RWC warm up matches
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Re: RWC warm up matches
Kleyn made a big statement in the way he played at Twickenham. He clearly played the non playing Toner off the pitch.....and if you believe that....
To be serious, I have observed here before that Joe is a ruthless barsteward who makes very tough decisions when he needs to. i am sorry for Toner but there is no room for sentiment here. He is past 33 and it's time for the rugby equivalent of euthanisation.
As for Farrell the Ulsterman, I thought he had a poor game on Saturday and is lucky to make the cut.
McGrath over Marmion is a big call. Marmion has played well in some big games for Joe. Anyway all is not lost as there are bound to be injuries and call ups.
To be serious, I have observed here before that Joe is a ruthless barsteward who makes very tough decisions when he needs to. i am sorry for Toner but there is no room for sentiment here. He is past 33 and it's time for the rugby equivalent of euthanisation.
As for Farrell the Ulsterman, I thought he had a poor game on Saturday and is lucky to make the cut.
McGrath over Marmion is a big call. Marmion has played well in some big games for Joe. Anyway all is not lost as there are bound to be injuries and call ups.
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- Squire
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Re: RWC warm up matches
McGrath plays for Leinster. Marmion doesnt.
Joe Schmidt is a Leinster ballbag
Re: RWC warm up matches
Addison, sadly, is made of glass. So is Farrell and Henshaw. Also two injured 10s going too. Kleyn is a Munster saffer so must be selected. Jordi and McGrath heading to Ulster, is just a means for Joe to drop them. He is going soon so he just doesn't give a frick about accusations of blue bias.
Welcome home, agent Joe.
Welcome home, agent Joe.
Re: RWC warm up matches
Interesting.
Joe decides to not select McGrath because he has signed for Ulster or because his form has fallen off a cliff? Tis a tough one to answer.
The Nordi one is a bit more difficult though. He has always performed for Joe. The only thing I can think of is that Joe wants Ruddock to captain the team in the lesser games. I wouldn't see him as a realistic candidate for the big games unless there's injuries.
Joe decides to not select McGrath because he has signed for Ulster or because his form has fallen off a cliff? Tis a tough one to answer.
The Nordi one is a bit more difficult though. He has always performed for Joe. The only thing I can think of is that Joe wants Ruddock to captain the team in the lesser games. I wouldn't see him as a realistic candidate for the big games unless there's injuries.
It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.
Re: RWC warm up matches
Yeah. Typical Joe, selecting Ulstermen who don't earn it.
It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.
Re: RWC warm up matches
Addison was always an outside bet one game in six months doesn't really add up to a plane ticket --that said he got close but if the alternative is either of the Kearneys a donkey would make it.
Rob makes on loyalty in my book and his nerves under the high ball -- he offers little in attack and his defence is the ability to be missing -- which might be a good thing because 9 out 10 times he goes high.
Toner has been an over played ploy for the last year -- he is Brennan high in the scrum ,seldom carries and never more than 2 metres- his tackle count isn't great -- and he is too obvious in the line out now and maybe the props can lift a lighter player higher.
See Joey makes it to the plane lord help us if he plays -- Byrne unfortunately froze on his opportunity when faced with the powerhouse of English forwards and over sized backs -- the difference between Pr014 and International is quite substantcial -- the pace and power is possessed by 15 players not just half the team and it takes time to realise the difference -- and time was not there for Byrne.
Rob makes on loyalty in my book and his nerves under the high ball -- he offers little in attack and his defence is the ability to be missing -- which might be a good thing because 9 out 10 times he goes high.
Toner has been an over played ploy for the last year -- he is Brennan high in the scrum ,seldom carries and never more than 2 metres- his tackle count isn't great -- and he is too obvious in the line out now and maybe the props can lift a lighter player higher.
See Joey makes it to the plane lord help us if he plays -- Byrne unfortunately froze on his opportunity when faced with the powerhouse of English forwards and over sized backs -- the difference between Pr014 and International is quite substantcial -- the pace and power is possessed by 15 players not just half the team and it takes time to realise the difference -- and time was not there for Byrne.
Within this carapace of skepticism there lives an optimist
Re: RWC warm up matches
Well overall that was a bit better today. At least there are some positives.
Glad the warmup ballix is over with though. Now onto the real stuff where we can really see where we are.
Number 1 in the world for a team which recently had a record defeat against England, whatever the circumstances. What a load of old ballix.
Glad the warmup ballix is over with though. Now onto the real stuff where we can really see where we are.
Number 1 in the world for a team which recently had a record defeat against England, whatever the circumstances. What a load of old ballix.
It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.
Re: RWC warm up matches
And got thumped by england at home and Wales away in their last 2 meaningful games against quality opposition.
Yet after all that we somehow get to no.1
Personally i think the rankings are only really effective in sports like tennis, where the top performers compete against each other regularly.
Yet after all that we somehow get to no.1
Personally i think the rankings are only really effective in sports like tennis, where the top performers compete against each other regularly.
- solidarity
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Re: RWC warm up matches
Good result but can't hep thinking that we're living a fool's paradise. On all peformances so far, none of the big teams have anything to fear from Ireland. And that line out. Dear oh dear oh dear.
Re: RWC warm up matches
Of course. RSA / NZ in particular won't be be having sleepless nights at this stage.solidarity wrote: ↑Sat Sep 07, 2019 9:43 pm Good result but can't hep thinking that we're living a fool's paradise. On all peformances so far, none of the big teams have anything to fear from Ireland. And that line out. Dear oh dear oh dear.
Lineout was a bit better today but we need it to be much better.
It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.
Re: RWC warm up matches
Like most "set pieces " in the modern game they seem to occur less frequently than in the past -- gone are the days when RoG kept putting the ball deep and the opposition kicked it into touch -- most teams now have adopted to the AB run return and keep possession game. therefore there are fewer lineouts per game.
Once the ref stopped the Welsh encroachment into the Irish line, the line out started to function, and the great plus at the moment is the Irish scrum appears to be sound .
Once Ireland reverted to the game which won "the slam" continuously "playing off the 9" inside the opposition half as Gartland described it they starved the Welsh of possession and position and thereby created the points to win -- it forces the opposition to make mistakes and offer up the penalties.
Once into "the 22' repeat penalties became scrums rather than line outs in the corner.
Once the ref stopped the Welsh encroachment into the Irish line, the line out started to function, and the great plus at the moment is the Irish scrum appears to be sound .
Once Ireland reverted to the game which won "the slam" continuously "playing off the 9" inside the opposition half as Gartland described it they starved the Welsh of possession and position and thereby created the points to win -- it forces the opposition to make mistakes and offer up the penalties.
Once into "the 22' repeat penalties became scrums rather than line outs in the corner.
Within this carapace of skepticism there lives an optimist
Re: RWC warm up matches
You have to love the way Garland disparaingly refers to "playing off the 9" as if it is some form of cheating! Ie not the proper way to play rugby.......the way that Wales do!
Re: RWC warm up matches
Disparingly
- Vanhelsing
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Re: RWC warm up matches
I’m hoping that the Ireland team have just been messing around,and they are really going to cause an upset and win the World Cup..