Not too worried, to be honest. Ireland not taking 6 easy points was strange, but I think the Boks bench will turn the match. Ireland have been brilliant, but I don’t think they’re gonna last the 80.
Not so much the front row, it’s the back five that are coming on (four to be precise) that I think will turn the match. That said, Ireland have been tough as fucking nails!
Ireland were superb. I thought we’d strangle them in the second half, but they simply wouldn’t budge. A better kicker? Maybe. But we didn’t pick one, so moot point. Ireland were excellent and will be be bloody hard to beat.
Phew. Great game. What intensity!
I thought SA would win this. But without a proper kicker and some questionable decisions going against them, plus a wonderful defensive effort from Ireland, they couldn’t do it. In spite of all the talk about “new” SA, playing with abandon and trusting their backs, how many times did Kolbe and Arendt get the ball?
If these two teams meet again in the final, which I believe will happen, I’m not sure the result will be the same. Bravo les Irlandais anyway!
“If these two teams meet again in the final, which I believe will happen, I’m not sure the result will be the same. ”
Depending on Dupont, I think these teams will meet again in the final.
However, I don’t think the result will change – the only way you beat Leinster is the La Rochelle way – huge dominance up front, that goes for Ireland too and South Africa didn’t manage it tonight despite their biggest forwards available being fielded, bar perhaps Vermeulen and he’s 86 years old.
The Boks will almost certainly bring Pollard in for his kicking now. I just hope that they also bring in Esterhuizen, who is so much more accomplished than De Allende. If we don’t win the whole thing, I’d be happy to see Ireland or France take it.
Ticht, I think both France and NZ can beat both SA and Ireland.
SA and Ireland play a rather structured game so they tend to annihilate their respective strenghts when facing one another when France and the ABs are the kings of broken play and counterattack. Get parity with the forwards and everything’s possible.
I also believe that France will develop a siege mentality now that Dupont is out (IMO for the whole WC). They’ll fear neither Ireland nor SA.
WRT the ABs, they may be weaker than usual, they’re still a formidable outfit. They’ve had SA’s number before and that wasn’t so long ago. Same with Ireland.
Flair, I’ve enjoyed the way Ireland and SA are playing, New Zealand and France bring something different to that structure, but no one way is better than the other, it’s all about playing to your strengths imo.
I don’t think there is much to fear for those top four from the other side of the draw , NZ have been off their ridiculous best, can they regain some of that?
France looked very strong the other night, even taking the opposition into account.
I wouldn’t place a large bet on any one team right now
Phew, intense is the word. I thought South Africa were very cynical early on, pushing their luck. Faf should have been sinbinned for an intentional knock on, men outside or not. He knew exactly what he was doing too.
If Ireland struggle against their pack, who is going to be able to live with it ?
That puts Dunbar second in the East Region League Division 2 (men’s), with a points difference of 148 after four games. Dalkeith are in third on the same number of match points, 15, but have a points difference of 147.
Penicuik still head up the table overall, having won four from four.
This may become a regular feature when I move back to Dunbar in time for next season
Ticht, I’ll be in this area of Scotland next week for a few days. Golfing in Gullane vs the British press society. I was going to email you for a pint or two, thinking you were already back home. Next time, I guess.
And of course I agree that no way is better than the other, I just meant you can’t beat SA nor Ireland at their own game, hence the need to play a diferent style when facing them.
Both NZ and France need to bring chaos and broken play in order to have a – small- chance to beat SA or Ireland.
Super defensive performance. Sorted out the lineout in the end by throwing to O’Mahony (mainly) . What was noticeable was how quickly O’Mahony gets up – part of the early issues seemed to be with Ryan being slow into the air – whether that’s down to the lifters or the timing of the throw or the player himself.
Frustrating though to blow good field position in first few mins through lineout problems.
We looked better when Henderson came on for Ryan.
Hell of a game though – got the rub of the green with SA’s kicking but that was their choice. Libbok is an inconsistent kicker – missed an easy enough one in URC final ( did I mention Munster won?) , but nailed a difficult one previous year in semi vs Ulster.
Overall, hard to criticise anyone (having pointed a finger at Ryan). Gibson Park did some good stuff but overall wasn’t terrific. Nobody was faultless on either team….but it was a terrific game.
the only way you beat Leinster is the La Rochelle way – huge dominance up front
Addition of O’Mahony and Beirne (probably Henderson) tends to help here….. probably why McCarthy has been advanced – though Kleyn would have provided the same qualities and more experience.
SA have switched from a kicking game (not to say they don’t kick at all) to more possession based. Ireland did well to absorb it.
Seemed to have survived without any major injuries and Sheehan returned.
I recall 2015 beat France in the pool game and lost O’Mahony, O’Connell, and Sexton to injury and O’Brien to suspension – classic pyrrhic victory
I was really impressed by Ireland’s ‘group self-belief’. Truly one-for-all etc and it dug them out of a few holes. My opinion of Lowe and Hansen also went up several notches, along with Sheehan. Ryan put in a lot of work in the loose but his place may be under review. Both he and the (unimpeachable) Byrne do a lot of obvious bind breaking in the mauls – which can be costly.
Trisk, the line out was your one major flaw, and should have cost you the game, it was a herculean effort to win in that situation. Needs sorting. Ringrose doesn’t look in real good form either, perhaps other options ? Not sure how anyone is going to break down either defence easily, they are suffocatingly good. Pollard is surely going to be playing now.
So, likely quarters will be Ireland vs New Zealand, England vs tbc, France vs SA and tbc vs Argentina. Hopefully we will get some surprises, and the tbc may also be decided this afternoon. Hopefully Fiji and Wales. Can Italy turn over NZ ? Probably not without a card or two for the ABs.
Slade, I intensely dislike Lowe…. but just for his bun and his silly moustache. The rest is impeccable. Not just a big boots, excellent positioning, strong defensively and not bad either in attack. Without his great shift yesterday, Ireland might well have lost.
I concur about the bun and the moustache. Thats probably why he was narrowly beaten by Aki for MoM. otherwise, he was everywhere, breakdowns and ball stripping constantly. That and his chip and chase that went over the dead ball line.
:quality(70):focal(1986x276:1996x286)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YU2GURKC7IARJDNYEIMO2RCEOI.jpg)
Ovally Balls 
And … breathe!
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We’ve got no chance against this Ireland side.
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BB, the ref will spot Porter’s bind and ping them off the park, we’ll be fine
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Not too worried, to be honest. Ireland not taking 6 easy points was strange, but I think the Boks bench will turn the match. Ireland have been brilliant, but I don’t think they’re gonna last the 80.
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Elluva game!
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Having some nice refreshments, Deebee?
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Not so much the front row, it’s the back five that are coming on (four to be precise) that I think will turn the match. That said, Ireland have been tough as fucking nails!
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I am Thauma! And will have a few more!
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Harsh penalty there I felt.
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Deebs, I have a South African Sauv Blanc on the go here
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That’s one way to prevent the ball carrier getting a knee on the floor – lifting them fully in the air.
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Fuck fuck fuck shit!
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Ireland monster the Saffer scrum!
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Malherbhe (sp?) is not a great scrummager
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Hire offside were Ireland just then???
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*how
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Maybe not that time.
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Not liking the replacements that have just been made for Ireland.
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SA have left 8 points out there
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… so far
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SA have missed a reliable kicker
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That was a great kick by Beirne.
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Horrible game to watch if you’re a Saffa, I should think. So much of the game they’ve been on top but haven’t taken the points. Damn shame.
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That is that, and well done Ireland, but the refereeing of the scrum has been absolutely terrible all night
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OH MY GOD YEEEESSSS!
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Oof horrible decision at the end by the ref. Felt like the game deserved another try.
Ireland really are the best team in the world right now. If they don’t win the whole thing it will be a travesty.
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That is a shocker of a decision at the end, the ball was there
Whatever, Ireland didn’t select the ref, well done them.
The crowd have been terrific
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……..bruising………
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Dab, I thought SA looked very good against us but Ireland were at another level tonight.
So far only France, with Dupont, are capable of matching them, I think.
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Scotland loosened it for Ireland
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Ireland were superb. I thought we’d strangle them in the second half, but they simply wouldn’t budge. A better kicker? Maybe. But we didn’t pick one, so moot point. Ireland were excellent and will be be bloody hard to beat.
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Phew. Great game. What intensity!
I thought SA would win this. But without a proper kicker and some questionable decisions going against them, plus a wonderful defensive effort from Ireland, they couldn’t do it. In spite of all the talk about “new” SA, playing with abandon and trusting their backs, how many times did Kolbe and Arendt get the ball?
If these two teams meet again in the final, which I believe will happen, I’m not sure the result will be the same. Bravo les Irlandais anyway!
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“If these two teams meet again in the final, which I believe will happen, I’m not sure the result will be the same. ”
Depending on Dupont, I think these teams will meet again in the final.
However, I don’t think the result will change – the only way you beat Leinster is the La Rochelle way – huge dominance up front, that goes for Ireland too and South Africa didn’t manage it tonight despite their biggest forwards available being fielded, bar perhaps Vermeulen and he’s 86 years old.
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The Boks will almost certainly bring Pollard in for his kicking now. I just hope that they also bring in Esterhuizen, who is so much more accomplished than De Allende. If we don’t win the whole thing, I’d be happy to see Ireland or France take it.
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Scotland, surely Deebee, I know how much you’ve supported us over the years
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Ticht, I think both France and NZ can beat both SA and Ireland.
SA and Ireland play a rather structured game so they tend to annihilate their respective strenghts when facing one another when France and the ABs are the kings of broken play and counterattack. Get parity with the forwards and everything’s possible.
I also believe that France will develop a siege mentality now that Dupont is out (IMO for the whole WC). They’ll fear neither Ireland nor SA.
WRT the ABs, they may be weaker than usual, they’re still a formidable outfit. They’ve had SA’s number before and that wasn’t so long ago. Same with Ireland.
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Flair, I’ve enjoyed the way Ireland and SA are playing, New Zealand and France bring something different to that structure, but no one way is better than the other, it’s all about playing to your strengths imo.
I don’t think there is much to fear for those top four from the other side of the draw , NZ have been off their ridiculous best, can they regain some of that?
France looked very strong the other night, even taking the opposition into account.
I wouldn’t place a large bet on any one team right now
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Phew, intense is the word. I thought South Africa were very cynical early on, pushing their luck. Faf should have been sinbinned for an intentional knock on, men outside or not. He knew exactly what he was doing too.
If Ireland struggle against their pack, who is going to be able to live with it ?
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Real Rugby update
Dunbar beat Duns 97 – 7 yesterday
That puts Dunbar second in the East Region League Division 2 (men’s), with a points difference of 148 after four games. Dalkeith are in third on the same number of match points, 15, but have a points difference of 147.
Penicuik still head up the table overall, having won four from four.
This may become a regular feature when I move back to Dunbar in time for next season
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Ticht, I’ll be in this area of Scotland next week for a few days. Golfing in Gullane vs the British press society. I was going to email you for a pint or two, thinking you were already back home. Next time, I guess.
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And of course I agree that no way is better than the other, I just meant you can’t beat SA nor Ireland at their own game, hence the need to play a diferent style when facing them.
Both NZ and France need to bring chaos and broken play in order to have a – small- chance to beat SA or Ireland.
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Well, managed to draw breath again.
Super defensive performance. Sorted out the lineout in the end by throwing to O’Mahony (mainly) . What was noticeable was how quickly O’Mahony gets up – part of the early issues seemed to be with Ryan being slow into the air – whether that’s down to the lifters or the timing of the throw or the player himself.
Frustrating though to blow good field position in first few mins through lineout problems.
We looked better when Henderson came on for Ryan.
Hell of a game though – got the rub of the green with SA’s kicking but that was their choice. Libbok is an inconsistent kicker – missed an easy enough one in URC final ( did I mention Munster won?) , but nailed a difficult one previous year in semi vs Ulster.
Overall, hard to criticise anyone (having pointed a finger at Ryan). Gibson Park did some good stuff but overall wasn’t terrific. Nobody was faultless on either team….but it was a terrific game.
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the only way you beat Leinster is the La Rochelle way – huge dominance up front
Addition of O’Mahony and Beirne (probably Henderson) tends to help here….. probably why McCarthy has been advanced – though Kleyn would have provided the same qualities and more experience.
SA have switched from a kicking game (not to say they don’t kick at all) to more possession based. Ireland did well to absorb it.
Seemed to have survived without any major injuries and Sheehan returned.
I recall 2015 beat France in the pool game and lost O’Mahony, O’Connell, and Sexton to injury and O’Brien to suspension – classic pyrrhic victory
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I was really impressed by Ireland’s ‘group self-belief’. Truly one-for-all etc and it dug them out of a few holes. My opinion of Lowe and Hansen also went up several notches, along with Sheehan. Ryan put in a lot of work in the loose but his place may be under review. Both he and the (unimpeachable) Byrne do a lot of obvious bind breaking in the mauls – which can be costly.
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Trisk, the line out was your one major flaw, and should have cost you the game, it was a herculean effort to win in that situation. Needs sorting. Ringrose doesn’t look in real good form either, perhaps other options ? Not sure how anyone is going to break down either defence easily, they are suffocatingly good. Pollard is surely going to be playing now.
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So, likely quarters will be Ireland vs New Zealand, England vs tbc, France vs SA and tbc vs Argentina. Hopefully we will get some surprises, and the tbc may also be decided this afternoon. Hopefully Fiji and Wales. Can Italy turn over NZ ? Probably not without a card or two for the ABs.
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Hope it’s England vs Fiji!
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Slade, I intensely dislike Lowe…. but just for his bun and his silly moustache. The rest is impeccable. Not just a big boots, excellent positioning, strong defensively and not bad either in attack. Without his great shift yesterday, Ireland might well have lost.
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I concur about the bun and the moustache. Thats probably why he was narrowly beaten by Aki for MoM. otherwise, he was everywhere, breakdowns and ball stripping constantly. That and his chip and chase that went over the dead ball line.
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Slade, have to agree about Mack Hansen too. Both of them are right chippy little balls of fire.
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