Every name in that back line scares the wotsit out of me. The forwards don’t look any more relaxing either!

I don’t quite know what to make of the Wales selection…

I can’t help feeling Charteris and Tipuric are forced changed despite Gatland claiming he had the full squad to chose from. If that were true then I’d expect to see Lydiate at least on the bench (EDIT: agree with you there a_a).

Putting Williams on the wing is quite astute I think. His tackling and lines will be of more use there. Plus, I think the idea with Anscombe is probably if you are going to put an inexperienced young player in then best hide them at 15 as if Aus get that far it is probably try time anyway (and just set the expectation to do the basics well- key for any 15 though I guess).

James and Lee are necessary I guess to settle the scrum despite being fresh from injury.

North is the interesting one and I guess the slight weakness in defense is still preferred to Morgan’s inexperience… and he’ll no doubt give Giteau’s ribs a test or two

Especially tough on Henderson- invariably Ireland’s best player. He’s only had one game so far this WC, is that right? Certainly he hasn’t started all of them so I kind of assumed he was being rested for big games like France 😕

It has been reported Joe thinks his impact off the bench in the last 30 mins will be more fruitful as gaps begin to appear. I suppose we will see. I’m feeling quite confident this morning. Although this could be footy euphoria and too much beer last night, hic 😀

Ireland won’t beat France – Italy exposed the lack of creativity. They managed only 16 points from that much territory and possession against Italy. Too few line-breaks. Too few turnovers. Heaslip can be fantastic but he seems to be back into his “I have space, but, no, I must find an opposition forward to run into” mode. The only thing they’ve done very well is the line-out but even that hasn’t been tested. Murray’s kicking too much too (not blaming him for that, I assume he’s being told to).

Glad Payne’s fit, but It’s going to be a 23 man game so Henderson and McGrath will still play a big part. They’ve proved themselves international class players.
It’ll be tight, but it’s good to be going into it ahead of them with 2 draws in the last 4 games. WC France are ten times the team in the six nations but might not need to beat them, dd. 😉
IMO, Ireland have looked a carrier short in the pack whenever Toner and Mcgrath have been in the same side.
At least one of Healy or Henderson is always needed, really. But Toner’s almost unique in the way he makes the lineout and maul tick, and that could be crucial ‘cos they won’t dominate the French scrum. So with Healy back as a carrier, they can afford to have Toner’s strengths start too and use Henderson later on, maybe even for POC or POM if it’s needed.
Not bothered about Earls missing really, he’s done brilliant ,against smaller teams, but the players picked are big game and defend better. He’s improved his defence no end, but his technique still makes him liable to knock himself out in big tackles. horses for course here

Feel more for Zebo (better game all round imo) ‘cos he’s spent his last few games proving he could do a job at full back whereas if he’d had a chance on the LW, he might just have nailed a starting spot

I’d argue that even the 6N wouldn’t count as “meaningful games” for France these days. They really don’t seem to give a ****. Even more so in WC year.
NotHeinekan cup wins is a better measure of the state of French rugby outside of World Cups. And that’s not even as meaningful to them as their own league tables.
They all care far more about club rugby than these “friendlies” they play every spring.

They peak nationally every 4 years without fail for the WC where they come together for a decent period of time and really go for it. otherwise, they don’t really do meaningful internationals much these days, maybe depending on who’s touring in the autumn.
It makes any arguments about form and consistency as a national side pretty pointless really.
The old “what France side will turn up?” line is bollox now. They always turn up for World cups, and don’t bother their arses outside of them.
Personnel wise, front row (all 6 of them), back row, centres, and wide they’d challenge to be in any world team. And the rest – they’d still probably want to keep what they’ve got over most other offerings.
Ask a French if any English player would make their squad and they might consider Steffon and maybe Manu from 2 years ago, Any more?

So “coaching nous”? – Whoever wins will have got their tictacs right – Joe’s good, but PSA knows his onions too.
Both know that the six nations results meant nothing for this game.

OH, and lack of creativity…
“absence of evidence is not evidence of absence”

If the rugby world cup site is right Earls is in at 13 for Ireland and Payne isn’t even on the bench. Must be injury to Payne

Nice one aa!

Friday night, let’s turn the rugby on……………..

NZ v Tonga. Oh, yawn. These schedules are really crap.

No idea, I don’t follow football. Who’s on?

#CFH, thing is, I agree with the commentators – it wasn’t dangerous. No intent, nobody hurt, just a collision.

Lacey is such a cowardly ref. That last passage of play should have been a penlty try to Tonga and arguably another AB in the bin but he couldn’t do it. 👿

Nor was the Fijian tackle on May, though. Precedent set.

I’d wager my left testicle he’d have given a penalty try and another yellow if it had been at the other end of the pitch, though.

It must be so depressing when playing against the ABs and they start making replacements – they’re normally taking off arguably the best player in the world in his position and replacing him with the reason it’s arguable…

aka New Zealand Flat.

😉

IMO, ball should go backwards. Nothing to do with the hands, it’s always been the movement of the ball.

Yeah, seen the video etc but I thought it had been changed to ‘ball actually has to go backwards..’ Or flat!

Flashy, valuable as your opinion is, the IRB disagree…

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgMlDy2jP9s[/video]

There’s a more modern one somewhere.

Here’s the newer one.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=box08lq9ylg[/video]