Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Stephen Donald?

Just on hosting the world cup, there is very little accommodation available in limerick this weekend. Was going to go see Munster v barbarians in thomond but I'm not a day tripper I'd want to stay over.

Only a few hotels available and mad money

Imagine throwing a world cup match in limerick into the equation. I don't believe forn a second the barbarians match has had an effect either

The entire Irish team are using deep breathing and mindfulness techniques. Not sure who the team psychologist is but they have definitely introduced this recently.

I needed some of the deep breathing techniques to calm myself down watching the first few lineouts Saturday. It is a problem for us, you could say we sorted it out but equally valid is SA stopped aggressively competing on our throw as the game went on.

This is down to O’Connell he really needs to start doing the bread and butter stuff or else move aside and let someone else sort it out.

Hi folks

I am finalising travel and ticket options.

As far as I can see unless something unlikely like SA not beating Tonga happens, Ireland cannot finish secon

It's either 1st or we come 3rd and get knocked out by Scotland beating us

Am I missing anything?

Nope. Ireland don't do maths. We win. Play anyone. Why would we do favours for Scotland?

Such a nit picker. Its only 20 years in the difference.

Get over yourself.

It is highly, highly unlikely, but it is not ridiculous.

It's simple maths.

South Africa beat Tonga with 5 match points and points scoring difference of greater than 36 points, that puts them top with 15 points and the highest scoring difference.

Scotland somehow score 4+ tries against Ireland and take a commanding lead into the closing stages of the game. Ireland have already scored 4 tries and as such are guaranteed 1 LBP from the game putting all the teams on 15 points.

Head to head cancels for top spot so it goes to scoring difference for top spot and then head to head between the two remaining teams for second place. So in that scenario the only way Ireland can qualify is for Scotland to top the scoring difference in the group and Ireland could very well let that happen (once again in this very specific scenario). It's a possible anomaly in the shake up of the group which could mathematically result in a team trying to lose by as large a margin as possible in order to qualify. Not beyond the realms of possibility no matter how unlikely.

EDIT: From reading back my original reply I stated if we "let" Scotland score 4 tries. That was meant due to them being better not intentionally. I'm talking about a shake up in the game to that point occurring naturally and the only way out for Ireland is to then let Scotland score a boat load from that point on in order to survive.

Which part?

A. The part where both teams score 4 or more tries and Scotland build a lead (and I'm making it clear that it is a point of no comeback).

B. With A above being the case, then Ireland allow them to score enough to overtake South Africa in scoring difference.

"A" is a very real possibility in a game of rugby and we see it often upon which point the question is do you do "B" as the alternative is you go out of the world cup.

My point (which I didn't think I'd still be talking about at this stage) is the qualification criteria does make this eventuality possible. Which is why I think it would have been better in a 3 way tie to use score difference as the deciding factor for the top two and not just the top spot. It would negate this scenario.