Rate the match: Ireland vs South Africa November 2014

Ado November 8, 2014 at 8:50 pm -

As a rugby spectacle it left the beautiful game cold but as a tactical and amazingly executed piece of rugby strategy, put your hands together for the Irish. Joe Smith is some coach, did not compete with the Boks at line-out time, no maul so Jack McGrath could run around and tackle the ball holder. THat was just one detail of a game plan among many, many more. The only thing more telling was the deployment of that strategy via the players. Under the most, as I a sure they anticipated, they stayed focused and composed, kept the tackles and intensity up so the Boks three quarters had not one second to breathe. By the end, what I saw was mind numbing arrogance in their repeated decisions to go for the corner and the rolling maul rather than take the points came back to haunt them. Next time they will take the points, of that I am sure. So well analysed, well executed and the step taken today will be reflected in confidence and performances tomorrow.

And when the smoke has cleared, thank God a northern hemisphere side has beatne one of their antipodean rivals.

2 comments on “Rate the match: Ireland vs South Africa November 2014”

Ado November 8, 2014 at 8:50 pm -
As a rugby spectacle it left the beautiful game cold but as a tactical and amazingly executed piece of rugby strategy, put your hands together for the Irish. Joe Smith is some coach, did not compete with the Boks at line-out time, no maul so Jack McGrath could run around and tackle the ball holder. THat was just one detail of a game plan among many, many more. The only thing more telling was the deployment of that strategy via the players. Under the most, as I a sure they anticipated, they stayed focused and composed, kept the tackles and intensity up so the Boks three quarters had not one second to breathe. By the end, what I saw was mind numbing arrogance in their repeated decisions to go for the corner and the rolling maul rather than take the points came back to haunt them. Next time they will take the points, of that I am sure. So well analysed, well executed and the step taken today will be reflected in confidence and performances tomorrow.
And when the smoke has cleared, thank God a northern hemisphere side has beatne one of their antipodean rivals.
Annie November 10, 2014 at 8:18 am -
well done Ireland ! great game