The Irish are comfortably dealing with Tonga. They are looking good. A very well-drilled team with a game plan that everyone understands.
The ball carrier always has supporting runners off either shoulder
The Irish are comfortably dealing with Tonga. They are looking good. A very well-drilled team with a game plan that everyone understands.
The ball carrier always has supporting runners off either shoulder
Ireland almost always look good in the pool stages of a RWC . . . and then they choke in the quarterfinal.
They're up there with the Proteas as big tournamernt chokers.
Maybe... but this is easily the best Irish team that has ever been assembled.
Ireland has only had a good rugby team in the last 10-12 years, before that they were average.
They seemed to peak before the last 2 world cups, but this is their chance to rewrite the record books.
It is interesting that the Irish are sticking with a first-choice team- even in games they could win easily.
I would have rather started more first-choice players in tomorrow's test to refine the combinations (e.g. have Esterhuizen outside Libock)
Looking good for us so far, got through the opening two matches without serious injuries.
Think that's 20 wins from 22 matches with the only losses being away to France and New Zealand.
Ireland almost always look good in the pool stages of a RWC . . . and then they choke in the quarterfinal.
Well then we should still be able to play well against the Boks because its still a pool game 
Maybe... but this is easily the best Irish team that has ever been assembled.
Ireland has only had a good rugby team in the last 10-12 years, before that they were average.
I think since the start of the professional era we get our shit together and had a pretty good team but lacked depth. In the 00's when it came to the 6 Nations generally one of either France or England where better than us with Wales form being a roller coaster of really good/lucky and god awful. But generally we have been more consistent. France are the only team in the 6 Nations that have a better win loss ratio against us.
I think we really moved up a gear with Joe Schimdt who I reckon was clearly the best coach in the world at the time, he made Ireland such a well organised team and I think Andy Farrell as his number two picked up on that. Under Schmidt we lacked a bit of depth and in the end I think he lost the players due to his personality. Farrell came in and built on what Schimdt did adding a better offense and giving a bit more freedom to the players.
I wonder if the rumors are true that RassNabber is going to be coaching Ireland.
Apparently Farrell Senior wants to coach England.
Ireland almost always look good in the pool stages of a RWC . . . and then they choke in the quarterfinal.
Ireland have traditionally limped into the QFs. Ireland have had the edge over the Boks since 2004 and over Australia a short time thereafter. Things to consider. This Ireland team is not looking jaded like the Irish team of 2019. The Boks will need to raise their game.
I read the same story shark….according to interview with Mattfield he will 95% follow Nienhaber to Ireland after WC….maybe just rumours or mind games.
IRELAND has a formidable pack and 1 of the Teams that can front us in that department…..there back line play is also very good and Sexton is playing very well at the moment….very good performance from him against Tonga. We will have to be at our best to beat them.
Ireland have had the edge over the Boks since 2004 bwhaaahaaaaaa
Doos you are a fucking card
What utter horseshit
If the Boks play how they played against the All Blacks, they should win.
However, the performance against Scotland was not good enough to beat the Irish.
Boks were poor in the 2nd quarter against Scotland, and Ireland would have put points on the Boks.
The first quarter against Scotland was good, but the Middfield did not get the ball to the wing with space.
Ireland have had the edge over the Boks since 2004 bwhaaahaaaaaa
Doos you are a fucking card
What utter horseshit
Since 2004 Ireland has played SA 13 times. Ireland have won 7, South Africa 6.
Dave it appears you have to apologize,
My guess is that most of the games have been played in Ireland. Most teams struggle against the Boks in SA, especially on the highveld
Ja ouDawie, step up, apologise to AluCard .......... 7-6 sounds edgy to me.
Ireland look amazing. They have for the last few years.
Easily the most watchable team recently. Last night again, they're so accurate. We might(maybe) have better backs man for man, but they're easily better than us as a unit. Far more elegant. The forwards scream efficiency too. They have to have the most economical pack in the world atm?
As I said before all of this started, I'd wouldn't be angry if they take The Cup home.
They're a good example and a win for them might see more teams trying to emulate their style. Which I wouldn't be angry about.
Of the Bok wins in that span, the last 4 were by less than 7 points. That includes tests in SA. So, they are traditionally quite close. It was the first two tests in spring 2004 where the Boks last won by big margins, though the Irish did score a reasonable amount of points themselves.
This is another example of the Saddex make it all up approach. Perceptions and feelings. His knowledge of basic Bok trivia is consistently very poor. He assures us he is a die hard fan though.
Ireland has won only one 1 test match in South Africa ever (sadly that was the last test match I watched at Newlands...and Stander got a red and we still lost)
...but, if they played us here more, those stats would look a tad different.
Home ground advantage and probably some reffing issues as well. How many tests do Ireland ever win here in South Africa. Have they ever beaten us at home? Just asking.
Under these circumstances Dave is absolutely right to debunk Ireland having an edge over us.
Beeno keeping it real.
Saw Ireland playing Tonga. Always a bit tricky trying to assess a side playing weaker opposition.
That said it looked to me that Ireland were a well oiled machine.
Theircl attack was very good and forwards energetic. They have a Island looking center. Bondiaki or something who is very useful.
The only possible weakness might be in the scrum. Tonga drilled them a number of times.
Sad about the loss of Marx and hoping Eben will be fit in time.
As long as we get out of the pools it does not matter who we play in the quarters. Both France and NZ will provide stiff opposition.
If we play well we can win against Ireland.
Rassie has a plan looking ahead.
Yes they have. They had one fortuitous game from the ref in November 2004, but from then on, we've had the bulk of the key calls. The current Boks are the All Blacks of 2004 to 2010 as far as reffing is concerned. So there can be no complaints about biased reffing.
My guess is that most of the games have been played in Ireland. Most teams struggle against the Boks in SA, especially on the highveld
Yeah most of them have, 6 of Irelands wins where in Ireland, only one win was in SA. 2 of the Boks wins where in Ireland.
Ireland has won only one 1 test match in South Africa ever (sadly that was the last test match I watched at Newlands...and Stander got a red and we still lost)
Would you mind attending the match next weekend please
...but, if they played us here more, those stats would look a tad different.
Yeah and more lob sided if all the game where in Ireland. I'm not saying Ireland where the better team overall throughout that period they clearly weren't after all you won two world cups in that period but there was the odd year where Ireland where clearly better. But overall its been quite close between the two teams for quite a while.
How many tests do Ireland ever win here in South Africa. Have they ever beaten us at home? Just asking.
None, but there has been only 4 tours and only two of them in the professional era.
As long as we get out of the pools it does not matter who we play in the quarters. Both France and NZ will provide stiff opposition.
Hmm. I think its clear France are a stronger team than NZ at the moment.
Time will tell who is the stronger side between France and NZ.
France can look ordinary.
This RWC is wide open. Provided we have fair refs and no more injuries to Frontline players the Boks are in with a shout.
Yes had we played more tests in South Africa against Ireland we would be ahead in those stats.
Conclusion: Dave was 100 percent correct! Deus etc are 100 percent up the poll once again. Bwahahahahahaha
Stav, Ireland won in SA in 2016. Not that far away. We haven't won in Ireland since 2012. I am growing tired of having to correct the blowhards (not talking about you Stav) on very basic Bok facts. Saddex, Mrs Searle, Guppy, Beanbag... they get the very basic things wrong often, and the rest they are like handicapped people stumbling around in the dark. It's ridiculous. If they were not so riddled with narcissism, they'd be enveloped with great shame!
This RWC is wide open. Provided we have fair refs and no more injuries to Frontline players the Boks are in with a shout.
France are clearly the stronger team. Though, New Zealand in the RC, when they actually showed up, dominated the Boks for a full 80 minutes. The Boks didn't dominate anyone physically in a series where they finished dead last for defence and set pieces. As per reffing? If reffing was 100% "fair" the Boks would have lost all three Lions tests in 2021, both All Black tests, one Puma test, both Wallaby tests, the Welsh test, and have lost several more tests last year. They'd have also scored no more than 3 points against the All Blacks in the RC. The Boks of the past 8 years have been the least penalised team in world rugby. Throw 8 straight skew linouts? No problem, player 16 has your back. What's that? Kolbe wipes a player out in the air who nearly breaks his neck? No worries, player 16 is there for you. Kolisi commits three spear tackles and wipes a player out with a swinging arm? Don't worry, player 16. Thor headbutts an Aussie? No worries, player 16. What's that? A game winning try against the Wallabies was from a pass that was so far forward it passed the back of the edge defender, because Fluff can't pass further than the length of his midget arms? Player 16 bruh. What's that? You need a stream of mysterious maul penalties to get a maul try, your bread-and-butter? Sure thing, player 16. What's that? Your oak has a knockon in the air under the wonky high ball? No problem, player 16. Oh dear, Malherbe is flopping like a guppy at scrum time? Player 16 won't let you down Bru!
Are you saying the Irish played more tests in South Africa than we played in Ireland you hopeless blowhard. Hahahahaha. Deus crashes yet again. These narcissists never learn.
We've lost the last 3 tests in Ireland Beanbag. They've lost the last two in SA. Who has the edge? I should have a statue erected for me for all the community work I do for the mentally disadvantaged here.
Time will tell who is the stronger side between France and NZ.
France can look ordinary.
Personally I think its clearcut. New Zealand are not operating at the level they did for so long. The aura of the invincible All Black's is gone. Their just another team now. France beat them in groups with evening playing particularly well.
This RWC is wide open. Provided we have fair refs and no more injuries to Frontline players the Boks are in with a shout.
Oh shut up about the refs. Nothing worse than endless ref moaning. Boks are absolutely in with a shout, of course they are.
Yes had we played more tests in South Africa against Ireland we would be ahead in those stats.
Sure, the Bok's might be. But then we could have just said had more of those tests been played in SA we would be ahead
Stav, Ireland won in SA in 2016. Not that far away.
I was referring to winning a test series.
18,430 posts
Ireland are expected to extend their winning run to 15 matches against the Pacific Islanders
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I never realized that Ireland was on such a good run. The world record is 18 games for top-tier test rugby, held by the All Blacks.
South Africa reached 17 consecutive wins, I believe. (Lost to England in 1998 ).
If Ireland wins the World Cup (6 more games) - they will also break New Zealand's record for most consecutive wins. (Assuming they win against the Boks).
To win a World Cup and be first in the IRB test rankings AND having the longest win record ever would be some achievement.
Ireland have to start as favorites against the Boks.
If the Boks play anything like against the All Blacks we can win. Playing the same way against Scotland will not be good enough for this strong Irish team.