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I've just realised I'm at a gig when the Scot/Eng game is on, so I'll be watching the next day - I did the same with the France game last year and it actually took the sting out cause I already knew the result so could laugh at how bad we are/were*grrumble grumble* schedule *grumble grumble* why is the first game *grumble grumble* I'm bust this Friday evening
What do you class as mediocre? Can't see Ireland dropping out of the top 6 in the world in the next 8 years myself.I'm going to make a brave prediction...
If France dont win this, they go to Murrayfield knowing they can lose there. This will make France nervy first up...
That said I just think Ireland are on the brink of becoming mediocre again, and this season is where the cracks start to show.
So my brave prediction is that one of these teams will fail badly!
Mediocre was the wrong word, but last season they were worthy no.1 in the world. I believe the difference between them and SA in that group game was larger than the score suggests, and they tripped themselves up v NZ (mental blocks are very difficult to get over).What do you class as mediocre? Can't see Ireland dropping out of the top 6 in the world in the next 8 years myself.
That's fair. I agree. Think we're at the start of a 6-8 year project to reach last year's heights again.Mediocre was the wrong word, but last season they were worthy no.1 in the world. I believe the difference between them and SA in that group game was larger than the score suggests, and they tripped themselves up v NZ (mental blocks are very difficult to get over).
I think during this rebuild season we'll see the likes of Scotland and England giving them a real game, then theyll lose Farrel for 12 months right after the autumn for 12 months.
2025 6 nations could be a real tough time for them
Sadly, smaller nations like Ireland and Wales cant stay competitive over long periods, they need to peak and rebuild ala Wales 2019.That's fair. I agree. Think we're at the start of a 6-8 year project to reach last year's heights again.
Also don't think you have to be as good as we were last year to win a World Cup and that Farrell is the type of coach to get the max out of a team and make them hard to beat so the only thing that would surprise me is if we finished with two wins or less.
Hope so. POM isn't a 7. Henderson dropping out a surprise.IRELAND (v France, possible): Hugo Keenan; Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy; Peter O'Mahony (capt), Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Ciarán Frawley.
Very different line up but Thornley going for a 6/2 also (knew Faz read my posts) with Big Joe starting.