I know its a soccer board, but please pardon me if I momentarily turn my attention to the other football code, rugby.
Being of a rather superstitious disposition, I have deliberately not mentioned until now the task facing the All Ireland rugby team in NZ earlier this morning.
However, now that the boys have crushed the cynical Italians 50-6 (No I havent got the score wrong, Im just allowing for scandulous non awarding of two perfectly good Irish tries near the posts and so easily convertable = 2 x 7 = 14 extra pts) I would like to congratulate the team on a brilliant display which we as Irishmen of one type or another can all be rightfully proud of! These sort of supporting achievements help all of us in various ways.
Now the World Cup quarter finals is assured for our band of heros(Republicans, Unionists and Others) and the semis and even the final itself is a possibility! WELL PLAYED IRELAND!
DATE with DESTINY in DUNEDIN
posted on 3/10/11
Indeed.....just when a country needed a boost along comes these boys in green to show the world that Irish ability and support are stuff of legends....
Get passed Wales, beat the limeys and you never know....
Sean O'Brien is the player of the tournament.... really hope Rory Best gets fit by Saturday....
posted on 3/10/11
HOSED:
Yes, O'Brien has been outstanding. I think our back row is the best in the WC!
Best seems to have a collar bone joint separation, so doesnt look good for the QF or even beyond, Im afraid. Real bad luck for us! It couldnt have happened in a worse position. With Best injured and Flannery gone we simply havent got any World class cover at hooker!
As someone said, everybody has to deal with injuries during a tournament like this, but hooker is the last position we would have wanted the axe to fall on!
Wales are presently enjoying a rich vein of form. Without being unsporting, lets hope it peters out before Saturday!
The win over Italy was hugely satisfying. They were crowing on about their scrum. They set out to do a job on our front five. In particular, they deliberately targetted young Healy. When fair means didnt work they quickly switched to foul hoping to provoke him into some rash act. He was punched at least three times full in the face, elbowed to the face and there appeared to be an attempted gouging. It was a great credit to Cian that he largely kept his cool in this situation as well as playing superbly in the tight and loose. He must have run the outstanding O'Brien very, very close for MOM.
Anyway, it was nice to see our boys just grinding the cynical Italian pack down in the second half in such a systematic professional way. I was really pleased they never got to cross our line. I think that is what will have hurt them most!
Heres to smiles next Saturday all through the 32 counties!
posted on 3/10/11
Wales will be hard to beat to be honest but I wouldn't be surprised to see an Ireland final!!!!
Come on Ireland!!!!
posted on 3/10/11
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