Discussion
DJRC said:
Chaps - you keep talking about backs as if they made any difference. I still don't understand why you think the backs selection made a single difference to this campaign. England lost up front and didn't just lose against Aus, they got beat up.
well seeing the Kiwis get beaten up by both the Georgian and Tongan packs made me realise why they're pack their bags and going home early.... oh, wait, they're not! How did that happen? Seriously though DJ you are partially correct in as much as a good pack is an essential cornerstone but (as the Saffers keep finding out) a monster pack without some decent backs doesn't guarantee success.
Tam_Mullen said:
Isn't Cipriani massively back tracking there? Saying what was between him and Catt wasn't a big deal and was resolved etc, yet the way I interpreted his column/interview in the paper was that they were still at loggerheads and it was quite a big deal?
you got a link to that article?London424 said:
DJRC said:
Chaps - you keep talking about backs as if they made any difference. I still don't understand why you think the backs selection made a single difference to this campaign. England lost up front and didn't just lose against Aus, they got beat up.
Here you go sir. Not much to disagree with in it http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/intern...
k me I'm not a lone voice in the dark after all !DJRC said:
London424 said:
DJRC said:
Chaps - you keep talking about backs as if they made any difference. I still don't understand why you think the backs selection made a single difference to this campaign. England lost up front and didn't just lose against Aus, they got beat up.
Here you go sir. Not much to disagree with in it http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/intern...
k me I'm not a lone voice in the dark after all !t and if they didn't sort it there would be trouble. I'll grant you that you have been rather more vocal than me though!So a big one for us Irish today. Can't fault the selection with the exception of Earls at 13 - he's not a centre in my eyes, and worried about how he'll cope. With Payne out, I'd have put Henshaw in at 13 (his club position) and maybe use Bowe as a 12. I'd also prefer to see O'Brien back at his preferred blindside position, but O'Mahony really needs to be on the field too I suppose
Hopefully Parra won't see too much game-time, Michalak goes renegade again and Fofana is under-utilised yet again. However mad some of the English selections have looked, it's nothing compared to whatever goes through the mind of PSA! As much as I'd love to see some proper French rugby, they can wait until after this game today thanks!
Argies making a good few unforced mistakes against Namibia, but I suspect they'll get that resolved before facing either us or the French
Hopefully Parra won't see too much game-time, Michalak goes renegade again and Fofana is under-utilised yet again. However mad some of the English selections have looked, it's nothing compared to whatever goes through the mind of PSA! As much as I'd love to see some proper French rugby, they can wait until after this game today thanks!
Argies making a good few unforced mistakes against Namibia, but I suspect they'll get that resolved before facing either us or the French
Interesting in the Sunday Times. Apparently before the Wales game England ran some A v B team attack/defence sessions. Apparently the B team of Ford, Slade and Joseph humiliated Farrell, Burgess and Barritt in 9 out of the 10 strike plays. Apparently Burgess and Barritt were looking they'd only just been introduced to one another.
Embarrassing stuff. The more I think about Ford's demotion, Burgess's inclusion* and Slade's exclusion, the more pissed off I get.
Embarrassing stuff. The more I think about Ford's demotion, Burgess's inclusion* and Slade's exclusion, the more pissed off I get.
- I think the guy has a potentially rich future in Union, just not at centre. Hopefully at 6, once we've binned that meathead gym-bunny Haskell.
Sad to see O'Connell leaving the game like that, he'll be furious. Losing Sexton early on was a blow, but better for Madigan as he has longer to settle through the game, he's a great player too, so not too worried there.
Stupid move by O'Brien as well, that could be the end of his WC too.
Hard to call the game this early on, have to see how they move the team around with O'Connell out. French defence is strong but Ireland can break it with smart play. Can't believe Earls dropped that ball!
Stupid move by O'Brien as well, that could be the end of his WC too.
Hard to call the game this early on, have to see how they move the team around with O'Connell out. French defence is strong but Ireland can break it with smart play. Can't believe Earls dropped that ball!
There's a lot of very cute Irish girls in the crowd! 
Did they somehow manage to sneak this game to Dublin though? Saint Andre is about the only Frenchman the cameras seem able to find off the field!
Moving forwards, it looks like Irish strength in depth is really going to be tested, and sad to think this is probably O'Connell's last appearance in an Irish shirt.
Meanwhile, the France vs New Zealand could quarter could be interesting! Given how st the All Blacks have been so far, I could see the French deciding to turn up and take them out of the tournament.
Did they somehow manage to sneak this game to Dublin though? Saint Andre is about the only Frenchman the cameras seem able to find off the field!
Moving forwards, it looks like Irish strength in depth is really going to be tested, and sad to think this is probably O'Connell's last appearance in an Irish shirt.
Meanwhile, the France vs New Zealand could quarter could be interesting! Given how s
t the All Blacks have been so far, I could see the French deciding to turn up and take them out of the tournament.I've thought Ireland looked a bit over hyped before today but they got just about everything right today, France were good in defense for most of that game but Ireland completely nullified their attack.
SoB could be looking at a ban for his punch but that could be the last we see of PoC in an Ireland shirt. Long injury list on the back of that one in generally Peter O'Mahony looked like a nasty one. You'd take Argentina over the AB's but the Argies are looking like a really good outfit.
Will watch Japan, if they win they'll be the first team event to have won 3 matches and not qualify.
SoB could be looking at a ban for his punch but that could be the last we see of PoC in an Ireland shirt. Long injury list on the back of that one in generally Peter O'Mahony looked like a nasty one. You'd take Argentina over the AB's but the Argies are looking like a really good outfit.
Will watch Japan, if they win they'll be the first team event to have won 3 matches and not qualify.
Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff