Some thoughts about Ireland's win (or England's defeat)

the first and most important, England's bubble burst,... there was too much hype about the team and the coach but both were bitterly exposed yesterday,... many media and fans were painting them as the bests in the world when their game was very far from it,... they have had one good game in the entire 6N and they should thanx the Scottish center duo Dumbar-Huw Jones and their non-existant defense for it,... they struggled even against Italy

now, they are disputing the second place with Ireland, a lot more appropiate according to their game,... and even though England will keep its second place in the rankings I would say that Ireland surpassed them as the best candidate to challenge the AB,... $chmidt clearly beat Jones yesterday, he's one of the best tactical coaches in the world,... and if he were a liitle bit more corageous when it's time to sideline out of form incumbents and introduce new players, probably ireland would be better placed in the rankings

It happeed with Heaslip and SOB,... both have been clearly  out of form for the entire tournament but only a very late injury to Heaslip gave O'Mahony the option to start and show what he has showed during the whole season, that he, alongside CJ Stander, are by far the inform Irish loosies,... truly deserved MoM, he was inmense and I doubt very much that without him the Irish would have performed as they did

same applies to the outside back, wher Kearney, Earls and Zebo have been the incumbents,... Kearney is way past his best and wasn't even starting at Leinster while Zebo and Earls never have been test material,.... but $chmidt sticked with them (and Conway who is also quite average) instead of giving an opportunity to the inform Adan Byrne, Tim O'Halloran or Cian Kelleher to prove if they are up to test level or not,... here also,  only an injury to Kearney sidelined him and his substitute, the kiwi Payne had a "hot &cold", some good things alongside blatant blunders (he was coming from a lengthy injury)

if $chmidt dares to reshuffle the backrow and the outside back, Ireland would be IMO the clear nº2 and WC challenger


And, finally the filthy English tactic targetting S€xton,... I don't think it was a premeditated tactic, even less something ordered or said by Jones, but it happened,... and it's really discusting to see it at this level on a rugby field,... something that should be erradicated whitout any leniency,...  Haskell and Itoje were clearly late and then Itoje again and Woods were bordering,... itoje should have been yellow carded in his second attemp

You have a short memory.... After Ireland shattered their illusion of invincibility in Chicago two weeks ago, the All Blacks’ aura was further diminished in Dublin where, in spite of victory, unknown frailties were exposed and an unbecoming brutishness was unleashed. In reaffirming their world No?1 status, New Zealand lost their equally cherished place atop rugby’s moral high ground. Citings were inevitable and the only surprise was that it was just Malakai Fekitoa and Sam Cane, with the latter leaving Robbie Henshaw out cold, who will face disciplinary hearings either on Monday or Tuesday. In total three Irish players – Henshaw, CJ Stander and Rob Kearney – were taken off for head injury assessments. Only Simon Zebo’s near decapitation by Malakai Fekitoa resulted in an All Black going to the sin-bin, when he could well have seen red. That the centre would go on to score the match-clinching try 14 minutes from time rubbed salt in the wounds.

 Ah, it was the refs fault, Beeno & Moz can form a duet I am sure Mozart can compose a suitable song
On the "brutishness", some were bleating about modern AB teams not being as tough as the AB & Boks of old - now debunked; some were saying AB couldn't win another RWC or win two in a row, or win away from home.... debunked. Next please! Oh in case wee cc bleats about arrogance, we are humble to a fault

PS I agree with the quality of the Irish team and coach. They are a team that can beat anyone.

 Nope the ABs were always going to win that test against Ireland....but for the humourless Basque to call England dirty after the ABs full scale physical assult is the height of hypocrisy. Is that clear enough?

 are you, perhaps, a little bit hurt for the continous thumping on discussions about climate change?
take it easy, man,... take it easy

and, please don't lie,... I did never "call England dirty",... I said their tactics targetting $exton were filthy but nothing about "England",...
and, mainly, what the hell have to do these tactics (or denouncing these tactics) with the AB-Ireland game last november? are you going gaga?

So you didn't call them dirty, but their tactics were filthy. But 'their' was not England....hahaha....who else are you teferring to again plank. Same kind of dishonest rebuttal one sees so often from all you Climate is not changing deniers.

 England have made one of the filthiest players in rugby ,a foul creature who should never be allowed back on a footy field ,their captain.Calling the ABs 'dirty " doesnt absolve the poms .What was the penalty count did Ireland get another 3-12 penalty count in their favour again ?

Ireland were penalized 10 times to 9 for England. . Nz was penalized 14 times to 4 for Ireland, plus two yellow cards described as follows: . Yellow card - Malakai Fekitoa , New Zealand 48' Another high tackle from an All Blacks player and this time its a yellow card. Fekitoa the culprit. That's been coming. Ireland on the attack with a lineout on the New Zealand 5 metre line. . 18' Yellow card - Aaron Smith , New Zealand

 Moz over the 3 games NZ and SA played Ireland it was 9 penalties to 37 .Bit dodgy that ,and amazing how Barretts head was fair game .

Well WD there were hard feelings on the Irish side as well...this from the ESPN match report: . A furious Ireland side felt Barrett's match-winning try came courtesy of a forward pass, leaving captain Rory Best stalking referee Jaco Peyper for a television match official (TMO) review that never came. . When both sides are up in arms it often means the ref was poor, rather than biased. And Peyper has never impressed me.

The more I watch rugby the more i realise the folly of predictions and previews.

It's a tough and strong and lovely game with weak predictions because despite the obvious strengths and skills of players there is more to it than meets the eye.

How you win depends on many factors that exper ts take lightly...

1) The Venue...this has always puzzled me...I cannot understand the psychological reasons for this...the field, the texture, the climate and most appropriate the crowd support...are these big tough boofs stirred by this...is their mindset weak to overcome this...logic tells me that it shouldn't be factor but history proves it definitely is.

2) Ireland was not going to be beaten by anybody, especially the English in Dublin and on St Patricks day...the SPIRIT WAS TOO STRONG.

3)The law of averages...even brilliant sides have there off days...no side can win forever.

4) Complacency and over confidence...the demise of many a great side, especially the NZ'ers.

5) The surprise factor...does not happen often but unusual and peculiar strategy can sometimes surprise.

6) Coaches...a sh  it  coach...with this despite the talent is a no win situation...this did not apply here...Eddie is imo the best in the world...England fought well but the Irish lifted their game beyond even Jone's anticipations because of above mentioned factors.

 Yeah Moz but the Irish were lucky he didnt get carded ,and it could well have been a penalty try in any case .Even in the game vs SA the Irish got away with some dodgy doins' !

 
In the end when the pressure is on players turn to underhanded tactics.

Even the so called golden boys of rugby ... the AB.

It's like the Great Dane ... the king of dogs ... you will see him sniffing a turd in the park ... and he'll do it enthusiastically.

 cc, I'm not sure how much pressure is on a Great Dane who is well cared for, I think he just likes sniffing turds in the park. 
Only a few rugby players are mean/dirty and with the refs these days they don't get away with as much. ABs decided to assert their aggressive side and show they are not all flash & skills and it has a few sensitive types upset... so be it.

 The english make believe rugby project is deeply rooted in reffing.
England, led by his salesman, correctly took notice there was a big demand for a team contending to NZ.
The world of rugby is in a desesperate need for a contender (including NZ that keeps promoting the SA decaying rugby as their historical rival)

England jumped on the wagon and was favoured by reffing. Their 6Ns games were tainted by favoured calls, their run could have been stopped from the very first game.

Pinacle happened during Italy game when the english squad turned to their patron, the good and reliable ref, to get a solution to their problems on the field.

The rest is already history. EN will lay down a challenge to NZ. The hype will get going. EN will tell they've learned from their mistakes, are now stronger etc (excellent men know the drills)
Depending on NZ's business mood, one game will be dropped to build EN credentials.

The one game is all what is needed.

Of course, except dramatic changes, EN rugby will remain what it is: loser rugby.
Excellent men, though, desire to believe, they are urged to believe. So the dream will be kept on.

 All I can say is it made me a Very Happy Bunny- for sure!

 Congrats MO(NH) Ireland has a fantastic team & they have knocked off the number 1 & number 2 teams so I imagine the green beer was flowing.

 Green beer? Those Irish scoundrels drink the dark stuff! Bitter as Hell! Guinness...yuck.

 Love Guinness and may I add it tasted so good after the game!!

Furlong is now my number one tighthead and Henshaw isn't far off my number one 12, he gets through a lot of work. It's a great team Mo, I was kinda hoping we'd see them back in Chicago this November.