Where to improve???

davyjose

Ireland looked very shaky for the first 60 minutes of that, before they looked like themselves. First off, I have to say that BOD and D'Arce proved themselves (yet again) to be the best centre pairing there is. They won us that match - in attack AND defence. But there are definite areas to improve.
I don't think it was that bad a performance: we let errors into our game, got pannicky and lost a bit of discipline, but into the last 1/4 we stepped it up, and looked pretty good I thought.
This roughly coincided with Flannery's appearance. We have one of the best line-outs in the world, and we were a disaster. I thought Best (bless him for the try, but...) was a disaster. I think he followed the Tommy bowe school of putting paid to an Ireland place. We need flannery against France.
The back row was, I thought, good, but POC and DOC weren't at their best and Donncha was lucky to stay on the pitch.
I thought the rest of the front row played their part, if unspectacular.
The biggest disappointments, for me (apart from Best - dreadful performance) were ROG and Dempey. O'Gara picked up the pace in the 2nd half, which showed genuine class and character, and his running lines and passing was great. But in the areas you count on him, he was waaaay below par - knowing him though, there won't be a repeat of this.
Dempsey though, he constantly got caught out by the welsh kicking, leaving acres of space, on numerous occasions, and but for a timely interception of a certain Welsh try, he was anonymous. Murphy, with his part to play in the try, could have bought himself a Fullback Jersey.

One last thing, I thought the Welsh fans were disgraceful in their whistling and chanting during O'Gara's place kicks. This wasn't the odd person, there was a stadium full of chatter. You might say the Welsh were unlucky, but they deserved it for that.
Anyway, good result, 3 tries to 0 in cardiff and 10 points up on them. Not an easy task, against a Welsh side that were only really weakened in the back 3 (who actually impressed).

Chucky the tree

Weakened in the centres aswell. I wasnt very impressed with Stringer, i would like to of seen Boss at least get a run out to see how he would of done.

ColinJennings

I think Flannery's throwing was much better than Best's. The line out needs to be an area of strength and Best's loopy throws didn't help there today. Flannery's throws by contrast were like a bullet.

Sangre

Don't know why everyone is giving out about DOC. The guy was an absolute tower in the rucks and on the ground. Constantly slowing down the Welsh moves and turning ball over. He was giving penalties away because he had to with the Welsh onslaught.

Diamondmaker

Re DOC: he slowed up ball and gave away penalties where tries would have come, he did not get binned, so all in all job well done in this regard, its part of the game!

Strings, when is he going to go. Everybody took the ball on the back foot from strings because the defence knew he was not going to break.
The best scrum half move of the game was made by Hickie on the right wing.
Boss is so much more of a threat and Strings is game by game showing to have nothing on Boss bar experience.
Boss' threat just gives the receivers more space.

Perhaps Murphy would have done better than Dempsey but EOS is conservative and with our backs I believe he likes to have the safe stay at home Dad that is Dempsey when the others go on attack.
The tackle on Cjeki came from turn over ball and another FB may have been to far up field to recover that one.

GreenHell

I think our defense needs to move up a few gears, thought many of the welsh breaks were due a lax defense.

We allowed the welsh into the game and we know that this Irish team is a lot better than the display we saw yesterday. They didn't look as clinical as they did in the autumn internationals, hopefully that will be sorted out before the french game.

Don't understand by EOS was reluctant to use his bench, Best would have been an great impact sub for the last 20/30 mins, along with Boss and Murphy.

cik

GreenHell wrote:

Don't understand by EOS was reluctant to use his bench, Best would have been an great impact sub for the last 20/30 mins, along with Boss and Murphy.

I'd say he didnt sub more because you make Subs quicker when you are either chasing a game or assured of victory, coupled with the fact that Darce and BOD were carrying injuries and one of them was probably always going to come, if just as a precaution.
easterby was having a fine came and given the above deserved to come off.

To win well, in reflection, when key players ROG, POC and Strings were well below their best tells you all you need to know about this Irish team

Roll on next week, barring injury to the centres, Flannery is the only possible change - we are playing the French - EOS wont mess around with his selection but should be ready to use the bench if it isnt going our way

Diamondmaker

cik wrote:

I'd say he didnt sub more because you make Subs quicker when you are either chasing a game or assured of victory, coupled with the fact that Darce and BOD were carrying injuries and one of them was probably always going to come, if just as a precaution.

very valid point.
Eddie knew at half time that Darcy was carrying a niggle and to bring on Murphy for Girv could have proved very costly if darcy twinged after this sub was made. BOD may have also indicated a worry at half time with his hammer... EOS cautious foresight I think , got it right here.

On the others:

Easterby played well and was no need to throw the fierry Best into what could have been a knife edge drop goal finale situation.
We were ahead by 3 scores and there was no need for the attacking talents posed by Boss.
The only other possible sub was made in Flannery so what are people moaning about.

If it aint broke dont fix it...rest players agaisnt Scotland not for a critical final 15mins V Wales in Minllenium.

randomname2005

Diamondmaker wrote:

Re DOC: he slowed up ball and gave away penalties where tries would have come, he did not get binned, so all in all job well done in this regard, its part of the game!

To be honest i thought the ref was a little harsh on the Irish forwards. Several times Popham was lying on the ball and not rolling away from the tackle (for eternity) and the ref never said anything. Other times he specifically told certain players to leave the ball in a ruck. Then they proceeded to pick it up and he said play on.
While there are reasons why DOC may have been sin-binned, equally well the Welsh should have been penalised more. IMHO

R

sioda

I think serious questions have to be asked of Trimble I felt he was anonymous yesterday and shaky in play. With subs of the quality of murphy you have to wonder

Sangre

Murphy is useless in an Irish jersey.

terry mac

Used to be a big Murphy fan, but you get so many off days with him, he's just the most frustrating player to follow. I'm sure a team like Scotland would have him first player on the teamsheet, the odd flash of brilliance would be invaluable to them and all the off days forgotten. But the Irish backline (centres alone) provide enough creativity that we can afford to fore-go his odd brilliant days for a safe pair of hands.

Hippo

Sangre wrote:

Murphy is useless in an Irish jersey.

A brave statement after his brief cameo in Cardiff. Looked pretty safe under the high ball in Thomond park as well. Girv shouldn't have played on Sunday, looked way off the pace and was regularly out of position.

davyjose

I agree with Hippo - he made a difference that perhaps cost Wales the game. With a great bit of play in the first half.
DM, Dempsey was indeed back for the Czecki (sp? - help me here )attempt, but he had been caught out prior to this numerous times being to far forward, giving Wales acres of space to kick in, but I think this was rustiness. We'll see, I think he'll start against France, with Murphy on the Wing and Trimble in the Centre - BOD will miss the France game I fear.

Erin Go Brath

I agree, if BOD is out for the French game, which looks likely then Murphy will be brought in to the wing, and Trimble in to the centre. I'd leave Dempsey at 15 anyway. He has to be the safest pair of hands that we have. Flannery should definitely be given the nod for hooker. Apart from that, it'll be the same I'd say.

nacho libre

Hippo wrote:

A brave statement after his brief cameo in Cardiff. Looked pretty safe under the high ball in Thomond park as well. Girv shouldn't have played on Sunday, looked way off the pace and was regularly out of position.

yet he stopped a certain welsh try, that an attack-minded Murphy might have been absent to prevent.

Hippo

I think you'll find that the welsh wing had already knocked the ball on by the time Girv got there.

nacho libre

Hippo wrote:

I think you'll find that the welsh wing had already knocked the ball on by the time Girv got there.

Was that because Easterby's tackle was bordering on illegal- tackling the man without the ball?
Dempsey got back well anyhow.

Redundo

Areas of improvement?

ROG needs to find touch with every kick or France will punish us unmercifully if he kicks like he did on the first half against Wales.

The team as a whole must cut out all the penalties, it should be a very tight game and a single penalty could make all the difference. Also the next ref won't be as card-shy as last Sunday.

nacho libre

Redundo wrote:

Areas of improvement?

ROG needs to find touch with every kick or France will punish us unmercifully if he kicks like he did on the first half against Wales.

The team as a whole must cut out all the penalties, it should be a very tight game and a single penalty could make all the difference. Also the next ref won't be as card-shy as last Sunday.

I think you're are right, Ireland will perform much better.
However, i see France just shading it.

EdgarAllenPoo

I think Neil Best should start against England, hopefully O'Driscoll will be fit, Flannery needs to start as well.

nacho libre

That turnover he created after just coming on what great to see. Maybe he should have been in from the start?