Fired up Ireland ready to throw off the Shackles

First topic message reminder :

So, we were holding back. Saving it for NZ. Not declaring our full hand. Like the Saffers. Hmmmmm. I hope so. It would make some sense.
Got to love Donnacha. It's hard not to.

"Even this morning, he (Kidney) was geared around getting results. People might say that's boring enough, but it's the little things that might lead to three points. Good drills as well, new ideas, and it's good that we've got here now and they've opened the bag a bit more. There's new plans, there's new line-outs, new moves, we haven't changed calls, just expanded them a bit."

"I didn't know at the time, but we were a little bit restricted in the warm-up games because they didn't want to show their hand. So now it's about getting up to speed for ourselves and then concentrating on America, which will be massive," added O'Callaghan.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/world-cup/firedup-ireland-ready-to-remove-shackles-2866556.html

With players who have won multiple HC's, a SLAM and who represented the Lions... ROG, POC, DOC, BOD, Sexton, Heaslip, Flannery, Cullen, SOB, Kearney, Bowe, Reddan et al - we have the nucleus of a winning 22. Players who know how to win and close out huge games in the HC. This combined experience and nous, must be brought to bear. Those players must take this responsibility. Its not just the coaching staff.

O' Driscoll, O'' Connell and O'Gara, are not going to leave anything behind them in this one. If they perform and lead - and they will - the rest will follow. That is the biggest positive I can take going into it.

Do we Believe? Phooking right we do. No more negativity. Your Country Needs You.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYHlttt--tY

Foight foire wid foire I say!

Show 'em how it's done. That should be the Game Plan.

Linebreaker wrote:I tipped them by 26, Gibbo. I have the faith in your lads it seems.

About the 9/11 tragedy. You guys should never forget this: at least 1/5 (or a heck of a lot of?) of Manhattan was built by you guys... and many of your ancestoral people died that day too. You are inseparable from 9/11. You share the same emotions as the US does!

(hope I'm not out of line there... but you know what I'm trying to say here?)

Thats actually very true Breaker. Most of the firemen who died that day had Irish names. Italian too. Police are run by Irish/Italian Mafias also.Its a Noo Yawk thing.

Personally, Irish-Americans give me the shhits. Bless em.

Know how you feel Gibbo. In Germany a guy playing for an American rugby team over there told me he was Irish. Neither he nor his parents had ever been to Ireland before however

Gibbo,
I can understand - but thanks for posting. Was worried I'd cleared the decks with that comment. Just trying to say Ireland should be spurred on as well.

You're wise enough to know what I mean about the 'show 'em how it's done' comment too. Rather than all this splitting hairs over who should play where and when against whom... just pick the best bloody side and let 'em rip!

Some might argue the science of it all but time for that is over now. Performance on the day as you've mentioned here and elsewhere. Green Blitz!

I totally agree with you. Performance is everything - the win will come anyway if/when we click. And play like demented looneys on a Mission.

This is the RWC. NO prisoners.

One thing´s for sure, expect support in New Zealand that will border on home support, difficult though that might be, especially against Australia. There´ll be plenty of support for any game that might feature Ireland against Australia or South Africa. That might have more to do with the rivalry between the latter two and NZ but rest assured Ireland are a popular team around the world much like Irish pubs. As I live in Madrid, I couldn´t watch my beloved All Blacks without Irish pubs so you have my wholehearted support.

My head says Australia but my umpteenth pint of Guiness says Ireland. By all means chase that pot of gold all the way to the... semi finals.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:
My head says Australia but my umpteenth pint of Guiness says Ireland. By all means chase that pot of gold all the way to the... semi finals.

Gee thanks I'll be supporting New Zealand all the way.... to the semi finals too!

roddersm wrote:

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:
My head says Australia but my umpteenth pint of Guiness says Ireland. By all means chase that pot of gold all the way to the... semi finals.

Gee thanks I'll be supporting New Zealand all the way.... to the semi finals too!

Cheers mate. We´ll take it from there but be sure to give your boys the heads up on the best places for sightseeing.

Nice buzz from the Kiwis, Saffers and Aussies.

Thanks lads. Have a great tournament.

Now Bring it ON! Cant wait for Friday morn. Im like a kid just before Christmas.

Gibson wrote:Nice buzz from the Kiwis, Saffers and Aussies.

Thanks lads. Have a great tournament.

Now Bring it ON! Cant wait for Friday morn. Im like a kid just before Christmas.

So you´re asleep? Good thinking. These early wake ups are going to be killers. Best get some shut eye before the big event. From September my blood is going to be a mixture of Red Bull and beer and other assorted spirit drinks.

Gibson wrote:Nice buzz from the Kiwis, Saffers and Aussies.

Thanks lads. Have a great tournament.

Now Bring it ON! Cant wait for Friday morn. Im like a kid just before Christmas.

I wish I was. I feel like a 6 year old with ADHD at 9 o clock on easter Sunday after boshing all his easter eggs and a 2 liter of club orange.

Gibbo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkMVscR5YOo

Fur both Ireland and the ABs?

Plan of action for my house on Sunday is Sky+, up around nine to watch match and fry up. Phone off, no internet (i.e. no finding out the score).

Now or never an interesting question Portnoy. Do you see a bad World Cup having long term knock on effects for IRL and NZ.

I see it having short term effects in NZ. Like rioting in the streets, the rise in sales of Prozac, the embracing of minority sports like model air plane throwing that don´t have media coverage. But rugby is too important in both Ireland and NZ to have long term effects. So long as Irish clubs continue to do well in Europe and NZ keeps peaking between World Cups...

Portnoy wrote:Gibbo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkMVscR5YOo

Fur both Ireland and the ABs?

Thanks mate. Love it. Tiger

Cant see past an AB v Oz Final. Although South Africa, France, Wales and England may have something to say about that.

And US of course.

Believe!

The problem with the warm ups is that Kidney sacrificed a winning mentality for match fitness, instead of putting the team best suited to win he put out a team that wasn't 100% and it showed. A balance should have been struck wereby they went for points and as the game wore on those that needed game time got it

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:I see it having short term effects in NZ. Like rioting in the streets, the rise in sales of Prozac, the embracing of minority sports like model air plane throwing that don´t have media coverage. But rugby is too important in both Ireland and NZ to have long term effects. So long as Irish clubs continue to do well in Europe and NZ keeps peaking between World Cups...

Brilliant!

red_stag wrote:Now or never an interesting question Portnoy. Do you see a bad World Cup having long term knock on effects for IRL and NZ.

I only ask that because if NZ fail at home this time they might forever put a mighty hex on themselves.

And Ireland need to take advantage of the last of a golden generation. That mix of talent won't automatically reproduce itself.

I'd love it to be the final.

I like Sean O'Briens attitude;

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2011/0907/1224303656717.html

Seán O’Brien has vowed to continue flattening opponents at the World Cup, declaring: “If there’s no hole, I’ll make one.”

However the same article goes on to suggest that Buckley will start ahead of Court at loosehead because of Courts versatility. That would be very Irish rugby

Do you really believe this "last of a golden generation" thing.

From our World Cup squad we have.

Cian Healy 23
Rory Best 29
Donnacha Ryan 27
Stephen Ferris 27
Jamie Heaslip 27
Sean O'Brien 24
Conor Murray 22
Jonathon Sexton 26
Andrew Trimble 26
Keith Earls 23
Tommy Bowe 27
Rob Keaney 25

And guys who are 30-31 have another few years yet.

We'll see Staggy.

We'll see.

I love the belief though.

Although BOD and POC any any computer jargon in the Ireland team are special players, I don´t believe this golden generation myth either Red Stag. But I fully embrace the Ireland vs NZ final!!

Portnoy wrote:
I'd love it to be the final.

Ha ha no you wouldn't ...

I like O'Briens attitude too Notch and if he keeps backing it up on the pitch he can be as bullish as he likes.

A poor WC for Ireland might see the end of DK and see us pick up a couple more GS's but if DK can take us to the SF and beyond then I suppose I could live with his strange discisions and incoherent babbling for another while yet.

In Deccie we Trust!!

Portnoy apart from BOD and POC who are you worried we won't replace.

I suppose I better have my tuppence worth: -

A fired up USA will not beat Ireland. Not on Sunday, not any day. Banana skins are exactly what it says on the tin - banana skins, used to protect the lovely fruit inside.

Ireland players all have a winning mentality. Any other way and they just wouldn't be professional rugby players.

There are too many in the squad who need to extinguish the memories of 2007. That WILL happen. There will be no slip-ups against the "smaller" Nations. We will succeed.

Declan Kidney is a Cute Hoor. He knows what he is doing. He has this sorted. He will come through for us.

Right now is that positive enough? Bring it on!1

Oh and where are those false nails of mine?

red_stag wrote:Portnoy apart from BOD and POC who are you worried we won't replace.

POC 31 he'll be around for the next world cup too

Up until recently I would have disagreed Caoimhin - however the long period he had out of the game could see him last another while yet. I'd be surprised if he was still playing for us at 35 though.

You were false nails? Get out of town.

Don't underestimate the US. 10th anniversary of 9/11 and all that. Still think it's us by 15 though.

red_stag wrote:Up until recently I would have disagreed Caoimhin - however the long period he had out of the game could see him last another while yet. I'd be surprised if he was still playing for us at 35 though.

As long as he doesn't get injuried and can keep his lightening pace he'll be there.

red_stag wrote:Portnoy apart from BOD and POC who are you worried we won't replace.

Only a complete cohesive team. You're too young to understand.

Really I think 2007 was the so-called 'Golden Generations' missed chance Portnoys. Not now. Too many of that generation are past their peak as players or retired. Hayes, O'Callaghan, D'Arcy, David Wallace, Stringer, Hickie, Horgan, Flannery and Dempsey were all part of that as well as O'Driscoll, O'Connell and O'Gara.

Now it's the best of the old with a new generation of players in 2011. Yes, O'Connell, O'Gara and O'Driscoll will be missed but there are other guys who are coming through and will be there in 2015. Our squad is a mix of the old and the new.

red_stag wrote:Portnoy apart from BOD and POC who are you worried we won't replace.

I think in Nevin Spence we could have a replacement for BOD hes not at the level BOD was at the same age but hes powerful runs some great lines and is getting the game time to develop. If he had been fit in the run up I think he would have slipped into the squad

Portnoy wrote:

red_stag wrote:Portnoy apart from BOD and POC who are you worried we won't replace.

Only a complete cohesive team. You're too young to understand.

What a condescending answer

caoimhincentre wrote:

red_stag wrote:Portnoy apart from BOD and POC who are you worried we won't replace.

POC 31 he'll be around for the next world cup too

Well I'm 30 and I'm not sure if I'll be around for the next WC....

Seriously though POC, ROG and BOD will be a round for another few seasons but they are in the twilights of their careers.

Replacing Mike Ross or at least finding someone to challenge him for the TH spot is the only immediate worry as he's not the fittest chap around and won't be able to play 10,000 internationals like John Hayes.

Portnoy wrote:

red_stag wrote:Portnoy apart from BOD and POC who are you worried we won't replace.

Only a complete cohesive team. You're too young to understand.

1 Horan (Healy)
2 Flannery (Best/Cronin)
3 Hayes (Ross)
4 O'Callaghan (?)
5 O'Connell (?)
6 Easterby (Ferris)
7 Wallace (O'Brien)
8 Leamy (Heaslip)
9 Stringer (Reddan/Murray)
10 O'Gara (Sexton)
11 Hickie (Earls/Trimble)
12 D'Arcy (?)
13 O'Driscoll (?)
14 Horgan (Bowe)
15 Dempsey (Kearney)

That's not throwing young lads of 20s names about and speculation. Those are the guys who've come into our starting team and replaced players from the Golden Generation, many of them several years ago.

So it's not so much about replacing a whole cohesive team as bringing through new centres and locks. Most of the 'golden generation' of players have been replaced ahead of this World Cup. There are only three or four left. The hardest ones to replace altogether. But it's about fining new locks and centres. Not a whole new team.

I think we are well on the way to having those replacements Notch. It'll be seamless once this WC is over.

The ?, ?. ?, ?s provide a clue.

And melding a cohesive, winning team is very very difficult.

I see that you are only 23 as well...

We will miss BOD & POC badly. They are key for us. Make us a far better side. There will be a dip when they go. And I cant see players anywhere even near their level. Not yet anyway. So Kidney and the provinces must get off the pot and find and hone their replacements in tandem - while they are still around. And not wait until the John Hayes and ROG situation comes up again. That was Eddies fault.

Portnoy wrote:The ?, ?. ?, ?s provide a clue.

And melding a cohesive, winning team is very very difficult.

I see that you are only 23 as well...

Yes, I'm aware of that but my point is you're talking about replacing a team. It's not about replacing a team. It's about replacing three or four players. The vast majority of the team has already been replaced. The Irish team in 2015 will have a lot more players in common with 2011 than 2011 has with 2007.

As for melding a cohesive, winning team; I don't think we ever achieved that in the first place. All we won were Triple Crowns. It wasn't until 2009 we actually won something big and that was the indian summer of the 2007 team. This is a new team now; pretty much the next generation of Irish Rugby.

We have had centre and lock partnerships up there with the best in the world for the last number of years so its going to be tough for a ickle country like ours to repeat that.

But up to the next world cup maybe we will have a world class back row - Ferris, O'Brien, Heaslip. And maybe world class half backs - Murray & Sexton. Maybe others will prove they are at a serious level also. And we will wonder how we will manage without them when they are gone. But we will.

I do think the framework is there and more players are coming through than even and im confident about irish rugby. We are in a good place. I think BOD inspired a lot of it too. God bless his cotton socks. Holy Moly I am getting so excited about RWC feel like saying Whoop Whoop Whooop Whoop Whoop Whoop!!

Good man Frank.

Yeah, we have oodles of talented backs coming though. No BOD, but hopefully, their combinations make up for him. Really need to look at the tight-5. Healy is there for a long while and will get better with experience. I reckon Strauss will be Ireland's next Hooker. And Rory is still youngish. Not sure about Cronin. I hope he challenges Strauss at Leinster. Hope Jamie Hagan fits the bill. The Reddan/Boss experiment has worked a treat for both province and country. Lets have more of it around the provinces 1st. Then Ireland. Want Murray to be a huge success. Jones also.

Frank, thats exactly it. We have a centre partnership and a lock partnership to replace. As I see it thats more or less it.



Portnoy I would say that it is you who doesn't understand. This isn't England where we have half a dozen decent players who could do a job. We have maybe 2-3 that we will work with over time and stick with when things go pear shaped.



I watched England v Ireland 2006 Six Nations yesterday. Abbott and Noon were centres. Erinle, Tindall, Tait, Hipkiss, Barkley, Tuilagi, Flood, Catt, Allen, Johnson, Paul are all people England have capped at centre in last few years.



Ireland won't cap half that many centres and will rebuild quicker.

Gibson wrote:We will miss BOD & POC badly. They are key for us. Make us a far better side. There will be a dip when they go. And I cant see players anywhere even near their level. Not yet anyway. So Kidney and the provinces must get off the pot and find and hone their replacements in tandem - while they are still around. And not wait until the John Hayes and ROG situation comes up again. That was Eddies fault.

Feic it I know what I want to say but I can't find the right words. They can and will be replaced. The replacements might not be as good initially but we will have enough class all round to compensate. Sure we have been talking for the past two years about the talent coming out of the Academys. We do have good players to play in the positions but we need to stop comparing them to POC and BOD.

I hope that gets my message over. I am trying to get some work done as weel.

Notch wrote: It's not about replacing a team. It's about replacing three or four players.

Good luck. I'm sure it will be a breeze just as England found after losing Johnson, Back, Dallaglio, Hill, Dawson, Catt, Robinson etc.

I know it's a longer list but the principle's the same. It's not the best players - it's the optimal mix.

Tough gig.

Yeah Rav, I know, but players like those come along once in 20/30 years. Specially BOD. Last one like him was Mike Gibson.

We just need to make sure the new combinations compensate for their loss.

red_stag wrote:Frank, thats exactly it. We have a centre partnership and a lock partnership to replace. As I see it thats more or less it.



Portnoy I would say that it is you who doesn't understand. This isn't England where we have half a dozen decent players who could do a job. We have maybe 2-3 that we will work with over time and stick with when things go pear shaped.



I watched England v Ireland 2006 Six Nations yesterday. Abbott and Noon were centres. Erinle, Tindall, Tait, Hipkiss, Barkley, Tuilagi, Flood, Catt, Allen, Johnson, Paul are all people England have capped at centre in last few years.



Ireland won't cap half that many centres and will rebuild quicker.

I agree.
Nobody commented on https://www.606v2.com/t12963-the-worst-thing-that-could-happen-to-ru

I totally agree on the mix Portnoy. Its not enough to just have great individual players. Its how they meld and enhance the rest of the team. That can take years to find, nourish and exploit.

For that we need another manager I feel. But this is the Positive Thread. No negativity.