Ireland v France - The 6N decider

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With such a strong points advantage if Ireland can just win in Paris then the Championship is there's. Now it's never been a happy hunting ground for Ireland - can they do it?

I think it's there year and I'm going to say yes.

Feckless Rogue wrote:Ireland v England in Dublin will be interesting. And Wales will be better next year. A little bit of Lions fatigue I think. Although England and Ireland have improved hugely and were well worth their victories over Wales.

Don't think that played a huge part in it, think they were simply found wanting at times as Gatland tactically went up against better coaches and came up short plus his persistance with certain players inspite of form and fitness really hurt them. Warburton was a passenger for the most part against Ireland yet he played 80 mins, Phillips was a liability, Lydiate doesn't seem to fully fit, Jenkins was yellow carded in two consecutive games for his scrummaging yet he was the only front rower to be picked again against Scotland and Priestland isn't a fly half that will change games

marty2086 wrote:

Feckless Rogue wrote:Ireland v England in Dublin will be interesting. And Wales will be better next year. A little bit of Lions fatigue I think. Although England and Ireland have improved hugely and were well worth their victories over Wales.

Don't think that played a huge part in it, think they were simply found wanting at times as Gatland tactically went up against better coaches and came up short plus his persistance with certain players inspite of form and fitness really hurt them. Warburton was a passenger for the most part against Ireland yet he played 80 mins, Phillips was a liability, Lydiate doesn't seem to fully fit, Jenkins was yellow carded in two consecutive games for his scrummaging yet he was the only front rower to be picked again against Scotland and Priestland isn't a fly half that will change games

How are they better coaches though? Schmidt has far less coaching honours than Gats, who has made progress with multiple teams instead of just one. Lancaster gets 1 win in 3 against Wales and another 2nd place finish and he's better? I really don't understand your thinking.

Schmidt, SL or maybe both should be the next lions coache, both have shown the way rugby should be played in the NH.

Thomas Castaignede was praising Schmidt for the work he did at Clermont and the legacy he left there.
Leinster were a good team before he arrived but were a bit reliant on BOD and Rocky Elsom in their 09 success, under Schmidt they became the most exciting and successful club team in the world, quite possibly.
As for Ireland, just watch the game against Italy last year...

He also completely mugged off Gatland tactically this year.

Hopefully they can live up to Gats achievements (first series win in 16 years) . He's probably their role model.

theslosty wrote:Thomas Castaignede was praising Schmidt for the work he did at Clermont and the legacy he left there.
Leinster were a good team before he arrived but were a bit reliant on BOD and Rocky Elsom in their 09 success, under Schmidt they became the most exciting and successful club team in the world, quite possibly.
As for Ireland, just watch the game against Italy last year...

Clermont back then were like they are now, all the best players in Europe and very inconsistent. Don't remember them doing anything of note, unless that ECC title was under Schmidt? I can't really remember.
Yeah Schmidt pretty much had a good team given to him, his job wouldn't have been that difficult. But he did take Leinster to new heights. Ireland have drastically improved upon last year, though they do have less injuries and 3 Provincial teams in the top 8.

Scrumpy wrote:Schmidt, SL or maybe both should be the next lions coache, both have shown the way rugby should be played in the NH.

Give it to Lancaster. Hes excellent at building a tight cohesive unit,  achieving results and creating a no-nonsense atmosphere amongst his players. So much respect for that man. What he has done for England rugby-wise, would have taken another coach 5 or 6 years. And even then? Take a bow Burt.  Hats off.  

Besides, Schmidt is going nowhere. We lost him to Ireland. No focking way we want to lose him to the Lions. With respect.

Gatland should be next Lions coach. Without doubt.

Gibson wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:Schmidt, SL or maybe both should be the next lions coache, both have shown the way rugby should be played in the NH.

Give it to Lancaster. Hes excellent at building a tight cohesive unit,  achieving results and creating a no-nonsense atmosphere amongst his players. So much respect for that man. What he has done for England rugby-wise, would have taken another coach 5 or 6 years. And even then?  Take a bow Burt.  Hats off.  

Besides, Schmidt is going nowhere. We lost him to Ireland. No focking way we want to lose him to the Lions. With respect.

Mmmmm Scrumpy you are so transparent, always the thinly veiled pop, my advice is give it to the guy who already won it   

HammerofThunor wrote:Gatland should be next Lions coach. Without doubt.

I agree. Best give it to him, rather than waste the time of the 2 best National coaches in the NH. Or possibly, in the World right now.

They have far more important work to do.

Gibson wrote:

HammerofThunor wrote:Gatland should be next Lions coach. Without doubt.

I agree. Best give it to him, rather than waste the time of the 2 best National coaches in the NH.

They have far more important work to do.

Lancaster is not the best anything, he has not produced any results.

Scratch wrote:

Gibson wrote:

HammerofThunor wrote:Gatland should be next Lions coach. Without doubt.

I agree. Best give it to him, rather than waste the time of the 2 best National coaches in the NH.

They have far more important work to do.

Lancaster is not the best anything, he has not produced any results.

What?!

England under Johnson. The chaos, the drinking, the Ladyboy sex? The press all over em?

The man has not only produced a team to realistically challenge for the RWC, he has changed a whole mindset and an in-built, misguided arrogance, and has instilled his own set of values. All within a short period of time.

I mean, your lot are actually likeable for the 1st time in yonks. And that's mad.  #justsayin.

No one, in the past, has managed to do that. Specially against the culture and adversity he had lumped on him.

The man has class, humility, integrity and intelligence. And hes spreading it around his squad.

After your comments about 'Tabloid readers' on another thread, I'm disappointed in you Gibson.

HammerofThunor wrote:After your comments about 'Tabloid readers' on another thread, I'm disappointed in you Gibson.

Thunor,
It was directed at a selected few. It was also a WUM born out boredom. The same old culprits looking to run down the 1st easy victim. Specially a winner. And a winning Mick ta boot.

Surprised at you man. You should know me by now.

Was it directed at Scratch then? As he's welsh, so it would be a swing and a miss.

HammerofThunor wrote:Was it directed at Scratch then? As he's welsh, so it would be a swing and a miss.

Errmmm... well... how can I put this? Ja. Prime subject. There's another one too.
Bugger!

Thunor.   

Im a lover, not a fighter. 2 teams came out of this comp on the move. England are a year ahead of us. Schmidt has to compress time to catch up, even more so than Burt had to. I think that may hurt us at the RWC.