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Ireland player ratings: The pace and brutality of the game was right up there in what was a bitterly close contest between two sides desperate to bag the win in Murrayfield.
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Scotland will be disappointed they couldn’t edge this one, but Ireland were in the driving seat for the guts of this encounter, and deserved to nick this one.
A thrilling finish in Scotland! ? pic.twitter.com/QZ8fsvmZbW
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 14, 2021
IRELAND PLAYER RATINGS
15. HUGO KEENAN – 6.5
Imperious under the ball in a solo capacity but was part of a number of communication failures in both attack and defence in the first half. Edge defence is proving a problem for Andy Farrell’s Ireland, a facet the Scots exposed.
14. KEITH EARLS – 6
Did well to disrupt Stuart Hogg and co in the lead-up to Ireland’s opening try. Made himself useful, his 77th-minute catch possibly clinching the result. He did fall off a few tackles but he was marking Duhan Van Der Merwe.
13. GARRY RINGROSE – 6
Akin to using an expensive sports car to ramraid a convenience store, Ringrose is often left to eke out marginal gains as opposed to cutting loose, and so it was today. A poor choice to chip Stuart Hogg backfired terribly but he contributed gamely elsewhere.
12. ROBBIE HENSHAW – 8
Scored maybe his easiest career try ever to open Ireland’s account off aerial pressure. Ireland’s form back was a rock in the midfield; a dominate hit on the Duhan Van Der Merwe was a highlight even if the big winger got his own back by breezing past him 60 seconds later.
11. JAMES LOWE – 5.5
Marked out of the game in the opening exchanges by Scotland. Bafflingly, the left-wing was again found dawdling back for Finn Russell’s kick ahead try, which he could and should have covered; and was found wanting again in the second half for Huw Jones try. On the flip side, the brutal physicality of the game suited Lowe and his bulldozing proved increasingly useful as the game wore on, making more metres than any other back.
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10. JONATHAN SEXTON – 8
In typically angry and shouty form, Sexton pulled the strings in a lively start for Ireland. Drove Ireland around the pitch thereafter and slotted an awkward matchwinning penalty from the sideline. Vintage Sexton.
9. JAMISON GIBSON-PARK – 7
Came out of the blocks flying. How telling was it that Conor Murray didn’t come on to finish the game out? The Irish scrumhalf baton may now have been passed.
1. CIAN HEALY – 6
WP Nel just about shaded their individual battle. A relatively quiet inning around the pitch.
2. ROB HERRING – 6
Another solid if low-profile display from the Ulsterman.
3. TADHG FURLONG – 8
Gifted Scotland their first points after going off his feet in the 11th minute but what a joy to see the Wexford tighthead jinking, weaving and sidestepping around defenders. Struggling with the pace of the game but this was a return to Lions form, no doubt.
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Art. #SCOvIRE pic.twitter.com/cd80TUYkVN
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 14, 2021
4. IAIN HENDERSON – 8
Mercilessly destroyed Scotland’s lineout alongside James Ryan. Ireland’s turnover king today, with three steals to his name.
5. JAMES RYAN – 7
A couple of uncharacteristic handling errors from the towering Leinsterman. More than made up for them with his rousting of Scotland’s lineout.
6. TADHG BEIRNE – 8
Big, big game from the Munsterman. Limpet like over the ball and scorer of Ireland’s game-changing try. BBC’s MOTM.
7. WILL CONNORS – 7.5
Tackled his face off, with a resounding hit on Hamish Watson and a try-saving effort on Van Der Merwe reverberating around Murrayfield. With Ireland relying so heavily on Stander for go forward, it would be nice to see Messrs Connors and Beirne taking some of the pressure off their No.8.
8. CJ STANDER – 7.5
Mr Dependable was Ireland’s leading forward carrier once again, with 80 plus metres to his name.
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
3 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
11 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
11 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
3 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
11 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
11 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
11 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
11 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
11 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
11 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
11 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
11 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to comments