Rugby

**Tue Sep 11, 2007 11:28 am**

O'Driscoll clear to face Georgia

Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll will be available for Saturday's World Cup game against Georgia after overcoming an elbow injury.

O'Driscoll sustained a hyper-extended elbow in Sunday's 32-17 win over Namibia and had his arm in a sling.

Good news

**Tue Sep 11, 2007 12:58 pm**

Irish Rover wrote:O'Driscoll clear to face Georgia

Good news, yes.

Meanwhile, England appear maybe to have no outside-half for the next match: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 988595.stm

Seems like Ashton made a mistake in leaving Toby Flood out of the squad.

**Tue Sep 11, 2007 3:39 pm**

firehazard wrote:
Irish Rover wrote:
firehazard wrote:I suppose it might help if it started raining...

I'm not so sure about that, look at the amount of handling errors Ireland had in the dry conditions, what would it not be like in the wet

At least they'd have an excuse for their handling if the ball was wet.

I reckon it'd need at least three feet of mud to give a realistic chance of one of the northern teams winning the thing.

The only northern team that could make it is France. They didn't do really well, but their flaw is discontinuity. This means that if they can get through they either make their match of a life or fall apart.

And Argentina. I know that it's Southern Emisphere, but they're more of a Northern side in philosophy, play and where-the-players-play-their-rugby.

**Tue Sep 11, 2007 3:40 pm**

firehazard wrote:
Irish Rover wrote:O'Driscoll clear to face Georgia

Good news, yes.

Meanwhile, England appear maybe to have no outside-half for the next match: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 988595.stm

Seems like Ashton made a mistake in leaving Toby Flood out of the squad.

yesssss, he's gonna pay for leaving Geraghty home :wink:

but he's a fine option in Mike Catt, I do think.

**Tue Sep 11, 2007 9:00 pm**

Blimey, those Georgian lads were a bit robust. :wink:

No England player will be allowed to leave the hotel or train for the next few days. :wink:

I'd play Catt at fly-half and Farrell at centre. Farrell might not be fast, but he controls a game well.

I could get used to wall-to-wall rugby. :lol:

**Wed Sep 12, 2007 12:58 am**

was able to see only half of the match.
wonderful defensive play by the Georgians. they knew that the key of today's game wasn't offence, but defence. Argentina a little scared of spreading the ball wide in the first half. But when all the tackling of the Georgians wouldn't let them go anywhere when playing close to the scrum, they started gaining the confidence they needed in the backline and eventually made the bonus point.

I can see the Lelos (nickname of the Georgians, literally meaning TRY) giving a torrid time to Ireland. They have the problem of a short recovery time, but if they manage to exploit the Ireland problem of getting a quick and clean ball from the set-piece and the rucks, their job will be halfway done: they will be able to defend outstandingly against backs that are not fed any quality ball and smash them in scrums, rucks and mauls. Ireland need to fix the problems till Saturday, otherwise they're likely to fall. And another unconvincing display such as the one against Namibia could be deadly: it would mean getting to play Argentina and France without confidence and knowing they must win.

Nothing is sure yet, but I'm afraid Ireland won't make it to the quarters. Had they played six months ago, maybe. But now they're experiencing the same problem that made Wales Grand Slam Heroes crumble: lack of playable balls for their halves, consequently for their backs. Fix the tight five, and you fix the team.

**Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:26 am**

Billie wrote:was able to see only half of the match.
wonderful defensive play by the Georgians. they knew that the key of today's game wasn't offence, but defence. Argentina a little scared of spreading the ball wide in the first half. But when all the tackling of the Georgians wouldn't let them go anywhere when playing close to the scrum, they started gaining the confidence they needed in the backline and eventually made the bonus point.

I can see the Lelos (nickname of the Georgians, literally meaning TRY) giving a torrid time to Ireland. They have the problem of a short recovery time, but if they manage to exploit the Ireland problem of getting a quick and clean ball from the set-piece and the rucks, their job will be halfway done: they will be able to defend outstandingly against backs that are not fed any quality ball and smash them in scrums, rucks and mauls. Ireland need to fix the problems till Saturday, otherwise they're likely to fall. And another unconvincing display such as the one against Namibia could be deadly: it would mean getting to play Argentina and France without confidence and knowing they must win.

Nothing is sure yet, but I'm afraid Ireland won't make it to the quarters. Had they played six months ago, maybe. But now they're experiencing the same problem that made Wales Grand Slam Heroes crumble: lack of playable balls for their halves, consequently for their backs. Fix the tight five, and you fix the team.

ireland will make the quarters at least. Playing badly in one match does not make a bad team

**Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:44 am**

ireland will make the quarters at least. Playing badly in one match does not make a bad team

It's two matches now. And the problem isn't that they are a bad team. It is that they were not able to provide quality ball to the backs. As I said, fix the tight five (in which you have outstanding players) and you fix the team. The other problem, though, is that they play France AND Argentina, and I can't see them beat any of the two right now.

That's my point of view, obviously, and I might be wrong, but the odds Ireland will pass are very low at the moment.

**Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:54 pm**

As John Motson would say: "Interesting, verrrry interesting!" Andy Farrell's been picked at fly-half:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 990581.stm

Not quite sure what to make of this. Can't fault his distribution skills at centre, but . . . Interesting that Shaun Edwards reckons it could be his best position in union.

**Thu Sep 13, 2007 12:12 am**

Italy's done shite against Romania. We were lucky to get a win.

**Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:18 am**

Shaz wrote:As John Motson would say: "Interesting, verrrry interesting!" Andy Farrell's been picked at fly-half...

It's one of those moments that could be completely crucial in a tournament. If it works (and sometimes these moments of desperation do work out somehow), then it'll be a brilliant decision, and Ashton will be on his way to the Palace for his knighthood. But to be honest it looks more like the England team are in deep, deep trouble. Ok, they've been unlucky with injuries, but they're now going into potentially the most important game of the tournament for them with a No. 10 who's hardly played at that position. A back three who, I think, have never played in a match together, including a full-back who doesn't play regularly in that position. A back row who've hardly played together. A captain who was rejected and relaced as captain earlier this year, and who didn't have a place in the last starting XV. And no regular goalkicker. Blimey. As regards Farrell, the England management have never known what to do with him. It may be that Cousin Shaun is talking sense (though I seem to recall he was saying Farrell was a born inside-centre not so long ago), but I fancy he is talking through his arse. :wink:

That was unexpectedly tough for Italy last night, Billie. Are they still suffering a hangover from the All Blacks game? The fixture scheduling for this tournament seems mighty unfair.

**Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:37 am**

Billie wrote:
ireland will make the quarters at least. Playing badly in one match does not make a bad team

It's two matches now. And the problem isn't that they are a bad team. It is that they were not able to provide quality ball to the backs. As I said, fix the tight five (in which you have outstanding players) and you fix the team. The other problem, though, is that they play France AND Argentina, and I can't see them beat any of the two right now.

That's my point of view, obviously, and I might be wrong, but the odds Ireland will pass are very low at the moment.

i think argentina had their big game against france, i dont think they can repeat that again

**Thu Sep 13, 2007 8:13 am**

firehazard wrote:...But to be honest it looks more like the England team are in deep, deep trouble. Ok, they've been unlucky with injuries, but they're now going into potentially the most important game of the tournament for them with a No. 10 who's hardly played at that position. A back three who, I think, have never played in a match together, including a full-back who doesn't play regularly in that position. A back row who've hardly played together. A captain who was rejected and relaced as captain earlier this year, and who didn't have a place in the last starting XV. And no regular goalkicker. Blimey...

You sound very optimistic there FH :wink:

**Thu Sep 13, 2007 8:28 am**

Irish Rover wrote:You sound very optimistic there FH

Optimism is my middle name, IR. :wink:

As far as the England team are concerned, it's almost turned into comedy. Speaking of which: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oulQwIP9VQQ

**Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:01 am**

Billie wrote:Italy's done shite against Romania. We were lucky to get a win.

I was surprised Italy played so badly -- maybe a left-over from the weekend? If Romania hadn't been so indisciplined and given away so many penalties (and if their kicker had put over the ones he missed) they would have won.

It's positive that some of the smaller rugby nations like Romania, Georgia and Namibia have pushed the big sides hard.

I'm old enough to remember Romania in the 1980s where they beat some of the big sides and looked good enough to join the then Five Nations. Then the Revolution came, their captain for one got killed, and the whole thing fell apart.

Rugby

Who is online