Best in to start

davyjose

Eh, what's going on Eddie? I can't understand this decision. I can't see how a week is going to fix what went wrong on Sunday. Bottom line if the lineout is that bad again, we've lost. A shaky lineout is in part what caused such a bad performance in Cardiff.

thebaz

agree completly -- except I also think Boss and Murphy are extremly unlucky , particularly Murphy -- Eddies poor team selection and his ignorance on how to substitute in the modern game , worry me big time in this World Cup year -- we have a once in a lifetime talented group of players , whose world cup challenge may be hindered by the coaches stubborness !

davyjose

It looks likely that Boss will play, due to Stringer's injury. I'm happy enough that Dempsey is in FB - if he hadn't been injured this yr, it wouldn't even be a question - he had been far better than Murphy up until then.

Linford

thebaz wrote:

agree completly -- except I also think Boss and Murphy are extremly unlucky , particularly Murphy -- Eddies poor team selection and his ignorance on how to substitute in the modern game , worry me big time in this World Cup year -- we have a once in a lifetime talented group of players , whose world cup challenge may be hindered by the coaches stubborness !

Why is Murphy unlucky? His moment of brilliance for Ireland last Sunday does detract from his general poor performances from Ireland in the past. Yes he has scored some good tries, but his defence has been apalling, anyone remember what he did last year against the French?

thebaz

Linford wrote:

Why is Murphy unlucky? His moment of brilliance for Ireland last Sunday does detract from his general poor performances from Ireland in the past. Yes he has scored some good tries, but his defence has been apalling, anyone remember what he did last year against the French?

I agree Murphy has had poor performances for Ireland in the past , but he has more talent still that Dempsey, who was poor on Sunday . Murphy is playing well now , and gives us an extra cutting edge , than Dempsey doesn't have .

davyjose

I think a lot of people overlook Dempsey's ability as a FB. Caught off-guard against the Welsh on Sunday, but normally is as solid as they come. Something we want against the French Backline.
No it's really annoying me that JF isn't starting, given the chasm of ability between him and Best, in the Lineout. That's how were going to win matches - out of the lineout.

An Tarbh

Don't forget that Dempsey did the tidying up after Easterby's little 'intervention' on Czekaj. Girv still has his uses, but Murphy really should have started on the wing on Sunday, he'll always be found out at full back but he's definitely an option for the wing.

Diamondmaker

Girv is a safe defensive minded, stay at home , Full Back. The rest of the back line 11-14 are very much attack minded. EOS, being a conseravtive kind of guy, clearly is of the mind that he needs this "sweeper" as he does not want to run the excessive risk of being caught out while the others are up field.
The extra attacking impetus of Murphy does not add enough to what is a great attacking unit, to sacrafice the extra defensive impetus Girv adds.

This is what I reckon and I quite think it makes sense.

zAbbo

That and Girv is the form FB in the last 12months, although Murphy seems to have got a kick up the hole recently.

davyjose

Diamondmaker wrote:

Girv is a safe defensive minded, stay at home , Full Back. The rest of the back line 11-14 are very much attack minded. EOS, being a conseravtive kind of guy, clearly is of the mind that he needs this "sweeper" as he does not want to run the excessive risk of being caught out while the others are up field.
The extra attacking impetus of Murphy does not add enough to what is a great attacking unit, to sacrafice the extra defensive impetus Girv adds.

This is what I reckon and I quite think it makes sense.

Exactly - those back five play together week in week out as well - makes a big difference.

athtrasna

I think Flannery is extremely unlucky in the selection. When we have a hooker who knows the key lineout jumpers/carriers, why did EOS choose not to use him from the start?

There may or may not be an issue of match fitness (Johnny Wilkinson anyone) but better put him on and replace him when he tires than start him cold mid-match.

Best left us vulnerable on such an important set piece in Cardiff.

stepbar

I really hope that Boss plays. He brings an attacking minded approach to the irish play. Ok strings is as safe as houses but we need to start thinking outside the box if we are to beat france. Flannery is horribly unlucky, but I suppose in fairness to Best I think his problem was that he couldnt hear the lineout calls. Might not have the same prob in Croker

daveirl

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thebaz

daveirl wrote:

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He seamed fit eneogh to me when he came on last Sunday , and generally improved the packs performance .
bests throwing in is a liability , good around the park though .
What i find more bizarre , is how Horgan is suddenly fit !! (not complaining )

[Jackass]

I think Stinger is one of our weakest players...absolute commitment and all that, but what used to make him a quality scrum half...his passing and tracking back in defence, have been poor at best in the past couple of seasons (despite winning the HC )

He's also tried to add a new aspect to his game and make breaks from the back, despite coming off in the HC final , makes him a liability...I'd love to see stats on it but I'd imagine out of every 10 breaks he makes, he knocks on 4 in contact, 5 times loses possesion after contact, half a time makes little ground and retains possesion and half a time makes a good break, good ground or scores a try.

He used to only do the basics and do them well, now he's not doing the basics well and trying to play a role he dosen't have the ability or physice to either.

Hope Boss starts and cements down a place.

Massive to have Horgan back, world-class player and has the heigth and strength of a second row, but the skill and speed of the best wingers around we really need his attacking option in the absence of O'Driscoll.

Would liked to have seen Flannery start simply because he is one of the most essential players we have, that shouldn't be underestimated. Line-out is massive to our game plan and platform to release our backs and without him we're denying ourselves of about half the backline oppertunitys we have in a match, so even if he's only 70% up to speed with the pace of the game he should be in there, did well in cardiff when he was on.

Touch wood, if there are no injuries in this game we should have our first 15 available to start Vs. England, and I would be confident we would win with that...so this France game is massive!! If we win this I think we're finaly looking at fullfilling our grande-slam destiny!

I'd rate our chances 50/50 at best after seeing the first round of games, so here's the question, can we finaly step up to the plate and deliver when the pressure is on?

Erin Go Brath

Flannery should have been picked for the starting XV, as a few people have pointed out Bests throwing was a liability the last day, and whats going to change in 7 days? Fcuk all

I think theres a case for starting Boss as well. I used to be a fan of Stringer, but when I look closely at other no. 9s and see what they can bring in terms of attack, eg Peel, Ellis etc I come to think that maybe we're weak in this position. Boss gives another option.

I'd play Drico even if he wasn't 100%. This is the most important game of the 6N's and we can afford to leave Drico out for the other games, and still win imo.

nacho libre

Diamondmaker wrote:

Girv is a safe defensive minded, stay at home , Full Back. The rest of the back line 11-14 are very much attack minded. EOS, being a conseravtive kind of guy, clearly is of the mind that he needs this "sweeper" as he does not want to run the excessive risk of being caught out while the others are up field.
The extra attacking impetus of Murphy does not add enough to what is a great attacking unit, to sacrafice the extra defensive impetus Girv adds.

This is what I reckon and I quite think it makes sense.

Yes it does.

Crash

I seriously doubt Best being chosen to start is anything more than a fitness issue - he played 25 last week - maybe this week he can do 40 and onwards and upwards.

still prefer to see him as an impact sub than vice versa.

LFC5Times

Linford wrote:

Why is Murphy unlucky? His moment of brilliance for Ireland last Sunday does detract from his general poor performances from Ireland in the past. Yes he has scored some good tries, but his defence has been apalling, anyone remember what he did last year against the French?

Well said Linford couldnt agree more.
Murphy fails to perform in the big games for Ireland,yes he may score 3 tries against the minnows of International Rugby like Italy or Fiji or some other small nation but against the likes of England,France,Aussies,NZ etc he always plays average to poor.

Whereas Dempsey might not set the world alight attacking wise, defensively he is so safe.

A strong spine is important in rugby and with Dempsey at fullback he is the safest player we have and one of the safest fullbacks in world rugby.

We have O'Driscoll,Darcy,Horgan and Hickie to do the fancy stuff and score the tries we dont need Murphy as well, so thats why Dempsey is important offering the safe aspect.

Its exactly like what has happened at Real Madrid over the last few years,they buy and pick all the fancy dan attacking players and have won nothing.

Dempsey all the way for me.