Irish Under-20's 2023

AdamD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120852270#Comment_120852270

France are the better team, the ref is beyond rubbish. Both can be correct.

phog

Lads, the ref is NOT the reason we're behind.

We're killing ourselves and France are competing at every ruck, slowing our ball down and either winning turnovers or forcing errors

leakyboots

Their 12 is a right handful. One more score for them and you'd think that's it.

Can't help but feel we should have kept the scoreboard ticking over in the first half

blackwhite

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120852277#Comment_120852277

To be fair to the ref in that instance - there’s two touch judges should be calling that one for him also.

phog

That miss might be crucial yet.

TomsOnTheRoof

Ireland haven't been great, especially at the back, but this is a terrible performance by the officiating team. France seal off right in front of the ref and the touch judge and it's play on. That's in addition to them not retreating after the kick and the in from the side just before the last French try. Terrible ref and touchies.

JRant

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120852270#Comment_120852270

Getting blown away at the breakdown. Can't get near their ball to slow it down. When we have it they are launching bodies into the breaker and making a mess of ours. Nothing but slow ball coming back to the half backs. France have been excellent.

The ref has also been fairly brutal if we are being honest though.

randomname2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120852270#Comment_120852270

Absolutely, but how much pressure is coming from inconsistent officiating? He calls Ireland offside, grand, but then a few minutes later after France score, no office called. Ireland penalized for not retreating, France have many within the 10, no penalty.

Edit. Irish player being mauled when going for the ball, no problem

A-Train

Ireland seem to getting destroyed at every breakdown

JRant

Case in point, the No 4 just played the scrum half while on the ground there and it's all good to this lad.

Xander10

The stadium music is so annoying

phog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120852237#Comment_120852237

The ref doesn't make allowances for a players frustration when he thinks you're not being respectful to him.

blackwhite

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120852288#Comment_120852288

He’s not, France are fully deserving of their lead.

That doesn’t mean the ref is anywhere near capable of reffing at this level though

lawrencesummers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120852286#Comment_120852286

Both are correct, but ireland are making basic errors all over the field that are costing the game, not the refs errors or interpretations.

A-Train

It has been said already but the lineout is a shambles

TomsOnTheRoof

What's the story with Prendergast? He's standing still and shipping the ball on nearly every time he receives.

WoollyRedHat

Can the lads deliver the mother of all comebacks to the backdrop of Dancing Queen?

JRant

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120852313#Comment_120852313

It's hard to say one way or another but the players look rattled and it's probably a mixture of frustration at the scoreboard and at some of the inconsistent decisions against them

AbusesToilets

Game over, France just a cut above today

theVersatile

I'd be less annoyed about the reffing if it wasn't for the fact that Hollie Davidson is doing the line. She's a fantastic ref and should be doing a game of this calibre.

France a far, far, far better team on the night though.

blackwhite

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120852321#Comment_120852321

Making it incredibly easy for the french defence - not even a suggestion of a carrying threat from him

JRant

That's the game right there. They gave it a great crack, fair play to everyone involved.

A-Train

Ireland have had a very tough tournament and they have met a very good France team.

Hard luck to the lads.

lawrencesummers

Our backrow are completely out on their feet but still fighting!

Xander10

A bit of a hammering this half.

JRant

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120852321#Comment_120852321

Looks like a lad that's minding himself during a training session while nursing a small niggle. Absolute passenger today and offered nothing.

WoollyRedHat

I think things need to be put into prospective, there's loads of French lads playing in Top14 already week in and week out, whereas our lads have approx. 12 caps between them in the URC. The future is bright.

phog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120852312#Comment_120852312

Look, I moan about refs as much as any other posters here but this is a development tour do it's a development tour for the officials too. Am I happy with his game, not really but I'd prefer to see Ireland play like they did earlier in the tournament rather moan about a few decisions that are not really affecting the scoreline.

Ireland have had one if not the toughest tournament of any U20s side and deserve huge respect and credit for how they took the field since the tragedies a week or so back.

clsmooth

Huge credit to the French. Very impressive team. They killed the game in the YC period with 2 scores. Ireland always chasing after that. French 9 and 12 super players. Wasn’t that impressed by Tuilagi.

And credit to Ireland for fighting away in the second half. Enough teams would throw in the towel after they went a few scores down. Proud of them.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120852269#Comment_120852269

They’ve got a lot of breaks, from a strangely tired looking Ireland from about 60 minutes and a pretty gormless set of officials.

wtf was that ? Booting it away ? 3 on 1 😟

foot in touch but not spotted, France go the length of field, score