Italy - Ireland was brutal. On the eyes. The second half was mostly one long, continuous scrum. In the first half both sides played like they had just taken up the sport and were becoming acquainted with the rules as they went along.
Tomás O'Leary used the ball with the slow deliberation of a chess grandmaster pondering his next move. Surprisingly his replacement, mini-me Peter Stringer, looked far better. He was so much much more decisive & sharper.
Heaslip had another great, rampaging game at number 8. This seems to be a golden age for 6 Nations no.8s. Think I'd still rather have Harinordoquy but Heaslip is growing in stature.
Ronan O'Gara has unfortunately started where he left off from the World Cup. He's badly short of form when kicking from hand to boot. He missed touches off penalties, had a kick charged down and dived into blind alleys when running. He's lucky he no longer has David Humphreys competing for the out-half spot. Ireland are winning despite of him, a dangerous situation.
1 comment:
I've never much rated O'Gara. Apart from anything else, he just does not look like a rugby player. He looks like he's a bank manager who's there as some sort of work-sponsored charity affair.
Post a Comment