Final assignment: Iere

[Spook]

Well despite the fact that the Boks, who usually kick all their points left 12 behnd, Ireland deserved that. It's interesting, the Boks kicking game doesn't work against Kearney and co. I also think PdVs coaching is being shown up. In any event, well done to Ireland although I think the Irish backs won that game. The forced the turnovers and kept the pressure on. The Irish forwards are declining slightly IMO.

 

[Lee Grant]

Ireland 15 Boks 10

Congrats Ireland for being undefeated in 2009.

It was a well deserved win; though the Boks seemed to have the upper hand at half time especially with the Ireland scrum looking crap.

But after oranges the Boks started kicking the ball away and waiting for opponents mistakes and then a funny thing happened. The strategy which worked against the Lions and in 3N didn't work. Ireland fielded most of the kicks cleanly and then counter attacked when they could.

Perhaps the Boks hadn't heard about fullback Rob Kearney being able to take the high ball in his sleep, but I wasn't surprised that he defused so many bombs.

It was only when the Boks thought they might lose the game that they started to play rugby and they went close to scoring the try to draw or a converted try to win.

But they didn't score and it served them right. I bet I wasn't the only one to applaud (a) the negative tactics of the Boks not working for a change and (b) that positive rugby overcame the Boks paint by numbers game.

I wish we could have done that this year to the Boks 3 times instead of just once.

 

[Lee Grant]

Spook

Yeah I forgot to mention the goal kicking. The Boks negative rugby depends partly on kicking the ball away to opponents in their territory to make mistakes so that the Boks can play scoring tries rugby in the right real estate - then if they can't score a try they can usually rely on a penalty or droppie.

When the kicks don't work the Boks are in unchartered waters and then they don't look like World Champions, Lion tamers nor 3N winners. Can't say that I cried too hard when Steyn missed kick after kick.

Can't agree about the Ireland forwards being crap. Not too many international teams would have a better backrow than Wallace, Heaslip and Ferris, and the 2nd row has the not too shabby POC and DOC. It's the scrummaging of the props that is the problem. The LHP is a bit of a beginner though handy around the park and THP Bull Hayes hasn't been a good scrummager for years.

 

[PaarlBok]

Oh well , congrats to Thomo and his Iere, they sure deserve their victory. Kearney sure was great but interesting Spook & Lee qouting our negative tactics but forgot to mention we scored the only try. :nta: Fact is the Wallabies havent got the same grunt and hunger the Irish forwards showed today in the other plays.

I'd say the Irish played much better as a unit and we were a bit one man , one man in our discussion making. Sure there was more then enough oppertunities missed but we throw it away in the second half ahen Morne start losing the plot completely.

Meisiekind wasnt to bad , Jean is just that bit more experiensed and streetwise, BJ was great and hope he'll find him a S14 franchise really quick. Lineouts was strange, Smit missing his jumpers and Bismarck not better.

Anyway it was a great game to watch and altho disappointed with the loss , it made up watching it.

Now lets get to rest now and despite the disappointing tour still a great season by the Bokke.

 

[Thomond78]

:yay

:thumb

 

[Blue]

Spook

Yeah I forgot to mention the goal kicking. The Boks negative rugby depends partly on kicking the ball away to opponents in their territory to make mistakes so that the Boks can play scoring tries rugby in the right real estate - then if they can't score a try they can usually rely on a penalty or droppie.

When the kicks don't work the Boks are in unchartered waters and then they don't look like World Champions, Lion tamers nor 3N winners. Can't say that I cried too hard when Steyn missed kick after kick.

Can't agree about the Ireland forwards being crap. Not too many international teams would have a better backrow than Wallace, Heaslip and Ferris, and the 2nd row has the not too shabby POC and DOC. It's the scrummaging of the props that is the problem. The LHP is a bit of a beginner though handy around the park and THP Bull Hayes hasn't been a good scrummager for years.

Yep Lee you point out correctly that our tactics stop working whne we miss the goalkicks.

We had every chance to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Morne had a disaster, and not only at goal.

Our backrow was unbalanced compared to the Irish. How we miss Juan Smith and Pierre Spies. The lineout was surprisingly bad.

Missed Bakkies as well.

 

[Spook]

Can't agree about the Ireland forwards being crap.

I didn't say they were crap nor do I think it - they are still very good. However, their carrying in the backrow isn't as strong as it has been. Their mauling isn't as good. Their work on the floor isn't great - they have problems against real groudhog opensides. ...and clearly the scrum is not as good as it has been. Would Thomo agree with these points?

 

[Spook]

Fact is the Wallabies havent got the same grunt and hunger the Irish forwards showed today in the other plays.

Fact is our forwards were better than the Boks against Ireland except in the lineout. We also beat you in our last meeting.

 

[Thomond78]

Can't agree about the Ireland forwards being crap.

I didn't say they were crap nor do I think it - they are still very good. However, their carrying in the backrow isn't as strong as it has been. Their mauling isn't as good. Their work on the floor isn't great - they have problems against real groudhog opensides. ...and clearly the scrum is not as good as it has been. Would Thomo agree with these points?

Spook, that is to trolling what, "So, d'ya wanna farkin' root, or what...?" is to the art of seduction. Put some effort in, FFS; dinner and a movie, at the minimum... :

 

[Spook]

Can't agree about the Ireland forwards being crap.

I didn't say they were crap nor do I think it - they are still very good. However, their carrying in the backrow isn't as strong as it has been. Their mauling isn't as good. Their work on the floor isn't great - they have problems against real groudhog opensides. ...and clearly the scrum is not as good as it has been. Would Thomo agree with these points?

Spook, that is to trolling what, "So, d'ya wanna farkin' root, or what...?" is to the art of seduction. Put some effort in, FFS; dinner and a movie, at the minimum... :

Actually I was being sincere. :nta:

 

[cyclopath]

I'm with Spook - seemed like some fair points. Strange that Thomo doesn't have an answer? Or doesn't want to?

 

[Spook]

I'm with Spook - seemed like some fair points. Strange that Thomo doesn't have an answer? Or doesn't want to?

Well I think Munster haven't been as dominant up front this season. They practically form the Irish tight 5. Leinster hammered them a month ago up front. I probably shouldn't have mentioned this on the thread as Ireland haven't been beaten this year and I don't wish to spoil the party.

 

[Scarfman]

Well - those points may well be true. But Ireland + Ireland A both undefeated in 2009 means you can wave them away with your non-drinking hand.

Well done Iere!

 

[Thomond78]

I'm with Spook - seemed like some fair points. Strange that Thomo doesn't have an answer? Or doesn't want to?

Thomo is currently waiting at Newbridge for a connection to Cork that now appears to be cancelled. Frankly, it ain't my major concern at the moment...

 

[PaarlBok]

Fact is the Wallabies havent got the same grunt and hunger the Irish forwards showed today in the other plays.

Fact is our forwards were better than the Boks against Ireland except in the lineout. We also beat you in our last meeting.

So well done Wallabies, Spook and Deans, you were the only one to beat the Boks in the 3 Nations, :yay Unfortanetly, your only win and the Bokke only loss. But thanks to that loss we went and beat the All Blacks at home to make a clean sweep against them while you went on and lose 3 nul against them. Great season for the Wallabies then. Get a grip Boet , this stupid gameplan Snor played all season brought the Brutes success in the S14 also while your fancy gameplan cant even produce ONE semi team.

Maybe Munster and Ireland should join the SH competition. :lmao:

 

[Blue]

Fact is the Wallabies havent got the same grunt and hunger the Irish forwards showed today in the other plays.

Fact is our forwards were better than the Boks against Ireland except in the lineout. We also beat you in our last meeting.

True.

Out enthused. Morne's erratic goal kiocking kept the door open and the Oirish dragged their arse through.

We play a game that requires us to keep momentum and forces the other team to take risks which increases our chances of the counter on errors.

We didn't get the kicks, didn't get the points, and that completely changes the complexion of the game.

We should have been 16-6 up at half time and 9 times out of ten we would have been but young Morne couldn't kick in those conditions. I must say he was very flaky on this tour.

Better team on the night won.

6N is wide open though. Poms will get better, frogs can play, Welsh can beat any of the others.

 

[cyclopath]

Fact is the Wallabies havent got the same grunt and hunger the Irish forwards showed today in the other plays.

Fact is our forwards were better than the Boks against Ireland except in the lineout. We also beat you in our last meeting.

So well done Wallabies, Spook and Deans, you were the only one to beat the Boks in the 3 Nations, :yay Unfortanetly, your only win and the Bokke only loss. But thanks to that loss we went and beat the All Blacks at home to make a clean sweep against them while you went on and lose 3 nul against them. Great season for the Wallabies then. Get a grip Boet , this stupid gameplan Snor played all season brought the Brutes success in the S14 also while your fancy gameplan cant even produce ONE semi team.

Maybe Munster and Ireland should join the SH competition. :lmao:

I don't think muddling the provincial and national coaches and game plans is really a coherent argument for anything ,PB. Pretty sure Snor didn't coach any SA S14 teams, and if anything NSW played an even more boring version of 10 man rugby, so the "fancy" argument really holds no water, though they did sweep 3 games in the republic by out-boring you!
If you are happy with how the Bokke forward play is going currently then I am very happy, as they are off the pace. That does not detract from the great season they have had, but is a valid critique of how they have played in recent Tests, I think.

 

[PaarlBok]

Well Boet myself support the Stormers who plays the wide game since I had nappies.

Nothing wrong with the gameplan the Bokke played up north, its suits that kind of weather and Morne just had a bad day in the office add the opponents passion and hunger to win this one. To claim their backline did all the work , actaullt thought their lineout played a huge role in this one.

Maybe giving the Iere the credit they deserved?

Read to often its either the refs mistakes or much more our own team losing it rather then the oppisition winning it.

 

[Blue]

Can't agree about the Ireland forwards being crap.

I didn't say they were crap nor do I think it - they are still very good. However, their carrying in the backrow isn't as strong as it has been. Their mauling isn't as good. Their work on the floor isn't great - they have problems against real groudhog opensides. ...and clearly the scrum is not as good as it has been. Would Thomo agree with these points?

Spook, that is to trolling what, "So, d'ya wanna farkin' root, or what...?" is to the art of seduction. Put some effort in, FFS; dinner and a movie, at the minimum... :

I agree with Spook. Hardly trolling. Home turf, freezing conditions, middle of your season. 15-10 with no tries against with three of our best forwards not starting.

Surely you expected more? Your supposed strengths were hardly dominant.

Our youngsters were out of their depth with conditions yet they coped for all but the goal kicking.

Like O'Driscoll duly noted, the true measure is for you to travel South.

Balmy afternoon at Loftus, same teams? Puts things into precpective for me.

On top of it you have an Afrikaner to thanks for competing in the lineouts.

Please note I do believe you deserved the win, before you launch into one of your tirades and start typing Afrikaans that I can't understand :fishing

 

[Thomond78]

Balmy afternoon at Loftus, my pink bits. It's fucking freezing up there, the ground is basically cement, and there's no fucking oxygen. Hell, I grant you it was cold, but allowing for wind-chill, it was no worse than the Emerging Boks game in Newlands, without the white squalls and howling gale coming through. Not my fault Morne Steyn appeared to be surprised that not everywhere in the world is the same as Bloubulldorp, or that it's a bit damp and miserable at the end of November in Ireland.

And our strengths are our lineout, our kicking and our breakdown work. They seemed to go alright to me...