Italy V Ireland (Rome 6Nations 2015)

[JB1973]

20 points plus win away from home?

got to be happy with that, wore Italy down with the kicking/driving maul game and then killed them off when they were down to 14.

Very solid stuff, not much in the way of outstanding flair but did the basics very well, looks like the 6 nations/grand slam decider will be Irelans vs England in dublin

[jezzer]

I have to agree with Dave C that it looked like painting by numbers out there, but we were given a banana instead of a paintbrush in case we injured ourselves. The gameplan was simplified to the point of patronising, imo. Either that or the players were so afraid of incurring the wrath of Joe they decided not to try anything at all. Either way, on the face of that game (which to be fair is only one match), the tacticometer has swung too far over to the other side. A sniff of paralysis by analysis about it.

If there hadn't been the yellow (which in fairness we won via our maul), they'd still be out there trying to score a try.

I said before the game that all we needed to do was be patient, not take risks and trust our better abilities. You could argue that's exactly what we did and we avoided a nasty 1st round slip-up. But in reality - and I agree with Georgie Hook here - you wouldn't have believed it was the world's third ranked side playing the world's fourteenth or whatever, injuries or no injuries.

The midfield partnership looked a bit chaotic. Each guy had a decent couple of individual moments in attack/defence, but to say they didn't click as a unit is understatement. With Sexto back, it'll be interesting to see if there's any midfield reshuffle. I think he'll probably have to give it more time, but it looked as dysfunctional as France's backline at times, despite being full of talented guys.

Kudos to TOD, POM, Ross, Toner, Zebo and Kearney. Good individual performances. Best, Murphy, Murray, Payne, Bowe - not so much.

[TerenureJim]

But in reality - and I agree with Georgie Hook here - you wouldn't have believed it was the world's third ranked side playing the world's fourteenth or whatever, injuries or no injuries.

Except you can chuck those bloody stats out the window. 3rd Vs 14th it's nonsense this is six nations and we're away from home.

Grand we're 3rd in the world when it suits Hook's argument about going out to put Italy away but when we're playing the big guns from the SH or England/France you see Hook laugh those stats off.

IMHO some people have a hang up about giving Italy their fair due in the competition. They've beaten everyone bar England and are a seriously tough nut at home even SH sides struggle to break them down. I recall on Saturday on RTE McGuirk even stated that people were warming to the new 6 nations destination, this despite them being in the comp 15 years!!!

[offshorerules]

We're 4th in the rankings after the weekend BTW.

[outcast eddie]

We're 4th in the rankings after the weekend BTW.

Schmidt out!

[Edna Kenny]

Also our 3rd biggest winning margin away from home against Italy in 6 nations. 2007 (24-51) and 2009 (9-38) were better. Lots to work on but as we have seen before, the longer they spend in camp together the better they get. Making a team tackle you 200 times is eventually going to wear them down. In fairness to Italy they made almost all of their tackles. In years gone by we would have pressed the panic button trying to force things and ended up conceding a try and getting sucked into a tense closing quarter. Even last year we were only 17-7 up after 50 minutes at home. Patience paid off.

[offshorerules]

Any truly neutral observers comments have been positive I have to say. Probably says a lot.

[johng]

The Brits are warming up their Chariots and are on full throttle for "Grand Slam Glory". We are sliding in under the radar. Perfect I would say. Slip unconvincingly past the French while England hockey poor Italy would put the icing on it.

Then wind up the underdog and let him loose on those chariots.

But first, to beat the French!

[cormac]

The Brits are warming up their Chariots and are on full throttle for "Grand Slam Glory". We are sliding in under the radar. Perfect I would say. Slip unconvincingly past the French while England hockey poor Italy would put the icing on it.

Then wind up the underdog and let him loose on those chariots.

But first, to beat the French!

The "Brits"? Seriously?

[johng]

Is that not a PC term any more?

[offshorerules]

Just not fair on the Welsh and the Scots.

[Peg Leg]

Just not fair on the Welsh and the Scots.

Or 25% of our own team!!!!

[johng]

Fair enough. I didn't put much thought into it tbh. Pretend I said "The English"

[TerenureJim]

Just not fair on the Welsh and the Scots.

Or 25% of our own team!!!!

18.75% (I think, double checking the maths) of our own team unless Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan suddenly got signed over........

[offshorerules]

Better not forget the Manx either I suppose.

[Peg Leg]

Just not fair on the Welsh and the Scots.

Or 25% of our own team!!!!

18.75% (I think, double checking the maths) of our own team unless Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan suddenly got signed over........

4 rugby provinces, rugby is not confined by political geography.

[johng]

Or 25% of our own team!!!!

18.75% (I think, double checking the maths) of our own team unless Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan suddenly got signed over........

4 rugby provinces, rugby is not confined by political geography.

None of it is in Britain either. Although 2/3s of it is in the UK.....

And of that 2/3s some consider themselves "British" and some don't.

Sorry you started this now?

[Logorrhea]

[Hornet]

Better not forget the Manx either I suppose.

Like the CI, the IOM is not technically part of the UK. (Self governing and not members of the EU).

[domhnallj]

Better not forget the Manx either I suppose.

Like the CI, the IOM is not technically part of the UK. (Self governing and not members of the EU).

Think they are called protectorates. They have their own parliaments etc.