2025 Nov 01 | AI's Round 1 | Ireland v New Zealand | 20:10 GMT | VM in Ire / TNT & Discovery+ in UK

"We messed up a few lineouts but how many did we steal?"

We totally messed up 5-6 lineouts & partially messed a few others. We stole 1, & forced a few crooked throws which was good, but didn't come near making up for our primary attacking platform being taken apart by NZ again. Ireland's lineout is simply not good enough & top sides are confident to go after it and dismantle it. This has happened too many times with this lineout coach imho. Time for change.

That's a pretty stark difference between both sides finishing ability. We don't lack for physicality, but there has been a notable drop off in our attacking subtlety.

At our best, we could repeatedly target specific players and score. Pull them out of position or create mismatches. That was in 2022 & 2023. Now we're more direct and less likely to create those mismatches close to the line. Sexton pulled the strings, but it's not just his absence that's the issue. Feels like there has been a drop off in handling skills and decision making ability across the board.

Lowe was really pretty poor. Struggle to get the ball and then hoof it artlessly upfield is something that needs sorted out. His defence was awful as well. Sometimes he made a big effort and looked busy (for example his commitment at the scrum after he ha kicked the ball dead.)

But I can't believe the tale some here have on Bierne. He wrapped his arms AROUND HIMSELF and hit Barrett in the face with his shoulder. He didn't try to wrap around Barrett at all. Bierne royally messed up.

Don't know where this nonsense about Lowe being poor is coming from. Him and McCloskey were the only ones who looked like they were going to make anything happen in attack.

One poorly executed kick which went dead and was the right idea?

I'd love to hear what you thought of Crowley if poorly executed kicks is your barometer.

Was Lowe perfect? No, but I'd be far more concerned about other players before I'm concerned about Lowe.

However, it's been obvious that because he's so marmite that he's held to a much higher standard than other players. It's been the case for years.

In a game where we offered zero attacking threat, going after one of the two players that were the most dangerous in attack sounds like a weird approach to me.

Line-out a shambles for second half, though we did nsb a few of their throws

Scrum taken apart

Zero poaches at the breakdown

Toothless in attack

Don't know what Henderson or Bundee offer at this stage of their career

Gave away four turnovers and never a threat in attack. He's very limited in what he offers (but what he does offer he does well… if you get me)

Beirne was caught unawares for that tackle, he put his arms in front of him to fence off an attacker who was ahead of the ball , instead the ABs passed forward & he had milliseconds to adjust. He just stood his ground, Barrett ran into him, taking a fwd pass and running into Beirne, hitting his arms first, then glancing his shoulder.

I think a penalty would have been the correct call at worst a harsh yc. To upgrade it to a RC was awful officiating. I thought the TMO was very definite about the level of danger in the 'hit' & 'incident' and that he was also very definitely wrong. He lead the ref without the big screen working. Overall the officials were poor, but this decision was woeful on a few counts I.e. wrong decision, non functioning screens to review the incident properly on pitch, a very one eyed, leading description by the TMO to the ref, and inexplicable upgrade to a RC imho. Very poor officiating overall imho.

The ref viewed it on a screen pitchside. Beirne being caught unaware is on Beirne and is not cause for mitigation.

Barrett didn't run into Beirne either. Beirne did take a step forward and tucked his arm. His shoulder made direct contact with BBs head.

Even Beauden Barrett didn't think it was a red and said he will support TB in his appeal !! TMO needs to realise that it is never always black and white or else we may as well give up paying huge money to follow a game decided by poor officiating

As for keyboard warriors may I ask? Do you have a mirror?

I think the Beirne incident was a great example of the 20 minute red serving its purpose. It was instinctive rather than reckless but he still tucks his own arm in and shoulders Barrett in the head. I'm not sure of "high degree of danger" but it's still direct contact to the head with no wrap. I think it straddles the line of yellow and red so probably a 20-minute red is fair. Hopefully a minimal ban.

Losing Beirne was a hammer blow, Henderson did OK but we needed Beirne's ability at the breakdown which neither Ryan nor Henderson really give us.

The lineout, sweet jesus the lineout.

Ultimately what killed us was our inability to score from the possession we had in the first 60 minutes. We lacked any real incision with the ball in hand. McCloskey was very good but could never seem to get that final pass away, Ringrose was a no-show (like he was in Croke Park), Crowley seemed determined to show his range of dinks and grubbers even when they weren't the right call.

Osborne and TOB were solid without ever looking dangerous in attack. Lowe was the pre-game punching bag but I thought he was the only back with a bit of spark and managed to avoid any brain farts. JGP had a great first half but faded as we went on.

Baird was the standout forward for me, I hope we persist with him at 6 for Australia and SA.

Good to see Doris back but the tide had turned before he came on, otherwise the bench ranged from ineffectual (Kelleher, Bealham) to pretty poor (Casey, Aki). I'm struggling to remember anything Prendergast did but the fact that he only got ten minutes isn't a good omen for him.

There are reasons to be optimistic for the Aus and SA games but a lot to work on, starting with the goddamn lineout.