Ireland 2021/22

First topic message reminder :

The squad will be named in about 4 weeks time so that should give players the chance to play their way in or out of the squad.


I think this season will see a number of players breaking into the squad or forcing their way up the pecking order. A few that spring to mind are Dan Sheehan, Hume, Coombes, Casey, Harry Byrne..


Porter to loosehead gives that position a boost although Furlong becomes even more important.
Sheehan has looked very good. Darts seem good and he's good around the pitch.


Doris, Conan and Coombes battling for 6 and 8. Good options. Can Leave get back to near his best.


Casey is pushing hard and there's also the emergence of Doak. All of a sudden a traditional problem position is looking strong.


Carbery has been very poor in the first 2 games. He has to get a grip. Harry Byrne is the hot new talent but I don't think the man can stay fit. Ben Healy could be in with a shout.


I'd have Hume ahead of Ringrose now. Henshaw leading the 12s.


Options in the outside backs also but nearly every option has a question mark around them. Lowes defence, Stockdale errors, Earls' age etc. I think Keenan is first choice 15.

Sexton in trouble

Well this is getting interesting!

Hmm. For me a double movement at the previous ruck but looks like it's good for Ireland.

Going to be ruled out.

crawl

Yep thought in real time they were going to get pinged for that - shame ...

Looked a pretty clear double movement live. Frustrating for Ireland but an example of a good TMO intervention for me.

Stupidity. For tryline to try line.

That's the sort of ruthlessness that the ABs have been missing recently. One small mistake from Kelleher and it's effectively a 14 point swing in a couple of minutes.

Harsh that. Need to stop giving penalties away in their 22.

NZ playing very on the edge here. Like they've learnt nothing from their close games recently with Ireland. It was their obsession with fronting up and playing with enhanced brutality that cost them.

Christ. How frustrating is this.

Great defence by NZ

Cracking game.

Lacking concentration and precision there. Ireland should be going in somewhat in the lead had they had composure.

Great first half by Ireland. Just hope these missed chances don’t cost us.

Possession and territory must be massively in Ireland's favour - they just need to convert this into points ...

Old Man wrote:Great defence by NZ

Yeah really good to be fair

Good performance from Leinster so far

NZ 150 tackles 8 missed, Black Adder 17 tackles in 30 minutes

Ireland 34 tackles 7 missed.

Old Man wrote:NZ 150 tackles 8 missed, Black Adder 17 tackles in 30 minutes

Ireland 34 tackles 7 missed.

Got to take its toll on NZ but another stat that suggests that Ireland just aren't quite concentrating.

Along with 70% posession but only 5 points. Farrell would have been throwing tea cups.

That was great work from Ireland

Sexton been watching too much Russell on his kicks.

I hate it when players have this culture of trying to milk penalties

Great midfield defence sending in wider players out of the eyeline of the ball carrier.

Niiiiiiiice.

Terrible from Taylor but Doris is once again looking like a special player today.

Lovely. Getting the breaks now.

Bit cynical that. Should really be a yellow.
Well disguised should we say.

TJ's defensive game is exceptional these days. How much top scrum-halves offer in defence is an area the game has completely changed in just a few years. Guys like Dupont, Faf and Smith are absolute pests in defence now.

Ireland really stretching off at lineout.

Wow. Will Jordan is some player.

Wish the ref had been so clear in instructions on that Underhill try with the lawes 'offside' a few years ago.

Yeah the offside that wasn't clear and obvious or even offside at all ...

Another off the ball tackle. Had Sexton not been down surely he'd be reminding the ref that NZ are on a warning for that. Should be a yellow.

Brain dead from Conway. Ireland trying to lose this?

I never have digs at referee's but he has been savage tonight. 

How can such a low level be accepted?

He has made bad calls against both sides but Ireland have predominantly been on the bad end.

How many late tackles will go unpunished?

I think the ref has been good to be honest. All calls clearly thought through and explained.

eirebilly wrote:I never have digs at referee's but he has been savage tonight. 

How can such a low level be accepted?

He has made bad calls against both sides but Ireland have predominantly been on the bad end.

How many late tackles will go unpunished?

A couple of mistakes for me. Probably the second best in the world after Barnes though.

I think the ref hasn't been too bad but NZ should have seen yellow for the last late/off the ball tackle as they'd been warned before ...

The Oracle wrote:I think the ref has been good to be honest. All calls clearly thought through and explained.

Hes just forgotten the call he made in the 1st half on late tackles though. Like I said Sexton may well have reminded him but for going off...and no call from tmo, not sure they remind refs on that tho.

Brilliant defence by Lowe again. He's been great going forward and backward in this match.

Win or lose, James Lowe has been the best player on the pitch for me.

Great kick

eirebilly wrote:Win or lose, James Lowe has been the best player on the pitch for me.

Keenan for me.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Win or lose, James Lowe has been the best player on the pitch for me.

Keenan for me.

Fair shout but Lowe has made two try saving tackles and scored one. Standout for me.

And that. Should be that.

That must be it now ...

Yesssssssssssssssssssssss

Kick the points, its 2 scores and Ireland win!