Ireland vs Wales, Saturday 8th February, 2:30pm, Aviva Stadium

bozzo

corny wrote: »

He makes one or two when he has a good game, which is every third game or so. I think he's one of the most overrated players in the NH tbh. I'd be fairly certain SOB (a converted 7) would affect far more rucks over the course of a season.

well SOB is world class aswell, I'd take SOB everyday of the wk ahead of Warburton. But in fairness to Warburton he nearly always puts in big performances in the crunch games, all the RWC(except semi), england last yr, 2 lions tests come to mind. He can be quite ordinary when the opposition aren't really a threat.
btw this is all in the red jersey, don't ask me what happens to him when he lines out for cardiff, on club form tipuric should get picked every time

shuffol

Wouldnt call poaching a massive part of Warburtons game, his strengths lie in his ability to hit rucks all day long and physicality in that department. I'd expect POM to have a higher steal count.

Not very confident about today, barring from a rolling maul I think we'll struggle to score tries. I think Wales are the more likely side to score out of nothing. Looking forward to O'Connells matchup against AWJ, you feel there's been a passing of the baton of best lock in the 6N over the last few years but if POC has one of those days I dont think anyone in the NH can match his influence.

bozzo

Buer wrote: »

Maybe you should. This is the guy who was ref when Leinster won away to Clermont and Ospreys and the guy who red carded the Racing player last season in Thomond.

he didn't favour leinster in either of those matches, they won despite him not because he helped them out.
And Battuts' red card shouldn't have been??? he kneed a defenseless player in the head after the whistle had gone, u reckon that should be let slide ya

Red Pepper

My confidence is ebbing away the closer we get to this match.

Swiwi.

Grimebox wrote: »

Waterford Whisper News never fails

Anyone else worried about Barnes ruling BOD ran obstruction behind Darcy's beard? It's a pretty impressive decoy these days. I'd imagine we'd all be up in arms if Roberts tried the same thing.

bozzo

Red Pepper wrote: »

My confidence is ebbing away the closer we get to this match.

I'm getting more confident, mainly cos the odds have shortened a little, & the bookies know best!!!

Swiwi.

bozzo wrote: »

I'm getting more confident, mainly cos the odds have shortened a little, & the bookies know best!!!

The odds have shortened because there's last minute betting on Ireland. At least that's my limited take on it.

Fireball07

Faletau, on form, is absolutely brilliant. Really well-rounded player- athletic, mobile, is naturally skilful, strong carrier and impressive at the breakdown. Not sure about his tackle counts, they might be slightly lower than some of the others but when you're in the same back row as Lydiate, that's fair enough, I'm sure they would increase if he had to take on more of the burden.

Happyman42

Just let the GAME BEGIN already! :mad:











*I can't take it anymore!

Tox56

Fireball07 wrote: »

Faletau, on form, is absolutely brilliant. Really well-rounded player- athletic, mobile, is naturally skilful, strong carrier and impressive at the breakdown. Not sure about his tackle counts, they might be slightly lower than some of the others but when you're in the same back row as Lydiate, that's fair enough, I'm sure they would increase if he had to take on more of the burden.

Some brilliant head to heads today:

Healy v Jenkins
Best v Hibbard
POC v AWJ
POM v Lydiate
Heaslip v Faletau
Murray v Phillips
Darce v Roberts
Kearney v Halfpenny

In most cases at least one and often both of those 2 have represented the Lions in their respective positions on recent tours

We've also been denied

SOB v Warburton
Fitzgerald/Zebo/Earls v North
Bowe v Cuthbert

Going to be some absolutely classic games between these 2 teams over the next few years

bozzo

Swiwi. wrote: »

The odds have shortened because there's last minute betting on Ireland. At least that's my limited take on it.

I'd be very much into (profitable) betting. Late money by the masses is a good sign in betting, & this is across the board with the bookies. So the moneys going on Ireland.
tbh the value is with wales, 2 time champs, won 3 of last 4, Away teams record in this head 2 head, Ireland only won 2 outta 10 when Barnes refs, all these indicators with wales 13/10 is relative value. Personally i wouldn't bet on this match in a million yrs, it's a genuine 50/50

bozzo

wonder who's on the panel 2day, maybe ROG can get 2points in before half 2:D

bozzo

Swiwi. wrote: »

The odds have shortened because there's last minute betting on Ireland. At least that's my limited take on it.

ya, what i should have articulated is that the bookies set Ireland out as favourites(5/6) & they know best, & now the money is coming in from the punters to shorten the odds to 8/11, anyways roll on the rugby!!

Grimebox

I just hope Ireland play well............. win or lose

eyeball kid

Just arriving up into Dublin now. At least the rain kept off. Helps Ireland a bit?

Grimebox

eyeball kid wrote: »

Just arriving up into Dublin now. At least the rain kept off. Helps Ireland a bit?

I think up the jumper rugby could slightly benefit Ireland. I would hate to see it regardless

accensi0n

RTE player acting up for anyone else?

sullivlo

accensi0n wrote: »

RTE player acting up for anyone else?

You're only missing a manky tie a la hook.

Grimebox

accensi0n wrote: »

RTE player acting up for anyone else?

Yeah its cutting out and showing bits of "Home and Away". omg spoilers? I have it recorded for later :pac:

eyeball kid

Grimebox wrote: »

I just hope Ireland play well............. win or lose

I don't know. I think a win is more important today than the performance.

CatFromHue

bozzo wrote: »

he didn't favour leinster in either of those matches, they won despite him not because he helped them out.
And Battuts' red card shouldn't have been??? he kneed a defenseless player in the head after the whistle had gone, u reckon that should be let slide ya

I can't think of anything that ref did wrong in either of the Leinster matches.

Interslice

The Pheasant2 wrote: »

I'm just looking at the aspect of height in the lineout - Coombs is only 6' 4" and Wyn Jones is their tallest forward at 6' 5"

While we have POC at 6'6", Jamie is also a good option at 6'4" and ofcourse we have the towering Toner at 6'10". Without beanpole Charteris, is their any way they can compete with Toner?

Hopefully the lineout maul can be a strong weapon again today. I loved how quickly we shifted the ball sideways from the catcher and drove into the space, rather than just driving the catcher. Wales will surely be ready for this though.

Pudsy33

eyeball kid wrote: »

I don't know. I think a win is more important today than the performance.

I don't think a win without a performance is possible today.

Grimebox

eyeball kid wrote: »

I don't know. I think a win is more important today than the performance.

Obviously I'd love to see a win but I'd way prefer ireland getting some consistency going

Buer

CatFromHue wrote: »

I can't think of anything that ref did wrong in either of the Leinster matches.

He blew full time despite Clermont having penalty advantage on the Leinster line. It was an error, same as any other. It's preposterous to think he screws over any team though.

Endurance_man

We won't win this game and here are the reasons.
1. Wales have a superior back 3.
2. They have superior ball carriers.
3. They have a significant edge at 7.
4. They have a more accurate goal kicker,
5. The Irish attitude seems too confident and driven by the media. One won against Scotland doesn't make us a great team.
6. We have a number of players that aren't up to international class that is required. No doubt injuries have meant these players have gotten picked. Dave Kearney, Trimble and Henry.

Too many thinks are going against us. Let's hope we do the job but in my opinion it is too big a task.

Come on Ireland. Prove me wrong!!

Ps Shane Horgan is insufferable as an analyst.

errlloyd

How does shane (who I quite like) get to work for both Rte and sky, I figured he'd be tied down somewhere.

bilston

Endurance_man wrote: »

We won't win this game and here are the reasons.
1. Wales have a superior back 3.
2. They have superior ball carriers.
3. They have a significant edge at 7.
4. They have a more accurate goal kicker,
5. The Irish attitude seems too confident and driven by the media. One won against Scotland doesn't make us a great team.
6. We have a number of players that aren't up to international class that is required. No doubt injuries have meant these players have gotten picked. Dave Kearney, Trimble and Henry.

Too many thinks are going against us. Let's hope we do the job but in my opinion it is too big a task.

Come on Ireland. Prove me wrong!!

Ps Shane Horgan is insufferable as an analyst.

Some of that is fair, but not all of it, particularly your statement that Henry isn't international class. What makes you say that?

CatFromHue

errlloyd wrote: »

How does shane (who I quite like) get to work for both Rte and sky, I figured he'd be tied down somewhere.

I guess neither of them show the same games so he wouldn't be bound to them.

bilston

errlloyd wrote: »

How does shane (who I quite like) get to work for both Rte and sky, I figured he'd be tied down somewhere.

Nature of his contracts presumably.

bilston

Does Horgan have any other business/career interests outside being a Rugby studio analyst? I ask because thinking about it he is on pretty much every weekend now between the HEC on Sky and Pro 12 and Ireland games on RTE.

wp_rathead

Endurance_man wrote: »

We won't win this game and here are the reasons.
1. Wales have a superior back 3.
2. They have superior ball carriers.
3. They have a significant edge at 7.
4. They have a more accurate goal kicker,
5. The Irish attitude seems too confident and driven by the media. One won against Scotland doesn't make us a great team.
6. We have a number of players that aren't up to international class that is required. No doubt injuries have meant these players have gotten picked. Dave Kearney, Trimble and Henry.

Too many thinks are going against us. Let's hope we do the job but in my opinion it is too big a task.

Come on Ireland. Prove me wrong!!

Ps Shane Horgan is insufferable as an analyst.

Henry is a smashing No.7!!!!

errlloyd

bilston wrote: »

Does Horgan have any other business/career interests outside being a Rugby studio analyst? I ask because thinking about it he is on pretty much every weekend now between the HEC on Sky and Pro 12 and Ireland games on RTE.

He has a masters in law from trinity I think. I know he gives a lecture or two on sports law each year but I think it's as a guest.

buyer95

BOD for man of the match is my tip of the day. Massive performance in him today I feel.

Buer

He has the masters and also had a fair few investments and commercial ventures.

[-0-]

RTE stream dead for anyone else?

Fireball07

Endurance_man wrote: »

We won't win this game and here are the reasons.
1. Wales have a superior back 3.
2. They have superior ball carriers.
3. They have a significant edge at 7.
4. They have a more accurate goal kicker,
5. The Irish attitude seems too confident and driven by the media. One won against Scotland doesn't make us a great team.
6. We have a number of players that aren't up to international class that is required. No doubt injuries have meant these players have gotten picked. Dave Kearney, Trimble and Henry.

Too many thinks are going against us. Let's hope we do the job but in my opinion it is too big a task.

Come on Ireland. Prove me wrong!!

Ps Shane Horgan is insufferable as an analyst.

I wouldn't necessarily disagree with much of that.

But:

1. No argument there.
2. They may have a slight edge, but Healy, Best, POM, Heaslip... no slouches. Faletau is the only ball-carrier in their back row I'd fear from a carrying pov.
3. Warburton is better than Henry, but Henry is very dependable, he won't be blown away.
4. I'd still have faith in Sexton.
5. That is irrelevant to the team, they won't be affected by the media... we are not a great team after beating Scotland, but we beat Wales last year, and they weren't that impressive themselves.
6. Bit harsh- they mightn't be top class, but they are solid.


I'm not that confident, but our biggest advantage is that Murray and Sexton are definitely better than Phillips and Priestland, and that's a crucial area of the field. It doesn't hurt Wales as much it might other teams because of the likes of Roberts, North, Cuthbert who can make yards even with poor ball. But we have that extra bit of class in the key positions.

LloydChristmas

Yeah RTE live stream not working..........

Kanrith

I'm not extremely confident today. It just would be brilliant to beat them. And 2009 was the last time we won our two opening games. I think we need a good start to win it.

C'mon Ireland!

Buer

Ireland by 11.

Robert McGrath

I prefer Popey on the sideline rather than the studio panel. Could this be the future when Hook retires, i.e. O'Shea, ROG and Horgan in the studio (ideally with Joanne Cantwell hosting) and Pope and Quinlan on the sideline?

justsomebloke

Joe is freaking me out after that BBC interview

Kanrith

justsomebloke wrote: »

Joe is freaking me out after that BBC interview

I'm on RTE, what did he say?

errlloyd

justsomebloke wrote: »

Joe is freaking me out after that BBC interview

Damn, I missed it. What did he say.

Chabals Beard

God I love these rugby weekends

justsomebloke

Kanrith wrote: »

I'm on RTE, what did he say?

nah nothing, he was just a bit weirdly chirpy saying good bye to the interviewer

eireannBEAR

Wales will be lambs to the slaughter,I shall enjoy this!

buyer95

Tom McGurk's socks, haha!

errlloyd

justsomebloke wrote: »

nah nothing, he was just a bit weirdly chirpy saying good bye to the interviewer

There was me thinking he had said Sexton was injured and we were targeting the losing bonus point.

eireannBEAR

RTE Iplayer is down............