Can anyone confirm world rankings after Yesterday?

Also - when is the cut off before World Cup seedings are finalised

thanks in advance.

It was an odd championship and in the end didn't really answer any questions. There was only one away win in the competition (apart from those against Italy) and that win against Wales gave England the title. Bonus points didn't really make much difference which was kind of expected. No one (or at least I) wasn't complaining about the Irish gameplan when it was winning six nations, but everyone knows what to expect now, international rugby is analyzed to the absolute minutiae and even the best teams and strategies go stale in a year or two. Wales are an example of what happens if you keep plugging along at the same thing year in year out, they haven't improved much since the 2011 world cup. Scotland in a sense are right to replace Cotter now, on the hope that Townsend can offer enough of a twist on the current plan to make it even more effective and to keep teams guessing.

There were shades of the late Kidney era yesterday, obviously the 2011 win against England in particular. In both years Ireland arguably underperformed relative to expectations, but put a good gloss on it with a frenetic performance that said 'no one can live with us on our day'. But the next year they lost 60-0 to NZ - Kidney's gameplan was absolutely spent within 4 years of taking the job. Joe is obviously a more tactically minded coach than Kidney and the squad at his disposal is much better so we shouldn't expect as obvious a drop but he is showing some of the same qualities. The dedication to old stalwarts and to the gameplan that undoubtedly brought great success is absolutely understandable but he can't beat a battle with time. Several Six nations debutants snuck into the team versus England last year and this year and were some of the best performers, which shows that Irish players who have been exposed to European rugby and who have been in the training camps will more than likely be able to make the step up, there shouldn't be so much doubt being expressed by the coach about his player base.

Yesterday also proved that Ireland are capable or playing with ball in hand and not just kicking for territory, granted that was probably out of fear of what the English back could do, but why give any team the ball so easily? I think that was the first game where Ringrose was mentioned repeatedly for attacking moves, getting the ball out before the defense is set allows that.

As for comparisons between Murray and Marmion, as has been said already, there different kinds of scrum-half, Murray's kicking is better, but after the almost 3 halves of matches Marmion has had with the full first team, I think Marmion is the better passer, he plays at a higher tempo than Murray (there might be a tiny little bit of bias there)

thankfully it is gradually happening even should you not approve joe. even the players are superseding the senseless rubbish thrust on them.

possibly with POM. And then of course we need Scanell. and gradually we are finally getting there, and i know joe it causes you pain, but even you in your blinkered vision must see what is there in front of you

Bazzo wrote:

Diabhal wrote: I dunno if it's just me but Marmion's performance today was the most satisfying Connacht player performance in an Irish jersey in my 15 years of fandom. The guy has been written off to death without ever getting a fair crack. He took his shot, played Joe's game and defended like a man possessed. We've known he'd rise to the task but it's fantastic to see universal praise against the best team in the NH. Was also delighted that Luke McGrath made an impact. These guys will grow at international level and along with John Cooney at Ulster next season I think we can officially dismiss the myth that Murray, although world-class on his day, is irreplaceable.

Was hugely disappointed with our campaign before tonight but the future is there if Joe wants to look past guys like SOB Sr, Earls, Kearney and Best. Sort out our toothless attack in the opposition 22 and we'll be really hard to stop.

Absolutely loved it. Sick of listening to dialogues about how Marmion had "plateuad"(if consistently performing excellently can be considered a plateau) and wasn't good enough for Ireland. He's a totally different type of scrum half to Murray but it's not a bad thing, he adds so much more pace to the game in comparison and has our backs looking slick for the first time in a century as a result. Really don't mean to sound bitter but I just think Marmion has had a shit time of it with incredibly unfair criticism because he's not a perfect Murray clone.

We beat England without murray. How is this possible? It is unfathomable

Diabhal wrote: I dunno if it's just me but Marmion's performance today was the most satisfying Connacht player performance in an Irish jersey in my 15 years of fandom. The guy has been written off to death without ever getting a fair crack. He took his shot, played Joe's game and defended like a man possessed. We've known he'd rise to the task but it's fantastic to see universal praise against the best team in the NH. Was also delighted that Luke McGrath made an impact. These guys will grow at international level and along with John Cooney at Ulster next season I think we can officially dismiss the myth that Murray, although world-class on his day, is irreplaceable.

Was hugely disappointed with our campaign before tonight but the future is there if Joe wants to look past guys like SOB Sr, Earls, Kearney and Best. Sort out our toothless attack in the opposition 22 and we'll be really hard to stop.

Absolutely loved it. Sick of listening to dialogues about how Marmion had "plateuad"(if consistently performing excellently can be considered a plateau) and wasn't good enough for Ireland. He's a totally different type of scrum half to Murray but it's not a bad thing, he adds so much more pace to the game in comparison and has our backs looking slick for the first time in a century as a result. Really don't mean to sound bitter but I just think Marmion has had a shit time of it with incredibly unfair criticism because he's not a perfect Murray clone.

Diabhal wrote: I
Was hugely disappointed with our campaign before tonight but the future is there if Joe wants to look past guys like SOB Sr, Earls, Kearney and Best. Sort out our toothless attack in the opposition 22 and we'll be really hard to stop.

I am the most negative person in the rugby world but I so totally agree with you. I suppose I just constantly barrage these folks with criticism. And while my negativity is not positive I do believe, strangely, I am right. When POM was announced I believed for the first time I believed we could win. And we did. None of the media twits. This is what we needed. Payne is utter shit, I have always said my impression of Earls is trying to break out of a paper bag, that has not changed

I dunno if it's just me but Marmion's performance today was the most satisfying Connacht player performance in an Irish jersey in my 15 years of fandom. The guy has been written off to death without ever getting a fair crack. He took his shot, played Joe's game and defended like a man possessed. We've known he'd rise to the task but it's fantastic to see universal praise against the best team in the NH. Was also delighted that Luke McGrath made an impact. These guys will grow at international level and along with John Cooney at Ulster next season I think we can officially dismiss the myth that Murray, although world-class on his day, is irreplaceable.

Was hugely disappointed with our campaign before tonight but the future is there if Joe wants to look past guys like SOB Sr, Earls, Kearney and Best. Sort out our toothless attack in the opposition 22 and we'll be really hard to stop.

If I never have to listen to shane horgan again it will be a good day

dobby wrote: Welsh game getting farcical but definitely intriguing. Is this a record for the longest half of international rugby. And a guy who gets yellow carded in the 81st minute returns in the 91st minute. Now that must be a record

Wayne Barnes totally had that Welsh side under control. They were on their 47th out of 48 warnings, one more infringement and they might have been looking at a yellow card.

salmson wrote: Couldn't disagree more. Payne can play, but he dropped every kick that came his way. Kearney is the opposite. If only we had a fullback who covered both bases. #JusticeForTiernan

+1

Couldn't disagree more. Payne can play, but he dropped every kick that came his way. Kearney is the opposite. If only we had a fullback who covered both bases. #JusticeForTiernan

eezipc wrote:

dobby wrote: POM is what Ireland has needed all this 6 nations. He is simply dominating the lineout as everyone said he would. I feel sorry for Heaslip but happy for Ireland. Honestly wish Joe would pick a team. So annoying seeing favouritism. Marmion was a perfectly adequate replacement to Murray, shock horror. Are we finally rid of this incessant nonsense that there are only 15 players. Instead just pick the best players Joe. They play well because they are your best players. I know you struggle with this concept

Also Payne should be automatically ahead of Kearney fron now on. I thought he was superb.

After all those fumbles. Struggling with that opinion

dobby wrote: POM is what Ireland has needed all this 6 nations. He is simply dominating the lineout as everyone said he would. I feel sorry for Heaslip but happy for Ireland. Honestly wish Joe would pick a team. So annoying seeing favouritism. Marmion was a perfectly adequate replacement to Murray, shock horror. Are we finally rid of this incessant nonsense that there are only 15 players. Instead just pick the best players Joe. They play well because they are your best players. I know you struggle with this concept

Also Payne should be automatically ahead of Kearney fron now on. I thought he was superb.

POM is what Ireland has needed all this 6 nations. He is simply dominating the lineout as everyone said he would. I feel sorry for Heaslip but happy for Ireland. Honestly wish Joe would pick a team. So annoying seeing favouritism. Marmion was a perfectly adequate replacement to Murray, shock horror. Are we finally rid of this incessant nonsense that there are only 15 players. Instead just pick the best players Joe. They play well because they are your best players. I know you struggle with this concept