France vs Ireland match thread.

[Biltong]

First topic message reminder :

France: C Poitrenaud (Toulouse), V Clerc (Toulouse), A Rougerie (Clermont Auvergne), W Fofana (Clermont Auvergne), J Malzieu (Clermont Auvergne), F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), M Parra (Clermont Auvergne), JB Poux (Toulouse), D Szarzewski (Stade Francais), N Mas (Perpignan), P Pape (Stade Francais), Y Maestri (Toulouse), T Dusautoir (Toulouse), J Bonnaire (Clermont Auvergne), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz)

Replacements: W Servat (Toulouse), V Debaty (Clermont Auvergne), L Nallet (Racing Metro), L Picamoles (Toulouse), J Dupuy (Stade Francais), L Beauxis (Toulouse), M Mermoz (Perpignan)

Ireland: R Kearney (Leinster); T Bowe (Ospreys), K Earls (Munster), G D'Arcy (Leinster), A Trimble (Ulster); J Sexton (Leinster), C Murray (Munster); C Healy (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), M Ross (Leinster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), S Ferris (Ulster), S O'Brien (Leinster), J Heaslip (Leinster)

Replacements: S Cronin (Leinster), T Court (Ulster), D Ryan (Munster), P O'Mahony (Munster), E Reddan (Leinster), R O'Gara (Munster), F McFadden (Leinster)


After a nice exhausting weekend by the dam, I am at least back early enough to watch this match.

Irealand is up against it, but the French have not yet played a team in great form so this one might go either way.

Good luck to me Irish mates.

Of course I will be supporting the boys in green.

[dublin_dave]

if we get two wins in the next two weeks it be a reasonable campaign. agreed given injuries etc

i want to see two wins and two decent performances where we back ourselves to play some rugby. strangling the life out of scotland and england in two snooze fests will not convince me that kidney is the right man to take things forward.

we have the players to play decent attacking rugby and beat Scotland and England. They will be tough games but we can do it if we just release the shackles a little bit.

[eirebilly]

Scotland has me nervous dave. I think that is very much a match that will define the teams and as much as i hate to say this, Scotland look a little more better than Ireland.

[Glas a du]

Billy! BELIEVE!

[rodders]

if we get two wins in the next two weeks it be a reasonable campaign. agreed given injuries etc

Yeah its balanced on a knife edge really. Win our next two and arguably we've progressed slightly from last year but lose either and we've gone backwards again.

We were comprehensively out muscled, out smarted and out played against Wales and we should have put France away. Two very disappointing results for different reasons.

Two wins now will put a positive slant on things and Kidney probably deserves until after the NZ tour to be judged otherwise he should go after the competition.

We do look stale and predictable in attack and we desperately need some new ideas and inspiration. The self belief to grind out results in tight games is gone too.

[eirebilly]

Billy! BELIEVE!

ssshhhhh, I am trying this whole new approach

[dublin_dave]

i struggle to see us winning the next two games.

and thats the head talking for once not me being an eternal pessimist.

hopefully we can pick up a decent backs coach after 6 nations as a priority

[eirebilly]

When it comes to matchday i will have Ireland thumping Scotland by 30 though

[Gibson]

Scotland has me nervous dave. I think that is very much a match that will define the teams and as much as i hate to say this, Scotland look a little more better than Ireland.

I tend to agree with my Dutch compadre there. We are there for the taking. Specially up-front.

[Irishhoneymonster]

if we get two wins in the next two weeks it be a reasonable campaign. agreed given injuries etc

Yeah its balanced on a knife edge really. Win our next two and arguably we've progressed slightly from last year but lose either and we've gone backwards again.
We were comprehensively out muscled, out smarted and out played against Wales and we should have put France away. Two very disappointing results for different reasons.

Two wins now will put a positive slant on things and Kidney probably deserves until after the NZ tour to be judged otherwise he should go after the competition.

We do look stale and predictable in attack and we desperately need some new ideas and inspiration. The self belief to grind out results in tight games is gone too.

I really don't want to be a killjoy but win our next two and this still shows no progression as far as I am concerned. At least not in the last 2 or 3 years. Win our next two and we are on a par with last 2 years or so. Which if we are honest, is still unacceptable

[rodders]

I agree actually honeymonster.. so in a sense disagree with myself....I was trying find some positives but they're aren't many.... .

[Irishhoneymonster]

you can call me honey

[Red Right]

I agree actually honeymonster.. so in a sense disagree with myself....I was trying find some positives but they're aren't many.... .

Actually, if we can win the next 2 - given POC & BOD are out - it might not be that bad. It MIGHT show to our management that Irish teams can operate without some of their main players. I've always felt that we have enough good players to be able to pick different players for different positions depending on what type of game we want to play. Can help throw the opposition too.

Although, it is getting late and I went for a long run after work and am quite tired. I might be asleep and dreaming!!

[Irishhoneymonster]

I agree actually honeymonster.. so in a sense disagree with myself....I was trying find some positives but they're aren't many.... .

Actually, if we can win the next 2 - given POC & BOD are out - it might not be that bad. It MIGHT show to our management that Irish teams can operate without some of their main players. I've always felt that we have enough good players to be able to pick different players for different positions depending on what type of game we want to play. Can help throw the opposition too.

Although, it is getting late and I went for a long run after work and am quite tired. I might be asleep and dreaming!!

To be fair it doesn't matter who's out. I understand what you're saying but still we have gone nowhere, especially if we make no changes other than those that have been forced by injury, and I fully expect us to make no changes other than those that are forced

[doctor_grey]

Well, look at the bright side. It will give you an idea of other combinations or a glimpse into the future. Whether O'Driscoll and O'Connell come back at full canter or not, the end of their careers is coming sometime soon. Hopefully, not for a while, mind, but it is coming. Might as well see what the future holds.

Look at it this way, it must be better than England trying out a virtually new team.

[Gibson]

It's a good way of looking at it, these 2 key players will be gone soon. And their injuries/rehab, have forced Kidneys hand to change, sooner than he'd like. Like most of his better selections. But the real problem we have is the coach. He lives in the last Century and is lost at this level. Once he goes, then we can all talk of moving on up. If the IRFU actually pick the right coach this time that is.

[Glas a du]

Who is Connor O Shea I take it?

[SecretFly]

No.

[Glas a du]

Michael Bradley?

[Gibson]

Never even eard of im.

NOT top of my list.

Besides. The present coach's job is safe - until he dies.Same with the players he's hanging onto. Its how we do things in Ireland.

Progression by natural wastage.


Yeah, that will work. Sheesh.

[Notch]

I'm just worried that O'Connell and O'Driscoll are out BUT we're not really trying to blood long-term replacements... D'Arcy and Earls. D'Arcy is just there. It' sad remembering how good he was, but it's now five years since his best form. He has the occasional good game but is mainly mediocre. Earls is fine. I guess the next 13 was always going to suffer by comparison. He still has a lot to learn about playing that position but we're in no way trying to develop a new centre combination to replace the one that passed it's peak five years ago. We're just trying to change as little as possible by shoehorning Earls in.

It looks likely that the locks will be the uncomplimentary pairing of the Donnachas; Ryan and O'Callaghan. It's not a balanced partnership, and Ryan- the form player of the two- is only going to be in the team because of O'Connells absence. In fact, you could say the same for Earls and O'Driscoll.

And on the bench the 32-year old McCarthy will be prefered to the very much in form 26 year-old Tuohy. No Tuohy is a guy who could become a mainstay of the Irish team with the right guidance. Right age profile and ability. But when the best of our locks is injured he's discarded for a 32-year old player who is just okay?

The absence of these two legends affords an opportunity to plan a new future, but we're trying to recapture the past.

[Gibson]

All true. And he's not going to change now. So. The answer my friend, is for the IRFU to say goodbye. But, they will honour the contract, Id bet. I think the NZ tour should seal his faith.

Actually, we really need change on the IRFU Board. Bit more concerned about them, than Kidney right now.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Notch!

Happy Everyday man.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrlQ6nfcqQI

[Notch]

Thanks. Thats nice- almost makes me want to dig out my slide. Actually that guy sounds a lot like Ry Cooder. That could easily be from the Paris, Texas soundtrack! Or maybe I just associate that style with Cooder.

[eirebilly]

All true. And he's not going to change now. So. The answer my friend, is for the IRFU to say goodbye. But, they will honour the contract, Id bet. I think the NZ tour should seal his faith.

Actually, we really need change on the IRFU Board. Bit more concerned about them, than Kidney right now.

What if, just what if John Kirwan becomes the backs/attacking coach under Kidney? I think that a blend of both their styles could really work with Foley inbetween them.

[Mickado]

All true. And he's not going to change now. So. The answer my friend, is for the IRFU to say goodbye. But, they will honour the contract, Id bet. I think the NZ tour should seal his faith.

Actually, we really need change on the IRFU Board. Bit more concerned about them, than Kidney right now.

What if, just what if John Kirwan becomes the backs/attacking coach under Kidney? I think that a blend of both their styles could really work with Foley inbetween them.

Is John Kirwan really a successful coach though? Japan and Italy… anyone else?

[eirebilly]

Well i thought that he did a very good job with Italy's backline myself.

[rodders]

If the IRFU actually pick the right coach this time that is.

Eddie O'Sullivan? ...save us Eddie!

Happy B'day Notch ....... not really a good time to use the age card against McCarthy though....

[Mickado]

Well i thought that he did a very good job with Italy's backline myself.

In fairness he had what no Italy coach has had since at his disposal. Troncon and Dominquez have never been replaced.

[eirebilly]

So i guess thats a big NO from you in regards to Kirwan than Mikado?

Who do you suggest?

[SecretFly]

You might throw the same line at the present projected hopefuls for when the job comes up.

What has Conor O'Shea really done? Or Bradley --- yet? And we all know what O'Sullivan has done. Great work when he was here but he's had his stint. We'll be called the Back to the Future side if he get's the call again.

[Mickado]

Most definitely a no Billy!

Firstly I think we should have a separate backs and defense coach. If Kiss wants to coach the backs then why not try to coax Kurt McQuilkin out of retirement? If Kiss wants to stick with defense then we could do worse than asking JS to join the team in some capacity.

[eirebilly]

I honestly feel that if you had Declan Kidney as head coach with Kirwan as backs/attacking coach and Foley as forwards coach then Ireland may have a good setup.

[Biltong]

Billy, how long is Kidney's contract for still?

[eirebilly]

Another couple biltong so if he refuses to leave and they cant buy him out then they should look to getting an extra coach or two

[Biltong]

Seeing that Mallet is not good enough for England, why doesn't the IRFU pull him in?

[eirebilly]

Money biltong, money

[Biltong]

He is a south african, we work for peanuts.

[eirebilly]

Yeah but we dont grow peanuts, if he was a culchie we could offer him a couple of our sexiest sheep

[rodders]

Seeing that Mallet is not good enough for England, why doesn't the IRFU pull him in?

Excuse me???!

[SecretFly]

Mallet.......................... SA approach again (no offence biltong!) But this persistent attitude in Ireland that we should play a powerful forward orientated game is just not sustainable for the kind of players Ireland produces.

We have to play to our strengths, and our strengths are smaller, more mobile players keeping things animated and in constant flow to bypass collision rugby as much as possible and use energies to run and have clinically coached support systems to exploit the speed and invention. We can mix it with big physical sides but it takes its toll and we have nothing to replace the usual suspects when they get injured.

We need a coach in Joe Schmidt's mould - a coach who sees Irish strengths and organises gameplans around those strengths rather than constantly trying to turn small men into defensive giants.

[Biltong]

Fly, I think your perception of Mallet is tainted by what you saw from Italy.

Remember a coach will some times have to adjust his plan and coaching style to what suits the talent at his disposal.

If you look at the type of game SA played in the time that Mallet was their coach it was from from just a forward dominated affair.

We played shampagne rugby during his tenure. Our try scoring stats during his tenure was very high and we didn't have the biggest back line during that time either. In fact if you look at the players then it was really a medium sized team.

Mallet will do wonders with a team of players wanting to run the ball.

[SecretFly]

Fly, I think your perception of Mallet is tainted by what you saw from Italy.

Remember a coach will some times have to adjust his plan and coaching style to what suits the talent at his disposal.

If you look at the type of game SA played in the time that Mallet was their coach it was from from just a forward dominated affair.

We played shampagne rugby during his tenure. Our try scoring stats during his tenure was very high and we didn't have the biggest back line during that time either. In fact if you look at the players then it was really a medium sized team.

Mallet will do wonders with a team of players wanting to run the ball.

Well................ I'm so fed up with our punch-drunk brand of rugby that I'd still require him to sign a legal promisory note that he'd take us down a different route! Indeed, I'd personally have every prospective new coach sign those promisory notes. Ireland are hitting way above their weight in this clash, ruck'n'roll game they play now...and I'm not saying aspects of it doesn't have its place. But I do want a change in focus away from defence and containment to one of attack and invention. I don't care who the coach really is, it's the game he wants us to play I'll be interested in.

[dublin_dave]

i agree with you biltong. sth africa played great stuff under mallet.

trying to get italy to get italy playing that game simply was not feasible due to the skill levels of players and lack of half backs.

he could certainly get the blend right for ireland and we could do far worse should declan not see out the year

[WillyGilly]

Team announcement today. Someone be a dear and make a new thread?

[Biltong]

Dave, Ireland certainly has the players, if Mallet signs Fly's contract you will be enroute to possibly get 4th spot on the rankings.

Get, what I did there?


did ya?

[SecretFly]

We were 3rd with O'Sullivan. I liked the climate up there... I like altitude

[Biltong]

I like your style, why can't the Irish not get to third position?

Maybe we should start a thread.

"Can Ireland reach third on the IRB rankings?"

Sounds like a topic that can really take off, eh?

[Feckless Rogue]

It's obvious. Joe Schmidt & the entire Leinster coaching team should be coaching Ireland..

[SecretFly]

It's obvious. Joe Schmidt & the entire Leinster coaching team should be coaching Ireland..

Now wouldn't that be a tasty number I hope DOD isn't listening...he'll be getting onto me again about my continuing mental problems.

[eirebilly]

It's obvious. Joe Schmidt & the entire Leinster coaching team should be coaching Ireland..

Now you have to make a thread saying that this has been agreed. Sit back and watch Gibbo implode

[eirebilly]

It's obvious. Joe Schmidt & the entire Leinster coaching team should be coaching Ireland..

Now wouldn't that be a tasty number I hope DOD isn't listening...he'll be getting onto me again about my continuing mental problems.

I thought that he was bad with me calling me sound byte. I am happy that i dont have your mental issues now

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