Ireland v Georgia Sunday 16th

First topic message reminder :

Hi all,

Feel like this post can go up now that the dust is starting to settle on what was a very good win at the weekend.
Plenty of positives to take including the effective defense, the tenuous breakdown work and excellent control from the halfbacks. Some things could still be considered work ons including our attack with ball in hand, lineout and scrum.

Georgia, with all due respect, should be an easy game (echoes of 2007). Tonga beat them 23-6. Georgia failed to score a point in the second half and all of Tonga's tries came in the final 20minutes. Without wanting to sound too simplistic, it would appear as if Georgia are quite unfit albeit very physical while still on their feet. As a developed playing nation we should benefit from a number of things but the main one should be organisation and preparation. I am expecting a 100% return from our lineout, some later success in securing turnovers and our defensive shape to hold firm.

To put it bluntly, I don't believe that Georgia have any right scoring a point against us.............................with all due respect.

Injuries still account for a fair bit of our squad, other than the original cast who were down and out we have possibly lost Payne for this one, Best may be back, Henry should be back if it was just a virus and Darcy should be available also.

Any game day news, predictions, wish-lists etc pop it down below.
Much love,
Pete

You are not allowed be critical of Munster players on this forum. Simple as that. You can say what you want about Ulster, Connacht or Leinster players but Dod has a breakdown if you mention anything about Zeebs........

You guys are right. Joe doesn't want offloads or people to pass the ball past the midfield pairing. Both obviously a direct ploy to stop Zebo from getting the ball. This is childish and pathetic.

Joe out!!

Foley for Ireland manager.

GunsGerms wrote:You are not allowed be critical of Munster players on this forum. Simple as that. You can say what you want about Ulster, Connacht or Leinster players but Dod has a breakdown if you mention anything about Zeebs........

Now stop that!  Schmidt won't like to see Zebo running like that.  He's running away from support players!  Slow down you Bastard!!!!

ME-109 wrote:

Submachine wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

Submachine wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

Submachine wrote:

Sin é wrote:

ME-109 wrote:More analysis from The Score for last weekends game....very good as usual.

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/analysis-ireland-south-africa-rucks-1776408-Nov2014/?utm_source=shortlink

Looks like Bowe & Kearney will need to sort out the 'Ruck Resourcing' from that

Zebo - tops the list with the 6 effective.

8 Mike Ross – 1 dominant, 5 effective, 2 guards

7 Paul O’Connell – 4 effective, 1 present, 2 ineffective

7 Peter O’Mahony – 1 dominant, 3 guard, 1 present, 2 ineffective

7 Jack McGrath – 5 effective, 1 guard, 1 ineffective

6 Jamie Heaslip – 2 effective, 2 guard, 2 present

6 Simon Zebo – 6 effective

5 Rhys Ruddock – 3 effective, 1 guard, 1 ineffective

2 Robbie Henshaw – 2 effective

2 Tommy Bowe – 1 effective, 1 ineffective

2 Rob Kearney – 1 guard, 1 ineffective

Have you only quoted the stats where the player was second to the ruck? To be fair to Zebo, he did get stuck in on the day. Sort out his front on tackling and he's nearly there.

For a second there I thought you were talking about Heaslip (poor on his rucking stats as well tut tut). So its front on tackling now....what next...stop attempting to score tries? Stop making hard yards? Stop being a winger ffs.

You do seem to be a little hard of understanding at times. I've said several times I think Zebo's criticism in defense is mostly unwarrented. He covers well, executes side on tackles well but where he has been exposed is when an opponent is running straight for him, he gets stood up at times and is left flat footed. He doesn't lack bravery in the attempt, it's sorting his feet out and getting into a better position to make the tackle.

I know you have an impressive view of yourself but I am not about to go back and read all your posts to dissect a soundbite based on some p1sspoor analysis of which you could make up about any player on the team.

Didn't ask you to. But just for kicks and giggles. Could you give an objective view of Zebo? Strengths and weaknesses? Or a are you so  programmed not to see any faults in a Munster player that you believe he has no room for improvement in any area?

Munster players have many faults (what player doesnt). However the reaction is to the usual poor arguments from the usual quarters.

Fair enough. If you think I'm having a go for the sake of it I can assure you I'm not. I gave an opinion on an area that I think if Zebo improved on would banish any talk about defensive frailties. I think it's the only area he really needs to improve on in defense.

thebandwagonsociety wrote:You guys are right.  Joe doesn't want offloads or people to pass the ball past the midfield pairing.  Both obviously a direct ploy to stop Zebo from getting the ball.  This is childish and pathetic.  

Joe out!!

Foley for Ireland manager.

Personally I think Rog should be asked to come out of retirement for the world cup as our first choice 10.

SecretFly wrote:There you go - Penny having a SHOT.  Penny enjoying the ride of having a SHOT at a fellow Kiwi.  Great stuff.  You think he didn't enjoy having a SHOT?  
So why didn't he keep his mouth closed and mind his own business?  Did he help make it a 'bigger issue' for the fans that love the bite of the drama?  Sure he did.
Should he apologise?  No.  It was entertainment.

Kidney keeps quiet, yes.  Dignified nice man who is almost too nice for the sport he was in.  O'Gara didn't though.  You obviously missed a good few interviews where O'Gara has a SHOT at his mentor.  Should he apologise for stirring?  Nope.  It's part of the game.

O'Gara said nothing until after he retired (and considering what happened, he said very little).

Simon Zebo was Penney's business. Interesting comment from a reporter (Ruaidhri O'Connor) on Schmidt & Zebo:

Last June, after an injury-wrecked season, he finally got a chance to play for Ireland under Schmidt, a coach who prizes substance over style and who has had his feathers ruffled by the affection shown towards the Munster winger.

O'Connor also said that 'Schmidt has often been uncomfortable with being asked about Zebo'.

Thats why I'm slightly amused at the IRFU PR to bring Zebo back into the centre of the IRFU family (because now that BOD is gone, they need someone with a bit of an x-factor).


Interview with Zebo from just before the Leinster game.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/simon-zebo-if-i-go-down-i-go-down-fighting-saying-i-tried-30637305.html

ME-109 wrote:More analysis from The Score for last weekends game....very good as usual.

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/analysis-ireland-south-africa-rucks-1776408-Nov2014/?utm_source=shortlink

Is it Murray Kinsella writes those score.ie analysis? They are brilliant.

Sin é wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Why worry about the doubters, Sin?  Joe believes now and that's all that matters.  Zebo is in and is holding his own.  It doesn't matter what the sofa sitters say

Actually, I think its all a bit amusing. Joe's/IRFU handling of Zebo was a PR disaster outside a few white and blued eyed supporters. It should never have been allowed to become a personality thing.

What handling? I don't recall him ever saying anything about Zebo at any point. All there ever was was a bit of smoke and mirrors from the media and aggrieved Munster fans.

Notch wrote:

Sin é wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Why worry about the doubters, Sin?  Joe believes now and that's all that matters.  Zebo is in and is holding his own.  It doesn't matter what the sofa sitters say

Actually, I think its all a bit amusing. Joe's/IRFU handling of Zebo was a PR disaster outside a few white and blued eyed supporters. It should never have been allowed to become a personality thing.

What handling? I don't recall him ever saying anything about Zebo at any point. All there ever was was a bit of smoke and mirrors from the media and aggrieved Munster fans.

You don't have to say anything to have mishandled a situation.

So now he didnt say anything. Very creative your obscure wishey washy gripes Sin

Ever hear the phrase, actions speaks louder than words, Guns?

I'll spell it out for you:

Schmidt didn't select Zebo (while all the time saying that he selected on form).
But, you see, Zebo was scoring tries for fun back with his Province.
Journalists (along with most people who watch Zebo), thought it was a bit odd that Schmidt was ignoring form having said that he would select on form and kept asking him why he wasn't selecting Zebo which he got a bit tired of answering.

Now, he is afraid to drop Zebo (seems he is starting on the left wing against Georgia), with Bowe being dropped to give Gilroy a go.

Sin é wrote:Ever hear the phrase, actions speaks louder than words, Guns?

I'll spell it out for you:

Schmidt didn't select Zebo (while all the time saying that he selected on form).
But, you see, Zebo was scoring tries for fun back with his Province.
Journalists (along with most people who watch Zebo), thought it was a bit odd that Schmidt was ignoring form having said that he would select on form and kept asking him why he wasn't selecting Zebo which he got a bit tired of answering.

Now, he is afraid to drop Zebo (seems he is starting on the left wing against Georgia), with Bowe being dropped to give Gilroy a go.

Think this comment might come back to bite you at some point.

Sin é wrote:Ever hear the phrase, actions speaks louder than words, Guns?

I'll spell it out for you:

Schmidt didn't select Zebo (while all the time saying that he selected on form).
But, you see, Zebo was scoring tries for fun back with his Province.
Journalists (along with most people who watch Zebo), thought it was a bit odd that Schmidt was ignoring form having said that he would select on form and kept asking him why he wasn't selecting Zebo which he got a bit tired of answering.

Now, he is afraid to drop Zebo (seems he is starting on the left wing against Georgia), with Bowe being dropped to give Gilroy a go.

Wishey washy garbage. Zebos attitude, work ethic and defense was off form. Schmidt looks at everything. You seem to think that Zebo should somehow be above criticism and have a golden ticket to do what he wants because he flicked the ball with his heel in Cardiff a few years ago and makes a Z sign with his hands when he scores.

There is little evidence so far that Zebo has contributed any more than D Kearney did in the six nations so it really wasnt a particularly contraversial decision to leave him out IMO.

Sin é wrote:Ever hear the phrase, actions speaks louder than words, Guns?

I'll spell it out for you:

Schmidt didn't select Zebo (while all the time saying that he selected on form).
But, you see, Zebo was scoring tries for fun back with his Province.Journalists (along with most people who watch Zebo), thought it was a bit odd that Schmidt was ignoring form having said that he would select on form and kept asking him why he wasn't selecting Zebo which he got a bit tired of answering.

Now, he is afraid to drop Zebo (seems he is starting on the left wing against Georgia), with Bowe being dropped to give Gilroy a go.

Sin I abide you most times...but then there are times even you know you're twisting in a sack of excuses just for the fun of trying to win a debate that you know is crumbling all around you.

Just stop when those moments hit because they become caricature.

Schmidt is Ireland coach...Zebo's provincial coach isn't/wasn't.  
Schmidt decided he had no place for Zebo.  His right.  What happened after that was the circus............... the circus was created by people like you, people like me, people in the media who kept asking Schmidt about a player that wasn't in his camp, people like Penny who put his ten pennies worth into the hat.... you and me and all those people made Zebo the circus, NOT Schmidt.

When that's pointed out to you - you turn the idea and then you say it was Schmidt's silence that convicts him.  So the circus people hovering around Schmidt with their drama scripts of "Why no Zebo Joe????" are all innocent of turning Zebo into a circus issue but the man who said nothing is responsible for the circus?

Wrong again, and you'll have to revise again as I'm saying Joe DID say something.  He did mention Zebo.  He did say what he expected of players.  His team, his preference, his demands for modifications of playing style to suit His team.

And NO.................... scoring tries for fun................... wasn't the demands he was making on players who wished to play for him.  Proof being that Zebo is NOT scoring tries for fun playing for Ireland - scoring tries for fun is NOT what was required of him - he's only on the team because he is doing what is required of him.

SecretFly wrote:

Sin é wrote:Ever hear the phrase, actions speaks louder than words, Guns?

I'll spell it out for you:

Schmidt didn't select Zebo (while all the time saying that he selected on form).
But, you see, Zebo was scoring tries for fun back with his Province.Journalists (along with most people who watch Zebo), thought it was a bit odd that Schmidt was ignoring form having said that he would select on form and kept asking him why he wasn't selecting Zebo which he got a bit tired of answering.

Now, he is afraid to drop Zebo (seems he is starting on the left wing against Georgia), with Bowe being dropped to give Gilroy a go.

Sin I abide you most times...but then there are times even you know you're twisting in a sack of excuses just for the fun of trying to win a debate that you know is crumbling all around you.

Just stop when those moments hit because they become caricature.

Schmidt is Ireland coach...Zebo's provincial coach isn't/wasn't.  
Schmidt decided he had no place for Zebo.  His right.  What happened after that was the circus............... the circus was created by people like you, people like me, people in the media who kept asking Schmidt about a player that wasn't in his camp, people like Penny who put his ten pennies worth into the hat.... you and me and all those people made Zebo the circus, NOT Schmidt.

When that's pointed out to you - you turn the idea and then you say it was Schmidt's silence that convicts him.  So the circus people hovering around Schmidt with their drama scripts of "Why no Zebo Joe????" are all innocent of turning Zebo into a circus issue but the man who said nothing is responsible for the circus?

Wrong again, and you'll have to revise again as I'm saying Joe DID say something.  He did mention Zebo.  He did say what he expected of players.  His team, his preference, his demands for modifications of playing style to suit His team.

And NO.................... scoring tries for fun................... wasn't the demands he was making on players who wished to play for him.  Proof being that Zebo is NOT scoring tries for fun playing for Ireland - scoring tries for fun is NOT what was required of him - he's only on the team because he is doing what is required of him.

You see this is where the rewriting happening. Zebo was called into the 6Ns squad, but apparently was sent back to Munster had nothing to do with what happened on the training field or the playing pitch. It happened in the carpark. It was all about Zebo being supposedly insubordinate to Schmidt by not dropping everything to go to a meeting at short notice. Schmidt's ego was upset. Penney confirmed that with his 'Tall Poppy' comments.

Schmidt was on the defensive from then on and the press didn't let up (rightly) on why he wasn't getting a look in. Schmidt's coaching philosophy seems to be to make average players better. He loves the average player like Jimmy Goppert. New Zealand will never make him head coach because of that. He would turn Julian Savea into a backrow and have him hitting rucks.

On Off the Ball the other night (Panel of Woody, BOD etc), someone in the audience asked the panel if they thought that Schmidt's coaching was too prescriptive. Audience & panel went berserk at the thought of the question - but all you have do to is look at Leinster. They seem a little lost now without him as coach.

If you are being insubordinate to your manager then what do you expect? In any case you do have a great imagination Sin the way you link "facts" together. A real modern day nostradamus.

GunsGerms wrote:

thebandwagonsociety wrote:You guys are right.  Joe doesn't want offloads or people to pass the ball past the midfield pairing.  Both obviously a direct ploy to stop Zebo from getting the ball.  This is childish and pathetic.  

Joe out!!

Foley for Ireland manager.

Personally I think Rog should be asked to come out of retirement for the world cup as our first choice 10.

In that documentary on ROG he did say he had something left in the tank. He has been carrying Sexton for too long over there. Foley as coach, ROG at OH.

Sin é wrote:
You see this is where the rewriting happening. Zebo was called into the 6Ns squad, but apparently was sent back to Munster had nothing to do with what happened on the training field or the playing pitch. It happened in the carpark. It was all about Zebo being supposedly insubordinate to Schmidt by not dropping everything to go to a meeting at short notice. Schmidt's ego was upset. Penney confirmed that with his 'Tall Poppy' comments.

Schmidt was on the defensive from then on and the press didn't let up (rightly) on why he wasn't getting a look in. Schmidt's coaching philosophy seems to be to make average players better. He loves the average player like Jimmy Goppert. New Zealand will never make him head coach because of that. He would turn Julian Savea into a backrow and have him hitting rucks.

On Off the Ball the other night (Panel of Woody, BOD etc), someone in the audience asked the panel if they thought that Schmidt's coaching was too prescriptive. Audience & panel went berserk at the thought of the question - but all you have do to is look at Leinster. They seem a little lost now without him as coach.

You're doing the rewriting.  

I say again...you initally blamed Schmidt here for turning the Zebo issue into something of a circus.  Then you had to backtrack on that and say it was him saying nothing that turned it into a circus.  The people who truned Zebo (carpark stuff or rucking stuff) into a media show was You - Me - Social Media - Professional Media People - Penny.  

The two people who didn't turn it into a show are Zebo (who kept his dignity and smile) and Schmidt (who only answered questions when questions continued to be put to him about a player not in his squad)

The rest is bunk.  I don't care about why or why not Zebo is ever out or in of Ireland camp, I'm saying Schmidt isn't running the drama  show that revolves around it.

thebandwagonsociety wrote:
In that documentary on ROG he did say he had something left in the tank.  He has been carrying Sexton for too long over there.  Foley as coach, ROG at OH.

ROG as kicking coach............ and no joke

Sin é wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

Sin é wrote:Ever hear the phrase, actions speaks louder than words, Guns?

I'll spell it out for you:

Schmidt didn't select Zebo (while all the time saying that he selected on form).
But, you see, Zebo was scoring tries for fun back with his Province.Journalists (along with most people who watch Zebo), thought it was a bit odd that Schmidt was ignoring form having said that he would select on form and kept asking him why he wasn't selecting Zebo which he got a bit tired of answering.

Now, he is afraid to drop Zebo (seems he is starting on the left wing against Georgia), with Bowe being dropped to give Gilroy a go.

Sin I abide you most times...but then there are times even you know you're twisting in a sack of excuses just for the fun of trying to win a debate that you know is crumbling all around you.

Just stop when those moments hit because they become caricature.

Schmidt is Ireland coach...Zebo's provincial coach isn't/wasn't.  
Schmidt decided he had no place for Zebo.  His right.  What happened after that was the circus............... the circus was created by people like you, people like me, people in the media who kept asking Schmidt about a player that wasn't in his camp, people like Penny who put his ten pennies worth into the hat.... you and me and all those people made Zebo the circus, NOT Schmidt.

When that's pointed out to you - you turn the idea and then you say it was Schmidt's silence that convicts him.  So the circus people hovering around Schmidt with their drama scripts of "Why no Zebo Joe????" are all innocent of turning Zebo into a circus issue but the man who said nothing is responsible for the circus?

Wrong again, and you'll have to revise again as I'm saying Joe DID say something.  He did mention Zebo.  He did say what he expected of players.  His team, his preference, his demands for modifications of playing style to suit His team.

And NO.................... scoring tries for fun................... wasn't the demands he was making on players who wished to play for him.  Proof being that Zebo is NOT scoring tries for fun playing for Ireland - scoring tries for fun is NOT what was required of him - he's only on the team because he is doing what is required of him.

You see this is where the rewriting happening. Zebo was called into the 6Ns squad, but apparently was sent back to Munster had nothing to do with what happened on the training field or the playing pitch. It happened in the carpark. It was all about Zebo being supposedly insubordinate to Schmidt by not dropping everything to go to a meeting at short notice. Schmidt's ego was upset. Penney confirmed that with his 'Tall Poppy' comments.

Schmidt was on the defensive from then on and the press didn't let up (rightly) on why he wasn't getting a look in. Schmidt's coaching philosophy seems to be to make average players better. He loves the average player like Jimmy Goppert. New Zealand will never make him head coach because of that. He would turn Julian Savea into a backrow and have him hitting rucks.

On Off the Ball the other night (Panel of Woody, BOD etc), someone in the audience asked the panel if they thought that Schmidt's coaching was too prescriptive. Audience & panel went berserk at the thought of the question - but all you have do to is look at Leinster. They seem a little lost now without him as coach.

Leinster are a little lost being without Joe, BOD, Leo Cullen, Nacewa, Jonno Gibbes and Sexton.  Losing any one of those people should seriously rattle a side, Leinster lost them all.

So Sin, do you want Joe gone? You seem to be quite insistant that he can only deal with average players and that he can't handle talent like Zebo.  It's been said in the past that POC doesn't get on with him.  Who do you want as coach and do they need to be appointed before Christmas in order to get enough time with the team before the RWC?

So the fact that Leinster have gone downhill since Schmidt left is evidence that Schmidt is a bad coach now.

Notch wrote:So the fact that Leinster have gone downhill since Schmidt left is evidence that Schmidt is a bad coach now.

Lol perfect

Yep...

And God help the next (Foley?) Irish coach. The team will be shyte because Schmidt taught them too much technical mumbo jumbo stuff and only picked non-thinkers like POM, Zebo, POC, Murray etc.
They might even refuse to score tries and go on strike if forced to: "We don't need 'em Gov. We're not interested. We don't like 'em. We hate tries, boss."

Notch wrote:So the fact that Leinster have gone downhill since Schmidt left is evidence that Schmidt is a bad coach now.

I said he made average players much better. I haven't seen any evidence of him making really quality players better yet.

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

Notch wrote:So the fact that Leinster have gone downhill since Schmidt left is evidence that Schmidt is a bad coach now.

Lol perfect

Isn't Matt O'Connor blamed for Leinster's poor form?

Average players better?  Is that not a bonus given that your argument when Kidney was in charge was that we couldn't blame Kidney that he was losing the raw resources in players to get the job done.

You kept telling us we were overselling the ability of the players - that we were in a bit of a natural sump in talent and that Kidney shouldn't be blamed.

So now we have a coach who improves average players and you instead want him making superstars out of good ones.

He'll never hit your quality control marker Sin, just admit it.  We could be World Champs at the end of next year and you'd say we didn't win the final by enough to convince you he's our man.  

It's just a debate game you're involved in here, which is fine but the logic unravels when someone isn't serious.

Sin é wrote:

Notch wrote:So the fact that Leinster have gone downhill since Schmidt left is evidence that Schmidt is a bad coach now.

I said he made average players much better. I haven't seen any evidence of him making really quality players better yet.

What about captain slow? Murray is a much much better player under Schmidt.

Sin é wrote:

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

Notch wrote:So the fact that Leinster have gone downhill since Schmidt left is evidence that Schmidt is a bad coach now.

Lol perfect

Isn't Matt O'Connor blamed for Leinster's poor form?

Why shouldn't he be...he's coach?

Sin é wrote:

Notch wrote:So the fact that Leinster have gone downhill since Schmidt left is evidence that Schmidt is a bad coach now.

I said he made average players much better. I haven't seen any evidence of him making really quality players better yet.

Really quality players will remain really quality players. If he can make average players much better, on a par with the really quality players then we are cooking with gas. It's also pretty debatable whether Zebo is 'really quality'. He has a lot of flair but some parts of his game are average. He could yet develop into a quality player.

Finally, the very small handful of guys we have who really are genuinely top quality internationals- Jamie Heaslip, Jonny Sexton, Rory Best, Paul O'Connell- are generally playing better now than they were under the previous regime. Andrew Trimble under Schmidt has now joined that list of truly quality players after previous coaches comprehensively failed to get the best out of him. The likes of Sean O'Brien and Tommy Bowe are also quality but we haven't seen much of them due to injury

SecretFly wrote:It's just a debate game you're involved in here, which is fine but the logic unravels when someone isn't serious.

Word.

Notch wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Notch wrote:So the fact that Leinster have gone downhill since Schmidt left is evidence that Schmidt is a bad coach now.

I said he made average players much better. I haven't seen any evidence of him making really quality players better yet.

Really quality players will remain really quality players. If he can make average players much better, on a par with the really quality player,s then we are cooking with gas. It's also pretty debatable whether Zebo is 'really quality'. He has a lot of flair but some parts of his game are average.

Finally, the small handful of guys we have who really are genuinely quality- Jamie Heaslip, Jonny Sexton, Rory Best, Paul O'Connell- are generally playing better now than they were under the previous regime.

SecretFly wrote:It's just a debate game you're involved in here, which is fine but the logic unravels when someone isn't serious.

Word.

Zebo has all the natural attributes to be a fantastic player - pace, skill, physique and attitude. I'd like to see Schmidt use him for something other than hitting rucks.

Jamie Heaslip played his best rugby in 2009.
Sexton's improvement is probably down to the day-to-day coaching he is getting at Racing. He is much more confident now.
Rory Best had his best ever season in 2011.
Paul O'Connell has improved since the last regime? He hardly played for Ireland for 2 years (which was a major problem for Ireland - he brings so much to the team). Interesting listening to Off the Ball and what BOD & Woody had to say about what he does for the team (and the opposition).

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Notch wrote:So the fact that Leinster have gone downhill since Schmidt left is evidence that Schmidt is a bad coach now.

I said he made average players much better. I haven't seen any evidence of him making really quality players better yet.

What about captain slow? Murray is a much much better player under Schmidt.

Murray credits Rob Howley on the Lions with helping him a lot (mainly confidence building). Murray is running the show for Munster where he plays differently for Ireland under Schmidt. According to Gerry Thornley on Off the Ball the other night, after the SA game in the dressing room Schmidt had a go at him for allowing the ball to bounce for Tommy Bowe's try.

Sin é wrote:According to Gerry Thornley on Off the Ball the other night, after the SA game in the dressing room Schmidt had a go at him for allowing the ball to bounce for Tommy Bowe's try.

How is that not a good thing though?

Thats because Schmidt is a perfectionist and that is why Murray is improving under him.

Notch wrote:

Sin é wrote:According to Gerry Thornley on Off the Ball the other night, after the SA game in the dressing room Schmidt had a go at him for allowing the ball to bounce for Tommy Bowe's try.

How is that not a good thing though?

It doesnt sit well with the Munster psyche because they need a pat on the back for everything they do.

You don't want your coach to be too nice though. And you certainly do NOT want him to ever think anything is ever good enough- constant improvement is always the target.

IRELAND: Jones, Gilroy, Cave, D'Arcy, Zebo; Madigan, Reddan (c); Kilcoyne, Strauss, Ross; Foley, McCarthy, D.Ryan, TOD, Diack

Eoin Reddan is Captain... thats interesting!

Team here

Notch wrote:IRELAND: Jones, Gilroy, Cave, D'Arcy, Zebo; Madigan, Reddan (c); Kilcoyne, Strauss, Ross; Foley, McCarthy, D.Ryan, TOD, Diack

Eoin Reddan is Captain... thats interesting!

A lot of these guys will be introducing themselves to each other on the pitch. Expect us to struggle somewhat in this game. Two relatively light opensides might struggle in the collisions.
Loking forward to this now. I take it ryan will be wearing 6?

I'm actually disappointed, I would have liked to see more continuity. Only two players retained. I understand the reasoning Joes giving about having a short turnaround but it's still disappointing.

Notch wrote:IRELAND: Jones, Gilroy, Cave, D'Arcy, Zebo; Madigan, Reddan (c); Kilcoyne, Strauss, Ross; Foley, McCarthy, D.Ryan, TOD, Diack

Eoin Reddan is Captain... thats interesting!

More or less exactly as I called it. Apart from Ross and Darce he is the most experienced player and SH is an ideal position to captain from. Prop and centre arent really.

Good team.

Kurtley Beale could play v Ireland. Aparently he is flying out to join the squad now.

Notch wrote:I'm actually disappointed, I would have liked to see more continuity. Only two players retained. I understand the reasoning Joes giving about having a short turnaround but it's still disappointing.

It is the right call with the WC in mind. We simply have to have a fully functioning B team we can rely on for some of our group games otherwise we will see a repeat of '07.

Id like to see Copeland come on.

Bench?

GunsGerms wrote:

Notch wrote:I'm actually disappointed, I would have liked to see more continuity. Only two players retained. I understand the reasoning Joes giving about having a short turnaround but it's still disappointing.

It is the right call with the WC in mind. We simply have to have a fully functioning B team we can rely on for some of our group games otherwise we will see a repeat of '07.

Id like to see Copeland come on.

I don't like the back row, little too lightweight. Would have liked to see Diack, O'Donnell and Copeland.

Submachine wrote:Bench?

Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, Rodney Ah You, Devin Toner, Robin Copeland, Kieran Marmion, Ian Keatley, Stuart Olding

Cheers

Joe realises how big a game Australia will be.  Players who expect a long period in that game will need the recovery time.  Australia with Cheika will want our scalp to put us seriously back in our box.

Meanwhile, if the training is as we all get told it is - if the methods are more important than the players, if honesty to the system and the energy required is rated higher than individual abilities to flourish and dart, then let's hope we see an Ireland side that doesn't operate too far off the blueprint we might expect from more first choice players.

I expect it might be a forward fight for the first half and expect Ireland to pull away in the second and, indeed, do as much damage as they can in that second half.  

If I don't see a greed to do serious damage in the second half, I'll be disappointed.  If the players must change out of necessity, I don't want intensity changing to reflect it.  Three games - three hard, brutal genuine attempts.

Notch wrote:You don't want your coach to be too nice though. And you certainly do NOT want him to ever think anything is ever good enough- constant improvement is always the target.

A pity he didn't have similar words with Sean Cronin a few years ago.

Sin é wrote:

Notch wrote:You don't want your coach to be too nice though. And you certainly do NOT want him to ever think anything is ever good enough- constant improvement is always the target.

A pity he didn't have similar words with Sean Cronin a few years ago.

Maybe he did. How many Leinster backroom sessions did you sit through when he was coach there, sin?

Did Murray say a Phone or Phone book was thrown at him? Did he say there was spittle coming out of the mouth of a wild eyed and dangerous looking Schmidt? Or did he just get told he slipped up on something and then listen in as Joe did the circle and told other players little things they slipped up on?

JOE ATTACKS MUNSTER PLAYER AS LEINSTER BOYS LOOK ON!

The shame of it.

I wouldnt be surprised if Sin was a Leinster fan parodying a Munster fan.