JustinDee wrote: » You've pointed out Aussie and NZ who we already know are "innovative". South Africa? Nah. Big pack, one fetcher and a halfback who determines the plays more than his fly-half. Big bosh non-passing centres and quick back-three. All in gameplan dominated by a kicking game and the setpiece. This can be their saviour or their boon. Haven't changed since even Apartheid era. Hardly innovative. What Hook has apparently claimed is that Ireland are the least innovative in world rugby. I was merely pointing out that this was an OTT claim to make, particularly with the national sides I already listed in mind.
rrpc wrote: » Les Kiss is a good defensive coach. Ireland have been very difficult to beat largely I suspect because of him and he's done good work with Leinster as well. So why were we so defensively inept on Sunday? Why was our defensive line so deep and why were we 'soaking' tackles so much that we were giving up half the pitch in seven phases of Welsh play?Our two best performances in the last year, were with Reddan and Sexton starting, so why start Murry with Sexton? And then when Sexton was subbed, why also sub Murray? One suspects that Kidney does not want Sexton to get quick ball so that he will have to kick it and conversely can put Reddan on the pitch with O'Gara because he knows O'Gara will kick it anyway. This is not a criticism of any of these players, it just seems like insanity to deliberately play against a player's strengths.
twinytwo wrote: » rrpc wrote: » Les Kiss is a good defensive coach. Ireland have been very difficult to beat largely I suspect because of him and he's done good work with Leinster as well. So why were we so defensively inept on Sunday? Why was our defensive line so deep and why were we 'soaking' tackles so much that we were giving up half the pitch in seven phases of Welsh play?Our two best performances in the last year, were with Reddan and Sexton starting, so why start Murry with Sexton? And then when Sexton was subbed, why also sub Murray? One suspects that Kidney does not want Sexton to get quick ball so that he will have to kick it and conversely can put Reddan on the pitch with O'Gara because he knows O'Gara will kick it anyway. This is not a criticism of any of these players, it just seems like insanity to deliberately play against a player's strengths. But you are saying that this is the defining factor in the game... which it wasnt... regardless of weather sexton/rog has started against aus for example... out pack would still have destroyed them like they did
Almaviva wrote: » Any of those who voted not to sack Kidney (not wanting to change coach in the middle of the 6N being the most common reason, rather than Kidney really being the man for the job), change your mind following todays fiasco ?
Tox56 wrote: » What fiasco?
Almaviva wrote: » The Ireland team for the French game was announced at lunchtime today. Kidney picked his original team for the Wales one.http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/sixnations/2012/0209/ireland.html
Tox56 wrote: » There are poor selections, but we knew it was coming.
Almaviva wrote: » Doesn't excuse it though. Does anyone know what it will take for him to be let go? If he hasnt already (EOS was coached out his last game or two after being told he was finished) been given the news. Paulie on with Matt Cooper at the moment. Disappointing to hear such a great player sounding as delusional as Kidney.
Kayless wrote: » yeah what fiasco? just watch the team announcement to play France you can tell from dk body language hes very uncomfortable, I don't see him lasting much longer he looks like hes in over his head the fans know, the players know and most of all he knows just watch POC reaction when the journalist asks DK what went wrong in the Wales game...
Almaviva wrote: » Paulie on with Matt Cooper at the moment. Disappointing to hear such a great player sounding as delusional as Kidney.
trackguy wrote: » It's not delusional. The captain of the team isn't going to come out blasting players and management alike, nor should he.
rrpc wrote: » In all of this discussion, no-one seems to have mentioned the players. These guys have been playing great rugby for their provinces, winning tough matches and at times completely putting oppositions to the sword. They are not fools, they're coming from good coaching structures with excellent gameplans to execute poorly formed, turgid rubbish. Morale must be dreadfully low especially when it seems that they are not even thought worthy of a specialist backs coach. And then individual players are getting lashed on here because they are "not performing". Well quelle surprise...
irishbucsfan wrote: » I would say the 4 most innovative teams are NZ, Oz, France and Wales. How did they get on during the WC?
leeroybrown wrote: » I agree in part but I'd also say that Kidney's management style actively discourages any kind of honest interaction with the media. He tries to control every minute detail of the whole setup and keeps it very much inside the camp. I'd wouldn't like to be the player who was too open with the media. It'd have been nice if Kidney and O'Connell could come out and just said that Wales out competed them at the breakdown, that they lacked intensity for large patches of the game, that they didn't press home their advantage after scoring and that they weren't tactically astute in how they used the ball at times. Of course that would be a criticism of the game plan. If Wales had lost the game Gatland and Warburton would have been the first to come out and honestly admit that they'd let themselves down in certain aspects of the game and that it had cost them.
trackguy wrote: » I've heard it said that Kidney's attitude to the media is 'give them nothing.' I think that can be a good policy. It helps to build a siege atmosphere, which can be a powerful motivational weapon. The media aren't going to help the team so the team owes them nothing. The lack of honesty with the media is simply part of the secrecy and means nothing. I'm sure the players are honest with themselves and each other.
whatsthecraic wrote: » I'd just get a proper backs coach to be honest.