened after it, no big secret.

Co45

Quite shocked Leo Cullen wasn't named MOTM, stole 5 line outs and was excellent throughout. He has to stay for next week. Kearney was terrible but I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, same with Bowe. Trimble was one of our best backs along with O'Driscoll. D'arcy got zero ball which was disappointing, too much kicking. McLaughlin had a solid debut, made himself avaliable and carried well. Heaslip was also excellent.

I thought O'Gara had a good game but my problem is [and I believe Hook touched on it a few mins ago] was that Ireland had so much ball from set pieces and not once did we look threatening. O'Gara just isn't the same running outhalf he once was. His passing is excellent [lovely pass to Trimble] and he kicked well but he just can't release the backline like we saw Sexton do against South Africa that said I wouldn't change outhalfs for the France game as Sexton lacks match practice. I thought O'Leary was brilliant today really don't understand all the negativity against him. Ideally I'd keep the same 15 with Cullen staying at second row and if fit Ferris coming back in.


Anyone else a bit shocked Wallace got MOTM? I was positive it would be Cullen yet the panel didn't even seem to notice how many lineouts he won.

Catmologen

Risteard wrote: »

Why not forgive Trimble for 'one bad game,' when he played the best out of the back 3?

Because he's not an established player and one of the best in his position in the world.:rolleyes:

Hippo

bleg wrote: »

Got to love the provincial "Get out of jail free card"

Got to love the 'objective analysis'!! I'd agree TOL played well, at least in the first half and is miles ahead of Reddan. There's no convincing case for DOC ahead of Leo on today's evidence though.

sock puppet

Catmologen wrote: »

Exactly, thats all he did. Should have finished the 1st try on his own, indecision cost him. Offered very little in attack other than that. For me Earls offers a lot more.

Indecision? Did you see the move? He was brought down after a superb break and managed to offload the ball. No way he could have finished it. Why drop our best back today when if you were to make changes there are players much more deserving of dropping?

wixfjord

Co45 wrote: »

Quite shocked Leo Cullen wasn't named MOTM, stole 5 line outs and was excellent throughout. He has to stay for next week. Kearney was terrible but I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, same with Bowe. Trimble was one of our best backs along with O'Driscoll. D'arcy got zero ball which was disappointing, too much kicking. McLaughlin had a solid debut, made himself avaliable and carried well. Heaslip was also excellent.

I thought O'Gara had a good game but my problem is [and I believe Hook touched on it a few mins ago] was that Ireland had so much ball from set pieces and not once did we look threatening. O'Gara just isn't the same running outhalf he once was. His passing is excellent [lovely pass to Trimble] and he kicked well but he just can't release the backline like we saw Sexton do against South Africa that said I would change outhalfs for the France game as Sexton lacks match practice. I thought O'Leary was brilliant today really don't understand all the negativity against him. Ideally I'd keep the same 15 with Cullen staying at second row and if fit Ferris coming back in.


Anyone else a bit shocked Wallace got MOTM? I was positive it would be Cullen yet the panel didn't even seem to notice how many lineouts he won.

Great first post welcome to the board! I feel the same re: Cullen, was very very surprised that Wallace got MOTM.

Co45

Catmologen wrote: »

Exactly, thats all he did. Should have finished the 1st try on his own, indecision cost him. Offered very little in attack other than that. For me Earls offers a lot more.

He was very unlucky for the first try just caught but still did excellently. He did very well with what he got. Did a lot more than Bowe anyway. Such illogical venom towards Trimble for some reason [Do people still blame him for that try against France? You know the one where you can see Leamy pointing for him to come off his wing..]

seanin4711

It was Italy for flip sake!!!
made them look impressive for the duration of the second half!
true for brent pope we need to be building momentum not taking our foot off the gas when the teams are there to be beaten.#Thats the difference between northern and southern hemisphere teams,the southern teams will up it when needs be when there is a lull in the game.(justin marshall on bbc cannot stand ryle nugent!)
second half YAWN!!!
very poor performance.
slan
s

Danakin

To be honest I thought that was an awful game of rugby. Ireland were never really going to lose the game and the Italians confirmed everything we already know about them-no true try-scoring threat and experts at slowing the game/ball down.

That doesn't excuse Ireland though. These are the games where we really should be clinical and ruthless and play at a tempo that lesser teams like Italy can't live with.

Speed to and clearing out of the rucks was poor today like it was in the Australia game in the autumn which I put down to Pocock's influence then but the blame has to rest with Ireland today.

O'Leary and Kearney were the real problems today as up front we performed well. Worries about O'Gara were unfounded and if Sexton or him start next week I won't worry about 10. If we talk about form though I think O'Leary should go for Reddan or Boss even though I'm not convinced entirely by either. To be honest Stringer would be the most interesting option.

Kearney will stay,as O'Leary probably will, but his form is definitely not quite what it was. Earls should start not because Trimble was particularly bad but because Earls is a real threat from deep and he is maybe the only true speedster we have.

Hope that we'll see a very different Ireland next week and the "golf major" mentality mentioned on the tv will be the case. We will have more opportunities to play and the question is whether we can physically cope if France bring what they did against SA. For that reason Cullen should stay.

Catmologen

Co45 wrote: »

He was very unlucky for the first try just caught but still did excellently. He did very well with what he got. Did a lot more than Bowe anyway. Such illogical venom towards Trimble for some reason [Do people still blame him for that try against France? You know the one where you can see Leamy pointing for him to come off his wing..]

Its my opinion, deal with it.

komodosp

What gets said in the dressing room? Ireland with several chances that would have been tries in the first half. But far more aggressive defence from Italy. Do the Italians just say, "we're losing by x, if we can keep it at that then job done" and just lock down the defence/play just to upset Irish attack with no sort of ambition to attack?

wixfjord

Catmologen wrote: »

Exactly, thats all he did. Should have finished the 1st try on his own, indecision cost him. Offered very little in attack other than that. For me Earls offers a lot more.

Thats crazy analysis. Bar BOD, none of the other outside backs did anything remotely as good as Trimble today. Earls did nothing when he came on either. So what were left with is that Trimble played fairly well while others did not, and is in great form, while Earls did nothing when he came on, and isnt in the same forum. Bit of common sense doesnt go astray. Why start Earls when theres no reason for him to start. Its like the argument in Autumn when Sexton was playing immensely better, but people were arguing for ROG to start because of experience and name. Lots of posters changing their positons based on province, eh Catmalogen?

wixfjord

Co45 wrote: »

He was very unlucky for the first try just caught but still did excellently. He did very well with what he got. Did a lot more than Bowe anyway. Such illogical venom towards Trimble for some reason [Do people still blame him for that try against France? You know the one where you can see Leamy pointing for him to come off his wing..]

Keep posting like that please!

Co45

wixfjord wrote: »

Thats crazy analysis. Bar BOD, none of the other outside backs did anything remotely as good as Trimble today. Earls did nothing when he came on either. So what were left with is that Trimble played fairly well while others did not, and is in great form, while Earls did nothing when he came on, and isnt in the same forum. Bit of common sense doesnt go astray. Why start Earls when theres no reason for him to start. Its like the argument in Autumn when Sexton was playing immensely better, but people were arguing for ROG to start because of experience and name. Lots of posters changing their positons based on province, eh Catmalogen?

I do agree with this. What exactly did Earls do in the period he was on the pitch to warrant all these calls for his inclusion over Trimble?

Lets be honest, Trimble could of played the best game of his life and you'd still be making up excuses to exclude him simply because Earls is younger and more flash. Calls for Earls' inclusion over Trimble were decided by some posters long before this game had kicked off.

Catmologen

wixfjord wrote: »

Thats crazy analysis. Bar BOD, none of the other outside backs did anything remotely as good as Trimble today. Earls did nothing when he came on either. So what were left with is that Trimble played fairly well while others did not, and is in great form, while Earls did nothing when he came on, and isnt in the same forum. Bit of common sense doesnt go astray. Why start Earls when theres no reason for him to start. Its like the argument in Autumn when Sexton was playing immensely better, but people were arguing for ROG to start because of experience and name. Lots of posters changing their positons based on province, eh Catmalogen?

You're trying to flag this to the mods because your agument makes no sense. Pathetic. I've already said that Sexton should play if you read back the thread.
Earls is the better option in my OPINION.

Co45

Catmologen wrote: »

Its my opinion, deal with it.

:rolleyes:

wixfjord

Catmologen wrote: »

Trying to flag this to the mods because your agument makes no sense. Pathetic. I've already said that Sexton should play if you read back the thread.
Earls is the better option in my OPINION.

Flag to the mods
Back up your opinion then, whats it based on??!

jayteecorktemp

Jesus I run so bad when I bet on sports.

Had Ireland -20. They get a kick in front of the posts with 5 mins to go which would have won my bet but WTF they went for a scrum.

seanin4711

Catmologen wrote: »

Trying to flag this to the mods because your agument makes no sense. Pathetic. I've already said that Sexton should play if you read back the thread.
Earls is the better option in my OPINION.

and thats his opinion!
why would you want to flag this?
confused

Co45

Catmologen wrote: »

Earls is the better option in my OPINION.

Why? Earls has played centre this season and has been good but not outstanding. Trimble has been playing wing all season and been in magnificent form. Today he was our best back. What possible reason could you give?

outwest

the reason earls should be ther is because he from munster, he was a lion and he has played exelent this season, gough as a centre, :D:D

same team for next week, cullen had a great game