Well done the Welsh !!!

Totally agree, I have been saying it for years about Kearneys inability to tackle. What sticks out in my mind is from the game against Australia years ago when Kearney was the last line of defense against a charging Rocky Elsom and he just completely fluffed it, trying a gaelic football style shoulder charge to put him out over the line but failed miserably. Everyone remembers his performances for the Lions, and it beats me to this day why South Africa persisted with the high balls when Kearney is undoubtedly the king in the air of world rugby.

That Scotland team is growing though, Tim Visser will be a welcome addition to their side, and not going to lie, im a big fan of Duncan Weir, who I believe has this year to play himself towards being considered for the Lions. Hes a strong number 10, and his performance in the U20 World Cup was outstanding.

I would love to see James Downey brought into 12 (or just start McFadden), it should be clear to everyone that D'Arcy is off form, nobody should have a deserved right to start for Ireland, why make an example of Luke Fitzgearld by dropping him due to poor form, while staying loyal to D'Arcy.

Morning sea_point up early this morning !!!! I agree with you about Kearney, great under the high ball and great in attack from open play, but as you say his defence is awfull.

If the Taffs go on to beat the French then they deserve the Slam, they looked a far better side this season than we did when we won ours thats for sure.

Much better performance from us today, Ferris was absolutely outstanding in defence and probably shoulld have got the MOM but with Ryan starting for the first time and doing very well indeed probably understandable the got it. Real shame he didn't leae Munster three of four yerars ago, showed today the folly of Munster/Ireland and their Mick O'Driscoll fetish...

Sexton had a great game overall with distribution, kicking and defence all top notch, Reddan was a revelation (if slightly lucky for the try). If Rob Kearney learned how to pass/ look for the offload, oh and of course tackle (he actually ran out of the way for the Grey try), as imperious as he is under a high ball and the occasional big left boot the rest of his game is third/fourth rate. Centre's did well, despite Darcy's dropped overall they had the complete measure of the Scottish midfield.

Scots were very dissapointing though, they completely fell away after a promising first ten minutes despite the Grey try and plenty of possession they never really threatened. 6 1/2 kilo a man heavier up front and they were being buckled in the scrum for much of the second half.

In fairness to Wales they came to Ireland's patch and won, they went into Englands back yard and won.They produced when needed against Scotland and Italy.If they do win against France next week they will have deserved it as points in the win column is what counts.
If Ireland were in the same position with one game to go regardless of how we played, we would be shouting from the rooftops!!
Good luck next week Wales.

On the Ireland game, obviously happy to win with key players missing and with a 6 day turnaround, it was a mixed bag really but Ryan did well in fairness as did O'Mahony but never had much fear for them today, will be a big step up next week. Scrum went well on the whole and after an early blip linout both on our ball and Scottish ball went reasonably if not brilliantly.

We took our chances well in the first half with probably less of the ball. The try conceded was poor but when a player of Grays power breaks through you're in trouble. Pity he's been lost to the Rabo league. Once again the penalty count was too high for my liking and would be punished by a better team.

Scotland are a poor side with a few exceptions like Denton, Gray etc. It was hard fought game but it was easy enough defensively for Ireland. They weave some nice patterns but there's rarely anything concrete at the end of it. Themselves and Italy will be a dour battle for the wooden spoon next Saturday.

We have definitely moved forward from the Wales game on the opening day but still a lot of question marks hanging over this team. Next Saturday will determine a lot.

RogueXV wrote: Call it sour grapes or what you will, but if Wales win a 3rd Grand Slam in past 8 years it devalues it a bit for me. Was not very impressed with the last 2 and for all the talk of their exciting backs they have yet to convincingly put away a single side in this tournament. Lucky against Ireland, a bit of fortune too against England (probably many GS requires such luck) and made to work against two sides you'd expect them to put up a cricket score against. I suppose they deserve credit, they have been getting it done during this extended period when neither England or France have dominated something Ireland have not manage to do really.

True but in fairness they have come up with the big scores at key times in games.

Missing a number of first team players against Ireland and minus Davies at a crucial time (should have been the rest of the game but that another matter), got the try to bring it back to one, missed the conversion and still went up the pitch and won a penalty to win it when one mistake from the restart would have finished the game. Ok the penalty was debatable and the defensive system we were using that day was to put it mildly baffling and made it easy for Wales to play to their strengths. I couldn't honestly see us manufacturing something similar if needed.

Against Scotland they put the foot to the floor when they needed to and pulled clear.

I wasn't overly impressed with them against England but its a good sign to win a game when not playing well and again scored at a key time from a turnover, imo English naievity lost that game and they deserved a draw at least but Wales dug it out.

They did enough today, it was always going to be one of those games to just get done and dusted, points difference isn't really an issue but I think they went with the wrong mentality, turning down 3 pointers at 3-3 and 6-3 and Italy fronted up well in defence for the majority of the game.

With home advantage against France you wouldn't bet against them. France will test them up front and the defensively Wales could be susceptible but fair play to Wales if they do it and most particularly Gatland.

Call it sour grapes or what you will, but if Wales win a 3rd Grand Slam in past 8 years it devalues it a bit for me. Was not very impressed with the last 2 and for all the talk of their exciting backs they have yet to convincingly put away a single side in this tournament. Lucky against Ireland, a bit of fortune too against England (probably many GS requires such luck) and made to work against two sides you'd expect them to put up a cricket score against. I suppose they deserve credit, they have been getting it done during this extended period when neither England or France have dominated something Ireland have not manage to do really.

With O'Brien out it will be interesting to see if the commentators go on about a 'unbalanced' backrow again. It's tough on SOB but he hasn't been hitting the heights that we know he can play maybe the injury was hampering him who knows.

O mahoney will do adecent job at 7 in general play and ruck time. I would be more worried with Best both injury wise and at line out time. Hadnt the greatest day out of touch against the french and now he has Gray between him and his target while not 100%.
It might be a sensible ploy to go to 2 and 4 jumpers and employ the maul more against an improving scots team, especially early on.
They seem to have a lot of pace in their backrow and a better looking backline than for a number of years so a tight keep ball game mite be the way forward while looking for that switch off defensively that they appear to be prone to.

It seems our ulster cousins are not happy with Maccas selection ahead of Tuohy. Very upset over it over on uafc. Macca parachuted over Tuohy apparently if they are correct. Tuohy even tweeted, thanking them for their support on the matter and implying himself that he wasnt happy while also congratulating Macca.
Oh the politics of international rugby! Thats not maccas problem tho and hopefully he will get decent gametime to justify selection.

O'Brien out now as well with Foot Infection.
Not good news at all, O'Mahony is in with Jennings coming onto the bench...

With BO'd & PO'C out already and Besty not at 100% either I think the Scots will be all over this...

I'm smelling an upset here...

RTESport wrote: O'Brien forced out of team to face Scotland
Thursday 8 March 2012


The Leinster back-rower has struggled with a skin infection on his foot this week and it has not recovered as quickly as had been hoped.

Peter O'Mahony will now move up from the bench to start at openside with the experienced Shane Jennings drafted in to the squad to take his place among the subs.

Watch Ireland v Scotland live on RTÉ Two and RTÉ.ie (Ireland only) from 2.30pm on Saturday, 10 March. Live coverage on RTÉ Radio 1 and RTÉ.ie (Worldwide) from 2.30pm. Ireland U20s v Scotland U20s on Friday, 9 March on RTÉ Two and on RTÉ.ie (Ireland only) from 7pm.

The match will be O'Mahony's first start for Ireland, although The 22-year-old made two starts as a substitute to date.

The Cork Con and Munster player has had a meteoric rise this season, playing a central role in Munster's unbeaten Heineken Cup pool campaign before earning a call-up to the extended Ireland squad before this Championship.

Commenting on the change, Ireland Team Manger Mick Kearney said: "We knew Sean was carrying this infection in his foot, but unfortunately it has not cleared as quickly as we expected.

"While it has not healed enough for him to play this Saturday, we expect him to be fine for next weekend. With Sean out, we have decided to bring Peter onto the starting side and Shane Jennings into the squad."

So happy for Mike, the big Carrot!

i wud imagine that heaslip and doc will take resp for that. if best doesnt make it tho it wil be very interesting.(and doc)!

Should happen earlier once Scotland tear us a new one in the lineouts for having two No 2 jumpers and no one calling the lineout correctly!

congrats to him aswell.

considering they have consistantly replaced doc at or around the 60 min mark it will be interesting to see if this policy continues.