wixfjord wrote:Reckon we'll see a relatively tight game from us that's forward dominated.
The MoCtastrophe years aside, when have we ever failed to absolutely go for it in our European home opener?
I don't see this being tight at all, unless we make a lot of unforced errors. We'll put down a "don't f%~k with us" marker for the pool stages. Doesn't mean we're guaranteed a win, but better teams than Wasps have been taken apart in the RDS in Round 1.
Big test of Cullens coaching to see if he can get the intensity going without him being on the pitch. I think we'll be massively up for this one and by the end the crowd will be baying.
Facts shmacts. Expecting a good performance but like any new head coach he gets a year before I think it is fair to judge him. The current direction they are going looks good. The change from last year plus the lack of time with the senior guys could see some issues but I still think we should have this.
wixfjord wrote:Reckon we'll see a relatively tight game from us that's forward dominated.
The MoCtastrophe years aside, when have we ever failed to absolutely go for it in our European home opener?
I don't see this being tight at all, unless we make a lot of unforced errors. We'll put down a "don't f%~k with us" marker for the pool stages. Doesn't mean we're guaranteed a win, but better teams than Wasps have been taken apart in the RDS in Round 1.
Big test of Cullens coaching to see if he can get the intensity going without him being on the pitch. I think we'll be massively up for this one and by the end the crowd will be baying.
I'm not saying we won't 'absolutely go for it'.
But given the fact we're still integrating players and that Wasps have plenty of good attackers in the wide spaces, and that our pack is likely to be the better of the two, and the fact that it's supposed to be pissing rain, I don't think we'll see a repeat of the way we played against Treviso for example.
wixfjord wrote:Reckon we'll see a relatively tight game from us that's forward dominated.
The MoCtastrophe years aside, when have we ever failed to absolutely go for it in our European home opener?
I don't see this being tight at all, unless we make a lot of unforced errors. We'll put down a "don't f%~k with us" marker for the pool stages. Doesn't mean we're guaranteed a win, but better teams than Wasps have been taken apart in the RDS in Round 1.
Big test of Cullens coaching to see if he can get the intensity going without him being on the pitch. I think we'll be massively up for this one and by the end the crowd will be baying.
I'm not saying we won't 'absolutely go for it'.
But given the fact we're still integrating players and that Wasps have plenty of good attackers in the wide spaces, and that our pack is likely to be the better of the two, and the fact that it's supposed to be pissing rain, I don't think we'll see a repeat of the way we played against Treviso for example.
Weather wont be too bad on Sunday. Scattered showers and mild - worst weather over in the Whest.
Rugby is a good occasion for keeping thirty bullies far from the centre of the city.
Oscar Wilde
wixfjord wrote:Reckon we'll see a relatively tight game from us that's forward dominated.
The MoCtastrophe years aside, when have we ever failed to absolutely go for it in our European home opener?
I don't see this being tight at all, unless we make a lot of unforced errors. We'll put down a "don't f%~k with us" marker for the pool stages. Doesn't mean we're guaranteed a win, but better teams than Wasps have been taken apart in the RDS in Round 1.
Big test of Cullens coaching to see if he can get the intensity going without him being on the pitch. I think we'll be massively up for this one and by the end the crowd will be baying.
I'm not saying we won't 'absolutely go for it'.
But given the fact we're still integrating players and that Wasps have plenty of good attackers in the wide spaces, and that our pack is likely to be the better of the two, and the fact that it's supposed to be pissing rain, I don't think we'll see a repeat of the way we played against Treviso for example.
'Absolutely going for it' and playing a tighter game aren't mutually exculsive!
wixfjord wrote:Reckon we'll see a relatively tight game from us that's forward dominated.
The MoCtastrophe years aside, when have we ever failed to absolutely go for it in our European home opener?
I don't see this being tight at all, unless we make a lot of unforced errors. We'll put down a "don't f%~k with us" marker for the pool stages. Doesn't mean we're guaranteed a win, but better teams than Wasps have been taken apart in the RDS in Round 1.
Big test of Cullens coaching to see if he can get the intensity going without him being on the pitch. I think we'll be massively up for this one and by the end the crowd will be baying.
I'm not saying we won't 'absolutely go for it'.
But given the fact we're still integrating players and that Wasps have plenty of good attackers in the wide spaces, and that our pack is likely to be the better of the two, and the fact that it's supposed to be pissing rain, I don't think we'll see a repeat of the way we played against Treviso for example.
Given the backline we are expected to put out, compared to the backline they are expected to put out, it is clear that our best hope for dominance is 1-10.
I've enjoyed the rugby we've played so far this season but we need to win this game however possible. I'll take a Stoop performance here.
Jonny needs to kick a lot better from hand than he did last week, that's for sure.
Just to make people feel better, this is the team that was named this time last year. Can't remember if there were any changes to it before the game but have a feeling there may have been.
jimbobjoe wrote:15. Ian Madigan
14. Zane Kirchner
13. Gordon D'Arcy
12. Noel Reid
11. Darragh Fanning
10. Jimmy Gopperth
9. Eoin Reddan
1. Jack McGrath
2. Sean Cronin
3. Michael Bent
4. Devin Toner
5. Mike McCarthy
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Dominic Ryan
8. Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN
Replacements
16. Richardt Strauss
17. Ed Byrne
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Kane Douglas
20. Jack Conan
21. Isaac Boss
22. Mick McGrath
23. Luke Fitzgerald
The thread is hilarious actually, the disdain for BT (especially from DC) and limecat's preview are all worth a reread. People also talked about there being less interest in the competition last year and I would say that there's even less this year. Even with our encouraging performances and general excitement around the place, the tournament seems to have gone under the radar a bit. I couldn't even tell you what games are on outside of our one whereas usually I'd be planning my weekend around them.
With Te'o and Luke injured (midweek injury updates shown yet again to be utter bullshite) I suppose we didn't have too many options but Kirchner on the wing is a depressing thought. Ferg at outside centre is a conservative enough choice but hopefully a solid one.
Flip, maybe not as much better than last year's team as I'd thought it would be. Think Ringrose will be needed to spark those outside backs, more worried about Zane than the midfield tbh.
Not sure if he's injured or not but no Ruddock is a big loss. No offence to Jordi but I just think Rhys is the business and exactly what I want in a six. Rest of the team looks good and I like that Luke McGrath is in the bench. Great impact in general from there although I'd probably have gone for VDF. Hopefully Luke Fitz really isn't too bad.
I'm guessing the coaches don't particularly want to pair Sexton and Madigan together which surprises me.
Moore will be fairly disappointed although no surprise he misses out. Less confident than I was...
Obviously the plan is for Ferg to definitivley show Reid how to plant one's opposite number. Just hope he doesn't crock himself - Ferg that is - doing it. Obviously Fitz and Te'o weren't fit. Like the selection. Good to see Ringrose and Ooh Ah Luke McGrath on the bench.
LeRouxIsPHat wrote:
I'm guessing the coaches don't particularly want to pair Sexton and Madigan together which surprises me.
Wouldn't surprise me too much. Madigan played most of last season at inside centre and when you take away the place-kicking, he didn't really do a whole lot there.
15. Isa Nacewa CAPTAIN
14. Zane Kirchner
13. Fergus McFadden
12. Noel Reid
11. Dave Kearney
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Eoin Reddan
1. Jack McGrath
2. Richardt Strauss
3. Mike Ross
4. Devin Toner
5. Mike McCarthy
6. Jordi Murphy
7. Sean O'Brien
8. Jamie Heaslip
16. Sean Cronin
17. Cian Healy
18. Tadhg Furlong
19. Hayden Triggs
20. Jack Conan
21. Luke McGrath
22. Ian Madigan
23. Garry Ringrose
McFadden and Reid
Not a huge amount off what I expected so I'm happy enough all things considered.
When you factor in that we have 5 guys who would def be in that 23 injured (Moore, Ruddock, Luke, Te'o and Rob) that's a pretty good bench we have. Was hoping for some solidity in midfield, which is exactly what Ferg is there for. Hopefully we can get our back 3 running good lines off Reid , but Zane is a major worry for me at this stage. I know he got almost no game time at all at the RWC so he was always going to be rusty last week, but he really offered almost nothing at all. He needs a big step up this week.
