Ireland- Player ratings/Analysis/Thougthts

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Hi all,

Happy Sunday.
Watched the game back again and have been reading all the stuff on some of the other threads. And thought I'd give my 2c and all that jazz.

I want to say that I was really impressed with the team. Considering how many players we were missing I think it was a great effort, in a way I think we deserved to win, but well done to Scotland who had more ball.

Court: 6.5
Played quite well, scrum held up better than I expected it too. He was in there for a few turn overs and I saw him holding a lot of Scots in the tackle. He didn't do much carrying but whenever he was involved in a turnover he shifted the ball well and cleverly.
Cronin: 4
I think this was a huge chance which he blew. He fell off a few tackles, he got stripped of the ball a few times. Didn't carry well or run those great support lines he can run. Lineout was ok, as was scrum. But was disappointed with him.
Buckley: 5.5
Didn't carry that much or effectively. Didn't show the slick offloading that he can showcase. Was good in the wrap up tackles due to his strength and could see he was a good lifter in the lineout too.
Cullen: 6.5
Varied the lineout calls really well IMO. Did a lot of donkey work and defended well too. Hardly touched the ball in attack but that is testement to how much he was doing in the trenches.
Ryan: 6
Good in the trenches with Cullen. Hardly ran the ball either though, would have liked to have seen more of him here. Felt he was solid and did what he did well but was hoping for more.
McCarthy:6
Did well enough. Bought in to the defensive structure well and it suited him. Carried more than other forwards. Really enjoyed watching him play. Good hands on turnovers too. Good in the air when called upon too. Showed his versatility too.
Ronan: 4.5
Showed good hands at times but passed before contact too often. Didn't link like a natural 7. Was anonymous for most of the game. Wasn't that evident in defence either. Awful kick on turnover.
Leamy: 7
Great showing in defence managing to lift attackers off the ground and hold them there. Should have taken on more carrying himself. Discipline was good. Did quite well in the rucks also. Did well off a few messy scrums also.
O'Leary: 4.5
His passing was still a bit laboured at times and took a while getting the ball out of the rucks on occassions. His defence wasn't as good as it should have been either, big missed tackles on Lamont and Beattie. Some very good box kicks some not so good ones. Passing from offloads was surprisingly poor.
Sexton: 6.5
Didn't have much ball what he did have he used well. He distributed well and made good decisions. 2 poor kicks to touch however. Great defence and led the defensive line well. Made one or two nice breaks to offload to support runners. Kicked from floor well too
Fitzgerald: 7
Looked like a livewire with ball in hand. Showed good feet and hands at times. Did kick the ball too often though without a doubt, some were very clever some not so much. Good defence and good rucking too to disrupt and win Scottish ball.
Wallace: 6.5
Held against Morrision well. Didn't let him break the line and stopped offloads too. Used his feet well off scrums and lineouts but rarely made breaks except off a Sexton offload. Great hands to release the wings on a number of occasions. Kicked well too (at times)
McFadden: 5
Disappointed in him. Made a lot of tackles and did well in defence but shot out of the line twice and was punished with a linebreak and a try. Didn't really offer anything in attack, didn't have much ball but should have offered more. Knocked on too many times.
Trimble: 6.5
Made a few good breaks and found O'Leary and Fitzgerald with good offloads. Think he could have been more physical in defence after his first 10mins. Good in the air from kicks. Ran well and hard too but didn't get enough ball and maybe should have come off his wing looking for more.
Kearney: 8
Not one of his biggest fans but was very impressive. Chased kicks excellently. Joined the line well. Showed good hands and feet in drawing players and passing. Should have scored a try on his return. Claimed high balls well. Defended well too. Very good performance.

Subs:
Boss upped the tempo when he came on and got forwards running onto the ball rather than taking it static. McLaughlin was exceptionally physical when he came on too and really showcased what he can bring to the team. Horan, Hayes, Fla and MOD didn't really add much.

Notes:
Defence was excellent that strategy worked so well. The Scottish rarely got quick ball and we caused a lot of turnovers. On these turnovers we generally did quite well getting it to wingers or other backs who pushed the ball behind the Scots or made ground up the flanks. We didn't go through enough phases however.
The pack and TOL in conjuction didn't win enough quick ball and we rarely were going forwards. There weren't enough players in the pack who were able to put the head down and make serious yards and get the ball back quickly. Sexton tried a lot to get guys outside him working and to some success and managed to get the back 3 into some space. We could have done with McFadden crashing it up more effectively and Wallace making a few more yards with his feet.
Out lineout wasn't that bad either, we competed on their throw and won some of their ball at times. On our throw we did ok, but what few set plays we used off off the top ball were quite ineffectual. Scrums were ok but no more. Two early engagements in a row were a bit silly. But considering it was a first choice Scottish pack against our make shift pack I thought we did pretty well.

Main positives

a) Kearney and to a less extent Fitzgerald and Ryan
b) Excellent defence
c) Winning turnovers

Main negatives

a) No phase play
b) Very little forward momentum
c) Very little creativity ( a handfull of moments aside)

What are your thoughts?

I think this match should be used for more experimentation. I think the next French game we need to start consolodating our first choice team somewhat and then total 1st choice against England.

Not sure i'd want to see Kearney being the one to crash up he takes quite a while to get the bacll back on most contact situations

valjester wrote:Which is a load of crap, the last few times Ireland have played scotland darcy has struggled. Morrison is a poor player but darcy has found it difficult to deal with him the last number of times they have met for country and club.

It's never picked up on though. It's never mentioned in the media.

Sin é wrote:
Morrison bumped/pushed PW out of the way for their try.

The centres were seen as a weak link defensively.

No he didn't. He obstructed him without the ball.

The two centres weren't a weak link though so the scots got that one wrong didn't they.

Wallace tackles looked as solid as anything BOD or D'arcy has put in, holding his man up and preventing the quick ball as part of the strategy. It was an outstanding defensive display.

For contrast the Scots got 4 times as many metres through the 12 channel against D'arcy in March as they did against Wallace on saturday so his tackling can't be that weak.

roddersm wrote:

Sin é wrote:
Morrison bumped/pushed PW out of the way for their try.

The centres were seen as a weak link defensively.

No he didn't. He obstructed him without the ball.

The two centres weren't a weak link though so the scots got that one wrong didn't they.

Wallace tackles looked as solid as anything BOD or D'arcy has put in, holding his man up and preventing the quick ball as part of the strategy. It was an outstanding defensive display.

For contrast the Scots got 4 times as many metres through the 12 channel against D'arcy in March as they did against Wallace on saturday so his tackling can't be that weak.

Besides the try, the centres were good defensively. And even after the mistake by mcfadden the try could have still been prevented if kearney at trusted the men inside to make the tackle instead of rushing in from his wing.

valjester wrote:

Sin é wrote:

roddersm wrote:

MBTGOG wrote:Not talking about Lenihan or Wood. You said he made his tackles all day. He didn't which is false like what you are saying Lenihan and Wood were saying.

Munsty he did make his tackles all day. 13 of them which was more than any backrower and 9 more than Buckley.

What wood and Lenihan has suggested was that Wallace was the weak link in defence which is obviously not true because along with McFadden he was top tackler.

If you also consider that Morrison, who apparantly kept bumping wallace off only made 24 metres, which is the least out of any scottish outside back, it certainly tells you that Wallace not only wasn't the weakest link but the most solid defensively in our side.

Morrison bumped/pushed PW out of the way for their try.

The centres were seen as a weak link defensively. Strangely enough, the Scottish are going to try and avoid Buckley's channel, particularly if there is an easier option going.

What Lenihan is getting at is that the Scots would feel a tackle from D'Arcy / BOD. Its not the number of tackles Wallace made, its how it made them. O'Gara (who also gets targetted) nearly always makes his tackles, yet he gets criticised for his poor defence.

Which is a load of crap, the last few times Ireland have played scotland darcy has struggled. Morrison is a poor player but darcy has found it difficult to deal with him the last number of times they have met for country and club.

Two months ago, D'Arcy/Eoin O'Malley played against Glasgow (& Morrison). Leinster won 38 - 3. D'Arcy scored a try. Thats some struggling!

Notch wrote:The wave of hype behind McFadden is astonishing. I'm not siding with those writing him off entirely, but come on... he was hardly the big story man of the match. And again this 'bumped off' thing. Wallace did very well in defence implementing the gang tackle where you deliberately go high and try to hold the ball carrier up.

I honestly would say there was very little in terms of performance between the two centres; Wallace was the more influential, but he also saw more ball. It is crazy some people are writing one off at the expense of the other.

It really baffles me why the Irish sporting press is always pushing agendas rather than commenting in an unbiased fashion. Or at the very least, pundits write their preconceptions and not what they actually see.

Its all about selling advertising and whether we like it or not, the Hook/Francis/Lenihan's of the Irish press use the same old tired sensationalism to create buzz and profile for themselves. And as much as everyone here moans about the tripe that they come out with, we all read their articles so we can quote how wrong they are getting it. A vicious cycle, reminds me the stats back in his pomp of Howard Stern's listeners, that his fans listened an average of 45 mins but those who claimed not to be his fans listened on average 10 mins longer than that, out of shock/outrage/intrigue.

thebandwagonsociety wrote:

Notch wrote:The wave of hype behind McFadden is astonishing. I'm not siding with those writing him off entirely, but come on... he was hardly the big story man of the match. And again this 'bumped off' thing. Wallace did very well in defence implementing the gang tackle where you deliberately go high and try to hold the ball carrier up.

I honestly would say there was very little in terms of performance between the two centres; Wallace was the more influential, but he also saw more ball. It is crazy some people are writing one off at the expense of the other.

It really baffles me why the Irish sporting press is always pushing agendas rather than commenting in an unbiased fashion. Or at the very least, pundits write their preconceptions and not what they actually see.

Its all about selling advertising and whether we like it or not, the Hook/Francis/Lenihan's of the Irish press use the same old tired sensationalism to create buzz and profile for themselves. And as much as everyone here moans about the tripe that they come out with, we all read their articles so we can quote how wrong they are getting it. A vicious cycle, reminds me the stats back in his pomp of Howard Stern's listeners, that his fans listened an average of 45 mins but those who claimed not to be his fans listened on average 10 mins longer than that, out of shock/outrage/intrigue.

Just reading this back to myself, you can replace references to journalists with 'WUMs on v2' (and buzz with attention) and the statement is just as applicable.

Sin é wrote:
Two months ago, D'Arcy/Eoin O'Malley played against Glasgow (& Morrison). Leinster won 38 - 3. D'Arcy scored a try. Thats some struggling!

I really can't believe you actually wrote that.

Val I agree. Even taking McFadden's mistake for the try into account both centres were excellent in defence, so to single out either,especially Wallace, as a weak link in defence is just beyond stupid.

roddersm wrote:

Sin é wrote:
Morrison bumped/pushed PW out of the way for their try.

The centres were seen as a weak link defensively.

No he didn't. He obstructed him without the ball.

The two centres weren't a weak link though so the scots got that one wrong didn't they.

Wallace tackles looked as solid as anything BOD or D'arcy has put in, holding his man up and preventing the quick ball as part of the strategy. It was an outstanding defensive display.

For contrast the Scots got 4 times as many metres through the 12 channel against D'arcy in March as they did against Wallace on saturday so his tackling can't be that weak.

He was bullied off the ball. And they did get through the centres to score a try.

de luca & Lamont were the centres in March.

By the way, ROG put in 9 tackles against Scotland and didn't miss any on that day. Does that make him a better defender than Wallace now as he didn't miss any?

Sin é wrote:

He was bullied off the ball. And they did get through the centres to score a try.

de luca & Lamont were the centres in March.

By the way, ROG put in 9 tackles against Scotland and didn't miss any on that day. Does that make him a better defender than Wallace now as he didn't miss any?

Would you like to take us though your analysis on the try and how Wallace got bullied of the ball?

Yes they were. Does that mean we don't have to tackle De Luca and Lamont too?

Sin everyone know ROG is the worlds best defender.

Wallace got obstructed illegally off the ball, does that count as being 'bumped off a tackle' as otherwise Wallace would have been tackling Morrison without the ball? So does not tackling players who don't have the ball signify poor defending

There were quite a few others who were obstructed including Leamy (who cried to the officials in vain). Did Lenihan mention any of these as being indicative of their poor defence?

Your centre berth should be the last area of concern. I would be more worried about your pack. In every facet of the game your pack was out muscled and outclassed.

Lets just say for instance POC or DOC gets injured, Cullen is ok cover but little more. He does not even hold a candle to what POC brings to the table.

As for your backrow this is an area that is paper thin IMO. Ferris' fitness must be having Kidney sweating.

Interestingly the only people who are really supporting Paddy Wallace are from Ulster. What does that say I wonder.

P.S. only joking Ulster boys

Radge - I agree with your take on the pack. Getting Flannery, Leamy, Cullen and any of our backup props up to the level we need has to be a priority.

red_stag wrote:Interestingly the only people who are really supporting Paddy Wallace are from Ulster. What does that say I wonder.

The person who does the ESPN stats must be from Ulster too then stag .....

thebandwagonsociety wrote:

Notch wrote:The wave of hype behind McFadden is astonishing. I'm not siding with those writing him off entirely, but come on... he was hardly the big story man of the match. And again this 'bumped off' thing. Wallace did very well in defence implementing the gang tackle where you deliberately go high and try to hold the ball carrier up.

I honestly would say there was very little in terms of performance between the two centres; Wallace was the more influential, but he also saw more ball. It is crazy some people are writing one off at the expense of the other.

It really baffles me why the Irish sporting press is always pushing agendas rather than commenting in an unbiased fashion. Or at the very least, pundits write their preconceptions and not what they actually see.

Its all about selling advertising and whether we like it or not, the Hook/Francis/Lenihan's of the Irish press use the same old tired sensationalism to create buzz and profile for themselves. And as much as everyone here moans about the tripe that they come out with, we all read their articles so we can quote how wrong they are getting it. A vicious cycle, reminds me the stats back in his pomp of Howard Stern's listeners, that his fans listened an average of 45 mins but those who claimed not to be his fans listened on average 10 mins longer than that, out of shock/outrage/intrigue.

Whatever about Hook & Francis - I really don't think Lenihan tries to sensationalise just to create a buzz.

Your back row too is a little light. 1st choice 6,7,8 is a match for any team in the world, it's who comes into fill those shoes in the case of injury or even as a substitute that will have Kidney wondering.

Irerland's defence was stuborn on Saturday and in truth I feel you should have got more out of the game than Scotland did. As I have said on other threads the inability to break down that Irish team is a massive concern for me as a Scotland fan, but Ireland fans should take heart from a fantastic defensive effort.

As I said the way you guys are going on about the centre berth is like bald men fighting over a comb. You have much greater problems at 1-8 than you do at 9-15.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:
As for your backrow this is an area that is paper thin IMO. Ferris' fitness must be having Kidney sweating.

I wouldn't worry about the backrow Radge. I think kidney just wanted to assess a few fringe guys. McCarthy and Ronin would be well down the pecking order normally. There's plenty of depth there even without Ferris.

I think even if Darcy goes to the RWC Wallace should be first choice 12, I think the Sexton-Wallace combo has the potential to be fantastic with quick, go forward ball.

Sin é wrote:
Whatever about Hook & Francis - I really don't think Lenihan tries to sensationalise just to create a buzz.

Regardless of his motives he's still talking complete bollix.

RS
I'm supporting Paddy in this because I want to see him at the RWC. That's because it would take him neatly out of the way for a couple of months, as Ulster have far better footballing options in the centre

roddersm wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:
As for your backrow this is an area that is paper thin IMO. Ferris' fitness must be having Kidney sweating.

I wouldn't worry about the backrow Radge. I think kidney just wanted to assess a few fringe guys. McCarthy and Ronin would be well down the pecking order normally. There's plenty of depth there even without Ferris.

This could be me being ignorant and if this is the case I apologise, outside of Ferris, Heaslip, SOB and Wallace who else would you say would offer you depth in terms of relative ability to the 4 I named previously. Perhaps it is because the 4 Irish backrowers are so strong they make their replacements seem weaker, but I may be wrong. However I would say losing Ferris to injury would make you guys a wee bit short in that area, and almost certainly a scenario you would prefer to avoid.

The Great Aukster wrote:Wallace got obstructed illegally off the ball, does that count as being 'bumped off a tackle' as otherwise Wallace would have been tackling Morrison without the ball? So does not tackling players who don't have the ball signify poor defending

There were quite a few others who were obstructed including Leamy (who cried to the officials in vain). Did Lenihan mention any of these as being indicative of their poor defence?

It was the way he was shrugged off the ball (i.e., bullied).

Anyone going to address my point about O'Gara not missing any tackles, yet is considered to be a poor defender?

Maybe no one is talking about Leamy's poor defence because he more than likely won't be starting against Australia. With D'Arcy's injury, Paddy Wallace might be.

The Great Aukster wrote:RS
I'm supporting Paddy in this because I want to see him at the RWC. That's because it would take him neatly out of the way for a couple of months, as Ulster have far better footballing options in the centre

+ 1

Radge, i would say the backrow is the area of most strenght. Considering, Heaslip, O'Brien, Wallace and Ferris weren't in the 22.

roddersm wrote:

Sin é wrote:
Whatever about Hook & Francis - I really don't think Lenihan tries to sensationalise just to create a buzz.

Regardless of his motives he's still talking complete bollix.

Even about Andrew Trimble ?

By way of contrast, Ireland seemed far more assured and composed in attack with Trimble and Luke Fitzgerald both looking sharp in possession

Read more: http://www.examiner.ie/sport/rugby/time-is-not-on-kidneys-side-163549.html#ixzz1URn27DF7

red_stag wrote:Interestingly the only people who are really supporting Paddy Wallace are from Ulster. What does that say I wonder.

It would say that non-ulster folks are biased because he's ulster. Did you really need someone to explain that Stag?

Sin é wrote:

roddersm wrote:

Sin é wrote:
Whatever about Hook & Francis - I really don't think Lenihan tries to sensationalise just to create a buzz.

Regardless of his motives he's still talking complete bollix.

Even about Andrew Trimble ?

By way of contrast, Ireland seemed far more assured and composed in attack with Trimble and Luke Fitzgerald both looking sharp in possession

Read more: http://www.examiner.ie/sport/rugby/time-is-not-on-kidneys-side-163549.html#ixzz1URn27DF7

Sin, Rodders problem is with bias towards paddy, why would we have any interest in what he says about Trimble? Are you sugesting hes province bias? cos we arnt. We just suggesting that a lot of folks just like to hate people. some even on these boards.

Clive IMMEDIATELY after posting that I posted another comment which said it was a joke. Believe it or not I actually think Wallace is alright. I won't quake in fear if he's starting against Australia.

Mickado wrote:Radge, i would say the backrow is the area of most strenght. Considering, Heaslip, O'Brien, Wallace and Ferris weren't in the 22.

Nah, i know what you mean man, but I don't think I'm putting my point across well enough. I think your centre berths in terms of ability (both in attack and defending) are a much better all round unit (regardless of combination) than your backrow. As I said I reckon your backrow is strong with the 4 players you mentioned, but outside that 4 there is a bigger gulf in class and skill than there is between D'Arcy and Wallace.

BOD I leave out because to be honest he is IMO the best outside centre in world rugby. Even McFadden though could come in and do a good enough job in his absence. I'm not sure if you have any international class backrow players outside Heaslip, O'Brien, Wallace and Ferris. Wallace is not getting any younger either.....

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:
This could be me being ignorant and if this is the case I apologise, outside of Ferris, Heaslip, SOB and Wallace who else would you say would offer you depth in terms of relative ability to the 4 I named previously. Perhaps it is because the 4 Irish backrowers are so strong they make their replacements seem weaker, but I may be wrong. However I would say losing Ferris to injury would make you guys a wee bit short in that area, and almost certainly a scenario you would prefer to avoid.

Radge you're probably right about the top 4 making the others seem weaker but I'd imagine the backrow pecking order would be something like Heaslip, SOB, Wallace and Ferris followed by Leamy and Jennings.

McGlaughan (who came on as a sub) and Chris Henry have both been capped afew times then there's Rhys Ruddock coming through and Coughlan whos had a good season at Munster at no 8. Willie Faloon is one to look out for at 7 too.

I don't think it's an area of concern for us and I wouldn't see Ronin or McCarthy needing to be called on any time soon.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:As I said the way you guys are going on about the centre berth is like bald men fighting over a comb. You have much greater problems at 1-8 than you do at 9-15.

Yes, thank you. I'm particularly amazed that in a game where our defeat was because we didn't get our pack going forward we discuss only the centres.

Sin é wrote:

roddersm wrote:

Sin é wrote:
Whatever about Hook & Francis - I really don't think Lenihan tries to sensationalise just to create a buzz.

Regardless of his motives he's still talking complete bollix.

Even about Andrew Trimble ?

Whats Trimble got to do with it? I actually didn't think Trimble was that great on Saturday but hey maybe I hate Ulster too .

red_stag wrote:Clive IMMEDIATELY after posting that I posted another comment which said it was a joke. Believe it or not I actually think Wallace is alright. I won't quake in fear if he's starting against Australia.

Joke or not, its a sentiment thats clearly in your thought, and I'll quite happily admit that a sentiment in my thoughts is that part of the lack of support for paddy across teh country stems from his origins in ulster. Which to be honest is hurtful when we up here support and want the best for the team as anyone else does!

There has (to my knowledge) never been such dismissal of a player as with Paddy apart from maybe Geordan Murphy.



And he plays his rugby in Britain too...

roddersm wrote:

Sin é wrote:
Two months ago, D'Arcy/Eoin O'Malley played against Glasgow (& Morrison). Leinster won 38 - 3. D'Arcy scored a try. Thats some struggling!

I really can't believe you actually wrote that.

Val I agree. Even taking McFadden's mistake for the try into account both centres were excellent in defence, so to single out either,especially Wallace, as a weak link in defence is just beyond stupid.

Val made the claim that D'Arcy struggled against Morrison recently (both internationally & for Leinster). Well, despite his poor form, he hasn't struggled this year.

clivemcl wrote:

red_stag wrote:Clive IMMEDIATELY after posting that I posted another comment which said it was a joke. Believe it or not I actually think Wallace is alright. I won't quake in fear if he's starting against Australia.

Joke or not, its a sentiment thats clearly in your thought,

Clive are you deaf? I DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PADDY WALLACE. I THOUGHT HE DID GOOD AND IS TARGETTED AS A SCAPEGOAT!!!

Notch wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:As I said the way you guys are going on about the centre berth is like bald men fighting over a comb. You have much greater problems at 1-8 than you do at 9-15.

Yes, thank you. I'm particularly amazed that in a game where our defeat was because we didn't get our pack going forward we discuss only the centres.

I think Notch gets what I mean. When your backs were attacking our backs you looked threatening, like wise when our backs were having a go you looked composed and forced a good few turnovers.

Contrast that to the forwards, your set piece was mullered and you were soundly beaten in the breakdown. Couple that to the fact that had it been a "competative" match and not a warm up I reckon Ireland would have faced a lot more penalties due to the skullduggery and possibly a sin binning. Your forwards were not only geting battered they were sailing very close to the wind collapsing line out mauls and tacklers kicking the ball away when on the deck......

I know it's only cheating if you get caught but still

This argument is getting bizarre. Really bizarre guys.

Sin é wrote:Val made the claim that D'Arcy struggled against Morrison recently (both internationally & for Leinster). Well, despite his poor form, he hasn't struggled this year.

With due respect to Glasgow Sin, I would say the odds were stacked in D'arcy's favour for that one so I don't think it's really a relevent point.

red_stag wrote:

clivemcl wrote:

red_stag wrote:Clive IMMEDIATELY after posting that I posted another comment which said it was a joke. Believe it or not I actually think Wallace is alright. I won't quake in fear if he's starting against Australia.

Joke or not, its a sentiment thats clearly in your thought,

Clive are you deaf? I DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PADDY WALLACE. I THOUGHT HE DID GOOD AND IS TARGETTED AS A SCAPEGOAT!!!

So what you're saying is you don't like Paddy because he is an Ulsterman? Seems unfair.

You guys have a talent. A talent to talk ad nausuem about something relatively small. But it is a talent. I wouldn't tell anyone about it though.

Sin é wrote:

roddersm wrote:

Sin é wrote:
Two months ago, D'Arcy/Eoin O'Malley played against Glasgow (& Morrison). Leinster won 38 - 3. D'Arcy scored a try. Thats some struggling!

I really can't believe you actually wrote that.

Val I agree. Even taking McFadden's mistake for the try into account both centres were excellent in defence, so to single out either,especially Wallace, as a weak link in defence is just beyond stupid.

Val made the claim that D'Arcy struggled against Morrison recently (both internationally & for Leinster). Well, despite his poor form, he hasn't struggled this year.

Yes he has. Look at the matches and you will see that he does.

Also why can people not spell McLaughlin's name properly. Its not the hardest name in the world to get right.

[quote="red_stag"]

clivemcl wrote:
Clive are you deaf? I DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PADDY WALLACE. I THOUGHT HE
DID GOOD AND IS TARGETTED AS A SCAPEGOAT!!!

Right stag I'm keeping that as my footer .

Now if I can just get Sin to admit the same then I'll frame it and put it above my toilet....

Hahaha the title of this article goes Ratings/Analysis/Thoughts and it has literally progressed that way people giving their ratings and explanations, then a bit of analysis on what was good and bad and some stats and now it is just a series of random thoughts!!!! The circle is comlete! haha

red_stag wrote:

clivemcl wrote:

red_stag wrote:Clive IMMEDIATELY after posting that I posted another comment which said it was a joke. Believe it or not I actually think Wallace is alright. I won't quake in fear if he's starting against Australia.

Joke or not, its a sentiment thats clearly in your thought,

Clive are you deaf? I DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PADDY WALLACE. I THOUGHT HE DID GOOD AND IS TARGETTED AS A SCAPEGOAT!!!

Sorry Stag, I know you said it jokingly, my response was directed more towards those whom I believe actually are provincially biased especially towards the north. I prefer you to most, if that helps any?

valjester wrote:
Also why can people not spell McLaughlin's name properly. Its not the hardest name in the world to get right.

To be fair I think it's just me. I need to buy the match day programs more often...

roddersm wrote:

Sin é wrote:Val made the claim that D'Arcy struggled against Morrison recently (both internationally & for Leinster). Well, despite his poor form, he hasn't struggled this year.

With due respect to Glasgow Sin, I would say the odds were stacked in D'arcy's favour for that one so I don't think it's really a relevent point.

Val seemed to think his club record was poor against Glasgow. Leinster lost away to Glasgow last season. D'Arcy wasn't playing.

roddersm wrote:

valjester wrote:
Also why can people not spell McLaughlin's name properly. Its not the hardest name in the world to get right.

To be fair I think it's just me. I need to buy the match day programs more often...

Its not just you I see it everywhere, it also happens with Paddy McAllister being spelt as MacCallister.

Sin é wrote:

roddersm wrote:

Sin é wrote:Val made the claim that D'Arcy struggled against Morrison recently (both internationally & for Leinster). Well, despite his poor form, he hasn't struggled this year.

With due respect to Glasgow Sin, I would say the odds were stacked in D'arcy's favour for that one so I don't think it's really a relevent point.

Val seemed to think his club record was poor against Glasgow. Leinster lost away to Glasgow last season. D'Arcy wasn't playing.

I'm not talking about his record against glasgow. I'm talking about darcy having difficulty coping defensively with morrison. This does not mean that Ireland or leinster have lost these games or that darcy hasn't had a good game outside of his issues with morrison.