Brian Moore

nacho libre

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=A1YourView&xml=/sport/2007/09/17/srmoor117.xml

I think he's right. He might be a loud mouth but his analysis is correct.
The Southern Hemisphere sides will hammer any team from this part of the globe(well, excluding France, maybe)

Eoin

Ironically, that's probably the least scathing he's been about Ireland's continued under-achieving after our worst two performances in a long time.

Brian Moore wrote:

I have no idea what it takes to make the Irish coach, Eddie O'Sullivan, angry because he even managed to remain upbeat about the narrow Irish win against Georgia. O'Sullivan said later that the Irish had played better than against Namibia. He must have been watching a different game to me.

Had the Georgians taken just a fraction more control in any one of a number of close forward drives for the line late on, they would have won. Moreover, I don't think it shows great heart or fortitude simply because a superior team mange to drag themselves out of difficulties that are, for the most part, self-inflicted.

Though England lost and did not score, this performance by the Irish was arguably as bad, if not worse, given the strength of the opposition. Moreover, Ireland haven't wasted the last three years' development, nor did they have a rash of injuries to contend with. And finally on this comparison, England did not play well, but they well beaten by a better team, who forced penalties and created their scores.

corny

A comparison of England and Ireland might be a bit misleading. Ireland have what it takes to compete with the SH trio, England just don't.

The French have a bad performance to put behind them we have a couple. I'd fancy either side to run the SH very close if they put things right.

Narcissus

nacho libre wrote:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=A1YourView&xml=/sport/2007/09/17/srmoor117.xml

I think he's right. He might be a loud mouth but his analysis is correct.
The Southern Hemisphere sides will hammer any team from this part of the globe(well, excluding France, maybe)

What about the Wales vs. Australia match? Wales played well in the second half and the end result could have been different if they had played well for the entire match. The Aussies hardly hammered them. The match was played in Cardiff so they would have had the home advantage, but i still think the 6N teams could put up a good fight against the SH teams (not counting the poor Italian performance against the All Blacks ).

Eoin

corny wrote:

A comparison of England and Ireland might be a bit misleading. Ireland have what it takes to compete with the SH trio, England just don't.

One of the first paragraphs says pretty much the same thing:

England's decline is easier to trace than the bewildering form of an Ireland team that many felt had a realistic chance of challenging for the trophy.

nacho libre

Apapaia wrote:

What about the Wales vs. Australia match? Wales played well in the second half and the end result could have been different if they had played well for the entire match. The Aussies hardly hammered them. The match was played in Cardiff so they would have had the home advantage, but i still think the 6N teams could put up a good fight against the SH teams (not counting the poor Italian performance against the All Blacks ).

True, Wales didn't get hammered. Australia looked well in control till Mortlock went off. Australia were always going to get the win, though. I have a feeling Australia can play even better than they showed in the first half against Wales.
France, i think if they play at their very best have the beating of the Southern Hemisphere nations but the other Six Nation teams will be well beaten by New Zealand and South Africa.