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emmet02 · 02-10-2011, 12:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebaz

cronin did just fine - losing POC, ross, Healy, BOD or even Ferris, Bowe , Kearney, o'gara would be far more serious - hopefully best will be back for later stages - injuries will be par for course of this journey for all teams - its hardly like losing dan carter

fully disagree here. If you're calling the above players the first choice

POC -> Cullen isn't near as big a gap as Best -> Cronin
Bowe -> Trimble again
Kearney - > Murphy is a big step, but again not in the same league.
ROG -> Sexton is not even a step, as it's a crazily close decision already.

You're completely underestimating just how good Best has been and how important he is for our game.

GerM · 02-10-2011, 12:46

Andy Kyriacou is definitely an option that people are forgetting. I think it would be Sherry though.

Risteard · 02-10-2011, 12:47

Hope it's not serious, not just from the POV of the Irish team, but for Best himself. He's playing his best rugby of his Irish career lately and it would be a shame for him to miss out.

GerM · 02-10-2011, 12:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by [Jackass]

Cian Healy threw in to lineouts in schools rugby if that helps...

)

He didn't. He played and scrummaged at hooker but Belvedere's No. 8, David Gilchrist, threw in at set piece time. Gilchrist was a fine hooker in his own right and played there on representative teams.

Cpt_Blackbeard · 02-10-2011, 13:04

Leamy was registered as a hooker in Munster years ago, if that's any help?

Seriously though, it would be a huge loss. Best has been playing the best rugby of his career imo and Cronin is terribly unpredictable - he looks so nervous on the field, his hands are terrible and he poor in the lineout. If Varley could find his early season form from last year he would be my starter hands down but, he was poor towards the end of the season. His throwing went AWOL and he became a penalty machine. If he did find form though, he could be our answer to having no natural 7

, he can be a beast on the floor.

Sherry would probably be the obvious replacement. It would be a huge challenge to slot in with the squad and learn the calls though. This is probably the only time that I'll go on record saying that I want Strauss to tog out for Ireland though.

I would absolutely love for Sherry to pull a Murray and go from being 4th choice at Munster to being first choice for Ireland within 6months though.

phog · 02-10-2011, 13:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reloc8

I thought emmet02 meant he's number 1 of those in line for the call-ups, not number 1 to start in the team.

I understood that, thats why I asked

Quote:

That's kind of worrying, I've huge time for Sherry and often preferred to see him start ahead of Varley but I think should he be called up it'll be a huge step up for him

Quote:

Originally Posted by GerM

Andy Kyriacou is definitely an option that people are forgetting. I think it would be Sherry though.

I fgorgot about Andy, he may be next choice too.

overshoot · 02-10-2011, 13:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by GerM

Andy Kyriacou is definitely an option that people are forgetting. I think it would be Sherry though.

i though of him at first too but personally i dont think he has been at the level he was at in his debut ulster season, playing ireland A etc. i think ireland may be in trouble here. Best has been on flying form and its a definate step down to Cronin. (iv good hope for the future for him but he is a work in progress) unfortunately though it is a big step again to the next man. its annoying that ireland have good cover for almost the entire squad but the front row is the one place where there is such a gap between 1st and 2nd choice. (or at least when we are minus flannery too)

personally i think varley probably has to be the go to guy here, only one with full caps and there isnt much between whats left

Medkaren · 02-10-2011, 13:26

What exactly did cronin do wrong today? Made all his line outs the only one he didn't was because donnacha Ryan let it go through his grasp but the timing was good. Also had a good scrum carried and tackled well.. I think he's come on leaps and bounds since this time last year and think he'll be our no 1 before long

RoryMc23 · 02-10-2011, 13:32

I'm pretty sure Flavin will be called up.

conf101 · 02-10-2011, 13:32

Someone on Twitter saying that Strauss is now eligible. Wonder if he's a possibility. Don't think that a call out to the WC is the ideal time to be bringing him into the Irish squad. Could be pretty unsettling for everyone.

I say this as a big Strauss fan btw

GerM · 02-10-2011, 13:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Medkaren

What exactly did cronin do wrong today? Made all his line outs the only one he didn't was because donnacha Ryan let it go through his grasp but the timing was good. Also had a good scrum carried and tackled well.. I think he's come on leaps and bounds since this time last year and think he'll be our no 1 before long

25 minutes can't dispel what we've all seen and known for a long time. He's very mobile, fantastic carrier and decent at the breakdown for a front row player. However, his throwing is dubious and our scrum is significantly weaker with him on the field. Best is miles ahead of him and will be a huge loss if confirmed. Cronin right now will struggle a fair bit to be the number one at his province let alone his country.

GerM · 02-10-2011, 13:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by conf101

Someone on Twitter saying that Strauss is now eligible. Wonder if he's a possibility. Don't think that a call out to the WC is the ideal time to be bringing him into the Irish squad. Could be pretty unsettling for everyone.

I say this as a big Strauss fan btw

They're wrong. Strauss isn't eligible until autumn 2012.

Fireball07 · 02-10-2011, 13:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by conf101

Someone on Twitter saying that Strauss is now eligible. Wonder if he's a possibility. Don't think that a call out to the WC is the ideal time to be bringing him into the Irish squad. Could be pretty unsettling for everyone.

I say this as a big Strauss fan btw

People say a lot of things on Twitter.

If he's the best choice, then he should be called up. But I don't think he's eligible...

phog · 02-10-2011, 13:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by conf101

Someone on Twitter saying that Strauss is now eligible. Wonder if he's a possibility. Don't think that a call out to the WC is the ideal time to be bringing him into the Irish squad. Could be pretty unsettling for everyone.

I say this as a big Strauss fan btw

Not a hope of it, even if he is eligible. Nothing against him but he has ever been in camp with the irish squad and I'd hope a couple of the other lads must surely have been or played Churchill Cup.

Flincher · 02-10-2011, 13:41

That's a real pity if Best is out, he's played some excellent rugby over the last few weeks.

Sherry would be the next choice. He has been solid this season, but the chances are he won't be called upon if he does fly out, so its probably academic enough.

I don't think there's a lot between Cronin and Varley. I'd probably go for Cronin based on his familiarity and experience with the squad, Varley hasn't had the same involvement.

The main advantage Varley has is his ability to win turnovers and, he very regularly wins penalties on the deck for Munster, and that might be something the coaches will look at, especially considering how strong Warburton is on the ground.

02-10-2011, 13:26	#53
Medkaren Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 1 Adverts \| Friends	Give cronin a chance What exactly did cronin do wrong today? Made all his line outs the only one he didn't was because donnacha Ryan let it go through his grasp but the timing was good. Also had a good scrum carried and tackled well.. I think he's come on leaps and bounds since this time last year and think he'll be our no 1 before long

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02-10-2011, 12:46	#47
GerM Closed Account Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 5,570 Adverts \| Friends	Andy Kyriacou is definitely an option that people are forgetting. I think it would be Sherry though.

02-10-2011, 12:47	#48
Risteard Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Limerick Posts: 2,285 Adverts \| Friends	Hope it's not serious, not just from the POV of the Irish team, but for Best himself. He's playing his best rugby of his Irish career lately and it would be a shame for him to miss out.

02-10-2011, 13:04	#50
Cpt_Blackbeard Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Limerick Posts: 2,391 Adverts \| Friends	Leamy was registered as a hooker in Munster years ago, if that's any help? Seriously though, it would be a huge loss. Best has been playing the best rugby of his career imo and Cronin is terribly unpredictable - he looks so nervous on the field, his hands are terrible and he poor in the lineout. If Varley could find his early season form from last year he would be my starter hands down but, he was poor towards the end of the season. His throwing went AWOL and he became a penalty machine. If he did find form though, he could be our answer to having no natural 7 , he can be a beast on the floor. Sherry would probably be the obvious replacement. It would be a huge challenge to slot in with the squad and learn the calls though. This is probably the only time that I'll go on record saying that I want Strauss to tog out for Ireland though. I would absolutely love for Sherry to pull a Murray and go from being 4th choice at Munster to being first choice for Ireland within 6months though.

02-10-2011, 13:32	#54
RoryMc23 Banned Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 106 Adverts \| Friends	I'm pretty sure Flavin will be called up.

02-10-2011, 13:32	#55
conf101 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 684 Adverts \| Friends	Someone on Twitter saying that Strauss is now eligible. Wonder if he's a possibility. Don't think that a call out to the WC is the ideal time to be bringing him into the Irish squad. Could be pretty unsettling for everyone. I say this as a big Strauss fan btw

02-10-2011, 13:41	#60
Flincher Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Limerick Posts: 492 Adverts \| Friends	That's a real pity if Best is out, he's played some excellent rugby over the last few weeks. Sherry would be the next choice. He has been solid this season, but the chances are he won't be called upon if he does fly out, so its probably academic enough. I don't think there's a lot between Cronin and Varley. I'd probably go for Cronin based on his familiarity and experience with the squad, Varley hasn't had the same involvement. The main advantage Varley has is his ability to win turnovers and, he very regularly wins penalties on the deck for Munster, and that might be something the coaches will look at, especially considering how strong Warburton is on the ground.