Ireland v Wales 24/02/2018 14:15

First topic message reminder :

So, Wales have gone with Dan Biggar, Liam Williams & Leigh Halfpenny for the game against Ireland. George North & Gareth Anscombe drop to the bench, and Rhys Patchell & Josh Adams drop out of the match day squad. Not bad decisions in my opinion, though I think I might have had Patchell on the bench over Anscombe... and possibly switched Halfpenny & Williams- I just think Williams offers more threat from fullback than Halfpenny does.

Wales Team:
Halfpenny (Scarlets); L Williams (Saracens), S Williams (Scarlets), Parkes (Scarlets), S Evans (Scarlets); Biggar (Ospreys), G Davies (Scarlets); R Evans (Scarlets), Owens (Scarlets), Lee (Scarlets), Hill (Dragons), AW Jones (Ospreys capt), Shingler (Scarlets), Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Moriarty (Gloucester).

Replacements:
Dee (Dragons), W Jones (Scarlets), Francis (Exeter Chiefs), B Davies (Ospreys), Tipuric (Ospreys), A Davies (Scarlets), Anscombe (Blues), North (Northampton).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43127349

Ireland Team:
Kearney; Earls, Farrell, Aki, Stockdale; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best (capt), Porter; James Ryan, Toner; O'Mahony, Leavy, Stander.

Replacements: Cronin, McGrath, John Ryan, Roux, Conan, Marmion, Carbery, McFadden.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43152956

Quick question for you Welsh lads.
Is biggar capable of playing the faster type of rugby you seem to want to?
As soon as I saw he was starting and no second playmaker on the pitch I felt we would win.
If you start him wouldn't it be best to have patch at 15 or Owen Williams at 12?

I mentioned this before the game: Biggar does not seem capable of playing flat, which then necessitates a big crash ball 12 to truck it up. I'd prefer a 10 who plays more flat and then brings the backs onto the ball more at pace, with a more ball playing 12. After Patchell I'm not sure who that 10 is. But Biggar is not the man for the running rugby, broken field style of play.

What a day!  Was watching the Scottish game until half time..... then the electricity went!  Biggest day for Scottish rugby in a long time and I missed the entire second half.  It seems though that by the scoreline, I did get the better half.

Don't know what to say about the Ireland game yet.  The relief at the end was wonderful but that's why I'll always bow to the Welsh players/team/mentality.  They just never call it a day and always keep the heart beating hard right to the end.

Strange first half from us.  So quiet.  Not just the very pronounced silences for the kicks (attempts!)  but also a very.......... well a quiet timid game from both sides really.  The pre-game nerves were with Sexton big time but I was hoping that if he kept miskicking that the other Johnny would appear - a frustrated angry one that was determined to do well in other departments if the boot was letting him down. Even Schmidt said that version appeared
The second half was the best I've seen Ireland play in a while and I say that because the Welsh boys are so good - so you can measure things when you meet a dangerous team like Wales and still look belligerent and quite comfortable through most aspects.  But it took time to settle and, boy, the way Scotland played in that first half - time is something they're not going to give us!  Back to the grindstone.  But a very good win for Ireland - finally a game I liked.

eirebilly wrote:The major concern for me was Ireland had 70% possession and looked very gassed in the last 10mins. That and the fact that Wales scored 27 points with only 30% possession. A side like England will not allow Ireland 70% possession.

Yup its a concern but at least we scored 5 tries. Thats a major improvement although it was more down to the pack than free flowing rugby. Still they moved the ball around more than they usually do.


The defending is narrow, narrow narrow. I don't know why they can't fix it. Wales were very good going wide too some credit to them.


The game really showed Kearney up as being past it. I like Kearney as a competitor but the ball dies whenever he gets it.


Stockdale has now 4 tries in his 6 nations career. 3 more than Simon Zebo.

An ‘ifs and buts’ question here! Was in the pub so didn’t see much of replays and post match analysis. It’s all academic now of course, but IF the wales pass had gone to Welsh hands, was it on for Wales? It was a long way out still but the one angle seemed to suggest no one at home on the wing for Ireland beyond the guy who caught it and strolled home for the sucker punch try! A potential 14 point swing of a pass!

Profitius, am I reading you correctly? Zebo only has one 6 nations try??? Surely not?!

profitius wrote:

eirebilly wrote:The major concern for me was Ireland had 70% possession and looked very gassed in the last 10mins. That and the fact that Wales scored 27 points with only 30% possession. A side like England will not allow Ireland 70% possession.

Yup its a concern but at least we scored 5 tries. Thats a major improvement although it was more down to the pack than free flowing rugby. Still they moved the ball around more than they usually do.


The defending is narrow, narrow narrow. I don't know why they can't fix it. Wales were very good going wide too some credit to them.


The game really showed Kearney up as being past it. I like Kearney as a competitor but the ball dies whenever he gets it.


Stockdale has now 4 tries in his 6 nations career. 3 more than Simon Zebo.

It is time for Joe to have a serious look at Kearney. He's been great, especially when he psyches himself up for those one off 'big' games. But we really do need much more stretched legged creativity at 15 now. We always speak of the wings, centres and 9 and 10 as being the players to generate creative play but nope, you also need a pretty damn evasive 15 too to tie it all together. Rob just hasn't the confidence to evade and actively looks for contact too much when all the choices in his mind disappear too quickly as he realises his body can't follow where the brain wants to go.

The Oracle wrote:An ‘ifs and buts’ question here! Was in the pub so didn’t see much of replays and post match analysis. It’s all academic now of course, but IF the wales pass had gone to Welsh hands, was it on for Wales? It was a long way out still but the one angle seemed to suggest no one at home on the wing for Ireland beyond the guy who caught it and strolled home for the sucker punch try! A potential 14 point swing of a pass!

I think Wales had two players out wide and they'd have had a pretty good dash at it for sure had the pass worked.

SecretFly wrote:

The Oracle wrote:An ‘ifs and buts’ question here! Was in the pub so didn’t see much of replays and post match analysis. It’s all academic now of course, but IF the wales pass had gone to Welsh hands, was it on for Wales? It was a long way out still but the one angle seemed to suggest no one at home on the wing for Ireland beyond the guy who caught it and strolled home for the sucker punch try! A potential 14 point swing of a pass!

I think Wales had two players out wide and they'd have had a pretty good dash at it for sure had the pass worked.

Sorry, yes I knew about the 2 welsh waiting out wide. But was the try scorer for Ireland the last player? Such fine margins this game! Love this tournament. But it also kills me at times!

That's what I meant...Stockdale appeared to be the last player... had he missed.....................

well it was possible for Wales to get to the line the way they were playing. So risk by both sides. Stockdale risked a lot when he backed himself to intercept.

SecretFly wrote:

profitius wrote:

eirebilly wrote:The major concern for me was Ireland had 70% possession and looked very gassed in the last 10mins. That and the fact that Wales scored 27 points with only 30% possession. A side like England will not allow Ireland 70% possession.

Yup its a concern but at least we scored 5 tries. Thats a major improvement although it was more down to the pack than free flowing rugby. Still they moved the ball around more than they usually do.


The defending is narrow, narrow narrow. I don't know why they can't fix it. Wales were very good going wide too some credit to them.


The game really showed Kearney up as being past it. I like Kearney as a competitor but the ball dies whenever he gets it.


Stockdale has now 4 tries in his 6 nations career. 3 more than Simon Zebo.

It is time for Joe to have a serious look at Kearney.  He's been great, especially when he psyches himself up for those one off 'big' games.  But we really do need much more stretched legged creativity at 15 now.  We always speak of the wings, centres and 9 and 10 as being the players to generate creative play but nope, you also need a pretty damn evasive 15 too to tie it all together.  Rob just hasn't the confidence to evade and actively looks for contact too much when all the choices in his mind disappear too quickly as he realises his body can't follow where the brain wants to go.

Indeed. Thats the next step with Irelands attack. Get a 15 who can trouble defences. Its probably too early for Larmour but Carbery or Conway could fill in there.

Well Glen Jackson must be popular in Ireland tonight for not reffing them at the breakdown therefore not allowing a fair contest. Those possession stats are quite telling. Well done GJ and Ireland .

The Oracle wrote:Profitius, am I reading you correctly? Zebo only has one 6 nations try??? Surely not?!

I read that somewhere. 1 try between 6 nations and world cups. He has 9 tries in total so I presume they're scored in the summer and november tests.


http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/player/114227.html

The Oracle wrote:I mentioned this before the game: Biggar does not seem capable of playing flat, which then necessitates a big crash ball 12 to truck it up. I'd prefer a 10 who plays more flat and then brings the backs onto the ball more at pace, with a more ball playing 12. After Patchell I'm not sure who that 10 is. But Biggar is not the man for the running rugby, broken field style of play.

Patchell should have started with Biggar on the bench. Biggar was thrown back in today plus he was really annoying. Anscombe comes in and shows he's fourth or fifth choice at best.

mikey_dragon wrote:Well Glen Jackson must be popular in Ireland tonight for not reffing them at the breakdown therefore not allowing a fair contest. Those possession stats are quite telling. Well done GJ and Ireland .

You get Wayne Barnes one year, we get Glen Jackson another year..... fair is fair

Don’t think the ref was bad at all. No issues with Jackson whatsoever.

The Oracle wrote:Don’t think the ref was bad at all. No issues with Jackson whatsoever.

I felt he gave us a bit more in general but also thought he missed a very obvious high tackle just before the steal that resulted in your first try.Would like to have seen the TMO look at the pass for your 2nd try too so it evened out imo.

mikey_dragon wrote:Well Glen Jackson must be popular in Ireland tonight for not reffing them at the breakdown therefore not allowing a fair contest. Those possession stats are quite telling. Well done GJ and Ireland .

Awww now Mikey. At least pretend to show a little class

mikey_dragon wrote:Well Glen Jackson must be popular in Ireland tonight for not reffing them at the breakdown therefore not allowing a fair contest. Those possession stats are quite telling. Well done GJ and Ireland .

Gave you a forwards pass and ungrounded try so you should be happy with him.

Scottrf wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Well Glen Jackson must be popular in Ireland tonight for not reffing them at the breakdown therefore not allowing a fair contest. Those possession stats are quite telling. Well done GJ and Ireland .

Gave you a forwards pass and ungrounded try so you should be happy with him.

This thread has been very good natured. Please don’t spoil it now.

Scottrf wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Well Glen Jackson must be popular in Ireland tonight for not reffing them at the breakdown therefore not allowing a fair contest. Those possession stats are quite telling. Well done GJ and Ireland .

Gave you a forwards pass and ungrounded try so you should be happy with him.

What ungrounded try are you on about anyway???

The Oracle wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Well Glen Jackson must be popular in Ireland tonight for not reffing them at the breakdown therefore not allowing a fair contest. Those possession stats are quite telling. Well done GJ and Ireland .

Gave you a forwards pass and ungrounded try so you should be happy with him.

This thread has been very good natured. Please don’t spoil it now.

What else do you expect from him though? He’s been posting his BS on every Wales thread since the AI. Mods reluctant to take action against non-welsh posters for some reason.

SecretFly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Well Glen Jackson must be popular in Ireland tonight for not reffing them at the breakdown therefore not allowing a fair contest. Those possession stats are quite telling. Well done GJ and Ireland .

You get Wayne Barnes one year, we get Glen Jackson another year.....  fair is fair

Fair when you put it like that although I don’t see the Irish issue with Barnes. Me or nobody I know has a personal issue with Jackson either but that was the most one-sided reffing at the breakdown I’ve seen. It helped Ireland with possession and territory, whilst Sexton’s missed kicks mostly came from incorrect breakdown calls. There was obstruction for Ireland’s third try too, a bit like the one Barnes disallowed last year... So as I said well done GJ and Ireland .

The Oracle wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Well Glen Jackson must be popular in Ireland tonight for not reffing them at the breakdown therefore not allowing a fair contest. Those possession stats are quite telling. Well done GJ and Ireland .

Gave you a forwards pass and ungrounded try so you should be happy with him.

What ungrounded try are you on about anyway???

Johnny May’s? And not allowing an even contest at the breakdown isn’t really the same as one forward pass. Forward passes, crooked feeds, etc are quite common so don’t really affect the outcome of a match.

The Oracle wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Well Glen Jackson must be popular in Ireland tonight for not reffing them at the breakdown therefore not allowing a fair contest. Those possession stats are quite telling. Well done GJ and Ireland .

Gave you a forwards pass and ungrounded try so you should be happy with him.

What ungrounded try are you on about anyway???

SCOTT! Where are you??? I’ve just watched the highlights and there is not 1 Wales try that can even be considered ungrounded. You troll!! I know your team lost but take your frustration out on someone else.

mikey_dragon wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Well Glen Jackson must be popular in Ireland tonight for not reffing them at the breakdown therefore not allowing a fair contest. Those possession stats are quite telling. Well done GJ and Ireland .

You get Wayne Barnes one year, we get Glen Jackson another year.....  fair is fair

Fair when you put it like that although I don’t see the Irish issue with Barnes. Me or nobody I know has a personal issue with Jackson either but that was the most one-sided reffing at the breakdown I’ve seen. It helped Ireland with possession and territory, whilst Sexton’s missed kicks mostly came from incorrect breakdown calls. There was obstruction for Ireland’s third try too, a bit like the one Barnes disallowed last year... So as I said well done GJ and Ireland .

Mikey_dragon.

I am not taking GJ's side here but just like England you ( WALES ) was not good enough to win today.

profitius wrote:

eirebilly wrote:The major concern for me was Ireland had 70% possession and looked very gassed in the last 10mins. That and the fact that Wales scored 27 points with only 30% possession. A side like England will not allow Ireland 70% possession.

Yup its a concern but at least we scored 5 tries. Thats a major improvement although it was more down to the pack than free flowing rugby. Still they moved the ball around more than they usually do.


The defending is narrow, narrow narrow. I don't know why they can't fix it. Wales were very good going wide too some credit to them.


The game really showed Kearney up as being past it. I like Kearney as a competitor but the ball dies whenever he gets it.


Stockdale has now 4 tries in his 6 nations career. 3 more than Simon Zebo.

Actually a very different perception of Kearney today, thought he played very well indeed. I am one of his biggest critics but today he was again very good for me, still the number one. Sure I would like to try and bring in younger players but credit where it is due for Kearney today.

The Oracle wrote:

The Oracle wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Well Glen Jackson must be popular in Ireland tonight for not reffing them at the breakdown therefore not allowing a fair contest. Those possession stats are quite telling. Well done GJ and Ireland .

Gave you a forwards pass and ungrounded try so you should be happy with him.

What ungrounded try are you on about anyway???

SCOTT! Where are you??? I’ve just watched the highlights and there is not 1 Wales try that can even be considered ungrounded. You troll!! I know your team lost but take your frustration out on someone else.

Plenty of low posts from this one Griff. I guess he’s just mad because I pointed out there was no footage of May grounding his first try against Wales. Of course if someone can show me the footage then please do. I also said it the time it was a bit of a moot point as England were good enough for the win anyway. Today however we seen what Wales did with little possession, just imagine if there was a fair contest at the breakdown. Just imagine...

mikey_dragon wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Well Glen Jackson must be popular in Ireland tonight for not reffing them at the breakdown therefore not allowing a fair contest. Those possession stats are quite telling. Well done GJ and Ireland .

You get Wayne Barnes one year, we get Glen Jackson another year.....  fair is fair

Fair when you put it like that although I don’t see the Irish issue with Barnes. Me or nobody I know has a personal issue with Jackson either but that was the most one-sided reffing at the breakdown I’ve seen. It helped Ireland with possession and territory, whilst Sexton’s missed kicks mostly came from incorrect breakdown calls. There was obstruction for Ireland’s third try too, a bit like the one Barnes disallowed last year... So as I said well done GJ and Ireland .

Right, Mikey. So as per usual, Ireland didn't really win at all. We never win, it's always just an official or some other fool that stops the better team getting the better of us.

Well spotted

It’s not the general consensus, Fly. I’ve not heard or read any complaints of Jackson in my networks.

mikey_dragon wrote: Today however we seen what Wales did with little possession...

You scored three tries.  Italy scored as many with probably less possession.  It says Ireland's defence needs serious tightening up if we're to keep going in this contest.  Says more about Ireland than Wales.

We’re very light in the back 3,we need Conway back asap as after the starters the quality drops off a cliff.
Henshaw is a huge loss too,our defense looks so much more vulnerable without him.I’d drop Aki and keep Farrell at 13,not sure what I’d do on the 2nd row, I thought Toner was brilliant today,he brought huge linespeed in defense but would find it hard to leave Henderson out.

The Oracle wrote:It’s not the general consensus, Fly. I’ve not heard or read any complaints of Jackson in my networks.

You've been gracious. Mikey is being Mikey - mischievous.

SecretFly wrote:

The Oracle wrote:It’s not the general consensus, Fly. I’ve not heard or read any complaints of Jackson in my networks.

You've been gracious.  Mikey is being Mikey - mischievous.

Not being intentially gracious, although I always try to be! Just genuinely not heard complaints anywhere else -in the pub I was in, amongst friends, on social media, on other forums (fora?!). Suggests the ref was fine

SecretFly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Well Glen Jackson must be popular in Ireland tonight for not reffing them at the breakdown therefore not allowing a fair contest. Those possession stats are quite telling. Well done GJ and Ireland .

You get Wayne Barnes one year, we get Glen Jackson another year.....  fair is fair

Fair when you put it like that although I don’t see the Irish issue with Barnes. Me or nobody I know has a personal issue with Jackson either but that was the most one-sided reffing at the breakdown I’ve seen. It helped Ireland with possession and territory, whilst Sexton’s missed kicks mostly came from incorrect breakdown calls. There was obstruction for Ireland’s third try too, a bit like the one Barnes disallowed last year... So as I said well done GJ and Ireland .

Right, Mikey.  So as per usual, Ireland didn't really win at all.  We never win, it's always just an official or some other fool that stops the better team getting the better of us.  

Well spotted

Well don’t us welsh read that on here after every Wales win? Welcome to the club, we’ve been members for a lot longer than you. I genuinely believe GJ didn’t allow a fair breakdown contest which helped Ireland with possession and territory, which on the whole they used very well.

I went to the gym afterwards with my uncle and we bumped into his level-headed Irish friend. I have to agree with him that it’s not going to be a vintage 6N. I think Ireland will go on to win the tournament, and it won’t be a fluke - I hope you don’t have to read such tripe as often as we have.

As an Irishman, I must say that I thought that Ireland lived a charmed life at the breakdown. Toner, in particular, seemed to take men out far beyond the breakdown and I have seen that penalised on many occasions.

I also thought that the penalty to Ireland to take them to a 30 - 20 lead was incorrect, that was a game changer as such.

Was more impressed with Ireland not slowing down and defending a lead, the second half is how Ireland can and should play rugby.

Great game in the end but commiserations to Wales.

The Oracle wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

The Oracle wrote:It’s not the general consensus, Fly. I’ve not heard or read any complaints of Jackson in my networks.

You've been gracious.  Mikey is being Mikey - mischievous.

Not being intentially gracious, although I always try to be! Just genuinely not heard complaints anywhere else -in the pub I was in, amongst friends, on social media, on other forums (fora?!). Suggests the ref was fine

Well I don't mean that you've been smothering us with lavish praise, Oracle, ... so don't get too embarrassed by the term 'gracious' No, just that you seem to have watched the game and largely accept the game that you saw unfold.
When I'm responding to Mikey's opinion of the game.... I'm responding to Mikey's distinct opinion of the game.

mikey_dragon wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Well Glen Jackson must be popular in Ireland tonight for not reffing them at the breakdown therefore not allowing a fair contest. Those possession stats are quite telling. Well done GJ and Ireland .

You get Wayne Barnes one year, we get Glen Jackson another year.....  fair is fair

Fair when you put it like that although I don’t see the Irish issue with Barnes. Me or nobody I know has a personal issue with Jackson either but that was the most one-sided reffing at the breakdown I’ve seen. It helped Ireland with possession and territory, whilst Sexton’s missed kicks mostly came from incorrect breakdown calls. There was obstruction for Ireland’s third try too, a bit like the one Barnes disallowed last year... So as I said well done GJ and Ireland .

Right, Mikey.  So as per usual, Ireland didn't really win at all.  We never win, it's always just an official or some other fool that stops the better team getting the better of us.  

Well spotted

Well don’t us welsh read that on here after every Wales win? Welcome to the club, we’ve been members for a lot longer than you. I genuinely believe GJ didn’t allow a fair breakdown contest which helped Ireland with possession and territory, which on the whole they used very well.

I went to the gym afterwards with my uncle and we bumped into his level-headed Irish friend. I have to agree with him that it’s not going to be a vintage 6N. I think Ireland will go on to win the tournament, and it won’t be a fluke - I hope you don’t have to read such tripe as often as we have.

Well, maybe you should save the 'club' stuff for those who might throw the 'club' stuff at you.  Em, nope, you haven't been a member of the club a lot longer than we have.  You forget you're talking to an Irish man here - you know, the team that never truly can really play real rugby and that have mostly always had the up-the-jumper reputation for most of my early life anyway.  We're the side that get laughed at about the slog, the fuddle fingers, the big oaf eejits that more often than not implode when a real man's rugby team hit them with the afterburner juice........................ hmmm, I wonder can I think of such a team that is lauded for such stuff since I was a young man....oh that's right...Wales.

You have a bit of a persecution complex there, mikey but no - you haven't been a member of the 'club' longer than we have been. You come from a land where rugby has been considered a national sport/institution - perhaps only second to New Zealand in terms of passion and natural ability.

Well, I only came on here to congratulate Ireland, haven't read much apart from the post before this.....I'm sure all us Welsh can find a way how it was unfair, how the ref overlooked this and that, how this or that try should defe not be given......result is we lost. Not by a bad decision (or TMO mess up) Ireland played from the starting whistle, we waited til about 60 mins to have a real go and played in patches.
It may pain me to say it but we simply lost to a better side.....well done Ireland, great game, good win for your boys.

TJ wrote:

mckay1402 wrote:How the hell has he penalised Wales at that scrum?  That is the most obvious wrong penalty I've ever seen at a scrum

Multiple offences.  Wales didn't hook then both bored in and walked around

They didn't both bore in at all. The Irish loosehead never gets square and he's gone under the Welsh tighthead. Terrible decision

SecretFly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Well Glen Jackson must be popular in Ireland tonight for not reffing them at the breakdown therefore not allowing a fair contest. Those possession stats are quite telling. Well done GJ and Ireland .

You get Wayne Barnes one year, we get Glen Jackson another year.....  fair is fair

Fair when you put it like that although I don’t see the Irish issue with Barnes. Me or nobody I know has a personal issue with Jackson either but that was the most one-sided reffing at the breakdown I’ve seen. It helped Ireland with possession and territory, whilst Sexton’s missed kicks mostly came from incorrect breakdown calls. There was obstruction for Ireland’s third try too, a bit like the one Barnes disallowed last year... So as I said well done GJ and Ireland .

Right, Mikey.  So as per usual, Ireland didn't really win at all.  We never win, it's always just an official or some other fool that stops the better team getting the better of us.  

Well spotted

Well don’t us welsh read that on here after every Wales win? Welcome to the club, we’ve been members for a lot longer than you. I genuinely believe GJ didn’t allow a fair breakdown contest which helped Ireland with possession and territory, which on the whole they used very well.

I went to the gym afterwards with my uncle and we bumped into his level-headed Irish friend. I have to agree with him that it’s not going to be a vintage 6N. I think Ireland will go on to win the tournament, and it won’t be a fluke - I hope you don’t have to read such tripe as often as we have.

Well, maybe you should save the 'club' stuff for those who might throw the 'club' stuff at you.  Em, nope, you haven't been a member of the club a lot longer than we have.  You forget you're talking to an Irish man here - you know, the team that never truly can really play real rugby and that have mostly always had the up-the-jumper reputation for most of my early life anyway.  We're the side that get laughed at about the slog, the fuddle fingers, the big oaf eejits that more often than not implode when a real man's rugby team hit them with the afterburner juice........................ hmmm, I wonder can I think of such a team that is lauded for such stuff since I was a young man....oh that's right...Wales.

You have a bit of a persecution complex there, mikey but no - you haven't been a member of the 'club' longer than we have been.  You come from a land where rugby has been considered a national sport/institution - perhaps only second to New Zealand in terms of passion and natural ability.

And there was me thinking you’d like the warm welcome... I’m not sure who says that about Ireland but I can’t really think of anyone who’s said it or would say such BS. Anyone who watches Leinster wouldn’t say that about Irish rugby. We’ve even read the ‘club stuff’ about Wales here today, even when Ireland were handed the possession and territory! Worst breakdown performance I’ve ever seen, reminds of Celtic Rugby in the old days

mckay1402 wrote:

TJ wrote:

mckay1402 wrote:How the hell has he penalised Wales at that scrum?  That is the most obvious wrong penalty I've ever seen at a scrum

Multiple offences.  Wales didn't hook then both bored in and walked around

They didn't both bore in at all.  The Irish loosehead never gets square and he's gone under the Welsh tighthead.  Terrible decision

I was wondering what happened there too, particularly as their TH kept collapsing it at first. It was Glen handing Ireland more possession, is he dating Joe’s niece or something?

mikey_dragon wrote:

And there was me thinking you’d like the warm welcome... I’m not sure who says that about Ireland but I can’t really think of anyone who’s said it or would say such BS. Anyone who watches Leinster wouldn’t say that about Irish rugby. We’ve even read the ‘club stuff’ about Wales here today, even when Ireland were handed the possession and territory! Worst breakdown performance I’ve ever seen, reminds of Celtic Rugby in the old days

Nah...you just forgot to turn on the lights when you first entered the 'clubhouse', Mikey  You should have smelled us though, even if you couldn't see us.  The club house is packed.
Indeed, we always laugh at the Welsh who try to gate-crash, and them with all the Internationally acclaimed great Welsh whizzes of yesteryear and not so 'yester'year.  Blimey even a few of them were playing today!

Anyway, back to the game.  Thought our younger boyos really stood up to the challenge of the enterprise today.  They didn't stand away from it and weren't afraid of it.  They knuckled down and kind of ridiculed the concept that without Henshaw, O'Brien, Henderson, or Ringrose we'd be severely weakened.

SecretFly wrote:
Anyway, back to the game.  Thought our younger boyos really stood up to the challenge of the enterprise today.  They didn't stand away from it and weren't afraid of it.  They knuckled down and kind of ridiculed the concept that without Henshaw, O'Brien, Henderson, or Ringrose we'd be severely weakened.

I thought so too. And I was convinced Ireland would miss those guys quite badly but that wasn’t the case. I don’t think Biggar showed up that well for us and we also looked underpowered. We need to smash France and Italy, which is doable given their form.

I think it was too much to ask Biggar to get involved in that game today, considering he rushed himself back from injury in an oxygen tent or something. I think too much of a miracle was expected by Gats and his coaches to think Ireland at home would be a nice start-up game for him to be fully up to speed on his good stuff.

He showed glimpses of good stuff and he's one of the best kick/chaser/catchers out there. But I always suspected that it wouldn't be a miracle great day for him, just out of the oxygen tent.

The Oracle wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Well Glen Jackson must be popular in Ireland tonight for not reffing them at the breakdown therefore not allowing a fair contest. Those possession stats are quite telling. Well done GJ and Ireland .

Gave you a forwards pass and ungrounded try so you should be happy with him.

What ungrounded try are you on about anyway???

The Davies one. He just rolls over. Navidi's pass to Shingler was also a forward action.

To be honest I think the breakdown in both matches was a bit of a mess today - not sure how you sort it out as so much is down to individual ref's interpretations ...

Scottrf wrote:

The Oracle wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Well Glen Jackson must be popular in Ireland tonight for not reffing them at the breakdown therefore not allowing a fair contest. Those possession stats are quite telling. Well done GJ and Ireland .

Gave you a forwards pass and ungrounded try so you should be happy with him.

What ungrounded try are you on about anyway???

The Davies one. He just rolls over. Navidi's pass to Shingler was also a forward action.

He rolls over, gets up and runs closer to the posts where he then grounds it. Like most players do when they want to get closer for an easier kick. You weirdo!

Watched the game back again this morning and I really do feel that Aki should have seen a YC for his deliberate knock down, it is a yellow card offence.

I do not like the fact that referees do not yellow card players for deliberate cynical play simply because the opposing team scores a try. His deliberate and cynical action was just that, regardless if Wales scored the try or not. If Wales had not scored, I am sure he would have seen Yellow.

Wales should have seen yellow for persistent infringement too,every time we were close to the line they gave away penalties.They must have given away 5 that weren’t awarded since we scored anyway.