Ireland V Italy, Sat 12/3, KO: 13.30PM, OFFICIAL SUPER MATCH THREAD

nehe milner skudder

jesus italy are tripe.

KERSPLAT!

Thought we were gonna butcher that!!

\o/

case885

Them offloads are overrated

leakyboots

Zebo will be dropped for that offload

irishbucsfan

Fantastic from Zebo. Really adding a lot to this backline today.

Mahatma Geansai

Zebo. :eek: That's what an attacking fullback can give you. Great continuity from the rest of the players involved.

BBDBB

Wonderful try

KatW4

That was an impressive try!!!

whatawaster

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

That's the point. Schmidt has stated that McFadden and Madigan are on the bench due to their versatility, but Schmidt will only play both players on the wing or a OH respectively.

In fairness, Ferg was already warmed up and it was a four minute change.

penybont exile

Nice try

Sanjuro

Outstanding try. Zebo, sublime.

nehe milner skudder

lenihan says try of the year. he obviously doesn't watch the super rugby.

neelia11

Really good finish from Heaslip, some great stuff from Zebo, trimble, mcfadden, Payne and sexton

irishbucsfan

nehe milner skudder wrote: »

lenihan says try of the year. he obviously doesn't watch the super rugby.

Quite SR-esque with the scramble completely unable to cut off passing lanes!

Neil3030

Excellent from Ferg, sucking in the final two defenders by faking a lack of pace, before a perfectly timed pass to Heaslip.

#****TheHaters

Korat

nehe milner skudder wrote: »

jesus italy are tripe.

Did the Irish team bus hit you on the way to the game today or something?

razorblunt

leakyboots wrote: »

Campagnaro is a very handsome man

Off topic. But I'll allow it ... as it's true.

astonaidan

And thats why people want Zebo over Kearney #Magic

gazump123

That try was a thing of beauty.

blondeonblonde

nehe milner skudder wrote: »

lenihan says try of the year. he obviously doesn't watch the super rugby.

Actually he said try of the championship. Which in fairness it probably was

Peregrine

That try was bloody amazing.

neelia11

astonaidan wrote: »

And thats why people want Zebo over Kearney #Magic

Well this week people wanted payne at fb.

nehe milner skudder

nehe milner skudder wrote: »

lenihan says try of the year. he obviously doesn't watch the super rugby.

You haven't had a single positive thing to say in this thread and are having a go at every good thing that happens. Can you just give it a rest, the rest of us are trying to enjoy the game.

Utah_Saint

Neil3030 wrote: »

Excellent from Ferg, sucking in the final two defenders by faking a lack of pace, before a perfectly timed pass to Heaslip.

#****TheHaters

I thought the move was finished once trimble received it, terrible for an ulster fan to say, but he's lost about half a miles worth of pace

Fireball07

A good first half, although Italy really aren't up to much with all their injuries.

Good tries, good performance, good tempo. Superb offload by Zebo to create a magnificent team try.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Zebo has been playing well but has he even been challenged once defensively?

It's fun to watch but lets not go anointing him as Lord and Savior just yet.

Neil3030

Great to see the People's Captain get a try for all his hard work.

nehe milner skudder

Deleted User wrote: »

You haven't had a single positive thing to say in this thread and are having a go at every good thing that happens. Can you just give it a rest, the rest of us are trying to enjoy the game.

its a public forum. i am stating my opinions.

dublinman1990

This is a wonderful game so far. That last try before the half ended was simply sensational.

CMOTDibbler

Deleted User wrote: »

You haven't had a single positive thing to say in this thread and are having a go at every good thing that happens. Can you just give it a rest, the rest of us are trying to enjoy the game.

He's the obligatory Kiwi who's only purpose is to give all Kiwis a bad name. :pac:

Cheese Wagstaff

McGrath has been awesome, and that moustache also! Magnificent.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Madigan should be brought on for the second half. We've got a comfortable lead, Italy usually tire in the second half, Sexton is having a mare from the tee and he's been clattered a good few times already. If Schmidt has so much faith in Madigan now is the time to show us why.

keith16

ITV coverage is abysmal

whatawaster

Hopefully we see at least 20 minutes of Marmion

Dave_The_Sheep

[Deleted User] wrote: »

You haven't had a single positive thing to say in this thread and are having a go at every good thing that happens. Can you just give it a rest, the rest of us are trying to enjoy the game.

Personally, i just use the ignore list so the posts get hidden. There's a few negative bastards on it at this stage.

Utah_Saint

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Madigan should be brought on for the second half. We've got a comfortable lead, Italy usually tire in the second half, Sexton is having a mare from the tee and he's been clattered a good few times already. If Schmidt has so much faith in Madigan now is the time to show us why.

Agreed, Joe needs to show why mads is there ahead of pj. This is a very poor Italy side so pressure is off

neelia11

Will be disappointed if we havent made at least 5 changes by 55 min.

Dave_The_Sheep

Dave_The_Sheep wrote: »

Personally, i just use the ignore list so the posts get hidden. There's a few negative bastards on it at this stage.

Yup, added to the list.

Good first half though Italy have gone into their shell. I'd expect they will come out and look to pressure us in the opening quarter of the second half. Hopefully we come out with the same attitude.

Sexton to come off soon, though if he could just get a few kicks to sort my fantasy team before he departs that would be swell.

salmocab

Utah_Saint wrote: »

Agreed, Joe needs to show why mads is there ahead of pj. This is a very poor Italy side so pressure is off

No he doesn't thats just what people want. Joe doesn't have to show people on the internet anything.

leakyboots

Half-time thoughts:

That last score has put a nice sheen on the first half, we look a bit workman-like at times but at least we're trying stuff.

Delighted for McGrath with his score, he's been a rock for us. Don't have much to say about Mike Ross other than he's locking the scrum so he's doing his job.
Both second rows doing well, Toner going great guns in the lineout.
Stander is the best of the backrow and gets his first of many Irish tries 12 carries, 22m made, 2 defenders beaten

Heaslip was very quiet up until the last 10 mins, great awareness to be there for the try. JvdF is tackling well but looks a bit underpowered.

Conor Murray is running the show. Sexton having a poor day off the boot, taken a couple of hits, I'd be subbing him. Such a shame Jackson isnt' there to get 40 mins.

Earls showing well, great clearout for the try, great pass that Trimble should have finished. 2 clean breaks, 40m made. Slipped off one tackle poorly.

Henshaw going well, carrying well. Some good little grubber kicks but sometimes trying them when they're not on.

Payne defending well, lovely offload for Earls (even though it looked forward) in the run up to Stander's try.

Trimble, took his try well with the little in-out to make space for himself, thought he should have had a cut off Earls pass. Still, would have liked to have seen maybe Gilroy in here somewhere either from the start or off the bench.

Zebo, bit of an attacking masterclass here - great offloads, two clean breaks, four defenders beaten, passing well too. Not being asked questions in defense.

Subs on NOW Joe. Dillane, Bealham, Ruddock for Heaslip, Marmion - give the kids decent gametime.


EDIT: Forgot to add, Italy are absolutely abysmal so I don't know how much positives to take to be honest.

Neil3030

Good things typically don't happen while Ian Madigan is on a rugby pitch, but today the universe might make an exception....

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Utah_Saint wrote: »

Agreed, Joe needs to show why mads is there ahead of pj. This is a very poor Italy side so pressure is off

And we need Sexton for Scotland more than we need him to finish this one out.

We've already had a 12 taken off for a blood sub and Madigan hasn't moved. I'm sure the reason given later will be because Fergs had already been on, was warmed up, up to speed etc. etc.

If he sits on the bench until Sexton comes off on 75 minutes I will officially be calling Schmidt a liar, liar, pants on fire.

neelia11

Cheese Wagstaff wrote: »

McGrath has been awesome, and that moustache also! Magnificent.

He has been our best performer but if lenihan is giving man of match award its going to Stander.

CMOTDibbler

I wanted to see a lot less errors in this game. So far it's been less errors, more accuracy and the tries have come.

Lots of offloads too. Payne still the biggest culprit

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

salmocab wrote: »

No he doesn't thats just what people want. Joe doesn't have to show people on the internet anything.

Eh... that's what the internet is for. So we can question the professionals from the comfort of our own homes. If Joe doesn't know this he shouldn't be a professional sports guy.

irishbucsfan

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

I wanted to see a lot less errors in this game. So far it's been less errors, more accuracy and the tries have come.

Lots of offloads too. Payne still the biggest culprit

Payne has been the biggest culprit for errors with passing, he's thrown more than one into the ground. Also spilled the ball on the edge of our 22.

Great in defense but we should expect more in attack

nehe milner skudder

thats a cheap one from toner. whistle was gone

nehe milner skudder

tv directors not showing replay.................

jesus Italy

KatW4

Another beautiful try