IRELAND WILL WIN against Samoa tomorrow, just don’t expect it to be pretty.
The visiting Pacific Islanders may well be under strength, but they will still bring enormous physicality, high levels of skill and the more structured gameplan that has brought so much success their way in recent years.
They have strength in depth too, particularly at tight-head where they have Logovi’i Mulipola and James Johnston to come in for Census Johnston. I’m sure there are a lot of coaches who wouldn’t mind having those three tight-heads at their disposal.
Ireland have selected some big guns on the bench, but I don’t expect the players who do start to hold any artillery back. The coaching team will want a fast start and I think that’s why they’ve left anybody with a slight question mark over them out of the side.
In that regard, Jonathan Sexton is the one big name who hasn’t made the squad; perhaps the prospect of heavy Samoan hitting on a hip concern forced Joe Schmidt’s hand. Sexton’s opportunity to rest means a big opportunity is presented to Paddy Jackson.
With Fergus McFadden, Gordon D’Arcy and Brian O’Driscoll in the back line it would have been easy for Joe Schmidt to pick Ian Madigan, but he just hasn’t been getting enough game time with Leinster. Jackson is an excellent player and he’s more game ready. He deserves a run and now it’s up to him to step up.
Samoa have guys like Ofisa Treviranus who’ll be looking to get a hold of Jackson and I’m sure they’ll be looking to bring Pisi inside too, but Paddy will be used to people running at him. As I found out myself, against some Samoans it’s just a case of grabbing them around the legs and hanging on until they fall down.
O’Driscoll sat out training today, but if Les Kiss says it’s nothing to worry about then we should see him back in full swing by 6pm Saturday. It has been a long lay-off for him with just the one appearance this season, but he’s got quite a bit of big match experience in the bank to call upon. I don’t think you’ll notice a difference in his performance. He’s one of the best players in the world, I’m sure he’ll be comfortable enough to go straight back in.
Try-fest?
We’ll need that experience and quality too. Schmidt may be in the job for months now but his first game still presents problems. There has to be a bedding in period. Joe’s got his own ideas of how he wants to play. I’m sure they’ve been working extremely hard over the last few weeks, but not everything will click.
I can’t imagine anyone talking about 10 tries or anything like that. What will please Ireland fans most is if they transfer what they’ve been working on in training to a game situation.
To do that, Ireland will have to look to their tight five to set a platform. The Samoans definitely have the weight for a good scrum, Ireland need to get that unit working together to come out on top.
Jack McGrath deserves his start and if Devin Toner and Mike McCarthy can give everything behind him, Rory Best and Mike Ross, then the scrum can be a real weapon.
lead by example captain robbie and stop waving your arms looking for fouls.
hush now less of that banter its all a bit of craic and a excuse to get pissed, have the faith there’ll be a few more sessions
We have kept the faith Robbie now get off your arse and repay it!!!
Would have more faith if keane was dropped for shane long.
He just doesn’t have the fitness, while longs height will Benefit that questionable long ball game we play. Unfortunately It looks like he’s starting, cox and himself were training together. Either way come on Ireland
agreed
Time for a reality check here…let’s face it, this Irish team does not have the required quality and technical ability needed to get the results we are all “dreaming” of. At best we are looking at 2 defeats and a draw…but we are there and let’s try and enjoy the occasion…
fk yeah we’ll have a pint, and hope they do well, but they’re awful, the worst team there. As for robbie, hes bloody RETIRED. la galaxy and some trite comment about it just being another game. They will give the ball to Spain again and again and it will b painful. As for people giving thumbs down to comments that aren’t hopelessly optimistic, cop on. You live in a corrupt boghole of a banana republic, getting all teary eyed about a couple of geezers kicking a ball about when your country was sold from under you by inbred turds. Y’all did fk all about that didnt you? Great guys to get behind Ireland when it costs you nothing. Stay in the cowardly herd with your coybig bs. Id rather see them lose and try to play than lose the way they did and will do.
Janey Mac is all I can say to that
I would b a fan of robbies but it’s not all about past achievements he’s not playin well a d should be on the bench
I’ll start too when your on the bench
Joke of a comment, we have very few players that have not only shown commitment to their country from the very start to the very end of their career, not to mention delivered as well when it matters. Keano is without a shadow of a doubt one of them.
Not saying that gives him automatic rights to a start, he knows that himself and said it two years ago. But facts are facts and he gets big big goals in big games.
One word – “Dream”
Well we got there and should be proud of that and as long as they are playing I will believe cmon Ireland I love this country
With a population of 4 million and a semi pro league we’ve always punched above our weight.
All the naysayers said we wouldn’t qualify, now they’re saying we won’t get out of the group, we’ve nothing to lose. COYBIG!
For you its just another game… Its a lot more than just another game to a lot of fans and home and especially away… u should run your socks off and do your best to get a result… at the end of the day it is 11 men against 11 men… i cant see why we cant get a result but we have to go into it with a good attitude and show no fear…. COYBIG
Exactly man.
The fans have more passion than the players.
The last game was actually cringe worthy and extremely frustrating.
They should be destroying themselves out there, giving the cliched 110%.
Robbies 300/1 to score a hatrick v Spain. I heard David Villa and Butragueno are 50/1.
He would have more chance of winning the lotto twice over..
Ireland will lose to spain and italy alike and will go home as predicted by me on th 19th june ,
If you predict it on 19th June it’ll already have happened – what black magic is this?
For everyone who are convinced ireland will lose. 2/7 are the odds for spain to win. You might have to give your bank 24 hours notice if you are withdrawing your life savings for a bet.
We’re still in with a shout i think…
..in 2016..
first you didnt want me to buy the pony, now you want me to bring it back. make up your mind marge…
The faith of what?