WE ASKED....How can Ireland recover after their disastrous opening performance?
YOU SAID....
We seem to be back to the bad old days when it was harder to get off the Irish team than get on it! Not even a bit of variation on the bench. Gerry Thornley is right; we have our version of the untouchables.
- Brian Flynn
Back to basics - rugby is about dominating and controlling your opponent. Once you do this the scores will come. Your opponent loses heart, gets frustrated, makes mistakes and you rack up the scores. The Irish team have gone out like they have already won and it's just a question of scores. Wrong!
- Paul Edward Roche, Co Cork
I suggest that Brian O'Driscoll and his team-mates spend a few days in Disneyland Paris, this might prove more beneficial than more drills, practice moves, etc. While they are enjoying Space Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean, Eddie could go to The Louvre in search of The Holy Grail.
- Sue Murphy
As a result of Argentina getting the bonus point the other evening and France getting the 'less than seven point loss' bonus point last Friday night, it now looks even less likely that Ireland will qualify to the quarter-final stage. However, this outcome should be put in perspective. In this group of death, none of the 'home nations' could have achieved any better. Six Nations rugby is second division rugby. The standard in the European Cup is higher. The autumn internationals are our best benchmark. These exclude the autumn matches preceding the World Cup tournament, as Southern Hemisphere teams are in preparation mode for the World Cup.
- Peter Fox, Co Dublin
Ireland can recover by playing better. More worrying is your exaggeration that it was a 'disastrous' performance. It wasn't. No one died. We won and got the bonus point and our opposition played beyond our expectations, although possibly not beyond their own. Please show some respect to the teams we play and how about some support for our own team.
- Richard Kennedy, Co Dublin
Best option now is to call in Roy Keane to talk privately with (a) Eddie O'Sullivan and staff because they seem to be lost and unfocused and (b) the player squad - emphasis on squad - as there is nothing like peer pressure. Keane is the only Irishman who can fix the 'can-do' deficit in the squad's psyche.
- Tim McGrath, Co Limerick
Paddy Wallace, Murphy and Boss coming in with a meaningful amount of time left could have allowed Ireland to rectify the lack of control, composure and execution. Too many people are prepared to accept Stringer's substandard performances. His arm waving must be removed from Ireland's game.
- Colin Coyle, Co Dublin
The main problem that Ireland has is that we don't have a competitive squad which allows players to play without 100 per cent commitment and still get selected. NZ, for example, are the complete opposite. Bar four or five players who are pretty much guaranteed their places any All Black player can be dropped after a poor performance. That is why the All Blacks will demolish a minnow and we won't.
- Michael Quinn
How can Ireland recover? They won't! There is a stale malaise prevailing in their play. And if I was to work, comparatively, under a stagnant and narrowly focused management and selection regime I would see no freshness or inspiration, only more of the same. The Irish provinces have 30 and more in the top-five bracket in international rugby as witnessed in Europe. Why can't they be moulded in similar work and skills parity as the Kiwis? That's the job of management! How far have we progressed, from the autumn 2006 series to date, with the Springboks and Aussies? Just compare personnel difference and development. We are not going forward.
- John B Woods, Co Clare
Your next call
After a week of competition, who, if anyone, is best placed to challenge the All Blacks?
Emails should be no longer than 100 words and should be sent to: rwc2007@irish-times.ie
