It’s not a case of ‘Wenger-Out’ like strikes for Ireland, but there is a strong argument for a new voice to be added the Irish set-up.
Ireland made it six losses in their last eight away matches on Friday as they went down to Wales.
There has been a general theme to Ireland’s losses under Joe Schmidt. In fact, it was a case of déja vu for Ireland in Cardiff.
I had predicted before the game, that Ireland would lose the game due to a lack of flair and creativity in attack. This became evidently clear in the later stages of the game.
This was the most disappointing thing about the match.
It appears that Ireland have learned nothing from past performances in this regard. They make more one out carries than any other team in the Six nations. This tactic can work when you are dominating the breakdown.
Otherwise, it is pretty easy to defend.
Another glaringly obvious deficiency from this match was Ireland’s lack of breakdown nous.
None of the Irish back row ever looked like winning a turnover. This is excusable if your team are operating a huge defensive line speed with width, which they did at times. Other times, there appeared to be huge overlaps for Wales.
Jamie Heaslip will undoubtedly go down as one the greatest Irish forwards of all time, but there is no doubt, that he is not as physically strong as he used to be in the tackle and carry.
Any one of Jack Conan, Dan leavy and Peter O’Mahony could give Ireland a much bigger presence at the breakdown.
The three backrowers mentioned above will be hitting their prime by the next World Cup. Likewise in the back three. There is an argument for opting for a new fullback and a more threatening winger.
While Kieth Earls was excellent, Simon Zebo and Rob Kearney were poor both positionally and at the tackle.
Not only is there a need for personnel change, but there is also a serious need for tactical change.
There is no doubt that Ireland can beat England next week playing ten man rugby, but what is that going to prove?
Unless Ireland change up their personnel and gameplan, I fear a loss at the 2019 World Cup similar to the one inflicted upon them by Argentina in the 2015 edition of the tournament.
Unfortunately, it is more likely that Ireland will revert to an even more conservative game plan next week.
Dave Kearney, Fergus McFadden and Jared Payne could all come into the team, as Joe Schmidt views skilful players as too much of “a risk.”
The manner in which Joe Schmidt dropped Craig Gilroy from the match day squad shows his utter conservatism and lack of innovation.
How dare Craig Gilroy come off the bench and show some creativity – while scoring a hat-trick!
Colm
Roar Guru
Thanks for the insight, Daire. You have made some valid points and there is definitely a balance of experience/talent that needs to be found. Interesting that he was happy to trust Joey Carbery in Chicago against New Zealand. Not sure why Tommy Bowe and Andrew Conway were included in the original six nations squad.
Daire Thornton
Guest
Schmidt never brings un-capped players in mid tournament nor towards the end. If a player hasnt been in the squad from the start then they generally wont be called up unless they are an experienced player. McFadden is an experienced player and has been in many Ireland squads so makes sense that he is called up to plug a hole rather than a young guy who has never been in an Ireland squad. If Schmidt was faced with the same injury list pre tournament Im sure it would have been someone like Adam Byrne that would have been called up. in a recent fan Q&A which I attended Schmidt was questioned by a fan on a very similar point and he said that young guys need to be involved in squads for a while before they feature in match days squads. The reason being if they are parachuted in too quickly it can all go horribly wrong and ruin a guys confidence for a long time. In making his point he made reference to a young Auckland player that he once coached who was called up to the ABs squad because he was tearing it up in domestic rugby. However, he hadn't had enough time to digest the unique pressure of featuring in an national squad and his performances bombed and his confidence took a big dent. He refused to say who it was but Isaia Toeava fits all the criteria.
Colm
Roar Guru
Schmidt has just compounded his ridiculous Bowe selection by selecting Fergus McFadden. How any rugby coach can think McFadden is a better player than any of Darren Sweetnam, Matt Healy, Jacob Stockdale, Adam Byrne or even Rory O'Loughlin is beyond me.
Bakkies
Guest
I would rather have Leavy or van der Flier in for O'Brien. O'Brien threw his team under the bus with his errors. O'Halloran has to be looked at to replace Kearney. Concerning that Ulster played Jacob Stockdale at 13 on the weekend. Ulster don't need another centre. He is a strong wing/full back. As for Tommy Bowe his pointless and now second disastrous cameo this 6 Nations has led to a potential leg fracture. Schmidt needs to take a hard look at himself for that ridiculous selection. Murray will be fine for next Saturday. Marmion showed on Friday night that he needs minutes to vary Ireland's attack.
Mike
Guest
McGrath, best, furlong, Henderson, Ryan, o'mahony, O'Brien, stander, Murrey, sexton, earls, Henshaw, Payne, Zebo, Kearney. just make these changes and throw the kitchen sink at them.
taylorman
Roar Guru
I realise it's a big call and there's a small chance things could go wrong but England have done it tough already this 6N and have responded well since the Italy debacle where despite many opinions I think they rallied well to run away in the end. Eddie in charge hasn't failed yet and this is the crowning moment for many reasons. Not only the record but backing up a GS/ 6N with another just seems to sit well with him. Plus it keeps my double GS prediction alive! ?
Colm
Roar Guru
England seem to have everybody back from injury, just in time for Ireland. I agree Taylorman, England should go into the match as strong favourites. A combined xv would look something like 1. Jack McGrath, 2. Dylan Heartley/Jamie George, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Joe Launchbury, 5. Maro Itoje, 6. Cj Stander, 7. Sean O'Brien, 8. Billy Vunipola, 9. Conor Murray, 10. Jonathan Sexton, 11. Anthony Watson/Eliot Daly, 12. Owen Farrell, 13. Jonathan Joseph, 14.Jack Nowell, 15. Mike Brown. As I said earlier, the only advantage Ireland will have is the scrum. Ireland have lost 0 of their own scrums. England have lost 3 of their own scrums. At the lineout Ireland have lost 5 while England have lost 0.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Maybe, but you probably don't have much experience in seeing Ireland welcome a team with 17 straight wins behind it, on the back of a 40 point win the previous week. The numbers just support a win big time. Could be an upset but very much doubt it and from what I can tell England didn't sustain any injuries?
FunBus
Roar Rookie
I hope you're right, Taylorman. However, I've got long experience of seeing Irish sides a good deal less capable than this one welcoming England teams to Dublin with a smile on their face and then batterering them from one end of the pitch to the next.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Well I'm writing them off. England will win easily now they've got a taste for the tryline. Ireland have disappointed and the more reference to the ABs win is made as a potential reason for winning the less convincing that is. Every time the ABs get knocked off in one of these rare one offs the winning team goes on to lose horribly, England in 2012 got hammered in the 6N weeks later by Wales in the decider. Even at World Cup time the only side to win after the many AB losses is oz way back in 91, France the main offender in that respect. Forget the NZ win. Ireland have been poor since as well. England will win this going away. Overall they do ok in Ireland with a slightly better record anyway and with a poorer side have won two of the last three there. Might be easy for me to say from afar but I think I have more clarity of the situation not being a supporter of either side, where comments here are reflecting a naturally nervous or apprehensive stance, as you'd expect. Jones will want them in superconfident mode after a lacklustre start and to take the GS, 6N, and record out in style. Looks obvious from here to me. ?
chris
Guest
Ireland beat NZ. Of course they can beat England too. There's not an Englishman alive who is anything but nervous about the game in Dublin.
Colm
Roar Guru
Agree, Sam. Ringrose was doing it a lot for Leinster this season. Henshaw clearly has the ability, but as you say his lines lack variety and are very regimented. Having a big, fast man like Stockdale or Byrne in the backline could really add variety and threat in dummy lines alone.
Colm
Roar Guru
England are looking world class, Chris. I can't see any area where we can attack ye. Maybe scrum, but I'm sure England will work on their scrummaging.
Colm
Roar Guru
It was Meyer, Bakkies.
Colm
Roar Guru
Some valid points, FunBus. Maybe I am being a bit harsh, but Ireland have said the exact same thing about 6 of their last 8 away matches-in which they lost.
Colm
Roar Guru
system="a set of principles or procedures according to which something is done; an organized scheme or method." Hardly a system. I can only remember Peter McCabe, Quinn Roux and Angus Lloyd in the last four years. Maybe I'm missing some.
Bakkies
Guest
I remember watching an interview with Hugh Bladen and he said that Brüssouw had had bad leg injuries. Was it Meyer or Frans Ludeke that wanted to turn CJ Stander in to a hooker?
Bakkies
Guest
There is a loan system in place that's how Quin Roux went to Connacht in the first place
chris
Guest
Agree entirely. Margins are very narrow in sport - England could have lost to France and Wales and had they done so it wouldn't have altered the fundamentals there either. Ireland are good, England will have to be at their best to win.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
I think you're being a bit harsh on Ireland, Colm. They were caught a bit cold in the first game, but still probably should have won, and if Henshaw hadn't had a brain explosion when Ireland were mauling the ball over the try-line, I think they would have won against Wales. We could easily have both going for a Grand Slam next week. As an England fan, there are few games I fear more than an underdog Ireland in Dublin, licking their wounds and eying a visiting England team. Throw in St Patrick's weekend as well and it's going to be a stormer. Not least because Ireland have some great players. Schmidt will sort it out.