Ireland vs Japan

mickmackey1

Subpopulus wrote: »

Just looking through the stats there - Earls has now scored 9 tries this year (2016-2017), which is a new Irish record for one season. It was previously held by Dennis Hickie who scored 8 tries in 2003-2004.

Earls has now scored 26 tries for Ireland, still the fourth-highest all-time try-scorer, but it looks like he'll be up to second spot before long, assuming Tommy Bowe's Irish career doesn't miraculously take off again.

Irish all-time try scorers
BOD: 46
Bowe: 30
Hickie: 29
Earls: 26
Horgan: 21

And he's only played 61 Tests, less than half BOD's. So his ratio is better.

CatFromHue

His ratio is better is better but if you break it down into tries v Top 6 teams (NZ, SA, Oz, Eng, Fra, Wal) and tries v The Rest than BOD's stats are much much better.

Only 6 of Earl's tries have been against top 6 teams compared to 25 of BOD's

MattD

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Link please

https://youtu.be/rF3uFB7f4m8

shuffol

Thought Healy had a great game, looking forward to the battle for the LH jersey next season. Don't think McGrath is at the same level as a year ago.

Conan and Leavy seem to be developing a very good understanding, they link up very well, probably the two best ball handlers in the country.

mickmackey1

CatFromHue wrote: »

His ratio is better is better but if you break it down into tries v Top 6 teams (NZ, SA, Oz, Eng, Fra, Wal) and tries v The Rest than BOD's stats are much much better.

Only 6 of Earl's tries have been against top 6 teams compared to 25 of BOD's

Yeah but I'd imagine BOD also played a lot more games against the Big Six than Earls has. Not saying he'd get in the team ahead of BOD mind you :P

CatFromHue

back to the Earls to 13 debate again is it

:pac:

Former Coach

.ak wrote: »

I'm not criticising him taking the carrier, that's right, but as the ball was being shipped left he needed to come into the line and take the last man, otherwise it was always going to be open country for the winger. He just stood in the pocket and watched the ball hit the overlap.[/QUOT

At that part of the pitch (around the 10-metre line) the full back is not going to be up in the line. All he could do in that 3-on-one situation is hit the ball-carrier (the outside man) and just hope that somebody else can get the receiver inside. We were down to 14 men at that stage too which probably exacerbated matters!

Former Former

Former Former wrote: »

Toner with a show and go, 30 metre line break. What a time to be alive.

Anybody know when this was in the match?

Found it

https://youtu.be/rF3uFB7f4m8?t=2638

irishbucsfan

Behold

AbusesToilets

Ringrose ****ing it all up there at the end.

Buer

AbusesToilets wrote: »

Ringrose ****ing it all up there at the end.

Referee should have given a yellow card for a deliberate knock on instead of scrum advantage which he called over once the ball went through a few passes.

leakyboots

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Behold

Glorious

razorblunt

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Behold

Reminds me of the first Guardians of the Galaxy when Groot is running.

molloyjh

Buer wrote: »

Referee should have given a yellow card for a deliberate knock on instead of scrum advantage which he called over once the ball went through a few passes.

Exactly. Guaranteed try had it not been knocked on. It's not like he was attempting a tackle or anything either.

Subpopulus

I love how the first Japanese tackler can't even get his hand over Toner's shoulder

shuffol

Subpopulus wrote: »

I love how the first Japanese tackler can't even get his hand over Toner's shoulder

Anybody else he'd have taken their head off.

It was lovely composure by Toner with the timing of the pass to Ringrose. Nice play by Leavy too, he's excellent at exploiting space around the ruck.

irishbucsfan

shuffol wrote: »

Anybody else he'd have taken their head off.

It was lovely composure by Toner with the timing of the pass to Ringrose. Nice play by Leavy too, he's excellent at exploiting space around the ruck.

I started the gif a little late to see it, but that was off a turnover that Leavy and Healy won together by pushing Japan off the ball as well.

.ak

AbusesToilets wrote: »

Ringrose ****ing it all up there at the end.

Buer wrote: »

Referee should have given a yellow card for a deliberate knock on instead of scrum advantage which he called over once the ball went through a few passes.

He still ****ed it up. As an international centre he has to have better awareness of his surrounding. The inside pass was covered. The man outside him had a free run.

thebaz

.ak wrote: »

He still ****ed it up. As an international centre he has to have better awareness of his surrounding. The inside pass was covered. The man outside him had a free run.

very harsh - no matter what the level these are split second decisions - wrong option chosen - granted internationals should make less wrong options than rest - but sometimes anyone can get in wrong - even BOD did in his prime.

.ak

.ak wrote: »

He still ****ed it up. As an international centre he has to have better awareness of his surrounding. The inside pass was covered. The man outside him had a free run.

Ringrose must have pissed in your cornflakes at some point in time. Goes back to his breakthrough into the Leinster team, desperate nit picking.

Buer

Good to see the young lads getting another run out this weekend. Definitely seems to be a few guys who were along to make up the numbers though.

Will be very interested in seeing Treadwell getting a good run from the start.

Jeremias Cool Explosion

Jeremias Cool Explosion wrote: »

Ringrose must have pissed in your cornflakes at some point in time. Goes back to his breakthrough into the Leinster team, desperate nit picking.

He just wants him to be as good as he can be..

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Rigor Mortis

Ireland: (15-9) A Conway; K Earls, G Ringrose, L Marshall, J Stockdale; P Jackson, K Marmion;
(1-8) C Healy, J Tracy, J Ryan, K Treadwell, D Toner, R Ruddock (capt), J Conan, J van der Flier.
Replacements: (16-23) N Scannell, D Kilcoyne, A Porter, J Ryan, S Reidy; J Cooney, R Scannell, T O’Halloran

Zebo, McGrath and Leavy not considered due to injury

You'd have to feel a bit for Killer.

Great stuff, this tour has been fantastic for player development.

sydthebeat

JJ leaving out a lot of his gaijins and experienced players.

This could be a big win for Ireland if they put their minds into it.

Jeremias Cool Explosion

Jeremias Cool Explosion wrote: »

Great stuff, this tour has been fantastic for player development.

Only to a degree. Lot's of those guys won't get any or many more caps and there is usually as much waste as development on these tours.

Not suggesting it's a bad thing and this is the best selection I've ever seen for a tour like this given that some 2nd / 3rd choice options were left behind so that selectors could take a punt on some of the kids.

Sanjuro

So who from the tour is most likely to kick on and gain more caps in the near future? I'd imagine Conan has definitely put his hand up. And Stockdale and Treadwell (depending on this weekend) due to lack of depth in their positions will be in the mix.

pickarooney

I put 4 pounds on James Ryan being capped again at some stage

Sanjuro

pickarooney wrote: »

I put 4 pounds on James Ryan being capped again at some stage

I'm a little embarrassed I forgot to mention him.

leakyboots

Find it a bit strange the Healy and John Ryan get to start all 3 matches, was sure Killer would get a go in at least one game and why not let Porter show what he can, he's out there anyway. Curious to see how the lineout goes with JT at the helm. I say, see, but not a hope am I getting up for the match, highlights will have to do

Burkie1203

leakyboots wrote: »

Find it a bit strange the Healy and John Ryan get to start all 3 matches, was sure Killer would get a go in at least one game and why not let Porter show what he can, he's out there anyway. Curious to see how the lineout goes with JT at the helm. I say, see, but not a hope am I getting up for the match, highlights will have to do

Rotating two new hookers and second rows so having same props is logical IMO.

thomond2006

I don't think Kilcoyne is ever going to be a key player for Ireland. John Ryan is already the established backup TH but needs the starts. There's plenty of time for Porter.

Hooker is an interesting position going forward. 2017-18 is likely to be Rory Best's final season and unless there's a 6N title at play he should be phased out.

Buer

.ak wrote: »

He still ****ed it up. As an international centre he has to have better awareness of his surrounding. The inside pass was covered. The man outside him had a free run.

That's an incredibly harsh view of it. When he gets the ball, he has two defenders in front of him in almost identical positions; one to his left and one to his right. If he gives the ball right, McGrath has a winger to beat still. If the pass goes inside the man who knocks it on is out of the picture and the winger has a lot of ground to make up.

It's a split second decision and both are equally likely to result in a try but for foul play from a defender.

molloyjh

.ak wrote: »

He still ****ed it up. As an international centre he has to have better awareness of his surrounding. The inside pass was covered. The man outside him had a free run.

The inside pass was not "covered". It was blocked down illegally. Both options were good options.

leakyboots

leakyboots wrote: »

Find it a bit strange the Healy and John Ryan get to start all 3 matches, was sure Killer would get a go in at least one game and why not let Porter show what he can, he's out there anyway. Curious to see how the lineout goes with JT at the helm. I say, see, but not a hope am I getting up for the match, highlights will have to do

I think it's a case of us having a lot of depth in the forwards already so Joe looking for a platform up front to allow an inexperienced back line play some rugby.

In terms of who kicks on, it really depends on a couple of things. Who will get to play against the best opposition, who will get the best coaching / mentoring, who will have a good injury profile, who will have the right level of competition for jerseys etc etc.

I think Porter has a good shout as he seems to be a bit of a specimen and Furlong will be away a lot of the season. It's an area we've limited depth.

I'm glad Furlong has had Lions exposure as he'll learn a lot with Ross gone.

I think Stockdale could be our new Tommy Bowe in the coming two seasons.

irishbucsfan

molloyjh wrote: »

The inside pass was not "covered". It was blocked down illegally. Both options were good options.

Both passes were equally covered. It's impossible to know that the Japanese player would illegally knock the ball on to block the pass going left and also impossible to know that the Japanese player on the other side wouldn't have done that same.

irishbucsfan

Deleted User wrote: »

I think it's a case of us having a lot of depth in the forwards already so Joe looking for a platform up front to allow an inexperienced back line play some rugby.

I think its also a case of both Healy and Ryan being Lions contenders should there be an injury in New Zealand

leakyboots

I guess I meant more in terms of the overall tour, not just this game. Anyway, a moot point

irishbucsfan

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I think its also a case of both Healy and Ryan being Lions contenders should there be an injury in New Zealand

Also true. When you look at Marler's performance against the Chiefs you've to feel a bit sorry for Healy.

CIARAN_BOYLE

leakyboots wrote: »

I guess I meant more in terms of the overall tour, not just this game. Anyway, a moot point

I'm definitely of the opinion that he has picked certain positions for development and certain positions for experience. Prop has been decided as an experience position so he keeps it the same and gives other players a chance to play with a first choice 23 unit.

irishbucsfan

Deleted User wrote: »

Also true. When you look at Marler's performance against the Chiefs you've to feel a bit sorry for Healy.

The guys that Joe singled out as being potentially Lions lads on standby have been ever-present (Earls was one as well). I think he's letting those guys keep their momentum.

Buer

I think it's a case of giving the lads who are in the test 23 as much game time as possible. Healy, Marmion, Ryan, Jackson, Niall Scannell, Toner, Ringrose, Earls. Then bringing in a few new lads around them. It's going to be much easier to integrate someone like Kieran Treadwell into the set up alongside Devin Toner than next to Quinn Roux. Or Jacob Stockdale outside Ringrose than ROL.

They want the new guys to get an opportunity to blend into the squad properly and not just earn a few redundant caps which will be completely useless if they're called upon to face South Africa in 5 months.

Buer

What the selection also suggests to me is that there a number of lads who are out there and aren't really in consideration for Irish selection. They're just being given the benefit of touring and training with the squad whilst providing cover.

JOD, Reidy, Cooney, ROL and Heffernan are the ones that stand out. One appearance from the bench at most for each.

.ak

thebaz wrote: »

very harsh - no matter what the level these are split second decisions - wrong option chosen - granted internationals should make less wrong options than rest - but sometimes anyone can get in wrong - even BOD did in his prime.

That's right, nothing wrong with it, everyone had their off days.

Jeremias Cool Explosion wrote: »

Ringrose must have pissed in your cornflakes at some point in time. Goes back to his breakthrough into the Leinster team, desperate nit picking.

Very defensive there IO. I've heaped on more praise than anything negative for him. I am a big fan, my only issues I had with him when he broke through is I thought he was too small for international rugby when everyone was outraged at the very thought of Schmidt not picking him (including BOD), all I said was he needed another season of regular PRO12 rugby under his belt to get accustomized to that level of impact and contact work and I was right. He's significantly added to his frame and is far more hardier in contact.

Jump_In_Jack

irishbucsfan wrote: »

The guys that Joe singled out as being potentially Lions lads on standby have been ever-present (Earls was one as well). I think he's letting those guys keep their momentum.

I missed this, who did he single out?
Assuming it was Ringrose, Earls and Healy?
Or possibly Zebo and Toner too? John Ryan at a long-shot?

.ak

Deleted User wrote: »

He just wants him to be as good as he can be..

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All jokes aside, he's world class, so I do hold him to a high standard. He's not going to be a Luke Marshall fringe player, he's going to be the Irish 13 for the next decade all things hopeful.

Jump_In_Jack

It's a pity about those three injuries, they've performed well on the tour, hopefully they will be back fit and ready to do a full pre-season with their clubs.

However unfortunate for the three casualties, it's giving an opportunity to the fringe touring players to put in a performance, which as a supporter I'm happy about:
Cooney on to the bench, Conway getting a run at fullback, Stockdale getting another start on the wing, van der Flier getting another start at open-side, and Reidy getting an opportunity off the bench covering any position in the backrow.

Great to see Cooney in the 23, (pity McGrath is injured of course) Cooney has a lot of potential, will be interesting to see how he goes.
Each province having a Irish capped scrum-half is fantastic for the Irish team. And they will all be in their prime coming up to the World Cup.

Great squad overall for this tour in all positions really to be fair.
Lots to debate about but I think that's a very good and sensible selection overall.

Will definitely set the alarm for 6:20am and hit the coffee bright and early now!

.ak

molloyjh wrote: »

The inside pass was not "covered". It was blocked down illegally. Both options were good options.

That screen shot is unfair, like with everything in rugby you need to see how things are unfolding in real time.

The inside player held his ground, the outside player bit in. That's bread and butter stuff for a player of his calbre in the midfield. He took the wrong option, it's not the end of the world and I assume the tiredness had a part to play but I have no doubt it'd be highlighted in the video session and so it should be - you can all say I'm being unduly harsh but that's the expectations I have on this group of players if we intend to dine at the top table and be a team to be feared going into 6n/rwc

Rigor Mortis

leakyboots wrote: »

Find it a bit strange the Healy and John Ryan get to start all 3 matches, was sure Killer would get a go in at least one game and why not let Porter show what he can, he's out there anyway. Curious to see how the lineout goes with JT at the helm. I say, see, but not a hope am I getting up for the match, highlights will have to do

I've no issue with Ryan getting the time. Healy, i dont really see the point in giving him the three. The two good performances will have done wonders for him, the third just exposes to a higher risk of injury