I had a feeling O’Leary might be taking some criticism here.
When you’re camped on the line for a couple of minutes and don’t get in then the scrum half must take blame. Tom Tierney was axed after a similar lack of control against Argentina in Lens.
Need a Plan B here because Plan A is too conservative and not working.
France do look very dangerous but Ireland could have had two tries and it’d be a different story. Just can’t afford to leave their goalline without getting points.
The decision not to kick for goal there at the end was poor. But it was the lack of control around it that was shocking. O’Leary backed himself for the try line 3 times and didn’t make it. Some poor passes too, notably the one to Bowe as Farmer has mentioned.
As I said, Kearney getting injured removed a gaping hole from the defence. Things have picked since he went off. Something similar now for D’arcy and we might get back into it.
I think some of us have been lamenting this for months. O’Leary deserves all the criticism he gets - that was shocking play. You mention the 3 goes for the line too; O’Driscoll actually came in and was demanding the ball but O’Leary wouldn’t let him have it because he was probably determined to make up for his horrible lack of control and get the score himself. O’Leary must have forgotten O’Driscoll’s tries against England and Wales last season from near replica positions.
Barnes not doing Ireland great favours. Long knock on advantage for France a couple of minutes ago but same wasnt given to Ireland there.
O’Gara won’t last too long now I’d think. You can consider forgiving the tackles when he’s playing well but he’s having a shocker with his passing and his kicking has been mixed at best.
Got out of jail there.
Time for ROG to take a bite out of a blood capsule in case we need him later.