Speechless
I don't normally use LJ for venting off, but i'm at my wits end!
The current irish rugby squad has an embarresment of talent. It also has key areas with embarresing talent that have played together for almost their entire career. We have arguably the best center in the world (some would argue for stirling Mortlock, more and more i may agree with them) in Brian O'Driscoll.
I am not saying we are world beaters and should win the World Cup. Barring a freak of form (at a world cup.. whats the chances) the all blacks will win it. But we should be one of the teams challenging for it. We should be the the team the northern hemisphere should be looking to to challenge the strong southern teams, not the cheese lovers. We should be the team going further then any other Irish teams into the semi's as a miniumum and even challenging for the finals. Nut instead we were the team that came within a whisker of being beaten by Georgia!
it got to the stage that with 10 minutes to go, My father in Law who I watched the game with turned and said "Sorry kid, looks like you won't be getting the bonus point this time." I corrected him that we were indeed likley to get the bonus point unless they manadged to beat us by 7 clear points! Which was looking likley!
So Why.. Why are we so shit. We have killer backs, we should have a tight and clinical pack. I have my theroies
However, the biggest reason, the only reason why any team fail to become better than the sum of their parts, which Ireland clearly have not, has to be the coach/manager. Sadly Eddie O Sullivan seems to have shares in Irish Rugby as he's just got a new contract, so we are not going to see an end to him in the near future.
So not only are we not going to fulfill our world cup potential, in fact we're unlikley to make it out of the group! we are also unlikley to see this team get the grand slam it deserves.
The current irish rugby squad has an embarresment of talent. It also has key areas with embarresing talent that have played together for almost their entire career. We have arguably the best center in the world (some would argue for stirling Mortlock, more and more i may agree with them) in Brian O'Driscoll.
I am not saying we are world beaters and should win the World Cup. Barring a freak of form (at a world cup.. whats the chances) the all blacks will win it. But we should be one of the teams challenging for it. We should be the the team the northern hemisphere should be looking to to challenge the strong southern teams, not the cheese lovers. We should be the team going further then any other Irish teams into the semi's as a miniumum and even challenging for the finals. Nut instead we were the team that came within a whisker of being beaten by Georgia!
it got to the stage that with 10 minutes to go, My father in Law who I watched the game with turned and said "Sorry kid, looks like you won't be getting the bonus point this time." I corrected him that we were indeed likley to get the bonus point unless they manadged to beat us by 7 clear points! Which was looking likley!
So Why.. Why are we so shit. We have killer backs, we should have a tight and clinical pack. I have my theroies
- Reliance on the Munster/Leinster formations. Whilst This can be usefulwith things like The Munster half back and Leinseter center partnerships, we rely on it to much and good players are not picked because a munster or leinster player in that position are. At this world cup the two screaming obvious points are best at Hooker instead of flannery, who everytime he plays is all over the pitch and looks like he wants it. and Hicke at wing instead of Murphy or Trimble. Hicke was a God for Ireland. His play over the years has been a privelege to watch, but he is off the pace now. This is one world cup to far. Sure have him in the squad, but he is no longer a first choice player.
- Overlooking some non provincial players. Now I'd love to see all irish players playing for the provinces and see more European glory for them (even it if meant the bog men from munster winning again). but because they choose to play inother leagues or countries should not count overly against them. Other then he plays in the UK, I can not think why Geordan Murphy is over looked. he's a better full back than Girvan Dempsey, but more importantly he is also a much better winger than hickie! Also Eoin Reddan should be the back up scrummie, not Issac Boss!
However, the biggest reason, the only reason why any team fail to become better than the sum of their parts, which Ireland clearly have not, has to be the coach/manager. Sadly Eddie O Sullivan seems to have shares in Irish Rugby as he's just got a new contract, so we are not going to see an end to him in the near future.
So not only are we not going to fulfill our world cup potential, in fact we're unlikley to make it out of the group! we are also unlikley to see this team get the grand slam it deserves.