The Rugby Thread

[Irishnev]

Who would you bring in for the next game, Nev? I don't follow Irish rugbly cloesly enough to know who the ones kocking at the door are

We are decimated with injuries and the quality replacements for past stars are not there yet. O’Mahony, Sexton, Murray were Lions test starters with two of them captains for test games. Yes we have Gibson Park but he’s early 30s now as well

I don’t watch do much domestic rugby but my mate says the two Wards at Ulster are unlucky not to be involved.

We are missing - Furlong and Porter ftom the front row - the Lions props. We are also missing Porter’s backup and his backup. Ryan Baird, Hugo Keenan, Bundee (his own stupidity), Mac Hansen, Henshaw and a few fringe players are out.

France are superb and first up away in Paris was never going to be easy. I think the biggest issue for me was being back to the old days or our lads looking slower and less powerful. They bounced off tackles and couldnt stop them at source. They also have real game breakers in DuPont, BB and others and we don’t have that elite ability.

I’ve said it for a while that we’re at the end of an era and it might be the best we’ll ever get. 6 Nations regular winners, 2 grand slams, a few triple crowns, win a test series in NZ, win an away test in SA and no1 in the world. Halcyon days

[Sus]

We are decimated with injuries and the quality replacements for past stars are not there yet. O’Mahony, Sexton, Murray were Lions test starters with two of them captains for test games. Yes we have Gibson Park but he’s early 30s now as well

I don’t watch do much domestic rugby but my mate says the two Wards at Ulster are unlucky not to be involved.

We are missing - Furlong and Porter ftom the front row - the Lions props. We are also missing Porter’s backup and his backup. Ryan Baird, Hugo Keenan, Bundee (his own stupidity), Mac Hansen, Henshaw and a few fringe players are out.

France are superb and first up away in Paris was never going to be easy. I think the biggest issue for me was being back to the old days or our lads looking slower and less powerful. They bounced off tackles and couldnt stop them at source. They also have real game breakers in DuPont, BB and others and we don’t have that elite ability.

I’ve said it for a while that we’re at the end of an era and it might be the best we’ll ever get. 6 Nations regular winners, 2 grand slams, a few triple crowns, win a test series in NZ, win an away test in SA and no1 in the world. Halcyon days

I forgot about your front row actually, that's a good point. Aki and his physicality in particular was missed last night. I'm not sure of the stats, but I can't remember Ireland missing as many tackles in games in the last couple of years as they did last night

And something looked off in the defensive system, there was constantly space out on the left for the French, they were clearly trying to get the red matchstick away whenever they could. Not sure if this was tactics by France or the Irish being a little undercooked, for whatever reason

However, when you got some possession in the second half and kept it simple with the forwards, you started getting over the gain line and turning the French around.

Just frustrating that you couldn't keep the ball in hand long enough in the first half to apply that pressure

[Irishnev]

I forgot about your front row actually, that's a good point. Aki and his physicality in particular was missed last night. I'm not sure of the stats, but I can't remember Ireland missing as many tackles in games in the last couple of years as they did last night

And something looked off in the defensive system, there was constantly space out on the left for the French, they were clearly trying to get the red matchstick away whenever they could. Not sure if this was tactics by France or the Irish being a little undercooked, for whatever reason

However, when you got some possession in the second half and kept it simple with the forwards, you started getting over the gain line and turning the French around.

Just frustrating that you couldn't keep the ball in hand long enough in the first half to apply that pressure

I think France eased off a bit and got tired which allowed us back into tge game. TBH I was worried about set piece, particularly the scrum but we handled that well. Their guys just looked bigger, faster, stronger and fitter - sometimes that’s the difference

[Buzzo]

Absolutely pissing it down with rain in Rome and Italy 15-7 up just before half time.

I don’t see us seeing this out, not the conditions for our sort of game. We should have taken points a few times in the first half. This will all be on the kicking game, and the ref.

[Buzzo]

This weather is unreal. Just torrential rain all match.

8 points in it 30 to go.

8 points is massive in this weather.

[Irishnev]

You ready Nev?

I’m not. Not feeling it at all this year. Will depend if we bring Glasgow form or Edinburgh form.

You guys are decimated for early rounds.

I bet you definitely are feeling it now

[Buzzo]

We lost that game before it started raining. The two early scores saw Italy home. We competed well last 30 but the game was gone.

Our lineout was beyond atrocious, scrum not much better.

Townsend out for me. The conditions didn’t help but it’s the same old story every year.

[Irishnev]

6 Nations is back with a bang and the old powers will domintae. I am reading about Ieland's demise since Thursday. Ireland won back to back u-20s (possibly both grand slams) 3/4 years ago.

We bet France in a titanic clash and 8 of that sde were in the swuad vs Ireland includng Jegou & BB. Only two of the the Irish side have been capped, one started vs France (Prendergast) and most are not playing provincial rugby still. There in lies the problem..... we have 4 sides and most of those lads are from Leinster where they can't get a sniff and they rot.

[Buzzo]

You really lacked a bit of personality with the back I thought. Hansen and Keenan, I even thought Lowe who despite me not really rating has real nuisance value and a huge boot. Going all in with Leinster when they’ve not been at their best and some of the other provinces have had players in form seems high risk.

Our issue is all coach now I think. The players are there.

Our U20’s has a convincing win over Italy.

Townsends selections didn’t work out at all. Particularly hooker. Both were abysmal.

5-3 split on the becmnch was a dud with Hastings not even getting used. He’s lost his way. I’d be a jockey if he’s not gone at the end of the Tournament and then Franck Smith comes in for the summer.

[Buzzo]

Wales are going to get absolutely hammered here. 10=0 down and down to 13 after 17 mins.

[Buzzo]

That 4th try…



That’s like an OG from Wales. Woeful.

[Buzzo]

Wales attacking pen on England 5m. Tap and go. Forget to tap. Scrum to England.

[Buzzo]

48-7

Demolition.

[Sus]

That first half was pretty ugly. Where do the Welsh go from here?

Rugby doesn’t have that many countries, we need the Welsh to be stronger

[Buzzo]

I’m mainly distracting myself from our performance by focusing on them. But they look miles off it. 3, maybe 4 at a push top players, the rest look a long way short of test match level.

I’m not sure that restructuring the Welsh teams makes a difference. They relied on their golden generation for too long without bringing a next gen through.

I’ve a ln England supporting mate who absolutely lives beating them and he said it was so easy he couldn’t really take any pleasure from it.