The Official Irish Rugby Thread

PornDog · Post by **PornDog** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 5:44 pm

feckwanker wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 5:38 pm So you're not concerned about Sexton?

I'm very concerned about Sexton as well - the problem is that thanks to Joey's chocolate nature we don't really have many live options for 10. We have a number of options at 9.

Ross Byrne is fine, but that's all he is - fine. Carty is the only other option at the moment and he not someone I would be overly comfortable building a team around either. Burns is thoroughly uninspiring and Maddser (hair aside) hasn't had any form to speak of since leaving Leinster.

Realistically its going to be a couple of years before the likes of Harry Byrne and Healy put their hands up for selection.

It's a big f**king problem.

redderneck · Post by **redderneck** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 5:46 pm

Yup. Huge. Insurmountable against decent oppo I fear.

PornDog · Post by **PornDog** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 5:51 pm

For now at least yeah.

i actually think Healy has the best chance to provide the quickest solution as he has fudge all in front of him at Munster so should get some good gametime. Harry Byrne has Sexton and his brother limiting his time at Leinster. Having Frawley excel at 12 could also improve things a lot if we could get an additional playmaker into the midfield, but his gametime is likely going to be limited too.

That's a fudge ton of pressure to be putting onto youngsters who lets face it, have proved very little so far.

Jesus, I think I'm talking myself into a depression!

Edit: and for the record, I'm not calling for Murray to be discarded or anything, but sitting out a couple of games would light a hell of a fire under him. I really can't understand why don't do more of this when players form dips and we have in form options. I find it very frustrating.

Mr. Very Popular · Post by **Mr. Very Popular** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 6:07 pm

camroc1 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 5:32 pm
redderneck wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 5:26 pm
Conspicuous wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 11:29 am
Duff Paddy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 11:00 am
SFBB wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 10:49 am Do some of you think Murray was anything other than extremely good against Italy?
He was better than he has been recently. He was not “extremely good”. Watch France next week for an extremely good scrumhalf.
Murray had his best game since 2018 in green and if he keeps up that level of performance then the debate over who starts at scrum half will soon end .
Agree with this.

He is not the starting halfback I'm concerned about right now. Especially v a Shaun Edwards defence.
I am.

Murray will either pass (imo slowly) or kick (even more slowly.....caterpillar, caterpillar), neither of which keep a rush defence honest. So Sexton (or whoever) will either get the ball with a Frenchman attached, or else will play in the pocket and kick possession away. Neither option wins Ireland the match.

How many times did he kick on Saturday?

Duff Paddy · Post by **Duff Paddy** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 6:15 pm

Mr. Very Popular wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 6:07 pm
camroc1 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 5:32 pm
redderneck wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 5:26 pm
Conspicuous wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 11:29 am
Duff Paddy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 11:00 am

He was better than he has been recently. He was not “extremely good”. Watch France next week for an extremely good scrumhalf.
Murray had his best game since 2018 in green and if he keeps up that level of performance then the debate over who starts at scrum half will soon end .
Agree with this.

He is not the starting halfback I'm concerned about right now. Especially v a Shaun Edwards defence.
I am.

Murray will either pass (imo slowly) or kick (even more slowly.....caterpillar, caterpillar), neither of which keep a rush defence honest. So Sexton (or whoever) will either get the ball with a Frenchman attached, or else will play in the pocket and kick possession away. Neither option wins Ireland the match.

How many times did he kick on Saturday?

I just remember his one complete howler

SFBB · Post by **SFBB** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 6:23 pm

Mullet 2 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 11:31 am
SFBB wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 10:49 am Do some of you think Murray was anything other than extremely good against Italy?
Ahh me aul China!!!

How is Perth treating you?

Terrific. All the pints you can shake a stick at, and the sun is often in the sky. Two simple things I require to function efficiently.

Mullet 2 · Post by **Mullet 2** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 7:28 pm

SFBB wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 6:23 pm
Mullet 2 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 11:31 am
SFBB wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 10:49 am Do some of you think Murray was anything other than extremely good against Italy?
Ahh me aul China!!!

How is Perth treating you?
Terrific. All the pints you can shake a stick at, and the sun is often in the sky. Two simple things I require to function efficiently.

Australians everywhere though tbf

jezzer · Post by **jezzer** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 7:44 pm

feckwanker wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 5:38 pm So you're not concerned about Sexton?

I feel like I'm a minority of one here, but I'm not worried about him at all. I just don't think the Murray Sexton combo works (and I don't care if Johnny thinks it does). There is no better 10 on the island right now, so we should be putting pieces around him that minimise weaknesses and and emphasise strengths. I think we should start Marmion or JGP, whichever is shining most in training. The fact we're finall trying to flood a channel when we break is even more reason to pick a 9nwho can do that - before we even start to talk about Sexton.

Murray Sexton is static and played out. Too easy to read and the issues lie more at 9 than 10.

DOB · Post by **DOB** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 8:02 pm

redderneck wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 5:40 pm
feckwanker wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 5:38 pm So you're not concerned about Sexton?
It's Cam. He's been concerned about every Irish scrumhalf since Colin Patterson who hasn't been from Leinster.

Be fair. Cam didn’t want Niall Hogan starting any more than any of the rest of us.

YOYO · Post by **YOYO** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:09 pm

Looking forward to watching Craig Casey and Ben Healy play together once again. Healy a dead ringer for Jon Heder in Napoleon Dynamite.

Also keen to see how the other young Munster players go, Wycherley, Hodnett and Gavin Coombes.

Conspicuous · Post by **Conspicuous** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:11 pm

YOYO wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:09 pm Looking forward to watching Craig Casey and Ben Healy play together once again. Healy a dead ringer for Jon Heder in Napoleon Dynamite.

PornDog · Post by **PornDog** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:16 pm

Apparently his nickname in the squad is The Sherminator.

What's the story with Jack O'Sullivan? Is he injured

nardol · Post by **nardol** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:18 pm

nice start munster

Duff Paddy · Post by **Duff Paddy** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:20 pm

Conspicuous wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:11 pm
YOYO wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:09 pm Looking forward to watching Craig Casey and Ben Healy play together once again. Healy a dead ringer for Jon Heder in Napoleon Dynamite.

Does he even have any good skills

Risteard · Post by **Risteard** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:24 pm

Good to have a quick hit back but their try all came from a stupid penalty.

YOYO · Post by **YOYO** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:26 pm

Duff Paddy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:20 pm
Conspicuous wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:11 pm
YOYO wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:09 pm Looking forward to watching Craig Casey and Ben Healy play together once again. Healy a dead ringer for Jon Heder in Napoleon Dynamite.

Does he even have any good skills

He’s very tall, has a unique barnet and is metronomic with kicking from the tee.

Risteard · Post by **Risteard** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:26 pm

What's somewhat encouraging is it appears we're at least trying to get offloads etc in.

Bogbunny · Post by **Bogbunny** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:27 pm

Rory Scannell needs to get switched on. Careless so far.

Munster-fogs · Post by **Munster-fogs** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:45 pm

Casey almost goosed that up. Took way too long to get it out then went himself.

irishrugbyua · Post by **irishrugbyua** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:45 pm

Toland.

Salanya · Post by **Salanya** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:47 pm

irishrugbyua wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:45 pm Toland.

His commentary is bizarre tonight. Talking about James Lowe, ROG against South Africa...

And if he mentions the word 'pivot' one more time.......

Lazy Couch potato · Post by **Lazy Couch potato** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:48 pm

Sherminator certainly isn’t afraid to carry

Conspicuous · Post by **Conspicuous** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:48 pm

Munster-fogs wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:45 pm Casey almost goosed that up. Took way too long to get it out then went himself.

The slow ball wasn’t his fault, but he shouldn’t have gone for it himself. He’s class though , won’t be long till he’s making Ireland matchday squads . Different level of passing to our other scrum halves

Lazy Couch potato · Post by **Lazy Couch potato** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:51 pm

Good to see Coombes setting his man and passing
Scannell very slow

grimoald · Post by **grimoald** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:52 pm

So we're now blaming Murray for Sexton taking the ball standing still 90% of the time?

Risteard · Post by **Risteard** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:52 pm

Lazy Couch potato wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:51 pm Good to see Coombes setting his man and passing
Scannell very slow

He's doing very well.

Premier Red · Post by **Premier Red** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:52 pm

Risteard wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:26 pm What's somewhat encouraging is it appears we're at least trying to get offloads etc in.

Yeah, Very noticeable how they're all trying to get their arms clear/beyond the initial contact, good to see at last

irishrugbyua · Post by **irishrugbyua** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:53 pm

How was that straight.

Ref missed a blatant forward pass earlier too.

nardol · Post by **nardol** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:54 pm

Rugby is ruined be refs and the complexity of the rules

Cardiff player falls before tackle against holland... penalty cardiff

munster 7 with great attempted poach... deemed hands on ground penalty cardiff

Last turnover there hand were on ground also but penalty munster

Refs have a bigger influence on games than teams these days

nardol · Post by **nardol** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:55 pm

in from the side for that turnver in my book

Conspicuous · Post by **Conspicuous** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:55 pm

irishrugbyua wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:53 pm How was that straight.

Ref missed a blatant forward pass earlier too.

They’re letting a lot go with crooked lineouts these days , unless they’re really obvious

irishrugbyua · Post by **irishrugbyua** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:55 pm

A waga? Wtf

Premier Red · Post by **Premier Red** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:56 pm

irishrugbyua wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:53 pm How was that straight.

Ref missed a blatant forward pass earlier too.

I thought the final pass for Cardiff try was worth a second look at too for being slightly forward...

Jumper · Post by **Jumper** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:57 pm

A lot of harsh penalties are letting Cardiff off the hook in the red zone.

de_Selby · Post by **de_Selby** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:57 pm

Was Scannell always so slow?

Healy is pretty good, especially for someone who looks like a 14 year old. My first time really seeing him.

Conspicuous · Post by **Conspicuous** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:57 pm

That lineout was worse

YOYO · Post by **YOYO** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:58 pm

Several offenses by Cardiff there.

Bogbunny · Post by **Bogbunny** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:58 pm

irishrugbyua wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:45 pm Toland.

The Irish Maggie Alphonso

nardol · Post by **nardol** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 10:00 pm

is toland the non nordie commentator im listening to?

whoever it is he is tedious and not pleasant to listen to

Conspicuous · Post by **Conspicuous** » Mon Oct 26, 2020 10:01 pm

de_Selby wrote: ↑Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:57 pm Was Scannell always so slow?

Healy is pretty good, especially for someone who looks like a 14 year old. My first time really seeing him.

Plenty to work on but a very good kicking game and being able to physically handle yourself is enough for this level at this stage of his career