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Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread

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Comments

  • #7442
    Mr.Opti
    Closed Accounts Posts: 62 ✭✭Mr.Opti


    Maybe I've seen him in some tackle and he deserved 2 yellows?!? Have it in my head anyways
    Fireball07 wrote: »
    Don't know how you could question his defence though, probably one of the most secure players we have, and he hits very hard aswell. Strike rate probably isn't as good as it could be, but he makes a lot of line breaks and offloads superbly. Really think he could be a brilliant 12, pity he doesn't seem to like it.

    Its not his defense its his choices that he makes. Often rushes out and can work very well or not.


  • #7443
    jamiedav2011
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,906 ✭✭✭jamiedav2011


    Mr.Opti wrote: »
    Maybe I've seen him in some tackle and he deserved 2 yellows?!? Have it in my head anyways



    Its not his defense its his choices that he makes. Often rushes out and can work very well or not.

    Sorry can you back up any of this?!


  • #7444
    emmet02
    Registered Users Posts: 24,816 ✭✭✭✭emmet02


    Mr.Opti wrote: »
    Maybe I've seen him in some tackle and he deserved 2 yellows?!? Have it in my head anyways
    Its not his defense its his choices that he makes. Often rushes out and can work very well or not.

    He's never been binned.

    He's also our best defensive winger. His defensive awareness in particular is top notch. Rushing the line many times to prevent certain trys when there's been 3 v 1 overlaps etc.

    WRT a fit and firing Earls vs a fit and firing Fitz (try say that sentence fast!)

    They're very much a horses for courses choice. Earls' pace over first 10 and eye for the line edges him over Fitz in games vs specific teams. (Teams who don't have a particularly able tactical kicker. Teams who use a rush defence. Teams without Monsters a la Rougerie / North on the wing that need taming. Teams that we aim to blow off the park with a physical pack and pacy midfield).

    Fitz has different qualities. Similar to what we might look for (from a Leinster perspective) when we played McFadden at 13 a few times last year. Tidy, resolute and impressive defence, also with the ability to magic something out of nothing and create for someone else from scraps.

    I couldn't say I'd pick one over the other in 9/10 situations (unlike for instance, a ROG vs Sexton debate). They're both different styles of 11s.


  • #7445
    jimbomalley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 288 ✭✭jimbomalley


    Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

    Well Henderson has ~half the amount of senior games under his belt as Kilcoyne current has. The whole reason of mentioning Henderson is to highlight the double standards when talking about players.

    Posters were criticising the selection of Murray for the RWC squad ahead of no other competant Irish scrumhalf after a great finish to the season and 13 senior appearances. The same posters often see no problem with Henderson with his 6 senior appearances getting ahead of McLoughlin and others want to see him ahead of POM.

    Kilcoyne has look very good this season and has played against much more top opposition than Henderson, but posters are begrudging him being selected ahead of a 32 year old Australian prop.

    Can you notice the double standards?

    Henderson had an absolute stormer in the junior world cup as well as playing very well in his games for ulster this season and looks to be a potential future star for Ireland (NWJMB is not said about him lightly) if all goes well for the chap. I'll commend kidney if he does bench him even if it is because of injuries.

    However Murray/Kilcoyne are pretty much parachuted into the team after a few good games. Logic would dictate the likes of Buckley and Marmion in Connaught should get similar treatment. Doesn't happen though.


  • #7446
    Fireball07
    Registered Users Posts: 13,264 ✭✭✭✭Fireball07


    Tox56 wrote: »
    Because he has been injured!

    I know that, that was my point.
    In a hypothetical magical parallel universe where Fitz hadn't been injured for the last few months (which is what we are dealing with at the moment unfortunately), I think he would be starting for Ireland. He was in cracking form last year and had he continued that form this year he would have been hard to leave out.

    Possibly...I think it'd be very close between him and Earls tbh.

    But he's never likely to score as many tries as someone like Earls, Bowe, Zebo or Gilroy would imo... but I think he's got the perfect skillset for a 12 (similar to D'Arcy's at his peak). I honestly think he could have been Ireland's long-term 12 if he had had a go at it...injury-permitting of course.


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  • #7447
    Dermo73
    Registered Users Posts: 45 ✭Dermo73


    Fireball07 wrote: »
    I know that, that was my point.



    Possibly...I think it'd be very close between him and Earls tbh.

    But he's never likely to score as many tries as someone like Earls, Bowe, Zebo or Gilroy would imo... but I think he's got the perfect skillset for a 12 (similar to D'Arcy's at his peak). I honestly think he could have been Ireland's long-term 12 if he had had a go at it...injury-permitting of course.

    +1 on this. Fitz is a great footballer but I'd question his finishing. Just doesn't seem to score as many tries as a world class winger should. His skills might be better used at 12


  • #7448
    ScissorPaperRock
    Registered Users Posts: 2,708 ✭✭✭ScissorPaperRock


    Full 2010 Ireland-South Africa test match is on youtube if anyone is interested in a bit of an appetiser before Saturday's game :)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BexYEdAOvDU&feature=fvwrel


  • #7449
    Tox56
    Registered Users Posts: 11,636 ✭✭✭✭Tox56


    Fireball07 wrote: »
    I know that, that was my point.



    Possibly...I think it'd be very close between him and Earls tbh.

    But he's never likely to score as many tries as someone like Earls, Bowe, Zebo or Gilroy would imo... but I think he's got the perfect skillset for a 12 (similar to D'Arcy's at his peak). I honestly think he could have been Ireland's long-term 12 if he had had a go at it...injury-permitting of course.

    If, in this parallel universe, Earls hadn't played on the wing all season (I don't think he has this season?) and Fitz had been playing regularly, I can't see Earls getting ahead of him. Of course it's all moot as Fitz is still injured and Earls will be starting at 13.

    He could be a great 12, but it doesn't appear he wants to play there, so what can you do?


  • #7450
    Cpt_Blackbeard
    Registered Users Posts: 2,456 ✭✭✭Cpt_Blackbeard


    Tox56 wrote: »
    If, in this parallel universe, Earls hadn't played on the wing all season (I don't think he has this season?) and Fitz had been playing regularly, I can't see Earls getting ahead of him. Of course it's all moot as Fitz is still injured and Earls will be starting at 13.

    He could be a great 12, but it doesn't appear he wants to play there, so what can you do?

    Its a pity because I'd love to see himself and Earls lineup at 12/13 respectively.


  • #7451
    Fireball07
    Registered Users Posts: 13,264 ✭✭✭✭Fireball07


    Tox56 wrote: »
    If, in this parallel universe, Earls hadn't played on the wing all season (I don't think he has this season?) and Fitz had been playing regularly, I can't see Earls getting ahead of him. Of course it's all moot as Fitz is still injured and Earls will be starting at 13.

    You could be right, I suppose. Although if Earls was playing brilliantly at 13 all season (and hadn't had his own injuries) and BOD and Kearney were also fit, you might be hard-pressed leaving him out. But I suppose we're going too far with this purely hypothetical scenario :p
    He could be a great 12, but it doesn't appear he wants to play there, so what can you do?

    At the same time Earls doesn't want to play on the wing, but I'm assuming he'll go back there for Ireland when everyone is fit (he'll have to if he wants to start, unless there are more injuries). The question is always intriguing though.


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  • #7452
    emmet02
    Registered Users Posts: 24,816 ✭✭✭✭emmet02


    this thing about Fitz "not wanting to play 12" is a quote that pops up too often.

    Fitzgerald spoke in an interview saying that he didn't think he was an inside centre, and that he didn't particularly like playing there. But that he'd play wherever the team needed him to, and he'd just be happy to be playing.

    He then went on to play at inside centre for 4/5 games in a row for Leinster (note, he hadn't actually played much at centre before making the statement) and did really quite well while the Internationals were at the RWC.

    I imagine that there's a very good chance that his opinion of the inside centre position has changed since the initial interview. Being that he ground himself back into form by getting hands on the ball, making hard yards when needing to, and marshalling a defence outside him too in that role.


  • #7453
    Cpt_Blackbeard
    Registered Users Posts: 2,456 ✭✭✭Cpt_Blackbeard


    Fireball07 wrote: »
    At the same time Earls doesn't want to play on the wing, but I'm assuming he'll go back there for Ireland when everyone is fit (he'll have to if he wants to start, unless there are more injuries). The question is always intriguing though.

    I'd be surprised/disappointed to see Earls shifted from the centre if he continues performing there over the course of the AIs. He has looked very assured there over the last 12 months and were BOD not an Irish legend, Earls would be ahead of him on merit.

    As is, if BOD can find something resembling form, himself and Earls will likely be our centre combination for the 6N. Marshall would be an option, but he doesn't look like ousting Wallace yet.


  • #7454
    Fireball07
    Registered Users Posts: 13,264 ✭✭✭✭Fireball07


    Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »
    I'd be surprised/disappointed to see Earls shifted from the centre if he continues performing there over the course of the AIs. He has looked very assured there over the last 12 months and were BOD not an Irish legend, Earls would be ahead of him on merit.

    As is, if BOD can find something resembling form, himself and Earls will likely be our centre combination for the 6N. Marshall would be an option, but he doesn't look like ousting Wallace yet.

    Well, obviously it's a hypothetical situation as of now.

    I'm not 100% convinced by the BOD-Earls centre partnership, although I wouldn't mind it being tested again as it does help in getting our best players on the pitch. But if it doesn't work and BOD gets into form, I'd rather have Earls on the wing than not playing at all. Too good to leave out imo.

    Although I'd have him at full-back for SA myself, with Cave in the centre. For similar reasons to above, it gets our best players on the pitch.


  • #7455
    tolosenc
    Registered Users Posts: 6,889 ✭✭✭tolosenc


    Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »
    were BOD not an Irish legend, Earls would be ahead of him on merit.

    Me hoop.


  • #7456
    Cpt_Blackbeard
    Registered Users Posts: 2,456 ✭✭✭Cpt_Blackbeard


    tolosenc wrote: »
    Me hoop.

    Did you watch BOD in the first and last NZ tests, or for Leinster at all this year. The only time he has looked decent was the game he got injured in.


  • #7457
    Fishooks12
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,318 ✭✭✭Fishooks12


    tbh the Captain has a point. Earls is in better form than BOD at the moment.

    I'd still start BOD ahead of him at 13 though, not much of a question about that


  • #7458
    RoundBox11
    Registered Users Posts: 854 ✭✭✭RoundBox11


    This is really random/irrelevant/off-topic, and i know the jerseys don't necessarily mean anything, but anyone know who it is at 15 here?

    KeithEarls_Irelandtrain2preSA12.jpg


  • #7459
    Quint2010
    Registered Users Posts: 5,178 ✭✭✭Quint2010


    RoundBox11 wrote: »
    This is really random/irrelevant/off-topic, and i know the jerseys don't necessarily mean anything, but anyone know who it is at 15 here?

    KeithEarls_Irelandtrain2preSA12.jpg

    Looks like Trimble to me.


  • #7460
    RoundBox11
    Registered Users Posts: 854 ✭✭✭RoundBox11


    Quint2010 wrote: »
    Looks like Trimble to me.

    I was thinking that too, but Trimble is in other photos wearing bright orange puma boots...


  • #7461
    thomond2006
    Registered Users Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    Trimble?


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  • #7462
    Quint2010
    Registered Users Posts: 5,178 ✭✭✭Quint2010


    Fishooks12 wrote: »
    tbh the Captain has a point. Earls is in better form than BOD at the moment.

    I'd still start BOD ahead of him at 13 though, not much of a question about that

    In fairness BOD did more in that fifteen minutes against Cardiff than Earls has all season. He was looking like running right back into form. He had a poor tour to NZ alright but wasn't hugely worse than Earls. And I don't think the BOD-Earls experiment worked either. Earls now has a chance to put a marker down for the 13 jersey going forward.


  • #7463
    Scioch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,249 ✭✭✭Scioch


    Could it be Luke Marshall ?


  • #7464
    jacothelad
    Registered Users Posts: 5,904 ✭✭✭jacothelad


    RoundBox11 wrote: »
    I was thinking that too, but Trimble is in other photos wearing bright orange puma boots...

    If it is Trimble he's wearing a wig.


  • #7465
    leonard7
    Registered Users Posts: 556 ✭✭✭leonard7


    looks a heck of a lot like niall annett from behind but its certainly not him


  • #7466
    Fishooks12
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,318 ✭✭✭Fishooks12


    Quint2010 wrote: »
    In fairness BOD did more in that fifteen minutes against Cardiff than Earls has all season. He was looking like running right back into form. He had a poor tour to NZ alright but wasn't hugely worse than Earls. And I don't think the BOD-Earls experiment worked either. Earls now has a chance to put a marker down for the 13 jersey going forward.

    He didn't really. Earls has been consistently good all season while BOD has been a little ordinary by his own high sandars

    The Cardiff defense that night was non existent so a 15 minute spell isn't much to shout about. His huge tackle in the dying minutes of the Exeter game, where he was poor overall, displays just why I'd pick BOD over Earls even allowing for the better form of the munster-man. It's a lot easier too when they can both be accommodated in a backline too


  • #7467
    Tox56
    Registered Users Posts: 11,636 ✭✭✭✭Tox56


    Earls hasn't really played much this season, 4 games for Munster and none of them were H Cup games. Shame for both BOD and Earls as they got injured when they both looked to be playing well.


  • #7468
    Swiwi
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,631 ✭✭✭Swiwi


    RoundBox11 wrote: »
    This is really random/irrelevant/off-topic, and i know the jerseys don't necessarily mean anything, but anyone know who it is at 15 here?

    KeithEarls_Irelandtrain2preSA12.jpg

    I forget his name, but he was playing ITM cup for one of the NZ provinces last week. His great Aunt's grandmother once removed was born in Ireland, and Declan thought, hell, why not.


  • #7469
    bilston
    Registered Users Posts: 17,742 ✭✭✭✭bilston


    leonard7 wrote: »
    looks a heck of a lot like niall annett from behind but its certainly not him

    That's what I thought too!

    It's not Trimble and it isn't Marshall.

    Eoin Griffin?


  • #7470
    Tox56
    Registered Users Posts: 11,636 ✭✭✭✭Tox56


    bilston wrote: »
    That's what I thought too!

    It's not Trimble and it isn't Marshall.

    Eoin Griffin?

    Looks a bit stocky for Griffin and obviously he isn't in the squad


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  • #7471
    emmet02
    Registered Users Posts: 24,816 ✭✭✭✭emmet02


    Fishooks12 wrote: »
    He didn't really. Earls has been consistently good all season while BOD has been a little ordinary by his own high sandars

    The Cardiff defense that night was non existent so a 15 minute spell isn't much to shout about. His huge tackle in the dying minutes of the Exeter game, where he was poor overall, displays just why I'd pick BOD over Earls even allowing for the better form of the munster-man. It's a lot easier too when they can both be accommodated in a backline too

    Earls has played okay. 4 times. (Once off the bench onto the wing - scored. 3 pretty decent defensive appearances at 13 )

    It's early November. "All Season" means nothing!


This discussion has been closed.
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