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.

[Golden]

Love to see Reddan coming out for the second half. Murray is just too slow getting the ball out and making decisions

[valjester]

Murray is playing well when we are on the front foot but the problem in the team is still our lack of size in the backs.
When we get slow ball in our own half we have a clue what to do with it, we need someone who can bash it up or else
come up with some better attacking plays.

[Notch]

Enjoying this game, Ireland are forcing it a bit at times but now I think they're playing with a bit more composure. Italy look the best I've ever seen them, they've cut down the mistakes and whenever they're attacking they look very desperate to score which I love in a team.

+1

Yeah I like the look of Italy. I'm very worried about us in structured play. I would like to see O'Mahony on for O'Brien tbh.

[eirebilly]

Murray has not been that good but hopefully he will get spoken too

[Cari]

Rava - I think he looks lovely in civvies. Very smert.

[rodders]

Ferris drew 6 defenders with that pass...man's a genius!

[Cowshot]

Well, scrappy. Seems every time a side got it together, they scored. Ireland have been playing as though they'd won from the opening whistle.

Noticeable that the commentary box has an average amount of hair - it's just not equally distributed!

[Gibson]

Great contrast between Castro and Woody.

Castro very astute. Cooks a great steak. Has a restaurant with Murphy in Leicester.

[eirebilly]

Well, scrappy. Seems every time a side got it together, they scored. Ireland have been playing as though they'd won from the opening whistle.

Noticeable that the commentary box has an average amount of hair - it's just not equally distributed!

[Cari]

Cowshot - Castro's got more hair on his face than Woody has anywhere!

[rodders]

George Hook telling it like it is.... gwan Georgie.....

[eirebilly]

Cowshot - Castro's got more hair on his face than Woody has anywhere!

[Notch]

George Hook telling it like it is.... gwan Georgie.....

Hmmm.

[valjester]

Also did Joubert get the decision to award a maul after the ball hit the bar wrong?
I always thought that when a maul was formed after a ball caught a kick the maul
went to the team who caught the ball.

[Cari]

Rodders - we have Gabby Logan, Castrogiovanni and Keef Woody on ours.

[Cowshot]

Cowshot - Castro's got more hair on his face than Woody has anywhere!

I am NOT going to ask how you know!

[Rava]

Hook v Pope/Horgan on RTE. Great TV.

[Gibson]

George Hook telling it like it is.... gwan Georgie.....

Hmmm.

What he saying lads? Id say he's going mental now.

[Cari]

I'm guessing!

Castro looks biblical actually. He'd make a good John the Baptist.

[eirebilly]

I think that Joubert has had a pretty decent game to be honest. The scrums seem to be hitting early but hitting well and he is letting it go.

I love that he calls advantage over very early as well.

[WillyGilly]

Murray taking lessons from TOL evidently. Far far too slow at times. Sergio's hungry and will swallow him whole at some stage.

Better irish performance compared to the welsh match. Mind you that wouldn't be difficult.

[Notch]

I can't get RTE right now, more's the pity!

[Cari]

Notch - does RTÉ coverage come and go up there then?

[rodders]

Rodders - we have Gabby Logan, Castrogiovanni and Keef Woody on ours.

Aye I'm watching BBC but can't listen to woody or any of the BBC pundits...switched over to rte at half time to get some pearls of Wisdom from Hook and Popey

"Never give a sucker an even break!" Gwan Popey son! Genius!

[eirebilly]

Matthews... 'Kidney will ask Sexton to mix it up more' Dont make me laugh

[Cari]

Oh I see.

Cotter looks like a young Cliff Richard without the quiff.

[Cari]

What's Chilli doing?

[Golden]

Not exactly looking like they are trying to win the championship by putting as many points on Italy as possible. Seem to only kick into gear when theyre behind. They should be looking to score tries for 80 minutes

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

That half was the perfect microcosm of the past 18 months of Irish rugby. When dynamic with ball in hand we look like we could score at will. Other than that, some very very sloppy play with Murray decent but much too slow at times, and Sexton mixing the good with the criminally stupid.

[tatterd]

afternoon all - looking forward to a good second half as a warm up to the "big game"

[Notch]

Notch - does RTÉ coverage come and go up there then?

Nope, can only get it if I'm at my parents house on their Sky. I'm not there, nor am I very often. Haven't watched a live game on RTE (on TV that is) in a while.

[Glas a du]

Leave his head be Stephen!

[rodders]

Is it too early for a beer??????

[eirebilly]

Is it too early for a beer??????

Not in my house

[Cari]

Notch - ah OK.

Italy putting Ireland back in their own half...come on! FFS!

[rodders]

Notch - does RTÉ coverage come and go up there then?

Nope, can only get it if I'm at my parents house on their Sky. I'm not there, nor am I very often. Haven't watched a live game on RTE (on TV that is) in a while.

I can get it on terrestrial Cari but I'm not far from the border. Can't get it on digital though.

[Ozzy3213]

All a bit lateral there from Italy.

[Gibson]

[Cari]

Some lovely handling by the Italians today.

SOB not rolling away.

[eirebilly]

Very poor from Ireland, really poor

[rodders]

Is it too early for a beer??????

Not in my house

Happy days Billy I'm coming over! ......

[tatterd]

just thinking the same rodders

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

Notch - does RTÉ coverage come and go up there then?

Nope, can only get it if I'm at my parents house on their Sky. I'm not there, nor am I very often. Haven't watched a live game on RTE (on TV that is) in a while.

I can get it on terrestrial Cari but I'm not far from the border. Can't get it on digital though.

I had the laptop on so I could hear George spout his usual. You can watch RTE's coverage through the RTE Six Nations website

[Cari]

Ireland are lucky that Botes kicking is shocking.

[tatterd]

oh dear botes

[Ozzy3213]

Absolutely shocking off the tee from Botes!

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

Can anyone think of a worse kicker in international rugby that poor Botes? God love him, he needs a hug from his mum.

[Gibson]

Good God. They are leaving too many pts behind. if they had a decent kicker....

[rodders]

No joke hi if Italy had a place kicker they'd be in the lead!

[Shifty]

Ireland are lucky that Botes kicking is shocking.

Agreed he's bloody awful.

[Sponsored content]