6 nations

dc69

Just wondering how you think Ireland will fare this year,i can see france winning it .I Think if we are to do well we need to ditch players that arent doing there stuff for club ie jackman in and cullen and jennings etc should be considered and we just play our best team at the moment and use a simple gameplan,something like england at the world cup.How do people think the other will do in particular england?i cant see them doing too well tbh.Wales could be out to proove a point

Podge_irl

dc69 wrote: »

Just wondering how you think Ireland will fare this year

Win all the home games. Wales are in a state as well at the moment, Italy still lack half-backs. Scotland could be a problem. Probably a good thing we have France away, as I imagine they would beat us at home (again) anyway, and I would fancy Scotland to beat us if we were playing them away.

Winning in Twickenham is probably beyond them as things stand, but it would be god damn hilarious.

Mweelrea

France should win
can't see us doing too well sadly
England have a chance thiugh i hope they perform miserably:D

jameshayes

Paddypower wrote:

France 5 - 4
England 2 - 1
Ireland 9 - 2
Wales 8 - 1
Scotland 14 - 1
Italy 100 - 1

Ireland @ 2/1 !! I think paddy knows something we dont!

Podge_irl

That's England at 2-1.

tbh, I'll wait til the squad/first 22 is announced before I have any real idea of how Ireland will do.

tHE vAGGABOND

I think Scotland will do better than that tbh..

I can see them finishing 3rd, with us in 4th I'm afraid..

jdivision

If Scotland finish in front of us we've a problem. I think we'll finish second but the gap with France will be as obvious as ever. England aren't that great, one half decent game was it at the World Cup. Scotland aren't there yet, Italy will be hot and cold and nobody knows what Wales will do.

Stev_o

jdivision wrote: »

If Scotland finish in front of us we've a problem. I think we'll finish second but the gap with France will be as obvious as ever. England aren't that great, one half decent game was it at the World Cup. Scotland aren't there yet, Italy will be hot and cold and nobody knows what Wales will do.

Well not really sure we'v always had a bad record against the Scots just look at last year as a example aswel as the Magners and Heineken cup matches. Fact is they have possibly the best scrum half in the world who is on form at the mo with Mike Blair with Glasgows backrow players looking extremely strong and Edinburgh wingers with Cairns [FB yes i know] and Simon Webster in great form.

They could beat us out wide, in the middle or the kicking game. I doubt O'Driscol will ever want to hear the name De Luca mentioned again to him

dc69

i cant see england being such short odds.they pulled a miricle out of the bag and australia have an inferiority complex and france didnt turn up,i think england would be very lucky to finish second with ireland and scotland at their heels,i expect it to be quite a good 6 nations,france will win but the 2nd place fight will be brilliant!

Timothy Bryce

dc69 wrote: »

i cant see england being such short odds.they pulled a miricle out of the bag and australia have an inferiority complex and france didnt turn up,i think england would be very lucky to finish second with ireland and scotland at their heels,i expect it to be quite a good 6 nations,france will win but the 2nd place fight will be brilliant!

I'm with Steve_O on this one - Scotland look very good on paper after the recent Cider League & H-Cup performances. I expect Ireland will lose at least one game at home...probably to Scotland too.

Is the France v England game in Paris or Twickenham?

dc69

i wouldnt pay to much attention to that,on paper we have the best back line in the comp and an alright pack,a team more than capable of taking care of scotland.if players are picked on form,i would expect us to beat every team apart from fance

Timothy Bryce

dc69 wrote: »

if players are picked on form,i would expect us to beat every team apart from fance

Indeed. I really can't see this happening, can you?

Get ready for 1-2 changes max from EOS....Someone like Quinlan will come in in the pack as cover in the back row and some unknown like Felix Jones in the backs who hasn't a hope of ever donning the jersey!

All the while, Leo, Heaslip, Jennings, Fitzgerald etc sit in the wilderness that is Ireland 'A'

pd101

I can see France strolling to a grand slam and after that its really open. The other five are probably capable of beating each other if Italy are are at a decent level..

dc69

Timothy Bryce wrote: »

Indeed. I really can't see this happening, can you?

i honestly think it will,o'sullivan nows his job is on the line and he would be an absolute idiot not to do it,if he doesnt pick players on form then i expect a poor showing and he will be fired tbh.i think his job is hanging by a thread and he has promised big things to the men upstairs

Timothy Bryce wrote: »

Indeed. I really can't see this happening, can you?

Get ready for 1-2 changes max from EOS....Someone like Quinlan will come in in the pack as cover in the back row and some unknown like Felix Jones in the backs who hasn't a hope of ever donning the jersey!

All the while, Leo, Heaslip, Jennings, Fitzgerald etc sit in the wilderness that is Ireland 'A'

if jennings,jackman,cullen,heaslip and fitz arent in the squad then he is probably the worst manager in the world,i think we will do shocking,every player in that list apart from fitz has been sensational for club and he hasnt been too bad either.when does he name the squad?

zAbbo

I'd like to see Jackman, Cullen, and Kearney starting.

As for who'll win, who knows.

1. England
2. France
3. Wales
4. Ireland
5. Scotland
6. Italy

Timothy Bryce

No idea when it'll be named...I'd say some stage in the next week or so. Our first game is Feb 2nd.

I really hope you're right though - It's painful seeing some big talent on the field at the RDS every week and not knowing if said players will ever appear for Ireland - I still feel O'Sullivan will stick with what's tried and tested and make 'some' changes as lip service to the alacadoos above but I expect to be disappointed when I see the squad announced.

EOS won't back down too much on this and I expect him to get the heave-ho shortly after the 6 nations. He'd rather that, than admitting to being completely wrong on his selection policy during his tenure

accensi0n

Why are people going on about fitz so much? Surely you'd have kearney ahead of him if it was a choice between the two?

Podge_irl

I wouldn't want either Kearney or Fitz playing for Ireland right now, neither is ready. However, given the choice Kearney is easily the better pick right now.

Stev_o

Podge_irl wrote: »

I wouldn't want either Kearney or Fitz playing for Ireland right now, neither is ready. However, given the choice Kearney is easily the better pick right now.

Second that Kearney really needs to sort out his shocking moments of daftness ,Fitz shouldnt be even in pro rugby in my view he hasnt shown much class and is very mediocre

Mweelrea

tHE vAGGABOND wrote: »

I think Scotland will do better than that tbh..

I can see them finishing 3rd, with us in 4th I'm afraid..

Yeah i think you could be right:(

EdgarAllenPoo

I know they were in the world cup final but I really don't see England winning it, they may come in second but that's about it. They'll be missing some influencial players due to retirement and I don't see any of the younger players making an impact at this stage.

I Ireland's case we're spoiled for choice in the back and second rows and at hooker, other than that we still have the same positional problems we did in the world cup, ie if a first team player gets injured their replacement probbal won't be up to scratch.

Mind you the likes of Dowling and Sexton may prove me wrong and I hope they do.

Jackz

Reaching for Glory: The England Game on now. Maybe the applications for 6N tickets are quiet.

Stev_o

GDM wrote: »

I know they were in the world cup final but I really don't see England winning it, they may come in second but that's about it. They'll be missing some influencial players due to retirement and I don't see any of the younger players making an impact at this stage.

I Ireland's case we're spoiled for choice in the back and second rows and at hooker, other than that we still have the same positional problems we did in the world cup, ie if a first team player gets injured their replacement probbal won't be up to scratch.

Mind you the likes of Dowling and Sexton may prove me wrong and I hope they do.

Hmm i doubt it English rugby is at a prime at the moment Ashton has the problem of deciding to use which players. Chances are he might just the whole Gloucester backline from 10 to 14 even 15 since Balshaw is in form. He has about 5 different class act OH some extremely classy wingers that are on the form of there life. Some very very good forwards in the like of Kennedy, Stevens,Haskell, Crane. They dont have a selection problem like we do they have many class acts there problem is who do they pick

Sangre

If Ashton can get the best of the GP players playing well together then I think England will snap up a Grand slam.

tHE vAGGABOND

Second that Kearney really needs to sort out his shocking moments of daftness ,Fitz shouldn't be even in pro rugby in my view he hasn't shown much class and is very mediocre

Agreed, I have been at every leinster home game this year and I have yet to see Luke Fitz have a good game..

He may do one or two flashy things here or there, but then he misses tackles or is very out of position [etc]. You hear Rock lads talking about him as a genius. I *really* don't see what all the fuss is about. He will get murdered in the international game.

Kearney is indeed ahead of him, by a country mile IMHO, but I would keep Trimble on the wing personally for now, I like his pace and work ethic there, for all that we use it

I would like Kearney in the squad for this 6N, going thru the training and all that. Getting him up to speed, before a run in the summer tour maybe?

Podge_irl

tHE vAGGABOND wrote: »

Kearney is indeed ahead of him, by a country mile IMHO, but I would keep Trimble on the wing personally for now, I like his pace and work ethic there, for all that we use it

Trimble ain't a winger. He's back in the centre now for Ulster and doing well there. I'd rather he was used as an alternative to BOD/D'Arcy, as they are both rather poor atm.

tHE vAGGABOND

Shane Horgan was not a winger either when he started getting selected there - he was a center at Leinster when he started getting picked on the wing for Ireland

Both Luke Fitz and Kearney are full backs, so we just dont seem to have many specialist wingers tbh..

Trimble is very fast - so he is the best option to full in there IMHO - as above all else you need blinding pace to play on the wing at international level [IMHO]..

EdgarAllenPoo

tHE vAGGABOND wrote: »

Both Luke Fitz and Kearney are full backs, so we just dont seem to have many specialist wingers tbh..
[IMHO]..

How about Dowling and Brian Carney?

Stev_o

GDM wrote: »

How about Dowling and Brian Carney?

Dowling doesnt meet international standards for a winger which is said really given that he has a huge worth ethic. Id go for Tommy Bowe on the wing he's be playing very good for Ulster this year

toomevara

Stev_o wrote: »

Dowling doesnt meet international standards for a winger which is said really given that he has a huge worth ethic. Id go for Tommy Bowe on the wing he's be playing very good for Ulster this year

I agree that Bowe has been excellent for ulster this year, a rare bit of quality in an otherwise appaling season/outfit, but he's not an international class winger imo. I'd pick Carney everytime over him.....

bleg

up until his injury dowling was the best performing wing in the country. he consistently carried ball over the gain line, counter attacked well, was very safe under high ball and has defended well too.

toomevara

I think folks are excessively pessimistic in the wake of the WC fiasco. While Scotland are much improved they are a massively one dimensional team. They defend and scrap well but they lack any real penetration and scoring trys is like getting blood from a turnip. I've got no doubt we'll beat them at home, it'll be a tough physical contest but realistically I cant see us losing to a team of (with all due respect) journeymen with no real game breakers. Ask yourself how many of the current scottish squad would make the Irish team.....

bugler

Call me crazy, deluded, overly optimistic or just plain stupid, but with Alan Gaffney as the new backs coach, and I hope a rejuvenated pack along with an in form ROG, I'm not as depressed as I was a couple of weeks ago.

Jackz

Squad will be announced on the 14th of January.

Timothy Bryce

Squad is announced this day next week. Hopefully if players are picked on form then we could do well this 6N.

I think given that EOS is hanging by a thread he'll give some of the young guns a go. I think Sexton should be called up to the bench as cover for ROG....Paddy Wallace apart from lacking ability doesn't look in any way confident.

I reckon Heaslip would make a good impact sub for the last 25 minutes of game - he's guaranteed to give 110%

padser

toomevara wrote: »

While Scotland are much improved they are a massively one dimensional team.

As opposed to Georgia - undoubtably the All Blacks of the old Soviet Union.

Seriously if Ireland come close to their WC form they could be well on course for the wooden spoon - Italy at home MIGHT just save them.

At the very least I bet you Ireland will end up closer to the bottom of the table then the top!

dc69

padser wrote: »

As opposed to Georgia - undoubtably the All Blacks of the old Soviet Union.

Seriously if Ireland come close to their WC form they could be well on course for the wooden spoon - Italy at home MIGHT just save them.

At the very least I bet you Ireland will end up closer to the bottom of the table then the top!

il bet you we dont end up anywhere near the botom,we will lose to france and probably beat england but it wil be close.and beat the rest

Podge_irl

Timothy Bryce wrote: »

I reckon Heaslip would make a good impact sub for the last 25 minutes of game - he's guaranteed to give 110%

He gives that for 80 minutes week in week out for Leinster. I think he deserves to start.

Timothy Bryce

Podge_irl wrote: »

He gives that for 80 minutes week in week out for Leinster. I think he deserves to start.

The BBC have listed him in the hot or not player watch for the 6N...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7174706.stm

jdivision

I don't know. I like Heaslip but every time I watch him it seems that he takes an age to decide to tackle if it's not heads up and therefore automatic. Guy runs past him with Jamie staring and then he says to himself "oh maybe I should tackle him", then runs back two or three steps and makes the tackle. Just do it. He was the same in the pre-WC game against Scotland. I still like him as a player but that infuriates me.

EdgarAllenPoo

In fairness I'd prefer him at eight rather than Leamy just because he gives away less penalties.

Who's likely to be the first and second choice 7 from Wallace,O'Connor and Gleeson? Really the back row and hooker are positions we'll have no trouble filling but it will be interesting to see who doesn't get picked.

Timothy Bryce

GDM wrote: »

In fairness I'd prefer him at eight rather than Leamy just because he gives away less penalties.

Who's likely to be the first and second choice 7 from Wallace,O'Connor and Gleeson? Really the back row and hooker are positions we'll have no trouble filling but it will be interesting to see who doesn't get picked.

I'll think Wallace will start at 7...although he's been anonymous since the England game in Croker. He's a lot bigger than the others meaning he's a good ball carrier in the loose. I don't think he's as good at the breakdown compared to Gleeson, Jennings or O'Connor.

If it came down to form though I don't think he'd get a look in

EdgarAllenPoo

Is he not really an eight though (mind you I've yet to see him play eight but then I've only been following rugby for about three and a half years), everytime I hear George Hook talk about Wallace he always says he's an 8 not a 7.

Stev_o

Timothy Bryce wrote: »

I'll think Wallace will start at 7...although he's been anonymous since the England game in Croker. He's a lot bigger than the others meaning he's a good ball carrier in the loose. I don't think he's as good at the breakdown compared to Gleeson, Jennings or O'Connor.

If it came down to form though I don't think he'd get a look in

I hope to god he isnt 1st choice iv looked up to him as a player for a long while but his day has come to let more talented players take up the challenge. He hasnt been in form for a very very long while and has show nothing to be suggested why he should start ahead of Glesson or Jennings. For the love of God Eddie please pick a player who at least is a 6 3/4 progressing into a 7 rather these pretend 7's.

Seriously if want any chance in this comp we need the best back row available France, England, Wales and Scotland have very talented backrows at the moment and we will feel the heat if we dont match the size and more importantly speed of them. One thing i will look forward to is the battle [hopefully] between Healsip and Haskell that ll be great to watch

bleg

heaslip at 8 leamy at 6. dunno yet about 7. second row is still wide open in my opinion, along with the spot hickie vacated. although it'll probably be trimble seeing as at least 1 player from across the border has to be picked

Jackz

I hope Trimble isn't considered for the wing ever again to be honest. He can be on the bench as an Injury replacement (THE EOS injury only replacement system) for centre and wing but not start a match.

dc69

heaslip and jackman both have to play,bbc listed both of them as hot prospects and i feel eos will select both for the squad,i honestly think politics ARE involved in his selection though and i think he has to pick a certian number of players from each team,so only time will tell,an example is ulster I cant think of 1 player that should be in the ireland squad.wallace?trimble?best?(injured?) both are debatable as the back line is mostly leinster it would make sence to choose leinster players as replacements as they are just as good and will know how the other players play.

LeeroyJones

id be on for a bit of shuffle to be honest for the Italy match at least-i wouldnt underestimate Italy but them (or Scotland) at home is a better opportunity to try stuf as opposed to England, France away.

For me if we look at the "traditional RWC starting15", DOC, Easterbuy, Wallace, Stringer, and ,well, Hickie out, and in their place-I would say ulsters Caldwell but I'd prefer to see him debut in a autumn test first, so Cullen in there, also Jennings 7 and Heaslip 8, Reddan 9, and for the wing Johne Murphy, and maybe his Leicester counterpart Geordan Murphy at 15.

i hope these lot do get some sort of a run out in this campaign as well as Sexton, Fitzgerald, Kearney, Jackman, Casey and Buckley

PS just after reading through this and it may seem quite pro-Leinster and anti-Munster. This isn't my intention but my thinking is looking at a long-term goal at 2011 and personally I don't see many young Munster lads been given their proper go. Dowling I like but i dont know about international standard. I wish the likes of Earls, Barry Murphy, both Ryans were given good runs in the Munster side to aid their development.

bleg

quinlan is fit again, took part in full training with munster today

http://munsterrugby.ie/19_7662.php

chicoben

I'm hoping for a bit of a shuffle round but then again it is Eddie picking the team here. I'd like to see the obvios changes of Heaslip in at 8 and Reddan staying at 9, Eddie prob won't bring sexton in at reserve but id say he'll be put on the squad. I'd like to see gleeson in too just because of the way he offloads in the tackle allowing that type of game to be played. I'd like to see big Mal come back and cullen too. POC has been out for too long to walk straight back into the starting 15 but he prob will knowing eddie. I think Kearney is ahead of alot of other irish wingers such as Dowling, Dowling gives away too many penalties and starts too many fights for no reason..........But EDdie is picking the team...We're fooked.

Gijoe

Hi,

I don't usually write on boards but with all the apparent negativity about the Irish team at the moment I felt compelled to say a few things.

Yes, we had a dire World Cup - blame the coach because a lot of it was down to him. BUT Eddie O' Sullivan is not a bad coach, in fact he is a very astute coach and knows the game inside out! His only fault is that he is too conservative - this bit him in the ass at the world cup. Maybe it gave him the kick he needed to try some new things.
This is 1 reason to be hopeful for this years 6 nations. New combinations and players could be tried which will freshen up the Irish squad. I'm hopeful about this - and this will only help develop the squad for the future. Young players like Sexton and Ryan HAVE to be tried at some stage. Another player who could possibly get a run in the next few years is Darren Cave. Seems to have gone off the radar a bit this year but is a very exciting prospect.

Many here also reckon that we'll be beaten by France & England. I reckon that we'll beat France. My reasons are, 1. we are as good as them and 2. the loss last year and in the World Cup should be more than enough motivation. That game should be targetted as our must win game of the campaign!

England were good at the World Cup but will be back to their recent 6 nations form this year! They are in the same boat as us too. They need to try new, young players and may be vulnerable. I think we can turn them over.

ALL home games will be wins - Wales are terrible but with Gatland in charge will come good in 2-3 years.
Scotland, while improving, are as much of a threat behind the scrum as a 6 year old girl with a lollipop!
I like Italy and hope they win some games this year but they will be defeated in Croker.

Ireland are still a very good team, and while some of our top players are not firing on all cylinders yet, I think we have enough platers playing well to get off to a good start in the 6N and to get some momentum going!

So there, I've said it, Ireland will win all their games this year and claim the Grand Slam. It will happen in the year you least expect it and if there is anything I have learned while watching Irish sport down through the years it is beware of Irish teams that are written off - it is then when they are at their most dangerous!

Hope it's a good 6N with plenty of open rugby. C'mon Ireland