THE SHOWDOWN AT 'CHOKE' PARK
There you have it- England winning their second game on the bounce - wow - Johnny keeping 'the Rose' in front. I thought Andy Farrell had a better game - his test will be in 2 weeks v Darcy and Drico - so the jury's out?? Apart from that quite boring.
Now the losers of their first game - Wales and Scotland - where the highlight was the full-time whistle!! I listened to post-match interview and Jenkins looked lost for words and his summary wasn't good as he lacked confidence and direction. Second game in charge and I think he's got problems!
The game of the weekend - Ireland v France. What a game!!
France started like a rabbit on heat - quickly surrended to the almightly green machine which molested them for some time - 78 mins in fact - only to be penetrated late with a thrust from behind. This type of 'rear-entry' is very typically French - The French are known for 'choking the rooster' but - they 'choked the croke'!! Bring on the English....
4 comments:
very very good !! The French choking the rooster? I thought they preferred to bash the Bishop!!
And when you say bring on the English........... for what exactly????
good review...the Irish just couldn't handle the pressure - new venue, too much history, no driko, it all added up. I've always thought Horgan blew hot and cold anyway, and wondered is he just slow or is that 'deceptive speed'?...Wallace played a stormer.
But my question is who won the pyschological advantage for the next meeting in September? Ireland underdogs is Paris - yes nothing new - but we know they are capable and now have a point to prove. The Munster boys can relate...winning the Pool probably means Scotland in the QF, alternative being NZ
good review...the Irish just couldn't handle the pressure - new venue, too much history, no driko, it all added up. I've always thought Horgan blew hot and cold anyway, and wondered is he just slow or is that 'deceptive speed'?...Wallace played a stormer.
But my question is who won the pyschological advantage for the next meeting in September? Ireland underdogs is Paris - yes nothing new - but we know they are capable and now have a point to prove. The Munster boys can relate...winning the Pool probably means Scotland in the QF, alternative being NZ
Good question - Just at the moment I think Ireland are going to have their hands full as they need to focus on the next game v England - and being again at Croke park places them under even more pressure!! Regardless of the outcome I think they need to use this pressure and occasion as a template for where they need to be mentally and physically on their next encounter v France in the World Cup.
- If all are available then use the loss as motivation - select 3 or 4 things to focus on - ie scrums, defense, ball retention etc - keep it real and make sure that you don't play the game mentally prior to the occasion, or you could go flat. This World Cup clash should put you where you need to be mentally and with the potential of either facing NZ or Scotland in a Quarter final could determine whether a person like John Hayes will miss that tackle again in the 78th minute!!
Just a little bit of history - in 1999 World cup, France toured NZ and got beaten twice and thumped in their second test match by 50 + points - that was 5 months prior to the WC - but then in the World cup semi-final - dare I say it - we witnessed one of the great comebacks of WC rugby - so I've got no doubt in my mind on their day Ireland mentally and physically can beat France in the RWC.
Success is a journey not a destination!
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