Ireland v England: Ask The Experts

by Brendan Cole

Ask Brent.....We'll keep this one short.

Ireland v England is shaping the biggest clash so far in this RBS 6 Nations campaign and we’d hate to miss an angle and to that end, we’re opening the floor to questions for RTÉ's panel of rugby experts - George Hook, Brent Pope and Conor O'Shea.

Post your questions in the comments section – you can name who you’d like to answer it – and we’ll put the best of them to our analysts over the next couple of days.

Answers will appear in the preview columns.

Anyone with questions regarding George Hook's personal life, we suggest you check out his appearance with Brent on Tubridy Tonight - it's all there (I kid you not).

Disclaimer: Interesting questions that are nicely phrased and well thought out may do better than those that lack these qualities......

 
« Ireland's Team Selec... | Main | What Did BOD Mean? »


Comments:

To George, Brent or Conor: It has been highlighted throughout this 6 Nations that the 10/12 channel could be targeted by opposing teams as a potential weakness in the Irish set-up due to the somewhat ineffective tackling from O'Gara in particular. Against the Welsh especially, we could be facing a daunting challenge in that area. The 6ft 4in of Jamie Roberts may cause us huge difficulties if he decides to run at ROG. My question is, putting aside some injuries and his somewhat questionable form over the past few months, could Shane Horgan perhaps fill in at 12 to cover for O'Gara, and go like for like (size-wise) with the Welsh inside-center?

Posted by Niall Colgan on February 24, 2009 at 03:28 PM GMT #

Hello Brent,Just wondering where you guys watch the matches?Is there a special room you four go into or do you sit in the seats we see you in?.Also id like to see your reaction just as Ireland score a try,does George jump on the table with excitement?Do you think the RTE cameras will show your reaction sometime?

Posted by Martin Cunningham on February 24, 2009 at 03:39 PM GMT #

will england attack down the 10 12 channel and can ireland vary their own game enough to win

Posted by peter on February 24, 2009 at 03:44 PM GMT #

why dosent kidney give stringer an xv position

Posted by 192.168.24.17 on February 24, 2009 at 04:09 PM GMT #

can wallace handle tindall and flutey in defence

Posted by 192.168.24.17 on February 24, 2009 at 04:20 PM GMT #

I find the praise heaped on Ronan O'Gara a little hard to take of late, yes he was (and is) a great no. 10 but he is also our weakest link. He's been average with a dead ball, questionable with the ball in hand and constantly misses his kicks to touch. Paddy Wallace is not an outhalf, why should someone like Johnny Sexton (who had a great game for Ireland A) not be brought into the fold now and bring in another element from the bench if required? To use the NZ addage if you're good enough your old enough and I feel he's proven himself over the last 2 years to be good enough as O'Gara's form continues to drop, what are your views on this?

Posted by Brendan Flynn on February 24, 2009 at 04:38 PM GMT #

Has Wales recent success alot to do with a original approach to "bending the rules" i.e cheating such as late tackles, lazy running and not rolling away as witnessed in the Scotland match? Not to be taken as sour grapes but they were allowed an awful lot of leeway in their opening games, which was not afforded to any other team.

Posted by Joseph B Barrett on February 24, 2009 at 04:40 PM GMT #

do you feel we our seeting ourselfs up for another dissapointing six nations by seeting our sights on winning the grand lsam can we not try and settle for just winning the rbs six nations ,and do you feel that we may get the backlash of englands bad for .also can this irish team for once back there talent and actually win something as a team

Posted by enda mangan on February 24, 2009 at 05:11 PM GMT #

Brent/George, much has been commented on ROG's poor tackling, but as someone who has always been a supporter of ROG i have been watching his tackle rate and it has improved hugely and at critical time, do you agree. Unlike any other position 10 is extremely specialised and involves far more than any other position. I think not enouh credit is given to this playmaker position. If one area is off people judge him on that, but remember there are amny other areas he is doing as well

Posted by cathal o'byrne on February 24, 2009 at 06:35 PM GMT #

I am worried about this Welsh ref who is more than likely under pressure from his Ireland/France match, and being Welsh would prefer to see England win, i can see some of 50 50 calls going Englands way. And i completely agree with brendan flynns comments on O'Gara .

Posted by john gallagher on February 24, 2009 at 09:11 PM GMT #

Guys, there have been a lot of questions and comments on ROG and I'm looking forward to your opinions. My personal opinion is that he is a steadying influence on the side and I think his presence is critical to the team's performance. He is undoubtedly our best no. 10 and arguably the best in the Northern Hemisphere. However, I worry about the Irish team's lack of strength in the outhalf position. In your opinions are there alternatives/proteges that should be considered for a Summer tour while the Lions are in SA?

Posted by Gerry Dempsey on February 25, 2009 at 04:21 AM GMT #

You know, all this Irish team have to do now is win the triple crown; they've done that a bit recently. One more perhaps?

Posted by Cian on February 25, 2009 at 05:55 AM GMT #

I am deeply concerned at the slow rate of introduction to the match 22 for players in critical positions. At the moment we have a good enough side to allow us start to bed in younger talent - specifically in the front row, and at number 10. Surely Mike Ross, who has been playing superbly for Harlequins all season, should be on the bench, Court given a start, and critically either Ian humphreys or Jonny Sexton brought on to the bench? I am also amazed that Bob Casey still can't make the squad.

Posted by David on February 25, 2009 at 06:24 AM GMT #

John, no Welshman ever would want England to win no matter what the circumstances! Most Welshies I know are looking forward to a Wales/Ireland GS showdown in Cardiff. However, more importantly, I was under the distinct impression that Mr Joubert is South African!

Posted by Robert Donnellan on February 25, 2009 at 11:34 AM GMT #

Should we be experimenting a bit with a view to looking to the longer term? Should Paddy Wallace be given a go at outhalf rather than always playing Ronan O Gara?

Posted by Luke Kehoe on February 25, 2009 at 12:28 PM GMT #

To the panel: O'Gara and Jones seem to be a dieing breed - specialist outhalf. More and more guys playing at 10 are converted inside centres or guys that lack the control to be really considred an outhalf - flood, baby for france, nacewa, contepomi, barnes in australia the list goes on. It seems that the development of the specialist skills required at 10 are being overlooked due to demands of the modern game. Do you think this will affect the way the game is played in the future?

Posted by David k on February 25, 2009 at 12:28 PM GMT #

Joseph -on Wales' recent success yes we are playing the All Black way now as it works for them ;-). Robert , yes your right we wouldn't want England to win far better a Grand Slam showdown as last game . Re the ref yes our Nigel can be a bit one-eyed sometimes , fixed on the French last time , he was also like that when the Ospreys played the Blues on New Years Eve fixating on the Ospreys though we did pull off the win . Lets hope he's got his best contact lenses in.

Posted by Pontylad on February 25, 2009 at 12:40 PM GMT #

I'm looking more to the long term future with this question but has the panel seen any player at U20 level or younger that impresses them and that have earned the "one to watch" tag? And is the future of Irish rugby looking bright or are we gonna enter into another recession in the rugby front?

Posted by Colin on February 25, 2009 at 12:43 PM GMT #

Forget the last one Joubert is reffing not Nigel doh !!

Posted by Pontylad on February 25, 2009 at 12:44 PM GMT #

What do you think Kidney's plan of action will be if we loose to England? Do you think he will make a lot of changes?

Posted by Alan on February 25, 2009 at 12:51 PM GMT #

I believe Ireland's secret weapon this year is Paddy Wallace and that if we're not in an out-and-out dogfight with 20 minutes to go in the English game he will be moved from 12 to 10 with O'Gara leaving the pitch. While O'Gara is too competent to ever let the floodgates open, there can be no questioning the regularity with which he misses tackles. Wallace shores up this critical crack in the foundation and is very capable of executing a simple game plan if every player around him knows his role. Kidney changed Stringer for significantly less elegant but more robust O'Leary at a very critical moment in last years Heineken Cup. I think it's fair to say it caught people be surprise. My question: Wallace is significantly stronger than O'Gara in defense, but how far behind O'Gara do you believe he is when it comes to playing the territorial game in particular, but also releasing the backs?

Posted by Niall on February 25, 2009 at 01:51 PM GMT #

Sorry about my comment their, i got that wrong, its a South African that is refing. don't know why i thought this.

Posted by john gallagher on February 25, 2009 at 04:19 PM GMT #

Conor/Brent or George? Alot has been made of our lack of depth at 10. Could Geordan Murphy be used? I know he is not a 10 but he has great ball handling skills and vision. Would you think that a run out at 10 with the A team would be a worthwhile experiment? Nothing ventured nothing gained!

Posted by joe on February 25, 2009 at 05:26 PM GMT #

Conor/Brent/George: London Irish boast that Bob Casey and Nick Kennedy are the most effective 2nd row pairing in the Guinness Premiership (this is reflected in the England camps' inclusion of Kennedy in the side for the 6Ns). My question: if this is the case should Kidney have considered Casey for the green shirt on the bench ahead of Mick O'Driscol this weekend against familiar opposition (and even MOK to begin with) and blood newer players for front row going forward?

Posted by Conor Power on February 25, 2009 at 06:13 PM GMT #

Will Martin Johnson's decision to make Steve Borthwick his captain ultimately be his downfall given England's poor record with him as captain,not to mention his tendancy to go missing in big games?

Posted by Daragh Keegan on February 26, 2009 at 08:53 AM GMT #

Hi all, My questions is not specific to the 6 nations it is a rugby question. Why do we have a conversion? It has been around for ever but that does not mean that it should be kept on. Conversions reward teams with good place kickers. A try should be worth 6 or 7 points with no conversion to follow. Not only would this speed up a game it would also give more incentive to score a try as it would be worth 7 points instead of 5. Also at present a try that is scored in the corner is worth less than a try under the posts, is this fair, when a lot of tries scored our wide are better team trys. Thanks for giving me your opinion on this. Kind regards Brendan

Posted by Brendan Hussey on February 26, 2009 at 10:46 AM GMT #

Brent/Conor, not so much George, Can you agree with me that Ronan o Gara is this country's only viable option for the ten shirt? After reading some comments above, it appears that some people have suffered from memory loss. Brendan Flynn and John Gallagher in particular are calling for Jonathan Sexton to take the helm of a senior international team when he can't make the Leinster 10 shirt his own after numerous chances giving to him. Have they also forgot the TWO Heineken Cup medals o Gara has?? Or the fact that BOD is at his best when o Gara is pulling the strings?? Brent/Conor and again not so much Goerge please put the Munster/Leinster issue aside and answer this one based on experience,quality,and whats best for us to secure a Grand Slam and shut the Welsh up for abit.

Posted by Garret Edwards on February 26, 2009 at 11:28 AM GMT #

I know it's hard to speculate, but do you think if the current Wales manager had remained the Irish manager instead of Mr O Sullivan, that Irelands Grand Slam and perhaps WC records would look any different for the better?

Posted by Colm Maguire on February 26, 2009 at 12:15 PM GMT #

Hi lads. Just somthing completely different. Would ye ever get the programme director to search the archives and show the footage of Geaorge Hook drining 'Hooks Hooch' after returing from an add break on the panel at the time when Drico had a bottle to his mouth between every word during his interviews. I think it was one the funniest moments of TV and i can still remember laughing at it that day. It deserves to be seen again and if that fails there's always Youtube. Thanks

Posted by mary on February 26, 2009 at 05:54 PM GMT #

Who do you think will win? Hope Ireland will win because i have a bet (with my dad cuz he is english!!!) that England will lose!!!!! And what about Peter Stringer????

Posted by Niamh H on February 26, 2009 at 08:34 PM GMT #

I think Irelands biggest problem is that they lack that killer instinct needed to really finish teams off and blow them out of the park.

Posted by Adam Rush on February 27, 2009 at 01:23 PM GMT #

Thanks for all the input - Brent and Conor have addressed some of the questions in their preview columns: http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/sixnations/2009/0225/brent_pope_4.html and http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/sixnations/2009/0226/conor_oshea_6.html. We'll take a look at a few more next week.....

Posted by Brendan Cole on February 27, 2009 at 02:11 PM GMT #

Colm , the question on Irelands success if Gatland had remained is a good one .Well he's done wonders with Wales but he learnt a lot in his time with Wasps and also back in NZ.Particularly from his sacking with Ireland and his Wasps reign he knows the importance of having his own men in key roles such as Sean Edwards and Rob Howley and Craig White the new fitness guy with Wales. Would a Gatland who stayed with Ireland have been the same coach without these formative experiences and without being appointed on his own terms ? We will never know but I think he's better coach for it so Gatland now would be better than Gatland then or Gatland if he'd stayed with Ireland, which part answers it . Just to say I appreciate Brendan Cole's preview of the France V Wales game particularly his view of the Welsh scrum , nice to see a pundit look at the games and be prepared to reassess his views -thumbs up !

Posted by Pontylad on February 27, 2009 at 02:23 PM GMT #

Thanks Ponty - I tend to forget most of my opinions ASAP except for one or two old favourites!!!! What do you make of Lievremont yourself? Also, throw us a score prediction....

Posted by Brendan Cole on February 27, 2009 at 03:19 PM GMT #

I would like to ask Brent does he think that Peter Stringer's lack of ability to make breaks at the breakdown have contributed to him not being selected for the starting team.

Posted by Adam Rush on February 27, 2009 at 05:32 PM GMT #

Question for all the panel... What can england do to beat ireland? regards MJ

Posted by M Johnson on February 28, 2009 at 08:26 AM GMT #

do ye agree with me that our national anthem must be played at all games.not trying to make a poitical statement but i feel it is the right thing to do and could be the start in doing things right for a change.

Posted by pat on February 28, 2009 at 09:47 AM GMT #

Brent/Conor, do you think that D'Arcy should be starting?

Posted by Ciaran Maher on February 28, 2009 at 12:01 PM GMT #

will jonny wilkinson play for england

Posted by kim childe on February 28, 2009 at 02:28 PM GMT #

In my playing days, 50 years ago, the focus of attention was on the outhalf as the architect of the the quality of the move who either carved the opening for the centres or their backup support, or scored himself.The heart of the game. Even then I argued the added value of added space for running backs by conversion to thirteen man Union team. At that time such purely sporting opinion condemned me as a social outcast. Consider today: when did you last see a clean, skillful, break by an outhalf faced with a phalanx of free running defenders? Where is the Welsh outhalf factory? Today's outhalfs are celebrated solely for being able to kick which virtually any player of average ability can be taught to do. To repeat, after half a century, Union would still be a better game with thirteen a side.

Posted by Bill Hodnett on February 28, 2009 at 05:15 PM GMT #

Tell me please why wasn't O'Gara replaced when he was having such a nightmare and why was O'kelly treated so badly?

Posted by des egan on February 28, 2009 at 09:06 PM GMT #

My grandson played 'tag' rugby last year (U 7's & 8's). The red bibs on the English trunks look like tags and they only have 2 points from 3 games. Enough said.

Posted by jIM Tomlinson on March 01, 2009 at 12:16 AM GMT #

Whatever happens between now and the end of the championship, I believe the British and Irish Lions captaincy is between Brian O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell, I don't think Ryan Jones is nowhere near ready.

Posted by Andy Williams on March 01, 2009 at 07:18 PM GMT #

To Hooky! ROG's Ireland career is over. His form, not just this season, but in the last 3-4 seasons with Ireland make it questionable why DK should stick with him any further than this season. His place kicking against England was abysmal with his misses putting Ireland under unecessary pressure. The crucial Wales game will be a huge test for him, both physically and mentally, and I hope and pray he's not wearing the same slippers he was wearing yesterday...

Posted by Andrew Martin on March 01, 2009 at 08:55 PM GMT #

Why is O'Gara so hot and cold for Ireland? He has a remarkable consistency of high level performances for Munster but for Ireland he is what George would call 'a curate's egg'. Is it pressure, passion or strategy?

Posted by Zeleneye on March 02, 2009 at 10:15 AM GMT #

o'driscoll took an awful hammering but was still great. must b his munster heritage !!

Posted by 127.0.0.1 on March 02, 2009 at 12:07 PM GMT #

Come on lads give ROG a break. He is having a tough couple of weeks but he will come good. Just remember all the other years when he was the one that we all looked to to get the points. The game has changed and there is not as much kicking to touch which he was the best in the world before the new ELV's. Come on ROG pick it up, break the record and drive on from there.We must be the worst nation in the world for knocking our own, dont knock them get behind them. A faithful Munster & Ireland Supporter

Posted by Erik on March 02, 2009 at 03:51 PM GMT #

Don't know if I heard it correctly, but did George Hook in the post match analysis say that Andy Goode should not have taken the last minute conversion as it wasted too much time? Can you elect not to take a conversion? If yes, can anyone recall a match where a team did so?

Posted by Niall on March 02, 2009 at 09:25 PM GMT #

Could O'Gara's performance against England have cost him a Lion's test jersey? I know it's early days but Stephen Jones has shown thus far that his all-round game is stronger than ROG's, particularly his running game and ability to take the ball into contact. Also will Geech take a punt on Cipriani for the Lion's squad???

Posted by Daragh Keegan on March 03, 2009 at 09:08 AM GMT #

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