Irish ladies are playing a blinder!

 

 (picture http://bit.ly/1kUacbg)

Ireland got going on Saturday with the first match of the day, against Kazakhstan. A simple win would have been enough to get into the semis. With 10 changes from the team that did heroics against New Zealand, there wasn’t going to be the fluidity that we’d seen in the first two matches. And after starting like a house on fire, they lost their way a bit, conceded a try and scraped through at the end of the first half with a lead and work to do. Even in the first 20 minutes of the first half, they weren’t looking too flash, until a few subs added the quality and the organisation so they ran away with a good victory in the end. Jackie Shiels and Sharon Lynch were the stand out players for me. Fair play to the Ladies from Kazakhstan for hanging in to the end, some achievement to be there at all. Another fab post match interview from Lynn Cantwell too, these ladies are playing a blinder!
So at that stage, a 3rd place finish looked on the cards.

But there more surprises on the way – England and Canada drew, which meant they both finished below Ireland, eliminating the Black Ferns in the process. And in the final match, a tough gritty affair, France eliminated the Australians. So next up for the final is Ireland England , France Canada. Any team can win it now, and quietly confident, the Irish ladies are honest enough to say they can win it. In the top two after the pools, not too shabby!

09 Aug 2014
09/08 - 13:00 Ireland  40 - 5  Kazakhstan FFR HQ
09/08 - 15:00 Spain  41 - 5  Samoa FFR HQ
09/08 - 15:45 England  13 - 13  Canada FFR HQ
09/08 - 17:00 Wales  35 - 3  South Africa FFR HQ
09/08 - 18:00 New Zealand  34 - 3  USA FFR HQ
09/08 - 20:45 Australia  3 - 17  France FFR HQ

13 Aug 2014
13/08 - 14:00 South Africa   -   Samoa FFR HQ
13/08 - 15:45 New Zealand   -   Wales Stade Jean Bouin
13/08 - 16:15 Spain   -   Kazakhstan FFR HQ
13/08 - 18:00 Ireland   -   England Stade Jean Bouin
13/08 - 18:30 Australia   -   USA FFR HQ
13/08 - 20:45 France   -   Canada Stade Jean Bouin

Ladies first - Ireland beat the Black Ferns!

 

 (picture http://bit.ly/1kpoyzR)

Ireland’s biggest triumph over New Zealand in rugby ever, and I didn’t even get to watch it! The ladies powered home on Tuesday – I didn’t see it, but followed it online and through radio reports. The picture I got was of a dominant Irish perfromance – turning down several penalty opportunities to go for lineouts and scrums early on in the match, being a tad unlucky not to get a penalty try, going behind against the run of play, but scoring a deserved try in the first half to bring it close again. But then keeping the pressure on in the second half, getting another try, kicking the penalties, and closing out a tight match with defence and discipline. I thought in the USA match that their set piece work, with lineouts and driving mauls was excellent, and their scrumming in this match must have been top notch too. And their phase play is great, topped off by a good kicker in Niamh Briggs, why wouldn’t they have won? Brilliant to see the support they got from all over Ireland in the wake of their famous victory! Fiona Coghlan gave great post match interviews – self belief was the key, a good game plan and fitness. Get in there the ladies!

They face Kazakhstan next on Saturday, who have suffered two heavy defeats, and Ireland should get the bonus point win with relative ease, while being able to rest a few players from this punishing turnaround of matches. The big matches will be England/Canada, New Zealand/USA – (squeaky bum time for the Black Ferns) and Australia/France.  After this, the seeding will be decided for the final matches.  I reckon the seedings will look like this, if NZ get a bonus point, otherwise Canada will be 4th, which means Ireland could face the formidable French team next. ‘Mon the ladies!
1 England 2 France 3 Ireland 4 New Zealand

And for all the Munsterites and other rugby fans, details of the Limerick 7’s here: http://thomondpark.ie/limerick-world-club-7s/

09/08 - 13:00 Ireland   -   Kazakhstan
09/08 - 15:00 Spain   -   Samoa
09/08 - 15:45 England   -   Canada
09/08 - 17:00 Wales   -   South Africa
09/08 - 18:00 New Zealand   -   USA
09/08 - 20:45 Australia   -   France

Pool A
Team         P  W   D    L   PF    PA    TF TA  BP  PTS
England    2    2    0    0    110    8    16    1    2    10
Canada     2    2    0    0    73    12    10    2    2    10
Spain       2    0    0    2    10     76     2    10    0    0
Samoa      2    0    0    2    10    107   1    16    0    0

Pool B
Team                 P   W  D    L    PF    PA  TF   TA  BP  PTS
Ireland              2    2    0    0    40    31    4       3    0    8
New Zealand    2    1    0    1    93    22    14    3     2    6
USA                 2    1    0    1    64    30    10    3     2    6
Kazakhstan      2    0    0    2    12    126    2    21    0    0

Pool C
Team                P    W  D    L   PF   PA  TF  TA BP  PTS
France              2    2    0    0    81    3    13    0    2    10
Australia          2    2    0    0    51    6    6      0    0    8
Wales               2    0    0    2    3    51    0      7    0    0
South Africa    2    0    0    2    6    81    0    12    0    0

Ireland's ladies get off to a flyer,and the Waratahs finally get their name on the Cup!

 

 (picture http://bit.ly/WUW0Ux)

I got to watch two tense, close matches this weekend, result! First up Was the Irish ladies team taking on the USA. The USA sit one point above Ireland in the World Rankings, in 5th, so it was likely to be a close affair. And what a good match! Both teams played to their strengths, and the match had a good tempo. Ireland have a really well drilled side – scrumming isn’t their forte, and the Americans had the upper hand there, but they have just about an unstoppable maul. And they’re good at holding on to the ball, going through the phases, and keeping the pressure on. I thought Mary Louise Reilly at 4 was outstanding for Ireland, safe hands at the line out, and busy all round the park. After closing out a tense match, they play the All Blacks on Tuesday, who had little more than a training run against Kazakhstan.

Then on Saturday, it was the Waratahs welcoming the Crusaders to Sydney. This was the third time they’d met in the final, with the Saders winning the first two. No exaggeration to say that’s one of the best matches I’ve watched, played at frantic speed. This was no cagey conservative match, this was full blooded rugby, with both teams prepared to spread the ball wide and gamble. Adam Ashley Copper always amazes me, he’s had a great career, he might not be the most skilled out, but he knows where the try line is, and crossed twice this match. The ‘Tahs came out of the blocks at a million miles an hour, and were 14-0 up in no time. Full credit to the Crusaders for never lying down, and hanging in there, right until the end, with the lead changing hands twice in the last 5 minutes. Nick Phipps was the MOTM for me, great crisp passing and game management, and game saving cover tackling. Foley excelled, the ‘Tahs loose trio was epic, and Folau ruled the airways. For the Crusaders, Todd was everywhere, Nadolo was impressive, but let’s face it, every starting player and every sub for both sides put their hand up. Great to see a new name on the cup, good news for the Rugby Championship too as they will surely invigorate the Wallabies.

Super Rugby
Saturday , August 2
Waratahs 33 - 32 Crusaders   

01/08 - 13:00    New Zealand    79 - 5    Kazakhstan   
01/08 - 15:00    Canada        31 - 5    Spain   
01/08 - 15:45    Australia    26 - 3    South Africa   
01/08 - 17:00    USA        17 - 23    Ireland   
01/08 - 18:00    England        65 - 3    Samoa   
01/08 - 20:45    France        26 - 0    Wales

Womens World Cup kicks off, even if the ladies aren't quite getting first class treatment, and Super Rugby final!

 

 (picture http://bit.ly/XkthIE)

First up, the Women’s World Cup! This kicks of tomorrow, and has had a medium profile in the build up I guess. Digging a little further, and you can see that the ladies aren’t quite getting a fair deal out of this. The IRB doesn’t do a world ranking for the women’s game (?), but rugby statistician Serge Piquet does a ranking of his own which is generally accepted, on which Ireland are ranked 6th.  We were third in the 6 Nations this year, so we have a handy team.

Looking at the schedule, it’s pretty ridiculous, test matches on a Friday, and then a Tuesday. Ireland open their account against the USA tomorrow, and then play New Zealand on Tuesday.
The Irish team for the USA features 14 out of the 15 that the won the Grand Slam in 2015, and fair play to TG4, will be live on Irish TV. C’mon Ireland!

Super Rugby reaches its climax in Sydney on Saturday, in front of what is likely to be a record final crowd, of more than 55000. I want the ‘Tahs to win this one, it’s their third final, they’ve never won it, and frankly deserve their turn for playing some great rugby over the years. And the Crusaders have hogged the title on and off, time to get some new blood into the system. Of course, deserving and getting are two completely different things, otherwise the Sharks would have a title already. On the form of last weekend, it looks like the Crusaders  have it in the bag, but how much of that was the Sharks making them look good is hard to say. Also, the Waratahs finished at the top by some distance, and beat a very good ACT side, then there’s the 50000 odd home fans who will be driving them on. One thing you always notice about Australia is that they play intelligent rugby, and I’m sure they’ve done their homework on the Crusaders, and are going to make life awkward to feck for them. After that, I reckon Phipps, Foley and Folau, nearly the 3 F’s, will guide them home. So the ‘Tah’s for the win then!

Elsewhere the Munster Race has been on with the Munster team on manoeuvres all over the Munster, a good treat for their fans, and the Limerick Worlds Sevens are on the 10th and 11th of August. Nice to invite the other provinces lads! Ulster got their new kit, while not a lot is happening in Leinster or Connacht.

Super Rugby
Saturday , August 2
Waratahs vs Crusaders

Women's World Cup 2014
Match Day 1: Friday 1st August
1300 New Zealand v Kazakhstan Marcoussis 2
1500 Canada v Spain Marcoussis 2
1700 USA v Ireland Marcoussis 2
1545 Australia v South Africa Marcoussis1
1800 England v Samoa Marcoussis 1
2045 France v Wales Marcoussis 1
MATCH DAY 2: TUESDAY AUGUST 5
1300 USA v Kazakhstan Marcoussis 2
1500 Australia v Wales Marcoussis 2
1700 Canada v Samoa Marcoussis 2
1545 England v Spain Marcoussis 1
1800 New Zealand v Ireland Marcoussis 1
2045 France v South Africa Marcoussis 1

Crusaders thunder home, while the Waratahs get there in the end!

 

 SP Marais ( Picture http://bit.ly/1qGnMkA)

No surprises really on the weekend in the Super rugby semi’s. The Sharks didn’t run out in drag anyway.

The Crusaders looking all conquering in the first match, giving the Sharks a right good stuffing. I’m not looking to make too many excuses for the Sharks, but they did look off their peak, which comes back to their air miles. It’s not often you’re going to see a Sharks line out all over the place like that, or their scrum being rocked. But the brainless kicking away of possession deserves no excuses, it barely works when it’s contested, nevermind handing over the ball to the most potent 15 man attack in the world, bar the All Blacks. The only time they threatened was when they played the Crusaders at their own game, a bit of vision from the impressive Marais, and a good long pass at Kankowski taking them right up the field from their own 25.  Can the Cruasaders be stopped? It’s going to take something special.

In Sydney, it was a far cagier affair,  with mega amounts of tackling. The Waratahs didn’t look nearly as impressive as the Crusaders, with two of their tries coming through lucky breaks. But what was impressive was how they defended, against a very determined Brumbies attack. If ACT keep on playing like that, they’ll be making the final themselves soon enough again. The Waratahs used their defence to tire the Brumbies out, and then just eased away from them at the end. Can they hold out the Cruasaders next week? I think it’s going to be way closer than most people are predicting, the Waratahs should have a massive crowd behind them, and they have far more to show than they did this week.

Super Rugby

Saturday , July 26

Crusaders 38 - 6 Sharks 

Waratahs 26 - 8 Brumbies 

Hard to see past the Crusaders and the Waratahs!

 

 (picture http://ab.co/1pjZ1El)

Another pair of great matches to look forward to this weekend, as the Super Rugby competition nears its end.

First up will be from Christchurch, where the Crusaders are hosting the Sharks. The Sharks have traveled at least half way around the world to get to Christchurch, which is hardly ideal, and face a team refreshed and coming off a bye, and in a rich recent vein of form. That doesn’t really look too promising for the Sharks does it, also taking into account that the Sharks score a lot of their points through penalties, and the Crusaders have given away the least penalties so far this year. The Crusaders have never lost at home at this point in the tournament, and aren’t planning to change that on Saturday. Having said all that, the Sharks did turn the Saders over earlier on this season, with 14 men for most of the match, admittedly while the home side were without Carter and Reid. Out of all the SA sides, they have the most ammunition in the backs  to turn to a plan B if the forwards can’t bludgeon the opposition into submission. If the Sharks can really get in the Crusaders faces early, and put them off their game, they have a chance, otherwise it’s only going to go one way.

Meanwhile, in Sydney, there’s a great derby coming up with the Waratahs hosting the Brumbies. The ‘Tahs have been impressive from the middle of the season on, while the Brumbies really hit their straps last week against the Chiefs. The key men I think will be Henry Speight and Israel Folau, and how they are contained, as either could go one to turn the match. Home advantage for the Tah’s is massive, but travel wasn’t much of a burden for the Brumbies, and this is a pretty evenly matched contest. Overall, though I’m backing the consistency of the Waratahs to see them home at home.

Super Rugby
Saturday , July 26
Waratahs vs Brumbies 
Crusaders vs Sharks 

As you were, Brumbies and Sharks!

 

 Heny Speight (picture http://bit.ly/1nLvrGg)

No major surprises this weekend as home advantage proved crucial in the Super Rugby play offs. The only major surprise for me was finding I’d recorded a super league match instead of the Sharks/Highlanders. Doh!

I did, however manage to record the Brumbies v Chiefs, and what an enjoyable match that was. Great, potent, high tempo rugby. I thought Henry Speight was outstanding, he has Wallaby superstar stamped all over him. The Brumbies built up a good early lead, and although the Chiefs fought back to even Stevens with 10 minutes to go, I always thought the Brumbies would win it. They now go on to face the Tah’s and although the Sydneymen are favourites, anything can happen in a good old derby match. The Chiefs took way too long to get into the match, they are missing a bit of the X-Factor, and Sonny Bill Williams should sort that out for them next year.

Can’t say too much about the Sharks Highlanders match for obvious reasons, but the Sharks did what they had to do, coming from behind twice to seal the win. They head off to Christchurch, knowing at least that they have already won there this season.

Meanwhile in Ireland, rugby somehow got dragged into the Garth Brooks circus, with Paraic Duffy wondering why nobody said anything when they wanted to host 7 World Cup games, but when they wanted to host 5 Garth Brooks concerts, everyone jumped up and down. Hmmm.

Finally, French internationals Benjamin Kayser, Julien Pierre and Aurélien Rougerie have been hospitalised following an attack in Millau. The Clermont trio were attacked by a dozen individuals "armed with machetes, knives, swords" on Saturday night as the players returned to their hotel, according to the club's website. What the hell! Here’s hoping they all get well soon, especially Pierre, who needs surgery.

Super Rugby
Saturday , July 19
Brumbies 32 - 30 Chiefs 
Sharks 31 - 27 Highlanders