Ireland V France

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IRELAND v FRANCE
14 February 2015
KO: 17:00
Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
AR1: Nigel Owens (WRU)
AR2: Stuart Berry (SARU)
TMO: Graham Hughes (RFU)

IRELAND

15 Rob Kearney
14 Tommy Bowe
13 Jared Payne
12 Robbie Henshaw
11 Simon Zebo
10 Johnny Sexton
9 Conor Murray

1 Jack McGrath
2 Rory Best
3 Mike Ross
4 Devin Toner
5 Paul O'Connell (c)
6 Peter O'Mahony
7 Sean O'Brien
8 Jamie Heaslip

16 Sean Cronin, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Martin Moore, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Felix Jones

FRANCE

15 Scott Spedding
14 Yoann Huget
13 Mathieu Bastareaud
12 Wesley Fofana
11 Teddy Thomas
10 Camille Lopez
9 Rory Kockott

1 Eddy Ben Arous
2 Guilhem Guirado
3 Rabah Slimani
4 Pascal Papé
5 Yoann Maestri
6 Thierry Dusautoir (c)
7 Bernard Le Roux
8 Damien Chouly

16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Uini Atonio, 18 Vincent Debaty, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Loann Goujon, 21 Morgan Parra, 22 Rémi Talès, 23 Rémi Lamerat

*****
This is an interesting battle, and very much a case of brains v brawn.
French flair is long gone, they now rely on the likes of Bastareaud and their pack of overweight lumps to get over the line.
Ireland are very much a team of robots, Joe gives instructions on how to dismantle a team like IKEA gives instructions on how to make a cupboard. With the right personnel in Sexton, SOB and the likes of Heaslip at the helm, they should be able to devour the French fatties like they're the last square of a Kinder Bueno.
All logic points to an Irish victory, but as so often happens the French defy logic.

From a Scotland point of view, we were hammered by the rolling maul and the breakdown.

If your guys actually compete at the breakdown (supporting your own player), France won't get as many penalties. And like it was mentioned above, not contesting the maul will also help because they are big barstardo's.

Play like you did in the Autumn and you've got it in the bag.

Good luck guys. I've a few bets on with Welsh work colleagues that Ireland will be going for the Grandslam when we welcome you to Murrayfield.

Please don't let me or my wallet down.

One of the crucial pens v Scotland was completely avoidable and came from one of your backs throwing the ball into the crowd. Since Schmidt took over over our discipline has improved out of sight. I dont think we will give away too many silly penalties.

Slow on here!

Seems like Joe has got us all feeling positive and united!

I'd be very happy with that team.
Once again, I would question the inclusion of Boss and Jones.

Especially with Madigan on the bench, why have a 10 who wants to open up the game when you could well have the slowest 9 in the world feeding him!

Will be no surprises in the selection

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:I'd be very happy with that team.
Once again, I would question the inclusion of Boss and Jones.

Especially with Madigan on the bench, why have a 10 who wants to open up the game when you could well have the slowest 9 in the world feeding him!

I'd question the inclusion of SOB & Heaslip - one or the other (in case one of the breaks down after their injuries).

I think TOD is very badly done by being dropped out of the 23, as from Murray Kinsella's analysis he was the best performing forward against Italy.

For the record - I'm not happy with Schmidt as a coach. He turns players into robots.

Resistance is futile

PredictorofTeams wrote:Will be no surprises in the selection

So BOD is coming back then?

Yeah, TOD deserved another game (or sub time) to keep building confidence on.  He was sent out at short notice and went above the call of duty when he got the opportunity.  That needed to be rewarded I think to ensure the theory of 'games for effort put in' remains the incentive.
But I guess things were getting complicated now with the backing up traffic jam of central players needing some genuine gametime to see where their genuine levels of recovery are.  You won't get that assessment done unless they get real gametime.
I'd say TOD's best bet now is getting back for Wales and/or Scotland.

Sin é wrote:
For the record - I'm not happy with Schmidt as a coach. He turns players into robots.

Paulie is resisting all the way. I only see moments of glaze-over machine speak from him. There's still some human there but admittedly not much.

Only human thing I saw was big TOD arsing it for the line. Ahhh, Irish players as they used to be before the chips were inserted.

Sin é wrote:

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:I'd be very happy with that team.
Once again, I would question the inclusion of Boss and Jones.

Especially with Madigan on the bench, why have a 10 who wants to open up the game when you could well have the slowest 9 in the world feeding him!

I'd question the inclusion of SOB & Heaslip - one or the other (in case one of the breaks down after their injuries).

I think TOD is very badly done by being dropped out of the 23, as from Murray Kinsella's analysis he was the best performing forward against Italy.

For the record - I'm not happy with Schmidt as a coach. He turns players into robots.

That's probably the most ringing endorsement of his credentials I could imagine.

big gamble playing SOB and Heaslip and Sexton in starting XV if he does that. big gamble.

even though it makes the team sheet look good, and gives a warm fuzzy feeling to many of you. i just think its very easy to get crocked if your first proper game back after a layoff is vs France in the 6Nations.

If Schmidt plays SOB, Heaslip and Sexton along with having Healy in the squad he must fancy Irelands chances against France.

To be fair, they don't have their "Irish kryptonite" Vinnie Clerc anymore.

quinsforever wrote:big gamble playing SOB and Heaslip and Sexton in starting XV if he does that. big gamble.

even though it makes the team sheet look good, and gives a warm fuzzy feeling to many of you. i just think its very easy to get crocked if your first proper game back after a layoff is vs France in the 6Nations.

We ain't as dumb as we look, quins.  There's no fuzziness.  We ain't concussed.  We could have a fight on our hands and it could very well be complicated by some of the cottonwool lads falling down injured again.

But it's a test that has to be made - better now than the game after that.  Can't be delaying things all the time - we gotta find out the details even if it risks much.  Law of averages would assume not all the returning wounded would drop back onto their stretchers.  That would be most troublesome if it happened (for us, the rest of you would be happy enough ) but them's the risks no matter what game the comebacks happen in.

SecretFly wrote:

quinsforever wrote:big gamble playing SOB and Heaslip and Sexton in starting XV if he does that. big gamble.

even though it makes the team sheet look good, and gives a warm fuzzy feeling to many of you. i just think its very easy to get crocked if your first proper game back after a layoff is vs France in the 6Nations.

We ain't as dumb as we look, quins.  There's no fuzziness.  We ain't concussed.  We could have a fight on our hands and it could very well be complicated by some of the cottonwool lads falling down injured again.

But it's a test that has to be made - better now than the game after that.  Can't be delaying things all the time - we gotta find out the details even if it risks much.  Law of averages would assume not all the returning wounded would drop back onto their stretchers.  That would be most troublesome if it happened (for us, the rest of you would be happy enough ) but them's the risks no matter what game the comebacks happen in.

Is that you, Joe? Say it ain't so.

nah, if it was a fly pre-match team talk, kickoff would be delayed quite significantly

Gerry is saying that Reddan will be on the bench. If so thank god!

Sin é wrote:

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:I'd be very happy with that team.
Once again, I would question the inclusion of Boss and Jones.

Especially with Madigan on the bench, why have a 10 who wants to open up the game when you could well have the slowest 9 in the world feeding him!

I'd question the inclusion of SOB & Heaslip - one or the other (in case one of the breaks down after their injuries).

I think TOD is very badly done by being dropped out of the 23, as from Murray Kinsella's analysis he was the best performing forward against Italy.

For the record - I'm not happy with Schmidt as a coach. He turns players into robots.

Murray Kinsella's analysis didnt say he was the best performing forward at all. He said O'Donnell was the first to most rucks, thats all. The forwards that were involved in most rucks per minute played however were:

0.66 Mike Ross

0.56 Rory Best

0.53 Iain Henderson

0.51 Paul O’Connell

0.51 Jack McGrath

0.5 Tommy O’Donnell

0.45 Jordi Murphy

Kinsella singled out Murphy, McGrath, Best and Toner as being the highest working forwards overall in the game. Not O'Donnell, however, he did say that he gave a very strong display in replacing O'Brien which he did.

http://www.the42.ie/analysis-ireland-italy-rucks-1931855-Feb2015/

TOD is unlucky but by an large Schmidt does get selection right and fingers crossed he continues that trend.

The best advice I can give you is that you may just have to support

When is the irish team being announced?

gcBlues wrote:When is the irish team being announced?

In the tunnel before going onto the field. We're learning fast on the old 'keep 'em waiting' tactics

sin e wrote:For the record - I'm not happy with Schmidt as a coach. He turns players into robots.

Is he not doing what all coaches do but in a more detailed and prescribed way?

Any consistently successful team will be very well structured and preparation will be key. Every player has to know their role.

As someone who grew up watching Irish rugby in the 80's and 90's when we had as our mantra "give-it-a-lash" but normally ended up as plucky losers, I am more than happy to have confidence for once on my life as an Ireland fan.

Schmidt's Leinster team weren't exactly boring to watch!

In his first season with Ireland he stopped the rot that was clearly becoming worse, came within a whisker of our first victory over the All Blacks  and won the 6 nations title.

What do you want from an Ireland coach? I few lovely tries but ultimate defeat.

It would be lovely to play champagne rugby and win all the time, but that ain't realistic. Unless you're the All Blacks.

Who would you have replace Schmidt?

(Just thinking after I typed this - maybe you were being ironic).

Since Schmidt was apointed Sin has been desperate to try to expose chinks in his armour. It is a Munster thing.

GunsGerms wrote:Since Schmidt was apointed Sin has been desperate to try to expose chinks in his armour. It is a Munster thing.

No it's just a Sín é thing.

Stop having a go at Sin, people.

He simply would like a few more humans on the team. Not such a big ask really.

Sin,

You are hilarious. Since when have you had such high standards for an Irish coach?

You certainly didn't in 2012/2013...

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:I'd be very happy with that team.
Once again, I would question the inclusion of Boss and Jones.

Especially with Madigan on the bench, why have a 10 who wants to open up the game when you could well have the slowest 9 in the world feeding him!

I'd question the inclusion of SOB & Heaslip - one or the other (in case one of the breaks down after their injuries).

I think TOD is very badly done by being dropped out of the 23, as from Murray Kinsella's analysis he was the best performing forward against Italy.

For the record - I'm not happy with Schmidt as a coach. He turns players into robots.

Murray Kinsella's analysis didnt say he was the best performing forward at all. He said O'Donnell was the first to most rucks, thats all. The forwards that were involved in most rucks per minute played however were:

0.66 Mike Ross

0.56 Rory Best

0.53 Iain Henderson

0.51 Paul O’Connell

0.51 Jack McGrath

0.5 Tommy O’Donnell

0.45 Jordi Murphy

Kinsella singled out Murphy, McGrath, Best and Toner as being the highest working forwards overall in the game. Not O'Donnell, however, he did say that he gave a very strong display in replacing O'Brien which he did.

http://www.the42.ie/analysis-ireland-italy-rucks-1931855-Feb2015/

TOD is unlucky but by an large Schmidt does get selection right and fingers crossed he continues that trend.

The best advice I can give you is that you may just have to support

The key word there Guns, is Per Minute played. Mike Ross played for 50 Mins, Best 46, Henderson 15 mins, Paul O'Connell 80 mins, McGrath 66, TOD 80, Jordi Murphy 80 mins.

Note the longer you play, the less you do per minute. POC & TOD are the two outstanding performers there as they were at it for 80 mins.

Murray Kinsella said he was first to most rucks, but (in Murray's words) ''Remarkably, 12 of those were effective and there were two dominant hits too.''

Schmidt got his selection wrong for England last year!

Listen to the players and other coaches!

Not too many (if any) people who have worked with Schmidt have a bad word to say about him.

If he can turn a 'limited' player into one who excels at a particular task making him an important cog in the team, surely that is drawing out their potential.

Ireland don't have a long list of exceptionally gifted players. We need our 'good' players to gel and become greater than the sum of the parts!

We should have a robot dance when we score though - a la Peter Crouch

GunsGerms wrote:Since Schmidt was apointed Sin has been desperate to try to expose chinks in his armour. It is a Munster thing.

Schmidt can't deal with talent. He couldn't cope with Carlos Spencer - he just wants boring robots.

Look at Leinster - they can't function now without him. The Irish team are afraid to pass or offload now because Joe thinks its too adventurous. I'm sick of watching players going to ground the whole time. Horrible rugby.

It isnt the key word at all. Kinsella singled out Murphy, McGrath, Best and Toner. He didnt single out TOD. First to rucks is only one part of TODs job. You completely misrepresented the article.

Schmidt's selection for England was fine the execution was not good enough on the day. Losing doesnt necessarly mean selection was wrong especially given that the performance was quite strong from Ireland. The last time Ireland played in Twickers we lost 30 – 9. Losing by three points is a massive improvement on that.

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Since Schmidt was apointed Sin has been desperate to try to expose chinks in his armour. It is a Munster thing.

Schmidt can't deal with talent. He couldn't cope with Carlos Spencer - he just wants boring robots.

Look at Leinster - they can't function now without him. The Irish team are afraid to pass or offload now because Joe thinks its too adventurous. I'm sicking of watching players going to ground the whole time. Horrible rugby.

Your problem is you really struggle to come to terms with having to support anyone that isnt from whatever backward little parish you are from. That is what it boils down to Sin. It has little to do with Schmidts strengths and weaknesses.

The biggest thing Schmidt has brought to the Ireland camp is the lack of hiding places - one.
And two - an end to player rule in the sense of Irish players coming to certain games and deciding for themselves when they'd give 100% and when they'd coast.

That was one of the big failings of Ireland - no true disciplin because of a very limited selection of 'realistically International standard' players being chosen from.  Ireland was always unbalanced because on any given day four or five of the players would decide to give it their all whilst the rest would choose cruise- through mode.  Players deciding their own momentum was a big failing.

That at least is gone now - as players who might have tried to ....em hide a bit... have found out.  You have to contribute to team effort.

double post

GunsGerms wrote:It isnt the key word at all. Kinsella singled out Murphy, McGrath, Best and Toner. He didnt single out TOD. First to rucks is only one part of TODs job. You completely misrepresented the article.

Making 13/0 tackles (missing none) would rule out O'Donnell as a first to rucks. Murphy 7/0 tackles, McGrath 5/0, Best 4/3, Toner 3/1 would suggest they had plenty of time to look busy getting to them.

You might acknowledge that someone playing for 50 minutes is likely to have more actions per minute than someone playing for 80 minutes  

Schmidt's selection for England was fine the execution was not good enough on the day. Losing doesnt necessarly mean selection was wrong especially given that the performance was quite strong from Ireland. The last time Ireland played in Twickers we lost 30 – 9. Losing by three points is a massive improvement on that.

He played a defensive game when he should have used someone with a bit of pace and flair (like Zebo instead of D Kearney).

...........oh and Sexton was concussed (to bring it back to current newsworthiness)...and wasn't taken off.

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Since Schmidt was apointed Sin has been desperate to try to expose chinks in his armour. It is a Munster thing.

Schmidt can't deal with talent. He couldn't cope with Carlos Spencer - he just wants boring robots.

Look at Leinster - they can't function now without him. The Irish team are afraid to pass or offload now because Joe thinks its too adventurous. I'm sicking of watching players going to ground the whole time. Horrible rugby.

Your problem is you really struggle to come to terms with having to support anyone that isnt from whatever backward little parish you are from. That is what it boils down to Sin. It has little to do with Schmidts strengths and weaknesses.

na…. just horrible, boring rugby.

Sin é wrote:
He played a defensive game when he should have used someone with a bit of pace and flair (like Zebo instead of D Kearney).

We'll probably see how Zebo's flair works this time against England - at home too which should improve the odds on us seeing it all in full HD.
I'm looking forward to the fireworks.

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Since Schmidt was apointed Sin has been desperate to try to expose chinks in his armour. It is a Munster thing.

Schmidt can't deal with talent. He couldn't cope with Carlos Spencer - he just wants boring robots.

Look at Leinster - they can't function now without him. The Irish team are afraid to pass or offload now because Joe thinks its too adventurous. I'm sicking of watching players going to ground the whole time. Horrible rugby.

Your problem is you really struggle to come to terms with having to support anyone that isnt from whatever backward little parish you are from. That is what it boils down to Sin. It has little to do with Schmidts strengths and weaknesses.

na…. just horrible, boring rugby.

You're such a hypocrite

SecretFly wrote:The biggest thing Schmidt has brought to the Ireland camp is the lack of hiding places - one.
And two - an end to player rule in the sense of Irish players coming to certain games and deciding for themselves when they'd give 100% and when they'd coast.

That was one of the big failings of Ireland - no true disciplin because of a very limited selection of 'realistically International standard' players being chosen from.  Ireland was always unbalanced because on any given day four or five of the players would decide to give it their all whilst the rest would choose cruise- through mode.  Players deciding their own momentum was a big failing.

That at least is gone now - as players who might have tried to ....em hide a bit... have found out.  You have to contribute to team effort.

Sorry, the only player who I think can coast is Jamie Heaslip who throws a tantrum if he isn't starting. When Sexton couldn't kick snow off a rope, was he coasting then by the way? Or BOD? Or Andrew Trimble?

By the way, how did Mike Ross get into the team against Italy? What has Sean O'Brien done to get into the team? Both of them are getting in on reputation at the moment.

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Since Schmidt was apointed Sin has been desperate to try to expose chinks in his armour. It is a Munster thing.

Schmidt can't deal with talent. He couldn't cope with Carlos Spencer - he just wants boring robots.

Look at Leinster - they can't function now without him. The Irish team are afraid to pass or offload now because Joe thinks its too adventurous. I'm sicking of watching players going to ground the whole time. Horrible rugby.

Your problem is you really struggle to come to terms with having to support anyone that isnt from whatever backward little parish you are from. That is what it boils down to Sin. It has little to do with Schmidts strengths and weaknesses.

na…. just horrible, boring rugby.

You're such a hypocrite

So you agree its horrible, boring rugby then?

Sin é wrote:

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Since Schmidt was apointed Sin has been desperate to try to expose chinks in his armour. It is a Munster thing.

Schmidt can't deal with talent. He couldn't cope with Carlos Spencer - he just wants boring robots.

Look at Leinster - they can't function now without him. The Irish team are afraid to pass or offload now because Joe thinks its too adventurous. I'm sicking of watching players going to ground the whole time. Horrible rugby.

Your problem is you really struggle to come to terms with having to support anyone that isnt from whatever backward little parish you are from. That is what it boils down to Sin. It has little to do with Schmidts strengths and weaknesses.

na…. just horrible, boring rugby.

You're such a hypocrite

So you agree its horrible, boring rugby then?

I agree it's not fantastic to watch but it's a huge improvement on what went before.I definitely feel we can play better,more attacking rugby but well coached,winning,boring rugby beats the poorly coached,losing,boring rugby that we suffered under Kidney.Schmidt had a lot of damage to undo and I still hold out hope that he can deliver a really strong attacking game for us.

Sin é wrote:

SecretFly wrote:The biggest thing Schmidt has brought to the Ireland camp is the lack of hiding places - one.
And two - an end to player rule in the sense of Irish players coming to certain games and deciding for themselves when they'd give 100% and when they'd coast.

That was one of the big failings of Ireland - no true disciplin because of a very limited selection of 'realistically International standard' players being chosen from.  Ireland was always unbalanced because on any given day four or five of the players would decide to give it their all whilst the rest would choose cruise- through mode.  Players deciding their own momentum was a big failing.

That at least is gone now - as players who might have tried to ....em hide a bit... have found out.  You have to contribute to team effort.

Sorry, the only player who I think can coast is Jamie Heaslip who throws a tantrum if he isn't starting. When Sexton couldn't kick snow off a rope, was he coasting then by the way? Or BOD? Or Andrew Trimble?

By the way, how did Mike Ross get into the team against Italy? What has Sean O'Brien done to get into the team? Both of them are getting in on reputation at the moment.

Well first of all mind where you shoot.  I'm the guy who said you woz right about TOD - he should'a been a contender for France.  Agree.

On the other bit - I didn't create the history.  It's there in black and white if you want to go back on over it.  Player power, player infighting, players complaining that other players weren't pulling their weight, player clear-the-air meetings in secret hotel carparks!.......... oh em, I might have made up the carpark bit for some more intrigue .

Player power, sin...live with it -

Ireland was plagued with it for a good while as self-important Always-on-the-teamsheet players decided for themselves when they'd use International as a resting period between Provincial bizz.  If it wasn't happening (the slacking and phone-in performances), there wouldn't have been the taunts amongst snarling players.  AND -that the taunts were happening articulated the lack of control by the coaches.  To a large degree the famous players were running Ireland inc - now a coach does.

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

Sin é wrote:

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Since Schmidt was apointed Sin has been desperate to try to expose chinks in his armour. It is a Munster thing.

Schmidt can't deal with talent. He couldn't cope with Carlos Spencer - he just wants boring robots.

Look at Leinster - they can't function now without him. The Irish team are afraid to pass or offload now because Joe thinks its too adventurous. I'm sicking of watching players going to ground the whole time. Horrible rugby.

Your problem is you really struggle to come to terms with having to support anyone that isnt from whatever backward little parish you are from. That is what it boils down to Sin. It has little to do with Schmidts strengths and weaknesses.

na…. just horrible, boring rugby.

You're such a hypocrite

So you agree its horrible, boring rugby then?

I agree it's not fantastic to watch but it's a huge improvement on what went before.I definitely feel we can play better,more attacking rugby but well coached,winning,boring rugby beats the poorly coached,losing,boring rugby that we suffered under Kidney.Schmidt had a lot of damage to undo and I still hold out hope that he can deliver a really strong attacking game for us.

He is turning the players into robots who are afraid to think for themselves. Eventually, it will all fall apart. Just look at Leinster.

Sin é wrote:
He is turning the players into robots who are afraid to think for themselves. Eventually, it will all fall apart. Just look at Leinster.

..as did the experiment in Players being allowed to run from anywhere (on instinct), doing their own thing.

With no support chasing after them (because the other players had their own individual ideas about how to play)

Sin é wrote:

He is turning the players into robots who are afraid to think for themselves. Eventually, it will all fall apart. Just look at Leinster.

If Ireland fall apart in the same way Leinster have I'll be delighted.

SecretFly wrote:

Sin é wrote:
He is turning the players into robots who are afraid to think for themselves. Eventually, it will all fall apart. Just look at Leinster.

..as did the experiment in Players being allowed to run from anywhere (on instinct), doing their own thing.

With no support chasing after them (because the other players had their own individual ideas about how to play)

http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/rugby-union/rob-kearney-feeling-liberated-under-3090927

Keraney says this about Schmidt in comparison to Kidney

Explaining his approach to working under the former boss, Kearney added: “I would always back myself a little bit.

“I think you always have to go with your instincts on it and if you think it is on to go and have a crack, then do.

“I suppose it is probably a little bit more comforting knowing you have a coach who wants you to do that."

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

Sin é wrote:

He is turning the players into robots who are afraid to think for themselves. Eventually, it will all fall apart. Just look at Leinster.

If Ireland fall apart in the same way Leinster have I'll be delighted.

+1 +1 +1

:D:D

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Since Schmidt was apointed Sin has been desperate to try to expose chinks in his armour. It is a Munster thing.

Schmidt can't deal with talent. He couldn't cope with Carlos Spencer - he just wants boring robots.

Look at Leinster - they can't function now without him. The Irish team are afraid to pass or offload now because Joe thinks its too adventurous. I'm sick of watching players going to ground the whole time. Horrible rugby.

It tends to happen when some bloke has grabbed hold of your legs and won't let go....

sin e wrote:Schmidt can't deal with talent. He couldn't cope with Carlos Spencer - he just wants boring robots.

You've used this example before. Is there another one?

What about the talent he dealt with at Leinster - BOD, Sexton, SOB, Healy

He turned a talented but underachieving Leinster team into a winning team that utilized their talent.

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

Sin é wrote:
He is turning the players into robots who are afraid to think for themselves. Eventually, it will all fall apart. Just look at Leinster.

..as did the experiment in Players being allowed to run from anywhere (on instinct), doing their own thing.

With no support chasing after them (because the other players had their own individual ideas about how to play)

http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/rugby-union/rob-kearney-feeling-liberated-under-3090927

Keraney says this about Schmidt in comparison to Kidney

Explaining his approach to working under the former boss, Kearney added: “I would always back myself a little bit to fall over and never pass or offload.

“I think you always have to go with your instincts on it and if you think it is on to go and have a crack, then do.

“I suppose it is probably a little bit more comforting knowing you have a coach who wants you to [fall over] do that."

fixed that.

Hmmm, well Kearney might be a bad example of late due to his propensity to 'over-try' the backing of himself at the wrong times.

Kearney is most lethal in the opposition half - and as close to the tryline as possible.  The rest of it - the zig-zag 'evasion' technique deep in our own half where there is no opening for it - I'd like him to cut all that stuff out.