Ireland Team Talk XI: Team of nervoUS MOD warning Post 1

fitz · 19-10-2019 4:36pm

awec wrote: »

As a team we've stagnated. 2019 has shown that.

Andy Farrell has a job on his hands rebuilding this side. It doesn't require major surgery in terms of personnel, but changes are needed. Obviously we need a replacement for Best. We need to address the back row, I am not sure we know what our most effective trio is.

Sexton and Murray are still the men at 9 and 10 for now, but this business of them playing 70+ minutes every game and the backup getting a token jog out needs to end. Decide who the next cab off the rank is and give them some meaningful game time.

In the centre we are fine. In the back three it is time for Kearney to be put out to pasture. Larmour seems the most likely candidate for that spot. I'd like to see Conway used more.

We didn't progress this year, and Hansen clearly learned from the last defeat in Dublin. I think injuries to key players who then struggled with form during the year left us with no momentum, and you could see today the lack of confidence in the team. We weren't half the side of November 2018.

I think we need to develop systems that allow in form young players to come in and get capped quickly, without being in a number of camps before being ready. Ironically, I think going back to Joe's early Leinster mission of being the best passing team is what's needed, and any players who can't handle and pass the ball to keep continuity without always taking contact shouldn't make the team.

Shefwedfan · 19-10-2019 5:02pm

fitz wrote: »

We didn't progress this year, and Hansen clearly learned from the last defeat in Dublin. I think injuries to key players who then struggled with form during the year left us with no momentum, and you could see today the lack of confidence in the team. We weren't half the side of November 2018.

I think we need to develop systems that allow in form young players to come in and get capped quickly, without being in a number of camps before being ready. Ironically, I think going back to Joe's early Leinster mission of being the best passing team is what's needed, and any players who can't handle and pass the ball to keep continuity without always taking contact shouldn't make the team.

The difference between Leinster and Ireland is huge

With Leinster Joe had the players day in day out. He could teach them skills and get them playing to a specific way

Ireland he has them at different times during the year and then they head back to province to play a completely different game.

Joe has brought in young players, even when not in squad the likes of Larmour etc are in around the squad getting hints and tips so when they do get picked they are not overawed. This was a new process he brought in and it worked well.....

Joe has, with Nucifora put a system in place that younger players are coming up with those skills.

If you review everything over his reign a lot has worked well for Ireland. The last WC everything went right and then we lost half the team to injury and we got knocked out. He went to fixing that issue and build a huge squad. Which he done and build a team that could win....which he done but....when it came down to it he trusted his regualr players when he should have put in form players. POM, Stockdale, Kearney should not have been on pitch today. You could also question Henshaw and Healy.

Conway was on fire, so was Kilcoyne. Ruddock was in cracking form and was was larmour.

I am not saying we would have won starting those players, but we could have given a better account of ourselves.

Professor Genius · 19-10-2019 5:05pm

Shefwedfan wrote: »

The difference between Leinster and Ireland is huge

With Leinster Joe had the players day in day out. He could teach them skills and get them playing to a specific way

Ireland he has them at different times during the year and then they head back to province to play a completely different game.

Joe has brought in young players, even when not in squad the likes of Larmour etc are in around the squad getting hints and tips so when they do get picked they are not overawed. This was a new process he brought in and it worked well.....

Joe has, with Nucifora put a system in place that younger players are coming up with those skills.

If you review everything over his reign a lot has worked well for Ireland. The last WC everything went right and then we lost half the team to injury and we got knocked out. He went to fixing that issue and build a huge squad. Which he done and build a team that could win....which he done but....when it came down to it he trusted his regualr players when he should have put in form players. POM, Stockdale, Kearney should not have been on pitch today. You could also question Henshaw and Healy.

Conway was on fire, so was Kilcoyne. Ruddock was in cracking form and was was larmour.

I am not saying we would have won starting those players, but we could have given a better account of ourselves.

Carberry should have been starting 10. Sexton has been playing like a drain for the year

AbusesToilets · 19-10-2019 5:12pm

Shefwedfan wrote: »

The difference between Leinster and Ireland is huge

With Leinster Joe had the players day in day out. He could teach them skills and get them playing to a specific way

Ireland he has them at different times during the year and then they head back to province to play a completely different game.

Joe has brought in young players, even when not in squad the likes of Larmour etc are in around the squad getting hints and tips so when they do get picked they are not overawed. This was a new process he brought in and it worked well.....

Joe has, with Nucifora put a system in place that younger players are coming up with those skills.

If you review everything over his reign a lot has worked well for Ireland. The last WC everything went right and then we lost half the team to injury and we got knocked out. He went to fixing that issue and build a huge squad. Which he done and build a team that could win....which he done but....when it came down to it he trusted his regualr players when he should have put in form players. POM, Stockdale, Kearney should not have been on pitch today. You could also question Henshaw and Healy.

Conway was on fire, so was Kilcoyne. Ruddock was in cracking form and was was larmour.

I am not saying we would have won starting those players, but we could have given a better account of ourselves.

My biggest criticism of Joe is how poor the players look for the national team. This guys are well capable of passing, attacking etc, and show it for their club.

He's had them playing a style that doesn't take advantage of that at all. In addition, he's trying to play a power game that we don't have the players for, and picked guys who are lacking in rugby skills to accomplish that.

He's regularly ignored players tearing it up for their clubs doing so. We're told we should ignore the evidence before us, and that they must be deficient in the training camps. Different levels and proven performers over flash in the pans. What message does that send to the players? That it doesn't matter how well they do in actual games, there are the starters and everyone else. It's the same issue again and again, from EOS to Kidney, and now to Joe.

If the results posed by his tests in camp lead to results like today, then perhaps it's not the players that are deficient, but rather the test itself. The best coaches in sports are ruthless. Hansen, Belichick, they have a singular focus on winning. If a player isn't performing, he gets the boot.

DellyBelly · 19-10-2019 5:18pm

Professor Genius wrote: »

Carberry should have been starting 10. Sexton has been playing like a drain for the year

I said the exact same thing on both the Wales and Italy thread during the 6 nations and was shot down both times by a number of posters. Anybody who has a good judgement of rugby could see he was on the wane. I wonder will we see him again in an Irish jersey

thomond2006 · 19-10-2019 5:22pm

Sexton is under contract for another two years and is on monster money. There's no question about him remaining in the Irish side. There is a glaring need for giving opportunities to someone to either replace Sexton when he retires or better still take the starting jersey from him.

Kearney is a different story. He's on a one year deal and should really be done with the Ireland side. There are plenty options at fullback.

Keith Earls is one of my favourite ever players but he's just turned 32 and like Kearney there are players ready to take his spot. His injury history would suggest he might have 2 seasons left at best. It's time to phase him out.

Bigboldworld · 19-10-2019 5:26pm

Sexton should pass the baton to Carbery, his form has been shockingly inconsistent, no faith in him anymore when he steps up to take the kicks, his conversion rate has been hit and miss for a good while now, new blood is needed

whatawaster · 19-10-2019 5:29pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

Sexton is under contract for another two years and is on monster money. There's no question about him remaining in the Irish side. There is a glaring need for giving opportunities to someone to either replace Sexton when he retires or better still take the starting jersey from him.

Would be the perfect time for Sexton to have gone to France. Him hanging on for 2 more years obviously helps Leinster in the short term, but long term it’s good only for his Lions chances

We need Byrne starting big games for Leinster

whatawaster · 19-10-2019 5:30pm

On Sexton, even if we are going to persist with him for 2 more years , it would be good for him, for Leinster and for Ireland for him to miss the 6N

Clegg · 19-10-2019 5:51pm

Bigboldworld wrote: »

Sexton should pass the baton to Carbery, his form has been shockingly inconsistent, no faith in him anymore when he steps up to take the kicks, his conversion rate has been hit and miss for a good while now, new blood is needed

New blood may be needed, but there's still the issue that Sexton is still the best 10 we have by an absolute mile. If he's fit and available to play for Ireland I don't think Farrell could leave him out.

Professor Genius · 19-10-2019 5:58pm

Clegg wrote: »

New blood may be needed, but there's still the issue that Sexton is still the best 10 we have by an absolute mile. If he's fit and available to play for Ireland I don't think Farrell could leave him out.

That is no longer true. On current form Carberry is the better 10.

Danthemanhere · 19-10-2019 5:58pm

Clegg wrote: »

New blood may be needed, but there's still the issue that Sexton is still the best 10 we have by an absolute mile. If he's fit and available to play for Ireland I don't think Farrell could leave him out.

If he's that far ahead of the next 10, then we're in big trouble. He was awful today.

ClanofLams · 19-10-2019 5:58pm

Donnielighto wrote: »

You can still win but it's not the priority in this situation. The WC is bigger and with the issues Ireland have in them it'd be a bigger achievement to reach a semi than get a GS, to me anyway but I'm fairly confident that'd be a common view. Phasing out players who won't be there or are expected to be on the downslope in 2023 should be the focus ow with at least 2 players legitimately competing for each spot.

Would be dreadful and damaging to rugby long term in this country. May also be utterly pointless if a single fixture in four years time goes wrong.

There’s also the point that Ireland have a significantly better chance if they are in the top 4 when the rankings for the draw are made.

Faugheen · 19-10-2019 6:01pm

Professor Genius wrote: »

That is no longer true. On current form Carberry is the better 10.

Bar one cameo against Italy, Carbery hasn’t shown the form to be selected ahead of Carty, never mind Sexton.

bilston · 19-10-2019 6:01pm

Sexton still has a role to play.

But let's see some new blood in February. For all the talk of us having the deepest squad ever I bet we could all have picked today's starting XV weeks ago.

I'd like to see Rhys Ruddock brought into the starting pack, I'd like to maybe see Eric O'Sullivan fast tracked through and personally I think someone with the physicality of Stuart McCloskey should be given a proper chance as well.

Oh and as an Ulster fan I have to say Jacob Stockdale needs to sort his s*** out. He was dreadful today. He can count himself lucky that Kearney and Earls are on their way out.

Shefwedfan · 19-10-2019 6:03pm

AbusesToilets wrote: »

My biggest criticism of Joe is how poor the players look for the national team. This guys are well capable of passing, attacking etc, and show it for their club.

He's had them playing a style that doesn't take advantage of that at all. In addition, he's trying to play a power game that we don't have the players for, and picked guys who are lacking in rugby skills to accomplish that.

He's regularly ignored players tearing it up for their clubs doing so. We're told we should ignore the evidence before us, and that they must be deficient in the training camps. Different levels and proven performers over flash in the pans. What message does that send to the players? That it doesn't matter how well they do in actual games, there are the starters and everyone else. It's the same issue again and again, from EOS to Kidney, and now to Joe.

If the results posed by his tests in camp lead to results like today, then perhaps it's not the players that are deficient, but rather the test itself. The best coaches in sports are ruthless. Hansen, Belichick, they have a singular focus on winning. If a player isn't performing, he gets the boot.

Who has ignored tearing it up for club?

Danthemanhere · 19-10-2019 6:05pm

Were other teams building last year while we were going all out? It looks like it now. They were great achievements and we all celebrated but they don't look as good in retrospect.

Clegg · 19-10-2019 6:05pm

Professor Genius wrote: »

That is no longer true. On current form Carberry is the better 10.

What current form does Carbery have? His last appearance was an awful cameo against Samoa. Before that he was injured for months.

Sexton was poor today. That's not in dispute. But don't assert that another player was in better form when that clearly isn't the case.

AbusesToilets · 19-10-2019 6:07pm

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Who has ignored tearing it up for club?

He's pretty consistently ignored anyone from Connacht and Ulster. Continued to pick Munster backrow forwards over Leinster ones, who've outplayed them year after year.

Burkie1203 · 19-10-2019 6:09pm

whatawaster wrote: »

We need Byrne starting big games for Leinster

Byrne started more "big" games then Sexton last season

January
V Toulouse & Wasps

April
V Ulster

May
V Munster

Sexton had 3.
Euro SF and Final
Pro14 final

Don't think Byrne is going to lack gametime in crunch matches

Danthemanhere · 19-10-2019 6:10pm

Byrne is not up to it.

Faugheen · 19-10-2019 6:11pm

Danthemanhere wrote: »

Byrne is not up to it.

We’ve heard this numerous times and every time he shuts everyone up.

Professor Moriarty · 19-10-2019 6:16pm

Sexton hasn't lost his skill, game management or courage. But his body isn't up to it anymore. Too many hits on board. Must be hugely frustrating for him.

bilston · 19-10-2019 6:17pm

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Who has ignored tearing it up for club?

I'd argue Stuart McCloskey at Ulster but like a few other players like Gilroy, O'Halloran and even Zebo to an extent there was something that Joe didn't like. Maybe Farrell will have different ideas.

We did a move today straight off the top from a lineout and Murray hit Ringrose on a crash ball, and I just thought if you're going to do that have a big man in the midfield like McCloskey or Farrell. But don't use Ringrose.

Danthemanhere · 19-10-2019 6:18pm

Faugheen wrote: »

We’ve heard this numerous times and every time he shuts everyone up.

Not really, he was picked to play against England in the warm ups. He didn't really shut anybody up. In fact, he was so bad he was instantly ruled out for the world cup.

bilston · 19-10-2019 6:19pm

Professor Genius wrote: »

That is no longer true. On current form Carberry is the better 10.

I don't know about that. Carbery has been injured for most of the WC so who knows what his form is. Sexton was poor today but then he was very good against Samoa.

Burkie1203 · 19-10-2019 6:21pm

Danthemanhere wrote: »

Not really, he was picked to play against England in the warm ups. He didn't really shut anybody up. In fact, he was so bad he was instantly ruled out for the world cup.

Jean Kleyn was on the pitch that day and travelled.

If that game is how you judge players then none of them should have gone East

Danthemanhere · 19-10-2019 6:24pm

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Jean Kleyn was on the pitch that day and travelled.

If that game is how you judge players then none of them should have gone East

The poster claimed that Byrne always shuts up the doubters, I was pointing out that his post was incorrect. He had a very bad game against England and ruled himself out of the world cup.

RugbyLover123 · 19-10-2019 6:27pm

Neither Carberry or Byrne are the answer. Carberry is a lovely player but not a 10. He belongs at 15 imo. I’m one for giving new guys a chance and phasing sexton out, but as another poster here said, Byrne is not an international standard 10 unfortunately. Byrne is more Ian Keatley then Sexton.

Best Ireland can hope for is Harry Byrne to come through as I think he has a more attack minded game then his older brother.

The Rape of Lucretia · 19-10-2019 6:39pm

That is the biggest take from today - that Sexto is done. Great servant to Irish rugby. Terrific at his best. But time waits for no man. It would be a good moment to retire from the international scene for him. Still have a role to play with Leinster for a couple of years, bring on the talent there, and still pick up a couple of medals.
Good night sweet prince.

Faugheen · 19-10-2019 6:42pm

Danthemanhere wrote: »

Not really, he was picked to play against England in the warm ups. He didn't really shut anybody up. In fact, he was so bad he was instantly ruled out for the world cup.

He had no chance against England. When the pack were bullied and defence non-existent.

Again, another player who consistently out-performs his counterparts at the provinces and in Europe.

whatawaster · 19-10-2019 6:49pm

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

That is the biggest take from today - that Sexto is done. Great servant to Irish rugby. Terrific at his best. But time waits for no man. It would be a good moment to retire from the international scene for him. Still have a role to play with Leinster for a couple of years, bring on the talent there, and still pick up a couple of medals.
Good night sweet prince.

100%

Niallof9 · 19-10-2019 6:58pm

https://twitter.com/VodafoneIreland/status/1185529434905960448

Jaysis

i wish they would stop. You'd swear some of the lads on here are in the Vodafone marketing department

FrancieBrady · 19-10-2019 7:01pm

Niallof9 wrote: »

https://twitter.com/VodafoneIreland/status/1185529434905960448

Jaysis

i wish they would stop. You'd swear some of the lads on here are in the Vodafone marketing department

I wish some here would 'stop'. There isn't a team of anybody at this level in any sport that doesn't engage in that kind of motivational stuff.

Just ignore it, it isn't done to offend.

Danthemanhere · 19-10-2019 7:10pm

Faugheen wrote: »

He had no chance against England. When the pack were bullied and defence non-existent.

Again, another player who consistently out-performs his counterparts at the provinces and in Europe.

He had chances and he was awful. Did nothing to stem the tide. Club rugby is not the same as international level rugby.

Shefwedfan · 19-10-2019 7:20pm

AbusesToilets wrote: »

He's pretty consistently ignored anyone from Connacht and Ulster. Continued to pick Munster backrow forwards over Leinster ones, who've outplayed them year after year.

Connacht player bar Aki have really failed to make the step up, without playing regular HC they have an huge jump to make....just look at some of those player who have moved up to Leinster and failed at taking that step up

TOH etc are just not good enough, I would put Carty in same bracket after this WC....

Stander I would have in my team but at 6, POM I just have never seen why he gets the praise....it’s a huge loss with Heaslip sitting in stand today...

Ulster I don’t know, they have been a mess and again those players have failed to step up, Stockdale was brought in ASAP and Addison, Balacoune was too young

McCloskey was a favourite of mine but really who would you drop if current centres fro him? He is a significant step down from the 4 that flew over

Connacht need to play in HC every year, I don’t care how IRFU do it but it has to happen, their manager mentioned before about taking young Leinster players on 1-2 year contract to get experience and then move back to Leinster, maybe that is the route to take....they seemingly done it in Oz before.....

Shefwedfan · 19-10-2019 7:22pm

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

That is the biggest take from today - that Sexto is done. Great servant to Irish rugby. Terrific at his best. But time waits for no man. It would be a good moment to retire from the international scene for him. Still have a role to play with Leinster for a couple of years, bring on the talent there, and still pick up a couple of medals.
Good night sweet prince.

Who will replace him? Harry Byrne is 2 years away from been a regular

Carbery is a 15
Ross Byrne seems to be out of contention
Carty is not good enough...

I don’t see anyone else knocking around In the next 2 years

bilston · 19-10-2019 7:24pm

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Connacht player bar Aki have really failed to make the step up, without playing regular HC they have an huge jump to make....just look at some of those player who have moved up to Leinster and failed at taking that step up

TOH etc are just not good enough, I would put Carty in same bracket after this WC....

Stander I would have in my team but at 6, POM I just have never seen why he gets the praise....it’s a huge loss with Heaslip sitting in stand today...

Ulster I don’t know, they have been a mess and again those players have failed to step up, Stockdale was brought in ASAP and Addison, Balacoune was too young

McCloskey was a favourite of mine but really who would you drop if current centres fro him? He is a significant step down from the 4 that flew over

Connacht need to play in HC every year, I don’t care how IRFU do it but it has to happen, their manager mentioned before about taking young Leinster players on 1-2 year contract to get experience and then move back to Leinster, maybe that is the route to take....they seemingly done it in Oz before.....

Your absolute arse McCloskey is a significant step down from the four centres who travelled.

He needs to get a shot. We need to see what he can do. He has a physicality that the others don't have, even Aki and Farrell.

Also Ulster were a mess 18 months ago, but they aren't now. Not that there is a queue of players demanding selection. But McCloskey and eventually Eric O'Sulluvan should be under consideration.

The Rape of Lucretia · 19-10-2019 7:25pm

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Connacht need to play in HC every year, I don’t care how IRFU do it but it has to happen, their manager mentioned before about taking young Leinster players on 1-2 year contract to get experience and then move back to Leinster, maybe that is the route to take....they seemingly done it in Oz before.....

I couldnt agree. We are better served by them playing in the second tier. We dont have enough players to usefully field 4 teams at that level. 3 is sufficient, and will do better for a concentration of resources rather than further dilution into Connacht. Connacht's role is as a back up, holding pattern, for players where there is a logjam at Leinster and better than possible prospects get useful regular game time at their level rather than being lost to foreign contracts.

RugbyLover123 · 19-10-2019 7:30pm

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Connacht need to play in HC every year, I don’t care how IRFU do it but it has to happen, their manager mentioned before about taking young Leinster players on 1-2 year contract to get experience and then move back to Leinster, maybe that is the route to take....they seemingly done it in Oz before.....

You’d have to imagine the interest from the Connacht neutral will deteriorate if the province essentially comes a nursing ground for young Leinster academy players to learn their trade before being brought back to Leinster.

Niallof9 · 19-10-2019 7:30pm

bilston wrote: »

Your absolute arse McCloskey is a significant step down from the four centres who travelled.

He needs to get a shot. We need to see what he can do. He has a physicality that the others don't have, even Aki and Farrell.

Also Ulster were a mess 18 months ago, but they aren't now. Not that there is a queue of players demanding selection. But McCloskey and eventually Eric O'Sulluvan should be under consideration.

Yeah but can we forgive him for that dropped offload v England? Joe obviously never did!

PhlegmyMoses · 19-10-2019 7:33pm

Do we think that there will be any surprise retirements from international? Would say a few of the older heads, beyond Best, will be considering their future. Have a sneaking suspicion that Healy might bow out earlier than most.

The Rape of Lucretia · 19-10-2019 7:35pm

PhlegmyMoses wrote: »

Do we think that there will be any surprise retirements from international? Would say a few of the older heads, beyond Best, will be considering their future. Have a sneaking suspicion that Healy might bow out earlier than most.

Sexto needs a word in his ear from the men in the smoke filled rooms.

baas baa · 19-10-2019 7:46pm

McCloskey ticks all the boxes of what you would want from a 12 but I've always felt there was some intangible missing from him for test rugby and I think Schmidt must've thought the same. I think we need a change of tack from the approach we have now though. Someone like Henshaw ticks all the boxes in terms of character you could want but I think the Lions tour showed him to be an ultimately limited rugby player. Maybe we need to back the players with the physical and technical tools to succeed and hope they grow into test rugby. There are a lot of players in this Irish side with limited skill levels for test rugby and though they've had fine careers when it comes to the pinnacle of the game like today they come up disastrously short.

PhlegmyMoses · 19-10-2019 7:47pm

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

Sexto needs a word in his ear from the men in the smoke filled rooms.

I would agree. His age and injury profile means he has to be wrapped in cotton wool unfortunately.

bilston · 19-10-2019 7:47pm

PhlegmyMoses wrote: »

Do we think that there will be any surprise retirements from international? Would say a few of the older heads, beyond Best, will be considering their future. Have a sneaking suspicion that Healy might bow out earlier than most.

Healy has been about a long time, he's still our best LH. But it's a position where I can see the logic in nurturing a younger option.

We'll see what happens. Ultimately the players will get a week or two off, then they'll go back and play European rugby and ultimately that's where we can start speculating on form players etc.

Who has started the season well at the four provinces? To be honest I haven't watched anyone other than Ulster so far, bar the last 20 mins of the Cheetahs v Munster game.

For Ulster, Billy Burns and Luke Marshall have started the season very well. What about the other provinces?

The Rape of Lucretia · 19-10-2019 7:51pm

PhlegmyMoses wrote: »

I would agree. His age and injury profile means he has to be wrapped in cotton wool unfortunately.

The almost unspeakable truth is that he just isnt really that good any more. Out limited player pool means we do tend to flog players to the bitter end, and are dazzled by the previous level, as if once great, always great. Stronger teams would have ditched him at this stage.

bilston · 19-10-2019 7:53pm

baas baa wrote: »

McCloskey ticks all the boxes of what you would want from a 12 but I've always felt there was some intangible missing from him for test rugby and I think Schmidt must've thought the same.

You might be right about McCloskey, but my point is, give him a run in the side. He hasn't really had a shot. Where do we tour next June? In my head I'm thinking Argentina. Wherever it is give someone like McCloskey three tests, give Ruddock a run of tests, maybe Tadgh Beirne, but that is the time to do it.

Sure we can stick with the tried and trusted while everyone else is experimenting and we might win a title and get a few big scalps, but come 2023 we will be in the same position we are now.

Joe tried his best to develop a squad, but again we all knew our starting XV weeks ago, bar maybe one centre position. If you look at England and NZ and you'd probably have some doubt about some positions on both teams week to week.

We have a deeper squad than we used to, but we've still some way to go.

bilston · 19-10-2019 7:56pm

It will be interesting to see who takes over as Captain.

O'Mahony will probably be favourite, but personally I'd have Ruddock in the side at the minute. Sexton has enough to worry about without being skipper. It might well be Ryan, unless there is a surprise option.

Of course if Ruddock plays he could be an option, but given he would always be looking over his shoulder it would be a risky call.

PhlegmyMoses · 19-10-2019 7:57pm

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

The almost unspeakable truth is that he just isnt really that good any more. Out limited player pool means we do tend to flog players to the bitter end, and are dazzled by the previous level, as if once great, always great. Stronger teams would have ditched him at this stage.

I don't blame Schmidt for not ditching him and Murrat at this WC. The whole build up was contingent on them having their form from last year, where they were top of the world in their positions. But 18 months between the GS and the WC is a long time for a man of Sexton's age and injury profile. The mind is willing but the body not so much

Ireland Team Talk XI: Team of nervoUS MOD warning Post 1

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