blametheref says...

@staph

Bench depends on the starting line up, for example, with D'arcy on the field at 12 he can play wing or full back etc etc. My preference isn't so much for versatility on the bench but impact players on it...much better to have a player who can make an impact rather than a versatile mediocre player who is going to fill a position and make no impact...

Posted 22:47 20th September 2011

crunchfit says...

Wouldn't mind seeing Trimble at 12. Or Bowe could play 12 with Trimble on the wing.

There's no need to play both are fly halves at the same time if we aren't forced to.

Posted 18:09 20th September 2011

staph_glorious says...

blametheref,

Sexton's possible versatility is cause for celebration? Perhaps. I would wait 'til it reaps good rewards before I fill my flute.

Selecting the bench requires pragmatism; you do not stock it with the best remaining players, but the best cover. Of late, one might only suggest the evidence shows a new-found appreciation for specialist back-three cover, where previously D'Arcy could sit on the wing and Wallace at fullback.

You are all over your trumpet if you refer to that match-squad as "proof". Evangelists would blush.

This weekend's selection will say much more of the World Cup squad and each man's credentials.

As for "he-who-will-not-be-played", don't give up hope yet, especially if he is of the same mould as his compatriots Down Under.

Posted 11:40 20th September 2011

crunchfit says...

@jonesy2

Yes, that would be a bit of an upset. Ireland are the stronger team of the two although Italy have been improving (can't tell if you were using sarcasm because you don't seem to know much about rugby).

By the way, is that another prediction regarding Italy beating Ireland?

Posted 20:10 19th September 2011

writtleman says...

As an almost neutral (England and NH!) I think this is great for the WCup. There HAS to be some unpredictability for it to be a good cup. Assuming Ireland top the group it almost guarantees a NH finalist.

As for Jonesy2 - that attitude gets SH supporters a bad name - how absurd to say it's bad because the best sides wont make the final!!! They said it last time because Oz and AB's lost in the quarters so should we let them win?. The only answer is to let them have their own competition - maybe call it the Trinations!

This is great and if England can stop giving away penalties we look forward to seeing the Paddy's in semi!!! (wishful or positive thinking?)

Posted 11:57 19th September 2011

blametheref says...

A great deserved win and glad to see it at last...Maybe some of the criticism that had built over the past few months added something to the pot in terms of Ireland's will and especially Kidney completely losing face and saving it against Australia...It is amazing what this team can do when their backs are against the wall...The next test is whether Ireland can string some back to back performances together and overcome that bogey that seems to haunt this team.

With the draw the way it is shaping up Ireland should now be one of the warm favourites to reach the final which I believe they should do now after proving the can beat a top SH side...If they don't reach the final with what's most likely ahead of them I think that'll be a dissappointing WC for Ireland...Big question about reaching the final is, who willl be doing the sandbagging when New Zealand and France meet?? Mentally, I feel both of them will and the outcome of that match will be facinating.......

Posted 10:38 19th September 2011

adamk says...

@trinats / thatllbeme ... but the fact of the matter is we're our own harshest critics. The majority of Irish fans are pretty knowledgable on the game, and are well aware of our strengths and limits, and we certainly don't like getting ahead of ourselves (even if false hope is our guilty pleasure from time to time). Russia is next, and that's all there is too it. Italy will be, and in my opinion, always has been the biggest game in our pool. It was likely Aus would have beaten us, so we really needed to concentrate on the Italy game. Turns out on the day we played intelligent rugby and turned up a win. Now we need to be clinical about an ever-improving Italian side that almost beat us this year, and beat France who are without doubt (aside from a shaky run in so far) NH favorites. No, we won't make the same mistake some Oz players made - we won't underestimate our opponents.

@rugbysupport Funny name you have there when you don't even seem to know, or enjoy the aspects of rugby. The reason rugby is entertaining is because no two games are ever the same. Like soldiers on a battlefront, they will use whatever tactics that work for them on that particular day - a good team should be ready for any type of strategy from the opposition. For both sides that game was probably one of the most intense games ever played for them, and if you don't understand why then I could only assume your knowledge on the game is limited. Or perhaps you thought this was the Rugby League World Cup? Perhaps even Sevens?

Posted 22:40 18th September 2011

crunchfit says...

"I would like to hear more from the Irish supporters about Kidney now. This guy was insulted, abused on this forum and now it would be fair to pay some tribute to him. It was a great victory against a fairly more talented side."

One victory over Australia won't make up for the amount of bad calls he has made.

Posted 20:14 18th September 2011

leinster_goy says...

@norm i agree that ireland should not be jumping the gun as the italian game will be a tough test indeed. i was only speculating on the 2013 lions squad and considering the fact that ireland have just shown how australia can be beaten (by hammering their poor setpiece, especially the scrum, thereby starving the backs of ball). players like quade cooper have shown themselves to be charlatans, even genia was stifled. im just saying that this wallaby team is not all they are cracked up to be and a team containing the best of england/wales/ireland/scotland should be confident of beating australia over 3 tests, even in their own back yard

Posted 17:53 18th September 2011

jonesy2 says...

is he insane? this is terrible for the world cup. it means the best teams might not be making the semi's and the final. boks and ab's will almost be tempted to purposely lose games now to manipulate the draw, i know this wont happen but its something to think about

"It's only a World Cup if a northern hemisphere side plays a southern hemisphere team in the final." what a moron. dont worry the universe will make sense again, ireland will probably ensure this by going down to italy. would that even be an upset?

Posted 14:21 18th September 2011