International Priorities

LeeroyJones

I'm interested in what the general thoughts on the priorities this 6Nations.

Do we (a) go short-term, ie just play the best 15 available, even those who won't be available in 2 or 3 years

(b)play the strongest 15 available with the intention of blooding 2or3 youngsters on 50-60 minutes

or (c) just focus on 2011, cut our losses with regards this 6Nations, axe the Hayes', Wallace's, Dempsey's etc and start the likes of Buckley, Sexton, Kearney, Fitzgerlad etc........

dc69

LeeroyJones wrote: »

I'm interested in what the general thoughts on the priorities this 6Nations.

Do we (a) go short-term, ie just play the best 15 available, even those who won't be available in 2 or 3 years

(b)play the strongest 15 available with the intention of blooding 2or3 youngsters on 50-60 minutes

or (c) just focus on 2011, cut our losses with regards this 6Nations, axe the Hayes', Wallace's, Dempsey's etc and start the likes of Buckley, Sexton, Kearney, Fitzgerlad etc........

a bit of all 3,ie play good teams with a mix of youth and experience and try to use subs in a way that it gives players who will be in contention for 2011 a chance to develop on the international stage.

future_plans

For 2008 Six Nations? The best 15 for each match I think. Look at the long term after that. Every player in there on merit from Magners and HC form so far this year.

Podge_irl

LeeroyJones wrote: »

(c) just focus on 2011, cut our losses with regards this 6Nations, axe the Hayes', Wallace's, Dempsey's etc and start the likes of Buckley, Sexton, Kearney, Fitzgerlad etc........

Good God no. Several of them are nowhere near ready for international rugby. I hate this stupid obsession with the world cup. This is the 6 Nations, you don't go faffing around in it for the sake of possibly doing slightly better in some 4-yearly tournament. Which is not to say I agree with many of EOS's selections, I think there are plenty of changes that could be made that wouldn't weaken the team. Playing the like of Fitzgerald would be madness though.

Stev_o

How about playing the best SQUAD [none of this best 15 crap we hear] based on merit for a change ?

future_plans

I can agree with that! Best squad on merit then!

toomevara

Stev_o wrote: »

How about playing the best SQUAD [none of this best 15 crap we hear] based on merit for a change ?

The holy grail Steve_o, but for this to happen in Ireland we need a change in management. EOS' brain doesn't work that way. He alone of all the 6N managers has failed to make the leap into the twenty first century, working off 22 rather than 15 players seems to be an intellectual leap too far...sigh...

Ulstermell0

definitely wouldn't go for option c. That'll end up in us getting beaten into the ground hardly encouraging for the new players.

but i think its right to bring a few new players in the mix - our best props aren't getting any younger and could do with some decent back up.