We own the Principality, be grand

1 in 4 shot of Ireland v Wales when the draw happens on Thursday… feels inevitable

Oh we won’t score 3.8 points per entry against SA, for context Leinster score 2.4 points per entry in the URC. We need to get down there a lot and probably pick up 6/9 cheaper points from outside the 22 to stand a chance.

SA have scored an average of 34 points against top class teams this year (NZ, Argentina, France, Australia), the only time they have scored less than 20 points was 17 at Eden Pk 😬

For Ireland to have any hope against SA they are going to have to get into their 22 8+ times (5 against NZ) and be more clinical that they have been against any team not named Australia… They also need to hold the Boks at or below 20 points, it all seems a very steep mountain to climb

Half (6) of Ireland’s 22 entries came from scrum pens or winning back our contestable kicks. Does anyone think that is repeatable v the Boks scrum and Damien Willemse?

Ireland’s kick game was superb, the length, height and chase from JGP’s & SP’s contestables was near perfect, all night. Big men or Mack Hansen were given time to compete, with support left and right to clean up the scraps. BUT Australia were absolutely awful under the high ball…

But how did we get into the Aussie 22?

- 25% penalties won (3), 2 from scrums
- 25% phase play entry (3), 1 in the 2min, the next was the 76th minute when Australia had given up
- 17% 50:22 (2)
- 33% contestable kick won (4)

2 tries from cross-field kicks, 2 from (the same) passing moves and 2 tries from punching closer in. Another sensational cross kick marginally disallowed, a drop goal & a pen. One notable Sheehan hold up from a 5m maul, being the lowlight.

Ireland scores 8 times from 12 visits to the opponents 22. 3.8 points per 22 entry is excellent. The variety of attack and quality of execution once in the 22 being the clear highlight of the day for Ireland.

Check out the Libero podcast from last Thursday, with Mr Wilson, the greatest night of European football qualifying ever… November 17th 1993… covers this and what happened in Windsor Pk wasn’t too bad either 🤌 Core childhood memory

Sorry 😬😬 must be a very annoying day

Ah Pete, don’t be sticking the boot in like this… “achieved”…. it’s just mean

Not sure I see a difference in a 2nd tier English side vs a 2nd tier SA joining? Aside from the fact that it involves a 6th country

History, proximity. If (big if) they were any good, Irish, Welsh & Scottish fans would show up to see them/hate watch… can’t replicate that with Black Lion/Cheetahs

The first 2 options put a whole lot of additional cost into the league and very little revenue in return, so it’s either #3 or an English club which could actually be financially viable… just don’t see how or why the RFU agrees to it

It’s also utter nonsense, might have been true 20 years ago, but our players play more minutes than All Blacks or Boks.

Fav moment for me was when the ref came over to check the VAR screen, there was a boy about 8/9, right behind the screen, beaming, just delighted to be central to the action… Ref checks, camera pans back in his direction and he’s shouting and gesturing for a card 😂😂