Ireland v Wales RWC 2011

[Oldschool]

Some interesting selection headaches for Kidney.
1. Best - Cronins darts against Italy were fine. His added pace is an asset. Hands are a bit dodgy. Scrum - I thought Gethin Jenkins was in trouble against Fiji.
2. POC - Thought we should have gambled against Italy on not played him. Cullen and particularly Ryan are in good nick tho'
3. Jennings has to be on the bench - Reason - Warburton
4. Murray/Rog weren't exactly an outstanding success - I don't buy the provincial pairing - How many times have they played together in the HEC?
Defending the 10 channel will be a much bigger issue in this game.
I heard Sexton has chronic laryngitus and isn't vocal enough. - I don't suppose he can run a line out either.
11 - 15 looking better - Tommy is getting his form back.

It's said don't change a winning team, but that argument went out the window for the Italy game, so no guidance there.

[ceemec]

Craig Joubert to referee. Had no problem using his whistle for the England/Scotland game: 27 penalties awarded.

[Oldschool]

Craig Joubert to referee. Had no problem using his whistle for the England/Scotland game: 27 penalties awarded.

How many of them were against England. They've been averaging a 2/1 ration in most games recently.

[Broken Wing]

According to the RWC site Joubert awarded 10 penalties against England and 11 against Scotland.
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/match ... stics.html

Scrum.com says 13 against England and 14 against Scotland.
http://www.espnscrum.com/2011-rugby-wor ... 93493.html

[jezzer]

I watched the Wales vs Fiji 2nd XV game. Yes Fiji were a rabble. Yes we would have scored a bucketload against them.

But Wales looked very slick for a lot of that game. Their handling is superb and they're running great lines. Crucially for them Roberts is back to form so they finally have a fulcrum for go-forward. Their back row isn't going to do massive damage ball in hand but they're all very comfortable on the ball and work it to find space very well.

What I did see is that they go into their shells when Fiji got in their faces. When Fiji pushed up and forced them to change their attacking plans, Wales looked very unsure.

Also Wales are defending a bit like Ireland, squeezing in quite narrow and showing teams the outside.

The fact the game is in Wellington will suit us. The fact that Wales are sh!t At closing out tight games against the better sides will help us. But they look quite good I have to say. We're well matched where we have the edge in the pack and outhalf while they have the edge in the backs.

Overall I'd be reasonably confident, even though we lack a gameplan in the backline and continue to struggle with depth and lines of running.

[Logorrhea]

I had absolutely no doubt we'd hammer Italy but this Welsh team has me worried I have to admit.

At the moment I feel like we are approaching a HEC quarterfinal against Munster. Both teams playing well and with confidence, you just dont know which way it'll go.

[jezzer]

Interesting stat,

since the day Ireland squeaked past Wales to win the GS (and excl the RWC warmup games), Wales have played 15 tests against the "top" teams of NZ, Aus, SA, France, Ireland and England. They have won 1 game (against us last year) out of those 15.

[berniemac67]

Anyone got strong feelings on Craig Joubert reffing this one?

[Logorrhea]

Ahh it goes two ways. We've had him twice in three weeks now. But in both of the previous ones we've been on the receiving end of weird calls. Personally I think Joubert has been trying to keep the scores down cause some of those decisions were simply bizarre. You'd assume the lads should understand what hes looking for. Shouldnt be a problem for them.

[ceemec]

Interesting stat,

since the day Ireland squeaked past Wales to win the GS (and excl the RWC warmup games), Wales have played 15 tests against the "top" teams of NZ, Aus, SA, France, Ireland and England. They have won 1 game (against us last year) out of those 15.

And England last month!

[ceemec]

Interesting stat,

since the day Ireland squeaked past Wales to win the GS (and excl the RWC warmup games), Wales have played 15 tests against the "top" teams of NZ, Aus, SA, France, Ireland and England. They have won 1 game (against us last year) out of those 15.

And England last month!

[jezzer]

Interesting stat,

since the day Ireland squeaked past Wales to win the GS (and excl the RWC warmup games), Wales have played 15 tests against the "top" teams of NZ, Aus, SA, France, Ireland and England. They have won 1 game (against us last year) out of those 15.

And England last month!

I did say I excluded the RWC warmups - was just focussing on competitive tests.

In the same period (and including Wales as a "top" team the same way I included Ireland for them), we have played 13, winning 5, drawing 1 and losing 7.

[illthinkofsomething]

After the Samoan fiasco, Wales again get favoured treatment from the IRB fixtures Sec. with an extra 2 hours to recover before the quarter final clash with Ireland.....

[Oldschool]

Anyone got strong feelings on Craig Joubert reffing this one?

No real alarm bells ringing TBH + plus he's seen our scrum up close and hasn't had any problems with it.

[brummie-leinster-man]

Anyone got strong feelings on Craig Joubert reffing this one?

On the basis of the ITV commentary revealing he was mentored by Jonathan Kaplan, then yes, I'd rather he didn't

[ceemec]

I did say I excluded the RWC warmups - was just focussing on competitive tests.

In the same period (and including Wales as a "top" team the same way I included Ireland for them), we have played 13, winning 5, drawing 1 and losing 7.

So dense, I posted it twice.

[Twist]

by berniemac67 » October 3rd, 2011, 10:38 am

Anyone got strong feelings on Craig Joubert reffing this one?

I strongly feel that he will let the breakdown become a free-for-all. Whether this is good or bad I don't know for sure, but I think it suits Warburton more than our lads

[mulleh]

Whats going on in Dublin for the match? Heading up there for it, not to sure on where to go.

[berniemac67]

Whats going on in Dublin for the match? Heading up there for it, not to sure on where to go.

eh ... the match isn't in dublin

[slum]

by berniemac67 » October 3rd, 2011, 10:38 am

Anyone got strong feelings on Craig Joubert reffing this one?

I strongly feel that he will let the breakdown become a free-for-all. Whether this is good or bad I don't know for sure, but I think it suits Warburton more than our lads

I think it's impossible to know who it will benefit. The trick is whoever gets the refs interpretations right on the day. Wales are lucky to have a top 7, however, if Joubert allows a free for all at the breakdown then maybe the value of a true specialist will be diminished... ie, effectively everyone will be able to slow opposition ball at the breakdown.

as i said though; it's all to do with homework of the pitch and getting interpretations right on the pitch.