Henderson

[bazzaj]

Bagster you said in your first reply that the difference in the back play between the try scoring in the first welsh game and what as followed was having two decent centres and I don't believe that you can compare those games as the first was against a team of reserves
I get the impression some on here are wanting Ireland to fail so they can give it the told you so bit.
I will state here now that even if Ireland blow every game it will be due to a lack of quality player and not coaching or selection issues..
Fitzgerald may be pony but the other centres have not exactly pulled up trees for about the last 3 seasons now.
I don't rate him as significantly worse.

[rumncoke]

Given Jackson came on in the rain I thought while he was not great his one big fan mistake was to attempt a drop goal .

Jackson is a passing out half no centres and wet ball is not a situation where Jackson will shine but his defence was sound .

Ireland missed Best in his ruck role over the ball

Fitzpromise didn't deliver but was always going to struggle with a rush defence with Roberts at centre .

And the difference was not as much the Irish centres were worse that a Welsh back line with Roberts is much better than the one which played in first game


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[againstthehead]

Refuse to judge our chances based on these friendlies.
Nice leg stretchers for Sexton and Murray but Tipiruc and his mates certainly were allowed to dominate due to Ireands poor support and clearing out.

There is a reason why Tipiruc and Hendy were the best 2 players on the pitch as they are class acts that had something to prove.
Wales also attached more significance to the result on the back of what happened in Cardiff and therefore were operating at a higher level of intensity.
Sexton, POC and Murray were just operating out of second gear.
They are the big game players.
Throw Best Healy Payne SOB into the mix and that makes a lot of difference too.

There are a lot of reasons why Ireland could potentially bomb at this world cup but losing this game isn't one of them.

Apart from the time difference, there's a reason I don't watch these games. They mean fek all. It's a bit like when Leinster play in the pro 12 in September, they normally lose a game or two and then start to switch it on in the ERC group stage.

Indeed, Ireland at the international stage are a bit like Ulster at European Cup level. Once a few key players such as SOB and Healy are missing then we're pretty average and there's not much Joe or anyone can do about that.

It concerns me slightly that we haven't seen a full strength ireland playing at 100% intensity for 50 mins or so. I think we probably need that to clean the pipes. That said, Joe is the master of preparation and will have his ducks lined up. He's done his experimentation and will have his final squad selected for England away 2 weeks out from the RWC. I expect a full-strength side put out and a big performance to see where we are compared to the home RWC side. What better preparation than that?

[Tazz #15]

Ryan in particular was disappointing.

Agreed. He was not giving it enough from his seat in the stand. Clearly not up to it.

Glad you said that Shan, I was really beginning to doubt my eyesight and basic rugby knowledge.

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[Deraless]

Murray made too many wrong decisions today. Passing into Welsh cover, missing overlaps etc.

Sexton did his best trying to keep the Welsh rush defence honest kicking in behind but Ireland's midfield lacks a bit of gas. So many doglegs and gaps to exploit that they just couldn't. The English centres for example would've torn Wales a new one today.

[bazzaj]

The English centres did feck all against France week and have never replaced Will Greenwood.
They are no further on than we are and are having to select two untested centres in complete hit and hope as none of their other combinations have worked since 2003.
But I suppose it all comes down to next week in that make or break pre tournament friendly.

[BaggyTrousers]

Bagster you said in your first reply that the difference in the back play between the try scoring in the first welsh game and what as followed was having two decent centres and I don't believe that you can compare those games as the first was against a team of reserves
I get the impression some on here are wanting Ireland to fail so they can give it the told you so bit.
I will state here now that even if Ireland blow every game it will be due to a lack of quality player and not coaching or selection issues..
Fitzgerald may be pony but the other centres have not exactly pulled up trees for about the last 3 seasons now.
I don't rate him as significantly worse.

Jizzer, a decent lawyer would tear you apart, I on the other hand have no interest in that, unlike Agen-le-tete, I like you.

So, with that in mind, I'll leave it thus, the first game was a game between two pretty even backlines, mainly two sets of reserves. The difference being that subsequently there has been a selection in the threequarter line in each case that has killed stone dead any possible ability to use the Irish backline and it is a matter of good fortune that both games haven't .

If you are happy that selection is not an issue, good for you.

[againstthehead]

The English centres did feck all against France week and have never replaced Will Greenwood.
They are no further on than we are and are having to select two untested centres in complete hit and hope as none of their other combinations have worked since 2003.
But I suppose it all comes down to next week in that make or break pre tournament friendly.

lol, yeah. The boks are obviously out of the RWC after losing all 3 in the rugby championship... They may as well stay at home....

[scrum5]

Apologies about Ryan being poor, I thought he came on for POM rather than the 68th minute for Fitzgerald, that would then explain why I had him as AWOL ......

[rorybestsbigbaldnoggin]

I think Murphy was just being given a run in the openside spot. He was crap at it, but that was expectable - he still travels as a decent (if definitely reserve) 6/8. I'd disagree with Baggy ( ) in that he is good enough to step in and play a competent role if needed - was excellent against England earlier in the year. With a genuine openside on for us (ie SOB or Henry), we may have had a shout - quicker clear-out of our own ball, and better security on our own ball. Lesson learned re Murphy at 7.

Dave K is in too. Seemed to have put on a bit of lean mass, as well?

Rob showed why he is still in the 15 shirt, excellent in the defensive/"negative" aspects of the game. For the record I'd be all for running Payne or even Henshaw in their favoured position for 1 or 2 games, but that is why RK is definitely there.There were also a few set plays off inside balls that he seems to be used as a strike runner for.

Wales seemed very, very up for that. Almost excessively so.

[BaggyTrousers]

Baldy I fear you have misinterpreted my likening Murphy to Quiff.

Whilst not his biggest fan, I am not "The Anti-Quiff". I believe both have something to offer in a couple of positions but neither are good enough consistently to approach the status of first choice. That makes both very valuable bench players if you are that way inclined.

Even if you prefer a specialist such as Ginger Prince over Quiff on the bench, an argument can be made by Mexicans that Quiff and Murphy individually are better players than say Jackson and Henry, I don't buy it but given FibberJoe loves Mexicans its entirely possible that he buys into them simply being better players with versatility merely an add on.

Incidentally, in my view Henry is the only Irish player barring the Tullagh Tank who can genuinely play decently all across the backrow despite him now being pegged as a specialist 7.

[BaggyTrousers]

Just picking up on your last line Baldy, I believe Wales were in greater need of that win and that showed in their approach. Unlike Ireland who have 3 simple games - Italy??? Give me a break - leading up to a single group decider with France, a position FibberJoe could only have dreamed of, Wales have one meaningless match and three real contests potentially if Fiji (it is Fiji isn't it?) can get their blood up as they do in most RWCs.

Fibber on the other hand faces a potential scalping next week, for again I foresee him not wanting to risk a full blooded encounter and losing one of his 3/4 must have players, whereas the demand for an English performance will be absolute. That would be undesirable but really not at all fatal in the grand scheme. If he can keep those must have players available he has every chance of breaking the mould and Ireland getting beyond a quarterfinal for a change. Sainthood then awaits.

The luxury draw for Ireland and hellish draw for Wales was a driver of the contrasting demands and performances yesterday. That said, given they were only a TMO balls up homer decision away from defeat, I don't hold out much hope for Wales.

[BaggyTrousers]

Apologies about Ryan being poor, I thought he came on for POM rather than the 68th minute for Fitzgerald, that would then explain why I had him as AWOL ......

Happens to us all Scrumcious, just stay off the poteen during the game in future

[Aird]

Don't always agree with your views but with you all the way in regard to Chads versatility, can't see him not having a seat on the plane and being one of the 23 chosen ones on the match day.
I know that recently he has made the No. 7 his own but I have been watching Ulster long enough to remember him as an 8 under Solomons

[BaggyTrousers]

Don't always agree with your views

Thats ok, sometimes I get some things wrong too.