Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread

totallegend · 07-03-2012 12:46pm

WeleaseWoderick wrote: »

Looking at the squad training photos from yesterday, Toner is definitely training with the team. As is Luke Fitzgerald.

Toner has been training with them all along, as far as I know, even before the injury to POC, was just there to make up the numbers for the training games I suppose but it could work out well in terms of knowing the line-out codes and so forth.

I'd be less inclined to read anything into Luke Fitzgerald's appearance; I presume he's on a central contract so it's almost a given that he'd be with them for training but I can't see him being involved in either of the remaining games. Trimble was poor against France but has been in better form than Luke, Earls, Bowe and just about every other winger for the last 12 months, it would be an awful slap in the face to drop him now.

.ak · 07-03-2012 12:51pm

totallegend wrote: »

Toner has been training with them all along, as far as I know, even before the injury to POC, was just there to make up the numbers for the training games I suppose but it could work out well in terms of knowing the line-out codes and so forth.

I'd be less inclined to read anything into Luke Fitzgerald's appearance; I presume he's on a central contract so it's almost a given that he'd be with them for training but I can't see him being involved in either of the remaining games. Trimble was poor against France but has been in better form than Luke, Earls, Bowe and just about every other winger for the last 12 months, it would be an awful slap in the face to drop him now.

Don't think I can agree with that. Fitz has been on-form since the start of the season. He was unlucky (once again) in regards to his injury at Christmas.

But having said that I don't see him muscling into the squad now. And truthfully I'd rather he commits himself to Leinster now... We've got a tough run in over the next few months and we're becoming stretched in the backline with all the 'cover' players with the Irish squad.

thomond2006 · 07-03-2012 1:24pm

What time is the side announced?

JustinDee · 07-03-2012 1:25pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

What time is the side announced?

1.15pm

Thanos · 07-03-2012 1:26pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

What time is the side announced?

1:15 on http://www.irishrugby.ie/ireland/live_streaming.php

thomond2006 · 07-03-2012 1:26pm

Danke

CiaranMT · 07-03-2012 1:29pm

Fishooks12 wrote: »

De Luca is dnagerous when on form, notoriously inconsistant though

Morrison won´t be found wanting in defence either

De Luca has scored 1 try in nearly 30 games for Scotland. He's no threat.

Morrison can and will do damage though.

thomond2006 · 07-03-2012 1:54pm

Happy birthday ROG, 35 today. I wonder what Kidney's present will be.

Sandwlch · 07-03-2012 1:55pm

Has Gerry Thornley announced the team yet ?

Noopti · 07-03-2012 2:00pm

Sandwlch wrote: »

Has Gerry Thornley announced the team yet ?

Pretty much
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0307/1224312916526.html

What you would expect really.

touts · 07-03-2012 2:18pm

Looks like BEst is the captain. HE is at the top table

Thanos · 07-03-2012 2:18pm

Rory Best captain is seems.....

totallegend · 07-03-2012 2:20pm

yeah, Best the captain and only changes are Reddan and Ryan coming in.

touts · 07-03-2012 2:20pm

Just two changes. Reddan for Murray and Ryan for POC. McCarthy and O'Leary added to the bench

Monty Burnz · 07-03-2012 2:22pm

Very disappointing selection from Kidney. Way, way too conservative. The team will be a shambles by the time we face England.

Zzippy · 07-03-2012 2:23pm

DOC and Ryan together = worried about our lineout...
At least there's a good chance we'll see McCarthy and Ryan together at some stage, now thats a good second row combination.

thomond2006 · 07-03-2012 2:23pm

He's not trotting out his "building a squad" ****e now is he?

**** Ireland, the players are gonna be flogged come the HEC quarters.

OldRio · 07-03-2012 2:30pm

Yup, comes out with 'Building a squad' ????????? When ??????

How many fit bodies against England I wonder.

RoundBox11 · 07-03-2012 2:31pm

Monty Burnz wrote: »

Very disappointing selection from Kidney. Way, way too conservative. The team will be a shambles by the time we face England.

What other changes could he have made tho?? Putting in Tom Court or mcfadden wouldnt have been "unconservative". it just would have limited out bench

MLC61 · 07-03-2012 2:32pm

Why do the majority of posters favour change in order to rest players for the English game? Why is the English game any more important than the Scots game?

It makes sense to me to pick your best team for the next game and then evaluate following that game on the health of the players.

Scotland will be as hard to beat as England and surely we should target the home win first.

Given the injury enforced absentees I don't honestly think that Kidney could change too much else.

Podge_irl · 07-03-2012 2:35pm

Did he actually mention "building a squad"?

Jesus ****ing Christ.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 07-03-2012 2:36pm

MLC61 wrote: »

Why do the majority of posters favour change in order to rest players for the English game? Why is the English game any more important than the Scots game?

It makes sense to me to pick your best team for the next game and then evaluate following that game on the health of the players.

Scotland will be as hard to beat as England and surely we should target the home win first.

Given the injury enforced absentees I don't honestly think that Kidney could change too much else.

Its a bit easier to beat Scotland at home than England away imo

That said Scotland at home is much more important because it will have a bigger effect on our world rankings if we lose and we need to finish the year in the top 8 for seeding purposes for the RWC.

OldRio · 07-03-2012 2:37pm

MLC61 wrote: »

Why do the majority of posters favour change in order to rest players for the English game? Why is the English game any more important than the Scots game?

It makes sense to me to pick your best team for the next game and then evaluate following that game on the health of the players.

Scotland will be as hard to beat as England and surely we should target the home win first.

Given the injury enforced absentees I don't honestly think that Kidney could change too much else.

Its called being proactive and not reactive.
Using your resources sensibly.
Resting players and blooding others.

Most managers do this.

CatFromHue · 07-03-2012 2:37pm

RoundBox11 wrote: »

What other changes could he have made tho?? Putting in Tom Court or mcfadden wouldnt have been "unconservative". it just would have limited out bench

Ross and D'arcy could have switched with Court and McFadden and been put on the bench. Similarly with POM and Ferris/SOB.

thomond2006 · 07-03-2012 2:37pm

Podge_irl wrote: »

Did he actually mention "building a squad"?

Jesus ****ing Christ.

I didn't see the press conference so I have no idea, I was only making reference to what he used to come out with before, ie building a squad for RWC.

bamboozle · 07-03-2012 2:38pm

i'd expected Ferris to be rested, cannot expect his body to get through 4 weeks of 6 nations rugby the way he plays. at least it will be good to see Ryan and McCarthy in the 2nd row for a point on saturday.

totallegend · 07-03-2012 2:40pm

MLC61 wrote: »

Why do the majority of posters favour change in order to rest players for the English game? Why is the English game any more important than the Scots game?

It makes sense to me to pick your best team for the next game and then evaluate following that game on the health of the players.

Scotland will be as hard to beat as England and surely we should target the home win first.

Given the injury enforced absentees I don't honestly think that Kidney could change too much else.

Scotland in Dublin will be easier to beat than England in Twickenham. Most of the team will be playing four matches in four weeks, and two in six days. They'll be knackered. I'd have given Ferris' knees a break and let us have a look at POM, given McFadden a run at 12 and maybe given Court a start at LH where we know he's useful. The 'spine' of the team would still be unchanged but you'd have new guys coming in and maybe adding a bit of freshness.

Did Kidney actually say he was 'building a squad'? If so, it's just further proof that he's lost the plot.

Podge_irl · 07-03-2012 2:40pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

I didn't see the press conference so I have no idea, I was only making reference to what he used to come out with before, ie building a squad for RWC.

Ah, ok. I don't really want to put myself through watching it, though I wouldn't put it past him to say something along those lines given his history.

OldRio · 07-03-2012 2:41pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

I didn't see the press conference so I have no idea, I was only making reference to what he used to come out with before, ie building a squad for RWC.

He was asked about the injuries and said something like thats why we build a squad.

MLC61 · 07-03-2012 2:45pm

OldRio wrote: »

Its called being proactive and not reactive.
Using your resources sensibly.
Resting players and blooding others.

Most managers do this.

That's two different issues -
1. Blooding new players in order to build a squad,
2. Resting players.

The blooding new players is Fantasy Football stuff and keeps fans forums ticking - why doesn't he swap xx for yy and play zz in the other position. Daydreaming and good fun.

My question was on the resting issue - why rest them for the English game over the Scottish game?

Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread

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