After a great win against the Aussies, Declan Kidney named a new look side to play Russia which included 10 changes and one positional switch, basically giving every travelling member of the squad game time. All except the hooker replacement for Flannery, Damien Varley although I guess he’s not complaining yet!!
It’s amazing the ripple effect that the resulted against the Aussies has had on the WRC. For those that don’t know, if there are no more shock results in the pool stages you are looking at a situation were in one side of the knockout stages you would have mostly the home nations and on the other the tri nation teams. It would also and probably more importantly, guarantee a 6 nations side would be in the final!
And all this from arguably the one and only game at that stage in the tournament that went against the form book!
It even started to influence other games, look at what France did against NZ, essentially putting out a 2nd string side to ensure that he got on the more familiar side of the playoffs. Although you have to say to that it is a pity in seeing that, considering that they have played some of the best ever WRC games against each other!
Anyway back to the Russia game, not a lot to be said bar I suppose job done! Nine tries and some good rugby at least. I don’t think that the performances will have any effect on the first XV selection but at least we ticked most of the boxes that needed to ticked.
Sean Cronin is ready if we need him, Jamie Heaslip is getting his form back, Andrew Trimble is as hungry as ever, as are most of the squad who we might have to call upon to if we want to progress in the competition.
It amazing the way that the bonus points are coming more and more into play, with most of the groups still not fully decided. The Argies clipping the Scots has lead to what will be a cracking weekend of games, including South Africa vs Samoa and Wales vs Fiji.
And not to forget Ireland verses Italy, a game that the Italians have said from the start that they are targeting. It mad to think that even after the highs of the last couple of weeks, there is a situation that if Ireland loose to Italy they wouldn’t go through at all! So it looks like, for Ireland anyway, that the knockout stages are starting a week early, fingers crossed!!
Shane
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