RWC Pool C: Ireland vs Russia, Sun 25th Sep 6:00am; Pre/During/Post Match Thread

unitedrover

Wondering what are peoples thoughts on this game?

Will Ireland beat them by a bigger margin than Italy (53-17) did or will it be tighter??

.ak

Hard to see Russia recovering from that match on such a short turn around.

But having said that I think Ireland will have trouble getting started here and we won't get a BP until the second half (if at all)...

Unless Kidney picks a squad with the same core as the Oz game then we could be good.. Here's hoping anyway!

unitedrover

I'd love if Ireland could win by a huge margin but as long as they get their bonus point and keep the confidence going..job done

thomond2006

Was planning to write a preview but then I realised I knew nothing about Russia so didn't bother. Only half watched their game against USA.

I'll wait till the team is announced to give my 2c.

MungBean

Russia have nothing left. Irish backs will tear them apart and get the bonus point early in the second half. 40-60 easy.

freyners

BP win and no injuries is all i want...could give a flying fcuk by what margin but i chose 20-40 as i think that is the likely outcome

walshb

Ireland need to drill home this win. No let up. They need to score tries. If Italy are our banana skin then it could all come down to points and tries.

I expect a minimum of 7 tries for Eire.

astonaidan

Ive a feeling if Bowe or Earls play they will get one of them will get a hatrick

unitedrover

freyners wrote: »

BP win and no injuries is all i want...could give a flying fcuk by what margin but i chose 20-40 as i think that is the likely outcome

Im hoping for a higher margin of 40-60. It wouldnt be the best for the team ,confidence wise, if they're only winning by 20 and struggling for the four tries.

If Ireland can get tries early pressure off. Match over.

MungBean

astonaidan wrote: »

Ive a feeling if Bowe or Earls play they will get one of them will get a hatrick

I'd start Earls, if he got a world cup hatrick he'll be on fire against Italy.

durkadurka

I just hope we rest anyone who needs a rest, particularly the front row, poc, ferris, bod.

And give runs to Trimble and McFadden.

This is the only chance to rest anyone, it's basically knockout rugby from then on.

joshrogan

40-60 points, hopefully we don't concede more than 10 points.

Superbus

Will be weird if Artemiev is the only guy on the field who went to Blackrock.



Would hope for a big win, at least as big as Italy's if not bigger.

Hippo

Superbus wrote: »

Will be weird if Artemiev is the only guy on the field who went to Blackrock.

Cullen.

Piliger

We don't have a history of high scores against weak opposition.

Nothing will change against Russia and I believe we will win by less than 20 points.

tolosenc

With Gaffney coaching the backs, it;s hard to see Ireland scoring 6 tries against anyone.

PhatPiggins

Piliger wrote: »

We don't have a history of high scores against weak opposition.

Nothing will change against Russia and I believe we will win by less than 20 points.

Did you see them against Italy and that was their strongest team. It'll be the B squad against us.

I'd beat Russia's B team by more then 20 points

unitedrover

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Did you see them against Italy and that was their strongest team. It'll be the B squad against us.

I'd beat Russia's B team by more then 20 points

Why would Russia not be playing their strongest side? I mean they've no small teams left to play. Have they injuries?

durkadurka

I'll be happy with no injuries, resting and protecting those that need it and a small margin win.

PhatPiggins

unitedrover wrote: »

Why would Russia not be playing their strongest side? I mean they've no small teams left to play. Have they injuries?

Because they played a very physical game on tuesday. You can only expect so much from semi pro/amateur players.

unitedrover

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Because they played a very physical game on tuesday. You can only expect so much from semi pro/amateur players.

Good news for Ireland then:D

unitedrover

I think the timing of the games has been near perfect from an Irish point of view.

The USA game was nervy at times but we got the job done. That modest performance provided the incentive and drive for a big performance against Australia and allowed the Aussies to underestimate our ability as a top team. Having beaten them our confidence is at a high. Im expecting a big win over Russia of at least 40+ points. Then onto Italy...?

If the ordering of games had been any different such as starting with Australia...I doubt we'd be looking at winning the group outright.

freyners

unitedrover wrote: »

Im hoping for a higher margin of 40-60. It wouldnt be the best for the team ,confidence wise, if they're only winning by 20 and struggling for the four tries.

If Ireland can get tries early pressure off. Match over.

and i hope your right...will be glad to be wrong (sound like hook i know:p)..i just want to see us get the job done before we lose the head over the amount of points scored

as long as we leave with 5 points...im happy..if we win by 40-60 even better
but i think between us sending out a side with 9 changes that havent a lot for game time together ( centre partnership is wallace + earls...have ever played together before?) plus russia hoping to atone for a pretty miserable performance v italy...anywhere between 20-40 points is a decent result...main thing is no serious injuries....thats key

Thanos

Ireland team to face Russia in Rugby World Cup Pool C on Sunday, September 25 at 6am Irish time:
15 - Robert Kearney 14 - Fergus McFadden 13 - Keith Earls
12 - Paddy Wallace 11 - Andrew Trimble 10 - Ronan O'Gara
9 - Isaac Boss 1 - Cian Healy 2 - Sean Cronin 3 - Tony Buckley
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan 5 - Leo Cullen 6 - Donnacha Ryan
7 - Sean O'Brien 8 - Jamie Heaslip
Replacements:
16 - Rory Best 17 - Mike Ross 18 - Denis Leamy 19 - Shane Jennings 20 - Eoin Reddan 21 - Jonathan Sexton 22 - Geordan Murphy

Unsure why we have Earls at 13 and McFadden at 14, would have had that the other way around. More time for Kearney is fine, little surprised about Healy starting and Ross on the bench, would have thought Court would be on the bench. Assume Sean will only play 50 mins or so, will need him for Italy fully charged and ready to go.

endabob1

Pretty happy with that side, enough changes and the right players are being rested.

I've gone for 20-40 I think we'll rack up 30/40 points and they'll score something

totallegend

Ross on the bench? Earls in the centre when he's going to be starting on the wing against Italy? Boss starting with Reddan on the bench when Murray its a total novice who needs game time?

Only three baffling decisions is not bad by DK standards so I'm happy enough

thomond2006

Wallace and Earls in the centre could be devastating if the Russian midfield defence is poor. Wallace's passing is normally very good and he could put the ball on a six pence for Earls to burst through the defence.

Court must be injured, other than that starting Healy is madness.

I would have put Varley in the bench, if you're gonna make him fly out you should at least give him a few minutes on the pitch.

Quint2010

Happy enough with that team. Court must have picked up a knock and Varley not deemed fit enough to play. Good to see Boss start and all in all good management to use the whole squad while at the same time making sure we win the game with some of our stars playing.

Hamo

Anyone any thoughts on Wallace and Earls in center... their not big men 5'11 and 5'10 at 14st and 12st respectively... if Russia have any sort of back play they could target the center pairing... personally I would have liked to see McFadden in the center along side Trimble and Earls on the wing...

ormond lad

Russia make sweeping changes
Friday, September 23, 2011 - 09:38 AM
Russia have made eight changes for Sunday’s World Cup Pool C clash with Ireland in Rotorua following their 53-17 thumping by Italy.
Denis Simplikevich will make his Test debut on the right wing, becoming the seventh player to take his international bow in the tournament.
Northampton’s Vasily Artemyev starts at full-back while Melbourne Rebel Adam Byrnes is included in the second row.
The side selected to face Ireland has 110 less caps than the team that started against Italy.
Team: V Artemyev; D Simplikevich, A Kuzin, S Trishin, V Ostroushko; K Rachkov, A Yanyushkin (capt); S Popov, V Tsnobiladze, A Khrokin, D Antonov,
A Byrnes, A Fatakhov, A Garbuzov, V Gresev.
Replacements: E Matveev, I Prishchepenko, A Travkin, A Voytov, A Bykanov, M Sidorov, M Babaev.


Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakin...#ixzz1YlThw2eT

SSK

Is that the same Adam Byrnes that was at Leinster? How did he end up playing with Russia

WeeBushy

SSK wrote: »

Is that the same Adam Byrnes that was at Leinster? How did he end up playing with Russia

Yup, same one. He has a Russian grandparent.

bamboozle

Hamo wrote: »

Anyone any thoughts on Wallace and Earls in center... their not big men 5'11 and 5'10 at 14st and 12st respectively... if Russia have any sort of back play they could target the center pairing... personally I would have liked to see McFadden in the center along side Trimble and Earls on the wing...

Earls is not a center and i really think its pointless playing him there, leave him on the wing and grow into a top class winger.

I dont think he has the hands or pysique for the center, and i've been preaching this long before Tuilagi breezed past him.

McFadden is a much better center than Earls and Earls is a better winger than McFadden.

bamboozle

WeeBushy wrote: »

Yup, same one. He has a Russian grandparent.

Cheika's first signing for Leinster...

SuprSi

bamboozle wrote: »

McFadden is a much better center than Earls and Earls is a better center than McFadden.

...and McFadden is a much better centre than Earls, who's a much better centre than McFadden, who's also a better centre than Earl's, eh?!

I agree with what you were trying to say though - Earls should just be played on the wing. His confidence would improve through hopefully scoring a few tries, or at least getting more time on the ball, and he'd be well up for the Italy game. This game provides him no time in the position he's most likely to occupy, which surely should be the key?

Leslie91

What is it with Kidney picking Earls to play centre?. Imho Earls best position might actually be full back not wing and certainly not centre. McFadden was the best play in the Churchill Cup a couple of years back playing centre. He should be given a chance there at the very least.

Like the rest of you, 'the leaner' Court must be carrying a knock that he is nowhere to be seen. Hope Healy has a comfie ride and Ross comes on for him at HT. Play the bejaysus out of Buckley for the full 80.

Giving Kearney another go at 15 and SOB at 7 (if only for a half say) is good.

Mothman

bamboozle wrote: »

McFadden is a much better center than Earls and Earls is a better center than McFadden.

I guess the truth lies here somewhere;)

but i suppose "much better center" > "better center"

Leslie91

SuprSi wrote: »

...and McFadden is a much better centre than Earls, who's a much better centre than McFadden, who's also a better centre than Earl's, eh?!

I agree with what you were trying to say though - Earls should just be played on the wing. His confidence would improve through hopefully scoring a few tries, or at least getting more time on the ball, and he'd be well up for the Italy game. This game provides him no time in the position he's most likely to occupy, which surely should be the key?

Bamboozle was bamboozled there for a minute. I take it he is saying;

McFadden better centre than Earls and
Earls better winger than McFadden

MungBean

Dont understand what the fuss about playing Earls at centre is. He isnt incompetent and against a weakened Russia he should cut them to bits. He did struggle in the warm ups but that was against much tougher opposition and he wasnt exactly on his own in under performing at centre. In the warm ups nobody in the centre impressed. Not Darcy not Drico, not Earls and I dont care what anyone says McFadden didnt either.

Sport101

Hope Paddy Wallace goes well. He gets an awful lot of flak but has good gas, great vision and good hands. Main problem with Earls, McFadden and Darcy is that they seldom pass or offload, Wallace however should act as a nice balance in the centre. P. Wallace for MOTM, you heard it here first.

Also great to see Leo captaining the side again, nice honour, sort of in the DOC during the Lions tour vein, but nice all the same.

Leslie91

Skunkle wrote: »

Dont understand what the fuss about playing Earls at centre is. He isnt incompetent and against a weakened Russia he should cut them to bits. He did struggle in the warm ups but that was against much tougher opposition and he wasnt exactly on his own in under performing at centre. In the warm ups nobody in the centre impressed. Not Darcy not Drico, not Earls and I dont care what anyone says McFadden didnt either.

Earls is a decent player, I guess most of us are saying he shouldn't be considered a front line centre in that if we are playing one of the top teams best he should hope for is a wing or full back position. Most might agree that Bod, Darce, McF and maybe even Bowe and Wallace should be ahead of him for a centre berth.

I really think his best position could be full back longterm.

WeeBushy

According to Thornley's article the only players missing through injury were O'Connell, D'Arcy and Bowe (though none seem serious). Makes you wonder why Healy is starting after taking such a battering and playing till he dropped (literally) last week, and Court isn't involed at all.

LostPassword

Thanos wrote: »

Unsure why we have Earls at 13 and McFadden at 14, would have had that the other way around. More time for Kearney is fine, little surprised about Healy starting and Ross on the bench, would have thought Court would be on the bench. Assume Sean will only play 50 mins or so, will need him for Italy fully charged and ready to go.

Earls is our match day cover for 13 - a good idea to give him a run against a team where he should be able to make hay and get his confidence up.

I assume that this match is a trial for Buckley for the number 17 jersey - he'll get a go at both LH and TH with the starting props to see how he goes.

MungBean

Leslie91 wrote: »

Earls is a decent player, I guess most of us are saying he shouldn't be considered a front line centre in that if we are playing one of the top teams best he should hope for is a wing or full back position. Most might agree that Bod, Darce, McF and maybe even Bowe and Wallace should be ahead of him for a centre berth.

I really think his best position could be full back longterm.

Yeah but against Wales in the quarters who do you have to cover centre ? Do you put McFadden on the bench instead of Trimble ? Or do you look to who you have to cover the positions to keep your best players on the field.

I think Kidney wants centre cover from Earls and Sexton to keep the backs interchangeable. You seen it against Australia, we need 4 forwards on the bench plus a SH and OH. That leaves one player to cover wing, full back and centre from the bench. And I think Kidney see's Earls as not that much worse than McFadden at centre so McFadden doesnt become as valuable as Trimble and Earls are.

I can see McFadden making the game against Italy maybe but not Wales. So makes sense to give Earls the start at centre I think and McFadden is still on the wing so things can be changed around easily enough if need be. Or may be changed up anyway.

bamboozle

SuprSi wrote: »

...and McFadden is a much better centre than Earls, who's a much better centre than McFadden, who's also a better centre than Earl's, eh?!

I agree with what you were trying to say though - Earls should just be played on the wing. His confidence would improve through hopefully scoring a few tries, or at least getting more time on the ball, and he'd be well up for the Italy game. This game provides him no time in the position he's most likely to occupy, which surely should be the key?

fixed it! Earls better winger, McF better center!

Earls at 13 vs a side without a cohesive defence or attack is more than fine. He'll step inside every time with the ball, but it will work more than it will against any other team.

I like a Wallace/Earls axis against poor teams tbh. Wallace's creativity and Earls' pace can work.

We won't/shouldn't need much of a defensive effort in midfield vs Russia

.ak

Thing is, I have no doubt Earls will do well against Russia as a center. And I'm sure the majority are in agreement?

The issue is taking him off the wing where he's still struggling for form. He should start on the wing, and once the match is won then be moved to center. Simples.

This will do him no good, and in reality all this will do is train him for the 22 jersey.

I think Conor Murray would do well against Russia at centre tbh.

I'm not sure of why the selection was made, but sure **** it at this stage.

WeeBushy

My XV of players out of position would probably win this match. Only issue I have is Healy or O'Brien getting injured becasue if they do we're screwed. Take them off when the job is done.

ambid

Deleted User wrote: »

Earls at 13 vs a side without a cohesive defence or attack is more than fine. He'll step inside every time with the ball, but it will work more than it will against any other team.

I like a Wallace/Earls axis against poor teams tbh. Wallace's creativity and Earls' pace can work.

We won't/shouldn't need much of a defensive effort in midfield vs Russia

Wonder how many people will quote this back at you if Russia score

durkadurka

Are we being conplacent here? Are Russia really that bad?