ireland in the rwc

still they will be back sooner than if they were to stay out there for another week or two

Another massive world cup dissapointment. We went out in the quarters as we expected before the tournament started. The win over Australia was great at the time but it only counts if you then go on and take advantage of your improved seeding and we failed to do that.

Really never got out of the blocks at all today. Wales had us well sussed and got the early momentum and there was no Plan B.  Plenty of territory early on but no penetration. Even when we got back to 10-10 we lost our composure and lost our own lineout and gave away a cheap try to Philips. Really at the breakdown we were cleaned out and our kicking game was appalling to put it mildly, really lost our way in the 2nd half.

Hard to know where Irish Rugby goes from here with yet another world cup let down. Big chance lost. This will be one of those times we will be looking back on in 10 or 15 years saying that was our greatest ever chance of at least a semi-final and possibly a final.

Really dissapointing to see O'Driscoll, O'Gara, O'Connell and these lads have never got further than the last 8 in the world.

Well done to Gatland. Was shafted all those years ago and he has come back to haunt us.

Off the smokes for a few weeks ,Had nothing but chest infections since.Really hoped for something better out the Ireland/Connacht games .Doom gloom by the barrell at the moment  :'( .F**k it ,feel crap but outta the blue ,my wee man hugged my leg a number of times over the weekend and said "nice gaggy" .
Things like this will always keep a smile on my face and keep the spirits up.100% improvement on the 2007 WC and we're not in the worst position in the Rabo .Things could always be worse  and are worse for others.

Feel free to debate the below.
Had a debate about the Ireland backs at the weekend, and what the team will look like in a few years
What do people think of this as the backs?

9. Murray
10. Keatley
11. Earls
12. Sexton
13. McFadden/Cave
14. Bowe
15. Kearney

Putting Keatley in there, as he'll be playing with Murray week in, week out soon enough. Haven't seen enough of Cave, to really decide who will be playing center.

I think Trimble should be added to that list.

No Spence?

Does anyone else think we need to find a big, fast, offloading center - along the same lines as Manu Tuilagi for England, Nonu for the all blacks, or even Roberts for Wales? Seems to me a lot of the up and coming Irish lads are small and fast. Maybe the IRFU need to send someone to the Islands (pacific, not Aran) to find someone with an Irish granny.