NOW THAT THE post-match hype has died down a little, we’ve allowed ourselves a deep breath and taken a long hard look at the Ireland side’s performance. Here’s how they rated:
Forwards
Cian Healy: One of Ireland’s better players, Healy carried the ball well at times before having to come off in the latter stages, as he was seemingly carrying an injury. 6/10
Rory Best: Found himself in the right place at the right time for the first Irish try, and performed solidly for the most part. 6/10
Mike Ross: One good run aside just prior to Bowe’s try, he seemed a little anonymous and was one of the many Irish players who played on the periphery of this game. 5/10
Donncha O’Callaghan: Many people, perhaps justifiably, felt he shouldn’t have started, but O’Callaghan partially justified his selection by demonstrating a tremendous work rate, before being replaced by Ryan. 7/10
Paul O’Connell: Showed impressive agility (as he normally does) on occasion, and contributed well in the build up to Bowe’s try, but by his standards, it was a disappointing performance. 5/10
Stephen Ferris: Like many of his colleagues, Ferris failed to show the kind of form he’s consistently been demonstrating at club level and conceded the all-important penalty to compound his woe. 5/10
Sean O’Brien: Declan Kidney must now seriously whether he is utilising O’Brien in the most effective manner possible following this uncharacteristically quiet performance. 5/10
Jamie Heaslip: One of his better performances, but still isn’t showing the kind of form he demonstrated a year or two ago. 6/10
Backs
(Rob Kearney was one of Ireland’s better performers – INPHO/Dan Sheridan)
Conor Murray: Looked hesitant and unconvincing on occasion. Murray failed to justify his status as Ireland’s first-choice scrum half. 5/10
Jonny Sexton: Performed solidly in defence and kicked well for the most part, but missed one or two crucial penalties. 6/10
Andrew Trimble: Solid but hardly spectacular, Trimble needs to do far more if he wants to make that position on the wing his own. 6/10
Gordon D’Arcy: A liability in defence at times, and lacking the attacking threat of old. He seems to be in the team by default more than anything else. 5/10
Fergus McFadden: Played reasonably well, considering the difficult circumstances that he was forced to adapt to. 6/10
Tommy Bowe: If it were based on his attacking play alone, Bowe would receive at least an 8, however he was also arguably at fault for two of the Wales tries. 6/10
Rob Kearney: The best of a bad bunch, Kearney made one or two immaculate takes under the high ball, looked a threat in attack and barely put a foot wrong in defence. 7/10
Substitutes: Ryan made an impact, while O’Gara and Reddan didn’t have enough time to exert their influence. 6/10
Declan Kidney: Kidney could get away with his innately conservative selection policy, along with his team’s unconvincing performances, at the start of his tenure as Ireland manager, because they were generally narrowly winning games. However, the team has encountered less success of late, and so serious questions must now be asked. 5/10
Read: As it happened: Ireland v Wales, Six Nations Championship>
Read: Player reaction: it came down to two mistakes, admits Paul O’Connell>
Sexton kicked well?Were we watching the same game?The amount of balls kicked straight into wales back 3 was ridiculous.ROG has to start from now on…Connor Murray was fantastic on the defensive side of things too
I’m not saying Sexton was fantastic by any means, but I noted a fair few instances where he produced decent kicks. And of course, so long as he’s available for selection, ROG will always be an option, but I think the logic behind dropping him for today’s match was sound, given that he didn’t enjoy the best of games against Wales in the World Cup.
Darcy has to be dropped, he’s a liability without BOD there to breastfeed him.
I think he has to keep Sexton for two reasons. One Sexton needs to know that he is the main guy, which he is. ROG is gonna be gone by the time the next World Cup rolls around.
Also Bowe’s try would not have happened if ROG had been on the pitch, he just doesn’t have it in him to provide that extra dimension to attack that Sexton does.
Outstanding players in the provinces run to the Heineken Q/Fs are not being given the chance they deserve and have earned.
Ryan, Cronin, O’ Mahony, O’Malley, Coughlan, and O’Gara in particular.
If a player is outstanding at the most senior level next to International then whats the point of supporting Ireland if we never give those players recognition.
murray is attrocious, he’s another o’leary taking a step before he passes and taking ages to get the ball loose, he is better in defence than o’leary and decent in attack compared to o’leary but o’leary is a joke! reddan has to start nxt game. darcy is past it and we need to start finding replacements for both him and o’driscoll. the tactics were completely wrong and we completely lack any kind of attacking strategy and the backs were left looking like they didnt know where they were supposed to be or how to lay hands on the ball! mcfadden ought to take darcys spot, lets see earls in at 13 and see how he goes but i think he’s too small too defend centre and wud prefer to see bowe get a run out at 13. also startin o’callaghan was insane and we definitely aren’t utilising the backrow properly at all the whole things a mess. can we please get conor o’shea in for kidney now?
Going on that comment…does that mean we should have had a whole new back row as well? I didn’t think any of three were used effectively and were bossed and outsmarted by the Welsh. D’arcy was anonymous and didn’t look like he could make space or create it even if had sledge hammer. To give up the ground they did with 3 minutes left was a cardinal sin. Fair play to Gatty, he got it spot on……again ( without how many 1st choice players)
I disagree with the majority of these. 7 for O’Callaghan??
I think people are missing the point here Wales just have superior players then us at the minute and a far better coaching team lets not forget who gave a lot of our golden generation there first starts Warren Gatland was it…
Murray’s so predictable…kicks the ball from back of most rucks. Not good enough, mix it up! Ryan and ROG should have been given a chance to but their stamp on the game, not with 10 mins left. Sexton is not the finished product it’s ridiculous to say he’s better than ROG, in my opinion he a far better tackler that is it!! O Brien, Heaslip not at the game… O Brien last year was breaking through the gainline like steamroller. These comments that I’m reading are Leinster V Munster, but that aside and look at things constructively from now on…
Maybe starting the game with a plan would be good. In 2012 Ireland still resort to constant up and unders. It could easily be 1982. Since the grand slam Ireland have been poor with occasional flashes of brilliance. All this happens while we have 3 provinces playing well and for the most part exciting rugby. The we have clueless Ireland. It’s not his conservative selection policy that is Kidney’s weakness but his refusal to bring in a style that gets the best from such quality players.