Munster vs Saracens

valjester wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Thomond wrote:What's more surprising is one or two people in the comments thought he was pretty good!


L4L, I'm biased but I really think jhe has been better than Heaslip over the last 2 years, Heaslip is not as good as people make him out to be in my opinion. Coughlan is pretty old, at least 31 but if he is good enough he is young enough. I still don;t get why people target him at kickoffs, I don't think I have ever seen him drop one!

I think there are a few options at 8 who are better than Heaslip these days, and Coughlan certainly deserves a shot if he plays like that.

Heaslip has been close to back to his best so far this season, he is a much better player than Coughlan, who has been extremely good consistently since he got his chance.

I thought that piece in the Indo would be by that gobsh*te Connor George, who is extremely lucky to be working in national journalism and should be left to cover Cork only. Rog was terrible yesterday, and his goal kicking was perfect but everything else was atrocious including his line kicking, he missed two penalties to touch which shouldn't be overlooked, nor should his retarded 22 drop.


On the ref and the breakdown, Munster need to adapt better to his interpretation, its as simple as that. They have had him before this season against Leinster and they struggled then, they have no excuse next week if they continue to struggle. The only major issues I would have with him were the scrum and the offside line, Saracens got away with a lot of false starts at the offside line where they would rush forward slightly thinking Murray had hands on the ball and then retreat slowly, it shouldn't have been allowed and slowed down any quick ball, not that it mattered as when Munster got quick ball Rog made sure to turn it into slow ball anyway.

Artful_Dodger wrote:
Don't think Heaslip has been near his best yet.

valjester wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:
Don't think Heaslip has been near his best yet.

Maybe not but he is a different class to Coughlan and quite clearly the best 8 available to Ireland. Rory he was extremely good as a carrier for Leinster earlier in the year, he can carry more than capably when he is asked, but lately he leaves the carrying to SOB and plays a different role. I really think he gets a lot of unfair stick from Irish fans due to his image, especially from Munster fans.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

valjester wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:
Don't think Heaslip has been near his best yet.

Maybe not but he is a different class to Coughlan and quite clearly the best 8 available to Ireland. Rory he was extremely good as a carrier for Leinster earlier in the year, he can carry more than capably when he is asked, but lately he leaves the carrying to SOB and plays a different role. I really think he gets a lot of unfair stick from Irish fans due to his image, especially from Munster fans.

Why can't he carry along with SOB though, like any decent back row combination would? He isn't as effective with ball in hand as he once was, it is as simple as that unfortunately.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

valjester wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:
Don't think Heaslip has been near his best yet.

Maybe not but he is a different class to Coughlan and quite clearly the best 8 available to Ireland. Rory he was extremely good as a carrier for Leinster earlier in the year, he can carry more than capably when he is asked, but lately he leaves the carrying to SOB and plays a different role. I really think he gets a lot of unfair stick from Irish fans due to his image, especially from Munster fans.

Why can't he carry along with SOB though, like any decent back row combination would? He isn't as effective with ball in hand as he once was, it is as simple as that unfortunately.

Standulstermen wrote:Heaslip is still comfortably number one for me. His work in contact is massively underrated and while he isn't the same force he once was as regards carrying his distribution and awareness is for me a level above other options. They being Coughlan and Wilson neither of which are spring chickens. In fairness I think Coughlan at 32 would need to be massively better than the other options to get near the Ireland team IMO. He is really very good just not good enough to warrant inclusion now.

I still would rather shift SOB back to 8 with Henderson and Henry in the backrow if Heaslip were injured.