Warm up games

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Decent first outing.

If Dave Kearney goes to this RWC I'll be bloody furious. Similarly if Tadgh Beirne doesn't. Occasionally you just need a point of difference, a different picture to show the opposition and he's it.

[Spiffy]

Decent first outing.

If Dave Kearney goes to this RWC I'll be bloody furious. Similarly if Tadgh Beirne doesn't. Occasionally you just need a point of difference, a different picture to show the opposition and he's it.

Didn't think it was all that decent. That was the Italian reserves in Dublin and they should have been well and truly humped.

Plus points - Carbery, Farrell, Conway, Beirne. Most of the others looked pretty pedestrian. Agree about Beirne, who has the X factor, especially at the breakdown. I'd be even more pissed if Conway does not make it. With Zebo out of the picture, he really should be Ireland's first choice FB. Should be the first nailed-on back three player after Earls and Stockdale, and ahead of Larmour. Don't know how Haley even got a game based on last season's form.

[SerjeantWildgoose]

Oh Holy Mor a Gawd! What is it with the world when my fecking moose-shagger of a Bror posts something I agree with.

Ordinary Dave was even more ordinary than usual yesterday, but still a towering talent when compared to Mike. Haley aside, The rest of the Munster contingent went well but I’d be surprised if Jean and TOD get much more of a look. Beirne was the stand—out among the forwards despite only being on the park for a quarter. In the backs, Joey, Chris and Andy were head and shoulders above the rest though I thought Ringrose did some good stuff. Fingers, toes and everything else crossed for Joey’s scan.

[paddy no 11]

Bernie should be starting at 6 or 8 for Munster/Ireland

Saffers must be favourites at this stage some outstanding players, settled side, backrow and half backs on form I'll stick a few yoyo's on them to win

[Puja]

Bernie should be starting at 6 or 8 for Munster/Ireland

Saffers must be favourites at this stage some outstanding players, settled side, backrow and half backs on form I'll stick a few yoyo's on them to win

Mind, not brilliant news for you lot - New Zealand possibly missing both Retallick and SBarrett for the opening game means there's a very real chance they'll finish second in their pool, which will see them face the winner of yours. You know how you've got that thing about bringing an excellent team into a RWC and then inexplicably going out in the quarter-finals...?

Puja

[Spiffy]

Oh Holy Mor a Gawd! What is it with the world when my fecking moose-shagger of a Bror posts something I agree with.

Ordinary Dave was even more ordinary than usual yesterday, but still a towering talent when compared to Mike. Haley aside, The rest of the Munster contingent went well but I’d be surprised if Jean and TOD get much more of a look. Beirne was the stand—out among the forwards despite only being on the park for a quarter. In the backs, Joey, Chris and Andy were head and shoulders above the rest though I thought Ringrose did some good stuff. Fingers, toes and everything else crossed for Joey’s scan.

Yes Ringrose as usual, played plenty of intelligent rugby, and is a very good all-round 13. I am beginning to think that he lacks just a smidgen of pace at this level to burn off a defence when he sees the gap. Still - he's probably a nailed on starter.

[paddy no 11]

Bernie should be starting at 6 or 8 for Munster/Ireland

Saffers must be favourites at this stage some outstanding players, settled side, backrow and half backs on form I'll stick a few yoyo's on them to win

Mind, not brilliant news for you lot - New Zealand possibly missing both Retallick and SBarrett for the opening game means there's a very real chance they'll finish second in their pool, which will see them face the winner of yours. You know how you've got that thing about bringing an excellent team into a RWC and then inexplicably going out in the quarter-finals...?

Puja

We've a handy group so bout time we face a decent team, sa every bit as good

[paddy no 11]

Don't mention the lineout serj!

[Spiffy]

Ireland's best strategy for the Rugby World Cup - Stay at home.

[Ross. S]

Gotta be worrying for you guys. Been dicked twice by England and almost nilled by Wales already this year

[SerjeantWildgoose]

Well all I can add is that Joe seems to have fetched us to our traditional quadrennial trough bang on time.

Niall must have played himself onto the flight (If not the starting jersey) by not togging out today, which is ironic as CJ and Jean appear to have done the exact opposite.

I am going to play the optimist here and suggest that today was an exercise in "surely we can't play as bad as that twice in a decade".

I'm putting 20 Yoyos on us to win the thing.

[paddy no 11]

I'll take that bet no bother serj

[Eugene Wrayburn]

That was shoite. Apparently we're just off heavy training and so we're heavy legged but that was the most listless insipid performance I think I've seen.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Oh and our defensive system was completely shot to pieces. Seeing players run into each other defending from first phase isn't just unedifying it's bloody terrifying.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Ireland can beat anyone on their day but when you look at where you were last year - it's a huge regression.

Scotland have their own problems - many far worse than Ireland but this time last year the prospect of facing you in a RWC group was ominous. Not so much the case now. Although I still suspect you'll beat us given we're a total shambles.

[paddy no 11]

Match fitness was the major issue yesterday along with lineout and defence all fixable but the octagenarians need to be dropped

[Puja]

I think there are more mitigating factors than you've given them Cas. Ryan would make a massive difference and Toner would change the lineout, and losing Murray early meant they didn't have either of their first choice half-backs. Add into that Ireland coming off no game time and England being on their third game and it does offer some comfort.

Puja

[Spiffy]

I think there are more mitigating factors than you've given them Cas. Ryan would make a massive difference and Toner would change the lineout, and losing Murray early meant they didn't have either of their first choice half-backs. Add into that Ireland coming off no game time and England being on their third game and it does offer some comfort.

Puja

I find no comfort at all and see few, if any, mitigating factors. Ireland were subjected to a right royal humping. They were bullied from start to finish and outplayed in all aspects of the game. Nobody stood up. I do not subscribe to the heavy training, tired legs etc theories. The coaches and conditioning staff should know enough to prepare their team for a tough competitive game and that means tweaking the training just so to get them in the best possible nick.
Schmidt's conservative selection policies have come back to bite him on the arse. We now have a bunch of jaded players with no bright sparks coming through to challenge them.

This would my shake-up team for the next joust :

Conway
Stockdale Farrell Addison Earls
Sexton Marmion
Healy Herring Furlong
Henderson Ryan
Ruddock Conan O'Donnell

Bench : Kilcoyne, Scannell, Ryan, Beirne, Murphy, Murray, Carty, Larmour

[paddy no 11]

Not a bad team spiff but think Addison is injured

And beirne at 6/8

I'd have Cooney involved

[Spiffy]

Not a bad team spiff but think Addison is injured

And beirne at 6/8

I'd have Cooney involved

Cooney is a canny operator - I like him. But Joe has cut him from the squad and since none of the three remainng SHs is injured, I doubt he will call him back. Anyway, I think Marmion deserves a start. He has always played well for Ireland when given a chance, and for me he is still the first reserve SH. In fact, if Murray does not get the finger out, Marmion could well displace him.

[paddy no 11]

Healy furlong and Henderson tried at least.

Seeing furlong being our only carrier in midfield was hard to watch

[paddy no 11]

The rarest of things an Irish team that may actually play rugby this weekend

Addison to star and bolt in

[Digby]

The rarest of things an Irish team that may actually play rugby this weekend

Addison to star and bolt in

What the blazes does Schmidt do with the squad if that happens? Drop Larmour?

I tend to think Schmidt might have been hoping to leave Farrell behind, but now after getting dusted in midfield with Aki and Ringrose unable to get off the line and win collisions it's suddenly much harder to ignore the big fella.

[Spiffy]

The rarest of things an Irish team that may actually play rugby this weekend

Addison to star and bolt in

What the blazes does Schmidt do with the squad if that happens? Drop Larmour?

Find someone that is compatible and programmable with his style of play. Obviously what Larmour brings, or at least aspects of it, fit his style, but it also appears that Schmidt overly relies on certain players - and with good reason, I suppose. Ireland fell apart in the 6 Nations against England when they had to go without Kearney, who is freakishly good at the sweeper role at the back.

You are too kind to Kearney, Cash. He was good in 2009. He is well past it and could hardly sweep the kitchen floor now- he is freakishly good at being useless. Ireland's implosion against England in the 6N had nothing to do with the absence of Kearney, though Henshaw ( a surprising and poor choice at FB) was plodding and poor. They were just bullied all over the pitch. Better fullbacks in Ireland are not getting a look in under Schmidt. Kearney can still field the high ball, but can't tackle, offers nothing in attack and has lost his gas and big left boot. Along with many Ireland supporters, I see him as only a liability in the RWC.

[SerjeantWildgoose]

What the blazes does Schmidt do with the squad if that happens? Drop Larmour?

Find someone that is compatible and programmable with his style of play. Obviously what Larmour brings, or at least aspects of it, fit his style, but it also appears that Schmidt overly relies on certain players - and with good reason, I suppose. Ireland fell apart in the 6 Nations against England when they had to go without Kearney, who is freakishly good at the sweeper role at the back.

You are too kind to Kearney, Cash. He was good in 2009. He is well past it and could hardly sweep the kitchen floor now- he is freakishly good at being useless. Ireland's implosion against England in the 6N had nothing to do with the absence of Kearney, though Henshaw ( a surprising and poor choice at FB) was plodding and poor. They were just bullied all over the pitch. Better fullbacks in Ireland are not getting a look in under Schmidt. Kearney can still field the high ball, but can't tackle, offers nothing in attack and has lost his gas and big left boot. Along with many Ireland supporters, I see him as only a liability in the RWC.

Normal service has been resumed. You're talking bollocks, Bro. Was it your sister Kearney shagged on that balcony?