RWC23 Warmups - Ireland v Italy, Sat 5th Aug, KO 8PM - TV: RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, Amazon Prime Video

Musicrules · 07-08-2023 08:43AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120948403#Comment_120948403

That's true and it won't matter if Sexton is fit but, it's been clear that Byrne isn't up to it at the highest level when under pressure for a long time. And here we are trying to decide on our number 3 in the World Cup warm up games.

bartkingcole · 07-08-2023 08:53AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120948417#Comment_120948417

Crowley should be the understudy.

lawrencesummers · 07-08-2023 09:29AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120948392#Comment_120948392

So if sextons fit we will win? And if hes not fit we wont?

ShineyShiney · 07-08-2023 10:27AM

Totally delusional to say "we will win the world cup" at best we have joined a group of NZ, France and South Africa who look capable not to mention England on the right side of the draw who despite current form have a squad of good players or Oz who can always raise their game.

I'd happily take a semi and cross my fingers 🤞

Competitions are won at competition time not in advance.

Zeugnis · 07-08-2023 10:47AM

Apart from his power, it seemed to me that Joe McCarthy's discipline was good on Saturday. Conceding penalties was an issue for him last season. IS there a decent source for stats on the warm up games?

TRC10 · 07-08-2023 10:51AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120948690#Comment_120948690

England have no chance of winning the world cup.

If we're genuine WC contenders, we'll beat them by at least 20 points in two weeks. NZ, France and SA 100% would. They are absolutely gash.

noc1980 · 07-08-2023 10:51AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120948690#Comment_120948690

If we reach the SF we'll be short odds to win the tournament. We'd be heavy favourites in the SF with the QF monkey off our back and 2 of Fra/NZ/SA will already be out.

irelandrover · 07-08-2023 10:52AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120948690#Comment_120948690

I think if we get passed the quarters then we make the final. The other side of the draw is just looking so poor that we can expect to beat any of them in a semi final.

Musicrules · 07-08-2023 11:00AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120948550#Comment_120948550

If Byrne is starting, I'd say our chances of winning are greatly reduced. He's a massive drop off but he really struggles when the pack is under pressure. But the pack might only struggle in certain matches. An alternative to Byrne starting would have been preferable should Sexton being injured. I think it might be too late for that now though.

Musicrules · 07-08-2023 11:05AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120948690#Comment_120948690

We're number 1 in the world and not by fluke. We clearly are the best team. No need to play the underdog, let's own this. We're going to win it.

Lost Ormond · 07-08-2023 11:14AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120948809#Comment_120948809

we are number 1 but very clearly best team. no. it isnt that simple and its not playing the underdog. its being realistic and tempering expectations. the draw we have. our history in world cups etc. we should be happy if we win a knock out for first time and make semis. anything else is bonus

lawrencesummers · 07-08-2023 11:14AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120948809#Comment_120948809

Not if sextons injured apparently

irelandrover · 07-08-2023 11:20AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120948830#Comment_120948830

No. If we get passed the quarters then we should expect to make the final. We are a lot better than any team we will meet in a semifinal. We aren't clearly the best team in the world but we are clearly a better team than any team we would meet in a semi.

If we go out of this tournament in the quarter final then it would be disappointing, but we will have gone out to a great team. If we go out in the semifinal then i will be furious.

aloooof · 07-08-2023 11:28AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120948809#Comment_120948809

It’s not that simple tho. Plenty of quality teams who were number 1 in the world have failed to win the RWC. Just look at the All Blacks; serial under-achievers until 2011.

We absolutely have cause to be confident going into it, but that doesn’t always translate to definitely going to win it.

Brief_Lives · 07-08-2023 11:41AM

My spidey sense is tingling with that poster..

Musicrules · 07-08-2023 11:45AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120948830#Comment_120948830

Nonsense. We've beaten New Zealand twice in New Zealand just last year. We're far better than them. France would be a worry at home but we beat them by 13 points just a few months ago. We're going to win the World Cup. It's time to believe, the players do.

Musicrules · 07-08-2023 11:46AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120948831#Comment_120948831

Is Byrne as good as Sexton?

Musicrules · 07-08-2023 11:48AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120948868#Comment_120948868

New Zealand have choked at World cups in the past. We have too. It's possible that we choke again but I think this is different. Beating New Zealand twice away just so recently gives us the belief to do it!

lawrencesummers · 07-08-2023 11:57AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120948910#Comment_120948910

yes

Buddy Bubs · 07-08-2023 12:06PM

Will be 16 months between beating NZ and any world cup quarter final. Its long enough ago now to be almost irrelevant now. 8 months since beating France. Both those teams beat us in 2022 too.

So, we have a good chance but I don't think we are clearly better than either of them. I can only see the winner coming from those 3 though.

Nz will want south africa in quarters, they have their number. They will be more worried about playing us.

I don't know if I want nz or France, all the one really. Possibly slight preference to play new zealand in quarters. Beat France in the final !

Jump_In_Jack · 07-08-2023 12:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120948392#Comment_120948392

Brace yourself for this, Sexton is actually 38.

noc1980 · 07-08-2023 12:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120948830#Comment_120948830

If the draw wasn't so lopsided I'd agree that anything beyond the semis would be a bonus but it'd be a far bigger choke to lose a SF to Wal/Eng/Aus/Arg than to lose the QF. World #1 that got out of the group of death and beat either France or NZ against a team ranked as high as 6th or as low as 10th, we'd be odds on favourites.

Dubinusa · 07-08-2023 12:35PM

Can't wait to see the team v England. I'd go with Nash on the wing. Maybe start Keenan and then bring Hanson on for a spell. Ross B to start and Lowe to come in. I'd have the front line pack on the bench. It's getting to bum clenching time!

Musicrules · 07-08-2023 12:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120948946#Comment_120948946

Alright, don't think Byrne will ever be in the running for World player of the year but it's all about opinions.

Lost Ormond · 07-08-2023 12:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120948904#Comment_120948904

Its not nonsense and New Zealand are much better now than when we beat them and saying we're going to win world cup is ridiculous. we could but we're not so dominant in lead up compared to lot of other teams like england 03 and others in lead up to their winning world ups. be more realistic is all im saying.

Musicrules · 07-08-2023 01:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120949015#Comment_120949015

Oh yeah!

lawrencesummers · 07-08-2023 01:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120949015#Comment_120949015

Age is only a number with sexton because he has the conditioning of lads 8 years younger than him and the temprament of a 3 year old when things don't go his way completely

Musicrules · 07-08-2023 02:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120949101#Comment_120949101

I'm not sure what you're basing your New Zealand comment on? They barely beat a poor Australian team a few days ago. The Southern Hemisphere teams are as weak as they ever have been going into a World Cup. This added with us being the best team in the World over the past year puts us as favourites in my book. Winning the World Cup is realistic!

irelandrover · 07-08-2023 02:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120949270#Comment_120949270

"Winning the world cup is realistic" and "We are going to win the world cup" are two entirely different statements.

gameoverdude · 07-08-2023 02:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120949270#Comment_120949270

"Bestest" team in the world excuse you.

RWC23 Warmups - Ireland v Italy, Sat 5th Aug, KO 8PM - TV: RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, Amazon Prime Video

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