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6 Nations 2015

I think we're lacking some penetration through the centre myself which means we're a bit lateral in possession when we move the ball. Henshaw and Payne haven't really shown themselves as attacking threats at this level yet.

I'm not a big Zebo fan either, he's more of a broken play / sevens type player and he doesn't seem to fit into this Irish team easily.

There's nothing wrong with the English pack - there rarely is but I think the Irish pack is the most physical and well organised Irish pack that I've ever seen. And theres a lot of depth too.

I'd take a good chunk of that English backline over ours - particularly the centres.

I like to think our tactics are us deliberately keeping things very plain and boring before the World Cup and we'll see some more wrinkles added to the gameplan at that time.
Schmidt is a superb coach and some of the set plays he comes up with (and the execution of them) are simply amazing. There was one in the last game where off a line-out there was a planned three phase move designed to drag a winger out of place to give Sexton a gap to hit with a kick down the line. The game is so fucking advanced now it's incredible.


Zebo isn't my cup of tea either. Our backline is missing a few players, and I don't think Payne is quite good enough. Is Luke Fitzgerald fit yet? I really hope we have Trimble back for the World cup.
 
Fitzgerald is back but I think Schmidt sees him as a winger. I'd say the same is true for Trimble - who I would prefer over Zebo and even more so if he had a decent kicking game

[article]For a long time, Fitzgerald was heralded as the long-term replacement for Brian O'Driscoll at outside-centre but that is no longer the case.

"Joe mentioned it to Matty (O'Connor) and I mentioned to him as well, that Joe was looking at me as primarily as a winger," he revealed.

"I would say more as a utility option and cover on the bench for that centre spot but primarily a winger and I think he (O'Connor) wanted to put me in the shop window a bit.

"I don't think I have to do anything more than I'm doing. I know from getting the feedback from Joe that I'm knocking on the door and I'm really, really close.

"I have a big advantage having worked with him for three or four years beforehand. There's a trust there.[/article]

Henshaw might be the long term option at 12 rather than 13 - he's 6' 3 and 16 stone plus - I'm not sure if he has enough pace to make teams worry about him getting outside them. But D'Arcy is still a good option there
 
on the physicality front, check out his from O'Brien re France and a great example of Joseph's ability too at the end

 
And at about 0.26 in this one is the last bit of that move that I mentioned above. The winger was initially playing deep to guard against the kick but as the phases occur he moves up (as he probably should) and pre-planned Sexton sticks one in behind him.

 
I need someone to point these things out to me during a match, I would never have spotted it by myself.
 
Sexton's kicking was immense until he had to go off, and when he came back he wasn't quite on it. Murray's box kicking has really improved, and whilst I wasn't his biggest fan, he's starting to convince me he's the man. Darren Cave has been excellent for Ulster this season, and whilst I don't think he's the long term solution at centre, I think he could do a job at present. When Olding recovers fully and finds his feet he will be Ireland's creative centre in the years to come. He's going to be ace. Luke Marshall has stagnated a bit after looking every inch an Ireland centre last year.
 
I couldn't think of Olding's name - was it him that played for us in one of the November internationals against some rubbish team?

I'm coming around on Murray too, he is getting the ball away quicker from the rucks these days.
 
I couldn't think of Olding's name - was it him that played for us in one of the November internationals against some rubbish team?

I'm coming around on Murray too, he is getting the ball away quicker from the rucks these days.

Stuart Olding played as a sub that day (Cave started). Olding has come through all the Irish development stages so they have his card well marked. He's solid as fuck, jinky, and a great kicker too.
 
Hasnt Marshall had a load of injury problems?

Cave has always had lots of promise, but he's 27 now and looks to be in the solid but not spectacular category.

My favourite for 13 right now, if he was a bit stronger, would be Mcfadden who just has that touch of magic about him. He's smart, quick and clearly learned well from BOD over the years - particularly his grubber game. He's just not quite strong enough and that's the worry. Technically he's as good as we have.
 
Hasnt Marshall had a load of injury problems?

Cave has always had lots of promise, but he's 27 now and looks to be in the solid but not spectacular category.

My favourite for 13 right now, if he was a bit stronger, would be Mcfadden who just has that touch of magic about him. He's smart, quick and clearly learned well from BOD over the years - particularly his grubber game. He's just not quite strong enough and that's the worry. Technically he's as good as we have.


I think you're right with Cave, but I also think we're short on options just now. McFadden is a a good shout. Olding will be an absolute worldy though. You heard it here first. Yeah Marshall has had injuries, but he's been back with Ulster for a good while now. Still not looking anywhere near at it yet.
 
I've only seen that sub appearance of Olding's but he stood out that day.

There's not a lot to choose between a lot of the centres available at the minute - they all look solid with the exception of Mcfadden and Earls who have the potential to be liabilities or game changers.
 
The last 20 sprung to life. Loved the maul from the French there - the scrum half was directing it brilliantly but it came to nothing when it went wide.

Looks like this is a good away win for Wales
 
That's a good result for England sadly.
Tomorrow's match is potentially the decider. I'm looking forward to it but dreading it at the same time.

An ideal sporting weekend for me would be for Frampton to win tonight, followed by Liverpool and Ireland winning tomorrow...
 
As a studio summariser Castaignede was openly dismissive of one or two of Saint-Andre's decisions. Doesn't seem like a happy camp at the moment - not for the first time in France.
 
As a studio summariser Castaignede was openly dismissive of one or two of Saint-Andre's decisions. Doesn't seem like a happy camp at the moment - not for the first time in France.

It's a very un French team as well. I haven't seen much of French club rugby - but surely there's a squad of players capable of playing French rugby amongst them.
 
This next one should be a cracker. I can't see how we win it if we don't edge the forward battle.

My bet for the day is Murray to score a try @ 11/2
 
Great forest half, Ireland just on top but England looking dangerous in possession.

Its delicately balanced
 
Henshaw should have been in there.
Can't fault his performance though.
Paul o Connell has been a fucking beast again.
What a man.
 
Best is the best hooker we've had. Not as flashy as Wood but better in every single aspect of the game.

The position is all about consistency - Hartley ruined England's big chance in the first half with a throw to Toner 5m out. You just can't have a hooker that makes mistakes.

Henshaw - didn't think he was motm myself but he's the future at 12.

We might be in with a shout in the world cup
 
He's a northerner though...

Almost too easy! England didn't really show up.

I think they were refused entry rather than didn't show up

Like I said previously - this is the best and deepest Irish pack ever.

And the chemist deserves a raise
 
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