Ireland Team Talk Thread IX: Grand Slam Champions SEE MOD WARNING POST #1122

pickarooney · 13-03-2018 7:39am

Neil3030 wrote: »

Whatever title gets chosen, if it's not dedicated to Tadhg Furlong, I will not darken the thread's door!

Furlong, and thanks for all the fish

Burkie1203 · 13-03-2018 8:39am

James Ryan.......

https://twitter.com/threeredkings/status/973161546108030976?s=19

Christy42 · 13-03-2018 8:50am

Burkie1203 wrote: »

James Ryan.......

https://twitter.com/threeredkings/status/973161546108030976?s=19

Jesus. You would expect that to be a Scottish turnover from the initial state of play. That is a tough hit. He is some man.

pickarooney · 13-03-2018 8:58am

Id say the chap never got a wedgie in school.

swiwi_ · 13-03-2018 9:08am

Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread IX: For fans of porter who drink stout

prawnsambo · 13-03-2018 9:28am

Christy42 wrote: »

Jesus. You would expect that to be a Scottish turnover from the initial state of play. That is a tough hit. He is some man.

One of the Scottish players did. Arms up in [premature] triumph.

molloyjh · 13-03-2018 9:35am

Schmidt’s about to get real

41 into 3 does go

What about dem Championship minutes tho

Establish dominance

That last one is a South Park reference for those who don’t get it.

prawnsambo · 13-03-2018 10:02am

We need a fast start this time around. We were definitely starting to do that against France but France wouldn't play and preferred to give away penalties. But to my mind, the best way of dealing with a team who've suffered two losses on the trot is to give them that losing feeling early. I appreciate that's easier said than done, but at an away venue, the first order of business is to silence the crowd.

irishfan9 · 13-03-2018 10:08am

Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread IX: We will follow James Ryan to Twickenham and beyond.

irishbucsfan · 13-03-2018 10:19am

irishfan9 wrote: »

Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread IX: We will follow James Ryan to Twickenham and beyond.

I read this in Buzz Lightyear's voice.

But the bit from the 1st movie where he doesn't know he's a toy.

Yeah_Right · 13-03-2018 10:22am

Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread IX: James Ryan, Clear and Present Danger.

aloooof · 13-03-2018 10:23am

Listening to Off the Ball this morning, Liam Toland making the point about potential issues on our wide defense. He highlighted Scotland's butchered opportunity (Huw Jones pass), which came from Hogg taking a lineout to himself and 2 long skip passes followed.

First thing that came to mind was England v Wales last year near the end of the game, 2 long passes, I think it was Ford to Farrell to Daly who finished in the corner? So we know England can put that kind of width on the ball. I wonder will he put Farrell into 10 tho and change his midfield?

Bridge93 · 13-03-2018 10:41am

Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread IX: James Ryan, It Ain't Easy Being Cheesy

Professor Moriarty · 13-03-2018 10:51am

Rob Kearney's Hot Air Balloon.

prawnsambo · 13-03-2018 11:11am

aloooof wrote: »

Listening to Off the Ball this morning, Liam Toland making the point about potential issues on our wide defense. He highlighted Scotland's butchered opportunity (Huw Jones pass), which came from Hogg taking a lineout to himself and 2 long skip passes followed.

First thing that came to mind was England v Wales last year near the end of the game, 2 long passes, I think it was Ford to Farrell to Daly who finished in the corner? So we know England can put that kind of width on the ball. I wonder will he put Farrell into 10 tho and change his midfield?

I always find it a bit disingenuous when commentators look at one side's chances without taking into account the actions of the opposition. I think even in commentary, the consensus was that Scotland rushed those passes and that's why they didn't go to hand. And a team rushes passes when they're under pressure. The way Jonny Sexton dealt with Huw Jones break is a case in point really. He didn't appear to do an awful lot, but what he did was change the balance very marginally in our favour; enough for Huw Jones to become indecisive.

kuang1 · 13-03-2018 11:14am

prawnsambo wrote: »

I always find it a bit disingenuous when commentators look at one side's chances without taking into account the actions of the opposition. I think even in commentary, the consensus was that Scotland rushed those passes and that's why they didn't go to hand. And a team rushes passes when they're under pressure. The way Jonny Sexton dealt with Huw Jones break is a case in point really. He didn't appear to do an awful lot, but what he did was change the balance very marginally in our favour; enough for Huw Jones to become indecisive.

What Sexton did then (which was absolutely perfect defence imo) is exactly what I'd love to see Kearney do so much more of.
(Rather than the superman impersonation he nailed seconds before.)

13-03-2018 11:18am

I feel like Sexton's impact on that pass is a little revisionist. It's easy to say how genius his defense was now that it was a poor pass. I still think that pass sticks 95% of the time regardless of what Sexton did with his body language prior to the hit.

Bridge93 · 13-03-2018 11:20am

It was a **** pass. It should've been nailed and would be 8 or 9 times out of 10. We got lucky

molloyjh · 13-03-2018 11:21am

kuang1 wrote: »

What Sexton did then (which was absolutely perfect defence imo) is exactly what I'd love to see Kearney do so much more of.
(Rather than the superman impersonation he nailed seconds before.)

That was very different. Kearney had to close down space on a chip through. The ball could have bounced anywhere and so waiting to see where it did bounce could have been every bit as problematic. Had it bounced in a way that he could have caught it had he pushed up then he'd have been wrong to hang back or if it had bounced a little more awkwardly for Jones then Rob could have nailed him in the tackle and we could have been putting pressure on to turnover. As it was the ball bounced pretty much perfectly for Jones and allowed him to step the onrushing Kearney.

It should be noted that for one of the Scottish opportunities that went into touch, it was Robs hard press that put the pressure on and forced the error too.

irelandrover · 13-03-2018 11:22am

Deleted User wrote: »

I feel like Sexton's impact on that pass is a little revisionist. It's easy to say how genius his defense was now that it was a poor pass. I still think that pass sticks 95% of the time regardless of what Sexton did with his body language prior to the hit.

Yeah, but if sexton hadnt done what he did the pass hits 98% of the time. THats the 3% difference in performance that Eddie Jones was talking about

kuang1 · 13-03-2018 11:22am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I feel like Sexton's impact on that pass is a little revisionist. It's easy to say how genius his defense was now that it was a poor pass. I still think that pass sticks 95% of the time regardless of what Sexton did with his body language prior to the hit.

It may well have stuck, but how Sexton handled that scenario was A1 perfection regardless of the final outcome. He couldn't have done any better.

molloyjh · 13-03-2018 11:23am

Deleted User wrote: »

I feel like Sexton's impact on that pass is a little revisionist. It's easy to say how genius his defense was now that it was a poor pass. I still think that pass sticks 95% of the time regardless of what Sexton did with his body language prior to the hit.

Almost certainly, but the idea of forcing the attacker to make the decision rather than the defender means that the attacker is the one under pressure and making the possible mistake. Either way, in a 2 on 1 like that the odds are always heavily stacked against the defender.

kuang1 · 13-03-2018 11:25am

molloyjh wrote: »

That was very different. Kearney had to close down space on a chip through. The ball could have bounced anywhere and so waiting to see where it did bounce could have been every bit as problematic. Had it bounced in a way that he could have caught it had he pushed up then he'd have been wrong to hang back or if it had bounced a little more awkwardly for Jones then Rob could have nailed him in the tackle and we could have been putting pressure on to turnover. As it was the ball bounced pretty much perfectly for Jones and allowed him to step the onrushing Kearney.

It should be noted that for one of the Scottish opportunities that went into touch, it was Robs hard press that put the pressure on and forced the error too.

My reading of it was that Kearneys lunge actually impeded Earls (I think...need to watch it back again to be sure) who to me seemed like he had Jones in his sights.

molloyjh · 13-03-2018 11:38am

kuang1 wrote: »

My reading of it was that Kearneys lunge actually impeded Earls (I think...need to watch it back again to be sure) who to me seemed like he had Jones in his sights.

I don't remember where Earls was tbh. But the first consideration in that case has to be the ball. 100% of the time. That could have gone almost anywhere when it had bounced.

Sanjuro · 13-03-2018 11:40am

pickarooney wrote: »

Id say the chap never got a wedgie in school.

Or it's the wedgies that created him. That moulded him into the beast he is now.

Sanjuro · 13-03-2018 11:42am

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread IX: James Ryan, Clear and Present Danger.

Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread IX: Ryan's Slaughter

P.Walnuts · 13-03-2018 11:45am

Lads sorry for the slightly OT post but I'm going to be in Madrid for the weekend, any recommendations for a good pub to watch game? I know there are a few Irish pubs but I'm sure some are better than others. Cheers

Zzippy · 13-03-2018 11:52am

P.Walnuts wrote: »

Lads sorry for the slightly OT post but I'm going to be in Madrid for the weekend, any recommendations for a good pub to watch game? I know there are a few Irish pubs but I'm sure some are better than others. Cheers

Ask .ak, he was there recently, but he probably hung out in some hipster bar that played RTE Radio 1 commentary while showing a pre-revolutionary Cuban arthouse movie about the struggle of organic coffee farmers against the capitalist pigs of Nescafe, with complimentary beard trimming in the back bar.

connemara man · 13-03-2018 12:38pm

kuang1 wrote: »

It may well have stuck, but how Sexton handled that scenario was A1 perfection regardless of the final outcome. He couldn't have done any better.

Murray Kinsella has my favourite quote on this " this is try butchery so criminal that someone should have immediately contacted the Gardai, but it's worth noting what Sexton's brilliant defence does to Jones"

prawnsambo · 13-03-2018 1:01pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I feel like Sexton's impact on that pass is a little revisionist. It's easy to say how genius his defense was now that it was a poor pass. I still think that pass sticks 95% of the time regardless of what Sexton did with his body language prior to the hit.

Oh there's no doubt that the confrontation was Sexton's to lose. In a 2 on 1, the odds are almost insurmountable. What Sexton did was tip the balance ever so slightly against the Scots.

And that's what I felt we did by and large in the few times when it looked like we were being overrun. Force the opposition to make the move on your terms rather than theirs. There were a couple of instances of passes not going to hand where the defensive pressure just closed them down enough to force the pass. The almost clichéed 'small margins' are made up of moments like that. It didn't always work out. Kinghorn's try was a beauty of a setup that we failed to identify. Three attackers lined up in a column behind the scrum and making three waves of attack that created an overlap. Even still, Garry Ringrose almost stopped it but was beaten by a split second.

molloyjh · 13-03-2018 1:12pm

At this stage of the 6Ns Ireland have the most points, the most tries, the most carries, the most defenders beaten, the most passes, the most rucks won, the most metres gained and the most line outs won.

Source: https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/en/home.php

Christy42 · 13-03-2018 1:16pm

So who are people thinking as player of the tournament. Sexton should be up there. A: for the drop goal and B: his performance against Wales was incredible outside of the tee. Leavy could also be a shout.

irishfan9 · 13-03-2018 1:16pm

Stockdale will probably get it due to the tries...

aloooof · 13-03-2018 1:19pm

molloyjh wrote: »

At this stage of the 6Ns Ireland have the most points, the most tries, the most carries, the most defenders beaten, the most passes, the most rucks won, the most metres gained and the most line outs won.

Source: https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/en/home.php

We must have the highest % possession and highest % territory as well, I'd imagine. I wonder how likely that is to be the case on Saturday?

Professor Moriarty · 13-03-2018 1:23pm

Christy42 wrote: »

So who are people thinking as player of the tournament. Sexton should be up there. A: for the drop goal and B: his performance against Wales was incredible outside of the tee. Leavy could also be a shout.

Sexton for the drop goal alone. Without that single piece of class/guts/genius, our season would now most likely be a damp squib instead of another championship wrapped up with a good chance of a grand slam.

Bridge93 · 13-03-2018 1:33pm

Sexton 6/4 favourite

Stockdale 9/1

pickarooney · 13-03-2018 1:51pm

Conor Murray will surely be nominated
Guirado should be too

irishbucsfan · 13-03-2018 1:53pm

Drop goal is all I need

Former Former · 13-03-2018 1:54pm

I'd give it to Guirado, he's been awesome.

Buer · 13-03-2018 1:55pm

Guirado and Camara have been brilliant for France throughout.

Ireland is a funny one where there are about 5 players who have had excellent tournaments but nobody has been a clear stand out which makes me wonder if they'll go with an Irish player. Someone will need to have a top class showing this weekend to get the nod.

They've had no issue with going for players from teams who haven't won in previous years. Hogg has won it in the last two tournaments. I would say Guirado has a great chance....or at least he should have.

flatface · 13-03-2018 2:20pm

Zzippy wrote: »

Old thread creaking at the seams. Suggestions for a thread title welcome

Schmidt’s Schmighty

Bridge93 · 13-03-2018 2:23pm

Guirado is 33/1

Other notable names:
Earls 3/1
Murray 17/2
Huw Jones 9/1
Matteo Minozzi 22/1

baas baa · 13-03-2018 2:25pm

Barring a mare Saturday Sexton would have to get it. The DG being the defining moment of the championship will count favourably.

Buer · 13-03-2018 2:28pm

baas baa wrote: »

Barring a mare Saturday Sexton would have to get it. The DG being the defining moment of the championship will count favourably.

I wouldn't hold my breath. I don't think an outhalf has ever been given it. It's a popularity contest and Sexton isn't winning that.

Launchbury was superb last year but didn't even finish top 3.

baas baa · 13-03-2018 2:32pm

Zzippy wrote: »

Old thread creaking at the seams. Suggestions for a thread title welcome

St. Patricks Day Massacre #knivesareout

baas baa · 13-03-2018 2:40pm

Buer wrote: »

I wouldn't hold my breath. I don't think an outhalf has ever been given it. It's a popularity contest and Sexton isn't winning that.

Launchbury was superb last year but didn't even finish top 3.

Maybe, I can't envision a scenario where he doesn't get it. It being a after a Lions tour where a lot of other fans have a recent recollection of rooting for him might help in the popularity stakes. Besides that, like has been said, there's been no other really stand out candidate for us, he's the fulcrum of the side and must've amassed a huge amount of respect at this stage.

Perhaps Stockdale if he does well next week as him being a newcomer has a bit of a fairytale feel to it.

stephen_n · 13-03-2018 2:45pm

Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread IX: Slam dunk

Sangre · 13-03-2018 2:48pm

Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread IX: Locks, Stockers and Two Smokin' Farrells

pickarooney · 13-03-2018 2:49pm

stephen_n wrote: »

Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread IX: Slam dunk

Slam Drunk

Make it happen

Burkie1203 · 13-03-2018 2:57pm

Handsome Rob sat out training today.

If he isnt available Saturday then just give England a walkover.

Ireland Team Talk Thread IX: Grand Slam Champions SEE MOD WARNING POST #1122

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