Ire v Wal rte 2 mar 6 26

Critical thinking? What here? I'm sorry, but you seem to be confusing people who agree with you and critical thinkers. Or maybe it's being critical of players from other provinces. I can see how you'd make that mistake.

Just to be clear, it appears you're in the wrong place for critical thinking, but I could suggest some lateral thinking courses on Udemy if you'd like..

A good chunk of those rucks he had to though, it wasn't tagging on at the end largely (though that did happen a couple of times), he did have to secure or clear out for clean ball a good bit in the first half, it was very noticeable. Other times he stepped in at 9 to keep play moving. He had a very good defensive performance. I'd agree with your overall point though

I'm sorry but it's really very difficult to take anything you have to say seriously when the entirety of your argument is "he lacked leadership and wasn't very good". This is a public forum, you are certainly entitled to hold any opinion you wish but if you want those opinions to be given due consideration by others you're going to have to do far better than make bland, generic statements and then direct other posters to accept these and move on without having engaged with any of those poster's points.

Well, you know the definition of madness right?

i think thats because his run-up isnt consistent enough though - when he gets it right his strike and ball flight are pretty poor. i wouldnt be changing his approach angle or anything really id just be making sure its all the same every time (not that im a coach or expert either of course)

I've read through most of this thread, criticism of Crowley is around his place kicking (which you'd have to ignore to be 100% positive about his performance), some poor passing (eg 2 poor touches back to back before the last penalty he scored), and a lack of leadership which could be either of the multi phase sequences in Wales 22 that ended up being turned over and where he shovelled ball back and forth without creating any kind of penetration. The vast majority of comments have made the point that he had a satisfactory game without doing enough to claim the jersey or end the genuine doubts around him as a ten. We beat the weakest team in the competition by a ten points with only Italy having a tighter margin. Crowley was fine, but he wouldn't get near any other team in the competition. I believe he will improve and be a lot better come the World Cup but as of today he is a very middle of the road ten.

Some posters feel like the Monday morning video session must be just the stuff guys did well at the weekend, lets just focus on that.

It was a bit of levity, but I can see it fell on fallow ground, given the week that was in it. This is a rugby forum, so expect it to be about rugby. Also to make the analogy, if you throw money at moving cars, and continue to do it, you'll lose money and no amount of repetition will gain you money..

Oh personal attacks, I'm so hurt. This isn't about making a point is it? It's about your feelings.

Our back 3 were winning very few contestable kicks, so what would you do, keep box kicking, like we did against France?

I agree that his place kicking is an issue and criticism of that is perfectly legitimate. I have no issue with any poster who states that his current place kicking figures aren't good enough. However, posters saying that he's not good enough to play at fly half for Ireland now or in the future or suggesting that the 10 debate is open once again after tonight's performance are well wide of the mark. As I have already pointed out, Sexton (probably the best player to ever represent us) had similar issues to Crowley at the same age. He was by no means the finished article yet our persistence with him paid dividends, even though he had some costly misses off the tee when he was starting out.

As per claims of a lack of leadership, I wholeheartedly disagree. He was our fourth highest tackler, he scored 12 of our points and, as I said earlier, he was instrumental in getting us into position for Conan's try, first getting us downfield off the scrum and then getting us the penalty 5 out from the Welsh line. He wasn't perfect but I'd say that a contribution like that, though flawed, is a perfect example of leadership. Yes he had a loose pass but so did Gibson Park. I'm not going to eat a halfback for one bad pass. Also, I think some consideration should be given to the fact that our halfbacks have played very little rugby together. The attack isn't going to click instantaneously but when it does, such as in the English game, they have proven to be a force.

Finally, as for Crowley not getting near any other team in the tournament, I also disagree. I think he would start for Wales and I think he'd be reasonably expected to bench for every other team bar France and maybe England. I don't think he's perfect by any means but I do think he's worth persisting with and I do think he has the makings of an excellent fly half. I have no issue with posters with differing opinions on this matter but when you have to read through muck from the usual contenders it's quite difficult to take it seriously. There are some on here who are nothing more than provincial minded sophists and cheerleaders, ready to throw scorn at anyone, supporter or player, who doesn't fit within their narrow world view and who attempt to dress this up as passionate support so that any criticism of their position can be painted as lacking in zeal or wanting Ireland to fail. I can see a number of these have already made spurious remarks regarding Crowley's performance tonight, hence my earlier comment. For the record I don't mean to attribute any of this to you Ersatz, as far as I'm concerned you've always been a decent and fair minded poster, I'm merely explaining my own position.

agree with all of that to be honest. only thing i would have said was quite/very poor (apart from the conversions) was the kick at the end of the first half - in my opinion that needed to go long rather than be contested given it was right before half time. otherwise i think he was solid enough overall

id like to see more kicking for territory too and i think that would have helped things tonight but i think that seems to be an overall team thing rather than whoever is at 10

The plan, and that would be coaches plan was to keep the ball and tire out Wales. We got a bonus point against a team that tackled hard, so I'd say the plan mostly worked. I also thought James Ryan and Tadgh Beirne had really good games and that looks like a good partnership. I would say it was a pretty mixed game for everyone else except Conan, understandable really given the combinations. I also think the other tens wouldn't have lasted 80 minutes out there given the physicality.