Pick you Squad \ 1st 15

Rattlehead_ie

Ok just thought Id see what others peoples opinions were. Ill post mine up a lil later once I'm more decided.
Who would be in your Squad or 1st 15 for Irelands 6 Nations Campaign going on recent performances and taking injuries \ game fitness into consideration!?

Downtime

My Starting XV would be something along the lines of.

15. Dempsey
14. Horgan
13. O'Driscoll
12. D'Arcy
11. Trimble
10. O'Gara
9. Reddan
8. Heaslip
7. Leamy
6. Jennings
5. O'Callaghan
4. O'Connell
3. Horan
2. Jackman
1. Hayes

Timothy Bryce

15. Kearney
14. Horgan
13. BOD
12. D'Arcy
11. Trimble
10. ROG
9. Reddan
8. Heaslip
7. Wallace
6. Jennings
5. Cullen
4. O'Connell
3. Horan
2. Jackbert
1. Hayes

Ideally I'd love to see Casey start in the second row but this isn't going to happen in a month of Sundays! Hopefully Sexton will get named as cover for ROG in the Italy game perhaps

shmaido

usually don't do these but here goes, obviously this team will never ever be a reality but thats not what these things are about yeah...

15. Kearney
14. Horgan
13. BOD
12. Darcy
11. Trimble
10. ROG
9. Reddan
8. Heaslip
7. Wallace
6. Keogh
5. Cullen/O'Connell
4. Ryan/Mal
3. Healy
2. Jackman
1. Buckley

.... oh look, tumbleweed

Stev_o

15.Murphy
14.J Murphy
13.O'Driscoll
12.Darcy
11.Bowe
10.O Gara.
9. Reddan (C)
8.Heaslip
7.Jennings
6.Quinlann
5.Casey
4.Cullen (vc)
3.Horan
2.Jackman
1.Hayes *sigh*

youcancallmeal

Hi I'm Eddie O'Sullivan...

15 - Girvan Dempsey
14 - Shane Horgan
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (Captain)
12 - Gordon D'Arcy
11 - Andrew Trimble
10 - Ronan O'Gara
9 - Peter Stringer
1 - Marcus Horan
2 - Rory Best
3 - John Hayes
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan
5 - Paul O'Connell
6 - Simon Easterby
7 - David Wallace
8 - Denis Leamy

shmaido

youcancallme>al wrote: »

Hi I'm Eddie O'Sullivan...

15 - Girvan Dempsey
14 - Shane Horgan
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (Captain)
12 - Gordon D'Arcy
11 - Andrew Trimble
10 - Ronan O'Gara
9 - Peter Stringer
1 - Marcus Horan
2 - Rory Best
3 - John Hayes
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan
5 - Paul O'Connell
6 - Simon Easterby
7 - David Wallace
8 - Denis Leamy

holy crap thats depressing...

Stev_o

youcancallme>al wrote: »

Hi I'm Eddie O'Sullivan...

15 - Girvan Dempsey
14 - Shane Horgan
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (Captain)
12 - Gordon D'Arcy
11 - Andrew Trimble
10 - Ronan O'Gara
9 - Peter Stringer
1 - Marcus Horan
2 - Rory Best
3 - John Hayes
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan
5 - Paul O'Connell
6 - Simon Easterby
7 - David Wallace
8 - Denis Leamy

*Cries* *wishes he lived in a country that had a decent coach* For the love of god please no let it be nothing like that

EdgarAllenPoo

15. Dempsey
14. S. Horgan
13. O'Driscoll
12. D'Arcy
11. Dowling
10. O'Gara
9. Reddan
8. Heaslip
7. J. O'Connor
6. Leamy
5. Casey
4. Cullen
3. Hayes
2. Jackman
1. Buckley

16. Flannery
17. Healy
18. Horan
19. O'Kelly
20. Keogh
21. Sexton
22. Fitzgerald


O'Callaghan
Quinlan
Jennings
Gleeson
Kearney
A. Dunne
G. Murphy
G. Duffy

dc69

15. Murphy
14. Horgan
13. O'Driscoll
12. D'Arcy
11. Carney
10. O'Gara
9. Reddan
8. Heaslip
7. Wallace
6. Jennings
5. Cullen
4. O'Connell
3. Buckley/Healy
2. jackman
1. Hayes

Rattlehead_ie

15. Dempsey / G Murphy
14. Horgan
13. O'Driscoll
12. D'Arcy
11. Trimble
10. O'Gara
9. Stringer
8. Heaslip
7. Leamy
6. Jennings
5. M O'Kelly
4. O'Connell
3. Horan
2. Jackman
1. Hayes

thebaz

youcancallme>al wrote: »

Hi I'm Eddie O'Sullivan...

15 - Girvan Dempsey
14 - Shane Horgan
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (Captain)
12 - Gordon D'Arcy
11 - Andrew Trimble
10 - Ronan O'Gara
9 - Peter Stringer
1 - Marcus Horan
2 - Rory Best
3 - John Hayes
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan
5 - Paul O'Connell
6 - Simon Easterby
7 - David Wallace
8 - Denis Leamy

thats about right -- and i like the way you named no subs , why bother , when they arn't used , although they can be usefull as scapegoats after heavy defeats, even when unused .

LeeroyJones

Well for the opening match -V-Italy at Croke Park

15. G Murphy
14. Horgan
13. BOD
12. D'arcy
11. J Murphy
10. ROG
9. Reddan

1. Hayes
2. Jackman
3. Horan
4. Cullen
5. POC
6. Leamy
7. Jennings
8. Heaslip

EdgarAllenPoo

Yeah I picked my first 15 on the basis of playing Italy. In all fairness I really think we're being way too optimistic and giving EOS too much credit, aside from Sexton,Heaslip and Jackman I don't think we'll see a different team to the one that played the majority of world cup games which is a crying shame as we need to start mixing the old and new as soon as possible and games like Italy in Croker are the time to do it.

Crash

15. Dempsey
14. Horgan
13. O'Driscoll
12. Trimble
11. Kearney
10. O'Gara
9. Reddan

8. Heaslip
7. Jennings
6. Leamy
5. O'Kelly
4. Cullen
3. Hayes
2. Jackman
1. Buckley

Jackz

I suppose Trimble is in alot of these sides as the token Ulster man, because a winger he is not e.g. Against France when he taped Easterby to mind the entire short side, while in the feckin scrum. Just my opinion flashes of brilliance in open play, a conventional centre.

Super Sidious

Jonny Murphy should be given a chance, playin amazing for Leicester... Jackman out and out best hooker in ireland at the mo!

Pity we havnt got any decent Irish props around at the mo, horan and hayes are not up to the standard anymore, horan was disgraceful in World cup!

Healy is too young, experienced props would eat him up, great prospect though!

15. Dempsey
14. Horgan
13. O'Driscoll
12. D'Arcy
11. J.Murphy/Carney
10. O'Gara
9. Reddan
8. Heaslip
7. Leamy
6. Jennings
5. O'Callaghan
4. O'Connell
3. Horan
2. Jackman
1. Hayes

dc69

if brian carney doesnt get picked its a disgrace,he is the biggest and fastest back that ireland have,he is also the best winger we have,i was just looking at some vids there,he is class,do you guys think he will get a look in ?cause i would defo have him over trimble

Super Sidious

Yea Carney is a beast, still adapting to the Union game but most likely he wont get selected ahead of more established if weaker player Trimble...

Sangre

How can anyone pick Trimble on the wing or POC in the lock. The first is useless in that position, the second has no match fitness whatsoever.

Crash

aye, choosing POC over cullen/o'kelly or even cullen/MO'D at this point, without seeing how he plays when he gets on the pitch again, is ridiculous.

remus808

15. G.Murphy
14. B. Carney
13. BOD
12. Trimble
11. Horgan
10. ROG
9. Reddan
8. Heaslip
7. Jennings
6. Quinlan
5. Cullen
4. O'Driscoll
3. Buckley
2. Jackman
1. Hayes

zAbbo

On the basis of it being Italy.

15. G.Murphy
14. B. Carney
13. Trimble
12. BOD
11. Bowe
10. ROG
9. Reddan
8. Heaslip
7. Jennings
6. Quinlan
5. Cullen
4. O'Driscoll
3. Buckley
2. Jackman
1. Horan

shmaido

are people picking Horan because they think he's still good player or are they just going on what Eddie"the dead horse flogger"O'Sullivan will pick. I thought this was a fantasy pick not a reality pick.

zAbbo

Whats the alternatives to Horan?

Is it feasible to drop Hayes in at loosehead, considering he's a tighthead?

shmaido

buckley, healy, McCormac(not too game time but still an option)and more in Ulster, spouting stuff like "too young" and "inexperiensed" for not giving these guys a chance is exactly the type of Eddie thinking that got us in to this situation

RuggieBear

15. G. Dempsey
14. S. Horgan
13. BOD
12. D'Arcy
11. Rob Kearney
10. ROG
9. Reddan
8. Heaslip
7. Jennings
6. Leamy
5. Cullen
4. POC
3. Hayes
2. Jackman
1. Healy

DOC has beiong playing rubbish from what i've seen. As has Horan. I don't think healy is anywhere near ready for international duty but he has been no worse than Horan's form. Remain to be conviced on the league import. he has done nothing of any note yet.

toomevara

RuggieBear wrote: »

m. Remain to be conviced on the league import. he has done nothing of any note yet.

Bit harsh I think, defensively very sound,and a good eye for the line. Hamstrung by the fact that he rarely gets a sniff of the ball in genuine attacking situations. Any time i've seen him on the ball he injects pace and intent and always appears an intelligent player to my eye.

Shan75

toomevara wrote: »

Bit harsh I think, defensively very sound,and a good eye for the line. Hamstrung by the fact that he rarely gets a sniff of the ball in genuine attacking situations. Any time i've seen him on the ball he injects pace and intent and always appears an intelligent player to my eye.

I don't think it's very harsh.I'd agree to a certain extent about his defensive displays but would like to see him tested properly to see if he really is up to it.I have been more than a little disappointed with his attacking play.He may have an eye for the line from 5 metres when the hard work has been done but I have seen a few occasions when he had a chance to take on his opposite number one v one and shirked it and kicked the ball away aimlessly.I guess he is still adapting but he'd want to get a move on.He still has to prove it for me anyway but may still do it as he was undoubtedly a class act in the League game.

MikeHoncho

15. G. Dempsey
14. S. Horgan
13. BOD
12. D'Arcy
11. Rob Kearney
10. ROG
9. Reddan
8. Heaslip
7. Jennings
6. Leamy
5. Cullen
4. MOK
3. Hayes
2. Jackman
1. Healy

Biggest problem area was at loosehead for me. As for the argument to include Carney... Are you mad? The man hasnt even learned the rules of Rugby Union yet. Some of the penaltys ive seen him give away have been just stupid.

terry mac

15. Dempsey
14. Horgan
13. BOD
12. Trimble
11. Fitzgerald
10. ROG
9. Reddan
8. Heaslip
7. Leamy
6. Easterby
5. POC
4. Cullen
3. Hayes
2. Jackman
1. Horan


It's interesting that everyone has wildly varying opinions on what "new" players to bring in (I say "new" because Mal, Cullen etc aren't really new just haven't been used). Maybe because there are so many players out there who have had good runs of form over the last 2/3 years and have never been given a proper chance. I don't think either Kearney or Carney are up to it...

Stick_man

What I would like the team to be:
15: G.Murphy
14: S.Horgan
13: B.O Driscoll(c)
12: G.Darcy
11: L.Fitzgearld
10: R.O Gara
9: E.Redan
8: J.Heaslip
7: S.Jennings
6: D.Leamy
5: D.O Callaghan
4: L.Cullen
3: J.Hayes
2: J.Flannery
1: M.Horan

What the team will be:
15:G.Dempsey
14:S.Horgan
13:B.O Driscoll
12:G.Darcy
11:A.Trimble
10:R.O Gara
9:E.Reddan
8:D.Leamy
7.D.Wallace
6:S.Easterby
5:D.O Callaghan
4:M.O Kelly
3:J.Hayes
2:R.Best
1:M.Horan

Crash

You think Kearney isn't up to it, but you put Luke Fitz on the wing for Ireland??

terry mac

çrash_000 wrote: »

You think Kearney isn't up to it, but you put Luke Fitz on the wing for Ireland??

Kearney's too slow

RuggieBear

terry mac wrote: »

Kearney's too slow

I reckon he is much quicker than Luuuke

Stev_o

Lets just say they are both better off playing A games at the moment based on form.

People adding Healy in the starting line up must want the poor kid to get murderd..... why for the love of god would you put in a 20 year old with no experience of scrummaging against a proper international prop against the heavyweight packs of Scotland Italy England Wales and France. He shouldnt be blooded till at least he's 24/25

Bounty Hunter

15. G.Dempsey
14. S. Horgan
13. O'Driscoll
12. D'Arcy
11. Murphy
10. O'Gara
9. Reddan
8. Leamy
7. D.Wallace
6. Quinlan
5. POC
4. O'Callaghan
3. Hayes
2. Flannery
1. Horan

Jackman, Stringer, Casey, J. O'Connor, Kearney, Buckley

dc69

Stick_man wrote: »

What I would like the team to be:
15: G.Murphy
14: S.Horgan
13: B.O Driscoll(c)
12: G.Darcy
11: L.Fitzgearld
10: R.O Gara
9: E.Redan
8: J.Heaslip
7: S.Jennings
6: D.Leamy
5: D.O Callaghan
4: L.Cullen
3: J.Hayes
2: J.Flannery
1: M.Horan

What the team will be:
15:G.Dempsey
14:S.Horgan
13:B.O Driscoll
12:G.Darcy
11:A.Trimble
10:R.O Gara
9:E.Reddan
8:D.Leamy
7.D.Wallace
6:S.Easterby
5:D.O Callaghan
4:M.O Kelly
3:J.Hayes
2:R.Best
1:M.Horan

why would you want flannery in your first team,jackman has been playing unbelievable,better than flannery.

Timothy Bryce

Stev_o wrote: »

Lets just say they are both better off playing A games at the moment based on form.

People adding Healy in the starting line up must want the poor kid to get murderd..... why for the love of god would you put in a 20 year old with no experience of scrummaging against a proper international prop against the heavyweight packs of Scotland Italy England Wales and France. He shouldnt be blooded till at least he's 24/25

Completely agree re Healy...I'm worried enough about Healy this weekend when he might have to do 80 mins against Poux who pretty much pushed Le Roux off the park last time out.

He'd be destroyed scrummaging against the likes of Andy Sheridan et al

pfkf1

15. G. Murphy (C)
14. S. Horgan
13. B. O Driscoll
12. G. D'arcy
11. R. Kearney
10. R. O Gara
9. E. Redden
8. J. Heaslip
7. D. Wallace
6. S. Jennings
5. P. O Connell
4. L. Cullen
3. T. Buckley
2. B. Jackman
1. M. Horan

---

16. N. Best
17. J. Flannery
18. J Hayes
19. D. O Callaghan
20. I. Boss
21. B. Carney
22. L. Fitzgerald

and people unlucky not to make the 22 are people like G. Dempsey, P.Stringer, K. Gleeson, D. Leamy, C. Willis, P. Wallace, J. Sexton, M. O Kelly, G Duffy, S. Best, R. Best, B. Young.

bleg

great cover on the bench for out half

pfkf1

Well you see , G. Murphy is more than capable of playing out half, and if O Gara had to go off, you just move G. Murphy from full back to out half and bring on L. Fitzgerald,

GreenHell

15. G Murphy
14. Horgan
13. BOD
12. D'Arcy - Personnally I'd like to see a real 12 there but Trimble is pants
11. Kearney
10. ROG
9. Redden
8. Leamy
7. Wallace
6. Best
5. POC
4. DOC
3. Bull
2. Flannery
1. Buckley

16. Quinlan
17. Jackman
18. Horan
19. Micko
20. Stringer
21. Sexton
22. Dempsey

hardCopy

While I agree with people saying Healy isn't ready for the International team yet, I don't think it'll take him 5 years to reach the standard. He hasn't loked to be in serious trouble at provincial level, which is very impressive considering how little experience he has, the boy is obviously a quick learner.

It'll be interesting to see what happens re: Ulster players, it's hard to justify any on current form. I guess now we'll see how official the quota system really is.

Stev_o

hardCopy wrote: »

While I agree with people saying Healy isn't ready for the International team yet, I don't think it'll take him 5 years to reach the standard. He hasn't loked to be in serious trouble at provincial level, which is very impressive considering how little experience he has, the boy is obviously a quick learner.

It'll be interesting to see what happens re: Ulster players, it's hard to justify any on current form. I guess now we'll see how official the quota system really is.

Look mate prop out of all the other positions in rugby is one you have to be absolutely carefull with in terms of player selection. Healy is twenty right its a know fact that props are at their complete best at 30 and plus ffs he's only a boy in rugby terms he has been mediocre at provincial level against 2nd and 3rd team props and then suddenly he can take on the best international props in Europe??? Your kidding yourself there, he will either loose the match or he ll do himself serious injury against the likes of Poux. Five years then give him a whip but when can hardly scrummage against the might of the Ulsters front row [anything but might] he shouldnt get a whiff of playing against seasoned international props.FACT

Sangre

if you're good enough you're old enough. waiting five years for the sake of it is nonsense. i'm not saying he is ready now but it could be in 2 not 5.

GreenHell

Some regular HEC action, would through him right into the mix for an Ireland spot.

Stev_o

Sangre wrote: »

if you're good enough you're old enough. waiting five years for the sake of it is nonsense. i'm not saying he is ready now but it could be in 2 not 5.

Go find the average age of a prop in all competitions and have a look. Even the likes of Sheridian who had a the perfect frame didnt start international level to his mid twenties

Podge_irl

Sheridan toured with England (though didn't get a cap) when he was 21. Os Du Randt had his first cap at 22. Hell, Marcus Horan (who is the closest comparison really) won his first cap when he was still 22.

bleg

buckley is way better anyway

Podge_irl

He's a good deal older though. He's a tighthead anyway, Healy's a loosehead.