Answers question, eats microphone
Kobus Wiese, ex-Springbok man-mountain, commentator and World Cup-winner, had an interesting take on Sam Warburton’s red card in the Welsh loss to France. Continue reading
Red Cards
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Tag Archives: RWC 2011
Settling in Thoughts
Well done New Zealand: It’s a relatively small country a long way from anywhere else and the weather hasn’t been the best but the atmosphere and organisation, bar some opening night nerves, seem to have been very good. Beating the French will have cheered up the Kiwis and put some ghosts to rest, while seeing the Aussies lose has been very well received. The Ireland v Russia game sounded like it had been organised by the best hostel in the world and the crowd were suitably lubricated. Continue reading
Bonzer Commentary From The Hosts!
Kiwi commentators play a blinder!
For those of you who didn’t get to see the Setanta broadcast of the hard-fought but error-ridden game between Georgia and Romania – a high-concept crossover between Over The Top [a film about arm-wrestling] and Ireland’s 2011 Six Nations match against Italy [a film about knock-ons] – you missed some absolutely cracking commentary from the NZ host broadcaster. Some gems below: Continue reading
Precog: Set Pieces, Ireland vs Italy
Don't think we'll see the same sort of result this time round
If we look at the last game between the two teams, Italy dominated two of the set-pieces: the scrum and the lineout. Continue reading
Match Review: USA Eagles 10-27 Italy
He's not so tough
The big news from this game is that the Italians fourth try, eked out from the intense pressure that their scrum could exert on the American set piece. This means that Ireland have no get out clause next week and that, just like we assumed would happen at the beginning of the tournament, we have to beat Italy to qualify* for the quarter-final stage. Continue reading
The Usual Suspects
Five criminals. One line-up. No co-incidence.
The biggest question facing Declan Kidney and the Irish coaching staff as they look towards to the match against the Italian team is who they’re going to select in the No12 jersey. Continue reading
Match Preview: Ireland v Russia
There's a six in the morning? Sky Plus baby!
St Declan’s selection for this match indicates what the warm up matches were for and contrasts him with the witless Lièvremont. In many regards, this team is the one that played in Bordeaux against France and the changes are indicative of Kidney’s interpretation of his squad’s form. Continue reading
Flinty Robinson Makes A Tough Call
Robinson makes the tough call on Kellock
The Mole had previously speculated that Andy Robinson bestowing the Scottish captaincy on Alaistair Kellock would prohibit him from selecting his best second-row partnership. Continue reading
Team Announcement: Ireland vs Mother Russia
Saint Declan looking a little bit like Khrushchev.
Declan Kidney has mixed up his selection for the game against Russia, but has stopped a long way short from naming a second-string side. Continue reading
Australia v USA Preview
Get used to that feeling, Kurtley
Australia re-enter the fray after the Ireland upset with Will Genia as captain. Dingo Deans has chosen to give game time to a number of players returning from injury, notably Slipper, Mitchell and a slimmed down Cliffie Palu. Polota-Nau could be thrown into that category except he started against Ireland. Scott Higginbotham starts at blindside and has a chance to stake a claim for the 6 jumper. Pocock was unlikely to start this game due to rotation policy but the diggers must have concerns over his fitness. Continue reading
Digging Like a Demented Mole 