team for new zealand

thebaz

after the weekends exploits , best of luck to Munster , as a Leinster fan , looking forward to New Zealand where Ireland face a serious challenge . Here would be my starting 15 as of now.
15 Dempsey
14 Murphy
13 O'Driscoll
12 Horgan
11 Hickie
10 O'Gara
9 Stringer
8 Leamy
7 Wallace
6 Easterby
5 O'Connell
4 O'Callaghan
3 Hayes
2 Flannery
1 Horan

I would expect that Trimble will get in ahead of Hickie , and Darcy ahead of Dempsey , but the above is what i would go with based on form .

jdivision

Dempsey too old, O'Sullivan can't justify picking him. Regardless of his play for Leinster this year on the big stage he's afraid to take people on. I have a feeling that Heaslip might break into the team if he's taken to NZ and O'Sullivan would move Leamy to flanker and drop Easterby. Unlikely to happen though cos Eddie loves Easterby.

thebaz

i never used to like Dempsey myself for international rugby , but hes really improved this year , i think Trimble on the wing , against ALL Blacks , is a little soon for him. Picked Easterby, on last years form for Lions, he was one of the few performers. Its going to be real hard down under, and experience and hardness will be critical .Thought Heaslip was dissapointing on Sunday , and Foley is a brilliant interpro, but lacks the height for top international rugby, and has not the same impact he has for munster.

casanova_kid

I though Gleeson might be considered at 7. I always think that Horgan plays best on the wing. I think Easterby's place is definetely at risk though he is still terrific because of back row options like Heaslip, Gleeson and I presume Quinlan will be back in the fold.

casanova_kid

thebaz wrote:

i never used to like Dempsey myself for international rugby , but hes really improved this year , i think Trimble on the wing , against ALL Blacks , is a little soon for him. Picked Easterby, on last years form for Lions, he was one of the few performers. Its going to be real hard down under, and experience and hardness will be critical .Thought Heaslip was dissapointing on Sunday , and Foley is a brilliant interpro, but lacks the height for top international rugby, and has not the same impact he has for munster.

How can you say that about Foley, he's had years at the top of the game. I think he's not in the team at the moment more because of age than any problem ability wise.

thebaz

casanova_kid wrote:

How can you say that about Foley, he's had years at the top of the game. I think he's not in the team at the moment more because of age than any problem ability wise.

Foley for me has always being outstanding for Munster , particularly Euro cup, i just feal in the big international matches , he struggles to have the impact he has for Munster, perticularly against the gig guns like Aussies , SA and All Blacks.

Greenhorse

Hey People,

We have a good chance of turning the ABs on this tour. We play them over 2 weekends and on the 3rd weekend they play the Pumas in Argentina.

Graham Henry has picked 39 players for these 3 tests. 39!!!

None of the Crusaders will be playing in possibly both tests against us as they will be in the Super 14 final.

So we could be up against the ABs minus:

15 McDonald
14 Gear
12 Mauger
10 Carter
8 Tuiali
7 McCaw
5 Jack



Thats a hell of alot of starters missing.

And if the Hurricanes qualify then:

13 Nonu
8 Sooilalo
6 Collins
5 Eaton

will all be missing.


There looks to be about 5 possibly 6 inexperienced players starting agains Ireland both in Hamilton and Auckland.

Hopefully I will make it to the Auckland game.

Best chance in years to win one of our Tests downunder.

Rgds,

Niall

Ronan|Raven

Yup, having the cusaders starting missing would be a huge boost for Ireland.

Shame there isnt a test down here in Wellington, would be very handy! Now one has to travel to Hamilton or the urban mess that is Auckland

Amazotheamazing

thebaz wrote:

after the weekends exploits , best of luck to Munster , as a Leinster fan , looking forward to New Zealand where Ireland face a serious challenge . Here would be my starting 15 as of now.
15 Dempsey
14 Murphy
13 O'Driscoll
12 Horgan
11 Hickie
10 O'Gara
9 Stringer
8 Leamy
7 Wallace
6 Easterby
5 O'Connell
4 O'Callaghan
3 Hayes
2 Flannery
1 Horan

I would expect that Trimble will get in ahead of Hickie , and Darcy ahead of Dempsey , but the above is what i would go with based on form .

Dempsey or Hickie won't feature, might not even tour if Kearney, Bowe and Trimble show good form.

Expect Trimble to start, with Murphy going to fullback.

Bench I expect to be Best, Best, O'Kelly/MOD, Gleeson/Jennings (O'Connor's out injured), Reddan/Boss, Staunton, Bowe.

All the either/or players will tour but my not make the squad.

Snickers Man

No. I would take a development squad. Leave some of hte old timers at home to catch a rest and get into shape for hte time we REALLY want to beat the All Blacks, ie in the quarter final of the WC which will probably be in Cardiff.

Send down all the pudgy fat lads to get hammered and lull the Blacks into a false sense of security then ambush the ****e out of them at the Millennium Stadium.

The worst thing we could do is beat them in the summer and get them all riled up for the World Cup Encounter.

Wouldn't it be great, just great if we could knock NZ out at the Q final stage for the first time ever?

It would be nearly as good as ending Munster's unbeaten HC run at Thomond.

Amazotheamazing

Snickers Man wrote:

No. I would take a development squad. Leave some of hte old timers at home to catch a rest and get into shape for hte time we REALLY want to beat the All Blacks, ie in the quarter final of the WC which will probably be in Cardiff.

Send down all the pudgy fat lads to get hammered and lull the Blacks into a false sense of security then ambush the ****e out of them at the Millennium Stadium.

The worst thing we could do is beat them in the summer and get them all riled up for the World Cup Encounter.

Wouldn't it be great, just great if we could knock NZ out at the Q final stage for the first time ever?

It would be nearly as good as ending Munster's unbeaten HC run at Thomond.

Interesting plan, but we're already sending our A squad to San Fran for the Churchill Cup. Pity the two tours coincide, I'd like to give Staunton, Heaslip and Jennings some A time, before bringing them out to NZ, if they play well I'd even risk them against Aus.

besty

I would expect something along the lines of;

Horan
Flannery
Hayes
O'Kelly
O'Connell
Leamy
Wallace
Jennings

Reddan
O'Gara

Darcy
O'Driscoll

Trimble
Horgan
Murphy

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

besty

daveirl wrote:

This post has been deleted.

What are you talking about? I shouldn't be able to predict/expect a side that I think will take the field for Ireland against NZ?

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

Greenhorse

Snickers Man wrote:

No. I would take a development squad. Leave some of hte old timers at home to catch a rest and get into shape for hte time we REALLY want to beat the All Blacks, ie in the quarter final of the WC which will probably be in Cardiff.

Send down all the pudgy fat lads to get hammered and lull the Blacks into a false sense of security then ambush the ****e out of them at the Millennium Stadium.

The worst thing we could do is beat them in the summer and get them all riled up for the World Cup Encounter.

Wouldn't it be great, just great if we could knock NZ out at the Q final stage for the first time ever?

It would be nearly as good as ending Munster's unbeaten HC run at Thomond.

Somthing tells me Eddie O Sullivan isnt the "bring out the kids" type of manager. Leamy was (correct me if I am wrong) the last "new boy" be be brought into the team and was playing top flight for Munster for 2 years.

The development squad is going to North America and the ABs will not be at full strenght. However saying that there are alot of fringe ABs chomping at the bit to break into the 1st team squad.

We could either beat them after a tough fight but our experience wins it or we could get hammered as the new ABs Exuberance carries them thru.

Getting less likely that I can make either of the games. Damn and blast this working life!! :rolleyes:

Rgds,

NIall

Amazotheamazing

Greenhorse wrote:

Somthing tells me Eddie O Sullivan isnt the "bring out the kids" type of manager. Leamy was (correct me if I am wrong) the last "new boy" be be brought into the team and was playing top flight for Munster for 2 years.

The development squad is going to North America and the ABs will not be at full strenght. However saying that there are alot of fringe ABs chomping at the bit to break into the 1st team squad.

We could either beat them after a tough fight but our experience wins it or we could get hammered as the new ABs Exuberance carries them thru.

Getting less likely that I can make either of the games. Damn and blast this working life!! :rolleyes:

Rgds,

NIall

Trimble?