Ireland wins
September 17th, 2011 at 10:24 pm by David FarrarIreland has beaten Australia 15-6. That’s a massive upset victory.
We now have a second reason to love the Irish – on top of their wonderful accents!
Ireland were probably playing to a more fanatical home crowd than they normally get in Ireland itself! Would have been an amazing game to be at the ground for.
Related posts:
- Rugby World Cup 23 October 2011
- Rugby World Cup 2011
- Ireland in WWII
- Rugby World Cup 12 September 2011
September 17th, 2011 at 10:36 pm
Oops, this could mean All Blacks vs Wallabies in semi finals!
Vote:September 17th, 2011 at 10:54 pm
According to the commentators after the Irish beat the Aussies, This means that if the Boks win their pool, the Wallabies will meet the Boks in the quarter finals.
Is that right? If so, would take out one of the major opponents. Who would you barrack for?
Vote:September 17th, 2011 at 11:17 pm
Sigh….it seems that NZ rugby arrogance is still alive and well.
The NZ team has not made the bloody semi finals as yet, the way they have been playing might suggest that to talk about who “we” might play in the semi is a bit premature.
The real question is ‘at what stage are the NZ team going to choke’?
Vote:September 17th, 2011 at 11:39 pm
This afternoon it was $4 for the Aussies to win at the TAB. Just checked now and the odds had lengthened to $8.
Just a sign. But a good one. Australia vs SA quarter final. Big BIG game. For the first time ever I will support SA.
Vote:September 17th, 2011 at 11:47 pm
Just got home from the match. It was a great contest and a great atmosphere. Really regretting opting for my G-Short camera rather than my Canon, it just wasn’t up to the task. My intention was to leave about ten minutes early and avoid the congestion that plan went out the widow. There is a moment of magic just at the end, it didn’t result in a score but it sealed the match for Ireland. I was in a very partisan Ireland section of the stadium and most of the passionate Irish fans around me had Kiwi accents.
Vote:September 17th, 2011 at 11:49 pm
Fantastic at Eden Park this evening. Two teams with supporters who are loud and good natured. Best atmosphere at a rugby game for a long while!
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 12:47 am
big bruv (9,348) Says:
September 17th, 2011 at 11:17 pm
Sigh….it seems that NZ rugby arrogance is still alive and well.
The NZ team has not made the bloody semi finals as yet, the way they have been playing might suggest that to talk about who “we” might play in the semi is a bit premature.
The retardation of people like you is still alive and well. You’re an idiot if you think the country hosting the RWC isn’t going to make it to the semi-finals.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 7:21 am
sweet game…the irish forwards played brilliantly.
pity about fiji.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 7:22 am
@ big bruv – if the All Blacks do win RWC2011 (and I think that they will), knowing that there is a small number of people who will be feeling absolutely bitter and twisted will make victory even sweeter.
Have a nice day
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 7:37 am
No contest. Australia over South Africa any time, any day, for me.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 7:50 am
Monty – “This afternoon it was $4 for the Aussies”
$4.00 was a rip-off. To blow out to $8.00 is an over correction. Might pay to lay on a lazy $50, if you don’t mind an 85% chance of losing it.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 7:57 am
Seth Efrika’s old workhorses will be a bit weary by the time of the semi-final (if they get there). They are likely to be more vulnerable than now. OTH, if aussie gets thru, Cooper will have have a lot more knocked out of him (magnificent hit on him in second half). Their front row will be too scared to engage for fear of a penalty and the justin bieber look-alike will be distracted by the offer of a modelling contract.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 7:59 am
Had bkfst at the Wyvern Pub (The Fleet Air Arm Pub just across the road from the old RN Air Station at Lee-On-The-Solent where they were showing the game on a big screen. Packed full of screaming Irishmen including a lot with POME Accents. Got fairly raucus towards the end especially when a bunch of real Irishmen announced ‘free drinks for everyone’. Had to leave at midday least memshab came a looking when she would have seen some strange sights indeed.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 8:01 am
A reminder that there are eight teams in the RWC who have a good chance of beating any of the big teams, plus a few possible upsetters.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 8:13 am
Pete George – “A reminder that there are eight teams in the RWC who have a good chance”
Rugby and statistical probability analysis doesn’t appear to be one of your strong points Pete. Avoid the TAB.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 8:18 am
I’ll reword – any of the top eight teams are capable of beating any of the other top eight teams on their day.
Talk of a southern hemisphere side of the draw in the knockouts and a northern hemisphere side is premature. It wouldn’t be that bad a thing if the All Blacks lost to France in the pool as far as the draw goes.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 8:24 am
Guestimation of possible RWC winner’s respective chances:
New Zealand…… 45%
South Africa……. 13%
Australia………… 13%
England………….. 18%
France……………. 9%
The rest collectively 2%
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 8:31 am
I’m referring to games, not the cup. And one loss in the knockout is a knockout.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 8:36 am
Just imagine the atmosphere in an Irish pub. ANY Irish pub anywhere in the world!!
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 8:42 am
Ireland will probably lose to Italy, and Pool standings return to the expectation. You heard it here first, so don’t be surprised.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 8:46 am
Pete George
Knockout increases the predictive error margin, but form is still the strongest indicator as all teams are subject to the same coefficient of uncertainty. When talking about chance, it pays to be specific.
If the format changed to each team playing eachother 4 times on New Zealand soil, with the winner determined by cumulative wins, then the All Black’s would probably have a 90%+ chance of winning.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 8:52 am
I2
“@ big bruv – if the All Blacks do win RWC2011 (and I think that they will), knowing that there is a small number of people who will be feeling absolutely bitter and twisted will make victory even sweeter.”
That is the problem with you socialists, you love the idea of other people paying for your fun.
Hell, I bet you were even sucked in by the bullshit about the RWC being an ‘economic boom’.
In the mean time have fun at the stadium I was forced to pay for (against my wishes), have fun spending your money at the pub, clubs, and restaurants who are laughing at you because you are paying for their increased trade and really rejoice at the price you have to play to watch the NZ team play (in a stadium you were forced to pay for) if you are lucky enough to win tickets in the ballot.
I love the game of Rugby, what I dislike with a passion are the NZ team and the wankers who decided that I was going to fund their minor sporting tournament when there are far greater calls on the public purse.
If the RWC is so vital then the NZRU and business should have funded the thing, had that been the case I would be right behind the tournament and might even have considered supporting the NZ team.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 8:56 am
It’s a real shame that big bruv is forced to pay for things he doesn’t agree with. He should really have a veto power over any government or council spending…
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 8:56 am
“Just imagine the atmosphere in an Irish pub. ANY Irish pub anywhere in the world!!”
Sigh…more propaganda.
Most Irish pubs in the world would not even know that NZ is hosting a minor sporting tournament, most Irish (or those who claim Irish ancestry) would not care even if they did.
Can we please stop telling lies about the RWC.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 8:57 am
Good grief!………ahhh humbug
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 9:10 am
TimG_oz – “Ireland will probably lose to Italy”
Bet you $1000 they don’t. You’d have an 85% chance of losing your money if you accept.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 9:11 am
big bruv
I’m looking forward to seeing Greenland play Bhutan.
Might be a contest.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 9:17 am
Sadly Scott, I don’t believe that Greenland or Bhutan have rugby teams. Players from Greenland could be part of the Danish team – world ranking 69. A Bhutanese Richie McCaw alas, would probably have to go to Thailand (rank 64) or India (rank 75) to get a taste of international rugby. Perhaps big bruv will donate to a programme to improve the sport in these countries.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 9:21 am
Back under the stone please big bruv
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 9:52 am
mikenmild
lol. So what do you make of SBW’s chances of making the bench for the France game?
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 10:05 am
SBW did well on the wing, but I still wouldn’t have him in the 22 for the big games.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 10:07 am
A fantastic atmosphere at Eden Park – whilst most of the were still in black, it was patently clear that there was fantastic support for the Irish over the Wallabies. The Oz front row was as weak as ever – and Ireland exploited this all game. Genia and Cooper don’t like getting ball when they are retreating – nothing new here either.
This is a great result for the tournament.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 10:25 am
Oi Oi Oi
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 10:32 am
bb
The Irish love their sports and this will be big news even among people who follow other games there.
And the government there was quite happy to spend vast amounts of German taxpayer money on it.
http://sportspeak.eu/2010/05/14/aviva-stadium-finally-opens-its-doors-2/
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 10:33 am
SBW will make the bench in all the big games.
He can play 2nd 5, centre, wing.and he’ll be a scratch golfer when he picks up a club.
He’s a footballing freak,, rugby wankers are just upset that he made his name in league. This same bullshit went on when Brad Thorn came over.
Sad and insular rugby fans. Enjoy watching him and enjoy the football
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 10:34 am
> Genia and Cooper don’t like getting ball when they are retreating
As opposed to Weepu and Carter (or any similar combo) who just absolutely love getting the ball when retreating.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 10:37 am
EDIT from Elaycee at 10.07: “whilst most of the were still in black”… should have read ‘whilst most of the crowd were still in black…’
It was a big night….
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 10:38 am
> He’s a footballing freak
That would be Benji Marshall, and rugby fans are rightly annoyed that he’s playing league.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 10:53 am
Pauleastbay yes SBW will be a bloody nightmare for defending sides to watch along with the Nonu Smith combo, as a decoy he would suck the defenders toward him.
Not that I believe those spectators known as backs to be true rugby players who are only to be found in the front row
Damn generous of the Irish forwards to give Genia a lift for fifteen metres toward his line, the WTF look on his face was priceless as he hit the ground.
Jeez those convicts are slow learners, go into a tackle high then wonder why the maul is called and lose the put in to the scrum.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 10:53 am
form is still the strongest indicator
Ireland’s form leading into last night’s game was poor, Australia’s was good.
England’s and South Africa’s form in the pool matchs in 2007 was poor and they contested the final.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 10:58 am
Pauleastbay – I agree. Mostly.
mikenmild – “SBW did well on the wing, but I still wouldn’t have him in the 22 for the big games.”
Glad you’re not a selector. I’d have him starting at center. Bye bye Conrad.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 11:04 am
PG “Ireland’s form leading into last night’s game was poor, Australia’s was good.”
Form is a predictor, not an oracle.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 11:05 am
milkmilo: Agree with your summation that SBW will only come on as a sub if he is selected at all – he certainly won’t be in the starting XV (unless there are several injuries) because the Nonu / Smith combination is the best around (especially on defence) and will not be split.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 11:08 am
Grumpyoldhori
SBW is what all Kiwi men will look like in 500 years. Then finally Maori and Pakeha and Pacifica and Asia will be fairly represented. Just have to keep your boys and girls breeding with us Pakehas.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 11:11 am
Ross
No inside back combo likes to get the ball going backwards and no-one is pretending otherwise. As Corporal Jones said,”Jerry doesn’t like the cold steel up them”. That is not to say that anyone else does. The difference is the way in which they cope with it. Genia is better than most halfbacks around – better than anything we have got – but his brilliance is stifled going backwards. Cooper on the other hand, is a flat track bully. He goes to pieces and does incredibly stupid things when the pressure is on. He then becomes a liability. For all Giteau’s arrogance, I suspect Deans was wishing he was there. Cooper loves the open space where he cant be threatened and thats when the bravado shows. Or when McCaw’back is turned and he can give him a whack, or knee him when he is on the ground. Cooper’s talent and Cowan’s courage would make him brilliant. He just doesn’t have it. Then, it’s early days yet.
Scott – in my view Smith is the best centre we have had for a long, long time. SBW does not come close. He is an inside centre or, possibly, a winger. Suits his game more than centre.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 11:21 am
@Nookin – well written. You’ve saved me from posting a long winded version of the same….
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 11:22 am
Nookin
“the justin bieber look-alike will be distracted by the offer of a modelling contract.”
What’s your timing on that? I suggest leaving it as late as possible before the game that counts so he doesn’t have time to check the return address.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 11:34 am
Nookin
Re Smith. He is certainly a very fine player. But he isn’t the freak Williams is. Smith is certainly a safer option, I concede, but his reading on defensive can be dodgy, and his hands are not the best.
As far as recommended good rugby practice is concerned though, Smith’s technique is very sound and orthodox.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 11:35 am
To be fair to O’Connor, he showed a lot of spirit (and more pace) running down Tommy Bowe. You do get the impression, though, that the O’Connor brand is all important. Watch the swagger at training.
Thanks, Elacee. Ross’s gratuitous retorts tend to annoy me. They really add nothing to the debate other than petty point scoring.
Off on a family outing to the dump. Garden is looking tidier already.
BB – only cure for oxalis is hard work, patience and lots of dirt under the fingernails
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 12:43 pm
It does not change things much it just means NZ gets knocked out in the semi final against Australia and Henry put up change number 457 to the all-blacks side.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 1:43 pm
@ Scott Chris – Conrad Smith is the defensive general of the All Black backline. There’s not much of him, but he never shirks the tackle, and his organisation of the defensive line should not be overlooked. Bear in mind too that he and Nonu are New Zealand’s most experienced midfield combination ever, and that Nonu’s best rugby in the last few seasons has been played in a black jersey with Daniel Carter inside him.
My first-choice midfield/back three would be Dagg, Jane, Kahui, Smith and Nonu, with Williams as cover. If Dagg is injured, Jane can drop back to fullback, and Williams covers everything from wing to 2nd 5/8th.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Iv2
Vote:That’s my call too. I think I would have Ellis at half because he has a quicker pass and better kicking game. Look for Muliaina to play his 100th,and, probably, last test against Canada and SBW to start on the wing against Canada. Zac will also start.
September 18th, 2011 at 2:10 pm
Inventory2
I just wonder with Conrad Smith whether people assume that because he’s a university educated white guy, that he’s the guy who runs the defense. Beale and O’Connor and Mortlock have all made him look ordinary in defense, and when I was playing the game, the defensive organizers were first five and full back, which was my position.
On the other hand, if Wayne Smith has designated Conrad as defense organizer, then I missed it.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 2:23 pm
@ Scott Chris – Henry has often spoken about the value that Smith adds as the defensive organiser. I don’t know how long it is since you played the game, but it’s certainly changed since I last played! These days first-five seems to be the playmaker, the fullback runs the counterattack, and the midfield call the defence.
@ Nookin – for Muliaina to play his 100th test against Canada, he’ll have to play next week against France, and unless Dagg is injured, I don’t think he will. I have a feeling that Mils will head to Japan on 98, and second in the all-time list.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 3:04 pm
@IV2. Sorry, I thought he was on 99 now. An interesting call for Henry. Is the best back three Mils, Kahui and Jane; Dagg Kahui and Jane or Mils, Dagg and Kahui?
Smith doesn’t often miss a tackle. He is copybook. Round the ankles.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
IV2
Fair enough. I’ll keep an eye out to see who is doing the gesticulating and talking. I haven’t really paid it a lot of attention.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
> Thanks, Elacee. Ross’s gratuitous retorts tend to annoy me.
Nothing gratuitous about my comments. But I am surprised someone here labelled SBW a freak. He’s an average player compared with someone like Benji Marshall. And SBW is certainly not a winger!
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
IV2, Nookin
Also, I maintain that as far as keeping the right numbers either side of the ruck is concerned, full back is the best position to read what the opposition is doing, as one is generally less personally engaged in defense. That’s why Mehrts and Larkham used to lurk back there a lot.
In theory, defense has a lot to do with communication, with all players alerting one another to patterns and imbalances. When I played, some 25 years ago, I ran defense either side of the ruck, and the first five directed stray forwards, but the most important part of our defensive strategy was *talking* and *awareness*.
Can’t see how that would have changed too much. Rugby ain’t rocket science.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
Ross
Marshall is mecurial not the freak that SBW is. Marshall is nowhere close defensively to SBW, he does not draw the opposition defensively like SBW is and he is not as fast., Marshall is a great footballer but his two seasons out with injury show a fragility that the Williams does not have.
While on it:
The greatest footballers I have ever seen. 1. Michael Jones. 2 .Bruce Robertson.3 Mark Graham 4. Mike Gibson .5 Sidney Milton Going
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
Paul,
I think we’ll agree to disagree. I suspect you haven’t watched a lot of league, especially with your comment that Marshall does not draw the opposition like SBW. When it comes to picking the Kiwis, I suspect Marshall is the first chosen and I also suspect he’d be a first choice for the ABs if he ever turned to league.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
And according to league supporters, Marshall is far and away the No 1 player in the game, despite the presence of other great players suck as Lockyer, Slater, Smith, Inglis, Hayne, etc. SBW of course used to play league and never got the same plaudits as Marshall.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/fans-holler-for-a-marshall/story-e6frexnr-1226004728630
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
No Ross, you’r right, I’ve watched fuck all, only since 1975, but you’re right again, Williams has had a couple of seasons out with injury has he ? he just quite often tops the tackle count and has been a dual international and has played in both hemispheres and has an off load that hasn’t been seen since Mark Graham was at his peak at Norths. Yep you’ve nailed it.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
Willams isn’t playing league at the moment Ross, suck is right when you are talking about Hayne by the way.
Who did win the Dally M this year, Ross.
He might win the Golden Boot but Slater has a great year and is still alive in the competition
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 4:16 pm
Ross
I see Marshall more in the Carlos Spenser mold, maybe a bit better, but Carlos didn’t have the room to move with 15 men on the field. But I would pick Darren Lockyer or Andrew Johns over Marshall, but SBW was something else in league. He just did freakish things on attack an defense and his peripheral vision and accuracy and frequency of his offloading makes him the best player from either code I’ve seen.
Had Jonah not had fucked kidneys, I’d have put him in the same class.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 4:43 pm
Scott,
Andrew Johns has long since retired but I think he was the best player in the world while he was playing. As for SBW, he makes too many mistakes. At least one journalist, Mark Reason, has picked up on this.
Vote:September 18th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
Pauleastbay
Agree entirely about Bruce Robertson.Conrad Smith is in the same mold.
If Going had Laidlaw’s pass he would have been incomparable. BG Williams, on the 1970 tour, was as exciting as any back I have seen. Never really recovered from the leg injury (nor, unfortunately, did Michael Jones). Gareth Edwards was one of the best of his time.
I think captaincy fucked up Kirkpatrick. I still remember his try against the 71 Lions. Keith Murdoch would have ranked up there as well if Ernie Todd hadn’t been such a dickhead and NZRU such a bunch of pussies.
Vote:September 19th, 2011 at 8:49 am
There’s some good pictures of the All Blacks doing what they do best right here.
Vote:September 19th, 2011 at 12:32 pm
“The real question is ‘at what stage are the NZ team going to choke’?”
You really are a negative little person aren’t you?
“Most Irish pubs in the world would not even know that NZ is hosting a minor sporting tournament, most Irish (or those who claim Irish ancestry) would not care even if they did.”
What a lot of tripe. Of course they would, especially after the win on Saturday.
Vote: