So no more games until the start of the comp i expect this board will be quiet between now and then so thought i would ask people opinion on their respective country's mental state.
For my part i think Wales and England will be in a good mental place. Saturdays game was not exactly inspiring stuff from England but they shifted a monkey from their back in beating us and will feel they can travel and win.
Wales and i know some don't agree but i see them progressing nicely, they have lots to work on but look set to peak at the right time. what more can one ask of them?
For us I think DK sounds more like he's trying to convince himself as much as us that things will come good in the quote below:
“We needed the games, to me that was very apparent, and we have had the games and we haven’t got the results we wanted but we will be the better for having it. I have put together teams in the past and I can see us coming together now; there is obviously work to be done but I know we needed the games and I am glad we played the games."
Look fellas, from my point of view i can say before the warm ups we were quietly confident, myself included.
However my mind is over riding my heart 2 to 1 at this stage. With 4 defeats behind us and in all games, pretty lackluster performances its totally unreasonable for us to expect any glory in the competition now. We are carrying lots of niggles and injuries now, we have lost a few key players, and our captain is running on fumes by the looks of him. Let try to make the most of it and keep the hope alive but in reality we look done at this stage. I just feel for the lads who have shelled out a load of cash to go to NZ and i really am sorry for the lads who were in France 4 years ago and now are going to NZ... thats got to be a bitter thought.
Declan Kidney's thoughts. And yours?
posted on 29/8/11
I struggle to be optimistic for Ireland.
If there's any heart to be gained, there's the performance back in March against England, which showed you have the quality in your second and back row to terrorise one of the strongest packs going. And when you've got your first choice backs out they are lethal finishers.
My major concern now is whether you can string enough of those performances together with the personnel you have. If BOD is injured, you need someone spectacular to step into the midfield cos the lack of quality seems to spread like a rot across the rest of the backline when he's absent. I really rated Wallace and think he's always been a big part of your muscular back row's performance. You need your half backs to start clicking.
No offence Ding, but if Wales meet Ireland in the quarters, I'm alot more confident after this weekend than previously.
As far as DK goes, it's really hard to put your finger on it. Maybe it's linked to the rise of Leinster and the (relative) fall of Munster, but he's gone from a shooting star to a flop who cant inspire a lap dancer with a £50 note.
posted on 29/8/11
Well i think the personnel are there, at-least there is enough quality to give a good account of themselves. but for me as i said in another post, DK is making strange calls when it comes replacing injured players. I mean Fergus McFadden replaces BOD regularly and successfully at leinster. But Trimble and Bowe are certainly equal to the task. But DK keeps choosing paddy wallace and Keith earls. Its bloody stupid is what it is. Earls is a good player. but no in the centre.
TO be fair i would have been confident meeting wales but right now im not the least bit confident. not even the slightest bit. Fact is IF and i mean IF we get out of the group we going home in the next match. And i find that rather pathetic considering we are, and nobody can deny a good team most of the time, yet we look even more pathetic then 07 right now.
posted on 30/8/11
I think you have summed Eng up well Ding - of course for all my complaints before - MJ or the RFU can now say it was a good idea (thy game) - as we said - High Stakes
It didnt look like Argentina were that great so with luck England can carry on gelling together and improving through the group stages ready for a French QF having never lost to them - the signs are good - but signs win nothing.
Ive given my thoughts on Wales before - I think they are over confident and need to beware the threat of Samoa - I wouldnt bet on them getting out of the group - but I hope they do
Im not sure about Ireland - as you say - they have the players but ..... maybe this year is the one for stamping the WC pedigree - morale has got to be low though - if they can dish out a good thrashing to the yanks I would expect them to come good
Scotlands big chance will be playing against England - its always on but they are not a great team - reliant on passion
France are French
Im looking forward to seeing what the Italians can produce this time around after that amazing result v France
Obviously my view is a touch one eyed - but mentaly I would rather be in Englands camp right now
posted on 2/9/11
The only thing is we are Ireland we are the kings of being underdogs in every sport and always cause a stir of some disciption im confidentish that they are going to find somthing remember England last world cup got to the final after being a laughing stock before that.