IRELAND COACH JOE Schmidt was refusing to get too downhearted following Ireland’s heartbreaking Six Nations loss against England at Twickenham today.
Speaking to RTE, when asked what went wrong, Schmidt responded: “I could probably pinpoint a number of things that went right.
“Off the set pieces was very good, but where we probably weren’t good enough was cleaning out their fringes at ruck time. It made it very difficult to play a constructive game. Their line speed was really effective and we didn’t play as we needed to through that line speed.”
And the New Zealand-born coach singled out one England player for particular praise.
“There was some unbelievable fielding from Mike Brown. There was a goalkeeper save at one stage, another one bounced up that he got really well as a last defender. What went wrong is one linebreak that Brown made.”
Schmidt says the team are determined to remain positive despite this setback, adding:
“We’ll take a couple of positives from this, because we’re very disappointed. There was a maul where we were going towards the line and they took it to ground and we didn’t get any result from that — and that could have been the difference.
“You’re just trying to construct an opportunity at the end of the game and we constructed a couple not too badly, we just couldn’t finish them off.”
He also praised their opponents and insisted they would remain optimistic in their bid for Six Nations glory.
“England did well, they stayed in the fight, they got back to their feet and got in the defensive line very well.
“A lot of people were saying we wouldn’t get a result here and you can’t get much closer than a one-score loss.
“[The Six Nations title] is the piece of silverware you want to get your hands on. Our points differential still puts us in a strong position, so we’ve got to make sure we go forward to Italy, as opposed to looking back to this game, and we’ve got to take some positives from it.”
So in theory once, and if, Ireland have scored four tries they can (kinda) decide who they want to play in the quarter finals (and to eliminate SA from the competition)….. However, that’s not what this team is about. They’ll have the simple goal to beat Scotland off the park.
@Thomas Patton: Technically correct, but great motivation for whichever team was ‘picked’ to be the lesser of two evils
@Brian Donohoe: you’d imagine intentionally losing a world cup game by 20+ PTS would have serious consequences
@Ciaran Kennedy: Yeah. If Scotland score 4 tries against us, we’re not going to be winning a QF
@Kevin Ryan: meanwhile on against the head, Donal Lenihan says that Scotland need 4 tries to progress and nobody corrects him. Punditry sucks.
It is quite simple lads… please just win – dont care how or by how much. My heart would not be able to take the stress of it. The closer it gets the more nervous I feel.
Ireland will be 100% focussed as always , everyone knows their roles and the game plan . The goal is to win against Scotland and then prepare for the next team we are drawn against. That’s it . This being the tougher side of the draw we were always going to have to do this the hard way.
Ireland lose by 4 or fewer : top group.
Lose by 5, 6 or 7, top group if no Scotland bonus point.
Lose by 5 and Scotland bonus: top group if same or more tries against Scotland (or 2 bonus points).
Lose by 6 or 7 and Scotland bonus : through only if 2 bonus points.
Lose by 8-19 : Ireland out.
Lose by > 20 : Ireland second if 4 try bonus
Lose by 20. Ireland second if 4 try bonus, only if Scotland score at least 3 more tries than Ireland!
@Graham Glendinning: Any of those later options will mean a steward’s inquiry
@Graham Glendinning: Corrections.
Note – lreland lose with try bonus, and no Scotland bonus: Ireland through
Ireland lose by 4 or fewer : top group.
Lose by 5, 6 or 7, top group if no Scotland bonus point (or 2 Ireland bonus points).
Lose by 5 and Scotland bonus: top group if same or more tries against Scotland (or 2 bonus points).
Lose by 6 or 7 and Scotland bonus : through only if 2 bonus points.
Lose by 8-19 : Ireland out (unless try bonus and no Scotland try bonus)
Lose by 20. Ireland second if 4 try bonus, only if Scotland score at least 3 more tries than Ireland!
Lose by > 20 : Ireland second if 4 try bonus for Ireland and Scotland
Would it be better to play France? Unfortunately, I feel we’ve eliminated that opportunity now with our success so far. Maybe Italy could do us a favour…
@Sam Bingham: Why would it be better to play France?
@Kevin Liston: hi Kevin, I’ve used the punctuation known as a question mark to indicate I’m asking a question. You actually nailed it first time in your response buddy, so you should get to grips with it pretty quickly.
@Sam Bingham: did u watch new zealand v italy oh boy
In that final scenario, wouldn’t SA’s better head-to-head have them ahead of Scotland?
@John Dooney: forget that
@John Dooney: ya my head wrecked even reading that post from murray haha
@John Dooney: The odd thing is that in a 3-way tie where each beat one of the others, it is points difference to decide the winner, but head to head for second-third. I think in the Heineken cups it is points difference for all 3.