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Dead Rubber or Dead Exciting Game?!

A dead Duck?

By MickeyMouse
December 6 2007
Both Worcester and Irish are out of the EDF cup, leaving little to play, but certain individuals had plenty to play for to get into next weeks Heineken Cup team! Whilst this game is referred to as a "dead rubber", these are quite often the most interesting of games, the teams are made up of the lesser well known players giving you a chance to see who to look out for in the coming season.

It also brings with it an opportunity for the team to try out different tactics and, more importantly, ignore kicking penalties and try for tries as and where possible! On Sunday, we were treated to such a spectacle - so for the unfortunate souls who didn't brave the weather, here's a summary, just for you!

40 minutes; the Kick Off is a monster kick that will go dead, leaving all of us wondering what happens then, is it a scrum on half way? Unfortunately the ball is caught and we're left in wonder...

33 minutes; beautiful training ground move from a lineout, the furthest jumpers kept running until they were practically in the middle of the pitch, the ball is thrown and caught and dropped to Dodge who is running through the biggest hole, unfortunately a knock on occurs in the tackle and chance goes begging, good adventure though, seen Osprey's do this same move a fair few times, if we could do that at a 5m lineout, I can't see it being easy to defend against.

30 minutes; an up and under from our own half leads to a penalty 5 meters from centre. The penalty is missed, but the restart is recycled to Geezer who runs 40m before being tackled, he passes out to Tiesi but the pass goes out. Promising start from Irish so far..!

28 minutes: TRY!! Pretty much everyone in the team is involved in this one! Skuse makes a break up the pitch but is quickly dragged down in their 22, the ball goes to Mordt, then Tiesi who steps over a tackle for a try! Welcome back Tiesi!! Hickey converts to make the score 7-0 after 12 minutes of play.

25 minutes: The rugby god Steffon Armitage gets the ball from a lineout and bounces from tackle to tackle recycling the ball to Geezer who himself goes on a mini-run. The forwards have good penetration today.

18 minutes: Try to Wuss, ball goes through the phases with some good offloads in the tackle, eventually the defence is stretched and Benjamine touches down in the corner. The difficult conversion is missed. 7-5 Irish

16 minutes: Yes another bout of fisti-cuffs ensues, just get on with the game lads!

15 minutes: TRY!! a 5m lineout is received by Irish who spread the ball wide, Tiesi runs some good lines to draw in defenders before Thorpe ends up with the ball and about 5 defenders trying to bring him down, they eventually succeed - but the wrong side of the white line! Hickey converts to bring the score 14-5.

4 minutes: Try to Wuss, they work an overlap on their left as they run, Tiesi tries to catch a ball passed over his head, but Garvey receives it. Not enough defence on this side of the pitch and the try is dotted down. The easier conversion is missed.

2 minutes: Topsy at Full Back works a bit of magic from the kick-off, he receives the ball on our 22 line and runs all the way to theirs but unfortunately loses the ball in contact.

0 minutes: TRY!! A good overall team try and the ball goes through the phases, Thorpe runs a good running line and the ball ends up in Hickey's hands who has an easy run in and converts his own try.

21-10 half time score, and I'm fecking freezing at this point, time for a pie!

40 minutes: Hickey Kicks a long kick from the restart, and it just bounces for a 5m line-out to Wuss - he's either really lucky, or a genius!!

37 minutes: TRY!! Ojo catches an up and under from on the 22, he's having a decent game and full back, and not kicking possession away, so in line with form he starts to run, passes to Tiesi on half way who runs a lovely line through attempted tackles before passing to Tagicakibau who duly delivers the try, and oh boy - what a try it was!! Bonus points scored and we have a wonderful game. I hope those of you who looked at the rain in the morning and decided not to come to a dead rubber are sorely regretting it... Hickey converts for 28-10

33 minutes: The backs are really clicking, in particular the Tiesi/Tagicakibau combination, poor old Shabbo's been sitting around waiting for the ball on the other wing. A penalty is awarded quite far out, Hickey takes the points. 31-10

30 minutes: Try to Wuss, a simple break in midfield leads to a try which is converted. 31-17 to us. At this point the cold is really getting to my hands and I'm getting quite annoyed at the frequency I have to write something down. We've won the game, let's have some mauls/scrums/something to keep the ball in the middle of the pitch!!

22 minutes: TRY!! 8 minutes and my hands have just warmed up enough! Tiesi again links up with Tagicakibau, the ball is recycled through the forwards and after a few phases, Mordt delivers another try to Irish. He converts to make it 38-17!

19 minutes: TRY!! The forwards clearly are getting a bit miffed with all the backs having the fun, a 10m lineout is taken and a maul goes all the way - Wuss had no chance of stopping this one. Thorpe is credited with the try (like I could see from row Z!), the conversion is missed and it's 42-17.

16 minutes: "What a break from Tiesi" say my notes

14 minutes: Try to Wuss, a quick tap penalty and complete apathy from Irish give Wuss a try, which is not converted. 43-22

12 minutes: TRY!! Warren Fury's first touch of the ball leads to his first try to the club, the rugby god Steffon should have scored mind you, but he selflessly passed to Fury to be sure of the score. I'm afraid I can't read my notes as my hands have seized up by this point... 48-22

5 minutes: Tiesi is nominated as a well deserved Man of the Match, just as he's lying on the pitch, we've gone through our subs by this point, and he soldiers on - but doesn't stay on for long.

5 minutes: Try to Wuss, whilst we're all watching Tiesi, a break down the wing heads towards Topsy, who himself is on the floor, he gets up to attempt the tackle, but he's only got use of one leg so isn't able to make it stick. I just hope he didn't injure himself in making what was in effect an unnecessary tackle. However, you have to admire the man's spirit for putting his body on the line even when the game was won. The conversion is again missed (why couldn't Drahm miss that many kicks when he was with Saints?!)

And that was the game. It was bloody freezing, in part due to the weather, in part due to the sheer number of missing Season Ticket Holders around me who would normally be sat helping deflect the wind. I have to say this was a thoroughly enjoyable match to watch, good play from both sides, with adventure. Kickable penalties were left by and large, and both teams were going for tries. I think the score-line possibly flatters Irish somewhat, had Wuss got their conversions, the game would have been much closer and tighter and I'm sure we'd have been kicking more penalties just to ensure we win.

My choice of Man of the Match, well I had already written Steffon in my notes as he seems to be able to play anywhere, however by his standards he had a quiet game - which wasn't the case of Tiesi, the man was truly electric! I would very much like to see a Geraghty, Tiesi, Mapasua combination for Perpignan next week!!

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Dead Rubber or Dead Exciting Game?!

Posted by: The Craic www.londonirish.org (IP Logged)

Date: 06/12/2007 09:43

Dead Rubber or Dead Exciting Game?!

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