Cruel and all as the loss of Scally was, the even more premature retirement to injury of Barry Gibney, the captain of the Dream Team and the triumphant Irish Schools Team to Australia in 1996 was even crueller.
Interesting to see that two of my predicions last week came to pass at the weekend, one being that our lack of cover for the back three was foolhardy in the extreme, and two being that as the anti Kidney brigade were just waiting to let fly at him for his 1 defeat in 14 games (it may be 15, cant be arsed checking it out now).
A few things from the game. As with so many of our trips to France, we slit our own throats in the first half, and then proceed to chase the game in the second. Losing a back row for that length of time in Paris in the opening period was suicide, Healy’s moment of madness opened the door for the onslaught, O Connells disasterous knock on ushered them through it and with that we were back in a familiar surroudings.
Those clambering for heads and retirements would do well to remember why we’ve only beaten the French once in 28 years in Paris, we’re just not on their level when it comes to playing numbers and ability. Sure we have a some very very good players, but at the end of the day, we’re way behind where they are and what they can pull out of a hat at any given time. FFS they lost one winger last week, 2 in the game, and still could afford to leave Medard sitting on his hole at home.
Bandage I’ll agree wholeheartedly with you on POC carrying ball in midfield on Saturday, when we’re chasing a game in Paris, he’d be far better off fucking out of the way and letting back rows and midfield combine, he fucked up far too often by being too eager to get involved. England had this problem in the late 90’s and eary noughties until Woodward told his pack to fuck off to rucks and stop acting the bollox trying to carry ball. When we needed quick ball in the second half, TOL’s stop and stare at rucktime was the last thing we needed. I do believe TOL is our best scrum half to play the game we need to play to win and survive in Intl rugby, but on Saturday, when we were, yet again, chasing ourt fucking tails in Paris, just fire the fucking thing out to where you hear the calls from and get on with it. Frank O Driscoll (Brians dad) had an interview on RTE Radio 1 on Saturday, saying how while everyone says Brian is the best player Ireland have seen this decade he firmly believes that while he may not disagree with that, that Stringer was epually as important and for him Ireland player of the decade (well of course he wasn’t going to say Brian was). He’s right, for all Stringers faults (no break etc) his passing was outrageously good and snappy and accurate, all that was needed in the second half on Saturday.
The lack of cover for the back three, destroyed any plans Ireland had for the French midfield, sure Paddy came in, Darcy was into the game in the centre, he looked well up for it, tossing him out to the wing cripped him, he was never a Club winger, let alone an Intl wing, we may as well have sent him home. Making 3 changes to cover one was the worst case scenario on Saturday and it happened after 20 minutes. Poor work from Gaffney and Kidney.
In the interest of paying Sid some dues I decided to watch the LI v Bath game Sunday. I encourage anyone who believes Bob Casey is the answer to any problem we may now have, to do likewise. Bob seems an alright sort, but thats where it ends as far as the Intl set up goes.
Some argue Sexton should have started, I would agree to a point, I picked him in my team to start last week, but having seen the carnage on Saturday, I think it was for the best he didn’t. I honestly don’t think he could have changed that outcome, and I dont believe the experience would have helped his future Intl career. Jonathan is the future, 2 years of starting games under his belt will give him the time to get ready for somewhere like Paris on 6 Nations Saturday, Paris has been the burual ground for many an early Irish cap, we’re lucky in a way he wasn’t fit to start that Italy game. I’d fire him in from now on. Its Sexton time.
For me while Cullen was outstanding in the line out, he was anon after that, I think we missed DOC in the breakdown where he does so much good work at ruck time clearing out. We needed fast ball on Saturday and were getting killed at the breakdown where Wallace seemed to be on his own and Hayes just was out on his feet. I never denied I’m a fan of O Callaghan, and will stick by that.
Wallace was my motm, Heaslip running him close. Ferris was good, but looked a little ring rusty still and seemed to be carrying at least 3 different knocks.
With that, my team for England (who showed exactly how far they had come and the extent of their ambition yesterday) would be
Earl
Bowe
Driscoll
Darcy
Trimble
Sexton
O Leary
Healy
Flannery
Court
O Connell
O Callaghan
Ferris
Wallace/O Brien (either or, it may be SOB’s time, but would be wary of making too many changes for Twickenham)
Heaslip
Guscott went through him and MJ for a shortcut after the game, even Davies got a few boots in.
This is the main point 
Kidney Out!
I do however trust Kidney to get it right strangely enough. Perhaps sacking Gaffney should be the start? I wonder is Eddie doing anything important at the moment?
Mods - a sensible, well thought out and knowledgable thread on the rugger. Please ban this contributor
Ya good analysis really mbb. I’d agree with most of it. I would disagree on Wallace being our best player though, D’Arcy for me was the only fella really making any inroads at all, Heaslip maybe as well. I did miss the first 30 mins though. The mistakes were awful, and i don’t think France were that good, and are been blown up way too much. I read today that the middle 40 mins was the best rugby played in a long time and nobody would have lived with France, absolute bollix in my opinion. Ireland handed them the game.
Having O’ Gara and Wallace(Paddy) on the pitch at the same time though isn’t a great idea at International level as they are both too small.
Sexton, Court and O’ Callaghan are must starts the next day.
Massively disappointed overall.
I wouldn’t have Earls full back, just don’t think he is solid enough under a high ball or defensively yet to be played there…I was impressed with him on the wing in the opening 20 minutes, he made a couple of half breaks and looked dangerous and would keep him there…Outside of Kearney there isn’t too many other options with Geordan injured, Dempsey passed it and Duffy not good enough…I personally would play Bowe there, he has played a few games there for the Ospreys and is solid as a rock…
I think the best thing about France’s play was their defence. They rarely gave Ireland a sniff - particularly the backs.
Its 6 of one half a dozen of the other who plays full back in Kearneys absence, Earls slots in while leaving Bowe where he does his best work. With a new out half I would be wary of changing things around too much out wider.
Whats with the new posting style with all the …'s pukey?
That’s it in a nutshell, Ireland made a lot of errors when in possesion but it was due to the pressure the French were putting on in defense…They did something similar to South Africa in the autumn
nothing new about it mbb…I always add in a few full stops to break up the post a bit…
True enough to an extent, but i think Ireland are experienced enough to be able to change what they were doing. The referring of games is getting farcical. France were offside so much it was a joke. They are cheating in a big big way. But thats the nature of it, fooling the ref seems to be a massive part of professional rugby these days.
Dont recall noticing it before, a pet peeve of mine that. Get emails from work colleagues using it, fucking disgraceful carry on in a work environment.
I meant to add in how bad the refereeing was on Saturday also, how France didnt have a man binned that time down in the corner was beyond me, no better than Healys action, and most likely worse.
It’s a trademark of Puke alright.
Kidney Out!
Any word on Flannery…has he been cited???
Can he be though, it was in play and the ref and linesman saw it. Thought it had to be missed for it to have a chance at citing him. Knowing the French they definitely will though.
He can, they changed that law a couple of seasons ago…
Reported this morning that the French are looking into it. The ref cautioned him for tackling with no arms, I’d imagine that leaves him open to be cautioned for the kick. Lunacy, forgot to mention that in my post above as another moment of lunacy in the first half that left us back pedalling at a rate of knots.
Possible replacement for O’Gara on the bench. Would be equally as effective.