Can we win without BOD?

davyjose

It looks as though D'Arcy will be ok, but O'Driscoll looks very iffy. Can we win this game of Rugby without two of our best players (Shaggy and BOD)? Our backline is what sets us apart from other sides - not just in attack (Trimble is a fine attacking replacement) but also in defence - and i'm beginning to have doubts. Especially as France were so strong last weekend. O'Driscolls workrate is worth an extra man to us. Everybody pray to BOD that he'll be ok.

zAbbo

Yes, we Can, BOD is a touch of class, but D'Arcy would be the one we should be concerned about, he has outshone Dricco for Leinster this season.

France are without Fritz as well, and don't have many centres in there 22 (similar to us)

davyjose

They don't rely on their centre's the way we do. Not that we rely on them but Fritz is not of the same quality of O'Driscoll.

Him and D'Arcy link up so well together too. If you look at, say, the Osprey's game recently, the two of them had psychic powers - they just knew exactly where/when the right time and place to be was. Even yesterday BOD offloaded to D'arcy, and he had completely broke the gain line when a disputable forward pass was given. I agree that we'd miss D'Arcy more, but without that attacking spark, we could struggle for tries. And without BOD defensively we could leak them.

Diamondmaker

Darcy these days is a WAY bigger loss. Paddy Wallace would do a great job in there for BOD in attack at least. No way can his D be up to BODs standard obviously.
ID rather see wallace in for BOD with trimble remaining on the wing. Wallace is a quick and slippery little f*ck.:D
It will also help with an extra kicking option from hand.
It would be an absolute shame ( and so typical of Ire recent history ) to lose to France, as we were weakened and then to recover and win the rest. Then to be pipped in "our year" to the title by those frogs again...:mad: :mad:

POC as captain also will be the result of BOD out. Maybe this will help give him the boost thats needed to up his form. If POC gets up to 110% again this too will help compensate for BOD out injured.

Oh and yeah ROG need to be on form from KO ! NB.

davyjose

The jury is out on Wallace for me. I really just haven't seen enough of him. New Year's eve was the last time, and he wasn't amazing. Trimble is beginning to look a bit fairweather too though. Needs to start standing out in the tough games, like the two boys inside of him.

I'm confident ROG will play well - had his worst game in years, can't see it twice in a row. If he does underperform again, we'll lose. We need to hit France early and hard. If we can get any sort of a lead, we'll keep it I feel. The problem is going in and giving away 10/12 points in the first 15 minutes.

Redundo

We can win without BOD and Shaggy. But like others have said ROG must be on top form from the off. If he kicks against France the way he did against Wales then we could be in for a whipping.

davyjose

Apparently BOD has only got a mild strain. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/irish/6333659.stm If he's in anyway fit, he has to start; We need our strongest XV for France - we have a little bit more leeway for the other 3 games.
Boss could get a start. Maybe not such a bad thing, although it's nice to have the option. Still, that it's a mild strain pleases me.

zAbbo

Stringer has a hairline fracture in his hand, could be a blessing in disguise....

Steibhin

Thats really great news about O'Driscoll. He deserves to lead Ireland out in Croke Park. If he could only play 60mins it would be worth it. In fact it might be no harm to see what Trimble could do in the center.

As for Boss, I am still not convinced by him. He makes so crazy decision. I guess that keeps the opposition guess, but he is untested at such a high level and was
average for Ulster this season, IMO.

starman100

And Leamy had an abscess drained? No wonder he was flying around the pitch like a dervish on Sunday!

I agree with the possibility of Boss replacing Stringer - we definitely need more penetration in this area. Stringer compared very unfavourably with Peel and showed where he is lacking.

Sangre

Stringer had a terrible passing game on Sunday. A terrible game in general as well.

crybaby

we could win without o'driscoll we're far from a one man team but people on this thread seem to be really underestimating just how good he is and how good of a captain he is aswell, paddy wallace playing 2nd centre against france would be a disgracefully embarrasing decision to make and one that o'sullivan will not do

Sangre

It would clearly be Trimble in the centre (where he should play) with Murphy and Hickie on the wing with Dempsey at full back.

terry mac

O'Driscoll is our best player by yards, captain, one player who always pulls out the stops against France, and yet his absence wouldn't be as big a blow as one of the pretty average props, or ROG, who is the player who really needs to stay injury free.

At the moment Irelands backline can afford one more injury outside of Horgan. Yeah our backline without O'Driscoll is going to be weaker, but you'd still fancy their chances with Trimble and Darcy in the centre and Murphy and Hickie on the wings.

Diamondmaker

Innit funny 2 years ago going into Aut Ints without BOD and POC we were quaking in our boots and subsequently got whallopped.

Now the thought of being without BOD and POC far from his best is not too daunting going in to Sundats game.

davyjose

I know what you mean DM - I think BOD could be the difference between winning and losing, but onle because i think it'll be close either way (BTW that doesn't mean that I think we're a one man team - NZ would not be as good without McCaw - doesn't make them a one man team). But DOC and D'Arcy have certainly stepped out of their respective shadows.

iwincosimcool

I really feel that If we play to our potential, and Brian o'driscoll starts, we could hammer them. You can't look too much into the France Italy game, and the fact that we know Ireland have the potential to up their performance a good few levels from sunday and were so clinical against the welsh boads well.
I just hope the whole occasion with the Croke park thing does not overwelm us though. We need to make It work to our advantage

Bears

ok my first post lol so here goes

ok the can win with out the bod but that shouldnt be the question. i got to say this it was the worst game off rugby i ever watched on sunday the whole team was a shambles nothing worked.

i know munster were beaten at home and i knew it would effect the camp but didnt think it would the way it did and i got to say this as much as it pains me if they come out like that in croker we fecked to be honest.

and as for and asfor the bod been cap of ireland dont think so i think it should go to POC he is a leader. dont get me wrong i like the bod great player but not a leader

anyway back to this game sunday. everyone are like the french this and that they so good yea they good but hell they were rubbish last week against a not so good italian side so they cant be judged on that game they ranked second in the world at thhe moment lol which a joke considering they got hammered by nz.

why should we fear them we took on the ozzies in our back yard and beat them. we got 5-6 players that are the best in there spots

got to remember one thing bout this game it in corke park and that goin to lift everyone the french will walk out that pitch and they wont know what hit them and the same goes for england.

time for ireland to prove we aint choking again we can win nations and dare i say it the world cup we can beat any team on any given day

even with out the bod



iggy my spellin i know it bad lol

Amz

Bears wrote:

ok my first post lol so here goes

ok the can win with out the bod but that shouldnt be the question. i got to say this it was the worst game off rugby i ever watched on sunday the whole team was a shambles nothing worked.

i know munster were beaten at hom and i knew it would effect thhe camp but didnt think it would the way it it and i got to say this as much as it pains me if they come out like that in croker we fecked to be honest.

and as for and asa forthe bod been cap of ireland dont think so i think it should go to POC he is a leader. dont gete me wrong i like the bod i am a leinster man but i live in munster breaks my heart to think they could meet again in cup hope it aint till final lol.

POC had a very quiet game on Sunday. I remember remarking that I hadn't seen or heard from him for huge periods during the game, not the type of person that should be captaining a team.

Bears

true he was quiet so was the whole team there was only one player worked ass off and that was leamy i was gutted he didnt get man the match he should have. he was everywhere

but in fairness the bod isnt a leader and never will be more worried bout his hair then out else

and as for best as for hook er please good no not again he was deaf as post and couldnt throw straight

Amz

I don't know what's going on now

Bears

:rolleyes:

marco_polo

Bears wrote:

and as for best as for hook er please good no not again he was deaf as post and couldnt throw straight

I disagree completely his throws were as straight as an arrow....

They were however a hazzard to low flying planes

davyjose

Bears wrote:

true he was quiet so was the whole team there was only one player worked ass off and that was leamy i was gutted he didnt get man the match he should have. he was everywhere

but in fairness the bod isnt a leader and never will be more worried bout his hair then out else

I'm sorry but that is just a load of Cr*p. to say that Leamy was the only Irish players that worked his ass off says to me that you watched about 5 mins of the match.
To say that BOD isn't a leader, and to question his commitment to Rugby says to me you've only seen 5 mins of Rugby in your life. You are completely wrong to suggest that. Completely.

terry mac

davyjose wrote:

I'm sorry but that is just a load of Cr*p. to say that Leamy was the only Irish players that worked his ass off says to me that you watched about 5 mins of the match.
To say that BOD isn't a leader, and to question his commitment to Rugby says to me you've only seen 5 mins of Rugby in your life. You are completely wrong to suggest that. Completely.

He's not a leader in the Ciaran Fitzgerald, traditional captain mould. He does his leading by playing brilliantly nearly every match. But its not a load of cr*p. To be honest, I think if I wasn't Irish I would hate O'Driscoll, I don't understand why English, Welsh etc don't. He's such a little bi*** on the field. Anything happens to him like getten stamped on, he's up jumping around like a monkey bi***in to like a spoilt child. I'm sure it was a bit of a joke to say that he's more interested in his hair, you have obviously taken it very personally. Needless to say, you have to admit that O'Driscoll is the obvious choice for this criticism, he's certainly a lot more interested in his hair than say Paul o'Connell or John Hayes (if he had hair).

funky penguin

Amz wrote:

POC had a very quiet game on Sunday. I remember remarking that I hadn't seen or heard from him for huge periods during the game, not the type of person that should be captaining a team.

Seconded. My dad actually remarked towards the end of the first half that EOS should bring POC on. Alright, he doesn't pay the greatest attention to anything, but it made me realise how little I had heard of him.

I personally think Brian is a great leader, which is strengthened by the respect he has internationally imo. However, we're not going to lose just because he's absent.

Eoin

terry mac wrote:

To be honest, I think if I wasn't Irish I would hate O'Driscoll, I don't understand why English, Welsh etc don't. He's such a little bi*** on the field. Anything happens to him like getten stamped on, he's up jumping around like a monkey bi***in to like a spoilt child.

It's a bit soccer-like alright, but so many of the international captains try and pressure the ref into making decisions - Gregan, Dawson, Johnson all spring to mind immediately.

davyjose

terry mac wrote:

I'm sure it was a bit of a joke to say that he's more interested in his hair, you have obviously taken it very personally. Needless to say, you have to admit that O'Driscoll is the obvious choice for this criticism, he's certainly a lot more interested in his hair than say Paul o'Connell or John Hayes (if he had hair).

I know he wasn't being literal, but he alluded to the fact that O'Driscoll has less passion for the game than he should. That is the bit that is completely wrong. There are few players with the drive that BOD has on the pitch, he works tirelessly. Yes he leads from his ability and his dedication. That's the sort of leadership any professional would want. Not to be told how to play. But it's just wrong to claim O'Driscoll hasn't got the requisite passion or drive to be captain. And so what, if he moans to the ref a lot? Yeah if I was English or Welsh i'd dislike him for that, conversely, I'm Irish so I like him for it.
And so what if he has time and inclination to go to a hairdresser's once a month, doesn't mean he isn't out training seven days a week. If Paul O'connel went to the hairdressers would that mean he's not as good? :rolleyes:
Last thing I'm going to say about the Captaincy - On Sunday ROG missed an attempt at a long range kick, and it was obvious that BOD left the decision up to the man who would kick. Compare this to the Munster Leicester game, where POC forced him to kick to touch. Just one example, but POC isn't perfect either.

marco_polo

Amz wrote:

POC had a very quiet game on Sunday. I remember remarking that I hadn't seen or heard from him for huge periods during the game, not the type of person that should be captaining a team.

It's a bit harsh that on the basis of one average game for Ireland (not even a bad one by any standard) he is not captaincy material anymore :rolleyes:. I think POC is a very honest player and would be the first to admit his form has been a bit subdued of late for Munster. However I am expecting a big performance from the ginger one on Saturday (If not then England are definately in for it )

bullrunner

POC had a fairly quiet game by his standards...but so did a lot of the forwards...the only thing i can remember of easterby is the attempted slap of the ball which helped stop a welsh try...didnt hear too much of best or hayes..and stringer was awful!

But Eddie is known for his loyalty to players..so i think so long as they all stay fit they will all get another chance so long as they are fit

Bears

hey ok

easy know were most you lot form lol (joke)

i watched the game on sunday and anyother game i can get or be lucky to see and i think they were all every bad and as for poc and the munster guys there is nodoubt in my mind that the game against leister really knocked alot out off them all and it can't be denied it hit them hard. and you can bet it was still playin on their minds when it game to the game last sunday.

i scream as load as anyone when they are playin in the green , red or blue shirt. but for anyone to say that they werent bad on sunday is not right need to get there head checked or buy new specs ( that reminds me most get mine).

as for the captain off the team everyone has there own choice and said thing is no one will ever agree on it

and i dont really care who leads the team out on the feild as long they play their heart out be it for ireland munster leinster connacht and ulster
cause at the end the day it is all anyone really wants for there club or country to do well.

i firmly believe ireland have a good chance to win the grand slam and the world cup. i think they are one the best sides in the world at the moment.
sad thing is you can never go by games before christmas as a lot can happen during the few months leadin to the 6 nations or world cup.

i still think we can beat france and england but thing is i got a fear in my heart that if they play like they did against wales we be sunk and no one can argue with it.

zAbbo

been drinking, mister bears ?

or do you run that post through the mangler before submitting.

People are more likely to accept your points if they can read them.

Chucky the tree

terry mac wrote:

To be honest, I think if I wasn't Irish I would hate O'Driscoll, .

I am Irish and i hate him. The main reason i gt such joy from watching Leinster get beaten is the close on BOD we all get to see after the match.

zabbo

zabbo wrote:

been drinking, mister bears ?

or do you run that post through the mangler before submitting.

People are more likely to accept your points if they can read them.

Thought it was just my eyes going :eek: