Ireland v Italy @ Lansdowne Road. Feb 25th 2012. Match Thread.

[Gibson]

First topic message reminder :

Ireland v Italy. Squad formations, review, lineups etc.

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcentre/7991.php?section=formation&fixid=153755

Click on the numbers for individual players info, within the separate team formations.

Will Ireland let loose? Can we really play an open, running game against the Italians and show who we really are? Instead of the usual 6-N slug-fest we normally allow ourselves to get embroiled in with them? We managed to avoid it at the RWC. We dispatched them clinically. Last year, in the 6-N in Rome, ROG got us out of jail, seconds from the end. As is his wont. That cannot be allowed happen again.

The Italians are trying to open their game too. A brave game v England just missed the spot. 12-6 up at HT, England were there for the taking. But for a few mis-handling errors and the lack of a decent place-kicker, they surely should have won. Thus coming into this game with 2 Championship points to our zero. New England were let off the hook in Rome. No argument there between knowlegable rugby fans. They are not the same Italy that played us in the last RWC. They are striving to run the ball and attack more now.

Its not all about total dependency on their known pack strength anymore. This metamorphosis, is hurting them in the interim. They are in the middle of transforming from a forward-dominated to an attacking side, under Brunel. They just need to find a balance between the two. And unearth a solid place-kicker. Great to see the effort. I hope they persist with it. They have to. They remind me of France in the early 5-N days. They will come. It is in Italian blood to show flair and individuality. So, we will have to be on our guard and not just concentrate on beating them up front. Parisse is vital for them. He has to be watched on the fringes or they will cause us damage.

What to say on Ireland? We are twixt and between limbo and a hard-place. No defined pattern is evolving under Kidney. Earls carries the weight of replacing BOD on his shoulders. No one should have to deal with that. No one in World rugby could. So let the lad show his stuff and dont compare. Let him be. He is a great individual talent. But, it remains to be seen if he can be a top-class 13 at this level. Dont know about Darcy even being in the 22. But Deccie is obviously combining experience with youth for this one. Want to see McFadden and Earls long before the end of this game. Its the partnership I want to see work. Has Kidney learned to use the bench effectively yet? Havent seen it up till now. It's a major weakness with him. Its a 22 man game now. He needs to be proactive and not reactive. I.E. Don't make changes in the last 2 minutes. Less said about that, the better really.

Sexton needs to man-up now. This, is the game to show it in. His partnership with Murray, is the one Im backing on for the future. He needs to unlock Italy. Needs to take 90% of his place-kicks, as he does for Leinster and control the Show.

Kearney is on fire. No worries about him. Trimble & Bowe are replaceable. They need to put in really big shifts to hold their places. In my opinion.

O Connell is back to his firey best. DOC? I dunno. Id rather Ryan started.

As for our backrow. Dont get me started. Id drop Heaslip to the bench, move SOB to 8 and start POM at 7. Ferris, as long as he can stand, is the best 6 we have.

Our frontrow, is chisled in stone. The magnificent Best, is basically, our best and most influential player of late. I think he should be our future Captain. But, I dont want to start a row over it. Yet. Ross is key as always. And Healy is improving over time. Getting more gnarly with age. No Castro for this one. So a break there.

Bottom-line, for me, is a fluid performance. A game plan the squad understand, buy in to and readily execute. If that does not happen... We need to have a word Declan. I expect a 20pt spread and a performance to show it has all been a bad dream for the last 3 years.

Anyway. Carry on. Behave. And Believe.

[Gibson]

Also true Val. Its not all his fault.

No fluency in our play. Letting Italy into the game here.

Mon lads wake up!

[Chunky Norwich]

Chunky. Behave man. No way to talk to a lady.

+1 catch yourself on Chunky.

I have no idea what this means.

Cian Healy is an awful scrummager. Italy are munching them.

[rodders]

Our defensive patterns don't look as structured as usual...its dog legged at times either side of the ruck. Not much line speed.

Not sure if Kiss is stretched as backs coach or we're missing BOD but this is very sloppy.

[Cari]

Oh dangerous times for Ireland now...come on lads...ta phook (as me Da would say )

[Gibson]

Agree Billy. He will give him time and a wee chat at HT for us all. As he should.

[Gibson]

Jeeeeeeeeeeebus!

[eirebilly]

What a tackle Sexton....

[Cari]

Pheeeew! That was close! Well done Sexytoes!

[123456789]

Anyone else heard of Diego Rodriguez?

[Golden]

Darcys actually having a decent game pity about the rest of them

[Chunky Norwich]

My gawd Ireland are pants

[Cari]

oh no!!!! POC!? what happened there?!

Parisse in!

[eirebilly]

Great try for Italy

[Glas a du]

Ferris is clearing out by scragging the neck a lot too often - leave players heads alone Stephen.

[rodders]

Good hit by Ferris....this is pure tom kite from us to be honest. We're as bad as we were in the mid 90's these days to be honest.

Apart from the flashy jerseys we look like a bunch on amateurs. No physicality, no leadership, no passion.

Parisse try fair play. This is a disaster.

[Gibson]

Grrroaan! We asked for that. They deserved it. Terrible defensive play by us. No cover.

[Cari]

Superb try fairdo's and from Parisse as well, just makes it a bit more special.

Jebus, Ireland could fall apart here! GULP!

Game on!!!

[eirebilly]

Chunky, this is a good thread with respectful comments for both teams. Please try to stop wumming and annoy people

[Ozzy3213]

Ireland are not playing well here, but you have to give Italy some credit for that. They are grafting like feic and pressurising Ireland into mistakes.

[rodders]

Not one support player there on Bowes shoulder!

[Rava]

Chunky, this is a good thread with respectful comments for both teams. Please try to stop wumming and annoy people

Billy et al. Ignore it and it will go away.

[Gibson]

That may wake us up. Italy no mugs. Kidney needs to roast em at HT.

A try would be handy now.

[Golden]

My gawd Ireland are pants

First thing youve said all day thats mildly accurate

[Cari]

Billy - WUMs are like seaguls. The more you feed them, the more they stick around and annoy you....just watch the game and talk to us lot

[Gibson]

Chunky, this is a good thread with respectful comments for both teams. Please try to stop wumming and annoy people

Billy et al. Ignore it and it will go away.

+1.

[valjester]

Brave or foolish decision there

[eirebilly]

Good call again from Ireland to go for the corner

[Notch]

I'm officially worried about this Ireland team.

[rodders]

Ireland are not playing well here, but you have to give Italy some credit for that. They are grafting like feic and pressurising Ireland into mistakes.

Don't think so Ozzy this is very poor Italy side. We've been pretty terrible.

No one supporting Bowe again!

[Cari]

TOLD YA! THAT'S MY BOOOOOY!!!!!!

[eirebilly]

Cue Cari going mental

[Notch]

But that try was well worked and executed. Well done boys.

Now play smarter in the second half! Territory.

[Gibson]

Better.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! 1F! Great timing. Still need a HT roasting tho.

[Glas a du]

Forward pass

[Rava]

Very unselfish Fez. Good try Tommy.

[rodders]

Bowe try! Thank feic! We need to waken up here big time!

[Rava]

Take that ROG!!

[eirebilly]

Good man Jonny

[Golden]

Fair play for them scoring the try but why are we turning down points all the time? Doesnt exactly fit in with the old Munster gameplan that kidney favours.

[Gibson]

It was TB. Got excirra. Good man JS. 100%

[Cari]

Sexytoes' kicking is brilliant today fairdo's.

17 - 10 HT.

[bsando]

Enjoying this game, Ireland are forcing it a bit at times but now I think they're playing with a bit more composure. Italy look the best I've ever seen them, they've cut down the mistakes and whenever they're attacking they look very desperate to score which I love in a team.

[Cari]

Sexytoes' kicking is brilliant today fairdo's.

17 - 10 HT.

[nobbled]

Think Ireland would do well to calm down a bit. They have the class and skill and now the lead. Feels like they are trying too hard to force it.

[Gibson]

So. Not impressed. Hope Kidney uses his bench wisely and timely.

[Ozzy3213]

Ireland are not playing well here, but you have to give Italy some credit for that. They are grafting like feic and pressurising Ireland into mistakes.

Don't think so Ozzy this is very poor Italy side. We've been pretty terrible.

No one supporting Bowe again!

This Italy side are not very poor rodders. They lack a decent 10 to control the game for them, but they have a hard working and technically sound pack, who are getting stuck into Irish pack and forcing mistakes. Yes Ireland are playing poorly and making some bad decisions, but some of that is down to the pressure the Italian 1-8 are putting on them.

[eirebilly]

I still think that this match will be won between 50 and 70 minutes.

[Gibson]

Enjoying this game, Ireland are forcing it a bit at times but now I think they're playing with a bit more composure. Italy look the best I've ever seen them, they've cut down the mistakes and whenever they're attacking they look very desperate to score which I love in a team.

+1

Great to see Italy slowly change their style. We are making it easier for them tho.

[eirebilly]

So. Not impressed. Hope Kidney uses his bench wisely and timely.

Believe

[Rava]

Nice coat Luke

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