Would be starting himself and Ryan for Leinster and ireland Going forward
And of course, all the very understanding fans on this forum, would have been perfectly happy losing to Scotland and exiting the world cup.
Also lets forget that 6 subs were used before the 50th minute in the game.
Crucially of course, the decisions were made without the amazing hindsight that the intelligencia are using today.
Why would it?
Reading posts like this, I wonder if it's a cry for help. I would suggest some form of counselling might help.
And we completely replaced the forwards early in the second half.
For goodness sake don't bring facts into the conversation
(Wrong thread)
Match thread a predictable cesspool. I was surprised VdF was subbed for Conan. Thought POM had a fairly quiet game, and I'm guessing Farrell wanted him to stay on for the lineout.
Looked like sentiment won out in keeping Sexton on at the death. Can understand it, but game was crying out for a injection of energy.
I'd agree with all of that. I'd prefer to have left VDF on over POM but VDF hasn't had as good a year as last year.
I hope that Baird or Bierne can wrestle that 6 Jersey from o mahony now.
Need to look at a new 9 too. Doak maybe or hopefully Gunne is fast tracked at Leinster.
Also Johnny should not have been on the field for the last 10 minutes.
Aye, that would be one criticism I'd have of the management. Sexton should have been off around 70 minutes. But you can understand why he was kept on. I'm not sure it was down to sentiment either, more a case of if someone cam turn this around its him, but I think the moment he tried that dink in behind was the moment I thought they needed to consider a change.
If he'd nailed that penalty, we were well set up for a drop to win it. Barnes was really good all night, but there were two stone cold penalties at the death he should've given.
Genuinely thank you because I was not going to watch SA v France if you hadn't made feel embarrassed about
Two Test tour of SA, I think.
I didn't realise that just over half the squad of 33 were aged over 30, it does mean we need to rebuild over the next 2 years, I had thought that the age profile was younger. We could be in trouble in 5 years time I we dont
Not for me. Despite how poor the 2019 WC was, I wouldn't have given up what happened in 2018 for it and it's the same here. Too much brilliant stuff has happened over the last 18 months or so for me to wish it away to get a result against NZ over the weekend.
Well as bad as we feel about losing on Saturday to NZ, I'd say the French feel even worse this morning.
If you take off Henderson and POM you are down two very experienced line-out jumpers in an already harried unit.
McCarthy doesn’t seem to jump much if ever, so with henderson going off it already hurt the line out albeit improved the maul.
I thought POM was the best back row in a unit that honestly got kind of destroyed by NZ. I’m not going to blame them too much for that because we ended up basically not playing our usual game plan. You cannot expect doris to be a heavy carrier for example. Its not his game.
I thought McCarthy looks like a massive talent (i’ll admit i underrated him) but baird would have been a better fit for what we needed in this game. I’ll also say its McCarthy who misses the clear-out that ended the game. That was inaccurate. That’s harsh maybe but its also literally true.
I’m not sure if Leinster lift him in the lineout but i would say that it will be interesting to see how pack builds work with him and VdF in them. Two guys who don’t jump in a back five (or usually jump) is decently unusual these days. He’s really not the typical type of lock we use. If we transition to a more ball dominant game plan, he would be very useful but in that case i think we need more heavy carriers in the back row as well.
POM was anonymous, no tackles/carries/turnovers
Lineout work should be only an extra part of your 6, the lineout shouldn't be relying on them to function
The lineout is the most important set piece in modern rugby and gets more so every year. It doesn’t really matter what position they play in the back 5 but you really need 4 viable jumpers and some of them should be elite like POM. Really missed Ryan in that regard as well.
Pom made 15 tackles .I don't know what game you were watching
No Dominant tackles or you remember him on the field
Yes, analysis is best through vibes, not facts.
I was very surprised that VdF got the hook over POM, who was very quiet. Our backrow just struggled in general. Thought Conan made some good carries when he came on.
I'm not overly worried about the future, there's a load of quality coming through. Some fresh blood at SH and OH are probably the two biggest areas of concern, along with LH.
Don't know what JSP has done so wrong. Just about 4 years younger than Aaron Smith. I wouldn't be against the idea of experimenting with Mack Hansen at out half. Crowley obviously still being next man up.
When you look at how little crap the French have been getting from fans compared to us just show's how well we've done over the last 2 years. We lived in people's head's so much that it built so much resentment that they couldn't wait to unleash on us the second we had a slip up, if that isnt a sign that we are the best side in the world (or at least have been all this time) idk what is!
The future is bright. Lot's to look forward too. We've plenty of youngsters coming in. There are some area's that are suspect but, I think we'll be fine.
Where are you looking?
I don't think you understand how an asterisk next to a championship works. Losing in one competition doesn't put an asterisk next to a title or win in another competition. Can't believe this needs to be explained.
Exactly this. This isn’t a Saracens situation, for example.
(And congrats btw, while I’m here).
An understandable reluctance to remove Sexton when he was clearly gassed for last 15 - 20 minutes cost us. Farrell is clearly a players coach, they love him and the play with a freedom for him that on the whole is a huge positive. There are however downsides and either an element of sentimentality or fear stopped him making some hard decisions. Not hooking Sexton on 60 mins was one and I'd argue bringing Keith Earls to the WC is further evidence of this.
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