Ireland Team versus PI

cruiserweight

Eddie has announced the team to play the Pacific Islands! I am glad to see Ferris and Heaslip getting a game!

G Dempsey (Leinster)
L Fitzgerald (Leinster)
B O'Driscoll (Leinster, captain)
S Horgan (Leinster)
D Hickie (Leinster)
P Wallace (Ulster)
P Stringer (Munster)
B Young (Ulster)
F Sheahan (Munster)
J Hayes (Munster)
M O'Kelly (Leinster)
P O'Connell (Munster)
S Easterby (Llanelli)
S Ferris (Ulster)
J Heaslip (Leinster)

Replacements:
R Best (Ulster)
S Best (Ulster)
D O'Callaghan (Munster)
D Leamy (Munster)
I Boss (Ulster)
R O'Gara (Munster)
G D'Arcy (Leinster)

thebaz

Paddy Wallace !!! oh dear --
we could lose .
Not sure this is the match to blood in Fitzgerald , against the bulk of the Islanders , personally i think it would have been better against less physical opponents , and i would have prefered to see him at full back .

Otherwise team is ok .

MarVeL

Surprised to see Hayes still there. Doubt he would have been if Horan was fit. Nice changes in the back row as well.

We have to try Wallace out at some stage as he'll more than likely be the backup for the 6 nations. He does look like the weakest link though (assuming Fitzgerald lives up to reports)

obrien_pa

EOS has certainly taken on board the views of media and fans in recent times and is now showing he can experiment when he wants to!

I'm delighted to see the amount of new caps in the team, blended with experience - it looks a fairly strong team to me.

Luke Fitz will have a stormer on the wing - I'm happy to have Dempsey at FB. It's a pity Trimble wasn't fit enough to be given a chance at centre though.

I hope that Wallace has a good game at 10, we really need a back-up for ROG. He might have been better served by having his Ulster team-mate, Boss, at 9 though - that would have taken a lot of pressure of his first start.

Back-row again looks fearsome..I can't wait to see Heaslip and Ferris in action on the same team.

I've got good vibes for a three-in-a-row in the Autumn Series:D (That's not to say that the islanders won't put up a good battle though. There'll be plenty of sore bodies walking off the field at the final whistle.)

foz_e_bear

I think it's a great change. Dempsey is reliable at full-back, I think there would be too much pressure for Fitzy there on his first cap.

Great to see Heaslip and Ferris, they're monsters, and they have the old head of Easterby to reel them in. I'd imagine it's the same thinking with stringer to keep Wallace's game together...I know Wallace is used to playing with Boss, but I think Eddie would prefare to know exactly what at least on of his half-back pairing is going to do!

Still looks good

daveirl

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Diamondmaker

Watch Jamie alright, Leinster captain outside of BOD and Felipe now, well he was 2 weeks ago! He has an uncanny knack of turning up on the wing also and running tries in from there. My bro played with him in TCD and I have seen him at this since back then. Very dynamic and fast, links pack and backs well.
Hes been a top performer for 2 years at Leinster now and is unfortunate to be up against the Leamy legend in his position. At the very least; outstanding potential and great to have as Leamy back up. His day will come........
I hope he has a good un :cool:

daveirl

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MikeHoncho

Anyone know will there be tickets on the gate for this at all?

daveirl

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