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.

[rodders]

Another try and I'll be happy.....

OK happy now.....time for a Magners.......

[Rava]

I make that four Ulster tries today.

Feic we find that hard to do with 15 players in the Pro 12

[Dave.]

The Ladies of Ulster may never recover from this.

SUFTUM!

[Shifty]

Good game and thankfully Ireland have flattened Italy before they play us, if Wales win in England today, then Italy could be on the end of a hiding.

[eirebilly]

Crunching win for Ireland

[Gibson]

Bloody useless Sexton.

Great win. Sloppy start but we were rusty.

[Cari]

FT 42 - 10. The miss doesn't matter - great win.

Soooooo happy for Tommy.

[rodders]

Poor kick from Sexto.... ROG has to start against France....

[WillyGilly]

Mike Court well played big man!

?? Are you Jim Neilly?

... how terribly embarressing.....

Trimble!!!!!!

Ahahaha Rodders!

[Cari]

I really hope that Ireland can carry on next week now. They've got the French match to go next.

[nobbled]

Well done Ireland - not their best but good result and some lovely moments.

[Gibson]

Thanks for comin. And leaving a mess..

Drinks on me.





I love that accent. Talk durty to me 1F!

[rodders]

I make that four Ulster tries today.

An an assist from Ferris too...feic I'm sick off us carrying the national team Rav, its time the other provinces to start pulling their weight.....

[Artful_Dodger]

Kearney was outstanding for me, possibly motm over Sexton.

[Notch]

So delighted for Tom Court and Andy Trimble. That'll mean so much to them. Brilliant. Tommy is class... think he's shown the doubters what he's made of.

I thought Stephen Ferris and Rob Kearney were brilliant today.

[eirebilly]

Simply, alot of work still to be done but Ireland can be proud

[Gibson]

I make that four Ulster tries today.

An an assist from Ferris too...feic I'm sick off us carrying the national team Rav, its time the other provinces to start pulling their weight.....

[Cari]

So delighted for Tom Court and Andy Trimble. That'll mean so much to them. Brilliant. Tommy is class... think he's shown the doubters what he's made of.

I thought Stephen Ferris and Rob Kearney were brilliant today.

I like this

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

So delighted for Tom Court and Andy Trimble. That'll mean so much to them. Brilliant. Tommy is class... think he's shown the doubters what he's made of.

I thought Stephen Ferris and Rob Kearney were brilliant today.

Rob Kearney was magnificent as was Ferris. The key to Ireland's win was Eoin Reddan. Only on the pitch for 30 minutes and was Ireland's most important player.

[eirebilly]

I still think that Kearney was more deserved of the MoTM

[Gibson]

So delighted for Tom Court and Andy Trimble. That'll mean so much to them. Brilliant. Tommy is class... think he's shown the doubters what he's made of.

I thought Stephen Ferris and Rob Kearney were brilliant today.

He did Notch. Like JS, he needed to, in all fairness. Showed the old Tommy.

Well happy. Game and 2 pts under our belts and Deccie learned a lot Id say.

[Cari]

OK guys, I'm going to make some food before the biggy to help calm me bowels and the nerves. You've been great company as per. Congratulations and enjoy the win

[Shifty]

Casto has a career as a pundit when he retires, I like him.
He is no where near as grizzly as he looks when he's playing.

[eirebilly]

Who needs Munster and Leinster eh Rava?

[eirebilly]

Casto has a career as a pundit when he retires, I like him.
He is no where near as grizzly as he looks when he's playing.

I said that earlier, he loks rough but he is actually very eloquent.

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

Casto has a career as a pundit when he retires, I like him.
He is no where near as grizzly as he looks when he's playing.

His hair is a triumph

[Maddog]

Happy with that. LOTS of work to do, thought our restarts were awful but to win by 32 points is a big boost going to france

[Notch]

Yes, Reddan has to start. As does Donnacha Ryan. Those two guys had huge impacts.

[Gibson]

Agree with Woody. POM and Ryan must start next week. Reddan too. Different team with them on. It was so obvious. So much more balanced and more of a threat.

Happy with Deccie today. Made great PROactive calls.

[rodders]

Mike Court well played big man!

?? Are you Jim Neilly?

... how terribly embarressing.....

Trimble!!!!!!

Ahahaha Rodders!

Don't rub it in Willy...won't be able to show my face near Ravenhill after that one..... hey it was a great try from David Trimble though.....

[eirebilly]

On to the next match now. Very happy now that Ireland have won though

[Shifty]

Sonia and Keith "do it in the warm".... the dirty skánk!

Did you see Keiths Wood jaw drop when she said that, lol?

[Rava]

Agree with Woody. POM and Ryan must start next week. Reddan too. Different team with them on. It was so obvious. So much more balanced and more of a threat.

Happy with Deccie today. Made great PROactive calls.

I would be happy with those changes actually. Definately Ryan gives a whole new impetus to the pack. O'Connell was magnificent in the second half though.

[Gibson]

Now for the Big One later.




















Warriors v Leinster A's

[rodders]

So delighted for Tom Court and Andy Trimble. That'll mean so much to them. Brilliant. Tommy is class... think he's shown the doubters what he's made of.

I thought Stephen Ferris and Rob Kearney were brilliant today.

Great shout Notch. Delighted for Sexton too, he really showed his class today. Kearney was magnificant and can't wait to see Bowe back in an Ulster jersey, the guy is a try machine, always will be.... can't believe anyone would doubt it.

Wasn't a great performance but I'm pretty happy with the scoreline. Happy days .

[Gibson]

Agree with Woody. POM and Ryan must start next week. Reddan too. Different team with them on. It was so obvious. So much more balanced and more of a threat.

Happy with Deccie today. Made great PROactive calls.

I would be happy with those changes actually. Definately Ryan gives a whole new impetus to the pack. O'Connell was magnificent in the second half though.

Yeah POC drove us in the 2nd half.

Delighted with Sexton today. Needs to build on it now.Full 80 mins. Good man Deccie, thanks for reading my thread.

[rodders]

Well done Deccie..... credit where its due sir you live to coach another day....

Would love to see Donnacha Ryan and Reddan start, Reddan in particular had a big impact.

[rodders]

Ha ha Hookie can't even give Court any credit at all!

[rodders]

Tell you what Shaggy is a fantastic pundit....

[Rava]

No credit for Court. His body position was all wrong. Trimble scored a good try but he wasn't very good today. He questioned his distribution He's a winger FFS!!

[Cari]

Tell you what Shaggy is a fantastic pundit....

Even when Tommy overtook him as one of Ireland's top try scorers?

[rodders]

Tell you what Shaggy is a fantastic pundit....

Even when Tommy overtook him as one of Ireland's top try scorers?

Hmm funny he didn't mention that Cari......

[eirebilly]

A bit pished now

[Cari]

Well I've had a corker of a day today!

[rodders]

A bit pished now

I've just started Billy...watching the Leinster game now....problem is the GF's gone away for the weekend so I might starve.....

[Cari]

Rodders - can't you order a pizza?

[rodders]

Not sure Cari never tried that before...do dominos do deliveries?

[Cari]

Yes, or you could try this:

http://www.just-eat.co.uk/?gclid=CPXg-LXdua4CFZAhtAoddHTuGA

I assume it's available in NI, I know they have similar in the ROI.

[eirebilly]

A bit pished now

I've just started Billy...watching the Leinster game now....problem is the GF's gone away for the weekend so I might starve.....

Amateur... Frozen pizza keeps me fed while Viking Lady is away LOL

[rodders]

Amateur... Frozen pizza keeps me fed while Viking Lady is away LOL

Ha ha I was hoping my mammy would call round and cook me tea Billy but I've been abandoned !

Thanks Cari will check out the takeaway delivery options...there's a Macdonalds drive through 200 metres from my house but I'm a vegeterian!

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