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6 Nations Super Saturday 2026 - Match commentary ... final day

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,581 ✭✭✭ElisaAtWar


    Those are interesting stats. But of course you need to put them into perspective. Where did the offload occur. What I am focusing on is 1 to 8. Because that's where a team will succeed or die. And this is where all our slow play occurs.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,202 ✭✭✭Ardillaun


    Dan Edwards is a lovely kicker but did the ball touch the ground before his drop goal? I suppose it must have.

    Post edited by Ardillaun on


  • Hosted Moderators Posts: 9,462 ✭✭✭fitz


    The box kick made a degree of sense. England didn't want to be playing in their own half in case the ref gave France a penalty. They were backing themselves to push up in defense, meet France further up the pitch where they could try to force a French error, or win a penalty, and where a penalty concession would have been less kickable for France. Or, at least that's one way of looking at it. And it worked, they got the turnover.

    The Pollock pass immediately after they won the turnover, though, that made absolutely no sense at all.



  • Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 33,049 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    Again, to be somewhat fair to Pollock, I'm fairly sure the French player got a hand to the ball as he was passing it, but knocked it backwards (for him) so got away with it.

    But yeah, he could/should have just taken contact (or hoofed it downfield). But it was a fairly chaotic situation with him having just stripped the ball.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,996 ✭✭✭EagererBeaver


    Well that's the whole point. Looking to pass in the first place was madness.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,323 ✭✭✭✭LambshankRedemption


    Probably asked already but, does the DJ in the Aviva only have the one record? When watching yesterday there were only about 5 songs played before it looped back to Zombie by the Cranberries.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 3,783 ✭✭✭50HX


    Nah....That's all in your head.…in your head

    😁



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 8,452 ✭✭✭deezell


    A rush of blood in the heat of battle can overwhelm rational thinking. I remember O'Gara catching a box kick in the closing seconds of a second Lion's test, clock in the red even. Scores were level, they'd lost the first test, but could draw the series if they won the third. Kicking the ball out offered the drawn option in the third test, but O'Gara launched a Garryowen, hoping to collect and set up a platform, but it wasn't on, they were too deep in their own half. He came late to the dropping ball, jumped and took out the catcher. Kickable Penalty awarded. The second test lost and the series conceded. They went on to win the third test. It was a terrible error of judgement, undone his reputation somewhat. I remember the look of disbelief on his fellow Lion's faces.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,623 ✭✭✭phelixoflaherty


    I could never go to a game like that and listen to that shite. Same everywhere, no silence,no ambient noise.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,588 ✭✭✭ersatz


    Yeah, that was poor. He was also probably concussed which may have contributed.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,323 ✭✭✭✭LambshankRedemption


    I do like most of the 5 odd songs that were played, Zombie, Shipping up to Boston. Not keen on Sweet Caroline though.

    It just feels a bit like the episode of Fr Ted when the DJ only has the one single of Ghost Town by the Specials and plays it on loop.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,162 ✭✭✭✭thebaz


    Hopefully someone tells him that Sweet Caroline is an English fans song - corporate American nonsense who needs a DJ at a rugby game.



  • Hosted Moderators Posts: 9,462 ✭✭✭fitz


    Yeah, stress and pressure does these things to people. Pollock was very fired up, and that's part of his issue. He doesn't know how to, or have the experience to be able to stay calm in those major crunch situations yet.

    But still, he made a really stupid decision that I think you'd expect even an inexperienced young player to be more savvy about. Particularly one that is being proclaimed the next big thing. I think he's overconfident, and while he's unquestionably talented, it seems like he'll do things that aren't on because that over-confidence makes him think *he* can pull it off.

    There's no question, for me, that if he takes contact there instead of passing, England would have won. That pass was the worst thing he could have done when less than a minute away from winning the game. It wasn't on, and he blew it for England.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,090 ✭✭✭blackvalley


    As i said I’m not knowledgeable enough about the game but does kicking the ball away not reflect a lack of confidence in your own team. I don’t know but would the all blacks or South Africa kick the ball away rather than believe it their ability to protect it for a few more phases.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 8,452 ✭✭✭deezell


    Who needs a disco at the match? Facebookers and tiktokers and influencer types, who get the tickets for the 6 nations from daddy's contacts, but have no clue as to what's actually happening in play. 'Gosh gouys, I got some grashe Instogrom selfies today, with Oirlond and Scondinavia in the bockground. Oh, thats Scotlond? Haw haw! My bod!'.



  • Hosted Moderators Posts: 9,462 ✭✭✭fitz


    Teams don't really see it as kicking the ball away, as much as moving where the contact/breakdown is happening further away from their territory. You'll hear a lot of talk about playing the game in the right areas... that's what is meant. A team are less likely to score from a penalty if you give it away on their 10m line instead of your own. It's risky playing in your own half, particularly if you're ahead and the ref thinks you're trying to run down the clock…they'll be looking very carefully at the breakdown to see if you're trying to kill off fair contest at the ruck and waste time, and they'll be only too happy to give a penalty against you for it.

    You could argue that the box kick wasn't as well executed as it could have been to pressure France (I can't remember how well England chased it), but to your question, it's absolutely something you'd see South Africa or New Zealand, and ironically even France do. In the past few years, France have leaned into kicking where they don't contest to regather, but target the catcher and try to turn them over or force them into a mistake. It's been very successful for them, and can lead to the kind of unstructured attacking opportunities they thrive off.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,588 ✭✭✭ersatz


    Pollock reminds me a lot of Marcus Smith when he came through. Very young, seemingly cocky, and with a new look and a lot of hate. Pollock is more mouthy obvs. But I don't see where the hate is coming from. He is young, supremely confident and with a lot of attitude and a lot to learn. I hope he succeeds, he's the kind of player that can bring a lot of excitement to the game because of his speed and power, and he has skills. Any coach will see he has a lot to learn at the highest level and like many wunderkinds, we've seen where his limitations are in this tournament.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 8,452 ✭✭✭deezell


    I think Borthwick needs to throw the hairdryer at him in the dressing room, Ferguson/Beckham style.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,176 ✭✭✭✭Heroditas


    He comes across as arrogant. In the amateur days his teammates or the opposition would have punched that arrogance out of him. Nowadays, we're supposed to think this sort of showboating is great for the game. It's not. We have enough of it in soccer.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,588 ✭✭✭ersatz


    Agree, but he is just a kid and he will grow up. Speed, power and skill is box office though, I hope he succeeds.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,581 ✭✭✭ElisaAtWar


    Yes. Or maybe I didn't clarify enough for you. Folks take offense from the opinion without ever reading why the poster might believe so. Which is simply lazy



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,588 ✭✭✭ersatz


    Intersting to see the teams of the tournament picks online tho I've only seen a few. Seems Mccloskey and Beirne are the Irish players getting the any shine. The team came really good as the completion progressed going from a couple of good halves over the last year to more like 5 or 6 good halves this 6N. Not sure I'd argue for anyone else in a best 15 though.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,373 ✭✭✭visatorro


    Rob Kearney was on indo sport today, he said even though the 9 was running the show, the 10 was still calling the plays. Can't imagine the true with our tens currently. Probably with sexton alright.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,658 ✭✭✭FtD v2


    Doris should be nailed on for me, and JGP arguably as well. I'd also have Rob Baloucoune on the wing ahead of Kyle Steyn or Theo Attissogbe.

    Sheehan didn't have a great tournament by his standards, but he'd be in the mix at hooker too given no one really shone there.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 3,783 ✭✭✭50HX


    Thought Dewi Lake did well considering the doldrums Wales are in.

    Yes Doris is a cert with the added bonus if slotting seamlessly in at 7 as well



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 1,876 ✭✭✭Ben Bailey


    We have seen his limitations, but more importantly his coach has, and even more importantly his team mates have. Pollock needs to contribute more & not save himself for the big moments. Whether he can combine his talent with a work ethic will determine his future. Right now, how many international 23s would he be included in ?.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,581 ✭✭✭ElisaAtWar


    its this type of post that really makes me wonder if we watch the same game. Doris is a go to ground specialist ensuring slow recycle.. If that's what you want then Andy Farrell is coach of the decade



  • Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 33,049 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    its this type of post that really makes me wonder if we watch the same game.

    Samesies.

    Doris is an exceptional carrier because of his footwork into contact that always gets him an extra yard and let's him present the ball well. Genuinely baffled by your view.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,588 ✭✭✭ersatz


    No idea, he has great basics though. People talk lot about his loose pass, a classic example of a rush to the head, but before the pass he'd caught Dupont who had a big head start on him, and he produced a turnover. Big contributions in just that passage. Anyway, I'm not here to say he is better than any nunmberof other players, just that he's a kid with a lot of talent who will be a fine rugby player. He annoys people because of his attitude, he'll grow out of it.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,581 ✭✭✭ElisaAtWar


    And I don't argue with what you say Podge because what you say is correct. Yes he does make that extra yard against the teams that haven't the bulk to push him back. It's important to compare Doris against his foes. For example how did Doris do against France. How would Doris do against SA.

    My point is simple. For us to beat the best it's not about contact and recycle. It's about contact and offload.



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