Ireland Team Talk XII: Farrell's First Fifteen

Yes. The draw was made 3 years ago. It didn't take a genius to know that this was the "big one". Get past this and we have a very winnable semi to make a final. But we celebrated pool wins and did laps of honour as though we'd won a World Cup. NZ were probably laughing at us.

Supposedly a big rugby nation, yet never made it past the last 8 in a tournament with at most 10 decent teams. World no.1, 17 win streak, and out at the quarters to the worst NZ side in decades.

Coaching masterclass from NZ brains trust tonight. Minute 1 they were carrying direct, straight up the middle. It was very un AB and forced Ireland to defend in numbers making the breakdown the centerpiece for the first quarter. Queue breakdown penalties and 3 pointers. Build pressure on a vulnerable lineout knowing Ireland will go to the corner. Those 2 chip kicks regathered by BB and Savea exploited the space that the breakdown battle and deep kicks created. I think Hansen's injury contributed to that space being available. I just kept seeing Schmidt with his hand on his chin during those sequences, glinty eyed. Seeing the ABs incorporate fresh tactics like that almost on the fly is one big difference between perennial World Cup winners and the rest. Those chips are an example of a tactic tailor made to deal with the AB defensive speed, yet Ireland didn't use it.

NZ won that game well though the score was tight. Hats off to them.

Lads. Hell of a game. Sorry Ireland had to lose. Best I've seen the ABs in a long time. And I don't mean attacking wise, I mean for stubborn dogged defensiveness. What an effort.

Hold your heads up. Kia kaha. Respect.

I thought this thread would be safe from a lot of the rubbish posted on the match thread, but it seems you have to endure this crap in here too.

Ireland were second best across almost every facet of play, and were still inches from winning. They very nearly found a way, like the very best sides do.

Laughing stock of World Rugby? This team has gained nothing but respect from rugby supporters around the world over the last few years, and with the systems in place, the future looks bright.

You also need to give NZ more credit for how they played. There's no evidence that France or SA will destroy them. NZ forwards performed how SA's did against Ireland, but they also have the firepower to score tries from anywhere. If they play like they did tonight, they will be a challenge for anyone. They definitely won't be taking a victory over Argentina as a given, either.

I know a good few Irish rugby supporters, and they're all decent lads who get in behind the team and are proud of what they've achieved over the last few years. I know that not one of them are going to kick them while they're down, I have no idea what satisfaction you get from being 'that guy'. Maybe you need to pick a different sport to follow, or maybe sport isn't for you at all.

He wasn't too old to be around at this world cup at all, personally I felt he needed taken off with 10/15 mins to go, but that doesn't mean he was too old for the WC

I was consoling myself last night with the fact that in reality does it matter if you get knocked out in the QF or SF? It matters now I suppose, but post tournament it means little.

Of course the annoying thing is if we won last night we'd almost certainly have reached the final and that's the devastating part.

But they didn't. When the opportunities came, they wilted. Kelleher getting white line fever, Sexton missing the kick, Sheehan not taking Hansen's kick, Doris' knock on (surprise, surprise) and all the other coughed up ball in their 22. NZ were there for the taking and we failed to capitalise. That's not something to celebrate. Not to mention completely not showing up for the first 20, which we do in literally every quarter final, and the scrum and lineout going to absolute pot.

People want it both ways. They want to call us the best team in the world before the match, and then when we lose treat us like plucky underdogs who earned some moral victory. It's rubbish. We had the chances to win that game and we bottled it.

And also, the "very best sides" get past the last 8.

TRC you genuinely add nothing of value to a discussion. Just a list of talking points that you've been proven wrong about time after time and a narrative of the game which is just a straight up lie.

You've a list of players you don't like and have been waiting for any chance to get a dig in.

You don't think they have developed Crowley in the last 18 months? Would losing games in the 6N actually mean a outhalf is developed? Do you really think that the Irish players console themselves with being world no 1, or is just lazy pundits and arseholes on the internet who are pretending they like the game to earn a living and troll fans?

He has had 9 caps and 3 starts.

How many starts would he have needed to guarantee that Ireland beat New Zealand?

Going forward, I think we've a special talent in Joe McCarthy. He looked the business in the final 25 minutes and was making effective tight carries when we were desperate for momentum.

If he can stay fit he'll be a huge asset to Leinster and Ireland.

you do not understand.

we are winning matches when other teams

are preparing for a world cup

what other country second choice outhalf has 3 starts?