Comments on: Key Clash Preview: Ireland v Wales

By: BaggyTrousers

BaggyTrousers — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:07:01 +0000

Not much to be gained by looking to aportion blame,especially the coach – a bit of a soft target.
Wales played better rugby, wish them well and get over it.

By: epicness

epicness — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:49:48 +0000

Wow, u seem smart now!

By: epicness

epicness — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:47:42 +0000

and they did it again. This time greed for tries. O’Gara is only really good at kicking so why didn’t he kick the 3 pens in the first half that could have made it 12-10 to us at the break? Kidney should retire. He’s out of his depth at this level. He’s done great but naiive disrespect of the Welsh defense is his ultimate failing. You kick your pens against a defense like that – simple. You have to do it to stay in the game. When we got the early try then in the 2nd. half it could have been 19-10 to us and our tails would have been up, not theirs. Wales were the better team, tactically and slightly better physically too. We blew allot of hot air, and lacked class in attack.

By: epicness

epicness — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 07:15:57 +0000

Wales were better. O’Gara and Ireland were greedy and went for pressure on the Welsh defense instead of taking penalties. This meant the pressure was always on Ireland and it was too much. Ireland were also greedy in the 6N defeat to Wales. Wallace (P) only had to throw the ball out to Earls on the wing to get the try. but elected to come inside for the easier conversion. Ireland had a great chance to get a second try against Wales today, but O’Driscoll didn’t clear out the ruck and it was turned over, all he had to do was be patient and feed it to O’Connell. The try was on. Again, Irish greed. But not a terrible campaign for us overall. But very disappointing finale. They were disrespectful of the Welsh defense and impatient, and I’m Irish.

By: BaggyTrousers

BaggyTrousers — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 07:06:27 +0000

Hats off to Wales. Having watched Ulster humiliated at home to Treviso 2nds it’s hard to take 2 performances like that in less than 24 hours.

I believed every word I wrote yesterday – shows how much I know!!! SOB stuffed by Warburton was key and all over the pitch Wales won their match ups.

Wales need to believe from here in & they could yet shock everyone. Priestland & Phillips were superb & for once there was none of the usual rubbishy stuff from Phillips, just very good scrum half play.

Good luck Wales.

By: epicness

epicness — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 06:53:54 +0000

Congratulations to Wales from Ireland. MY prediction was right though. I predicted that one team would beat the other by >7. As Brian O’Driscoll said “Whoever shows up on the day will win it” Wales showed up. Ireland did not. We always bottle in the QF stage. Wales are good at that stage. I hope they get to the final now, and are good enough to win this competition. No team will beat them easily. Gatland is a great manger too.

By: Paul F

Paul F — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:47:13 +0000

Just to add to what’s already been said. I certainly don’t believe this is an easy game to call. It’s fairly unprecedented.

Firstly Wales and Ireland meeting in a World Cup quarter final, and secondly both sides being on form for a change, playing with a lot of self-belief.

Let’s hope it really is a Celtic classic and the best team wins, as long as they are playing in red obviously.

By: BaggyTrousers

BaggyTrousers — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:26:14 +0000

Fair point to an extent, but ROG is a lot braver than given credit for & D’Arcy & BOD have been taking on bigger beasts all of their careers.

I wouldn’t underestimate the sh!tstorm that will be coming Priestlands way either don’t forget, the Irish back-row are all big men and Ferris & SOB are monsters with plenty of gas.

To be honest it will come down to the packs as always to decide who wins. I feel Wales may have the edge in the front row in set play but Ireland in the loose, but Ireland’s back five in the pack are awesome & for me have the edge although I do rate Warburton & Wyn-Jones but don’t rate the 3 Drgaons as highly.

By: BaggyTrousers

BaggyTrousers — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:11:50 +0000

Good enough so.

By: BaggyTrousers

BaggyTrousers — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:11:06 +0000

Dazza, there is no question that Wales have indeed played the more attractive rugby. The question is will they get the opportunity to do what they did to Namibia & Fiji and to a far lesser extent against Samoa & SA.

Ireland will look to suffocate their game as we did against the Aussies, the Welsh pack has more fight in them I think so it will be interesting to see how it pans out.

Ireland have been efficient rather than attractive.

I’m not saying Ireland will win the RWC. In fact I’d be astonished and am on record as saying they will not win it in my lifetime but look at the teams who have one it recently and tell me which one did it by played attractive rugby?

Personally I found the big Bok pack attractive to watch but I suspect that’s not what you are talking about.

By: JL

JL — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:06:01 +0000

On the contrary, sir! Have published rants from all sorts in the past, like one from an English Munster fan who doesn’t think BOD should be captain! So by all means email me and I can tell you more :-)

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:03:34 +0000

As a neutral on this one, I think it will be a Wales win. I think Wales have quite a physicality edge in the backs (4 100kg+ beasts), there will be too much heavy traffic coming down the 10/12 channel, and its a much easier game when you are over the gainline. I’ve only seen Jamie Roberts nullified once (when he’s on his A game) by Joe Worsley 6N 2009. The choke tacklers may be waiting, I’ll be seriously impressed if the suceed.

Game of the tournamount thus far for me, good luck all!