Rugby world cup post mortem

Fred Cryton

Sorry but it was poor game management by Ireland again. Sexton at 0-3 down early on goes for touch instead of taking an easy 3 points. By contrast, neither NZ nor South Africa when we played them went for touch with their penalties. Ask yourself are they dumb and Ireland (Sexton) a genius? It's one thing to believe in yourself, but its quite another to let rush of blood to the head and emotion dictate your decisions. Both NZ and SA are more composed and professional on this point and will likely be in the final for that reason.

Seadin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121240432#Comment_121240432

Nobody cares right now.

Seamus4life

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121241378#Comment_121241378

All those playing rugby last night didn't do so because they wanted to they did it because the are contracted centrally to irfu to play for Provence and country. Those "wasters" as you call them don't have to play for Ireland, they choose to and unlike last night's crew, they are all Irish born or born of Irish stock.

Nosher Tompkins

Ireland bottled it. They always do in the big moments.

Sexton had a poor game and should have been subbed early in the second half but heart trumped Farrell's head. Sadly Sexton has the demeanour of a man facing rugby-inflicted mental health problems in later life. Snarling away at an opponnent after you've lost is not a good look.

Reading the media this week I struggled to find a single voice warning of the immense challenges of this match. Ah shure, we'll take care of the All Blacks no bother and the next thing you know we're in the final ...

But in the same way that Ireland Women's terrible world cup was rewarded with thousands turning out to welcome them home the boys in green will be welcomed home like conquering heroes instead of the serial chokers they are.

Combined with the Greece result and it's been a poor weekend for Irish sport. All their try-scorers were Kiwis and they'll return home empty-handed but with a suitcase full of bed bugs.

'Twas ever thus.

ersatz

It's worth keeping in mind that the IRFU ten year plan which provides the overall strategy for the Irish rugby team and lists the priorities and expectations for coaches doesn't say much about the World Cup and does not include any expectation of reaching a WC semi final. It does demand championships, a grand slam, Heineken cups, league wins etc, all of which have been achieved (only 1 Heineken underachieves). As far as official Irish rugby is concerned a WC win (or a semi) is a nice to have but not actually part of the plan.

jmayo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121241462#Comment_121241462

Ahh FFS it is Romania.

The only player that really needed to be got up to speed was Sexton.

It really was lack of faith I think.

For all the talk of strength in depth the management themselves didn't seem to believe it.

You argue we have strength in depth, but refuse to acknowledge we played basically with nearly the same first team players against teams we should be easily putting away.

Yes yes we know the mighty All Blacks, they never have a shyte team, but this team are not a patch on former squads and the lax reffing has been clamped down on at last. Hence the umber of cards they get.

Something that hasn't been mentioned I think is fact Ireland played against 15 kiwis for only 60 odd minutes.

We lost out last night because we made mistakes and a lot of players seemed to be physically and possibly mentally tired.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121241623#Comment_121241623

Thats wrong. the 2018-2023 plan does include aims of making the semi finals of the world cup https://www.irishrugby.ie/2018/10/23/irfu-launch-strategic-plan-2018-2023/

jmayo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121241623#Comment_121241623

A reason for that could be guaranteed home attendances and hence money for the coffers.

So they need to keep crowds coming to games.

You can just see how lost revenue during Covid left them in huge hole.

The argument for making sure they do well in autumn internationals is usually around guaranteeing rankings for future world cups, but we all saw how that works anyway.

A complete joke of a lopsided tournament.

Anyway what's done is done.

Best of luck to the long time servants and hopefully rugby hasn't left them too shattered so they get to enjoy their retirement.

legend99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121241497#Comment_121241497

Another poster asked the question.

OldRio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121241554#Comment_121241554

3 posts. Another one.

noc1980

Crowley getting no game time was a waste of a bench spot. Difficult to make sense of that given our 1st team had played the most minutes at the RWC.

mazdamiatamx5

Some of our best players are Kiwis. And we still couldn't beat them.

almostover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121241486#Comment_121241486

Sexton, and by virtue Ireland and Leinster, have had an issue with taking shots at goal in big games to build the scoreboard. We've been caught out too many times trying to make a big play by kicking to the corner, only to be turned over and handing the impetus to the opposition. That shot at goal should have been taken, even if you miss you receive the drop off and get to attack again. As sh*te as this England team are, they've showed game management we can only dream of at this WC despite being an inferior team to us. They kick their goals and aren't above dropping goal when they're stuffing to break a defence down. Lots to learn going forward.

Seadin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121240394#Comment_121240394

That wasn't the case unfortunately

TheCitizen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121241424#Comment_121241424

Some good points. I think there’s a lot to admire about this Irish rugby team but on the biggest stage in the World Cup knockout stages they bottled it. I would consider bringing O’Gara in to go to the next level if Andy Farrell was to go to England for example. A pity, I think that they were good enough to beat New Zealand but they let the occasion get the better of them and despite prior to this they always looked well prepared and fit etc., for some reason they learnt nothing about the line out issues from the South Africa game.

Porter in the scrum on the All Blacks put ins had a nightmare, which can happen if a ref spots something and uses it against you, but was there no sub for him?

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121241378#Comment_121241378

And we still nearly got there in the end. heroic from those men in green

This is the attitude that has to change.

The players have to realize that losing games like that in tournaments that they are considered as one of the favorites to win does not make them heroes.

The analysis should be more critical, more honest, so that the next time an Irish team is in such a situation losing will be a far less appealing option.

These are professionals, they should not be immune to criticism for their failure to win last night.

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121242492#Comment_121242492

Such nonsense to say that losing was not something that team hated the idea of.

So demeaning of the effort and work they put in.

They put everything on the line to try and win it.

What blows your theory out of the water is NZ have not won the WC and they have the attitudes at home that you want here. Didn’t get them over the line on those occasions they were knocked out.

Dont Be at It

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121241554#Comment_121241554

Not sure what media you follow. 😂 I didn't read or see anything that suggested we'd breeze through the new Zealand game. Most thought we'd win which is fair enough considering all the bookies had us as slight favourites too. Plenty of respected pundits outside of ireland (e.g. Sam Warburton) thought we'd win as well. But sure you know all this already 🤣

hahashake

https://twitter.com/offtheball/status/1711773590327087364

Reverse Midas touch. Merde touch.

noc1980

The intensity NZ, France and South Africa brought the QF another level. We played like it was an autumn international.

lbunnae

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121240223#Comment_121240223

How aren't they friendlies out of interest? If they aren't tournaments what are they?

Dick phelan

It's funny how people do complete 180s we beat SA in a game we could have lost. Again it was very small margins if they had kicked better for example. Now we lost a close game which we could have won but for small margins and now we need to change our entire approch. There's 4 teams very little between them two were always going to go out. Sadly it was us.

lbunnae

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121240953#Comment_121240953

Huh? The Ireland cricket team lose matchs they are meant to. But they have won two absolute shock matchs at world cups , beating Pakistan and England. They play above their level. The rugby them play below their level at world cups due to bottling.

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121242960#Comment_121242960

Giver over your “bottling” nonsense.

lbunnae

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121242985#Comment_121242985

Nonsense? Course they bottled it. Under Performing in the biggest match in Irish rugby history is bottling it. Least we will beat the all blacks next year and it will mean sweet **** all.

TedBundysDriver

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121241554#Comment_121241554

That's the difference between good teams and champions. Champions don't bottle it when the time comes.

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121243040#Comment_121243040

yes, nonsense.

Get yourself a dictionary and look up what bottling is..

hint: Jimmy White 14-8 up world final and loses 18-14…or missing black on spot at 17-17

Ireland bottled nothing last night in an insanely closely fought battle.

lbunnae

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121243081#Comment_121243081

Bottling is losing ones nerve. Ireland did that last night. Especially Sexton. It's hilarious you give an example of extreme bottling and because Ireland's bottlejob wasn't as bad you think that's some sort of defense?

lbunnae

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121243063#Comment_121243063

That's just it, the attitude of aw shur aren't the lads great , such a great effort is a loser mentality.

walshb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121243113#Comment_121243113

Yes, losing nerve when in a clear position for victory. Ireland never led last night. They were never in the winning driving seat. They did fantastic to get back into a position to “try” and win. Give your head a wobble.