Kenny 5 wrote: Predictability eh? They couldn't predict his winning try last year in the Heino cup :rolleyes:
daveirl wrote: This post has been deleted.
Tim Robbins wrote: Is that required or constructive?
RuggieBear wrote: Guys, lets be nice. no more personal abuse or retarded sexist comments please.
Amz wrote: It was highly offensive. But apology accepted and the moron comment may have been OTT, but sexist remarks like that aren't welcome on this forum. The 3 points for girl trys in tag has a lot to do with the fact that many of the men playing are total glory hunters so it's also an attempt to get these men to pass to the female members of their team.
RuggieBear wrote: back on topic please! IMO Stringer is the best of a distinctly flawed lot. They all have strengths and weaknesses.
Tim Robbins wrote: I think Boss or Reddan are both better and if given a few more caps would get some understanding with the Irish back row and 10 which would negate that advantage Stringer has. Personally I'd go: 1. Boss 2. Reddan 3. Stringer
muboop1 wrote: a man after my own heart...
Tim Robbins wrote: I think a Boss is comfortable with the ball in his hands and running. Not just breaking from the scrum or ruck, but in open play. I think this pre requisite for any Rugby player, yourself?
muboop1 wrote: exactly! this means in attack we have an extra person who can carry the ball,and in defense an extra tackler! its not just about getting the ballout fast from a rook, its that stringer isnt world class imo at that even,let alone carrying ball or generally beiong involved in plays! he just passes off a rook and puts ball in scrum, this narrows down what ireland can do greatly! other teams willlookat films of us playing and say,hey we can basicallly assume he wont run but pass, so when hes alone at back of rook, they know hes going to pass so concentrate players there, but with redding or boss, mabey he will run? mabey we shud keep a few more players near the scrum? draws players in leaving less if they do decide to pass! increases chance of finding a gap etc...
kevmy wrote: Okay first off this is an irrelevant thread in the fact that Eddie will not drop Stringer for the World Cup, end of. However it is useful as after the WC we have to start planning for the future. At the moment our team is set up slightly different than most teams, this is in a way due to our lack of options, small playing base, cutting our cloth etc. We have two breaking centres essentially, with quick feet. Most teams usually have a bit of basher playing in centre but we haven't. Now we're lucky that we have O' Driscoll who is also a fabulous defender as well as a quick footed line breaker.
How does this relate to Stringer, well it means there is less onus on an Irish SH to break than on a more traditional outfit. Now it would be nice if Stringer had the break but it's really not his thing. However I would disagree that ROG isn't able to break in the last couple of years this part of his game has really come on, look at his try against Leinster in the HEC semi last year and in this years 6N.
So what I'm really saying is that this team, setup as it is, plays to Stringers strengths rather than highlighting his weaknesses. Dropping a player in at this stage in such a crucial position would upset the balance of the team. I thought this happenned against France when the rest of the team weren't quite on the same wavelength as Boss as he's a very different style of player. Reddan would be more similar but is just too inexperienced to pin our hopes on in a competition we have been building towards for 4 years.
As for being too predictable, well every one knew what England were going to do in the last WC and they won the fecking thing. So IMO as long as you do it to a better level than everyone else then predictability is not fatal.
Sangre wrote: Teams can't just rush our centres and ignore the SH/OH. If they do they'll be penalised quickly with a winger on ROGs inside shoulder or a few chip and chases.