posted Sep 22, 2007

As an Irish man I'm gutted and my blood was boiling watching that display, we've got to be honest and take it on the chin we where shocking and don't deserve to be anywhere near a WC QF game, we're just not clinical enough,creative,strong enough and as always fail produce on the big stage. EOS has no balls, it's all a little clique in the Irish camp. We couldn't beat a Southern H team if they only had 13 men for the entire match at the moment. Wales Scotland and England you can still do some damage I'll be cheering yiz on, I'd love to give yiz some luck but the luck o' the Irish has been well and truly found out.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Sep 22, 2007

Its all so enevitably predictable.... Christ it's been like watching a slow death from the start of the tournament. It's all gotten far to stale and cosy. Hunger is everything in sport and that goes for the coaches aswell. It has been very, very disapointing from a supporters view. God Eddie doesn't have talk drivel when he is being interviewed sometimes it's obvious he's acting like a rabbit caught in headlights.. in total shock.. It has to be Declan kidney now

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Sep 22, 2007

I am still feeling somewhat shell-shocked by the performance of the Irish team. Not just last night. This is the fifth match on the trot that they have not performed – I am not counting the summer tests in Argentina 'cos I didn't see them. I mean the two international warm-ups and the first three matches of the RWC. So questions have to be asked and answered.

My questions are – why has ROG suffered such a catastrophic loss of form over such a long period?
Why can a player such as POC be nominated as Player of the year one year and while still potentially in his physical prime make no impact in so many matches? Why does a famed back line make a hash of it every time they get the ball? Why are players, who are frequently referred to as intelligent, incapable of changing their game plan to suit the situation?

On the ROG question – the fly-half has always controlled the game. (Looking at the comments on the English side of 606 I see people complaining about the effect Rob Andrews has always had on the English game.) But over the past number of years, ROG has been a genuine lynchpin of Ireland and Munster. Yes he bottled the penalty kick famously to lose the HC, but since then his confidence and reliability in place- and from hand kicking has been superb. He has often been called the est fly-half in the northern hemisphere. His loss of form, which I believe was first exhibited in the HC loss in Thomond Park against Leicester, has been dreadful. Irland has never produced the heavyweight packs of other teams. So they have always needed something else to get them going forward – this was where ROG's imperious boot on ball came in, time and time gain he relieved pressure, put the forwards in a good attacking position by finding the unerring touch. In the last five matches you could count on your fingers the number of decent kicks he has made (last night's drop-goal was one of them). There has been talk in the French media about his personal life. It is of course none of our business, and if it is true, I have great sympathy for him, but if the rumours are true, it would explain a lot. It is sad to see such a talented player perform so poorly on what should have been a glorious stage for his talents.

POC has always blown hot and cold. He can be wonderful one game and lose the plot next time. We have learnt to live with that. But to make no impression in so many matches? That is unforgiveable.

The back-line? Well it just hasn't been firing has it?

The last question is, I think, the nub of the problem. There are a number of levels in professional rugby these days – local leagues (Premiership, Magners, French), the HC is a step up, and internationals a further step. There are many things which professionalism has brought to the game – greater physicality, greater speed of players, faster ball from the breakdown and so on. With the natural and historic existence of inter-provincial rugby, Ireland was able to graft the professional game onto its existing system without the pain and heartache which happened in Wales and Scotland. This was why Ireland were able to become a significant force in European rugby and why their ambitions went further than that. So why the lack of intelligence on the field? Over-coached? Over-dependent on a few key players, who when they are not firing drag the whole team down? Conservatism on the part of the coach – not giving enough game-time and hence experience to the rest of the squad? I think it is a combination of all these factors.

Which, of course, leads to the final question – should EOS go? Well he has just signed a deal for another four years. He is coaching the Baa-baas for the December match against SA. He has been touted as a prospective coach for the next Lions' tour. He is a highly respected coach. Perhaps the question lies with his coaching team. Some have suggested Michael Bradley as a replacement. I don't know, but there is some work that could be done by a psychologist. For years Ireland have lost matches they were favourites, BOD has said that it is not a problem as they are professionals, and certainly that has been the case until now. Now they need to be lifted. They need to focus on what has to be done next week against Argentina. They need to forget the tag of Argentina being their nemesis and the story that this team does not travel well. They need to go out and play for the jersey, for each other, for the supporters – who will remain loyal as we have always done even when it has been awful – and they need to play for themselves, for their own pride, to be able to say, we gave it our best AND we played our best. Because if, even now, they were to find that “best” they could still qualify.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Sep 22, 2007

We need to change the Team maybe something like this.
1. M Horan
2. J Flannery
3. J Hayes
4. D O'Callaghan
5. P O'Connell
6. N Best
7. A Quinlan
8. D Leamy
9. E Reddan
10. R O'Gara (mb P Wallace)
11. G Murphy
12. G D'arcy
13. B O'Driscoll
14. B Carney
15. G Dempsey

What do you think?

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Sep 22, 2007

That team doesn't look bad to me. By the way has anybody noticed that O'Gara has developed a really poor habit of just barely kicking to touch allowing the back to take a quick throw and set up the counter attack. Kick it into the crowd Man. I think it's obvious when you see France unleashing their bench Eddie has got his strategy seriously wrong. Bringing fellas on with 8 minutes to go isn't goin'to change a thing. Bring in kidney we need to freshen the whole thing up. EOS has done well but this is far as it can go under him

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Sep 23, 2007

Utter Crap, to a man.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Sep 23, 2007

The current XV is a disaster. They've been given a chance at this WC and in the 6 nations, and have failed miserabley in both. Wholesale changes are needed. I'd throw Murphy on at 15, I think Carney really should be given a chance, trimble and Hickie have been disasters. ROG should be dropped. Reddan should be given another go. POC should be dropped also. Although I do think we will beat Argentina. But with 4 tries?

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Sep 24, 2007

Ireland have not only score 4+ tries and win by 8+ points but also deny bonus point to Argentina.

And Argentina so far have not conceded a single try yet.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Sep 24, 2007

It's well known in coaching circles that players get sick of hearing the same old voice so, Jesus the Irish team must be losin' the will to live listening to Eddie. I know i am, and i just hear him giving these gobbledygook interviews that the "Apres match" lads take off so brilliantly. He's been there too long, we need to freshen the whole thing up. Eddie become to like Woodward - to formulaic in his approach to the game - . In the southern hemisphere teams the fundamental is macho the girls love it and it why the boys take the game up. Of course then they are taught how to play with intelligence but the primal physical aspect is never, ever sacrificed. I mean honestly, Ireland are never going to have anyone quaking in their boots are they? They've become a bunch of pussies!! I feel Eddie has lost what Ireland only had i.e. " give it a lash" to an over elaborate, over complicated, concocted style off rugby. If it was Munster needing a miracle on Sunday you'd give them a chance because they possess that prideful, primal, and beastly cocktail that is your starting point in a game of rugby. Granted EOS has had a modicum of success especially in relation to Ireland's past history put nevertheless he has consistently failed at the last hurdles to take his team to the highest stage. So we have to conclude that he doesn't know how to. It surely is time for a change probably Declan kidney who actually does know how to take a team to the pinnacle.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Sep 30, 2007

is it a bird, no i am sure that even the irish team can afford a ticket on a plane to get home next week.

add comment | complain about this comment