Trimble was possibly the worst player on the field last Friday. He spent most of the match out of position and cost us at least one seven points. He should not play against Argentina.
I do not rate our chances in the next match, our pack is the main problem ; no rolling malls, turned over in scrums, loosing their own line out and slow ball from rucks. Against that the Argies have one of the strongest packs in the world.
Then there's the kicking game; Even if O'Gara was at his best Contepomi is a far better player and O'Gara is nowhere near his best.
Horgan is still not match fit and it doesn't matter how well D'Arcy and O'Driscoll play if they don't get the ball, and the pack can't get it for them.
The only high point is that Stringer has been dropped. Reddin is a much better option than Stringer the one trick pony.
I am no fan of Trimble but from all accounts, Trimble was told to play out of a normal wing position in order to protect the No.10 channel which the French did target. The French spotted he this tactic and exploited it.
Our lineout was poor but I think the French should be given credit for that too. They somehow seemed to know our moves and put their men up at the right times and places to disrupt/rob. I give Laporte credit for scrutinising our traditional strong points.
Scrum was ok until until Wallace was sinbinned - after that we naturally suffered. When Chabal went off, theuir scrum actually improved. He is not a second row in my opinion.
O'Gara v Contepomi ? As a neutral Connacht man, I would side with the Munster outhalf every time. I think Contepomi is a fine player but he can be flaky.
The reason Darcy and O'Driscoll are not getting breaks is that opposition are playing a rush-defence so that every time the centres get a ball, they are also getting the man. Man and ball with no room to manouvre. The French lived offside on this rush-defence and only got penalised once. The ref was poor but most refs are lenient on offsides because they have enough to be doing controlling scrums and lineouts. Is Argies play a rush defence (and they will), we are in trouble.
O'Gara will be force to boot it up or long - did anyone notice that the FFR flanker tried to 'do' O'Gara on his first kick. Got him right on the knee. Easterby did the same on their line and we get penalised. A lot of home down decisions.
Reddan is a good choice. I thought he played very well against France.
4 tries ? Maybe but we'll need all the luck in the world.
O'Kelly is not international class in my opion anymore. And Quinlan is no superman either.
Hope they do it. I spent many dark days in Lansdowne in late 1980s and early 1990s and we were brutal. I am sad to see this team getting so much bad press- I will never lose faith. I still think they are the best we have.