Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread

CouchSmart · 18-06-2010 9:38pm #1

Thought it was odd that there's not one of these already..

What's everyone's thoughts on the current tour?

I think, despite all the detractors saying it's too much etc, it's actually seeming like a success. We're getting introduced to the new focus on allowing the attacking team the benefit as well as introducing some actual depth into the squad.

A fair few players have really stood up and there will be calls for them to be included in squads next season. Players such as Tuohy, Buckley, Henry, Ruddock can be very proud of there efforts so far on tour. Others too who have been in squads like Wallace, Trimble, Cronin have been looking good when they got the call.

Overall I think this tour will stand to us in the future(World Cup).

Diamondmaker · 19-06-2010 10:26am

CouchSmart wrote: »

What's everyone's thoughts on the current tour?

I think, despite all the detractors saying it's too much etc, it's actually seeming like a success. We're getting introduced to the new focus on allowing the attacking team the benefit as well as introducing some actual depth into the squad.

.

Agreed although I would much rather we clearly treated as a development tour and left some of the senior guys at home possibly Lions and the like. |Given they will have had no time off 3 summers in a row now, leading to the RWC - NOT GOOD !

Many say there is no benefit in sending kids out for a caning but experience is experience and leaving the lions at home, as it has now transpired we could have fielded an interesting team.

SomeFool · 19-06-2010 10:41am

Diamondmaker wrote: »

Agreed although I would much rather we clearly treated as a development tour and left some of the senior guys at home possibly Lions and the like. |Given they will have had no time off 3 summers in a row now, leading to the RWC - NOT GOOD !

Many say there is no benefit in sending kids out for a caning but experience is experience and leaving the lions at home, as it has now transpired we could have fielded an interesting team.

I think a secone midweek fixture against the likes of the Australian Babarians would have been a worthy addition to give the newer squad members more exposure, I don't think a full test for a development side is ever a good idea.

CouchSmart · 19-06-2010 2:41pm

Diamondmaker wrote: »

Given they will have had no time off 3 summers in a row now, leading to the RWC - NOT GOOD !

I'm pretty sure they get the same if not more time off than non internationals. All the Lions players got their full 6 weeks off season.

SomeFool wrote: »

I think a secone midweek fixture against the likes of the Australian Babarians would have been a worthy addition to give the newer squad members more exposure, I don't think a full test for a development side is ever a good idea.

Ye, another mid week test would have been good, see some of the guys trying to break into the setup playing an actual game.

Just as a point, NZ and OZ wouldn't accept us sending a development side down to them. And if we don't go to them eventually they'll stop coming to us. It's really all about keeping the suits happy but on the other hand you have to play the best to be the best so these tours are fairly necessary. An international season containing just the 6 nations wouldn't be very exciting imo.

profitius · 19-06-2010 3:40pm

CouchSmart wrote: »

Just as a point, NZ and OZ wouldn't accept us sending a development side down to them. And if we don't go to them eventually they'll stop coming to us. It's really all about keeping the suits happy but on the other hand you have to play the best to be the best so these tours are fairly necessary. An international season containing just the 6 nations wouldn't be very exciting imo.

I don't know if too much is better than too little. We're playing the same teams way too much these days.

Thats why its important to spread the game and help emerging nations like Romania, Georgia, USA, Canada and Russia. Not enough is being done IMO to help these teams especially the tier 2 European teams.

Jemo · 19-06-2010 8:34pm

I think this tour has been a success for one main reason, it has made it plainly obvious that attacking ball in hand rugby is our way forward and our players are more than capable of playing in such a manner, add to that the depth we have gained and it is looking good. Trimble has been somewhat of a revelation, Murphy came back and has probably won back his jersey, it provide rog and sexton with international gametime and allows us a look at the standard of rugby and laws in th south

profitius · 19-06-2010 8:37pm

Jemo wrote: »

I think this tour has been a success for one main reason, it has made it plainly obvious that attacking ball in hand rugby is our way forward and our players are more than capable of playing in such a manner, add to that the depth we have gained and it is looking good. Trimble has been somewhat of a revelation, Murphy came back and has probably won back his jersey, it provide rog and sexton with international gametime and allows us a look at the standard of rugby and laws in th south

Hopefully it'll change the Irish attitude of playing counter attacking rugby.

PhatPiggins · 19-06-2010 10:34pm

CouchSmart wrote: »

I'm pretty sure they get the same if not more time off than non internationals. All the Lions players got their full 6 weeks off season.

Ye, another mid week test would have been good, see some of the guys trying to break into the setup playing an actual game.

Just as a point, NZ and OZ wouldn't accept us sending a development side down to them. And if we don't go to them eventually they'll stop coming to us. It's really all about keeping the suits happy but on the other hand you have to play the best to be the best so these tours are fairly necessary. An international season containing just the 6 nations wouldn't be very exciting imo.

The John O Neil piss and moan brigade will complain about sending down weakend teams till the cows come home but they'll never not tour in the autumn, they make too much money from it. Whats their alternative play each other four times a season, .............. oh wait.

profitius · 20-06-2010 12:18am

PhatPiggins wrote: »

The John O Neil piss and moan brigade will complain about sending down weakend teams till the cows come home but they'll never not tour in the autumn, they make too much money from it. Whats their alternative play each other four times a season, .............. oh wait.

The Aussies seem to always get their way so it looks like its not only on the field of play where they win. Argentina joining the tri nations is a good example. They'll give the competition a new freshness but the IRB had to pay compensation to the tri nation teams... typical.

sock puppet · 20-06-2010 12:44am

profitius wrote: »

The Aussies seem to always get their way so it looks like its not only on the field of play where they win. Argentina joining the tri nations is a good example. They'll give the competition a new freshness but the IRB had to pay compensation to the tri nation teams... typical.

These are the same unions that can't afford to fly referees from Australia to South Africa. Hardly rolling in it. Don't forget they stand to lose quite a bit if the expanded tournament doesn't work.

Gelio · 20-06-2010 10:41am

Wow this went OT fast . . .

thomond2006 · 20-06-2010 10:51am

CouchSmart wrote: »

I think, despite all the detractors saying it's too much etc, it's actually seeming like a success. We're getting introduced to the new focus on allowing the attacking team the benefit as well as introducing some actual depth into the squad.

A fair few players have really stood up and there will be calls for them to be included in squads next season. Players such as Tuohy, Buckley, Henry, Ruddock can be very proud of there efforts so far on tour. Others too who have been in squads like Wallace, Trimble, Cronin have been looking good when they got the call.

Overall I think this tour will stand to us in the future(World Cup).

We'll know how serious Kidney is taking performances on this tour by who he picks against the Wallabies.

CouchSmart · 20-06-2010 4:03pm

profitius wrote: »

I don't know if too much is better than too little. We're playing the same teams way too much these days.

Thats why its important to spread the game and help emerging nations like Romania, Georgia, USA, Canada and Russia. Not enough is being done IMO to help these teams especially the tier 2 European teams.

Our A team plays them yearly, this year is an exception, and we near always win. An east European tour would only benefit them, not us. Got to be a little selfish sometimes. We play a tier two side every autumn too.

PhatPiggins wrote: »

The John O Neil piss and moan brigade will complain about sending down weakend teams till the cows come home but they'll never not tour in the autumn, they make too much money from it. Whats their alternative play each other four times a season, .............. oh wait.

They'll just play the other nations, France etc. None of those countries complain about playing time and their players play a whole lot more than ours. And I know they have more players than us but most of the time they only use the same 30 or so.

profitius · 22-06-2010 9:58pm

CouchSmart wrote: »

Our A team plays them yearly, this year is an exception, and we near always win. An east European tour would only benefit them, not us. Got to be a little selfish sometimes. We play a tier two side every autumn too.

If we try to expand the game and play more eat European teams it'll have long term benefits for rugby. That would mean alot more money for European teams especially if it got popular in places like Russia.

CouchSmart · 23-06-2010 1:57pm

Play them when? And I don't understand how them getting hammered will help them. Up until this year our 'A' team played the best tier 2 had to offer and we were rarely troubled. The Nations Cup just finished and a lot of the east Europe teams struggled with the might of Italy 'A'.

Eastern European teams are effectively tier 3/4 at the minute. Being hammered by a tier 1 team will not build popularity in the sport.

profitius · 23-06-2010 2:54pm

CouchSmart wrote: »

Play them when? And I don't understand how them getting hammered will help them. Up until this year our 'A' team played the best tier 2 had to offer and we were rarely troubled. The Nations Cup just finished and a lot of the east Europe teams struggled with the might of Italy 'A'.

Eastern European teams are effectively tier 3/4 at the minute. Being hammered by a tier 1 team will not build popularity in the sport.

Ireland have never beaten NZ and still they're the No 1 crowd puller.

CouchSmart · 23-06-2010 6:26pm

profitius wrote: »

Ireland have never beaten NZ and still they're the No 1 crowd puller.

They're our last great hurdle. Romania etc can start to challenge us when they beat our 'A' sides.

There's no one higher than NZ so they have no choice but to continually play us lower ranked teams.

CouchSmart · 29-06-2010 1:33pm

Paul O'Connell will be back to full fitness soon. Great to hear after all the horrible rumours that were being spread.
http://www.irishrugby.ie/283_21290.php

Zzippy · 29-06-2010 3:06pm

Is it just the cut of the suit, or does he look like he's lost a bit of weight not being able to train?
Great news, hopefully the rest will have done him good and he'll come back refreshed for a good season - except when he plays Connacht!

smurphy29 · 29-06-2010 3:43pm

Shockingly dull blog there Paulie! I've seen better from Premiership footballers!

It'll be great to have him back to full fitness and firing on all cylinders... and hopefully it'll put a halt to this tedium!

PhatPiggins · 29-06-2010 9:33pm

Zzippy wrote: »

Is it just the cut of the suit, or does he look like he's lost a bit of weight not being able to train?
Great news, hopefully the rest will have done him good and he'll come back refreshed for a good season - except when he plays Connacht!

If you were on hospital food for that long you'd lose weight too

wonton · 30-06-2010 12:51am

Zzippy wrote: »

Is it just the cut of the suit, or does he look like he's lost a bit of weight not being able to train?
Great news, hopefully the rest will have done him good and he'll come back refreshed for a good season - except when he plays Connacht!

ye really does look like hes lost weight

danthefan · 30-06-2010 12:59am

PhatPiggins wrote: »

If you were on hospital food for that long you'd lose weight too

That is damn true, spent 4 nights in hospital about a month ago and lost a good bit of weight. I would guess POC would be better taken care of than I was though.

CouchSmart · 10-04-2011 7:30pm

From the Munster thread: Who's going to be Ireland's starting fullback come WC?

Risteard · 10-04-2011 7:49pm

CouchSmart wrote: »

From the Munster thread: Who's going to be Ireland's starting fullback come WC?

Well our options are (in no particular order):

Kearney
Murphy
Jones
Earls
Duffy
Fitzgerald.

Two of those player will have minimal gametime by the time the WC comes round. Kearney will have at most 4 games. When's Murphy back?

One has no experience at this level but is going well at provincial level. (Jones)

One has shown some good form at international level but wasn't tested under the high ball but showed good attacking skill but plays wing at provincial level. (Earls)

One is an out and out full back who has shown to be decent when called upon, but hasn't played at this level in a while. haven't seen an awful lot of him myself this season. (Duffy)

And one has been out of form sine his return from injury and is playing on the wing, and is perhaps lucky to be ahead of McFadden. (Fitzgerald)

So it'll come down to who Kidney plays in the warm up games. Does he give Kearney and Murphy gametime to get back up to speed after long absences.

Does he give Jones some experience at this level to get accustomed to it? Will he let Earls get back into the groove at full-back to be tested under the high ball?

It's hard to say who will be our full back but I think the warm up games are going to be crucial to the decision an who Kidney picks in them will give us an idea.

Jemo · 10-04-2011 8:03pm

I agree entirely with the above post, its almost impossible to tell what way it will go. Kearney may not get a game this season the way the back three are going (I would hop that McFadden wouldn't be dropped from the team entirely for him at the drop of the hat). One thing I am sure of though is that Trimble should be in our back 3. He goes looking for work and ads a physical dimension like no other Irish back. I'd like to see Horgan travel too but his lack of versatility could be a problem as he won't start unless Bowe is unfortunate with injury

thomond2006 · 10-04-2011 8:30pm

Jones has a good chance if he continues his impressive form and holds onto the 15 jersey for the rest of the season. He can play wing too which will boost his chances of a call up.

brianthebard · 10-04-2011 8:49pm

Risteard wrote: »

One has shown some good form at international level but wasn't tested under the high ball but showed good attacking skill but plays wing at provincial level. (Earls)

One is an out and out full back who has shown to be decent when called upon, but hasn't played at this level in a while. haven't seen an awful lot of him myself this season. (Duffy)

Duffy was great against Edinburgh the other week and has been on form for the whole season really but Kidney will still put the munster winger in at fb ahead of him. Doubt he would even consider bringing Duffy to nz. Earls did ok against England but let's face it he wasn't asked to do much as a fb that game and it seemed like he kept trying to move back into wing positions.

CatFromHue · 10-04-2011 8:55pm

id like duffy to get in if kearney is injured or doesnt get much game time before the world cup, which it looks like he will be.

it was unfortunate for him to be injured before the 6 nations when he possible could have had a chance with ireland.

he has looked pretty good anytime ive seen him this season for connacht.

TheRevolution · 10-04-2011 9:08pm

I've been impressed whenever I've seen Duffy this season I have to admit.

Why is it that people just seem to write him off for no particular reason?

Risteard · 10-04-2011 9:09pm

TheRevolution wrote: »

I've been impressed whenever I've seen Duffy this season I have to admit.

Why is it that people just seem to write him off for no particular reason?

Probably because he plays for Connacht tbh.

10-04-2011 9:14pm

Duffy is solid and unremarkable.

Pretty much exactly the kind of guy we need to be able to call on for some of the WC games, when we need to put together solid but unremarkable wins.

I like him, its criminal that he hasn't been involved imo.

Dave Joyce · 10-04-2011 9:16pm

Why is it that people just seem to write him off for no particular reason?

Because he's from Connacht and we don't play in the Heineken Cup:rolleyes: regardless of well we do in the Magners or Amlin (not this year admittedly:()

CatFromHue · 10-04-2011 9:25pm

id say because he came on the scene for ireland in 2005 or so. he played against the springboks in south africa in the centre i think. he went to harlequins who then got relegated so he kinda fell off the radar completely.

ireland have had dempsey and murphy at 15 and then kearney and murphy. so we were will stocked with full backs.

he also plays for an unfashionable club which count against him somewhat.

id rate him higher than murphy at the moment to be honest and this season he has been pretty good for connacht.

Sin a bhfuil · 10-04-2011 9:29pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Duffy is solid and unremarkable.

Pretty much exactly the kind of guy we need to be able to call on for some of the WC games, when we need to put together solid but unremarkable wins.

I like him, its criminal that he hasn't been involved imo.

Was he not out injured for a couple of months coming into the Six Nations? I seem to recall Ian Keatley lining out at fullback instead of him.

Jemo · 10-04-2011 10:17pm

Sin a bhfuil wrote: »

Was he not out injured for a couple of months coming into the Six Nations? I seem to recall Ian Keatley lining out at fullback instead of him.

Yeah, as far as I know he came back about the same time as Fitzy but wasn't afforded the same opportunity to regain form. If only we could revoke Nacewa's couple of minutes for Fiji and get him to sign up

Otacon · 11-04-2011 12:34pm

If we had to go tomorrow, Earls would be my FB. But seeing as we have a few months, it really could be any of the above.

Jones is in with a fantastic chance. Seeing as Kidney seems blind to Duffy, him and Earls seem like the only options [who will have enough gametime] and as both are rather versatile, it could go either way.

SomeFool · 11-04-2011 2:18pm

Earls for me with Tommy and Trimble on the wings but there's a bit of rugby to be played yet so this may well change. Looking at the players currently unavailable for Ireland, (Flannery, O' Connell, Ferris, Kearney, Murphy) injury will unfortunatly play a part in who is selected for the world cup.

totallegend · 11-04-2011 3:59pm

Otacon wrote: »

If we had to go tomorrow, Earls would be my FB. But seeing as we have a few months, it really could be any of the above.

Jones is in with a fantastic chance. Seeing as Kidney seems blind to Duffy, him and Earls seem like the only options [who will have enough gametime] and as both are rather versatile, it could go either way.

Lads, I just don't see this being any way realistic. Jones has not had any big games in which to show us that he's up to international standard, except maybe the Leinster game and he was quiet enough in that.

The full-back options are Kearney/Earls/Murphy/Fitzgerald and Jones is a long, long way back in the pecking order. Regardless of game time, if Kearney is fit in August, he'll be on the plane to NZ.

bamboozle · 11-04-2011 4:53pm

i find it comical the hysteria from some regarding Jones, he's played a few games on the trot in his third season with Munster and there are ridiculous claims for him to be on the national team, Kearny, Duffy, Earls, G. Murphy, Bowe would all currently be ahead of him in consideration for full back on irish team.

as it stands McFadden will be very lucky to make the world cup squad and he has proven his ability at Churchill, Magners, HC and 6 nations over the last 24 months. The WC is too early for Jones, i certainly hope he continutes to improve and stay fit.

Sin a bhfuil · 11-04-2011 6:52pm

bamboozle wrote: »

i find it comical the hysteria from some regarding Jones, he's played a few games on the trot in his third season with Munster and there are ridiculous claims for him to be on the national team, Kearny, Duffy, Earls, G. Murphy, Bowe would all currently be ahead of him in consideration for full back on irish team.

as it stands McFadden will be very lucky to make the world cup squad and he has proven his ability at Churchill, Magners, HC and 6 nations over the last 24 months. The WC is too early for Jones, i certainly hope he continutes to improve and stay fit.

Anthony Foley never struck me as being hysterical. (Taken off the Munster fans site). Note this was before he played a Munster 'A' match about a month ago.

Foley backs jones for Ireland

Irish Independent
Wednesday March 16, 2011

Munster 'A' coach Anthony Foley believes Felix Jones can mount a late bid for World Cup selection, providing he comes through today's 'A' inter-provincial showdown against the Ulster Ravens at Shaw's Bridge (kick-off 3.30pm).

The 24-year-old full-back has barely played any rugby at all over the past 15 months, having suffered a serious neck injury in December 2009 before rupturing his cruciate ligament three games into his return last September.

However, the former U-20 Grand Slam winner has once again battled his way back to full fitness, and Foley believes he has what it takes to push for World Cup inclusion.

"Why not?" said the former Munster and Ireland No 8. "Everyone has seen what the lad is capable of doing. Hopefully he will get a run of games and make a push for that World Cup squad.

"Felix is electric. Even when you're just out on the training pitch coaching him, he brings an extra bounce and an extra buzz to the whole thing."

Luke is definately out of contention for a spot at Full Back. He got a few chances there for both Leinster & Ireland. Kearney is injured and has been out for months now. Even at that, his form wasn't great before his injury. He has to reinvent himself as a counter attacking fullback coming back from an injury. Similar situation with regard to Geordan Murphy - not in great form before his injury, but at least he is due back in the next couple of weeks so we will see how he does. Gavin Duffy has also been injured, but he isn't going to get particularly meaningful gametime at this stage as Connacht's season is more or less over (he won't have magners playoffs or Amlin knock outs). And why would you move our best wingers from their best positions? (Bowe & Earls). Jones has something going for him - he is very comfortable counter attacking and he is combing well with Earls on the wing.

11-04-2011 7:00pm

Sin a bhfuil wrote: »

...

Luke is definately out of contention for a spot at Full Back. H.....

An absolutely outrageous statement.

Luke Fitzgerald, an established winger by all accounts, misses out on rugby for almost a full calendar year due to injury. Within 5 weeks (?) of his first game back he is asked to play a foreign position with the national team. Surprise surprise things don't go according to plan. It wouldn't have taken a psychic to see this, we all predicted it here tbh!

Just as Jones, Duffy, D'Arcy will be competing for the dedicated FB spot, Earls, Fitzgerald and Bowe will be competing for the chance to deny them that spot.

Kearney and Murphy will be busting balls to get back from injury.

It's fairly insane to write Luke's chances at FB off based on his "return from injury" games.

Obviously he will have to do a lot to turn around the damage done to his name after the 6N, but everyone competing for the position has an awful lot to prove over the next 6 months.

PhatPiggins · 11-04-2011 7:01pm

bamboozle wrote: »

i find it comical the hysteria from some regarding Jones, he's played a few games on the trot in his third season with Munster and there are ridiculous claims for him to be on the national team, Kearny, Duffy, Earls, G. Murphy, Bowe would all currently be ahead of him in consideration for full back on irish team.

as it stands McFadden will be very lucky to make the world cup squad and he has proven his ability at Churchill, Magners, HC and 6 nations over the last 24 months. The WC is too early for Jones, i certainly hope he continutes to improve and stay fit.

Remember when there was the Denis Hurley for Ireland brigade

Jones is a different class but I can't see him making it. that said Duffy doesn't appear to be rated and Gerdon Murphy might not be fit in time so you never know

profitius · 11-04-2011 7:31pm

If Jones has the talent and the temperament to be an international then bring him along. Jones has not played too many top class games but he has proved himself in all of them. I can't remember too many mistakes he has made if any.

From somebody who doesn't know him he looks like he is ambitious and is willing to back himself and he certainly has the talent.

Theres still some hard matches coming up so we'll see how he goes. Theres plenty of time to push himself forward as a genuine contender for a world cup squad. Maybe the injuries will have cost him he WC place but after the WC I think we'll be seeing more of him in an Ireland shirt.

The way things are going you couldn't bring Luke Fitz to the world cup. He needs a big improvement because Ireland need players we can rely on in big matches.

11-04-2011 7:36pm

profitius wrote: »

The way things are going you couldn't bring Luke Fitz to the world cup. He needs a big improvement because Ireland need players we can rely on in big matches.

aye, luckily we've 6 months to hone these guys. Jones will develop in those months, and hopefully Luke can get back to his old self too.

totallegend · 11-04-2011 8:41pm

profitius wrote: »

If Jones has the talent and the temperament to be an international then bring him along. Jones has not played too many top class games but he has proved himself in all of them. I can't remember too many mistakes he has made if any....

The way things are going you couldn't bring Luke Fitz to the world cup. He needs a big improvement because Ireland need players we can rely on in big matches.

For a minute there, I thought you were suggesting we would leave a Lions test player, grand slam ever-present, HC and ML winner at home and bring along a guy who has yet to make a SINGLE appearance in the HC.

Then I regathered my senses and realised that no-one would seriously suggest that. Phew.

Sin a bhfuil · 11-04-2011 9:14pm

Deleted User wrote: »

An absolutely outrageous statement.

Luke Fitzgerald, an established winger by all accounts, misses out on rugby for almost a full calendar year due to injury. Within 5 weeks (?) of his first game back he is asked to play a foreign position with the national team. Surprise surprise things don't go according to plan. It wouldn't have taken a psychic to see this, we all predicted it here tbh!

Luke Fitzgerald is an established winger coming back from injury who can't seem to find form as a winger at club level, let alone as a fullback at international level. Earls, Bowe & Trimble all had injuries coming into the 6Ns and all found form. Earls played better at fullback than Luke did in the one chance he got at fullback, even though Earls was coming back from injury himself and normally plays centre for club and wing for Ireland. Luke was dropped from the 22.

Just as Jones, Duffy, D'Arcy will be competing for the dedicated FB spot, Earls, Fitzgerald and Bowe will be competing for the chance to deny them that spot.

Duffy maybe - but he has been out injured himself and Connacht's season is more or less over. Is D'Arcy even interested in playing for Ireland? Whatever about Earls competing for the fullback spot, Bowe won't. Why would you move our best winger to fullback? Luke will be lucky to hold onto his spot on the wing for Leinster, he certainly won't be claiming the fullback spot from Nacewa.

Kearney and Murphy will be busting balls to get back from injury.

Murphy is hoping to be back for the EP play-offs with Leicester, so he should be in contention. When is Kearney due back? And will he be getting gametime ahead of Nacewa at fullback?

It's fairly insane to write Luke's chances at FB off based on his "return from injury" games.

Obviously he will have to do a lot to turn around the damage done to his name after the 6N, but everyone competing for the position has an awful lot to prove over the next 6 months.

We're not writing him off, but Declan Kidney would be very foolish to expect some form to come from nowhere as Luke is very lucky to be getting a game ahead of McFaddan on the wing for Leinster at the moment.

Luke has the next couple of games for Leinster to prove himself, bearing in mind that all the others will need gametime in the warm up games to prove their fitness.

Sin a bhfuil · 11-04-2011 9:25pm

totallegend wrote: »

For a minute there, I thought you were suggesting we would leave a Lions test player, grand slam ever-present, HC and ML winner at home and bring along a guy who has yet to make a SINGLE appearance in the HC.

Then I regathered my senses and realised that no-one would seriously suggest that. Phew.

Didn't know that Luke played fullback for the Lions. Hope it was better than his recent showings in the 6Ns in that position.

Jones won't be brought instead of Luke. Luke will be competing with Earls, Trimble, McFadden & Shane Horgan for a wing spot (Tommy Bowe will be going anyway).

Competition for the fullback spot will be Geordan Murphy, Rob Kearney, Keith Earls, Gavin Duffy & Felix Jones. Jones' chances will depend on how well Murphy & Kearney come back from injury, but if they are not playing by the end of the season.

11-04-2011 9:32pm

Sin a bhfuil wrote: »

Luke Fitzgerald is an established winger coming back from injury who can't seem to find form as a winger at club level, let alone as a fullback at international level. Earls, Bowe & Trimble all had injuries coming into the 6Ns and all found form. Earls played better at fullback than Luke did in the one chance he got at fullback, even though Earls was coming back from injury himself and normally plays centre for club and wing for Ireland. Luke was dropped from the 22.

A year out from the game is an awfully long time. If you were expecting him to get back to full speed after that long you're asking far too much of the player. All of those players you've mentioned had incomparable layoffs.

Sin a bhfuil wrote: »

Duffy maybe - but he has been out injured himself and Connacht's season is more or less over. Is D'Arcy even interested in playing for Ireland? Whatever about Earls competing for the fullback spot, Bowe won't. Why would you move our best winger to fullback? Luke will be lucky to hold onto his spot on the wing for Leinster, he certainly won't be claiming the fullback spot from Nacewa.

All of the above remains to be seen, and is purely speculation. Earls will most certainly be competing for the FB spot as we have depth at 11 and not at 15. If Earls can prove to be completely assured in both 11 and 15 it will completely guarantee him a WC spot (pretty much a cert anyway though).

I don't like the idea of Bowe at FB, but it has been mentioned here plenty. I was only giving options.

Sin a bhfuil wrote: »

Murphy is hoping to be back for the EP play-offs with Leicester, so he should be in contention. When is Kearney due back? And will he be getting gametime ahead of Nacewa at fullback?

Leinster have a lot of congestion with games coming up, there will be rotation expected and Nacewa has played an awful lot this season. Expect to see him rested and others given a shot.

Sin a bhfuil wrote: »

We're not writing him off, but Declan Kidney would be very foolish to expect some form to come from nowhere as Luke is very lucky to be getting a game ahead of McFaddan on the wing for Leinster at the moment.

Luke has the next couple of games for Leinster to prove himself, bearing in mind that all the others will need gametime in the warm up games to prove their fitness.

You completely wrote him off and that's why I questioned your post. Read what you wrote again. I said it was an insane statement and I stand by that.

There's an awful long time before the WC, knocking people's chances at this stage is fairly mind boggling.

Sin a bhfuil · 11-04-2011 9:55pm

Deleted User wrote: »

A year out from the game is an awfully long time. If you were expecting him to get back to full speed after that long you're asking far too much of the player. All of those players you've mentioned had incomparable layoffs.

Earls has played 14 games for Munster this season. Luke Fitz has played 13 for Leinster. Earls was playing injured after the 6Ns last year and didn't travel with Ireland on the summer tour.

Murphy broke his leg and he is 33 years of age next week. Kearney had an op on his knee. Both serious injuries. What if they have as much difficulty finding form as Luke did?

All of the above remains to be seen, and is purely speculation. Earls will most certainly be competing for the FB spot as we have depth at 11 and not at 15. If Earls can prove to be completely assured in both 11 and 15 it will completely guarantee him a WC spot (pretty much a cert anyway though).

I don't like the idea of Bowe at FB, but it has been mentioned here plenty. I was only giving options.

On Earls' present form he will be going. But he isn't playing fullback and should really be regarded as backup. I think its interesting that Munster have left him at wing even - even putting Johne Murphy (a winger) in the centre instead of him.

Leinster have a lot of congestion with games coming up, there will be rotation expected and Nacewa has played an awful lot this season. Expect to see him rested and others given a shot.

It will be interesting to see if Luke is given a shot at fullback.

You completely wrote him off and that's why I questioned your post. Read what you wrote again. I said it was an insane statement and I stand by that.

There's an awful long time before the WC, knocking people's chances at this stage is fairly mind boggling.

I'm still writing Luke off as a fullback. He has a chance to go to the world cup as starting on the wing, or backup on the bench. His form will have to improve drastically though. It will be interesting to see if he will be starting for Leinster in the Heineken Cup semi. McFaddan at the moment should feel very hard done by.

profitius · 11-04-2011 10:21pm

totallegend wrote: »

For a minute there, I thought you were suggesting we would leave a Lions test player, grand slam ever-present, HC and ML winner at home and bring along a guy who has yet to make a SINGLE appearance in the HC.

Then I regathered my senses and realised that no-one would seriously suggest that. Phew.

I was suggesting we take the form fullback if he proves himself for the rest of the season. Up to you if you decide not to take that too seriously.

Some people really are closed minded. If a player is good enough hes good enough. Its that simple. Is Jones good enough? We've the rest of the season to find out. Is Fitz good enough? Definitely not on current form and I have to question how mentally strong he is too. If we ignore current form we should take Hayes (grand slam, double HEC and ML winning Lions capped player) to the world cup too...

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