The Official Irish Rugby Thread

[Tyrone Biggums]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2019530669018231242

Hard to disagree with that.



Will do ok against the Pasta botherers then get ragdolled by the tans.


Depressing.

 

[Debanks]

Believe they had the penalty advantage too, so it was a shot to nothing

Not as many as you might think, but they are crucial players. Main players who will be well over the hill by then are JGP, Beirne, Aki, Lowe (they're there already...), McCloskey. Furlong will be pushing on, Furlong will be just about 36, which old for a prop but not quite gone yet. Certainly enough off the bench. Ditto Bealham and Henderson, Henshaw will be 34 which is older for a centre but still usable.

So really, the big gaps would, IMO, be Beirne, JGP and centre. Those aren't that bad 21 months out from the world cup. There are plenty good backrowers and second rowers, albeit none half as good as Beirne for turnovers. Casey is a very good scrumhalf, but the next rank of scrumhalves is a significant problem, suspect JGP will be going.

A much bigger problem than the player's ages is the declining form of the team and no obvious changes to improve it.

Thats enough, the core of the team, with few obvious replacements.

 

[nelly sham]

Certainly hope your correct, yes many of the players will have passed their BBD before the next World Cup and it is difficult to see sufficient players with the required quality to make a significant impact on the International stage in the near future.

Even more difficult when they aren't allowed thr opportunity to show what they can do. Timoney is 31, that was 6th(?) Cap, first 6Nations game. His form for the last 5 years warranted more caps.

Prendergast (C) didn't have a great game but you'd have to give him a few more if you were being fair.
Edogbo should be on the bench at least of they're serious about him.

Hume, Postheltwaite, Kelly need to be given games.

Both Wards, Coombes and Doak too. That's what the next year should be about.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Even more difficult when they aren't allowed thr opportunity to show what they can do. Timoney is 31, that was 6th(?) Cap, first 6Nations game. His form for the last 5 years warranted more caps.

Prendergast (C) didn't have a great game but you'd have to give him a few more if you were being fair.
Edogbo should be on the bench at least of they're serious about him.

Hume, Postheltwaite, Kelly need to be given games.

Both Wards, Coombes and Doak too. That's what the next year should be about.

100%.

Its bananas that we are headed into a world cup year with so many of Dads Army still ever present.

Jack Conan like ffs.
VDF needs to go too, his race is run.

 

[How bad boy]

Even more difficult when they aren't allowed thr opportunity to show what they can do. Timoney is 31, that was 6th(?) Cap, first 6Nations game. His form for the last 5 years warranted more caps.

Prendergast (C) didn't have a great game but you'd have to give him a few more if you were being fair.
Edogbo should be on the bench at least of they're serious about him.

Hume, Postheltwaite, Kelly need to be given games.

Both Wards, Coombes and Doak too. That's what the next year should be about.

100%
Ahern just seems to constantly get injured at exactly the wrong time, but he's 25 and only has 2 caps.

Darrah Murray is another that, had he been at the Leinster Academy, would already have 10 caps.

Maybe I just don't watch enough Ulster matches but I don't see why Stockdale is out there too. None of the pace he used to have when he broke onto the scene, kicking is so-so, defence is poor.

TOB looks pretty decent, Jamie Osborne has yet to do much that makes me think he's a potential 1st team player.

 

[Meridian]

I am glad Crowley was not the starting fly half last night.
The goys brigade would blamed Crowley for that loss.

 

[MerchantOfEnnis]

Ouch, lol

 

[outdagap]

A lot of talk about how well we did in the scrum.Truth is that is not a great French scrum. Great loose players but average scrummagers.

That's a fair point.

 

[Barry K O Bama]

Looks like Faz will get a free pass on selecting 2 traffic cones.

He's destroyed Jack's confidence (even Steve Borthwick can't understand what Faz is playing at) and screwed over Gav.

No question marks either over the tactic to kick the ball back to France at every opportunity.

I can sort of understand why Faz's ego won't allow him to admit he's wrong about Sam but why pick Stockdale ?


Sam will start in Twickenham with the same outcome. I suppose Stockdale is finished now ?

Incidentally, I think Sam will eventually be a success for Ireland at 10




when we change the rules and play tag rugby

 

[MerchantOfEnnis]

I think Harry Byrne will start next week with Sambo on the bench