Shane Byrne - Rugby Blog

Kidney Picks A Strong Side To Face Fiji

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:02:11 GMT

Normally when you hear that there are 8 changes to a side you would expect it to be weakened but that’s certainly not the case for the Irish side to face Fiji tomorrow.

Horgan is in for a deserved start after a great season so far and a good outing in the A game of last week.

Darcy’s back in to have a go at getting his position back, I thought that Paddy Wallace played well enough last weekend but I still think that the door could still be open on this one.

Physicality key for Darcy

Gordon’s added physicality against the South Africans could be invaluable.

Good to see Earls getting a start, he looked very fresh last weekend when he came in for the unfortunate Luke Fitz, a hard blow for him.

Realistically Earls and Horgan are fighting it out for one wing position, as nobody is competing with the inform Bowe!

Sexton gets chance to stake claim

How lucky is Sexton to have basically the whole Leinster backline around him on his first outing!

There are plenty of performances that we could be watching but this is the one that will be scrutinised the most.

Against Fiji a win is expected, so therefore it is the manner that this comes about in that’s important.

For them all but mainly Sexton he must control the game and not allow the game to become a loose game of sevens.

If he wants to have a chance of getting the nod for the South African game he must show he can do what ROG can do not just now but when ROG is playing his best and then more, perhaps in physicality of ball carrying? Big hill to climb there then, watch this space!

Redden must have one of his complete games to knock O’Leary off the top spot.

Tomas was very involved in the last quarter of the Aussie game but he did make a few mistakes before that, like kicking, that could leave that the door slightly ajar for Redden!

Leamy returns to his roots!

Leamy reverts to his first cap position at 7(a game I played in, ah the memories!!)obviously he is not competing against Wally, he is in a winner takes all battle of the boshers against Ferris!

Ferris was very quite last week and it will be who can cause the most damage will get the nod next week.

Leo close, very close!

Leo is a guy who is closest to getting another start than any of the others, many said that he deserved it last week. Donners did nothing wrong but you must feel that if Leo does his job well he will stay in, let me know what you think.

Tom Court also mightn’t do his chances any harm either. Yes, as we’ve talked about, Cian had an absolute cracker around the park but the sight of the Irish scrum getting pushed off the ball will be hard to swallow for the coaching staff.

Yeh, we know that the Fiji scrum is no great shakes but a good propping performance can be seen through that, you never know.

One other thing that could spoil everyone's party tomorrow is the weather, it’s meant to be crap! As I’ve said control is the key to this game.

I’ve a couple of mates on the Fiji team particularly the half backs Nicki Little and Moses Rauluni.

Fijian looking to pounce on loose ball!

They are saying that they are really looking forward to the game, they know that their set piece isn’t the best but they are looking for loose ball and playing off that and as we all know they have 6’ 8inch second rowers who can outstrip most wingers!!

Let’s hope the weather isn’t too bad and the game can flow, here’s to a win and some good performances to give Deccy a couple of selection headaches for next week!

BOD Late Try Breaks Aussies Hearts!

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:35:45 GMT

Eh, is it just me or did the match reporters watch a different game than I did?

Yes, I know that as expected the lads were rusty and yes I know that the fight shown in the last ten to fifteen minutes was fantastic but they didn’t play well.

Ireland must maintain high standards

Under normal circumstances I would agree that a draw against Australia would be a good result, but not anymore. Irish rugby turned a corner last year and we have to maintain that.

We can’t have the situation that has happened frequently in the past that when an Irish team has success, it struggles to maintain that form the next season.

Looking at the game, the last 20 minutes to me just proves to me how much better a team we were than Australia. Ireland showed a single-mindedness to cross the line at all costs, which we did three times!

Aussies had no answer in the last 20

You’ve got to remember that this was completely different to the way the game had been going for the previous 60 mins. But when we upped the pressure on the Aussies they just simply couldn’t stop us crossing the line. The only problem was we just hadn’t done it till then!

This singled-mindedness was fixed on drawing the game not winning, there was a penalty in the 71^st minute that was very kickable and we went for the corner, in fact there were a few like this in that period.

We should have gone for win, not the draw

To me, we had found our pace and should have taken the kick and gone for the win! You might think this silly but that’s where I think we are now. Besides winning is the way forward, it is also what South Africa will do!

Ignored pentaly shots, why?

There were a few of these situations in the first half where to most people, taking a shot at goal would have been the more sensible option. Certainly, in hindsight - with the score-line the way it ended up - it would have been the right option to take.

Yes, you applaud the fact that they wanted to play and keep attacking but internationals are played to be won and you take your points when you get the chance. Two of these you would have put money on ROG getting, 6 more points at the end would have been nice!!

At ruck time we never really got any quick ball. There seemed to be no real structure to Ireland's ball-carrying/attack. Time and time again we would got on a single man charge into 2 or 3 of them, just to have their excellent backrows poach the bloody thing!

Nothing wrong with Palu's tackle

With that in mind, what was Rob Kearney thinking when he, having plenty of time to look for a better option, decides to run straight into one of the biggest, hardest hitting men on the park - Wycliff Palu. Not smart!

By the way there was nothing wrong with that tackle, both his arms were raised and forward when impact was made, Kearney catapulted off him to the deck, there was simply no time to wrap your arms around anything!

It was not a shoulder charge but I’ll tell you what was, Rob’s bad attempt to stop Rocky going over for his try! Oh, he should have done a lot better for that.

With the Aussies able to ignore the ten slot they were up very fast in defence, trying to close Brain and the outside backs down, when this happens you have to bring someone in behind the play against the hard up, we did this once and Tommy scored, although the ref didn’t give it!

Kaplan killed the game

Speaking of the ref, he was terrible!

Playing no advantage at the breakdown, blowing his whistle at the first opportunity and then missing so many very obvious wrongs. One of the papers classed it as over-fussy..spot on!

You know, it is well know that he was overheard in an restaurant saying that he likes Ireland the least and what was all the fuss about Brian O’Driscoll, the last minute have killed him!!

Work needs to be done at scrum time

There were many things wrong with our game, very little structure, didn’t kick well but it would be the scrum that would cause most concern.

Yes we held it up for the last try, which was pointed out time and time again in the press but that is their job!

It has been a long time since Ireland were pushed around like this, it is a worry, particular with the South Africans on their way.

With John being only back from a ban and Jerry barely madding it back for the game with injury, it certainly didn’t help.

As far as Cian is concerned he got done in the scrum!

Yes, particularly in the last 20 minutes, he was fantastic and vital to the Irish resurgence. Fitness isn’t a problem for the young prop, he has always featured strongly in the last quarter for Leinster but he has to improve his scrumming.

Cian Healy's loose play saved him!

Our scrum just excepted every hit, not once did I see a big lunge on contact, this is what has to be done at this level, particularly if your under pressure.

Cian’s great last quarter saved his bacon for being subbed (although Declan seemed to have forgotten the bench!)if you ask me but remember at this level he has to be a good prop first and the rest will follow!

No Space For Gordon In Starting 22

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:07:48 GMT

Firstly, sorry for taking so long getting this to you, we had a game yesterday and I got a bit too carried away with the festivities!!

I'm in Bermuda playing in the Classic Rugby Tournament (and the weather's been lousy and the bars are awful - not).

Anyway there’s not too much to comment on the team selection really is there?

D'Arcy loses out to Wallace

I did think D'Arcy was under pressure, as he hasn’t quiet found his form yet this season but I certainly didn’t expect him not to feature at all!

The plain fact is that Paddy Wallace has been playing well up in Ulster and he has been an important part to the great run of form this season.

I suppose the main concern now will be defence. Gordon as we know offers a more physical presence in the backline and with ROG on his inside it could be an area that the Aussies will go for.

Will defence now be an issue?

The way it normally works with both Munster and Ireland is that David Wallace covers and protects ROG off set pieces but Paddy will have to step up to this on the outside.

He does offer more in kicking and can step into the first receiver slot to relieve the pressure from Ronan during the game.

There has been no real problem with his tackling this season so far, let hope the step up in physicality that international rugby brings won’t find that 10-12 channel buckling.

Healy must do basics well

Big day for Cian Healy, when the step up is made to play for your county there is a much higher emphasis put on the fact that you have to do your basic duties well.

At club level a player can get away with carrying a weakness, if he can cover it up with some other talent like being a fantastic runner or tackler.

For Cian, if he gets through the game scrumming well, working the lineout and in general doing his duties he will be in a good state to be there for a long time to come.

Aussies can be dangerous

The Aussies are there for the taking but we have to get up in their faces, both in attack and defence - stand off and you’ll see why they beat South Africa earlier in the season!

Our set pieces have to give us a platform to build from, there will be no excuse for this not to happen.

Let’s hope that our Grand Slam winners can put on a show and get us cheering for a win like they did the last time they wore the green!

Will be on a plane Sunday after the game, so will blog Monday when I get back. Talk soon..!