Ireland v Italy @ Lansdowne Road. Feb 25th 2012. Match Thread.

[Gibson]

First topic message reminder :

Ireland v Italy. Squad formations, review, lineups etc.

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcentre/7991.php?section=formation&fixid=153755

Click on the numbers for individual players info, within the separate team formations.

Will Ireland let loose? Can we really play an open, running game against the Italians and show who we really are? Instead of the usual 6-N slug-fest we normally allow ourselves to get embroiled in with them? We managed to avoid it at the RWC. We dispatched them clinically. Last year, in the 6-N in Rome, ROG got us out of jail, seconds from the end. As is his wont. That cannot be allowed happen again.

The Italians are trying to open their game too. A brave game v England just missed the spot. 12-6 up at HT, England were there for the taking. But for a few mis-handling errors and the lack of a decent place-kicker, they surely should have won. Thus coming into this game with 2 Championship points to our zero. New England were let off the hook in Rome. No argument there between knowlegable rugby fans. They are not the same Italy that played us in the last RWC. They are striving to run the ball and attack more now.

Its not all about total dependency on their known pack strength anymore. This metamorphosis, is hurting them in the interim. They are in the middle of transforming from a forward-dominated to an attacking side, under Brunel. They just need to find a balance between the two. And unearth a solid place-kicker. Great to see the effort. I hope they persist with it. They have to. They remind me of France in the early 5-N days. They will come. It is in Italian blood to show flair and individuality. So, we will have to be on our guard and not just concentrate on beating them up front. Parisse is vital for them. He has to be watched on the fringes or they will cause us damage.

What to say on Ireland? We are twixt and between limbo and a hard-place. No defined pattern is evolving under Kidney. Earls carries the weight of replacing BOD on his shoulders. No one should have to deal with that. No one in World rugby could. So let the lad show his stuff and dont compare. Let him be. He is a great individual talent. But, it remains to be seen if he can be a top-class 13 at this level. Dont know about Darcy even being in the 22. But Deccie is obviously combining experience with youth for this one. Want to see McFadden and Earls long before the end of this game. Its the partnership I want to see work. Has Kidney learned to use the bench effectively yet? Havent seen it up till now. It's a major weakness with him. Its a 22 man game now. He needs to be proactive and not reactive. I.E. Don't make changes in the last 2 minutes. Less said about that, the better really.

Sexton needs to man-up now. This, is the game to show it in. His partnership with Murray, is the one Im backing on for the future. He needs to unlock Italy. Needs to take 90% of his place-kicks, as he does for Leinster and control the Show.

Kearney is on fire. No worries about him. Trimble & Bowe are replaceable. They need to put in really big shifts to hold their places. In my opinion.

O Connell is back to his firey best. DOC? I dunno. Id rather Ryan started.

As for our backrow. Dont get me started. Id drop Heaslip to the bench, move SOB to 8 and start POM at 7. Ferris, as long as he can stand, is the best 6 we have.

Our frontrow, is chisled in stone. The magnificent Best, is basically, our best and most influential player of late. I think he should be our future Captain. But, I dont want to start a row over it. Yet. Ross is key as always. And Healy is improving over time. Getting more gnarly with age. No Castro for this one. So a break there.

Bottom-line, for me, is a fluid performance. A game plan the squad understand, buy in to and readily execute. If that does not happen... We need to have a word Declan. I expect a 20pt spread and a performance to show it has all been a bad dream for the last 3 years.

Anyway. Carry on. Behave. And Believe.

[Cari]

No, obviously not! Good boy Keef!

murray's like Mike Phillips though...too slow getting the ball out.

[Gibson]

Good man Keef. That will do him a power of good. Great play by JS.

[eirebilly]

Momentum Cari

[eirebilly]

Yes... Good man Jonny

[Gibson]

OK. Getting there now. Now lads. Control.

[Cari]

Lovely conversion from Sexytoes.

ooh quick restart...good effort.

[rodders]

Sexton has magic dust on his boots today!

[eirebilly]

Does Andrew Cotter understand the game?

[Cari]

Some from Parisse...cool heads gents!

[Glas a du]

Good try.

[Gibson]

Great Italian scrum.

[Cari]

Sexton has magic dust on his boots today!

No, that'll be his brains which bled onto his boots...

[eirebilly]

Poor from Botes again

[Rava]

No, obviously not! Good boy Keef!

murray's like Mike Phillips though...too slow getting the ball out.

Takes the ball into contact too often for me. Did it in that build up about 15m out. That's when you need your scrumhalf directing things not at the bottom of a ruck.

[eirebilly]

Who is out for Ireland?

Healy?

[valjester]

Healy out cold

[Cari]

Oh no. Churchie's had a knock. Hope he's all right.

[rodders]

murray's like Mike Phillips though...too slow getting the ball out.

I agree Cari, he's far too slow at getting the ball away. He's been spending too much time with O'Leary by the looks of it.

Healy looks hurt. Poor technique in the tackle there.

[Ozzy3213]

I've been watching for about the last 10 minutes and I think Ireland will win this by a substantial margin.

[eirebilly]

He looked out for me?

[Gibson]

Knee in that head. Bad technique.

[valjester]

No, obviously not! Good boy Keef!

murray's like Mike Phillips though...too slow getting the ball out.

Takes the ball into contact too often for me. Did it in that build up about 15m out. That's when you need your scrumhalf directing things not at the bottom of a ruck.

Because of his size, at times, he thinks that he can run through everyone.

[Cari]

Well he's staying on....I'm not sure if he should stay on to be honest.

[Cari]

All right Oz? I said Ireland by 12 on SG. I hope that's not a jinx!

[rodders]

Sexton has magic dust on his boots today!

No, that'll be his brains which bled onto his boots...

That bang on the head has really sorted out his place kicking Cari.....

[Gibson]

Good aft Ozzy. We need to be patient. Go through the phases. Build momentum. Great tackle.

[Glas a du]

Big obstruction there

[Chunky Norwich]

murray's like Mike Phillips though...too slow getting the ball out.

You haven't got a clue.

No offence but there's a reason Phillips takes steps before he passes. Try and figure it out by watching this afternoons game.

[Cari]

Heh heh Chilli's doing his little funny dance that he does when he gets the ball. It makes me

[Gibson]

Chunky. Behave man. No way to talk to a lady.

[Glas a du]

The Irish boys should have has a five knuckle shuffle this morning, all too eager.

[eirebilly]

Italy will surely tire after all this defensive efforts.

[eirebilly]

Chunky.... Not very nice.

Cari is actually bang on.

[Ozzy3213]

Howya Gibbo and Cari

This will be close until the final 15 I reckon then Ireland's quality will tell. italy have already had to make a lot of tackles and that will take it out of them in the end.

[Chunky Norwich]

Chunky.... Not very nice.

Cari is actually bang on.

Err, No she's not.

[Golden]

Murray is ridiculously slow the sooner he stops training with O'Leary the better

[eirebilly]

Each to their own then chunky but lets keep this page with respectfull comments.

[Glas a du]

Harsh penalty, Darcy's just short, he was on his feet.

[rodders]

This is pretty poor by us so far. No real game plan. Whats with the feckin up and unders?!

Sexton standing very deep and there's a lack of patience about our attacks. No support play or attacking patterns. Slow ruck ball and too many forced passes. We'll be beasted by France playing like this.

What the flip are we doing in training?!

[Ozzy3213]

Murray needs to liven the feic up. When he plays quick he's quality, but to much standing around at the back of the ruck looking around from him so far.

[Cowshot]

Ireland looked good for about 5 mins and scored, but they seem to me to be expecting to just breeze through the Italians and I'm not sure you can these days. Last 20 maybe.

Good Italian scrum, but without a decent kicker...

Off the crossbar!

[eirebilly]

What an odd periode of play, thought Ireland did enough to win the scrum

[Cari]

I thought Botes was going to get that then!

[rodders]

Chunky. Behave man. No way to talk to a lady.

+1 catch yourself on Chunky.

[valjester]

I don't think Murray is doing badly, besides the Flip up at that last ruck.
When the ball is presented cleanly, he is passing quickly but there are too
many rucks where Ireland's rucking is poor and Murray either has to go
digging for the ball or join the ruck to protect it.

[Gibson]

May see Reddan on later. This is not working.

[Cari]

Oh sugar...Italy on the attack now....and Botes attempts a DG. Not a good idea from him to be fair...

[eirebilly]

Murray is dilly dallying alot.

Ireland being let off by Botes poor kicking

[Cari]

May see Reddan on later. This is not working.

Do you think he'll start second half?

[eirebilly]

May see Reddan on later. This is not working.

Do you think he'll start second half?

Nope, Kidney will wait until 60mins

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