Sir, – Now has the glorious summer of our rugby success been turned to a winter of discontent by this team of Lancaster. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I am puzzled that I have not heard any mention of the tactical naivety of Ireland in the match. We (Ireland) were the strongest in the ruck, maul and even edged the scrum. Our own lineout was lacking cohesion and half-backs lacking communication.
Surely professional rugby players know how to play to the conditions. If it’s too wet to play expansive rugby, adapt. It took until half time for us to change our tactics to a more field position orientated game. The captain should have called for this after 15/20 minutes because of so many handling errors due to the wet ball/conditions. We were the team most likely to score until the handling errors made it count for nothing. Our own errors led to English pressure, thus their confidence.
If Mr Kidney and Mr Heaslip do not have a Plan B for when conditions worsen once the players reach the pitch, then naive we are. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Why did the IRFU not put a roof on Lansdowne Road when rebuilding the stadium? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – This morning I read a report of Ireland’s loss to England (Sport, February 11th) in which your reporter did not criticise the referee.
Is this a record? – Yours, etc,