Ireland V Georgia (Saturday 8pm)

damienom

Just the one change............

Rants on a postcard please, are we throwing our World Cup hopes out the window by not rotating? Or are we that far off the pace physically and in terms of match fitness that he has no choice but to play our first team?

Ireland Coach Eddie O'Sullivan has made just one change to the team that defeated Namibia for Ireland's second game of the Rugby World Cup against Georgia on Saturday. Shane Horgan returns to the Ireland starting XV having fully recovered from a knee ligament strain which occurred while warming up for the pre Rugby World Cup game against Scotland in August.



Horgan, who replaces Andrew Trimble, is the only change to the starting XV from the game against Namibia on Sunday last. Brian O'Driscoll, Marcus Horan and Ronan O'Gara have all been passed fit to play following minor injuries picked up in the opening game of the tournament. Ireland Coach Eddie O'Sullivan said: "Shane has recovered fully and in line with the original prognosis. His return is a boost to the squad and to the team"





15 – Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster)
14 – Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster)
13 – Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) captain
12 – Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 – Denis Hickie (St. Mary's College/Leinster)


10 – Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)

9 – Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
1 – Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)
2 – Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
3 – John Hayes (Shannon/Munster)
4 – Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 – Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
6 – Simon Easterby (Llanelli)
7 – David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
8 – Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)



Replacements:

16 – Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
17 – Simon Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
18 – Malcolm O'Kelly (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
19 – Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
20 – Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster)
21 – Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
22 – Geordan Murphy (Leicester)

redmca

Typical EOS selection.

I 've no doubt the team will perform this time, but nevertheless we are trying to play the WC with about 23 players (selected 22 + Trimble).

This has to be EOS' biggest defect. Whatever about some guys being purely in the squad in the event of a doomsday injury, the absence of Quinlan from any game time is astonishing.

At worst, I pray that this time he will utilise the bench constructively, in other words by the 60th minute at the latest, especially Murphy.

Nukem

Fookin Idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Killme00

I dont agree. I think its the wrong time to rotate, i would play the same team for 50 - 60 mins for a couple of reasons

- i dont think fatique will be a factor if they are only playing 50-60 mins
- continuity = team spirit = self belief = confidence
- the first team obvioulsy needs match practice

maxi-twist

Trimble being completely dropped is a bit unfair. But i suppose it had to be him as he cant provide cover at full back.

Iompair

I'd love if we could rotate our team, but they need to play together as much as possible. After the terrible start against Namibia I'm not suprised the team has changed so little. Hopefully they can begin to get back some of the form they've lost over the last few months and put together a decent performance.

Regarding EOSs substitution policy, its the thing I hate most about his management of the team, he rarely brings players on early enough for them to have an impact. It seems we have a plan when we start the game and come hell or high water we'll play that plan until the last 10 minutes when we might try a few changes for the craic.:(

razorblunt

Killme00 wrote:

I dont agree. I think its the wrong time to rotate, i would play the same team for 50 - 60 mins for a couple of reasons

- i dont think fatique will be a factor if they are only playing 50-60 mins
- continuity = team spirit = self belief = confidence
- the first team obvioulsy needs match practice

Argentina picked a full strength side against Georgia for tonight and it'll be interesting to see what France will do against Namibia so he's right in getting his players match fit and up to the pace.

The only thing is instead of making holesale changes he should have made one or two, the players are getting too comfortable knowing the won't be dropped. Carney/Murphy on the wings might have been an option, Duffy in the centres, O'Kelly(shudder) in for O'Callaghan. Just to shake things up without unbalancing the team.

shaneor

Can anyone really say they are surprised? This is typical of EOS.

I know the arguments in favor of the team he picked (they need match practice etc) but I can't help the feeling that our players will be wrecked by the time we get/if we get to a serious knockout game and we'll ruin any chance we have!

Look at the AB ... 11 changes for Portugal so all the players are fresh and match fit in case they are needed ... that's the way these tournaments need to be played.

wowy

shaneor wrote:

Look at the AB ... 11 changes for Portugal so all the players are fresh and match fit in case they are needed ... that's the way these tournaments need to be played.

The All Blacks aren't in the position where their first team is playing woeful rugby, where their key players are severely lacking match fitness, and where after their performance and the points picked up in their first game they need to start racking up points (and a performance!) in their second.

ollyk1

maxi-twist wrote:

Trimble being completely dropped is a bit unfair. But i suppose it had to be him as he cant provide cover at full back.

Apparently he's fractured a bone in his finger so not an option to play him. Horgan was always playing this one anyway. As for cover on the bench Murphy is a much better cover option so I don't see your point tbh.

maxi-twist

Well hickey had an awful match,why not drop him instead of trimble who was alright. If he's injured then thats a totally different story.

bugler

Basically the likes of Carney and Quinlan aren't going to get out of their suits this WC.

I felt a couple of changes were necessary if no other reason than to emphasise there is competition for places, and you can't afford to play badly and still be a certainty on the team sheet. To this end I don't see why Hickie couldnt have been moved to the bench.

I feel sorry for the lads who will be left permanently outside the 22 (well, some of them). I'm not sure how players feel about spending the tournament like that, but it's a bit disappointing to even me.

Linford

ollyk1 wrote:

Apparently he's fractured a bone in his finger so not an option to play him. Horgan was always playing this one anyway. As for cover on the bench Murphy is a much better cover option so I don't see your point tbh.

Murphy is not necessarily a better cover option to Trimble as it means that Horgan is the cover for the centre.

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

Stev_o

Id love to know what the other 15 think of this. To be honest i think its the most disgraceful thing a manager can do and EOS sets boundaries for it. He might as well have left the other 15 at home if because at this rate he wont need any of them*sigh*

4 more years of this? Why oh why oh why............*sigh*

GreenHell

At least I don't have to make a change to my fantasy rugby team, sound man eddie

BigDragon

bugler wrote:

Basically the likes of Carney and Quinlan aren't going to get out of their suits this WC.

A crying shame as I think both a made for coming off the bench and making an impact....

ollyk1

BigDragon wrote:

A crying shame as I think both a made for coming off the bench and making an impact....

Agreed Dave. I'd love to at least have seen them both on the bench and getting a decent 30 minute plus run in the second half.

Nukem

ollyk1 wrote:

I'd love to at least have seen them both on the bench and getting a decent 30 minute plus run in the second half.

EOS won't play a 22 man game so what was the point bringing 30 players? He put Wallace and Murphy on for 90 seconds - thats some real sharp decision making!

Watch now ROG,BOD,POC,Hayes and Horan get injured in this match :rolleyes:

Stev_o

Nukem wrote:

Watch now ROG,BOD,POC,Hayes and Horan get injured in this match :rolleyes:

You know as bad as it sounds some part of me says that something like that should happen so to slap some sense into EOS that modern rugby is 22 man game and RWC is a 30 man game. That man really needs to wake up !

thebaz

i'm quickly tiring of EOS conservatism -- if i was Alan Quinlan , Brian Carney , Neil Best , Jerry Flannery , Geordan Murphy , i'd be crazy ... the team needed shaking up before France - and Eddies serves up the same ... and to cap it all cutely organised his contract prior to World Cup ... this dream seams to be quickly becoming a nightmare -- hope i'm wrong , but it ain't looking pretty from where i am .

kevmy

I was never expecting wholesale changes. Nor did I think they were a good idea.

But surely Flannery for Best just to see if Jerry is back to top form (as if he is he's is miles better than Best)

Give Neil Best a chance instead of Easterby and stick Quinlan on the bench. Just to see his options.

Otherwise not much point in making changes. BOD, Wallace and Horgan all need game time. Hayes, Horan, PoC and Rog knew going out they would start every game bar catastrophe.

It would be good to see Murphy getting decent game time and Wallace should be allowed to break sweat. But then again prob after 50-60 mins when we should have it sewn up.

Jack Sheehan

Pity Trimble isn't playing, I thought he was decent in the Ireland Namibia match.

zAbbo

Wakey Wakey lads, We need to put out the strongest team, Eddie is spot on, doesn't matter if you like him or not (kudos to those lambasting him soccer style :rolleyes: )

This is our strongest XV, there were never going to be changes.

This is the team that I'd expect to start against France, bar a catastrpohe by either Rory Best or Simon Easterby, no other position is up for grabs.

Those outside the starting XV have a near impossible task of claiming game time.

thebaz

zabbo wrote:

, no other position is up for grabs.

.

thats the problem -- the comfort zone -- play badly for the All Blacks, Aussies / French -- your gone -- meanwhile our lads can go through the motions , without worrying about being axed and then get the early plane home

mikedragon32

thebaz wrote:

thats the problem -- the comfort zone -- play badly for the All Blacks, Aussies / French -- your gone -- meanwhile our lads can go through the motions , without worrying about being axed and then get the early plane home

Baz, do you seriously believe our players are "going through the motions"?

I think we have a team that is humiliated by their last two performances and have low confidence, but to say they're not even trying is pretty strong.

Sangre

Good win > rotating/conserving players.

Stev_o

zabbo wrote:

Wakey Wakey lads, We need to put out the strongest team, Eddie is spot on.

This is our strongest XV, there were never going to be changes.
.

I dont mind him sticking with his first team BUT he has to be the only manager in world rugby not to use his bench to the full potential. I mean bloody hell he really must think that we arent going to get far because theirs no way on hell he's going to play his first team EVERY match. Everyone recall Leinsters performance end of season? The players where just woefull and the critics lashed "Yes they have been playing way too much rugby its just too much for them" does EOS expect them to be able to play every match in the world cup which is 10x as demanding as any other competition we'v played and expect that engine will keep running?

zAbbo

We weren't supposed to be as crap as we have been in the opening game, a big win would have seen rotation.

AndyP

Ireland: G Murphy; B Carney, B Murphy, G Duffy, R Kearney; J Staunton, E Reddan; B Young, F Sheahan. S Best, capt, L Cullen, M O'Driscoll, A Quinlan, S Jennings, S Ferris.
Replacements: B Jackman, T Buckley, M O'Kelly, N Best, I Boss, K Lewis, L Fitzgerald.

That was the starting XV against Argentina in the second test. Now why waste a warm up tour like that with players who have no hope of seeing action in the WC (even against the small teams). Then people moan about lack of good preparation, its ****in laughable. I'm not saying he should have played his best side on the tour, but maybe a 50/50 mix of experience and fresh blood.

RugBeir

Disagree that this is our strongest XV. Stringer and Dempsey, two weak links in an otherwise strong line. Horgans return is very welcome but a better lineup would include Geordan Murphy for Dempsey and either Boss or Reddan for Stringer. They say your only as strong as your weakest link and so it is for EOS' Ireland! He cant even win a 6 nation champsionship for f... sake!

The other major weakness is the front row. They will be thrashed against the bigger packs. Lets be honest, it will be a mercy if we avoid getting out of the group and meeting NZ. The lack of confidence EOS inspires in this team would guarantee their making a holy show of themselves.

Whatever you do, dont rush the changes Eddie - this team has more bad performances in them and making changes now might send out the wrong signals ! !

thebaz

mikedragon32 wrote:

Baz, do you seriously believe our players are "going through the motions"?

.

yes -- i know when i played personally -- the fear of being dropped pushed me that extra 10% -- Easterby should have been dropped for either Best or Quinlan - sends out the right signal -- i have no doubt the team will improve -- i just don't know where the performance is going to come from to beat the wounded french -- i think we'll beat Argentina

Supercell

Jesus, what on earth are people here complaining about??

The AB's can afford to rotate to their hearts content as they have massive strength in depth, they aren't ranked number one in the world for fun you know.

Despite what some here seem to think..we comparitively (to the AB's , SA etc) have bugger all strength in depth..loose a couple of key players and we honestly are back on the boat/plane home for sure.

So what choice dos EOS have?, rotate with much weaker players and potentially loose (yes its possible) to Georgia, or just go for broke and try and get as many points as possible and build first team spirit?

Easy decision if you ask me, and he's taken the right one.
Yes he runs the risk of loosing a key player, but what choice dos he have?, if that key player wasnt playing we'd probably loose anyhow.

EOS knows what he's doing, the fact that he's not changing things around hammers home the point to me that he doesn't feel he has a great strength in depth to choose from.

Supercell

zabbo wrote:

We weren't supposed to be as crap as we have been in the opening game, a big win would have seen rotation.

Nail agus head.

Wish more people here realised this.

Sabre0001

Longfield wrote:

Nail agus head.

Wish more people here realised this.

Have to disagree I'm afraid...Georgia are a stronger (and better) team than Namibia - this is still a game we would have to claim full points from and win by massive amounts. Tactics and selection would be the same.

For some reason EOS isn't telling them to play as Ireland - not taking points, O'Gara hardly kicking behind (and not getting touch) and trying to force a run-in from everywhere!

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

dirmius

Think you guys are a bit harsh with EOS. Agreed he should make more changes but right now he is fielding what he thinks can secure the game. He would have brought the bench on earlier against Namibia if the game had been secured earlier! As for bringing 2 lads on at the end- this was in response to 2 quasi-injuries at the end.

If we put points on the board early against Georgia and get the bonus point, the bench will come far earlier.

Also, this business of players playing better in case they lose their position I don't think applies as much as it does in say the Heineken cup or even the 6N. This is the world cup for god's sake, every one of those guys wants to play well for pride (or even vanity!). They didn't mess up because there is no pressure on their places.

As for injuries, having more matchtime doesn't equal more injuries. Horgan was injured during warm-up for god's sake. Secure the games then field the second team.

Alternatively, beat France and then field a second string for Argentina as we will have qualified by then (but then of course EOS will not have done enough to gaurantee not meeting NZ!!!)

il gatto

Field the best XV, even though Flannery should be starting ahead of Best. The team needs to gel. Maybe it's because of the crap warm up, but it's too late to change that now. I presume EOS expected the provinces to be involved in the Heinekan Cup for longer than they were when the warm up was arranged. If Leinster, Munster and Ulster had not got dumped out so early, the players would be that much sharper.
I would like to see him use the bench earlier for some proper impact though. Pointless making changes in injury time.
I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. It's been frustrating not winning silverware, but I don't know of many coaches I'd like to see replace him. Look at the likes of Laporte, Robinson, Ashton? I think we could do alot worse, in spite of his stubborness.
As for the players, in the words of Cíaran Fitzgerald,"Where's your f***king passion?".

philstar

Well what do u reckon guys, Ireland to do another namibia ?? against Georgia

EdgarAllenPoo

If they do I see them going into hiding in Mexico at the end of the pool stage.

Realistically if last week was just a bad spell (:rolleyes: Scotland,Argies,Italy and Bayonne) then you would expect that they were so disgusted with themselves that they couldn't not slaughter Georgia.

That might be the plan but whether or not it happens is another story.

davyjose

philstar wrote:

Well what do u reckon guys, Ireland to do another namibia ?? against Georgia

No Chance - We'll win by +40 points IMO

Stev_o

Ireland to win by 30 points and will get two injuries within the pack. Thats my guess

AckwelFoley

Stev_o wrote:

Ireland to win by 30 points and will get two injuries within the pack. Thats my guess

good guess steve.

im with you fully.

i was 10 for 10 on results until the aussie wales game, i was wrong by 1 point!

ninebeanrows

Ireland to win by around 65 points IMO.

Georgia are really no great shakes and will really struggle to score at all, all Ireland have to do is play to the corner and run them ragged.

Should be a cricket score if the lads come out playing.

Stev_o

Weathercheck wrote:

Ireland to win by around 65 points IMO.

Georgia are really no great shakes and will really struggle to score at all, all Ireland have to do is play to the corner and run them ragged.

Should be a cricket score if the lads come out playing.

Did we not say that last week against a Team that has a much smaller pack the Georgian. Believe me mate Ireland wont get quick ball the Georgians are going to punish the Irish pack

Supercell

Georgia will be full of hope given our woeful performance against Namibia so expect a lot of huffing and puffing at the beginning.

That said the Irish pack have no doubt been stung to the core from the abuse they've been receiving from the media and no doubt be up for it today to make a point.

I'm hoping for a 40+ point victory for the Irish - providing they get off to a reasonable start and don't give Georgia any early encouragment with soft trys.
If theres not much in it at half time..expect a similar result to the Namibian one.
I can't see us loosing this thankfully though.

wowy

But the Georgians have only had a 3 day turnaround since their last game, and have made 11 changes to that team, both of which go in Ireland's favour. And as regards them taking heart from our performance last week, on the flip side of that, Ireland will be using that as a motivation to really put the Georgians to the sword tonight. I expect (rather than hope for) a 40+ victory.

yogidc26

He is never going to change just look at the tours to Japan and ARG he should have been looking at young player and players not making the cut but not EOS he just brought the best team that was around and why should he if the IRUF and going to give him a new contract without seen how he gets on in the world cup he right not to change. He is getting paid not to change

zAbbo

Neil Francis on Eddie "He's a ruthless little bastard"

Geo.Germes

Ireland 10 36 Georgia that's the score of the game. georgia will kick Ireland

ninebeanrows

Geo.Germes wrote:

Ireland 10 36 Georgia that's the score of the game. georgia will kick Ireland

hahaha

You have to understand how poor these sides are, we played incredibly poorly against a gallant Nambia and won fairly easily.

If we play well we will rack up many points.

To even contemplate defeat is ridiculus, it simply has no chance of happening