Ireland v Canada, 19 September

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IRELAND v CANADA
19 September 2015
KO: 14:30 BST
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Live on [tbc]

Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Pascal Gaüzère (France) & Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

A. Head to Head

6 Played 6
5 Won 0
1 Drawn 1
0 Lost 5
226 Points 77

B. Recent Form

Sat 30 May 1987
Canada 19 - 46 Ireland

Sun 30 Nov1997
Ireland 33 - 11 Canada

Sat 17 Jun 2000
Canada 27 - 27 Ireland

Sat 8 Nov 2008
Ireland 55 - 0 Canada

Sat 23 May 2009
Canada 6 - 25 Ireland

Sat 15 Jun 2013
Canada 14 - 40 Ireland

C. Teams

IRELAND

[tbc]

CANADA


1. Hubert Buydens – (Unattached/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, SK
2. Ray Barkwill – (Unattached/Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON
3. Doug Wooldridge – (Lindsay RFC/Ontario Blues) Lindsay, ON
4. Brett Beukeboom – (Cornish Pirates) Lindsay, ON
5. Jamie Cudmore, Captain – (Clermont Auvergne) Squamish, BC
6. Kyle Gilmour – (Rotherham Titans/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
7. John Moonlight – (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Pickering, ON
8. Aaron Carpenter – (Cornish Pirates/Ontario Blues) Brantford, ON
9. Gordon McRorie – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
10. Nathan Hirayama – (UVIC Vikes/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
11. DTH van der Merwe – (Scarlets) Victoria, BC
12. Nick Blevins – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
13. Ciaran Hearn – (Unattached/Atlantic Rock) Conception Bay South, NL
14. Jeff Hassler – (Ospreys) Okotoks, AB
15. Matt Evans - (Cornish Pirates) Maple Bay, BC

16. Benoit Piffero – (Unattached/Atlantic Rock) Montreal, QC
17. Djustice Sears-Duru – (Oakville Crusaders/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON
18. Andrew Tiedemann - (Unattached/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
19. Jebb Sinclair – (London Irish/Atlantic Rock) Fredericton, NB
20. Richard Thorpe – (London Welsh) Beckenham, England
21. Phil Mack – (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
22. Liam Underwood – (Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues) Toronto, ON
23. Conor Trainor – (UBCOB Ravens/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC

Unavailable for selection:

Tyler Ardron – (Ospreys) Lakefield, ON
Harry Jones – (Capilano RFC/BC Bears) West Vancouver, BC

GunsGerms wrote:Not sure I agree re Earls. IMO he has always been a really good player.

One thing I will say is that it is absolutely ridiculous that Romania have to play France on Wednesday and then Ireland on Sunday.

We will absolutely murder them if they have to deal with such a turnaround. 40 - 0 Ireland.

Well I maintain he only got a contract at Munster because their HR department confused him with Christian Cullen at the time - but he's there now so its good he's pulling his weight...

rodders wrote:

Well I think we also learned that Keith Earls can actually pass and run in a straight line at the same time.

So that's either a new skill he's developed or he was just plain greedy when he bombed all those tries over the years   .

Disappointed to see the usual xenophobic waffle about Earls who had another impressive game on the wing

Zorro strikes!!

eirebilly wrote:

rodders wrote:

Well I think we also learned that Keith Earls can actually pass and run in a straight line at the same time.

So that's either a new skill he's developed or he was just plain greedy when he bombed all those tries over the years   .

Disappointed to see the usual xenophobic waffle about Earls who had another impressive game on the wing

He was too busy scoring them to care.

eirebilly wrote:

rodders wrote:

Well I think we also learned that Keith Earls can actually pass and run in a straight line at the same time.

So that's either a new skill he's developed or he was just plain greedy when he bombed all those tries over the years   .

Disappointed to see the usual xenophobic waffle about Earls who had another impressive game on the wing

Billser ye fiecer!

ME-109 wrote:

eirebilly wrote:

rodders wrote:

Well I think we also learned that Keith Earls can actually pass and run in a straight line at the same time.

So that's either a new skill he's developed or he was just plain greedy when he bombed all those tries over the years   .

Disappointed to see the usual xenophobic waffle about Earls who had another impressive game on the wing

He was too busy scoring them to care.

Earls for me was summed up in Rob Kearnery's try. He should have had the gas to score himself, but he didn't back himself, preferring instead to pass (that looked marginally forward) to the inside man who had a run under the posts. There were plenty of things that could have gone wrong with the pass (and his passing has improved from his younger years), but Kearney also had to catch it so the chance of butchering the try was increased.

Maybe Earls is low on confidence or maybe he can't outstrip a flanker any more so executing the pass was the only way Ireland were going to score, but it certainly looked like the low percentage option compared to keeping the ball in hand. If the roof had been open the percentage would have been even lower, so the worrying aspect was that he didn't back himself.

I was at the game and thought Earls had a mixed game bouncing off a defender once but on another occasion knocking on with a try overlap outside him. Zebo will get a chance to stake his claim against Romania.

Damned if he does....

Two scenarios...
1. He backs himself (he had outpaced the flanker but was covered by two other Canadian players)..jinks or takes the ball into contact. Try scoring opp lost...howls of protest that he didnt pass like he should have  to BOD a couple of years ago (even though BOD was covered). Or maybe scores but unlikely given there were three players around.

2. He is covered by backtracking players plays the pass (perfectly) into the player in space...try scored.

First time I have seen a player criticised for making a scoring pass...interesting.

Take a look at the highlights if you want to see the covering by the other Canadian players and the fact he outpaced the flanker.

Earls did the right thing. Luckily enough we actually had support in right areas in this game to make sure passing was effective. Even 7 offloads, was it??!!! To be crikey! We're getting cocky now.

Was a fantastic pass - a sort of super rugby type job rarely seen around these parts. It compensates for the drop he had earlier. He fluffed a certain try, but created one too. The 11 jersey is probably between him and Lukey Fitz.

SecretFly wrote:Earls did the right thing.  Luckily enough we actually had support in right areas in this game to make sure passing was effective.  Even 7 offloads, was it??!!!  To be crikey!  We're getting cocky now.

Interesting to see that (according to the Stats) POM was the next highest passer of the ball (11) after Murray/Sexton and was equal with Luke Fitz for Defenders beaten.

I'm not sure anyone else shares the view that a guy who is being hunted down by three defenders executing a difficult pass on the run to an unmarked player is a bad thing. When players from other nations demonstrate high skill levels we praise them for it, not chide them on the basis it might have gone wrong.

Put it like this if he tried to just gas them and got chased down, he'd be crucified for not passing so for some he can't win.

ME-109 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Earls did the right thing.  Luckily enough we actually had support in right areas in this game to make sure passing was effective.  Even 7 offloads, was it??!!!  To be crikey!  We're getting cocky now.

Interesting to see that (according to the Stats) POM was the next highest passer of the ball (11) after Murray/Sexton and was equal with Luke Fitz for Defenders beaten.

O'Mahony was used a lot in the loop plays with Sexton. It was he who put Sexton in for his try, it was him again involved in the loop move in the build-up to Dave Kearneys try. His soft hands and linking play is one of the big reasons why Henderson will be replacing Toner if he breaks the first team, and not displacing O'Mahony at blindside. He's quietly very important to Ireland.

It's good structure because often we have O'Mahony running a support line off Sextons shoulder and then the centres behind. Thats a bit of a typical Schmidt structure, giving the 10 having the option of going short to forwards or using them as dummy runners and going out behind them to the backs. And when those forwards can handle the ball as well as O'Mahony, the options just increase even more because other players can play off him.

Apologies, it was O'Brien who put Sexton in for his try.

Henderson would never displace POM. He isnt intl standard for a no.6. He has had a couple of handy games for Ulster but thats it. Similar to the way Munster used Ryan on occasion or DOC in his early days. Good way to learn the game which Henderson is doing and doing well. But he is a lock and his skill set shows that. And an excellent lock he will be.

I have a question based on my ignorance, having never played rugby.

Why is O'Mahoney a blindside flanker not an openside? He's good at turnovers and link play, but he's doesn't have the bulk for the carrying and big hits I'd associate with a number 6. O'Brien does have the bulk and strength, but due to being bigger than traditional 7's can't get down over the ball quite as quickly as natural 7's and is referred to as a 6.5. Based on my limited knowledge, O'Brien and O'Mahoney should switch sides? Can anyone enlighten me?

Good question...POM played 7 all his youth up until he joined the Munster Academy. He has played right across the backrow since. Used to be very quick but since he bulked up he has lost a turn of pace and with provincial (and national requirements) became specialised as a blind side.

SOB was an 8 who played 6 but because of Gleeson leaving (and Wallace internationally) was converted to an openside.

Both are good at getting over the ball, POM has the lineout as well but tends to be more active around the rucks and securing our ball, SOB is faster and a better ball carrier (ala Wallace). To be honest its more like the South African or French approach which is play left or right flanker rather than putting any specific titles on them. i.e Quinlan was a better poacher than Wallace overall so its more the fact that the players are carrying out a mix of the tasks.

i.e POM and SOB do all the work. Heaslip checks his hair...

Someone gotta style trailblaze for mini-Heaslip Madigan.  
Hair is tactically important to the present generation of players... if you shave it off your ass to prevent friction burn then it seems transplanting it onto your head or chin is the next best location for it .

ME-109 wrote:Damned if he does....

Two scenarios...
1. He backs himself (he had outpaced the flanker but was covered by two other Canadian players)..jinks or takes the ball into contact. Try scoring opp lost...howls of protest that he didnt pass like he should have  to BOD a couple of years ago (even though BOD was covered). Or maybe scores but unlikely given there were three players around.

2. He is covered by backtracking players plays the pass (perfectly) into the player in space...try scored.

First time I have seen a player criticised for making a scoring pass...interesting.

Take a look at the highlights if you want to see the covering by the other Canadian players and the fact he outpaced the flanker.

DOD you were the one saying that he was scoring tries when he was greedy!

My criticism isn't of Earls' pass, it's the sudden realisation that he doesn't have the gas I thought he had. Before that incident I had always thought Earls had enough pace to play wing, because otherwise he doesn't have the bulk nor the height. If it had been DTH with the ball rather than Earls, he wouldn't have passed and he would have scored - the cover defence wasn't any closer or faster than Moonlight.

There is a reason why we don't see a whole load of such passes - most of the time they don't come off. Earls also slowed slightly before making the pass, which almost allowed Kearney to overrun enough into territory where it could have been called forward, (I was in the stand on that touchline and it looked forward to me). The pass was executed and allowed which was fantastic, but if I see a winger with a clear run to the line I expect him to cross it.

POM is the Jarad Payne in the forwards, not overly flash but as Notch says that crucial link in a lot of our strike plays. He is essential to the line out, ruck defence and attacking plays. He may not run over or around someone everytime he gets the ball (but he could) but he draws defenders to create space for others.
Agree with ME, Henderson will most likely replace Toner than POM, and may have already...

The Great Aukster wrote:

ME-109 wrote:Damned if he does....

Two scenarios...
1. He backs himself (he had outpaced the flanker but was covered by two other Canadian players)..jinks or takes the ball into contact. Try scoring opp lost...howls of protest that he didnt pass like he should have  to BOD a couple of years ago (even though BOD was covered). Or maybe scores but unlikely given there were three players around.

2. He is covered by backtracking players plays the pass (perfectly) into the player in space...try scored.

First time I have seen a player criticised for making a scoring pass...interesting.

Take a look at the highlights if you want to see the covering by the other Canadian players and the fact he outpaced the flanker.

DOD you were the one saying that he was scoring tries when he was greedy!

My criticism isn't of Earls' pass, it's the sudden realisation that he doesn't have the gas I thought he had. Before that incident I had always thought Earls had enough pace to play wing, because otherwise he doesn't have the bulk nor the height. If it had been DTH with the ball rather than Earls, he wouldn't have passed and he would have scored - the cover defence wasn't any closer or faster than Moonlight.

There is a reason why we don't see a whole load of such passes - most of the time they don't come off. Earls also slowed slightly before making the pass, which almost allowed Kearney to overrun enough into territory where it could have been called forward, (I was in the stand on that touchline and it looked forward to me). The pass was executed and allowed which was fantastic, but if I see a winger with a clear run to the line I expect him to cross it.

So now you are saying his only attribute is that he is fast!

He has phenomenal pace - but his coach is conserative and would not like any individual display like that. The coach picks the guys who are safe first. That is why Gilroy is not in the squad and Zebo has also changed how he plays with Ireland.

Aw come on Aukster no one hates Earls as much as me, along with Luke Fitzgerald and Simon Zebo he's the most overrated player in the history of Irish rugby.

However I thought he had a solid game and did great for Kearney's try .

FecklessRogue wrote:I have a question based on my ignorance, having never played rugby.

Why is O'Mahoney a blindside flanker not an openside? He's good at turnovers and link play, but he's doesn't have the bulk for the carrying and big hits I'd associate with a number 6. O'Brien does have the bulk and strength, but due to being bigger than traditional 7's can't get down over the ball quite as quickly as natural 7's and is referred to as a 6.5. Based on my limited knowledge, O'Brien and O'Mahoney should switch sides? Can anyone enlighten me?

Does it matter what side they play on? Isn't Dusatoir really a 7 playing at 6 and dont the 7s play at 6 in SA?

I'm not sure that Henderson will start v France. France tends to have a powerful bench, and Schmidt might want to counter that with having one or two of our own big lumps. So horses for courses between Toner and Henderson at the moment, even though Henderson is the better Lock.
With POC retiring from international rugby, Henderson taking over his position is probably a no brainer, and so any challenge for a place in the backrow is very unlikely, however much he might actually prefer to play at 6.
If he was given the chance, I think he could challenge POM for his place, but he would need a few starts in that position for Ireland before we see if he offers more than POM. I think he would but, thus far, lacks the leadership qualities of POM.
Ferris wants to see Henderson getting a run at 6, and so do I, but for that to happen Ireland would need an addition to Toner and Ryan. Tuohy has no chance unless he sorts his game out.

Munchkin wrote:I'm not sure that Henderson will start v France. France tends to have a powerful bench, and Schmidt might want to counter that with having one or two of our own big lumps. So horses for courses between Toner and Henderson at the moment, even though Henderson is the better Lock.
With POC retiring from international rugby, Henderson taking over his position is probably a no brainer, and so any challenge for a place in the backrow is very unlikely, however much he might actually prefer to play at 6.
I think he could challenge POM for his place, but he would need a few starts in that position for Ireland before we see if he offers more than POM. I think he would but, thus far, lacks the leadership qualities of POM.
Ferris wants to see Henderson getting a run at 6, and so do I, but for that to happen Ireland would need an addition to Toner and Ryan. Tuohy has no chance unless he sorts his game out.

How do you work that out? Toner is easily the better lineout operator and often Ireland's top tackler. Henderson has different strengths probably more a back row lock hybrid with obvious ball carrying and clean out benefits.

GunsGerms wrote:

FecklessRogue wrote:I have a question based on my ignorance, having never played rugby.

Why is O'Mahoney a blindside flanker not an openside? He's good at turnovers and link play, but he's doesn't have the bulk for the carrying and big hits I'd associate with a number 6. O'Brien does have the bulk and strength, but due to being bigger than traditional 7's can't get down over the ball quite as quickly as natural 7's and is referred to as a 6.5. Based on my limited knowledge, O'Brien and O'Mahoney should switch sides? Can anyone enlighten me?

Does it matter what side they play on? Isn't Dusatoir really a 7 playing at 6 and dont the 7s play at 6 in SA?

Personally I think it does matter but also that O'Brien is too small for 6 too, hence he's been adapting his game to play open side for a few seasons and also to reduce the carrying and impact on his body.

He's also too short and stocky for the lineout, whereas POM is really good here. Don't think POM has the pace for 7 either, and is more and Easterbuy/Quinlan type, so not sure switching them is the answer.

I'd consider playing Henry at 7 and one of O'Brien and POM at 6 - the wallabies are showing the value of a double 7 approach lately.

Carrying is an issue but the 3 H's  (Hendo, Healy and Henshaw) would help balance this out.

GunsGerms wrote:

Munchkin wrote:I'm not sure that Henderson will start v France. France tends to have a powerful bench, and Schmidt might want to counter that with having one or two of our own big lumps. So horses for courses between Toner and Henderson at the moment, even though Henderson is the better Lock.
With POC retiring from international rugby, Henderson taking over his position is probably a no brainer, and so any challenge for a place in the backrow is very unlikely, however much he might actually prefer to play at 6.
I think he could challenge POM for his place, but he would need a few starts in that position for Ireland before we see if he offers more than POM. I think he would but, thus far, lacks the leadership qualities of POM.
Ferris wants to see Henderson getting a run at 6, and so do I, but for that to happen Ireland would need an addition to Toner and Ryan. Tuohy has no chance unless he sorts his game out.

How do you work that out? Toner is easily the better lineout operator and often Ireland's top tackler. Henderson has different strengths probably more a back row lock hybrid with obvious ball carrying and clean out benefits.

Toner is a good line out operator. That's it, Guns. Nothing else that shines.

Henderson is easily the better Lock.

GunsGerms wrote:

Munchkin wrote:I'm not sure that Henderson will start v France. France tends to have a powerful bench, and Schmidt might want to counter that with having one or two of our own big lumps. So horses for courses between Toner and Henderson at the moment, even though Henderson is the better Lock.
With POC retiring from international rugby, Henderson taking over his position is probably a no brainer, and so any challenge for a place in the backrow is very unlikely, however much he might actually prefer to play at 6.
I think he could challenge POM for his place, but he would need a few starts in that position for Ireland before we see if he offers more than POM. I think he would but, thus far, lacks the leadership qualities of POM.
Ferris wants to see Henderson getting a run at 6, and so do I, but for that to happen Ireland would need an addition to Toner and Ryan. Tuohy has no chance unless he sorts his game out.

How do you work that out? Toner is easily the better lineout operator and often Ireland's top tackler. Henderson has different strengths probably more a back row lock hybrid with obvious ball carrying and clean out benefits.

I agree and also think Schmidt will want to keep Henderson fresh for the bigger games and limit his game time. Obviously he's improved his fitness but they want push that too much.

Toner is solid and think he is key man too but its hard to ignore that Hendo is bringing a physicality and dynamism that is on a different level to everyone else we have.

rodders wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

Munchkin wrote:I'm not sure that Henderson will start v France. France tends to have a powerful bench, and Schmidt might want to counter that with having one or two of our own big lumps. So horses for courses between Toner and Henderson at the moment, even though Henderson is the better Lock.
With POC retiring from international rugby, Henderson taking over his position is probably a no brainer, and so any challenge for a place in the backrow is very unlikely, however much he might actually prefer to play at 6.
I think he could challenge POM for his place, but he would need a few starts in that position for Ireland before we see if he offers more than POM. I think he would but, thus far, lacks the leadership qualities of POM.
Ferris wants to see Henderson getting a run at 6, and so do I, but for that to happen Ireland would need an addition to Toner and Ryan. Tuohy has no chance unless he sorts his game out.

How do you work that out? Toner is easily the better lineout operator and often Ireland's top tackler. Henderson has different strengths probably more a back row lock hybrid with obvious ball carrying and clean out benefits.

I agree and also think Schmidt will want to keep Henderson fresh for the bigger games and limit his game time. Obviously he's improved his fitness but they want push that too much.

Toner is solid and think he is key man too but its hard to ignore that Hendo is bringing a physicality and dynamism that is on a different level to everyone else we have.

I didn't think much of Toner when he first come into the team, but his progression has been fairly impressive, including his tackling for such a tall man. His tackling isn't destructive though. Not a game changer, unlike Henderson. He lacks the explosive power of Henderson, as do many.

Munchkin wrote:

Toner is a good line out operator. That's it, Guns. Nothing else that shines.

Henderson is easily the better Lock.

In your head maybe. Firstly being a good lineout operator is one of the main things a lock is there for. Ireland under Schmidt have scored the vast majority of their tries from lineout ball. See below graphic:



Surely it makes more sense to put Henderson in at 6 and keep Toner in the secondrow?

GunsGerms wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

Toner is a good line out operator. That's it, Guns. Nothing else that shines.

Henderson is easily the better Lock.

In your head maybe. Firstly being a good lineout operator is one of the main things a lock is there for. Ireland under Schmidt have scored the vast majority of their tries from lineout ball. See below graphic:

Try not to be so precious, Guns

Yes, he's a good line out operator. Due to his height he's the best we have. Henderson has also proven that he's a good line out operator, even if not quite as good as Toner, although I can't remember Henderson losing us any line outs.

Great that we have scored so many tries from line out, although Toner didn't do it all himself...
Line out isn't everything for a lock. Henderson doesn't have the experience of Toner in that position. He is still feeling his way as an international Lock, but even now he's a better Lock than Toner, and he's better because he offers far more than Toner in every other area of the game. He's faster, more powerful, more destructive, more skill and he's an intelligent player. Added to that is the fact that Henderson is more versatile. Schmidt likes his players to be more versatile.

We all know the importance placed on set plays and retaining possession in this team. Toners security at the line out will mean he starts against France.

Oh...so Toner's main fault is that he's dumb? Oh I see....

I'm not sure Toner has faults now. It's what he doesn't offer in comparison to Henderson that I'm pointing out. No, I don't think he's dumb. He does what he's told to do. No more, no less.

Golden wrote:We all know the importance placed on set plays and retaining possession in this team. Toners security at the line out will mean he starts against France.

I think he might, but not for that reason, although it's a good reason. I think Henderson will bench to help counter the threat of the French bench, as well as his versatility to cover backrow.

Golden wrote:We all know the importance placed on set plays and retaining possession in this team. Toners security at the line out will mean he starts against France.

I think our lineout has disimproved in recent years (way below what it was for the '09 Grand Slam) where I think most of the tries were scored from lineouts. Toner is grand to stick in the front on your own ball when you are on your own five metre line so Best or Cronin don't get the yips. His worth in defensive lineouts is that he is a bit of an obstacle if you stick him in the front. POM & POC (and in fairness given a bit more experience Henderson, could be also because of his athleticism) is much better at defensive lineouts because they can get up quick. In the first Wales game, Ryan and Henderson went very well together. I also have noticed that without POC, Toner can be very patchy in his performances and he is usually knackered after 50 minutes whereas you can see POC still going at 80.

The French don't really compete at the lineout so I don't think that will be an issue with secure ball for Ireland.

edit: Just checked the stats for the Italy v France game. Italy's lineout 100%. France 85% (lost 2 won 12 on their own throw).

Sin é wrote:

The Great Aukster wrote:

ME-109 wrote:Damned if he does....

Two scenarios...
1. He backs himself (he had outpaced the flanker but was covered by two other Canadian players)..jinks or takes the ball into contact. Try scoring opp lost...howls of protest that he didnt pass like he should have  to BOD a couple of years ago (even though BOD was covered). Or maybe scores but unlikely given there were three players around.

2. He is covered by backtracking players plays the pass (perfectly) into the player in space...try scored.

First time I have seen a player criticised for making a scoring pass...interesting.

Take a look at the highlights if you want to see the covering by the other Canadian players and the fact he outpaced the flanker.

DOD you were the one saying that he was scoring tries when he was greedy!

My criticism isn't of Earls' pass, it's the sudden realisation that he doesn't have the gas I thought he had. Before that incident I had always thought Earls had enough pace to play wing, because otherwise he doesn't have the bulk nor the height. If it had been DTH with the ball rather than Earls, he wouldn't have passed and he would have scored - the cover defence wasn't any closer or faster than Moonlight.

There is a reason why we don't see a whole load of such passes - most of the time they don't come off. Earls also slowed slightly before making the pass, which almost allowed Kearney to overrun enough into territory where it could have been called forward, (I was in the stand on that touchline and it looked forward to me). The pass was executed and allowed which was fantastic, but if I see a winger with a clear run to the line I expect him to cross it.

So now you are saying his only attribute is that he is fast!  

He has phenomenal pace - but his coach is conserative and would not like any individual display like that. The coach picks the guys who are safe first. That is why Gilroy is not in the squad and Zebo has also changed how he plays with Ireland.

Did you check the highlights he outpaced the flanker but the cover was coming across...I dont think it had anything to do with his pace or lack of. I just think its funny that there is some criticism of a perfectly executed try.

Sin é wrote:
He has phenomenal pace - but his coach is conserative and would not like any individual display like that. The coach picks the guys who are safe first. That is why Gilroy is not in the squad and Zebo has also changed how he plays with Ireland.

Bring back Kidney I say. Lets go back to being way below average.

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:
He has phenomenal pace - but his coach is conserative and would not like any individual display like that. The coach picks the guys who are safe first. That is why Gilroy is not in the squad and Zebo has also changed how he plays with Ireland.

Bring back Kidney I say. Lets go back to being way below average.

Yes lets win a grand slam...good idea.

...with Eddie's team

One poster criticises a player for executing a difficult pass on the run to an unmarked player which makes the try certain, another poster says he didn't use his pace to finish himself because his coach is conservative and presumably wouldn't like to see a player showing off by running at full tilt. You couldn't make some of the stuff that gets said on here up!

Incidentally, maybe that would have been the WC dream team. The Joe, Eddie, Decco show.... Unbeatable mix of semi-egos, alter-egos and over-the-moon egos.....

Notch wrote:One poster criticises a player for executing a difficult pass on the run to an unmarked player which makes the try certain, another poster says he didn't use his pace to finish himself because his coach is conservative and presumably wouldn't like to see a player showing off by running at full tilt. You couldn't make some of the stuff that gets said on here up!

Interesting that it was a carbon copy of BOD's try of the year against Australia in 2008, when Bowe drew 2 men and passed inside to BOD to finish..... only difference is Bowe was pretty unselfish and could have scored himself whereas Earls didn't have the gas

Sin é wrote:

So now you are saying his only attribute is that he is fast!  

He has phenomenal pace - but his coach is conserative and would not like any individual display like that. The coach picks the guys who are safe first. That is why Gilroy is not in the squad and Zebo has also changed how he plays with Ireland.

He's put on some bulk and is looking a lot more physical but I think it's cost him a touch of pace.I think the bulk is more useful though so it's a good trade off as he's still very quick.

I think Earls was running out of legs, and he had no real option other than the pass. The pass was superb though, and deserves full credit.

Two is all you're allowed in Union. Another fussy law that needs changing.

"The French don't really compete at the lineout so I don't think that will be an issue with secure ball for Ireland."

Try watching the France v England game. France really attacked our line out and we struggled to get any decent ball (Albeit Tom Youngs was playing)

ME-109 wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:
He has phenomenal pace - but his coach is conserative and would not like any individual display like that. The coach picks the guys who are safe first. That is why Gilroy is not in the squad and Zebo has also changed how he plays with Ireland.

Bring back Kidney I say. Lets go back to being way below average.

Yes lets win a grand slam...good idea.

Back to back 6 nations is better than a slam. Id also prefer the chance to go for an unprecedented third in a row than settle for mid table.

GunsGerms wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:
He has phenomenal pace - but his coach is conserative and would not like any individual display like that. The coach picks the guys who are safe first. That is why Gilroy is not in the squad and Zebo has also changed how he plays with Ireland.

Bring back Kidney I say. Lets go back to being way below average.

Yes lets win a grand slam...good idea.

Back to back 6 nations is better than a slam. Id also prefer the chance to go for an unprecedented third in a row that mid table.

I'd trade them all for a win over England or NZ on November 12th .

So would I plus all Munster's Heineken Cup wins.

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

Sin é wrote:

So now you are saying his only attribute is that he is fast!  

He has phenomenal pace - but his coach is conserative and would not like any individual display like that. The coach picks the guys who are safe first. That is why Gilroy is not in the squad and Zebo has also changed how he plays with Ireland.

He's put on some bulk and is looking a lot more physical but I think it's cost him a touch of pace.I think the bulk is more useful though so it's a good trade off as he's still very quick.

I just don't know about that - he was very fast in the first warmup game. He was flying all over the place. Maybe his legs were a bit tired - it was at the end of the game.