Planet Rugby Forum

I'd like to see Birch get some more gametime for Ulster, since Henry wont be available.

Floppykid wrote:I'd like to see Birch get some more gametime for Ulster, since Henry wont be available.

If Henry is out he should make the bench you would think. Most likely a Wannenburg, Faloon, Diack back row if Henry isn't available.

Floppykid wrote:I'd like to see Birch get some more gametime for Ulster, since Henry wont be available.

Newsletter reported that Henry, Tuohy and Wallace trained with Ulster yesterday.

Willie Falloon wrote:

Floppykid wrote:I'd like to see Birch get some more gametime for Ulster, since Henry wont be available.

Newsletter reported that Henry, Tuohy and Wallace trained with Ulster yesterday.

Ahh, fair enough then.

Getting caught with a quick lineout yet again well it would be unforgiveable from a junior club,poc and the pack have to take the blame for that.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/16924378

Beeb now carrying it as well.

Just hope hey resolve this coaching issue soon.

Willie is on fire!


And two good ish pieces in two days from Farrelly.....

DOB wrote:

danthefan wrote: Reminded me of Cullen being brought on for 6 seconds last season. Kidinme explained afterwards that he wanted him on in case there was a lineout. What a tactical genius.

Jesus I'd forgotten that. Weren't we defending a scrum at the time?

No it wasn't a lineout call. POC was out on his feet and in the small chance of play continuing further after the scrum, we'd have been playing with 14 men.

LeinsterLion wrote:Willie is on fire!

Fair play to him. He's going out like a hero. He'll be missed on the bored.

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

For some reason, maybe its blind optimism and I think I have calmed down somewhat over the week end but I have a bit of confidence going to Paris on Saturday, backs against the walls, nobody expecting a win, etc.

I was just looking at some of the highlights last night, in fairness, there was a fair few positives, our attack did improve a good bit, set pieces were very good esp lineout, with 2 very good steals as well. Scrum was solid. There were a couple of poor decisions, and we all know our defence and line speed were poor, but this was one area in which we were strong in over the past few season so we haven't lost that maybe a bit of rustyness and a bit of trust in the system for example the first try where Bowe was caught in two minds mainly due to him not trusting Mike Ross to tackle Priestland. Some of those mistake were ones you would expect on the first run out of the season. If we improve our line speed and general defence, we are in with a shout.

The other thing that we really need to do is some work on Pearson, for instance Barnes didn't allow the defending team to contest much in the ruck, we should have adopted/know in the first place, and simple not commit many to the ruck and stay in the Defensive line. It was very annoying how we didn't adopt to Barnes' interpretation. We will have to be a bit cuter in that regard, esp as Pearson is a wit kant. Am I correct in saying that Pearson have a bit of a laissez faire approach to reffing ?

Despot wrote:I dont often agree with farrelly but there is a lot of merit in what he says here.

Hugh Farrelly: Kidney known for loyalty to players but several of them need to prove this works both ways



By Hugh Farrelly

Tuesday February 07 2012

TOP-LEVEL sport, we are constantly told, comes down to tight margins.

Ireland's performance against Wales on Sunday was far from flawless but if the last couple of minutes had panned out differently and Declan Kidney's men had held on for a one-point win rather than losing by two, things would look a lot different now.

Ireland would be heading to Paris on the balls of their feet instead of dragging their heels, and all the talk would be of "things to improve" but how they were "heading in the right direction".

Player ratings would have been bumped up, match reports would have kicked off with "sweet revenge" sentiments and there would have been talk of a second Grand Slam and a Lions job for Kidney.

However, it would be wrong to put Ireland's defeat down to a few minutes at the end of the contest or a couple of officiating howlers -- there was much more to it than that.

Ireland are a good team not playing to the best of their abilities. Coaching quite obviously plays a part in this but there is an individual responsibility on the players also.

Kidney has been very loyal to the side that came up short at the World Cup and, with the quick turnaround, need for experience in Paris and comparative lack of resources versus the French, the Ireland coach is unlikely to make wholesale changes for next weekend.

If Ireland are to achieve only their second win in Paris for 40 years, they need everyone to step up to the mark and while there were undoubtedly organisational and tactical problems exposed last Sunday, there were also established players who failed to produce.

Tommy Bowe

The Ospreys man has been a locked-down certainty in the No 14 jersey since 2008/09. Colourful and personable, the Monaghan native has become something of a cult figure for supporters while establishing himself as one of Ireland's most potent attacking weapons.

However, while he took his try with customary aplomb on Sunday, it was a bad day at the office for Bowe. He looked uncertain in defence all afternoon, being badly exposed by going too high on Bradley Davies early on and then by a lack of decisiveness for Jon Davies' first try and George North's late touchdown when the Irish stood off the Welsh runners.

Bowe is a class act and needs to show it on Saturday because similar hesitancy will be disastrous against an opponent of Julien Malzieu's calibre.

Gordon d'arcy

The Wexford man -- one of the outstanding midfielders of his generation -- is having a decent season for Leinster and had some nice moments against Wales, notably in the lead-up to Rory Best's try.

However, with Brian O'Driscoll out of the equation, Ireland badly needed D'Arcy, the most experienced member of the backline, to step up to the plate as a leader, particularly on such a momentous afternoon for Fergus McFadden alongside him.

Instead, it was the Welsh midfield of Jamie Roberts and Jon Davies who stood out and it will not get any easier against Aurelien Rougerie and Wesley Fofana next weekend.

D'Arcy's status as figurehead in this team is accentuated by O'Driscoll's absence, and Saturday would be a good time to prove as much.

Jonathan Sexton

The theme at out-half over the past few seasons has been Sexton failing to see off the challenge of Ronan O'Gara. Kidney has consistently turned to the Leinster man as his first-choice 10 only for O'Gara to come back into the equation because Sexton has not made the jersey his own.

There is a theory that O'Gara's presence in the squad inhibits his rival to a degree he does not experience at provincial level and perhaps it will take the Munster man to retire before Sexton truly flourishes on the international stage. Perhaps.

Either way, that is not O'Gara's problem and Sexton, a fabulous player who at his best is a shoo-in for the Lions tour next year, needs to get over this block to progress.

Against Wales, he did some good things but lacked certainty overall. With three misses, the place-kicking issue in an Ireland shirt continues to dog him, while there was too much loose kicking out of hand that generally ended up in Welsh baskets.

Ireland have two quality out-halves but Sexton fell short of his own high standards last weekend and, if Kidney gives him another opportunity, Paris would be the perfect stage to replay that loyalty.

Sean O'brien

It is hard not to feel sympathy for the Tullow back-row who, for the second time in succession, had a rough day out against the Welsh. He stuck to his openside brief of committing to the breakdown but Wales were feral in their work on the ground, while O'Brien could never build up a head of steam when he did get his hands on the ball.

Against France, Ireland might be better advised to share out the breakdown duties, as they did against Australia in the World Cup, and allow O'Brien to drop out and run onto the ball as one of the primary carriers.

He is a central player in this team, a key rallying figure, and Ireland need to re-establish him as such.

and the man who is showing the way...

When Rory Best spoke to the media on Friday, thoughtfully dealing with Keith Earls' withdrawal from the team and accurately assessing the Welsh challenge, he oozed captaincy credentials. Magnificent at the World Cup, Best was Ireland's best player again last weekend, prominent in the loose, committed in defence and on the money out of touch.

Kidney knows how valuable the Ulster hooker is to this side, and Best is doing everything that is asked of him, and more.

- Hugh Farrelly

Irish Independent

Sexton hasnt taken the opportunity to own the 10 shirt ? more Munster bias from the mejia

probably already posted but Matt Williams had a great article last saturday...if only...

Ireland must get in behind the Welsh guns

Sat, Feb 04, 2012

FRENCH NOTES: Ireland got it tactically wrong in the WRC quarter-final against Wales. They now have the chance to put things right, writes MATT WILLIAMS

A COACH instructing his team to move the defensive line up fast, with the first man tackling low and the second man contesting the ball, is hardly rocket science. Selecting a small player like Shane Williams, away from a big player, like Tommy Bowe, is also not a revolutionary concept.

Asking your team to put three wide passes on every attacking phase is also not original thinking. Yet those are the exact tactics Warren Gatland produced and Wales so brilliantly implemented in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final to defeat Ireland.

Genius? Nah. Innovative? Never. Smart? Abso-bloody-lutely.

A simple plan implemented with total commitment, passion and dedication is more effective than a detailed plan executed poorly.

What has not been highlighted in the recent analysis of Gatland’s effective plan against Ireland is the Welsh accurately predicted the attacking patterns of the Irish team.

One of the greatest military disasters of the second World War was the fall of Singapore to the Japanese. Tens of thousands of Australian troops, heading home from the war in Europe to defend Australia from Japanese invasion, were captured and subsequently killed on “death” marches to the Burmese Railway and the inhumane prison camps of Hellfire Pass.

The British guns on Singapore Island were pointed out to sea and by design were incapable of pointing inland. The Japanese simply predicted the British attack and came over land, behind the guns. The great fortress that was Singapore, deemed impregnable, fell in a matter of hours.

The plan predicted the opposition’s attacking strategy. It was simple, smart and executed with ruthless precision. If you want knowledge of tactics in sport, study battles. They have much in common.

The Irish player evaluation of the attack at the World Cup was that it lacked ambition. This may have been an incomplete assessment of what occurred internally in the team and what elements are required to build an effective attack system for the Six Nations.

Firstly, within the Irish coaching staff at the World Cup, Alan Gaffney did not get the opportunity to have his attacking principles applied to the team. Alan is now happily back in Sydney at the Waratahs, where he started with me all those years ago. However, it was obvious from both team selections and tactics that Ireland’s attacking philosophy and structures were confused. To me it was obvious there was more than one cook preparing the attacking broth. For clarity, the question needs to be asked of the management team: is Mervyn Murphy a video analyst or a coach? Mervyn is an excellent analyst. However, if he is not a coach why is he getting a vote on team selections and why does he have such a strong influence on the policies of the team? There is no doubt there was conflict in this area of the management at the RWC.

Les Kiss has since assumed the responsibility for the team’s “go forward”. Les is a great operator. If he is given free rein with no interference he is well capable of creating a very positive attacking system.

At the RWC Ireland chopped and changed the halves. There was no common philosophy of attack or selection of halves. To me, Eoin Redden and Jonny Sexton give you Leinster’s “go forward”. Conor Murray and Ronan O’Gara give you Munster’s. I can not tell you what is Ireland’s philosophy because it has changed from game to game. The selection of your halves should reflect the tactics of the team. No wonder Gaffers seemed frustrated.

A well-constructed attacking system provides the team with unpredictability, variety and a multilayered system of taking the ball towards your opponent’s try line. As readers of this column will know, in rugby you can only take the ball forward three ways: kicking, mauling and running. Putting it simply, a good system moves the defenders around by kicking behind them, mauling through them and using runners in a variety of ways, including changing the point of attack through exploiting the blindside.

Wales want to tackle your runners. They are the British guns. They can only point one way, so get in behind them. Don’t run into the guns.

Early in the game, deny Wales the opportunity to attack the Irish forward runners, like Stephen Ferris and Seán O’Brien. Take the fire out of the Dragons’ breath by turning the defence around with garryowens and keeping the forwards tied up with mauling.

In the opening minutes in Cardiff last year, Ireland mauled the Welsh pack 20m, before providing quality possession to the backs. Tommy Bowe released Brian O’Driscoll for an excellent try. Incomprehensibly, Ireland did not maul again until the 78th minute, when once again they shunted the Welsh 20m before releasing the backs. If Paddy Wallace passed to an unmarked Keith Earls the game would have been won by Ireland.

Anthony Foley’s coaching influence within the Munster team has brought back one of the most feared weapons in provincial rugby: the Munster maul. This needs to be frequently implemented into Ireland’s “go forward” plan.

Let me smash a rugby myth. “If a team mauls it means they don’t run the ball.” Rubbish. A good driving maul ties up eight defending forwards. The defending team requires a defender on the blindside of the maul, this leaves only five or six defenders across the park. At which point any attacking outhalf with half a brain, and six other backs with a clear plan in their collective minds, is screaming “Give me the ball”.

The only error in mauling is when the forwards hold the ball in the maul too long. If the scrumhalf takes the ball while the maul is still going forward there will be an overlap.

Attacking the blindside as an option has not been exploited enough by Irish halves in recent years. If there are three defenders on the blindside and 10 on the open, why run at the 10? To me, much of the Irish attacking problem has been it is always lateral, therefore predictable. In coaching terms if you can accurately predict what the opposition is going to do you can stop it.

In the latter years of Eddie Jones’s time as Wallaby coach, where their blindside winger stood determined the direction of the second-phase attack. If Lote Tuqiri stood behind Stephen Larkham at 10, they were coming back shortside. If the winger stood outside the centres they were going the same way. The Wallaby attack became predictable.

In the RWC quarter-final Wales predicted and stopped the Ireland’s attacking system.

Over the past 10 seasons, when Ireland have been at their best, pace has made their attack unpredictable. Counter-attacking is where this pace is most readily generated.

Think back to the England game at the Aviva last year when the guests were unable to cope with Jonny Sexton’s quick taps. Eoin Reddan and Sexton changed the point of attack while also kicking judiciously, turning England around. Donncha O’Callaghan’s brilliant chase from a kick put enormous pressure on Foden’s kick, that was fielded by Trimble, who commenced a counter-attack that was the origin of Bowe’s try.

Let’s get this very clear: Wales played really well at last season’s RWC. They should have made the final. They have earned all our respect. However, this week the media placed them on a pedestal, giving them too much credit for Ireland’s poor play last October.

Don’t believe Wales could only name a team until yesterday. If you believe Gatland has been unable to train and plan because of injury, you believe in the Tooth Fairy. Wales will be organised and have a strong plan, but remember what they are doing is not rocket science. A possible Welsh error may have been a recent trip to Poland.

Ireland must re-establish their “go forward” plan and philosophy. There must be a change in tactics, which were so wrong in the last outing against Wales. Let’s hope for an Irish performance of pace and variety to see a return to their unpredictable best.

© 2012 The Irish Times

MunsterMan!!!!! wrote:For some reason, maybe its blind optimism and I think I have calmed down somewhat over the week end but I have a bit of confidence going to Paris on Saturday, backs against the walls, nobody expecting a win, etc.

I was just looking at some of the highlights last night, in fairness, there was a fair few positives, our attack did improve a good bit, set pieces were very good esp lineout, with 2 very good steals as well. Scrum was solid. There were a couple of poor decisions, and we all know our defence and line speed were poor, but this was one area in which we were strong in over the past few season so we haven't lost that maybe a bit of rustyness and a bit of trust in the system for example the first try where Bowe was caught in two minds mainly due to him not trusting Mike Ross to tackle Priestland. Some of those mistake were ones you would expect on the first run out of the season. If we improve our line speed and general defence, we are in with a shout.

The other thing that we really need to do is some work on Pearson, for instance Barnes didn't allow the defending team to contest much in the ruck, we should have adopted/know in the first place, and simple not commit many to the ruck and stay in the Defensive line. It was very annoying how we didn't adopt to Barnes' interpretation. We will have to be a bit cuter in that regard, esp as Pearson is a wit kant. Am I correct in saying that Pearson have a bit of a laissez faire approach to reffing ?

But we didn't commit to the ruck. It was very noticeable. First man in tried to get hands on the ball but that was it. Which is why it's doubly mystifying why we couldn't put in more offensive hits/double tackles.

I think we were scared of not having numbers to mark the big outside backs which is why we tried to execute a containment defensive system as opposed to an aggressive one. Didn't work whatsoever.

It has to also be said that Wales played very, very well. I think it was around the 20th minute if not later that I noticed their first error in open play. I would also be interested to see the ball in play stat, I would imagine it was a fair bit above average given there weren't many scrums and both sides avoided kicking to touch. That may have counted against us in the final 10.

Going forward I think there were plenty of positives. I still think we're a good attacking side and there was a bit of variation out there. It's defence that I'm worried about. I haven't seen us that callow and unable to turn over the ball in quite a while. The French outside backs are marginally smaller (man for man) and Yachvilli (or Parra) pose a fraction of the threat that Philips poses but we'll still have our work cut out for us especially if we stand off Rougerie and Malzieu. The French backrow is also better than the Welsh one and their front five is stronger even if they sometimes don't seem willing to impose themselves on a game.

Key to beating France is striking when they're switched off and not switching off ourselves. That's a big ask.

Sorry if posted already

Ferris and Davis cited.
http://www.espnscrum.com/six-nations-20 ... MP=OTC-RSS

Hope the punishments reflect the crimes not the referees decision on both.

Good article from Saint Mattie.

Redrebeled that one up.

You can see the issue with our smaller backs going up against bigger units...

fudge me.

SASP wrote:Sorry if posted already

Ferris and Davis cited.
http://www.espnscrum.com/six-nations-20 ... MP=OTC-RSS

Hope the punishments reflect the crimes not the referees decision on both.

At the risk of willie calling a fatwah on my head, this could be a bit of a blessing
it could force kidney to play a more balanced backrow, ie o mahoney at 7.


although he'd probably play Ryan at 6....

Conn wrote:

SASP wrote:Sorry if posted already

Ferris and Davis cited.
http://www.espnscrum.com/six-nations-20 ... MP=OTC-RSS

Hope the punishments reflect the crimes not the referees decision on both.

At the risk of willie calling a fatwah on my head, this could be a bit of a blessing
it could force kidney to play a more balanced backrow, ie o mahoney at 7.


although he'd probably play Ryan at 6....

Would O'Mahoney be better at 7 than SOB?
Munster fans do you think 7 is his best position?
I would think O'Mahoneys all round game and skillset makes him seem more like an 8.

Conn wrote:

SASP wrote:Sorry if posted already

Ferris and Davis cited.
http://www.espnscrum.com/six-nations-20 ... MP=OTC-RSS

Hope the punishments reflect the crimes not the referees decision on both.

At the risk of willie calling a fatwah on my head, this could be a bit of a blessing
it could force kidney to play a more balanced backrow, ie o mahoney at 7.


although he'd probably play Ryan at 6....

Jesus h. Just because Hook said it doesn't make it so. Pom is no more a proper 7 than sob.


And the problem is not balance. It's utilisation.

Conn wrote:

SASP wrote:Sorry if posted already

Ferris and Davis cited.
http://www.espnscrum.com/six-nations-20 ... MP=OTC-RSS

Hope the punishments reflect the crimes not the referees decision on both.

At the risk of willie calling a fatwah on my head, this could be a bit of a blessing
it could force kidney to play a more balanced backrow, ie o mahoney at 7.


although he'd probably play Ryan at 6....

he will you know

O'Mahony wouldn't be getting a sniff of the Munster 7 shirt if Wallace and Ronan were fit, so I'm not sure how that makes him a more natural openside than SOB, who starts about half of Leinster's games there. The issue isn't balance of personnel, it's of balance of duties among the personnel. The only time that the backrow are actually positioned at number 8, openside flank, and blindside flank, is at the scrum. Of which there were what, less than 10 on Sunday? At least 2 of which ended in free kicks?

SASP wrote:

Conn wrote:

SASP wrote:Sorry if posted already

Ferris and Davis cited.
http://www.espnscrum.com/six-nations-20 ... MP=OTC-RSS

Hope the punishments reflect the crimes not the referees decision on both.

At the risk of willie calling a fatwah on my head, this could be a bit of a blessing
it could force kidney to play a more balanced backrow, ie o mahoney at 7.


although he'd probably play Ryan at 6....

Would O'Mahoney be better at 7 than SOB?
Munster fans do you think 7 is his best position?
I would think O'Mahoneys all round game and skillset makes him seem more like an 8.

7 is his worst position in the backrow

Porterbelly1 wrote:

you know it makes sense

Shroud Taylor wrote:

Porterbelly1 wrote:

you know it makes sense

Isn't he injured anyway?
To quote the pixies "I've got a broken face"

LeinsterLion wrote:

Conn wrote:

SASP wrote:Sorry if posted already

Ferris and Davis cited.
http://www.espnscrum.com/six-nations-20 ... MP=OTC-RSS

Hope the punishments reflect the crimes not the referees decision on both.

At the risk of willie calling a fatwah on my head, this could be a bit of a blessing
it could force kidney to play a more balanced backrow, ie o mahoney at 7.


although he'd probably play Ryan at 6....

Jesus h. Just because Hook said it doesn't make it so. Pom is no more a proper 7 than sob.


And the problem is not balance. It's utilisation.

you think this is why I posted it because Hook said it?? get a grip for fudge sake

Ireland's Call wrote:You can see the issue with our smaller backs going up against bigger units...

fudge me.

I've been one of McFadden's biggest critics here but in his defence, North had just breezed past D'Arcy who really should have tackled him and after that, it was a panic scramble to haul him down.

Conn wrote:

LeinsterLion wrote:

Conn wrote:

SASP wrote:Sorry if posted already

Ferris and Davis cited.
http://www.espnscrum.com/six-nations-20 ... MP=OTC-RSS

Hope the punishments reflect the crimes not the referees decision on both.

At the risk of willie calling a fatwah on my head, this could be a bit of a blessing
it could force kidney to play a more balanced backrow, ie o mahoney at 7.


although he'd probably play Ryan at 6....

Jesus h. Just because Hook said it doesn't make it so. Pom is no more a proper 7 than sob.


And the problem is not balance. It's utilisation.

you think this is why I posted it because Hook said it?? get a grip for fudge sake

In your rush to defend yourself you've forgotten to actually address the issue.

Luckycharmer wrote:Found this everyones favourite commentator J1's my dad is the picture as well

So did everyone work who it is?

Luckycharmer wrote:

Luckycharmer wrote:Found this everyones favourite commentator J1's my dad is the picture as well

So did everyone work who it is?

it's not Hook is it?? Holding the ball?

Ireland's Call wrote:

Luckycharmer wrote:

Luckycharmer wrote:Found this everyones favourite commentator J1's my dad is the picture as well

So did everyone work who it is?

it's not Hook is it?? Holding the ball?

It sure is J1s

danthefan wrote:Just seen a photo of Strauss in Ireland training kit... what now?

Play him at 12?

Itzhak Stern wrote:

danthefan wrote:Just seen a photo of Strauss in Ireland training kit... what now?

Play him at 12?

Play him at 7?

Fitz possibly back this week:

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/ ... 64120.html

Fitzgerald may return this week


Rubgy: Leinster have issued a positive prognosis on the fitness of Luke Fitzgerald, who may be available Thursday’s Pro 12 game against Benetton Treviso at the RDS.

The Ireland back has been troubled by a neck injury since late December and will be “monitored by the medical team” with a view to participating “either this week or next” against Scarlets at home.

Backrow Dominic Ryan is “close to full fitness” and is expected to be in “contention for Thursday’s game”, after three months on the sidelines with an ankle injury, as is Kevin McLaughlin, who has overcome his own neck injury.

Outhalf Mat Berquist (knee) remains doubtful for this week, at least, while captain Leo Cullen is convalescing after Achilles surgery and is not expected back before the resumption of the Heineken Cup in early April.

Coach Joe Schmidt will, therefore, “call upon a number of the British & Irish Cup panel who recently booked their place in the semi-finals of the competition in April”.

The team will be announced on Wednesday lunchtime.

Will be great to give Ryan a quarter of an hour, be great to have him back.

I wonder if we'll get Ruddock, Jennings or EOM released. Could do with them. If not:

Nacewa
Conway
Macken
Debut for someone?
Carr
Madigan
Boss
McGrath
Strauss
Hagan
Browne
Toner
Debut for someone?
Debut for someone?
Auva'a

ZuLu wrote:Will be great to give Ryan a quarter of an hour, be great to have him back.

I wonder if we'll get Ruddock, Jennings or EOM released. Could do with them. If not:

Nacewa
Conway
Macken
Debut for someone?
Carr
Madigan
Boss
McGrath
Strauss
Hagan
Browne
Toner
Debut for someone?
Debut for someone?
Auva'a

I'd be surprised if we didn't get our tackle bags back. Jennings has already been released back btw so he'll be captain and 7. Sheridan at 12 if EOM's not back.

McLaughlin, if he's fit will play 6.

Good stuff

We've got a decent run of fixtures over the next few weeks, hoping to maintain our lead before the difficult fixtures come around, especially over the the HEC period.

If Ferris is out against France then I'd assume it'll be Ryan to 6, cant imagine POM making his test debut this year and certainly not in Paris.

If we had the U20's lads floating about we could pad out the squad big style. Shame we don't.

Collie O'Shea might be in with a shout at 12, he's been playing a lot in the B+I Cup.