Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread IV

First Up · 17-02-2015 06:12PM

total former wrote: »

Barnes was always known as a "homer" when Ireland were playing away. When we were playing Wales last year, he was anti-Ireland. Now he's an "away" ref apparently.

When the ref gets in the way, the team in possession gets a scrum. That's the rule.

He's a huge homer. Renowned for it.

Clearlier · 17-02-2015 06:24PM

Podge_irl wrote: »

I don't think any official distinction exists. A test is just a test.

I agree but was slightly thrown by the use of the word 'competitive' - seems to imply some kind of distinction which Ciaran picked up on to say that we'd win the world cup whereas we won't have completed the group stages if we include the 4 friendlies in the lead up. On the plus side this is one team that I would be optimistic wouldn't have difficulty being favoured going into a match. Joe's relentless focus on performance should see to that.

kuang1 wrote: »

Anyone know what happens if we win our next 10 competitive games?!

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

World cup win

Yeah_Right wrote: »

World record for test wins. And not just the just Tier 1 record.

Clearlier · 17-02-2015 06:25PM

errlloyd wrote: »

I don't think that is true, if it is it certainly hasn't always been true.

When he reffed Clermont v Leinster in 2012 his record was something like 1 away win in 27 games.

Teach me to make broad assertions without thinking too much about it :eek:

I do think that he likes to confound expectations but perhaps that's just me.

I don't suppose anyone knows of a database type resource where we can identify who has reffed what matches?

leakyboots · 17-02-2015 06:45PM

Do You Even Squat wrote: »

I agree fitzy isnt a 15 but he is a smashing 13. i prefer him playing out on the wing but he has been the form 13 in ireland this year (along with Henshaw).

Hnmmm, a few games back where he has impressed for sure. But Darren Cave has been in unreal form for Ulster in 2015. Earls looks sensational too. I'd have Fitz/Earls ahead of Payne to be honest. Did I read somewhere that we had 0 linebreaks against France?

Tox56 · 17-02-2015 06:51PM

leakyboots wrote: »

Hnmmm, a few games back where he has impressed for sure. But Darren Cave has been in unreal form for Ulster in 2015. Earls looks sensational too. I'd have Fitz/Earls ahead of Payne to be honest. Did I read somewhere that we had 0 linebreaks against France?

Payne has been fine. Earls is a non-starter at 13, he doesn't bring as much in defence as the others, he left an absolute gaping hole in his channel in the WH's game, and with Cave and Fitz playing well consistently at 13 they have to be ahead of him. He could certainly challenge for the wing spot at the WC however

shuffol · 17-02-2015 06:55PM

Clearlier wrote: »

If I'm thinking about the correct incident he had gotten in the way of play a few seconds before. If I'm being generous he needed a few seconds to work out what he should do in such a situation. It was unfortunate because his impeding of play looked to me to have disadvantaged Ireland. Thing to remember about Barnes is that he's an 'away' referee. If in doubt he favours the away side. It's very unusual but makes a lot (not all obviously) of his decisions easier to comprehend when viewed through that prism although this on in particular was just IMO him taking his time to come to a decision which I think probably adhered to the letter of the law.

Your thinking of the incident in the French half a few minutes earlier, Barnes got himself in a bad position but I don't think he really affected the breakdown, the only person you could argue he impeded was the SH but I wouldn't lose sleep over the call.

The Henderson one I don't understand, he counter rucked and picked up the ball cleanly, either it's a penalty for his entry which looked fine or play on, he looked to fudge that call IMO.

There was another incident between the 2 where POM seemed to get himself locked on the ball at the breakdown, Barnes adjusted his stance and began to motion to give a penalty to Ireland for holding on but then changed his mind, waited a few seconds and again gave a scrum to France. I think he looked very indecisive in the last 10 minutes.

I thought his overall performance was fine though I think he let France away with a bit at the breakdown but that's often the case where a team piles numbers into that area like France did.

TommyOM · 17-02-2015 07:02PM

leakyboots wrote: »

Hnmmm, a few games back where he has impressed for sure. But Darren Cave has been in unreal form for Ulster in 2015. Earls looks sensational too. I'd have Fitz/Earls ahead of Payne to be honest. Did I read somewhere that we had 0 linebreaks against France?

Earls has had a chance at 13 and has proven time and time again that he does not have the vision or skillset for 13 at international rugby. He excells on the wing.

17-02-2015 07:05PM

TommyOM wrote: »

Earls has had a chance at 13 and has proven time and time again that he does not have the vision or skillset for 13 at international rugby. He excells on the wing.

Yeah I think he could do a job there in a Schmidt coached team but certainly there are others who would come in ahead of him.

Brewster · 17-02-2015 08:13PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Yeah I think he could do a job there in a Schmidt coached team but certainly there are others who would come in ahead of him.

Earls should focus on wing position, he could actually suffer a little if he continues to play 13 for Munster. He is simply defensively not good enough to play 13 in the modern way rugby has evolved. He has also been shown up time and time again to be lacking in awareness In terms of players around him. A fine fine winger but not good enough defensively to play 13....

Mahatma Geansai · 17-02-2015 08:21PM

Brewster wrote: »

Earls should focus on wing position, he could actually suffer a little if he continues to play 13 for Munster. He is simply defensively not good enough to play 13 in the modern way rugby has evolved. He has also been shown up time and time again to be lacking in awareness In terms of players around him. A fine fine winger but not good enough defensively to play 13....

Looks like people are still banging the drum about the one time he didn't pass to BOD. It'd be interesting to see the reaction if he was the one to mess up a routine 4 on 2 and guaranteed try against France.

He offers a great kick chase, and his rucking is excellent. That's two of the primary prerequisites for an Irish outside back right off the bat. His line-breaking threat and open-field running is comfortably the best in the country.

Hagz · 17-02-2015 08:22PM

He's certainly good enough to play 13, he's just got a higher ceiling out on the wing.

Brewster · 17-02-2015 08:26PM

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Looks like people are still banging the drum about the one time he didn't pass to BOD. It'd be interesting to see the reaction if he was the one to mess up a routine 4 on 2 and guaranteed try against France.

He offers a good kick chase, and his rucking is excellent. That's two of the primary prerequisites for an Irish outside back right off the bat. His line-breaking threat and open-field running is comfortably the best in the country.

That's just one example.. His instinct is to run, it's just the way he plays the game. He is lovely to watch and he has fantastic balance. However, up against the French midfield on Saturday he'd have been blown away. I've no doubt whatsoever about this. He has to far less defending as a winger and this is a huge consideration and I hope he concentrates on this position.

vienne86 · 17-02-2015 08:26PM

Earls is a fabulous player - I'm a big fan - on the wing. I know he can play 13, but he is a far better winger, and I think he should concentrate on that position.

phog · 17-02-2015 08:32PM

I don't buy the Earls isn't good enough nor the he's been exposed at 13 every player has f*cked up now and again. If it was a choice of Fitz or Earls at this moment in time I'd go with Fitz. I'd have Earls ahead of Payne for the 13 jersey. However of all of them I'd love to see Henshaw get a game at 13 but we're really stuck for an international 12 so Henshaw gets slotted in their.

Mahatma Geansai · 17-02-2015 08:33PM

Earls showed more at 13 in the 2012 than any of our other available 13s have to date. He had a great tournament, and he was one of the few Irish players to do so. Earls is also a significantly more well-rounded player than he was three years ago.

SaveOurLyric · 17-02-2015 08:41PM

leakyboots wrote: »

Hnmmm, a few games back where he has impressed for sure. But Darren Cave has been in unreal form for Ulster in 2015. Earls looks sensational too. I'd have Fitz/Earls ahead of Payne to be honest. Did I read somewhere that we had 0 linebreaks against France?

If so, then thats perfect execution of the gameplan. Line breaks are so yesterday. Amateur even.
Its all about chasing contestible kicks, making tackles, putting the opposition under pressure, and taking no risk that might turn over the ball to the opposition conceding field position. Modern rugby. The Earls/Fitz era is passed.
The hint is in the new position names in vogue:
9: Box kicker
10: Long kicker
11: Left chaser
12: 1st Chaser
13: 2nd Chaser
14: Right Chaser
15: Catcher

SaveOurLyric · 17-02-2015 08:43PM

vienne86 wrote: »

Earls is a fabulous player - on the wing. I know he can play 13, but he is a far better winger, and I think he should concentrate on that position.

Approximately 173,244,238,343 boards.ie posts summed up in one line !

Hurk · 17-02-2015 08:44PM

Apparently Earls was training at 13 in the Ireland camps and going very well. Would be interesting to see if that was just for running plays and that or whether Schmidt sees him as a centre.

SaveOurLyric · 17-02-2015 08:45PM

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Earls showed more at 13 in the 2012 than any of our other available 13s have to date. He had a great tournament, and he was one of the few Irish players to do so. Earls is also a significantly more well-rounded player than he was three years ago.

True, but its not about running with the ball any more (other than back to the forwards to recycle to change the point of attack). He just isnt a hard enought hitting tackler to win turnovers, or contest kick retrievals in the air.

phog · 17-02-2015 09:00PM

Frank Murphy turns his hand to refereeing

Best of Luck to him, great to see players continue their involvement in the game.

molloyjh · 17-02-2015 09:05PM

So I won the Ulster Bank flag bearer competition for the England game. Nice.

17-02-2015 09:16PM

molloyjh wrote: »

So I won the Ulster Bank flag bearer competition for the England game. Nice.

So you get to walk out onto the pitch holding Paul O'Connell's hand?

:pac:

molloyjh · 17-02-2015 09:41PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

So you get to walk out onto the pitch holding Paul O'Connell's hand?

:pac:

I should be so lucky. No I'll be one of the eejits with the flags in the warm up. I'm sure I'll make a total balls of it but I'm getting 4 star accom on the Saturday night and 2 free tickets.

17-02-2015 09:51PM

molloyjh wrote: »

I should be so lucky. No I'll be one of the eejits with the flags in the warm up. I'm sure I'll make a total balls of it but I'm getting 4 star accom on the Saturday night and 2 free tickets.

2 tickets you say? I for one think you are going to be the greatest flag bearer of all time and contribute significantly to our chances of winning.

thomond2006 · 17-02-2015 09:55PM

Above international standard flag waving, set the standard molloy.

total former · 17-02-2015 09:55PM

molloyjh wrote: »

I should be so lucky. No I'll be one of the eejits with the flags in the warm up. I'm sure I'll make a total balls of it but I'm getting 4 star accom on the Saturday night and 2 free tickets.

Just have faith in yourself

b.gud · 17-02-2015 09:56PM

molloyjh wrote: »

So I won the Ulster Bank flag bearer competition for the England game. Nice.

Lucky b*****d

irishbucsfan · 17-02-2015 09:58PM

molloyjh wrote: »

I should be so lucky. No I'll be one of the eejits with the flags in the warm up. I'm sure I'll make a total balls of it but I'm getting 4 star accom on the Saturday night and 2 free tickets.

Did you already have tickets? If not that is even better!

17-02-2015 10:04PM

total former wrote: »

Just have faith in yourself

molloyjh · 17-02-2015 10:21PM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Did you already have tickets? If not that is even better!

Nope I didn't have tickets so happy days.

Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread IV

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