Rugby

**Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:24 am**

Shaz wrote::lol: I've just been reading the Irish Indy on line and the quotes from the Irish players and management suggest they're living in cloud cuckoo land!

Ah well, at least Brian Ashton and the Engish players have been pretty honest about their shambles -- although Ashton did say he thought they'd played better than they did against the USA (otherwise they'd have lost 80-0). Um, yeah, right.

Looking at the weekend's games, there must be a real chance that neither Ireland not England will get through to the quarter-finals. And to be honest neither of them deserve to. Not sure what's gone wrong with Ireland. England's state is not unexpected. I like Ashton's honesty. Though he doesn't seem to have a clue how to fix things. If Jamie Noon's out of the tournament with injury, that gives the excuse to bring in some new blood, which must be a good thing.

Well done to Georgia. And to Tonga too -- hard to say who's going to qualify from that group now.

The southern hemisphere rugby still looks like a completely different game from what we've been seeing from the Six Nations teams.

**Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:10 pm**

Eoin Reddan is replacing Stringer at scrum-half for Ireland's game against France. I think that could be a good call. Trimble in instead of Hickie, Flannery starts instead of Best. Murphy's been dumped: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6998582.stm

And meanwhile England have called up Flood to replace Noon. Bet they wish they'd had him for the last game. I'd probably have opted for Geraghty, but Flood's in good form.

**Mon Sep 17, 2007 6:38 pm**

I'd agree with all of the Irish changes fecept for...................Duffy on the bench for Murphy. Once again Murphy has been shit on. In a game we have to win I'd want him on the bench at worst and maybe even on fom the start, be it on the wing or whereever. If I was murphy now I'd tell tehm to go and stick it.

**Mon Sep 17, 2007 6:39 pm**

I'd agree with all of the Irish changes fecept for...................Duffy on the bench for Murphy. Once again Murphy has been shit on. In a game we have to win I'd want him on the bench at worst and maybe even on fom the start, be it on the wing or whereever. If I was murphy now I'd tell tehm to go and stick it.

**Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:59 pm**

Bud Byrne wrote:I'd agree with all of the Irish changes fecept for...................Duffy on the bench for Murphy. Once again Murphy has been shit on. In a game we have to win I'd want him on the bench at worst and maybe even on fom the start, be it on the wing or whereever. If I was murphy now I'd tell tehm to go and stick it.

I thought it was an odd decision, and he's really been mucked about.

Don't know much about Redden. Stringer certainly had a stinker, but he wasn't the only one. Interesting they chose Redden over Boss.

**Tue Sep 18, 2007 7:27 am**

Shaz wrote:
Bud Byrne wrote:I'd agree with all of the Irish changes fecept for...................Duffy on the bench for Murphy. Once again Murphy has been shit on. In a game we have to win I'd want him on the bench at worst and maybe even on fom the start, be it on the wing or whereever. If I was murphy now I'd tell tehm to go and stick it.

I thought it was an odd decision, and he's really been mucked about.

Don't know much about Redden. Stringer certainly had a stinker, but he wasn't the only one. Interesting they chose Redden over Boss.

it may be down to his daft haircut

**Tue Sep 18, 2007 8:17 am**

Niall wrote:
Shaz wrote:Don't know much about Redden. Stringer certainly had a stinker, but he wasn't the only one. Interesting they chose Redden over Boss.

it may be down to his daft haircut

Boss's new haircut caused hysterics among the firehazard girls, who have been thoroughly enjoying some of the terrible hairstyles at the RWC. What was he thinking of? :lol:

Reddan's a good young scrum-half, well worth his chance. Stringer was abject in the Georgia game, and to be honest Boss didn't do that much better when he came on.

But I too can't work out why O'Sullivan seems not to trust Geordan Murphy.

**Tue Sep 18, 2007 11:30 am**

And a much-changed England team is announced: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 000464.stm

Wilkinson and Barkley are both back, Farrell on the bench and Catt out altogether. Gomarsall at scrum-half. No place for Rees (amazingly) or Dallaglio. Corry's captain again.

We've been discussing whether England or Ireland are in more disarray. Opinions are divided. :roll:

**Tue Sep 18, 2007 4:28 pm**

Niall wrote:
Shaz wrote:
Bud Byrne wrote:I'd agree with all of the Irish changes fecept for...................Duffy on the bench for Murphy. Once again Murphy has been shit on. In a game we have to win I'd want him on the bench at worst and maybe even on fom the start, be it on the wing or whereever. If I was murphy now I'd tell tehm to go and stick it.

I thought it was an odd decision, and he's really been mucked about.

Don't know much about Redden. Stringer certainly had a stinker, but he wasn't the only one. Interesting they chose Redden over Boss.

it may be down to his daft haircut

It's definitely a crime against humanity

One of the rugby magazines had a feature not so long ago about the ten most hideous hairstyles -- and they somehow missed Boss! The hairbear bunch in the Welsh pack scored highly. :lol:

**Tue Sep 18, 2007 4:30 pm**

firehazard wrote:And a much-changed England team is announced: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 000464.stm

Wilkinson and Barkley are both back, Farrell on the bench and Catt out altogether. Gomarsall at scrum-half. No place for Rees (amazingly) or Dallaglio. Corry's captain again.

We've been discussing whether England or Ireland are in more disarray. Opinions are divided.

Um, dunno! I just don't want to think about having to watch them play each other at the moment -- it would threaten to be the most deadly match imaginable. :wink:

I'd go for Dallaglio, if only to see if he could inject some aggression and passion into things.

**Wed Sep 19, 2007 7:08 am**

Shaz wrote:
firehazard wrote:And a much-changed England team is announced: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 000464.stm

Wilkinson and Barkley are both back, Farrell on the bench and Catt out altogether. Gomarsall at scrum-half. No place for Rees (amazingly) or Dallaglio. Corry's captain again.

We've been discussing whether England or Ireland are in more disarray. Opinions are divided.

Um, dunno! I just don't want to think about having to watch them play each other at the moment -- it would threaten to be the most deadly match imaginable.

I'd go for Dallaglio, if only to see if he could inject some aggression and passion into things.

the thing about it is though that englands decline has been steady over a 4 year period, irelands has been spectacular over a 4 month period

**Wed Sep 19, 2007 7:17 am**

Niall wrote:the thing about it is though that englands decline has been steady over a 4 year period, irelands has been spectacular over a 4 month period

True. The World Cup came 6 months too late for them. Rumours now of a revolt in the camp. Murphy is said to be very pissed off, and who can blame him? http://sport.guardian.co.uk/rugbyworldc ... 83,00.html

**Wed Sep 19, 2007 7:30 am**

Shaz wrote:I'd go for Dallaglio, if only to see if he could inject some aggression and passion into things.

The pack was so lacklustre in the South Africa match, I'm surprised they haven't made more changes in it. I'm not sure whether Dallaglio can really do it at international level any more, but having said that I reckon he'd be a better bet as captain than anyone else in the side.

**Wed Sep 19, 2007 8:02 am**

Shaz wrote:One of the rugby magazines had a feature not so long ago about the ten most hideous hairstyles -- and they somehow missed Boss! The hairbear bunch in the Welsh pack scored highly.

Oh for the good old days when there was nothing to worry about except Shane Byrne's mullet... :wink:

**Wed Sep 19, 2007 8:03 am**

firehazard wrote:
Shaz wrote:
Niall wrote:We've been discussing whether England or Ireland are in more disarray. Opinions are divided.

Um, dunno! I just don't want to think about having to watch them play each other at the moment -- it would threaten to be the most deadly match imaginable.

the thing about it is though that englands decline has been steady over a 4 year period, irelands has been spectacular over a 4 month period

I agree. England are stuck with an ageing team with no imagination and no likelihood of finding any fast until they start rebuilding. I get the feeling Ireland might just find their form again.

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