the "what if we do...." thread

justsomebloke

So we all know how we want Sunday to turn out with us scoring the 4 tries yet keeping the pumas at bay and qualifying but what then.

How do you see us competing against the all blacks in Cardiff. Would we be able to pull it out of the bag again as we would of done against the argies or do you think that we would probably revert to how we played in a last few matches and get demolished by them.

Also given the opportunistic timing of the press release this week how do you think BOD would be going into the match

marco_polo

jsb wrote:

So we all know how we want Sunday to turn out with us scoring the 4 tries yet keeping the pumas at bay and qualifying but what then.

How do you see us competing against the all blacks in Cardiff. Would we be able to pull it out of the bag again as we would of done against the argies or do you think that we would probably revert to how we played in a last few matches and get demolished by them.

Also given the opportunistic timing of the press release this week how do you think BOD would be going into the match

One thing we can safely say for sure is he wouldn't be throwing any blades of grass at the All Blacks before the match.

jameshayes

marco_polo wrote:

One thing we can safely say for sure is he wouldn't be throwing any blades of grass at the All Blacks before the match.

lol

zAbbo

is there any outcome that see's us coming top, without having to put 50+ on the Pumas?

Lose and we're fcuked, Win and we're proper fcuked (by NZ)

Iompair

If we beat Argentina by the required amount it'll take such a monumental effort we'll have nothing left to throw at NZ.

If we do make the semi's this tournament it will be the single greatest achievment by any rugby team in any era.

So fingers crossed and say your prayers in mass on sunday:)

JC 2K3

zabbo wrote:

is there any outcome that see's us coming top, without having to put 50+ on the Pumas?

If Georgia beat France.....

Marshy

JC 2K3 wrote:

If Georgia beat France.....

We better get on to Alan Lewis, seems he's reffing that game. Anyone have his number?

kevmy

Georgians are fcuked tired I'd say after all their exploits at this WC nearly holding the Argies from the BP, holding us from the BP and nearly beating us and then handing a whooping to Namibia.

Thats a really good WC for them. Can't see them being able to pull out another massive performance for France. They'll just play the game ad go home tired but happy

Endurance Man

Ireland loose to NZ, the end.

RugBeir

I think if we beat Argentina on Sunday by the required amount, we are capable of beating NZ. We would be on a roll and be underdogs going into the match. Needless to say, the whole BOD incident would become huge.
Of course - just because we are capable - doesnt mean we will beat the ABs.

The biggest danger would come from the 'defeatists' within the team, the supporters and the media i.e. - those who believe Ireland will always be inferior and can never beat the ABs. The message invariably filters into the psyche of the team and is reflected in their performance.

Teams that beat the ABs regularly - France and Australia, have an unshakable self-belief that they are capable of anything. They dont think about the last result. Each match is a new battleground.

Alas, for Ireland, the expectation is always that we will lose to the ABs - the 'we have not beaten them before' mentality starts to kick in. So we are beaten psychologically before the match even begins. This is reinforced by a doubting domestic media, supporters etc.

For these people, anything short of a hiding is a glorious result!

In rugby and any sport psychology is hugely important. It will take a great Irish rugby team to overcome the psychological baggage that is brought into any game with the ABs. But once a jinx is broken, its easy broken again.



..... Carlsberg don't do dreams, but if they do ...........!

Snickers Man

There are still two ways, mathematically speaking, in which Ireland can top the group. Both require France to stuff up against Georgia so make of that liklihood what you will.

Scenario 1) France fail to beat Georgia. If France were to draw with Georgia--and for the laugh let's say they did that while scoring four tries--they would end up with 13 points.

In that scenario, all we would have to do would be beat Argentina by eight points and score four tries, while restricting them to three tries or less. That way, Ireland and Argentina would both finish on 14 pts and we would win by virtue of having beaten Argentina in the head to head.

Curiously, even if this unlikely France Georgia result occurred we would still have to win and score four tries to avoid elimination. A mere four points would leave us level on points with France and they would progress by virtue of having won the head to head.

Scenario 2) France beat Georgia but fail to get a bonus point.
In this scenario, we would have to beat Argentina while scoring at least four tries and restricting them to less than three but because all three teams would then finish on 14 points, we would have to up our points difference, whcih is currently negative.

In this scenario if we beat Argentina by 50 pts we will overtake them into second place. To overtake France into first place we would have to beat Argentina by 98 points + the margin of victory by which France beat Georgia.

A tad unlikely, methinks.

But then so are the conditions for us going through anyway.

davyjose

marco_polo wrote:

One thing we can safely say for sure is he wouldn't be throwing any blades of grass at the All Blacks before the match.

I would. It'd be a great "you won't intimidate us" gesture.

OP, if we DO qualify, I shall take my euromillions, and depart on the next flying pig to Cardiff. At the warm-up, ROG will injure his knee and Eddie will point to me in the crowd and say "You!! get your boots on, we need you!" After I've kicked 40 points against the AB's (a winning drop-goal in the last second), the girl from that movie 'knocked up' will run onto the pitch and declare her undying love for me. To which my girlfriend will say "we can share your love"!!!

SpAcEd OuT

well im off to this game today, hope we at least play with some passion and pride against Argentina I don't expect them to beat Argentina by four tries but I do expect a performance that will send the fans home happy[ier]

TheCaveman

If Ireland go through, great day for Irish sport.

After they loose, well, there is always next time...

I think France can upset NZ in Cardiff, not so sure it Ireland can.

Cut your losses now, after all, it is only a game...

Final: SA vs NZ/France