Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread VIII - ** MOD NOTE POST #4781 **

Little bit disappointed with that. 57 - 0 is the benchmark and South Africa were bad enough that we could have put that score on them.

South Africa were terrible. Absolutely terrible.

They couldn't deal with our line speed at all and were clueless at the breakdown. They lacked discipline even though we weren't racking up the phases much at all. They are tactically inept and it completely robs them of their confidence and drive. They are a team that looks soul destroyed and when big moments went against them they can't deal with it.

Rassie might be able to turn them into something, but right now they'd be fodder in the six nations. Coetzee's pre match interview was like sitting in an interview with someone that has absolutely no answers.

In terms of the Irish performance, we've the best 9 / 10 in the world and they are so good at controlling games and playing the ref. Murray's gestures to the refs at key times really managed his decision making in our favour. Sexton manages our shape so well both in possession and without the ball. It's so hard to play against a team that is so organised but also incredibly adaptable.

Our tight 5 were totally dominant. There was a passage of play early in the second half were Healy, Henderson and Furlong all had carries at subsequent phases and there were so many SA bodies on the ground after the series of play that I was screaming at the TV to run the ball. Healy was terrific today, lived right on the line and once or twice I thought he was going to get pinged but he was unstoppable in the scrum and put in some great hits. He carried aggressively and was overall top drawer. Absolutely back to his best.

Henderson created some key moments throughout the game, carries out of nothing that really raised the tempo of our play. Good leadership performance and I think both he and Toner are playing as well as they've ever played right now.

Best and Furlong both had good games, Best in particular had his best game since this time last year. Backrow were totally on top, POM seemed to show up everywhere and there were a couple of massive hits from Stander, one in particular on Kholisi who ran at him with a head of steam and Stander stopped him dead. SOB was probably my man of the match, produced an enormous amount of work on the pitch.

Aki and Henshaw were both terrific, Aki more in the first half and Henshaw in the second. It's the most physical mid field ever to play for Ireland and Aki made some terrific reads in defence to close of the Saffas. Stockdale was excellent for 80 minutes. He has the work rate off the ball of Dave Kearney but is a massive attacking threat. He put huge pressure on the South African back 3 and even though some of the kicking wasn't sympathetic to the chaser he got himself into position to contest. Conway looked like a younger Earls, was everywhere in that first half and was very impressive for the opening try.

Bench all played well, I mostly watched Marmion, Carbery and Ryan and felt they all did well with Carbery and Marmion standing out for how well they deputised.

A word on Joe Schmidts pre match interview, just casually in conversation he starts reciting the primary SA stats from the opening 2 minutes of their second test against Australia. Best coach in the world, we are blessed.

As bad as South Africa were, we blew them away without getting into top gear. We've got a squad here that can compete against anyone and that was a big marker to put down on the march to the World Cup. If we can keep the bulk of these lads fit until 2019 I'd be hopeful of a really good tournament.