Italy will beat Ireland?

First topic message reminder :

Italy look good at the moment, I fancy them to cause another upset in this group.

or am I wrong?

The Irish golden generation have had two good performances in the last year or so, both against strong teams but they do look like a different team from one game to the next, Italy will be up for it, will Ireland?

SafeAsMilk wrote:

roddersm wrote:

SafeAsMilk wrote:The Irish on 606v2 are like the Welsh on old 606. I'm not sure who should feel more insulted by that

The English?

The English will certainly get insulted. Don't worry we're used to it!

MunsterMac wrote:

Granted you have some talented young backrow players coming through but once BOD retires I can see noone viably filling that gap to even close to the same standard.

True but Irish rugby is in a far healthier state now than when BOD burst on the scene.

10 / 15 years ago BOD was way ahead of MOST other players that he played with but now and for the foreseeable future we have a more a more even spread of talent with good / excellent players in most positions.

Not too sure of that - Simon Easterby, David Wallace, Mal O'Kelly, Denis Hickey, Shane Horgan, Geordan Murphy, Girvan Dempsey, Stringer - all very talented players and with the exception of Simon Easterby & Shane Horgan (Tommy Bowe) we haven't surpassed any of that talent. John Hayes isn't the world's best scrummager, but by what he did for our lineout and pillar defence!

Sin é wrote:Not too sure of that - Simon Easterby, David Wallace, Mal O'Kelly, Denis Hickey, Shane Horgan, Geordan Murphy, Girvan Dempsey, Stringer - all very talented players and with the exception of Simon Easterby & Shane Horgan (Tommy Bowe) we haven't surpassed any of that talent. John Hayes isn't the world's best scrummager, but by what he did for our lineout and pillar defence!

I disagree Sin I think we have better players now, certainly more depth accross the positions. There was hardly any competition for places 4 or 5 seasons ago now we top players who can't make the match day squads.

Ireland should win this, comfortably if they keep out of an arm wrestle. If the Italian pack keep the ball and pick and drive thus negating the hold tackle tactics, they could frustrate the Irish, but pick and drive can't get you from your 22 to the oppositions try line - well not often.

The only way I can see the azzuri winning is if the lads in green have a very VERY average game and the Italians play to 105% of their potential.

Their scrums and linouts will have to be flawless and the tactical kicking will have to be inch perfect.

It's possible - but unlikely.