The French and the Irish - who is going to win on Sunday?

First topic message reminder :

At least I think it's Sunday. I thought it had been rescheduled for the 3rd but the BBC says the 4th.

My heart says both teams have been misfiring and it's a very even game. My head says the Irish have been trying hard but not quite making it work whereas the French have done just enough to win and they'll up their game again to win this one.

If the French DO win, it's definitely squeaky bum time for the Welsh!

eirebilly wrote:........................... and the Italians are very welcoming of Irish fans

Do I detect a loaded tone on that bit, billy? Anything you want to share with a roomfull of characters with strange names and no faces??????

Back in my single days Fly, Rome was a great weekend

SecretFly wrote:

eirebilly wrote:........................... and the Italians are very welcoming of Irish fans

Do I detect a loaded tone on that bit, billy? Anything you want to share with a roomfull of characters with strange names and no faces??????

The Italians are welcoming of anybody spending money...much like the Oirish come to think of it.

dublin_dave wrote:first 6 nations game im on home soil for. nice fry, then afternoon pints up town. cant wait either way. none of the distractions of a stag do in the dam or a highland wedding which warped the mind for first two games : )

does anyone on here go regularly to 6 nations games any more? i have gone a few away games last 3/4 years and occasional home game. away trips have been great banter but the rugby has typically been the low point. they are so expensive.

Used go with my Da all the time Dave. Eased off since I lived over here and he fecked off to a higher place. But tend to get to one a year. And the AI's.

Going to the Scotland game next week with AsLongAs, Rava and Hughie - off here. Meeting up with Mickado and Micky T. Bad news man.

PINTS!

you would probably struggle to find a frenchman that knows the IRB ranking will actually be used to do the seedings of the next WC sometime this year... (I actually learnt that here). at the same time, we dont care about being 2nd seeds, did us good last time and when we are 1st seeds we always end up losing against a team like argentina anyway.
Sunday game is about who wants it more, who can take the most pain. this IRB top 4 thingy is a bit pointless I think. Irish players should play with self-belief not extra pressure otherwise from the minute they start thinking about last time they won in Paris, they are gone.

Glas a du wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

eirebilly wrote:........................... and the Italians are very welcoming of Irish fans

Do I detect a loaded tone on that bit, billy? Anything you want to share with a roomfull of characters with strange names and no faces??????

The Italians are welcoming of anybody spending money...much like the Oirish come to think of it.

Says the man who bought the skull of St.Patrick as a young man......

Glas a du wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

eirebilly wrote:........................... and the Italians are very welcoming of Irish fans

Do I detect a loaded tone on that bit, billy? Anything you want to share with a roomfull of characters with strange names and no faces??????

The Italians are welcoming of anybody spending money...much like the Oirish come to think of it.

The Italian women find the Irish quite pleasent company

eirebilly wrote:

Glas a du wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

eirebilly wrote:........................... and the Italians are very welcoming of Irish fans

Do I detect a loaded tone on that bit, billy? Anything you want to share with a roomfull of characters with strange names and no faces??????

The Italians are welcoming of anybody spending money...much like the Oirish come to think of it.

The Italian women find the Irish quite pleaseant company

fixed

eirebilly wrote:I get to the Italy v Ireland matches in Rome. I recommend them to anyone, great weekend away and the Italians are very welcoming of Irish fans

Billser,
Im on that one next year bud. Never been to an away Italian game yet. Count moi in.

Gibson wrote:

eirebilly wrote:I get to the Italy v Ireland matches in Rome. I recommend them to anyone, great weekend away and the Italians are very welcoming of Irish fans

Billser,
Im on that one next year bud. Never been to an away Italian game yet. Count moi in.

We will organise something then Gibbo

whocares wrote:you would probably struggle to find a frenchman that knows the IRB ranking will actually be used to do the seedings of the next WC sometime this year... (I actually learnt that here). at the same time, we dont care about being 2nd seeds, did us good last time and when we are 1st seeds we always end up losing against a team like argentina anyway.
Sunday game is about who wants it more, who can take the most pain. this IRB top 4 thingy is a bit pointless I think. Irish players should play with self-belief not extra pressure otherwise from the minute they start thinking about last time they won in Paris, they are gone.

Wot Who said....

never done rome billy or twickers for that matter. been over to london numerous times for the round ball but never for rugby round 6 nations time. May well get over this year. done edinburgh a good few times with ireland and leinster. cardiff is an epic booze up.

heard great things about the stad flaminio. a decrepit basin but had real character, pity its not there anymore.

Stadio lo flaminio was brilliant Dave, great atmosphere. I have been luck to have gone to all the away matches over the years. The traveling fans are also a great bunch of people

If the Irish could garner 6-N points, for their fans getting laid on tour - with the brogue. The 6-N Trophy and SLAM would live in Dublin forever.

No shheet. I near got shaaged in me sleep once. Wasnt even tryin. I think I was snoring in Irish.

Ahh now but Gibbo, sure if we dont really turn on the brogue extra hard for the local ladies when we travel just for that reason

Gibson wrote:If the Irish could garner 6-N points, for their fans getting laid on tour - with the brogue. The 6-N Trophy and SLAM would live in Dublin forever.

No shheet. I near got shaaged in me sleep once. Wasnt even tryin. I think I was snoring in Irish.

Top Draw

eirebilly wrote:Ahh now but Gibbo, sure if we dont really turn on the brogue extra hard for the local ladies when we travel just for that reason

I'm a married man!

The French, Germans, Italians (and Norwegians) just love it when you say that. Then, they jump ya anyway.

Ah weel. Comes with the territory. No point in resisting. Shaaged on and off the pitch.

Being a traveling Leinstuur and Ireland fan for yonks, Ive had enough of it already. Enough! Have ye NO respect wimmin?

P.S. How did this thread turn to sex?

Well especially the Norwegians Gibbo . Viking lady loves the accent

I have no idea how this turned to sex... I blame Fly

Gibson wrote:
P.S. How did this thread turn to sex?

Better for scoring at than rugby?

Better tactics?

Better stats? (on the bedpost)

Yep, its all Fly's doing

Sunday game is about who wants it more, who can take the most pain. this IRB top 4 thingy is a bit pointless I think. Irish players should play with self-belief not extra pressure otherwise from the minute they start thinking about last time they won in Paris, they are gone.

Truly. My hope is that this French team can play to its potential and I think Saint Andre is the man to help them do it. I will be supporting the Irish, but I have always admired French Rugby back to the days of Blanco and Rives et vive le Rugby Champagnois.!

Fly,
Scóring, tactics (Stats work on SIN E, he gets a hord-on every time he reads a Census form) and a large dollop of Irish BS. Served up with a smile.

If only Deccie had but one of those assets, we'd all be laffing.

Hauld on a cotton pickin... He's great at the BS. In all fairness.

Leinster on now, enough of this repartee.

Is that why there's Ginger kids everywhere?

Do I detect a loaded tone on that bit, billy? Anything you want to share with a roomfull of characters with strange names and no faces??????

Sounds like Gibbo already did!

Cowshot wrote:

Do I detect a loaded tone on that bit, billy? Anything you want to share with a roomfull of characters with strange names and no faces??????

Sounds like Gibbo already did!

Nah, that was Fly's comment. Fly is the guilty party here

Glas a du wrote:Is that why there's Ginger kids everywhere?

Yes son. I meant to tell ya about yer Ma and me... Gibson and Edwards were playing that day in Cardipp. Twas foreplay so twas.

Loving this Italian commentary. Marvelous. It sounds so much more exciting than it actually is.

Nah, that was Fly's comment. Fly is the guilty party here .

Ah. Living up to his name, I see. How many innocent Norwegians are waking up startled by their change of status? Horrible, I say. Just horrible.

Score Gibbo?

0-3 after 20 mins Glas

Fly uses this site like a big bowl of ointment. And he does it so well.
Air 0-3 Lei.

Good game. Good game. Aironi really having a go. Love it! We are up against it here. But for two missed passes, they could be 14 up. Great to see.

For the PRO12 to grow into a Pan-European comp worth sponsoring, they must do well in it. Simple as.

Then we could charge the Jeff and TOP14 for entry into it. Feic de oligarchs.

Brain power does it for the Man in Amsterdam.

Madigan just kicked a pen. He has everything else, now he is being trusted to place-kick.

Watch out Sexton.

I heard Kidney say Ireland can win the game when France have the ball. By defending well. Not the right attitude at all when playing France. Give them a head of steam and they'll convert 75% of their chances against anyone. And we always let them do it.

We have to get the ball and dictate the pace. Otherwise they'll steamroller us in the first 40 and then cruise home, while we do our plucky fightback routine. It's one of the most predictable patterns in world rugby.

And I fear it will make depressingly familiar viewing at the weekend.

That's a bluff isn't it? You have to be all over France like a cheap suit from the off don't you? All guns blazing, fire and brimstone?

Feckess,
Normally I would be writing that man. But, this time and I hope he realises it, Kidney's whole international career is on the line. He's done nowt with this team but lose games recently. Failed his remit at the RWC. Dipped in the 6-N. That's ok... but no progression? Slow to change things. And to learn at this level. It looks like he is shifting tack on a 22 man squad. If not changing the team itself. Lets not go mad Deccie.

On Sunday, it has to happen for him and us. Dont mind (I do) losing by a score, if we show we are their equal to the end.And are on the right road style-wise.
Seen none of that yet under him, in 3 years. Not once. Forget England last year (easy) and Oz were mugged with 3 of their best players missing in the RWC. Yet another false-dawn.

On Sunday, I want a win. It's in this team to beat a team, with a new manager and who are not playing well so far. And in front of a fickle crowd.

This one is for real.

Feckless Rogue wrote:I heard Kidney say Ireland can win the game when France have the ball. By defending well. Not the right attitude at all when playing France. Give them a head of steam and they'll convert 75% of their chances against anyone. And we always let them do it.

We have to get the ball and dictate the pace. Otherwise they'll steamroller us in the first 40 and then cruise home, while we do our plucky fightback routine. It's one of the most predictable patterns in world rugby.

And I fear it will make depressingly familiar viewing at the weekend.

Agree. He seems obsessed with a defensive orientated game. And much like Johnson was determined to return to his heyday when chunks of whalemeat blubbered supremacy in the forwards department, Kidney is determined to make his theory work... in the face of a run of inexcusable results, a 'comfortable' 8th in the world rankings and no obvious sign that the game he coaches puts away big targets with anything like the assurance we need. Even the Australian game was grimy and unattractive. Our players are better than that, Kidney's defensive game is a game for struggling sides to try when nothing else is in their armoury. His plans can make our players look bad, receive bad press and in turn begins to impact on their own confidence in their abilities.

Then again, it could be all diversionary talk this time to disguise true intentions. I'll wait and see. You can't really predict what this Irish side will do from one game to the next with any degree of certainty.

You can't really predict what this Irish side will do from one game to the next with any degree of certainty.

There you have the problem. After 3 years we should know. We should at this stage, be allowed the confidence to be able to predict a realistic win in Paris. In fact, I think we aready do know, before he even picks the same team & tactics, after lengthy discussions with himself. On his own. In the bog.

I think the players may take over tomorrow and win it. I pray they will.

You can't really predict what this Irish side will do from one game to the next with any degree of certainty.

Actually you can.
They will underperform.
They will be clueless at times.
Players who show flair with their province will be stymied.

And we will here the same tripe afterwards - "The guys are hugely disappointed with that performance"

Oh God stop it lads, let Gibbo Believe.

Gibson wrote:You can't really predict what this Irish side will do from one game to the next with any degree of certainty.

I think the players may take over tomorrow and win it. I pray they will.

They took over and won against Australia and while there are players like Best, O'Connell, Ferris and others who are willing to leave everything on the pitch then we can win.

BELIEVE!!

Johnny Sexton will be the differ. It's time. He's ready for this. Kicked most of these spelers arses already - in the HC. Most all of em in fact. So. Just do it again Johnny.

2 from 3 for the provinces. Munster should hammer the Dragons.

Gibbo - you're new mantra is Behave not Believe - Come on you green monsters lets have some of that Irish rampaging versus the french and if you win we promise to always use the right ball at throw ins in the future

Well, Rory Best seems to have his head in the right place for tomorrow:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17213767

Tempting to find a picture of a fat bloke with his head down a toilet, but he sees the game as one of those you live for as a pro sportsman - the chance to put your name in the history books. Now, that doesn't mean anything much in terms of who will win, but it does suggest the Irish lads are well up for this and we'll see a real contest tomorrow.

No-one has yet really put pressure on the French, but we do know the Scots put their first two tries in ages past them. Chuckle. It's a bit like England Wales last week - France clear favourites, but Ireland in with a definite chance.

I think the way the Scot backline plays was a big factor in scoring, that depth really hurt the French blitz, and they struggled initially to get to grips with it, sadly the Irish game plays much more into the Frnech hands.

Can't see past a France win for this one. should be a great match though

Glas a du wrote:2 from 3 for the provinces. Munster should hammer the Dragons.

Munster haven't won at the Dave since 2009. Pretty sure they had their internationals then as well