Ireland vs France in BORDEAUX August 2011 **mod warning post 287**

htwomey

hi

can someone tell me how i can get tickets for the ireland vs france match in bordeaux on the 13th of August??

i am living in france and would love to go but cant find tickets!! all help would be much appreciated!!

jk86

Looks like it's sold out http://partenaires.ticketnet.fr/shop/fr/manif.asp?idmanif=226344&idtier=1493223#AncreTopPage

http://ffr.francebillet.com/place-spectacle/manifestation/Rugby-FRANCE---IRLANDE-FIRL1.htm

Digifriendly

It's live on RTE2 and ITV4.

An Tarbh

that's not much use to anyone in France though, most French matches played in the South of France are usually sellouts, and given the size of the ground and the fact it's France's only home game than it's not surprising.

Gracelessly Tom

Anyone in or around the Toulouse area fancy making a Boards night of it?? We could meet in Trevor's, watch the match and enjoy a few pints?

tolosenc

It's bizarre that place. For any France v Ireland game, it's packed out with French lads. Usually jammers. If you want a seat and a clear view of the telly, go to the Melting Pot!

Gracelessly Tom

tolosenc wrote: »

It's bizarre that place. For any France v Ireland game, it's packed out with French lads. Usually jammers. If you want a seat and a clear view of the telly, go to the Melting Pot!

Yeah, not a bad call actually, the Melting Pot is a good spot for a match. Haven't been in Trevors for a French match but judging how packed it can be for some H Cup games you're probably right.

andymx11

Is it confirmed that the match will be live on rte next Saturday? Just checking as they didn't have the Scottish match on today.

Thanks

An Tarbh

andymx11 wrote: »

Is it confirmed that the match will be live on rte next Saturday? Just checking as they didn't have the Scottish match on today.

Thanks

yeah both French games are on RTÉ2 and will be in HD as well.

CatFromHue

An Tarbh wrote: »

yeah both French games are on RTÉ2 and will be in HD as well.

oh god if bod thinks we were being negative today wait til the rte boys get their pound of flesh!

Digifriendly

This match no longer listed for ITV4 so NI viewers make sure you can get RTE 2!

RuggieBear

Digifriendly wrote: »

This match no longer listed for ITV4 so NI viewers make sure you can get RTE 2!

****.
is it possible to get saorview in North down? (probably asked this before?)

Hagz

An Tarbh wrote: »

yeah both French games are on RTÉ2 and will be in HD as well.

How do you get it in HD?

Digifriendly

RuggieBear wrote: »

****.
is it possible to get saorview in North down? (probably asked this before?)

I'm getting it in Moira but this is a good place for RTE and there are plenty of RTE aerials here. Problem with North Down for analogue RTE was co-channel interference from Whitehead across the Lough (Ch. 52 for ITV interfering with RTE1 and Ch. 56 BBC2 interfering with RTE2). Saorview from Clermont Carn uses Ch. 53 so I guess this should be OK but you may need a high gain aerial as DTT is on lower power than analogue from CC. Worth a try. Also note an ordinary Freeview set top box will give you only sound no picture for RTE - you need a clearly marked 'Freeview HD' box.

Pudsy33

Does anybody know where i could watch this online? I'll be out of the country on Saturday.

LeeroyJones

Hagz wrote: »

How do you get it in HD?

Saorview has RTE 2 HD on it

Hagz

Brian O'Driscoll ready for action

http://planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_7088680,00.html


Also, Mick O'Driscoll, Marcus Horan and Niall Ronan are heading to La Rochelle to meet up with the Munster squad.

The team I'd like to see would be.

1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best
3. Mike Ross
4. Mike McCarthy
5. Paul O'Connell
6. Denis Leamy
7. Sean O'Brien
8. Jamie Heaslip
9. Tomas O'Leary
10. Jonathan Sexton
11. Keith Earls
12. Fergus McFadden
13. Brian O'Driscoll
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Rob Kearney

16. Jerry Flannery
17. Tom Court
18. Donncha O'Callaghan
19. Shane Jennings
20. Eoin Reddan
21. Ronan O'Gara (if fit)
22. Felix Jones / Luke Fitz / Trimble

theboss80

Hagz wrote: »

The team I'd like to see would be.

e

I think its a week too early to see that strength of a team. Id like to see Murray and Stringer this week though. I think the best team available will play against England in the last warm up game and then again USA and Australia. Thats 3 games in a row together barring injuries.

Foxtrol

Stringer and Varley gone with Munster along with the other three.

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/23513.php

Possibly good news for Murray but Boss & Redden still have had little or no time.

LostPassword

I think that this game will be used to give as many of those who did not play on Saturday a chance to build match fitness, while also trying out a few of the fringe players. The home game against France will be used as a final qualifier for those that he's still undecided on - then Connacht will be used to get more match time for the squad players while a full team will go out against England with all the focus on getting the win and building momentum. The USA game will be 3/4 of a full team, with those with bumps and bruises rested, with everything culminating (hopefully!) with a fully match fit and grooved team against the Ozzies.

So, I'd expect to see something like the following:

Healy
Best
Ross
POC
DOC
SOB
Wallace
Heaslip
Reddan
ROG
Kearney
McFadden
Earls
Bowe
Jones

Court
Flannery
Ryan
McLouglin
Murray
Wallace
Duffy

CatFromHue

With Darcy out and a question mark over Bods fitness id expect to see the same centre partnership on saturday

CIARAN_BOYLE

CatFromHue wrote: »

With Darcy out and a question mark over Bods fitness id expect to see the same centre partnership on saturday

I'm hoping McFadden at 12 and Bowe/Earls at 13

totallegend

Geordan Murphy apparently came through 55 mins of a Leicester game (see 'Ireland team talk' thread) last night, will/should he be given a few minutes off the bench on Saturday? I think he will, possibly with Jones to start and Murphy to finish.

The other key call is at scrum-half, the fact that Stringer is gone to la Rochelle does not bode well for his World Cup prospects so it looks like a straight shoot between Boss and Murray for the third spot, but I expect neither to be on duty this weekend, I think O'Leary will start with Reddan on the bench (or possibly vice versa).

The call at hooker will also be interesting, I think if we see Flannery starting it will be a clear indication that DK sees him as the number one choice, which I think would be harsh on Rory Best who had a great season. It could well happen though.

phog

totallegend wrote: »

The call at hooker will also be interesting, I think if we see Flannery starting it will be a clear indication that DK sees him as the number one choice, which I think would be harsh on Rory Best who had a great season. It could well happen though.

Flannery is without doubt our best hooker and the only questions are his match fitness and has he shaken off his calf injuries, he needs a full game on Saturday to see how he holds up.

I reckon if Best was to get the No2 shirt on Satuday Flannery would be with Munster as well as those named above to get some game time.

GerM

phog wrote: »

Flannery is without doubt our best hooker

In your opinion, Phog. Flannery is without doubt our best thrower, in my opinion. Overall, as hooker though, it's not clear cut at all. If it was, Best and Flannery wouldn't have rotated throughout the past 5 years.

thomond2006

I'd like a close to full strength Irish side. IIRC France don't have many pre season games and they've already cut their squad numbers to ~30 so their selection will be strong.

Healy, Flannery, Ross, Cullen, POC, Leamy, SOB, Heaslip;
Reddan, ROG, Earls, McFadden, BOD, Bowe, Jones

Bench: Best, Court, Hayes, DOC, Wallace, Murray, Sexton, Kearney

I'd leave Flannery on for 80 minutes (if possible) and then give Best a start next week. In fact I'd start probably the whole bench next week bar Court and Hayes.

totallegend

thomond2006 wrote: »

I'd like a close to full strength Irish side. IIRC France don't have many pre season games and they've already cut their squad numbers to ~30 so their selection will be strong.

Healy, Flannery, Ross, Cullen, POC, Leamy, SOB, Heaslip;
Reddan, ROG, Earls, McFadden, BOD, Bowe, Jones

Bench: Best, Court, Hayes, DOC, Wallace, Murray, Sexton, Kearney

I'd leave Flannery on for 80 minutes (if possible) and then give Best a start next week. In fact I'd start probably the whole bench next week bar Court and Hayes.

I thought O'Driscoll was unlikely to play this week? And I think if Jennings is fit (as he is supposed to be), he should be given the nod instead of playing Leamy a second time with SOB out of position. You've also gone for 8 subs, not sure that's allowed (it was 7 against Scotland and it's 7 for the WC).

I would play:

Healy, Flannery, Ross, POC, Cullen, SOB, Jennings, Heaslip, Reddan, ROG, Earls, McFadden, Trimble, Bowe, Jones

Bench: Best, Court, DOC, Wallace, O'Leary, Sexton, Murphy

with Best and DOC to get 40 minutes, Wallace and Murphy a minimum of 20-30 mins.

bamboozle

thomond2006 wrote: »

I'd like a close to full strength Irish side. IIRC France don't have many pre season games and they've already cut their squad numbers to ~30 so their selection will be strong.

Healy, Flannery, Ross, Cullen, POC, Leamy, SOB, Heaslip;
Reddan, ROG, Earls, McFadden, BOD, Bowe, Jones

Bench: Best, Court, Hayes, DOC, Wallace, Murray, Sexton, Kearney

I'd leave Flannery on for 80 minutes (if possible) and then give Best a start next week. In fact I'd start probably the whole bench next week bar Court and Hayes.

Leamy???

Hopefully Flannery is eased back into it with 40 mins, great to see he got through his 20 mins last week, he cant be rushed back after the guts of 18 months out.

GerM

thomond2006 wrote: »

I'd like a close to full strength Irish side. IIRC France don't have many pre season games and they've already cut their squad numbers to ~30 so their selection will be strong.

Healy, Flannery, Ross, Cullen, POC, Leamy, SOB, Heaslip;
Reddan, ROG, Earls, McFadden, BOD, Bowe, Jones

Bench: Best, Court, Hayes, DOC, Wallace, Murray, Sexton, Kearney

I wouldn't differ greatly from that side. I wouldn't have Leamy in there as there are just too many options at 6 at the moment that we need to have a look at. We only have this game and the French home game before naming our squad and these players will need to be looked at. The England game will essentially be a run out for our match day 22. I would have Leamy on the bench at most given he played 80 minutes last week and would look at Ryan or McLaughlin at 6. Possibly give MOD a run in the second row unless he's definitely not in contention. I reckon Duffy might also get a shot in the match day squad this week.

totallegend

GerM wrote: »

Possibly give MOD a run in the second row unless he's definitely not in contention.

He will be in playing in La Rochelle with Munster on Friday.

Corbetto

Healy best ross
poc doc
o'brien wallace heaslip
redden ogara
mcfadden bod
earls jones bowe

court flannery mclaughlin jennings murray sexton murphy

TheHighRoad

1.Healy 2.Best 3.Ross 4.POC 5.DOC 6.O'Brien 7.Jennings 8.Heaslip 9.Boss 10.Sexton 11.Earls 12.McFadden 13.Bowe 14.Fitzgerald 15.Kearney. Give McCarthy a run at lock after 50mins for Cullen, bring on O'Gara at 50mins, Trimble for Fitzgerald at 50mins and Cronin for Best for 50mins, McLaughlin for O'Brien after 60mins

ormond lad

TheHighRoad wrote: »

1.Healy 2.Best 3.Ross 4.POC 5.DOC 6.O'Brien 7.Jennings 8.Heaslip 9.Boss 10.Sexton 11.Earls 12.McFadden 13.Bowe 14.Fitzgerald 15.Kearney. Give McCarthy a run at lock after 50mins for Cullen, bring on O'Gara at 50mins, Trimble for Fitzgerald at 50mins and Cronin for Best for 50mins, McLaughlin for O'Brien after 60mins

If mcarthy is to come on for cullen, who is cullen playing instead of? POC or DOC?

irishbucsfan

Healy, Flannery and Ross need to play together as much as possible. Even if it means leaving Best out more than would normally.

Good to have the hooker debate starting up again though!

crisco10

Hopefully Mclaughlin will get a start this week or next as opposed to a coming off the bench in lots of games. Deserves his chance to put himself forward from the off.

thomond2006

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/14460261.stm

Court is starting for Ulster on Wednesday, looks like Healy will start for Ireland now.

stephen_n

crisco10 wrote: »

Hopefully Mclaughlin will get a start this week or next as opposed to a coming off the bench in lots of games. Deserves his chance to put himself forward from the off.

Given the fact that our starting backrow baring injury will be Wallace, Heaslip and SOB it's important for Locky to prove his worth as an impact sub.

Cpt_Blackbeard

stephen_n wrote: »

Given the fact that our starting backrow baring injury will be Wallace, Heaslip and SOB it's important for Locky to prove his worth as an impact sub.

I don't think that he is physical enough to be a good impact player. I'd rather Leamy, Ryan or McCarthy were used in an impact role - Ferris is probably a lost cause at this stage, regrettedly.

My team for the France game:
Healy
Best - Give Flannery 30m from the bench and have him start next week.
Hayes - We need to see if he has it in him. Give Ross 30m from the bench.
McLoughlin
POC
Leamy - We need him if Ferris doesn't travel.
Heaslip
SOB - We need to see if he can cut it at this level, at 7.
Murray - Its a huge test, but it will allow him to show if he is ready to make the stepup. Reddan and TOL will be the scrumhalves though.
ROG - He deserves a chance to lay a claim for the 10 jersey, after Sexton's poor performance at the weekend.
Earls
Fitz- He is our 4th best winger and could be useful in the centre. I hope (but doubt) he has the confidence to perform out of his comfort zone. Its sink or swim time.
McFadden
Bowe
Jones - He was wrongly blamed for the try at the weekend. In his brief cameo, he showed more going forward than Kearney. A solid performance would put the onus on Kearney to perform.

CatFromHue

I wouldn't put Luke Fitz in the centre. He has been tried there before and it didn't work out. The thing he needs most is game time in his current position of the wing to try and get some form back.

If you take it last season he played wing, centre and full back at varying different stages and his form struggled.

joseywhales

"We need to see if he can cut it at this level, at 7."

To be honest i think it's time to just let him stick to one position this close to the world cup.

I mean he probably our best 6 or 7 and is close to par with heaslip as an 8, both have different advantages.

But what is the point in moving one of the top three players in the team, on form, around to suit other players. He is our most effective ball carier, give him a jersey and stick with it for the tournament.

danthefan

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Hayes - We need to see if he has it in him. Give Ross 30m from the bench.

We seriously no not need to see anything of the sort. He's our 3rd choice TH at absolute best. Should be nowhere near.

Amazotheamazing

joseywhales wrote: »

"We need to see if he can cut it at this level, at 7."

To be honest i think it's time to just let him stick to one position this close to the world cup.

I mean he probably our best 6 or 7 and is close to par with heaslip as an 8, both have different advantages.

But what is the point in moving one of the top three players in the team, on form, around to suit other players. He is our most effective ball carier, give him a jersey and stick with it for the tournament.

I think in time SOB could be better than either Ferris or Heaslip at 6 or 8, he's a massive talent, but I don't see him as a 7 at all.

Hagz

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

I think in time SOB could be better than either Ferris or Heaslip at 6 or 8, he's a massive talent, but I don't see him as a 7 at all.

I would have said SOB is a better 6 than Ferris already. I don't think Ferris ever had a season like SOB has just had, based on the season that's just past, It's not an over statement to say that SOB is the in form 6 in world rugby.

Cpt_Blackbeard

joseywhales wrote: »

"We need to see if he can cut it at this level, at 7."

To be honest i think it's time to just let him stick to one position this close to the world cup.

I mean he probably our best 6 or 7 and is close to par with heaslip as an 8, both have different advantages.

But what is the point in moving one of the top three players in the team, on form, around to suit other players. He is our most effective ball carier, give him a jersey and stick with it for the tournament.

In the likely event that Jennings doesn't travel, we need to see if SOB can cover 7. We need a.backup to Wallace.

danthefan wrote: »

We seriously no not need to see anything of the sort. He's our 3rd choice TH at absolute best. Should be nowhere near.

Many people would disagree. Hayes is obviously past his best but, he is just as viable an option for the WC as Buckley (Who I have defended here to no end). We know that Hayes will always give 100% and perform to a decent enough standard.

That can't be said for Buckley. He has the much maligned potential to be brillaint but, it is a complete guess whether or not he will perform.

CIARAN_BOYLE

To be honest I would bring Buckley and Court if it was my decision

When picking my second choice props I want someone who can cover both sides and sit on the bench and provide 20 minutes against USA, Italy and Aus and play 80 minutes against Russia ie Court. I also want someone who is primarily a TH who can play 80 minutes against Russia. Meaning I want someone I trust to play the whole 80 minutes.

How often did Hayes do that last season. Twice? I'll call on buckley.

GerM

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

To be honest I would bring Buckley and Court if it was my decision

When picking my second choice props I want someone who can cover both sides and sit on the bench and provide 20 minutes against USA, Italy and Aus and play 80 minutes against Russia ie Court. I also want someone who is primarily a TH who can play 80 minutes against Russia. Meaning I want someone I trust to play the whole 80 minutes.

How often did Hayes do that last season. Twice? I'll call on buckley.

How often did Buckley do that last season? Twice I think also. There are reasons to select Buckley ahead of Hayes but on the basis of him being an 80 minute man isn't one of them. I think either of them should be able to last 80 minutes against the conditioning of a Russian or American side. I'd select Buckley on the basis that neither side should be a particularly stern scrummaging test technically and his carrying and handling could create something. If we need Hayes lifting to help our line out against these sides, we're in serious trouble.

GerM

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

We know that Hayes will always give 100% and perform to a decent enough standard.

We know Hayes will always give 100% but we've seen on several occasions in the past that doesn't equate to a decent enough standard at this stage of his career. He was absolutely destroyed in his last international against Samoa for example. He is as much a liability as Buckley is at this point, unfortunately. I think he'll be on the plane though.

CatFromHue

GerM wrote: »

He was absolutely destroyed in his last international against Samoa for example.

I'm not 100% sure about that and I think destroyed is too harsh a word. If I remember right the scrums were very bad in general that day and Hayes took all the flak. There were alot of early engagements, the Samoans gave away a bit, and what everyone is overlooking is that Court gave away alot more penalties than Hayes.

I can't find the stats for that game but Hayes ended up taking the fall for what wasn't his fault.

GerM

CatFromHue wrote: »

I'm not 100% sure about that and I think destroyed is too harsh a word. If I remember right the scrums were very bad in general that day and Hayes took all the flak. There were alot of early engagements, the Samoans gave away a bit, and what everyone is overlooking is that Court gave away alot more penalties than Hayes.

I can't find the stats for that game but Hayes ended up taking the fall for what wasn't his fault.

He was generally very poor overall I felt and there was no doubting that the scrum was much improved after his departure and Court went to tighthead.I don't have the stats but I recall both gave away penalties during the match. He simply doesn't have the legs for international rugby anymore though, outside the scrum. It's not his fault, he's pushing 38 years of age. It's madness we're even having to ask him to put himself through this. It has been noticeable since the Grand Slam that he has been on the wane. It's a shame that someone like Hagan didn't get a run in the past year at all or even brought into a training squad.

CatFromHue

It's probably being pedantic but of all the props on show that day Hayes gave away the least amount of penalties. The scrums were a mess but I don't think you can blame him for that.

You're right it is madness at 38 but as per his whole career there are limited other options. He is no longer first choice but as back up props go I'd like to see him get a proper run out, like all the other props, before I make a judgement.

It should also be noted I don't think we stole, not sure if we even competed, a Scottish line out til he came on.

GerM

CatFromHue wrote: »

It should also be noted I don't think we stole, not sure if we even competed, a Scottish line out til he came on.

I'd agree on that point. I said elsewhere that I think Hayes will get the nod based on loyalty and the fact that his line out lifting is genuinely excellent. But personally, I wouldn't bring him. We shouldn't need his lifting to survive against Russia or the USA; I believe Buckley's ability to carry and handle the ball would bear more fruit against these sides. We should have the measure of them in the set piece regardless of which props play.

I think he should of course though be allowed a good run out to see just where he rates in relation to Buckley. I think he'll get a run alongside Flannery and POC and the line out will go smoothly thereby giving him a strong case.