France vs Ireland match thread.

[Biltong]

First topic message reminder :

France: C Poitrenaud (Toulouse), V Clerc (Toulouse), A Rougerie (Clermont Auvergne), W Fofana (Clermont Auvergne), J Malzieu (Clermont Auvergne), F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), M Parra (Clermont Auvergne), JB Poux (Toulouse), D Szarzewski (Stade Francais), N Mas (Perpignan), P Pape (Stade Francais), Y Maestri (Toulouse), T Dusautoir (Toulouse), J Bonnaire (Clermont Auvergne), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz)

Replacements: W Servat (Toulouse), V Debaty (Clermont Auvergne), L Nallet (Racing Metro), L Picamoles (Toulouse), J Dupuy (Stade Francais), L Beauxis (Toulouse), M Mermoz (Perpignan)

Ireland: R Kearney (Leinster); T Bowe (Ospreys), K Earls (Munster), G D'Arcy (Leinster), A Trimble (Ulster); J Sexton (Leinster), C Murray (Munster); C Healy (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), M Ross (Leinster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), S Ferris (Ulster), S O'Brien (Leinster), J Heaslip (Leinster)

Replacements: S Cronin (Leinster), T Court (Ulster), D Ryan (Munster), P O'Mahony (Munster), E Reddan (Leinster), R O'Gara (Munster), F McFadden (Leinster)


After a nice exhausting weekend by the dam, I am at least back early enough to watch this match.

Irealand is up against it, but the French have not yet played a team in great form so this one might go either way.

Good luck to me Irish mates.

Of course I will be supporting the boys in green.

[SecretFly]

I never said that bod was responsible for Ireland losing in Paris get a grip fly. He is injured i said i would like to see him retire so that Ireland can pick two players in the centre and give them time to jell

Does Kidney need O'Driscoll's permission to begin that process? Does he command his position? Does he demand it's kept for him? Again, your idea is in Kidney's remit - that's His job, that's what he gets paid for - to see those requirements and to act on them.

So O'Driscoll comes back and puts himself in contention by, God forbid, playing well enough for his province to merit it - that's his job, just like it's O'Gara's job. Kidney's job is to decide his team based on the future and more importantly based on future results.

I'm trying to impress on some people in here that despite rumours to the contrary, Kidney does have a job to do, and he is in present employment as Irish head coach.

[Rory_Gallagher]

Kidney has failed his remit. We are going backwards. It's as good as over for him. Get real.

And Kia, he did it with a Munster side and in a conservative style, that was just about acceptable and workable back then. It wont work now. And its certainly not acceptable. How long will take him to realise that? He is clueless at this level.

Elmer Fudge is Doomed.

P.S. DOD. Always had you down as having some class and didn't need personal insults when the debate is lost. Try show some class and respect yer betters.

You thought DOD didn't resort to personal insults when he loses debates (often)??

[tecphobe]

The Gameplan was to be in the game in the second half for a change it was to play territory and play rugby in Frances half of the pitch. I am not making this about provinces which some people seam to want to do. I believe Ireland's problem is in mid-field. I would actually also like to see a place found in the ireland teams for zebo and or Carr, Earls is the Future at 13. If o'driscoll is going to continue i would like to see him at 12

[Rory_Gallagher]

The "game-plan" was rubbish. Ireland's problem is not simply the midfield either. Plus Earls is not the future at 13.

[Standulstermen]

The Gameplan was to be in the game in the second half for a change it was to play territory and play rugby in Frances half of the pitch. I am not making this about provinces which some people seam to want to do. I believe Ireland's problem is in mid-field. I would actually also like to see a place found in the ireland teams for zebo and or Carr, Earls is the Future at 13. If o'driscoll is going to continue i would like to see him at 12

So if the game plan is to play rugby in France's half why do you put up the Garryowen instead of kicking for touch. Despite kearneys undoubted ability the garryowen is low percentage play. Mentioning Fionn Carr anywhere near an Ireland selection is ludicrous.... Unless you are trying to get him a contract.

[Mickado]

DOD, we all know what a tight head lock is. POC can play either side so it's no excuse for dropping Ryan.

[geoff998rugby]

To cover a few points:

Cave is fit - Ulster just didn't want to risk him against Edinburgh as they believed they had the players to win anyway - they did

Henry is 27 not 28

Whilst not the only problem midfield is our biggest problem. D'Arcy offers nothing and Earls in not a 13. I don't accept D'Arcy is the best we have, in short term I believe that is Wallace - at least we would have some creativity at 12. Having said that Wallace is NOT the long term answer. I think the best solution is BOD at 12 for a couple of years until someone steps up to the plate. No one has yet.

BOD - Cave is my preferred midfield option, for the next 2 years, with the hope others are ready by then.

[rodders]

The "game-plan" was rubbish. Ireland's problem is not simply the midfield either. Plus Earls is not the future at 13.

Halfback is a bigger problem. All the attacking ball is slow and the backs are aligned too deep to attack.

Fofanas try came directly of a poor clearance kick from Sexton after he was put under pressure by a shocking pass by Murray. The half backs are simply not clicking and it is ludicrous that Kidney doesn't start with Reddan..or even Murray and ROG FFS.

Trimble and Bowe are wasted and Kearney rarely joins the line the way he does for Leinster. On the rare occaisions these guys do attack they end up isolated.

Worst of all is that we weren't even able to set up a single drop goal opportunity at the end. In fact we didn't create one scoring opportunity in 80 mins.

[BlueMuff]

You have to blame Kidney all right - blame him for picking a fly half who has no idea of game management, no idea how to control a game, no idea when to kick or pass and no idea how to kick.

Yet another sub standard, below par International performance. Oh but its all Murrays fault though - and actually werent the conditions dreadful as well.

A great tackler yes - an International fly half - NO. Thats why we blame Kidney.

[SecretFly]

Win by defending was the pre-game mantra wasn't it? Defences win games is the credo in certain circles.

A tough, tough game by some great players fighting for their lives and reputations with nothing under the bonnet that connected the engine to the gear stick. I admire the players for giving us another seismic boxing match, for keeping the French scrum - that pushed Scotland back yards so easily - stuck in the ground on many occasions. Two teams in stalemate. One unable to get playing, the other just working on instinct to keep them out.

Now, the toughness, the aches, the pains, the shuddering collisions that this Irish coaching team (I won't mention the Head coach for fear of the traitor's noose) puts these players through is not necessary, is counter productive, is negative tactics and is such a disservice to the abilites of the players being asked to play it. The Irish coaches want Ireland to mimic giants (SA) and it just isn't sustainable. We don't have the giants, and we don't have the giants that will replace the players being asked to take on giant roles. We have what we have and we need to find ways of releasing them to play a less impact based game and a much more intelligent, support, offloading, high tempo game that will find ways around collisions rather than heading straight for them.

It's suicide rugby - it'll cause serious injuries to players we need and it's not paying dividends in success percentages.

[Standulstermen]

Rodders asks the question and it isn't answered. What did we create?

1 intercept and 1 bit of magic. In 80 minutes that is shocking. Blaming sexton is ludicrous. Having him kick Garryowens all day is a bloody waste.

[Biltong]

But then what did france create?

They got a fortuitous try from a mistake by overzealous play from Ireland after a poor kick from sexton.

[eirebilly]

I thought that Ireland were very good in the first half, thier intensity was amazing and they really had France on the back foot. What happened at half time, what was said and what were their instructions?
The team that came out in the second half were completely different and looked like (to me) to be playing to close out the match.

[Biltong]

billy, yes, and the fact is pressure created that intercept.

[Notch]

France created nothing either- in fact I think France were poor, absolutely there for the taking.

[Standulstermen]

But then what did france create?

They got a fortuitous try from a mistake by overzealous play from Ireland after a poor kick from sexton.

They aren't my concern biltong. As notch said they were there for the taking. I think the cracks are beginning to show. Kidney was as critical of a ref as I can ever recall post atch. SOB clearly was unhappy at being subbed after his best game thus far.

We will see where we stand after the 6n but at this moment i don't believe kidney should get the NZ tour.

[rodders]

But then what did france create?

They got a fortuitous try from a mistake by overzealous play from Ireland after a poor kick from sexton.

Well 3 or 4 opportunites to kick a drop goal to win the game for a start. We couldn't manufacture one. If France had a fly half worth their salt they'd have won 20-17 and we'd be scratching our heads as to how we lost the game.

We may as well have lost because our tournament is over. 0 points in the last 45 mins after leading by 11 points. Rubbish.

Halftime team talk was about keeping it simple, don't try anything special. We should have been looking to put 40 points on them. Fortune favours the brave and we are a bunch of yellow-belly's...a team in the mold of the manager. Terrified to lose and even more terrified to win. Defend defend defend and hope the other team screws up. What a pathetic approach to the game.

This was the most depressing display I've seen from an Irish side in the professional era. A total white flag waving effort and a moral defeat. A disgrace to O'Driscoll, Kyle, Gibson, Ringland, McBride and all the great players who've worn the jersey. Garbage in garbage out.

[SecretFly]

I thought that Ireland were very good in the first half, thier intensity was amazing and they really had France on the back foot. What happened at half time, what was said and what were their instructions?
The team that came out in the second half were completely different and looked like (to me) to be playing to close out the match.

It's caution, caution. Don't fluff this lads, don't do anything smart, contain them, defend, frustrate them. We'll pick another try off if we keep this up. Don't get cocky!

There wasn't one inventive piece of back play that I saw in the whole game that attempted to shift focus, change step, offload out of constrictive spaces and ask questions of the French by modifying the game from a defensive pattern to an all out attack pattern...Even if we had devoted 5 minutes to that, we might have gained the edge on the boards sufficiently to go back to the mantra of caution, caution - defend, defend.

They looked at all the videos and a child would be able to tell you that although France like to profit from attacking sides (counterattacks) they don't like to be attacked for long periods. The best defence against France is to attack. But no, that's not on this current coaching team's radar. So it was the mechanical sawtooth 'attack' plan we got - over and back against a firm French defence and oh so predictable passing out to the wings with absolutely no space to do anything except be knocked out by the bored French defence.

Parra has always said playing against Ireland is easy - they're predictable.

[Standulstermen]

Are we just playing terugby equivalent of jack charltons 'put 'em under pressure' style of football from the 90's?

[rodders]

Are we just playing terugby equivalent of jack charltons 'put 'em under pressure' style of football from the 90's?

Yup exactly. He had quality players too but coached them to hoof the ball away and defend. A waste of talent then and a waste now.

[miteyironpaw]

To be frank and honest, it seems to be fitness letting Ireland down at the moment.

They seem to have enough in the tank for 30-35 minutes, but the first sign of fatigue is loss of concentration. Mentally, Ireland weren't as sharp as they were in the first half. I'd also question the depth on the bench, France add real impact when they make their replacements, but Ireland seem to go a bit limp.

[Glas a du]

No. They can't play open attacking rugby and when they tried they drifted into touch.

[Standulstermen]

Don't think it is a fitness issue at all. The defnsive effort was astounding in fairness. They just lack anything resembling creativity and thus field position becomes hard to attain/retain

[aitchw]

A bit late joining this thread but here goes.

Don't know whether to congratulate Ireland on a gritty determined performance or to criticise for not putting France in it's place. You should have won that! There is enough experience and ability in your side to have made some very different decisions in the 2nd half that would have seen you home quite handsomely. France are way off their true potential. After their 1st 2 games I was expecting them to comfortably up their game for Ireland and they didn't and I am now wondering if they have the ability as a team to do it against England and Wales.

My guess is that after watching the game Ireland will see so many areas that they could and should have gained the ascendancy in and that's going to make the England clash immense.

[rodders]

Fitness is a red herring. The reason we run out of steam is because we are defending so much.

The team doing the attacking will alway be the fresher side.

[SecretFly]

To be frank and honest, it seems to be fitness letting Ireland down at the moment.

They seem to have enough in the tank for 30-35 minutes, but the first sign of fatigue is loss of concentration. Mentally, Ireland weren't as sharp as they were in the first half. I'd also question the depth on the bench, France add real impact when they make their replacements, but Ireland seem to go a bit limp.

Well the latest I heard at the weekend was that apart from having no dedicated backs coach, a forwards coach out due to ill health...we also don't have a strength/conditioning coach - we never bothered with a replacement for the last guy! That's the IRFU's committment to this Six Nations campaign. The lack of those coaches is showing and the players themselves are now only relying on cobbled together thoughts and professional memories to stay alive in the games they are playing.

If you were a suspicious man you wonder if Ireland were not trying desperately to show themselves up as a one dimensional, badly drilled, invention redundant side on purpose. The ruse is working if so!

[miteyironpaw]

Fitness is a red herring. The reason we run out of steam is because we are defending so much.

The team doing the attacking will alway be the fresher side.

Possibly true. I think the criticism being levelled at Ireland of not being creative enough is very unfair. I was really impressed with some of the work going on in that first half. Ireland looked genuinely threatening. First the execution was crisp and accurate. The passes were whizzing out and letting guys run onto the ball with pace. Secondly, there were a nice mix of direct running from the mid field, and the use of varying angles. The FB was brough into the line and there was good use of the short and long range kicking game as an offense weapon and also to unsettle the defensive pattern. I've never been impressed with Earls before, but I thought he was outstanding in taking the ball to the line. It was all just excellent heads-up rugby with the ball carrier looking for support and guys looking to support the ball carrier and give him options. Credit there has to be given to France who were brutal and explosive at times in defense. It was just a brilliant contest between two talented teams playing with very few errors.

In the second half that seemed to go a bit flat. Support was slow to arrive. The angles evaporated, it got a bit lateral, the passing a bit sloppy. The kicking game lost accuracy. That's why I was pointing the finger at fitness. It's a good point about defense sucking it out though...nut surely that remains, sometimes you need to defend like mad-men for 60 minutes and if you have the fitness then you'll have gas in the tank to counter when the opportunity arises.

It seemed to me that France wore Ireland down in the second half with great continuity and a close quarter game, predictable but effective, and perfect for the atrocious weather conditions. It's a game France should have clinched with either of the drop goal attempts, I thought both were a little premature. The defense was set, it was telegraphed and very pedestrian. If France had continued to drive at the line, eventually Ireland would have been forced to concede a penalty. Full marks for staying resolved in defense and holding them out though. The charge down of the second DG attempt was just fantastic awareness and execution. Completely faultless.

End of the day, a draw was a fair result between two evenly matched, disciplined and accurate teams. Nobody blinked and the clock ran out. Made me think though...should the 6N use extra time to decide drawn games? It would really add to the excitement of a game like that and take away the deflation of the draw.

[rodders]

mitey....err how many pints did you have before the match?.... I thought it was a game between two poor sides.

A super talented but aging French side who can't be botherered anymore and an individually strong Irish side who are being stifled with negative tactics and a disjointed game plan.

It was like watching two bald men fight over a comb.

All week Ireland had been building France up and talking about surviving the first ferocious 20 min...except the ferocious 20min didn't come and we ended up with an 11 point lead that could have been more at half time.

Instead of raising the pace and putting them to the sword Kidney panicked and instructed us to shut up shop with 40 mins to play.

The shell shocked look on his face and Foley with his head in his hands at the end when France were going for the drop goal showed how out of their depth those guys are.

[Standulstermen]

Harsh on foley there rodders.

Agree though I'm not sure what game was wAtched but angles in attack and Ireland just dont go together at the minute

[rodders]

Yeah its not Foleys fault but on what basis was he drafted in? The whole set up is a shambles. Can't believe we've no strength and conditioning coach.

Kiss is a world class defence coach but the rest of the set up is a disaster. No attack/backs coach and no s&c coach.

It is interesting though that our lineout and scrum is starting to faulter now Smal is out.

Personally I think BOD has been carrying our attack and without him we have no attacking instinct other than individually.

[Standulstermen]

Foley is in charge of the wolfhounds with Elwood and is also forwards coach at one of our provinces. It's not a massive reach go introduce him temporarily.

I thought our scrum was as good as it has ever been againstthe French. One bad day a the line out can't be put down to Smals absence. I think even with the great man in there our attack has been on the wane

[miteyironpaw]

mitey....err how many pints did you have before the match?.... I thought it was a game between two poor sides.

A super talented but aging French side who can't be botherered anymore and an individually strong Irish side who are being stifled with negative tactics and a disjointed game plan.

It was like watching two bald men fight over a comb.

All week Ireland had been building France up and talking about surviving the first ferocious 20 min...except the ferocious 20min didn't come and we ended up with an 11 point lead that could have been more at half time.

Instead of raising the pace and putting them to the sword Kidney panicked and instructed us to shut up shop with 40 mins to play...

The shell shocked look on his face and Foley with his head in his hands at the end when France were going for the drop goal showed how out of their depth those guys are.

I just had the one at half time Rodders. Very harsh perspective on the game you have there. Not sure it's fair to level accusations of France either aging or not being bothered. With experience comes a ruthless composed efficiency which can be made to look effortless. It's accurate and not showy. The conditions weren't the best and that's a factor that seems to be overlooked with the recent extremes for comparison.

I look at it this way. If you look at a suspension bridge over a wide canyon it's easy to believe it's a serene picture of carefree equilibrium. But behind that picture a tremendous battle of forces applied, counter-applied, giant hunks of nigh on unbreakable steel smashing into immovable rock, resisting between torn to pieces, lateral supports applying huge amount of torque at precise angles. Finely defined interconnections pivoting and dissipating vibrations to prevent the formation of standing waves, rigidity and elasticity playing an endless game of compromise to cater for varying weather conditions. In short there's a lot of very clever stuff silently going on unseen to create an image that nothing much is happening, so that nothing gives way.

That's what we had with France v Ireland, a collision of massive forces, finely tuned, resulting in a stale-mate. One for the connoisseur rather than the casual enthusiast maybe, but I loved it. Game of the 6N so far in my opinion.

[SecretFly]

I hate giving out about Kidney because I can see it in his face and in his demeanour that he is a man under stress, perhaps physically as well as mentally.

I'm not talking about the man and I wish one man didn't have to carry the can for bad times in International sides. But like I said before, that's the deal you buy into when you accept the role and the honour of head coach.

If he's the overseer with no input into the practicals of what happens on the field, then I say he's chosen badly (players or coaches), been treated badly (by IRFU that allow a campaign of such International importance to go ahead without necessary coaches in a modern professonal game) or just doesn't see when something isn't working.

If wish him perfect health and wish I could see performances that would take away the professional stress too. But the performances aren't there and it's what we, as followers of the sport, require. The head coach gets the criticism when things aren't going right. But the IRFU have also left him in quite a pickle where we have a side virtually trying to practically coach itself in the practicalities week after week.

[SecretFly]

I just had the one at half time Rodders. Very harsh perspective on the game you have there. Not sure it's fair to level accusations of France either aging or not being bothered. With experience comes a ruthless composed efficiency which can be made to look effortless. It's accurate and not showy. The conditions weren't the best and that's a factor that seems to be overlooked with the recent extremes for comparison.

I look at it this way. If you look at a suspension bridge over a wide canyon it's easy to believe it's a serene picture of carefree equilibrium. But behind that picture a tremendous battle of forces applied, counter-applied, giant hunks of nigh on unbreakable steel smashing into immovable rock, resisting between torn to pieces, lateral supports applying huge amount of torque at precise angles. Finely defined interconnections pivoting and dissipating vibrations to prevent the formation of standing waves, rigidity and elasticity playing an endless game of compromise to cater for varying weather conditions. In short there's a lot of very clever stuff silently going on unseen to create an image that nothing much is happening, so that nothing gives way.

That's what we had with France v Ireland, a collision of massive forces, finely tuned, resulting in a stale-mate. One for the connoisseur rather than the casual enthusiast maybe, but I loved it. Game of the 6N so far in my opinion.

Very well written and articulated, mitey. And yes, the collision of massive forces I also alluded to earlier and yes, that appealed to me on a level and it did create stalemate (and I especially was in awe of some of the scrums that didn't even move, almost seemed like still shots, they were so evenly driven into the ground and unwilling to give way on either side). I don't think some people on other threads realise the force in there when you could see how easily the French scrum dispatched the Scottish.

But I just also saw the prospect for an escape from that battle for just 6 or 7 minutes, to change focus for just a brief period, catch out the French and steal something using creativity, speed and invention. Something, if you will, to break the stalemate. I think we were actually the side that had that surprise in us, if it was allowed to be part of the plans.

[miteyironpaw]

I think Ireland's chance was lost when Gordon D'Arcy dropped the pass cold in the French 22 after a concerted period of pressure had France stretched.

Hard to blame him though, it was pelting down with rain. I guess at this level just a slightly higher level of ability to execute is required and that is the difference between winning and drawing.

Equally France wasted good field position and possession on two speculative drop goal attempts.

Very slight criticisms of otherwise tremendous efforts though.

Extra time? I'm all for it.

[rodders]

I just had the one at half time Rodders. Very harsh perspective on the game you have there.

Maybe... its hard to be objective after such a disappointing display. For the 3rd season running we've failed to mount a credible 6N challenge. After 3 seasons we've yet to see a cohesive gameplan or any type of attacking endevour under Kidney.

I really don't see were we can go from here. Other sides are rebuilding and we have gone for the status quo and its backfired. This campaign is over now. We may as well give players some game time and experience in the final two games.

Team for Scotland:

15 Kearney (c)
14 D Kearney
13 O'Malley
12 McFadden
11 Zebo/fitzgerald
10 Madigan
9 Reddan
8 O'Brien
7 O'Mahoney
6 Ferris
5 Ryan
4 Tuohy
3 ?
2 Strauss
1 Healy

[Mickado]

I just had the one at half time Rodders. Very harsh perspective on the game you have there.

Maybe... its hard to be objective after such a disappointing display. For the 3rd season running we've failed to mount a credible 6N challenge. After 3 seasons we've yet to see a cohesive gameplan or any type of attacking endevour under Kidney.

I really don't see were we can go from here. Other sides are rebuilding and we have gone for the status quo and its backfired. This campaign is over now. We may as well give players some game time and experience in the final two games.

Team for Scotland:

15 Kearney (c)
14 D Kearney
13 O'Malley
12 McFadden
11 Zebo/fitzgerald
10 Madigan
9 Reddan
8 O'Brien
7 O'Mahoney
6 Ferris
5 Ryan
4 Tuohy
3 ?
2 Strauss
1 Healy

Strauss isn’t Irish qualified until October Rodders.[b]

[rodders]

Flip stick Cronin in there then. Heard he was training with the side.

[Mickado]

He is yeah, but just training for now.

[The Great Aukster]

I'd like to see Kidney draft in some players for the Scotland game, but if Scotland beat Ireland their ranking will be badly affected, so it might not be too clever. Perhaps start most of the bench with a few newbies coming on as subs?

Court, Cronin, Ross
POC, Ryan
SOB, POM, Heaslip
Reddan, Sexton
Trimble, McFadden, Earls, Bowe
Kearney

Best, Healy, Tuohy, Henry, Murray(?), ROG, Jones

[whocares]

looking at the game stats on espnscrum.com (not sure if they are 100% accurate but seem to reflect the game) , Sexton apparently made 10 tackles (missed one), so better than Darcy and Earls (8/2 and 8/1), maybe he had more opprtunities as the french thought that attacking the 10 channel was easier (probably still thinking about the scotland game!) but still this is impressive for a fly half and could mean he could be a very good 12.
Ferris was the best tackler of the game alongside Bonnaire (14 each, no miss).
the other stat I found impressive is the number of metres ran by KEARNEY with the ball : 131m!

[Biltong]

aukster surely the rankings should not dictate to a coach whether he decides to experiment with his team.

The rankings are the devil in disguise if it influences a coach on developing a squad.

[Biltong]

looking at the game stats on espnscrum.com (not sure if they are 100% accurate but seem to reflect the game) , Sexton apparently made 10 tackles (missed one), so better than Darcy and Earls (8/2 and 8/1), maybe he had more opprtunities as the french thought that attacking the 10 channel was easier (probably still thinking about the scotland game!) but still this is impressive for a fly half and could mean he could be a very good 12.
Ferris was the best tackler of the game alongside Bonnaire (14 each, no miss).
the other stat I found impressive is the number of metres ran with the ball : 131m!

Whocares, these stats should be PM'd to those you want to read them. If Taffin finds out you are quoting stats you are going to be in trouble.

[Rory_Gallagher]

No Ferris??

[rodders]

Ferris was immense. That was his best Irish performance yet I think, backing up his outstanding display last week.

Some of his hits were just ferocious and whereas Sexton has rightly been lauded for his defence, quite often the next guy in to keep the French ball carrier of the deck was Ferris.

[SecretFly]

I say yes too to new blood being given an opportunity now. Championship is gone. Time for real trials to begin -in-a-meaningful-competition. Risk it.

We may unearth something that might serve us well in the coming year with the trip to New Zealand. That's our next target. If we're realistic, we know what went down against France won't be enough.

So give some real time to a different looking Irish side in the last two games. (Maybe not as drastically different as Rodders sugest but certainly in the same vein) some brash young things in to see can we spice something up. It's all far too flat and predictable. Even the regulars need a spark of something new to light their fire. A young livewire might just be the infectuous injection they need.

The rankings might suffer? Well, you could say our 'safe hands' players got us to where we are in the rankings in the first place.................

[Chunky Norwich]

Can anybody tell me exactly what Heaslip did yesterday considering some people are putting him in their Lions team?

He made 6 tackles. He won 1 lineout and gave a couple of penalties away.

Ferris and O'Brien had to do twice as much work because Heaslip went missing for 79 minutes. (They made 26 tackles between them)

-Healy scrummaged well. Far better than he has been.
-Sexton, O'Connell and Kearney player well.

[SecretFly]

Can anybody tell me exactly what Heaslip did yesterday considering some people are putting him in their Lions team?

A little cat-napping, some Havana cigars, slippers and a TV guide? No, I don't know what Heaslip did yesterday? Did he spend it at home or go to a pub in Dublin to watch?

[The Great Aukster]

Rodders - Yes that's right no Ferris. Given his history and the unselfish way he is playing, I'd be concerned at playing him four weeks in a row, especially when POM should be looked at with SOB at 6. Henry should get a quarter from the bench to see how he would fare.

[rodders]

Err it was Rory who asked about Ferris but yeah I assumed you meant to rest him Aukster and I agree.

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