Fortunate timing for Healy, it essentially turns the ban into just a week. He was never going to play for Leinster either side of the Scotland game. I'm sure the intention was to have him miss at least two 6 Nations games and the offense probably warranted at least that. Why didn't they just give him a 4 week ban to begin with? Was that outside the guidelines for the offense?

"Cian Healy has been cleared to face France on Saturday week after a Six Nations appeal agreed that the decision to defer his three-week ban by a week “was not permissible under the relevant regulations”. Healy had received a three-week sanction for stamping on England’s Dan Cole that actually would have seen the prop miss four weeks of rugby."

Seems like the ban wasn't changed, just how it is implemented. Seems fine to me.

Michael Corcoran ‏@MichaelC_RTE
Cian Healy appeal successful, available for game v France #rterugby

crazy, unbelievable

Actually the bigger crime was right at the end after we had won a scrum penalty, allowing Sean O'Brien to tap and go when we should have opted for a scrum to tie in the Scottish pack and give the backs some chance, dreadful game management...

I already referred to this in my player ratings with SOB going alone and no-one building a pod around him. I don't mind that he tapped it but he could have at least had the wherewithal to look around and make sure he had support before going. As it was he caught our guys by surprise as well and support arrived that fraction to late helping Scotland get turnover ball.

As bad as it was we really need to say that was a Connacht v Harlequins-esque performance from Scotland, and we know how much we enjoyed that last year. The amount of territory and possession had Scotland on the back foot for almost the entire game and they tackled their hearts out. Fair play to them, they deserve to celebrate that.

connachtexile wrote:

Personally thought they should have had a kick at goal on 76 minutes, the kick to touch hadn't worked all game and I would have backed myself to get back down in Scotland's end for a DG or penalty attempt.

Good point

Actually the bigger crime was right at the end after we had won a scrum penalty, allowing Sean O'Brien to tap and go when we should have opted for a scrum to tie in the Scottish pack and give the backs some chance, dreadful game management...

Personally thought they should have had a kick at goal on 76 minutes, the kick to touch hadn't worked all game and I would have backed myself to get back down in Scotland's end for a DG or penalty attempt.

Good point

Simply squandered too many scoring opportunities in the first half and then conceded too many penalties in the second. Yes, if Jackson makes his kicks they win the game, but I wouldn't blame him for the loss. It was a team effort. But having said that many had decent games and needed only to execute that last 5%. Fitzgerald clearly needed more game time before being thrown on an international pitch and O'Gara should be dropped for that kick he tried to pull off in his own end. Was a very bad time for Best to have trouble with his darts but he came good and who would you replace him with anyways? Personally thought they should have had a kick at goal on 76 minutes, the kick to touch hadn't worked all game and I would have backed myself to get back down in Scotland's end for a DG or penalty attempt.

Likewise, it is madness to blame the defeat on Paddy Jackson. I also feels sorry for Heaslip - a very good individual performance but questionable performance as captain again. Poor decision making, starting with the team selection and continuing through the game was what lost it. When you get a penalty at 0-0 inside the 22 you point at the posts. Jackson should have been given those kicks to settle him. BOD was poor, Earls very poor, back row except Heaslip was way below par. Locks and front rows carry the can for a poor scrum, Best mainly to blame for a poor line out. Marshall is the only one I can think of that came out of it with any credit really, maybe Gilroy too, but they had nothing more than 'decent' games.

I refuse to blame a 21 year old kid who hasn't been kicking with his club and has been parachuted into a high pressure situation on his first cap. It was too soon for him and Kidney should have known and had a succession plan in place from the start of the season. I don't blame ROG, he's a driven man and wants to prove he still has what it takes, but it's clear to see he doesn't, and Kidney should have known that too.

Ultimately it is his poor selection and succession policies that have brought us here, along with a lack of tactical ability.

I agree with most of connachtexile's points, especially 'Killer', ROG and Fitzgerald (what has he done to leapfrog McFadden?). Earls played well and is a naturally gifted footballer, but his lack of rugby intelligence and mental toughness is worrying, too often he seems to panic and take the wrong option and it probably cost us a try today.

My breakdown of the Irish team is the following:

1. TOM COURT : Did well and while the scrums were on parity he seemed to be getting the better of his opponent as the game went on. Was surprised when Kidney whipped him off after 50 something minutes. Score: 6.5/10

2. RORY BEST : Not a good day at the office throwing wise but couldn't be blamed for some of the mishaps in the line-out as the game went on. The line-out seems to have improved but still a quite day for him. 6/10

3. MIKE ROSS : Didn't do anything spectacular but went about his business and seemed to get the upper hand in the later part of the game. 6.5/10

4. DONNACHA O'CALLAGHAN : Played well and was a nuisance to Scotland all day. 7/10

5. DONNACHA RYAN : The real pack leader he was the only one I saw shouting orders and communicating to others in the front eight. A great performance. 7/10

6. PETER O'MAHONEY : Another good performance and kept the breakdown competitive. 7/10

7. SEAN O'BRIEN : I don't know how many times he went into contact alone from a standing start in the first half but surely someone should have had a word with him and told him to stop it or create a pod around him to support him so we could get quick ball. Neither of those things happened and considering he still did it at the last minute he seems either incapable of learning or no-one was communicating his mistakes to him. 6/10

8. JAMIE HEASLIP : Didn't seem to be communicating with his forwards and gave Scotland at least one silly penalty. He is not a captain yet and might never be one. 5/10

9. CONOR MURRAY : Slow ball to people all the way through the first half and didn't harangue the Scottish forwards or scrum-half. Was showed up by Reddan in delivery and street-smarts when he came in. 6/10

10. PADDY JACKSON : Fantastic distribution but his kicking cost us the game. A debut to forget and should be dropped for Ian Madigan for the next game. 5/10

11. KEITH EARLS : Another great performance on the wing bY Earls hopefully he has realized that this is his position and stops trying to be a centre. 7.5/10

12 LUKE MARSHALL : What a performace! Wasn't sure about him been picked in this position but he proved me wrong. 8/10 [Irish MOM]

13 BRIAN O'DRISCOLL : Had a good game and his defense was solid. 7/10

14. CRAIG GILROY : Scored the try but didn't see much of the ball. Not his fault though as it barely went out to him. 7/10.

15. ROB KEARNEY : I don't know how many times he ran into traffic when a dink over would have unleashed the whole Irish backline. Was good in defence but extremely limited in attack. 6/10

SUBS:

DAVE KILCOYNE : This guy is 5th choice loosehead in my opinion behind Healy, Court, Wilkinson and Black. Wouldn't be in the squad if he wasn't a Munster player and it showed. 5/10

DEVIN TONER : Didn't see anything he did but he didn't get much chance either. 6/10

EOIN REDDAN : Gave superfast ball when he came on the was annoying around the rucks. Should start the next game. 7/10

RONAN O'GARA : He's nothing but deadwood and should be cut from the team. 3/10

LUKE FITZGERALD : Knocked the ball on everytime he got his hands on it and seemed to be off the pace. 5/10

it shows that a lot of the fringe players just arent at the level we thought they were.
it was a poor team performance devoid of leadership on the pitch. the scrum and lineout were poor and the pressure got jackson with the boot. tempo, intensity and agression levels were off from the start.
kidney will be critisised and the buck stops with him but the team have to take there own responsibility for this.

End of the line for Kidney as Ireland somehow contrived to lose to Scotland. Pleased for Scotland as in recent years supporting them is a bit like supporting Connacht, the odd good day mixed in with a lot of bad days.

Injuries played a part but really far too many basic mistakes and lack of any kind of clinical finishing at this level.

It's tough on the lad but he said it himself the way he plays his was always going to be a short career. Hopefully he recovers though and has a few more years left in him.

The latest on Ferris' injuries, unfortunately this is starting to sound like the rolling problems that have plagued POC...

www.rabodirectpro12.com/news/15912.php

Cave been named on the bench for ulster in the last hour