Team picked to get us to the quarters then.

IRELAND team to play Italy in RWC Pool C at Otago Stadium on Sunday, 2 October at 8.30am (Irish time):

15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Conor Murray, 1 Cian Healy, 2 Rory Best, 3 Mike Ross, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 5 Paul O'Connell, 6 Stephen Ferris, 7 Sean O'Brien, 8 Jamie Heaslip

Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Tom Court, 18 Donnacha Ryan, 19 Denis Leamy, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 Jonathan Sexton, 22 Andrew Trimble

I have to say i'm suprised that Reddan is out and Murray is in. Otherwise very pleased. After ROG's performance against Russia and the way Sexton has been missing kicks he had to come in. It could be a tight game on Sunday so place kicking will be important. And O'Gara's kicking out of hand and game management will be all important......Come on Ireland!!!! Destiny awaits!!!!!

tribeinbrum (Galway) - Posts: 4155 - 30/09/2011 09:19:56    1044283

O gara is starting, i am delighted, sexton get busy holding them tackle bags as thats going to be the sum of your contribution from here on in

liathroidboy (Mayo) - Posts: 4921 - 30/09/2011 10:30:21    1044327

Would have to agree with you there tribeinbrum, I'm a little surprised Kidney picked Murray over Reddan aswell but its probably just because himself and O'Gara play together at Munster. Getting nervous now, the Italians are a big physical team and even if we do win (which we really should) it could be at a heavy cost, if we lose the likes of O'Driscoll or O'Connell we're done, no two ways about it, we're done. The one thing which could be a blessing in disguise for us though is that we have to get a result, lose and its game over ball burst, so surely that will spur the lads on. For my money we should have 4 or 5 points to spare at the end, C'MON IRELAND!!!

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 30/09/2011 10:55:00    1044345

30/09/2011 10:30:21
liathroidboy
County: Mayo
Posts: 4725

1044327 O gara is starting, i am delighted, sexton get busy holding them tackle bags as thats going to be the sum of your contribution from here on in

Sexton is still very important and should start against the likes of New Zealand, South Africa(if we play them) as he offers so much more of a threat with the ball in hand than Ronan. His place kicking has let him down but he should start if we play any of those. Have you noticed that our best wins in recent times-england in croke, australia a couple of weeks ago both had sexton at 10
For example with sexton starting on opposition ball at lineouts etc a backrow forward doesnt have to go into the 10 channel to help protect the 10 channel defence like they do with ROG(though ROGs defence has been better than normal it still isnt great)
We are lucky to have 2 top class outhalfs unlike many countries, leave the sexton bashing out, its not needed

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 30/09/2011 11:18:51    1044366

the goysh have got this in the bag. Mario and his pals should stick to feeding northsoiders with pizza, fish and chips and ice cream

CheFinny (UK) - Posts: 1358 - 30/09/2011 11:25:20    1044372

Sexton and ROG are different types of fly half, and we are truly blessed that we have that strength in depth in that position. I agree with you Ormond that Kidney is rotating both of them depending on who we face next. Sexton's kicking though has let him down a bit, but apart from the South African lad Steyn and ROG everyone is struggling with the boot, even the great Dan Carter.......

tribeinbrum (Galway) - Posts: 4155 - 30/09/2011 11:34:45    1044379

Nice one PP!

jonny1951 (Mayo) - Posts: 1431 - 30/09/2011 11:56:56    1044391

Ormond i would have to disagree that Sexton is a bigger threat than Rog. He is stronger defensively in my eyes and has more pace, Rog is stronger in every other aspect, just my opinion.

jonny1951 (Mayo) - Posts: 1431 - 30/09/2011 11:57:43    1044392

Htaem
County: Meath
Posts: 3001

1044345
The one thing which could be a blessing in disguise for us though is that we have to get a result, lose and its game over ball burst, so surely that will spur the lads on.

as opposed to what ?... if we were were playing for a draw.
actually a draw is enough for us to win the group so if we are 3 points down near the end and we get a penalty I hope they have the sence to take the 3 points and not go for the try.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5522 - 30/09/2011 12:01:21    1044398

this nonsense about a threat with ball in hand with sexton is laughable, when, where and how does he do this, is this hid complete stupidity of running ball out of his 22, or the telegraphed loop around move he is so famous for that has never once came off for ireland. this defensive talk to is complete rubbish, o gara get through twice as much defensive work as sexton in a game. i mean people defendinmg sexton are using his size as some sort of rationale- if it has come down to which person is bigger well then folks ye really shouldnt be talking any more about rugby. personally i think Ian Keatly is playing better rugby than sexton at the minute. but anyways justice has being done and the right man is starting, we cant have a situation like in the 6N where sexton spent the majority of the match doing everything possible to lose the game for us until king ronan saved us yet again. regardless of anythijng else- sexton is at best an average kicker, o gara is world class- need we say anymore- just look at the kicking stats and you will learn all you need to know about who is top dog and who is just messing about, thank god there is a perception out there that sexton is a yound fella when actually he is far from it - because the day isnt far away when he will turn 30 and will still be using the 'im only learning' excuse!

liathroidboy (Mayo) - Posts: 4921 - 30/09/2011 12:18:31    1044421

I said we need to get a result goldrick and we do, whether thats a win or a draw so whats your point?

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 30/09/2011 12:48:08    1044446

my point is. what would the alternative scenario be ?.. we need to lose ? or it's ok to lose.. well if it was Ok to lose then no problem I am sure we could manage that.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5522 - 30/09/2011 13:10:40    1044469

30/09/2011 12:18:31
liathroidboy
County: Mayo
Posts: 4737

1044421 this nonsense about a threat with ball in hand with sexton is laughable, when, where and how does he do this, is this hid complete stupidity of running ball out of his 22, or the telegraphed loop around move he is so famous for that has never once came off for ireland. this defensive talk to is complete rubbish, o gara get through twice as much defensive work as sexton in a game. i mean people defendinmg sexton are using his size as some sort of rationale- if it has come down to which person is bigger well then folks ye really shouldnt be talking any more about rugby. personally i think Ian Keatly is playing better rugby than sexton at the minute. but anyways justice has being done and the right man is starting, we cant have a situation like in the 6N where sexton spent the majority of the match doing everything possible to lose the game for us until king ronan saved us yet again. regardless of anythijng else- sexton is at best an average kicker, o gara is world class- need we say anymore- just look at the kicking stats and you will learn all you need to know about who is top dog and who is just messing about, thank god there is a perception out there that sexton is a yound fella when actually he is far from it - because the day isnt far away when he will turn 30 and will still be using the 'im only learning' excuse!

You call it nonsense, sexton has a much better running game, ROG is very lightweight and gets blown out of the tackle area.
Keatley is a very good player but you cant compare him to sexton. Keatley could in a year or twos time compete with sexton for the irish 10 jersey but he hasnt even played a game of heineken cup yet.
You are so biased against sexton it ruins any discussion on who should be wearing the 10 jersey.
We are very lucky to have 2 top top players competing for the 10 jersey unlike many of the top countrys at this world cup

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 30/09/2011 14:33:32    1044534

Italian scrum coach Carlo Orlandi:

"A good lineout, because the Irish lineout is good, but for us the most important is to have a good defence, because they have good players to do something to score a try. For us it is very difficult to score tries. Ireland maybe don't score a try for the first 70 minutes, but (Brian) O'Driscoll arrive and change angle or one pass and score. Maybe we don't have the player like that. We have maybe only Sergio Parisse. Ireland have (Jonathan) Sexton, O'Driscoll or (Séan) O'Brien, who can do this."

I'd say he knows a bit more about rugby than you ballboy.

While I have been championing Sexton for a long time, I do think O'Gara is the right selection for this particular game given the form he showed against Russia and considering it might come down to penalties or playing territory.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12452 - 30/09/2011 14:42:57    1044543

Yeah sure, we need to lose, theres a good lad.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 30/09/2011 14:44:53    1044546

Hope to god there's not another show of ginger beards and leprechaun hats in the crowd, how embarrassing!

sean og (Armagh) - Posts: 1073 - 30/09/2011 15:54:05    1044612

Right then.

Lets hope that Sunday is another huge day for irish rugby and we get safely through to a quarter final at a god awful time next Saturday!

Come on the Boys In Green, do us proud lads!!!! Come on Ireland!!!!!

tribeinbrum (Galway) - Posts: 4155 - 30/09/2011 16:45:19    1044652

Murray for Reddan is a bit of a surprise but apart from that this is the team I'd pick for Italy. Trimble once again can count himself unfortunate but Earls has done well so far and deserves his place. I still think (and hope) that Sexton is our number 1 fly-half and will be back in for the quarters if we make them, ROG makes sense for this game. Anyone seeing a surprise tomorrow with Scotland - England? Can't see the Scots winning by more than 7 but the Argieswill nick top spot if England lose

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 30/09/2011 17:39:47    1044690

Ronan, Ronan, Ronan, all the way. Guys the lad is proven class and his decision making is second to none, he will not let the team down.

This is not even a debate Sexton's day is not this World Cup, watch and learn from the master because he has much to learn!!!

Mancirish (UK) - Posts: 2200 - 30/09/2011 17:44:14    1044695

30/09/2011 17:44:14
Mancirish
County: UK
Posts: 969

1044695 Ronan, Ronan, Ronan, all the way. Guys the lad is proven class and his decision making is second to none, he will not let the team down.

This is not even a debate Sexton's day is not this World Cup, watch and learn from the master because he has much to learn!!!

Sexton does have to learn on some aspects of the game but there has to be a debate as ROG is nowhere near a complete 10. If jonnys place kicking was good, there would be no doubt in who should be picked.
Maybe management should look at ROG and Sexton at 10-12 again

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 30/09/2011 21:53:34    1044819