In a new regular feature this season we’ll be sharing some of the initial “keyboard warrior” response to our featured match of the weekend ahead of our Monday writeup.
If you’d like to contribute stay tuned to our Facebook page for our “Feel free to leave your thoughts…” posts which show up around full time after Leinster & Ireland matches.
The hype has been killed. That will do wonders for the team in the World Cup
Damien J Doherty
@HarpinOnRugby it should have been game over for Ireland in the first half. Eng wasted a lot of opportunity
— Jill Rooney (@JillLondon) September 5, 2015
Poor defence and no go forward in the first half. Slightly better in the second but much to work upon. England deserved winners in the end. Main worries defensive frailty, handling in the close and lack of intensity at the breakdown. Main positives scrum, Zebo and Dave Kearney. Perversely I think this may be the right result for us. Despite playing so poorly we could've won that match. This should make the boys angry, there's nothing worse than complacency going into a major tournament #COYBIG
Richard Mifsud
Ireland go into the #RWC2015 after 2 consecutive losses. Worlds away from their expected quality today. #ENGvIRE
— The Rugby Blog (@TheRugbyBlog) September 5, 2015
Hope we're on plan to peak in October... I agree Best get those defensive lapses out of the system now. Bowe's performance was worrying to be honest not only missed tackles but poor positional play which I've never seen from him before. Bring on the groups and the 19th, a lot of work to do behind the scenes and in the first two games.
Stiofán McGréagóir
@HarpinOnRugby don't know any past WC winners that lost 2 games just before...
— Peter McEvoy (@petemce) September 5, 2015
The only major positive is the way the scrum performed. Locked out and solid. The front row put the ghosts of Twickenham past to bed once and for all. We even took a couple of their against the head and squeezed a few penalties out of them too. Aside from that we didn't really look like back to back champions.
Andrew Byrne
The most important thing that needed to happen a few minutes ago #Sexton #ENGvIRE #RWC2015 pic.twitter.com/w78PMno7zV
— Oonagh Kerr (@Rrek_Oonagh) September 5, 2015
Dave Kearney was superb. Tommy Bowe was awful. A tale of two wingers.
Otherwise, good scrum, poor defense (tackling in particular was awful, SOB apart). Played like a team afraid of injuries so may be excusable to a degree but still a fair bit to work on over the next two weeks.
Derek McGee
Let's chill out about Bowe. It's one game. Yes he was below par but he's definitely going to start. Kearney was superb as well - think he played himself into the back 3 while Zebo played himself out.
Forwards were up and down. Intensity was poor and didn't really provide a solid enough platform for multiple phases to get some good attack going. L
Credit to England - great line speed in defence and their back 3 were fantastic.
David Houston
Really wish Felix Jones and Andrew Trimble had been picked
Joanne Kilic
Ireland - Defense was poor, contact not intense, kick chase poor, connections in offense were off, scrum good, showed nothing in the backs
Pat Moroney
Most important thing from today is that 23 get game time and they all are fit to get on the plane
Michael Brogan
After watching Leinster last night and Ireland today, I'm depressed. And Italy gave Wales today in Cardiff a better run for their money than we did last week in Dublin. Lots of work ons ahead in Carton House, methinks....
Riocard Ó Tiarnaigh
Much improved 3rd quarter from Ireland, 4th was a lottery. Result means nowt. All about squad fitness now. #ENGvIRL #ShoulderToShoulder
— Harpin' On Rugby (@HarpinOnRugby) September 5, 2015
Many thanks to all who chipped in and helped us keep the online rugby chat going 24/7.
Stay tuned for our feature match writeup on Monday. JLP
