I keep seeing that as an excuse, but he offered very little when he did get the ball and I'm inclined to think if he had more of a role on the day the result could have been worse. You can blame JGP if you want and cite one of his poorer games a few months later as some kind of disjointed justification, but it still doesn't change the nature of Crowley's performance against Australia.
Ross Byrne had a poor warm up game against England and it was the same with people blaming the pack. Whilst the pack did not go well, Byrne wasn't able to manage the game to take the pressure off his forwards either.
As for Murray being better than JGP, maybe - he certainly pushed ahead of Casey towards the end of the season.
We're not winning the World Cup with Ross Byrne at 10. Let's hope it doesn't come to it but it would be far preferable to have him as third choice or maybe even not in the squad. Crowley would give us something a bit unpredictable and he has a bit of agility at least. I think it's the move to make. I want Farrell to keep making bold decisions. Now's not the time to back away from that. He's got us in the position to win the World Cup, it's about finishing it off now.
I cited JGP's poor game a few months later as he has only started 1 game for Ireland since the Australia test V England when he has Sexton outside of him not a lot to go on.
JPG played v Toulouse and LaRochelle with bryne out side him and made a few "uncharacteristic" mistakes which are becoming more common.
I think he missed 3 tackles in both games. In the toulouse one Leinster were well on top so papered over the cracks.
V larochelle in the second half when Leinster were under pressure he was very poor. None of the back line made a single pass. Bar bryne who made just 9. JGP had a few poor kicks.
He brings brilliant speed and tempo but id worry about his tackling, game management, kicking and kick receiving.
Maybe in a situation where a drop goal is needed late in a game..but other than that no.
Ya, he’s not. I’m an huge Casey fan but he isn’t ahead of Murray either at the moment.
The problem for us is after Crowley and Byrne there's nobody else!
Against Australia as soon as Gibson Park was replaced Casey started passing the ball to Crowley, Ireland marched up the field and scored a try.
Gibson Park had two key mistakes in the second half against La Rochelle that to my mind cost us the game, he was excellent against Toulouse. I don't know what any of that has to do with Crowley struggling against Australia.
Gibson Park is a phenomenal tackler, much like above - his sample size of making important hits is far larger than him getting it wrong. Same with his game management and whilst I've never overly rated his box kick but his kicking game generally is top drawer. There is a reason he has consistently started for the best team in the world the last two years.
If Sexton isn't available there is an argument that Murray might be the better option, but I'd say JGP is still first choice in most if not all circumstances.
But but Ross Byrne came in with a few minutes left and boldly with massive authority kicked a kickable penalty.
Well the powers that be left Healy off to play his rugby in Scotland
The u20s outhalf Sam prendergast looks legit as fcuk. Should be in his prime by the time of next WC
If only rugby was a sport that you could sub on a kicker to kick at goal and then off again he'd be a great option.
This has been discussed to death on here, I don't think there's anything to be gained by this thread going into this rabbit hole for the 10th time.
I better not say more for telling the truth. Anyway fingers crossed Ireland will have a good World Cup with a sub optimal Leinster oriented squad.
Checking out of here but my prediction is Ireland will not get beyond the group stages. Relying on a petulant Sexton will catch up with us and he will get carded this time out which will cost us.
What often gets forgotten about that penalty (and he did well to take it) was that the first thing he did coming onto the pitch was throw an intercept
Top right is the crankiest photo of all time.
Don't let the door hit you on the way out. I'm sure you'll reappear with a "told you so" if Ireland are knocked out in the QF by NZ
So you're ignoring how much better Ireland were when JGP was introduced in the 6n and Murray taken off?
Murrays form has improved recently but hes still a long way off JGP and off his own form pre 2019.
As for crowley v Aus, he was dropped in for his first cap unexpectedly. The whole back line was skipping him.
If we are down 3 10's then we have such bad luck that we arent winning the RWC regardless of who's at 10.
There's any number of options, admittedly lesser ones. Burns, H Bryne, Carbery, Carty, Prendergast, Madigan.
We'd be in at least as good a spot as NZ were calling up Donald sure.
It reminded me alot of NZL in 2011 RWC final when they were trying to win that game without giving Donald the ball, and like then it was a detriment to the Irish side.
There’s a case for that in the SA game, iirc?
But Murray was excellent in the 6N. Going a long way toward disavowing the notion that he couldn’t play the high-tempo game required for Ireland.
Am gave them guile at centre. A big loss.
Is our selection date relatively late compared to other teams?
it was the first test from what i remember. im also fairly sure that he was playing 13 but wearing 12 as BOD always wore 13, i think when darcy was picked with him v Wales in 2004 they had the same arrangement and it just stuck from there (although they ended up being alot more fluid in their positioning)
Isn't it amazing how far Irish rugby has come in the 11 years since that 60-0 (Wallace flown in to 12 from the beach) embarrassment.
All the same Ireland are still relying on Sexton, Murray, POM, Healy (and Earls... please Andy never ever at centre during the WC)
On the other hand NZ are still relying on Retallick, Whitelock, Smith and Barret.
It's important to recognise how integral NZ/Aus rugby products (Lowe, Aki, JG-P, Hansen) have become in making this an all conquering Irish side.
I think there is an inevitability, something in the stars, that both side will meet in the 1/4 finals again this year....and Ireland continue on in their crusade!
Do you believe in fate?
Except Sexton is the only player Ireland actually rely on.
Interesting about Am and Plollard I expect they will both be selected .The deselected bit is interesting ,expect players to make way for them
Funny, I think 3 of those 4 players are amongst the weakest in Ireland’s squad. Hansen and Lowe are good solid internationals but not world class, and there are legitimate options to replace them with little impact to the team. Aki is the 3rd best centre and the 4th is around the same level. JGP is currently the best 9, but won’t be this time next year.
Hard to ignore something that didn't really happen. Due to Injuries JGP only came on for Murray once in the 6 nations.. v Scotland.
I think there is a case to be made to start Murray on some games and bring on JGP if some pace needs to be injected into the game.
Against South Africa for example I think Murray will start 9.
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