AS THE REST of us woke this morning, Ireland were already over in France.
They flew straight to Biarritz on Sunday in a bid to simulate some of the travelling they’ll have to do during the World Cup. Their French training base is in the city of Tours, but they’ll move to the match host cities on Thursdays and then return to Tours on Sundays.
As Andy Farrell explained, Ireland are also looking forward to an 8.45pm local kick-off time as they see how the late World Cup kick-off times will affect their build-up.
Ireland will come home for a few days after their clash with Samoa, with the final 33-man squad announced next Monday, but this almost feels like the start of the tournament given they won’t play at home again.
As such, it was pleasing to continue their winning streak in Dublin last Saturday as victory over England made it 16 in a row. But Farrell wasn’t completely happy with their performance. He had some tough words for his players at half time.
“I thought that if we really believed that we wanted to push ourselves like we said we were going to do that we could capitalise on that,” said Farrell.
“And I didn’t think we had that cutting edge in the first half, that grit we needed to be able to do that. I thought we should have been better off on the scoreboard.
“But I certainly suppose… what goes with that is it was the first game and people trying to find a way even though we’ve talked about them not finding their way into the first game.
“You’ve have got to be at your best. I felt we just weren’t at the type of edge that we wanted to be. We found it a bit more in the second half.”
The lineout was one area of concern, although Farrell is sure it will improve.
“I thought it was a good day for us, for our learning, England have a fantastic line-out defence, there is no getting away from that, so all credit to them.
“A few options that Paul [O'Connell] won’t be best pleased with execution-wise but the best thing about today really was how we kept our nerve when things weren’t going too well and found our way back into that.
“Some of the calling from James [Ryan] in particular and our execution in the second half was much better.
But the most worrying thing to come from Saturday was the foot injury for Dan Sheehan.
Farrell sounded a little downbeat about the hooker as he faced into a scan. The Ireland boss seems confident that Rónan Kelleher will recover from a hamstring injury before the World Cup but Sheehan has made himself first-choice at hooker.
Farrell said he doesn’t yet know if he will tell his players who has made the final World Cup before or after the Samoa game, which takes place in Bayonne’s Stade Jean-Dauger.
The Ireland boss pointed out that his current thinking could be changed by events this week.
“Well obviously we have stuff going on in the back of our mind,” said Farrell.
“I don’t know what’s going to go on in Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday or Friday with the captain’s run over there in Bayonne. All sorts could happen so keeping people connected is important, but we’ve obviously got a good idea of how that’s going to unfold.”
Ireland are likely to field a strong side again this weekend, having been close to full strength against the English.
“Getting the right balance because obviously after this week there’s two weeks then before the start of the World Cup so it just getting the right balance of who could do with the extra week or two as far as pre-season is concerned,” said Farrell.
“Who could do with some more game time, what’s the likelihood the team going forward against Romania and how that looks and trying to balance all that out.”
It will be interesting to see whether Farrell goes with Ross Byrne again at out-half or brings Jack Crowley back in given that Johnny Sexton still has one more game in his suspension.
“He did well, he did well,” said Farrell of Byrne’s performance.
“He’s very clear. He’s very good at running the week and very clear of what he wants from the players around him so therefore there’s good clarity. There’s people who can fit in around that, that can play their game around that. So, his control is very good.”
What if the corner backs are cynically wasting time passing between themselves – will they be getting black cards too? And if Spillane counts too many hand passes on the Sunday game will there be more sanctions?
Maybe the offending player should hop on their bad leg for 2 minutes or something? That would liven it up!!
Or maybe the GAA should let teams do what they do best and commit everything they have to winning and stop pandering to certain commentators.
Leon — I’d have to disagree with you. The amount of cynical fouling, play-acting, and lack of respect for refs and officials has been doing my head in for the past few years. I think the ‘professional foul’ in particular needs to be addressed. If one team needs a goal to win or draw, for instance, the other team pulls them down on the edge of the square and takes one (a yellow card) for the team. It shouldn’t be like that.
Should they let them have a chance to win or draw then?? Nonsense.
I would love to get rid of the play acting and have a lot more respect for officials and i agree with you there. But this is just trying to “improve” (see increase scores) the game to please certain pundits who spout the same rhetoric week in week out with no constructive input.
The Dublin v Donegal semi-final a few years ago was one of the most fascinating games I’d ever seen because of the tactics, intensity and strategy. Not every game needs 60 yd kick passes and 20 points to be entertaining.
@Leon
You seem to be incapable of disagreeing politely.
Quickly turning into a non contact sport ,with all the rule changes & diving.
What about abusing officials, is that to be condoned?
Dreadful suggestion. The problem is the standard of refereeing. Totally different rules on Saturday evening in a club game than you get on Sunday in an intercounty championship game.
Not great for the small clubs who mightn’t have big panels at their disposal either.
If they’re so insistent on bringing in some sort of rule as a solution to the fouling (rather than addressing the real issue of refereeing), why don’t they try the sin bin exactly the way it’s used in rugby. It works very well.
Sin bin would definitely be good. I think this black card is also worth a go though. Notwithstanding refereeing issues; something does have to change in my opinion. If a team gets 7 or 8 points ahead in the second half they can see the game out by faking injury and cynical fouling. It’s crap to watch.
And how many games have you refereed Cormac ?
This years championship should be good craic … FFS. Change the system and bring in the Sin Bin.
It’ll probably be scrapped because of racism!!
And put diving in there too!!
they are right blackcards :-)
Replace the rte studio with the newstalk crew and we can enjoy the coverage, problem solved.
Newstalk presenters really irritating me lately. Way to far up their own ar*es & ill tell you what newstalk guys & gals ( if you read the journal that is ) you are not really that good or funny. I loved the station initially it’s not even on my saved stations in my car anymore.
Sin bin anyone? Works in rugby and ice hockey. Forget this substituting for another player. That is not a punishment
You’ll need a degree to officiate games and the public wont have a clue. Tripping abuse and cynical fouls red card. Soccer and Gaa need to catch up,manly the players
Sin bin is the only logical solution. This black card can’t work at grass roots for obvious reasons.. They seem to be determined to break What’s not broke..
On a related topic….used to be a great rule in ice hockey….not sure if it still applies. When two players go at each other….the third man in gets red carded. Result is that two guys slug away until seperated by officials. No mass brawls. Would def be worth a shot in GAA.
What about the team who gets a black card and has no substitute? Joke of a rule
Please don’t play the black card
There may be trouble ahead with all the confusion and its all of their own making. Black cards, yellow cards and red cards, why don’t they use a deck of cards cos it sounds like a game of chance. Looks as though the GAA are just putting feelers out to see the reaction from managers. Too much spin from FRC and co. They may dig a hole and bury their report.
I can see it being an absolute nonsense but great for the media of course.
Why don’t they ban them from using their hands, make the pitch smaller and get rid of those sticks on top of the cross bar. Then you’d have a sport
There are too many cynical and violent tackles. I think perhaps stricter refs rather than a new card, would do it.
Just leave the game alone ! Had one on the best inter county championships last fee years last year