Ireland team to play Italy?

observer

having read alot on refreshing the team and having been to france and having seen the ken cup progress i would select this team

1 - horan - lack of options really
2 - jackman - explosive nature far outweighs the limits of his throwing(though that is hitting its targets atm)
3 - bull hayes - similiar to horan though the bull is on borrowed time. he can only lift for so long
4 - DOC - obvious choice
5 - Cullen - jackman is throwing, MOK is past it and MOD is not good enough
6 - Leamy - glad he has converted to 6
7 - Wallace - power running is immense
8 - Healsip - this is why i'm glad leamy is 6, healsip can become a top 8 given the chance

9 - Reddan - in france he stood up, and came into a team that was falling apart and should be given the chance to state his place as his game is better than stringer overall

10 - ROG - if he played as well with ireland as he did with munster god knows what we could do. saying that rog was immense in the last 6 nations. i would make him captain too.

11 - Fitzgerald - dynamic talent, unpredictable and unknown to the major. he could be our version of strettle for england. but you have to give these lads a chance to show it.

12 - BOD - both he and d'arcy are playing poor at the moment so a switch from 13 to 12 may re-jig his form. his defensive role in irelands play make him almost undroppable but a lose of captaincy and place may give him the kick in the arse that everyone needs now and again

13 - Trimble - must be given the opportunity to test himself in that role as come next world cup he will be there

14 - Bowe - form decides places and he ids the best irish back in the country at the moment plus horgan is only recovering from injury

15 - Demspey - our best player in the world cup. no reason to drop him

dub_skav

I don't think DOC is an obvious choice in the 2nd row at all. I'd say he's playing the worst of all of them.
While MOK might be old and MOD might not be the best player in the world, on current form they both beat DOC for the spot.

Jackz

dub_skav wrote: »

I don't think DOC is an obvious choice in the 2nd row at all. I'd say he's playing the worst of all of them.
While MOK might be old and MOD might not be the best player in the world, on current form they both beat DOC for the spot.

You missed the Munster v Wasps game then.

Marshy

dub_skav wrote: »

I don't think DOC is an obvious choice in the 2nd row at all. I'd say he's playing the worst of all of them.
While MOK might be old and MOD might not be the best player in the world, on current form they both beat DOC for the spot.

Are you serious???

GreenHell

dub_skav wrote: »

I don't think DOC is an obvious choice in the 2nd row at all. I'd say he's playing the worst of all of them.
While MOK might be old and MOD might not be the best player in the world, on current form they both beat DOC for the spot.

You! Off the crack now!

Beanmachine

O'Callaghan Had the game of his life agaisnt wasps he was unbelievable and is for sure an obvious choice.He wreaked havoc in the wasps lineout and and on the floor.Dewi Morris nearly had an orgasm over his play.

Crash

O'Callaghan played himself back into it the last two games. Before that he didn't deserve to even be second string with the lazy way he was performing.

chris85

I really hope Reddan is gonna be starting. He is fantastic and needs some international game time to show his worth.

Not sure bout the centre pairing. I like the sound of trimble in the 13 jersey but dont think it will happen. Politics of rugby seems to be dictating too much.

Beanmachine

who else could start though thats the problem? Were not blessed in the second row especially with O'Connell out. O'Driscoll isn't good enough in my opinion so for me the two starters would be DOC+LC.

High&Low

I agree that D''Arcy should be dropped. I don't think Fitzgerald deserves his place, a great finisher but positionally and defensively unsound.

Geordan Murphy and Kearnery should be on the wing.

Inquitus

Eddie will Pick

1. Horan
2.
3. Hayes
4. DO'C
5.
6. Leamy
7. Wallace
8.
9. Stringer
10. RO'G
11.
12. D'Arcy
13. BO'D
14.
15. Dempsey

I would like to see him go with MO'D at 5, Heaslip at 8, Fitzgerald and Trimble on the Wings, Jackman at 2 (tho Flannery would be just as good)

Pride Fighter

High&Low wrote: »

I agree that D''Arcy should be dropped. I don't think Fitzgerald deserves his place, a great finisher but positionally and defensively unsound.

Geordan Murphy and Kearnery should be on the wing.

I was about to say the same thing. Maybe Kevin Maggs at 12 could be good:)

colster

High&Low wrote: »

I agree that D''Arcy should be dropped. I don't think Fitzgerald deserves his place, a great finisher but positionally and defensively unsound.

Defensively Fitzgerald is very suspect. 2 of the Leicester tries came down his wing and he didn't get a tackle in for either.

Stev_o

Why would you have Fitzgerald on the starting team??? People give out about Murphy on his defensive Luke is just as bad. He was completely outplayed against Leicester and the fact that a 2nd row was able to catch him out defensively and set up a try is pathetic for any back.

Kearney............hmmm right at Fullback he is a good player bar the moments of madness but on the wing he is next to useless. Sorry its the truth either he doesnt know what to do or he doesnt do much when he gets the ball or he simply isnt getting it. What did he do against Toulouse at the RDS? feck all. All he did in Welford Road was a kick upfield and follow up [both good btw] But thats not a finisher or a creator.

Dempsey has shown nothing that merits the FB position Murphy outplayed him completely last week

Funkstard

I'd be in favour of Dempsey starting. He was our best player in the world cup. Club form doesn't always translate to national form for Murphy, unfortunately.

Paulw

Well, Flannery has certainly been ruled out -

The Disciplinary Committee found Mr Flannery guilty of foul play in that he stamped on Julien Bonnaire.

After considering the evidence available, the independent Disciplinary Committee determined that the offence was of top end in the level of seriousness. Having taken into account any mitigating and aggravating factors the Committee suspended the player for a period of eight (8) weeks up to and including Wednesday, 19 March 2008.

Snickers Man

Paulw wrote: »

Well, Flannery has certainly been ruled out -

The Disciplinary Committee found Mr Flannery guilty of foul play in that he stamped on Julien Bonnaire.

After considering the evidence available, the independent Disciplinary Committee determined that the offence was of top end in the level of seriousness. Having taken into account any mitigating and aggravating factors the Committee suspended the player for a period of eight (8) weeks up to and including Wednesday, 19 March 2008.

that's it then. He's out for the whole 6N.

jdivision

Funkstard wrote: »

I'd be in favour of Dempsey starting. He was our best player in the world cup..

Maybe, but his form since then has slumped imo. He seems tentative about running at people again. I'd pick Kearney because if you're not going to put in the new kids against Italy you're not going to put them in against anybody. Having said that I wouldn't start with Fitzgerald, don't think he's ready.

Would I be mad to suggest Buckley instead of Hayes, even if just for the first half given it's Italy. Munster's scrum has been much better when he comes in and he's shown a bit in the loose. Seeing him run at guys is great, big bowling ball that he is.

Funkstard

jdivision wrote: »

Maybe, but his form since then has slumped imo. He seems tentative about running at people again. I'd pick Kearney because if you're not going to put in the new kids against Italy you're not going to put them in against anybody. Having said that I wouldn't start with Fitzgerald, don't think he's ready.

Would I be mad to suggest Buckley instead of Hayes, even if just for the first half given it's Italy. Munster's scrum has been much better when he comes in and he's shown a bit in the loose. Seeing him run at guys is great, big bowling ball that he is.

Dempsey seems to be a bit hit and miss lately (in attacking - still safe as houses defensively)..he skins Vincent Clerc but other times seems to almost jog into contact. I'd agree with the only possibility of blooding Kearney being the Italy match, I'd be happy seeing him start also.

Buckley is mostly being used as an impact sub isn't he? Seeing him around UL..he's an absolute monster. The handoff on Simon Shaw earlier on this year was ****ing brilliant. With all that said though, I don't think he's started many big matches this year. Could be wrong though.

duckysauce

Fitzgerald aint ready for internationals needs one more year and bowe is fit for club rugby only

Amazotheamazing

Funkstard wrote: »

I'd be in favour of Dempsey starting. He was our best player in the world cup. Club form doesn't always translate to national form for Murphy, unfortunately.

How did this myth start? Dempsey was very poor in the RWC, he kicked too long which meant the rest of team had no chance of contesting for the ball. He's been a great servant but he was poor in the RWC.

jdivision

Funkstard wrote: »

Buckley is mostly being used as an impact sub isn't he? Seeing him around UL..he's an absolute monster. The handoff on Simon Shaw earlier on this year was ****ing brilliant. With all that said though, I don't think he's started many big matches this year. Could be wrong though.

Yep, but this is why I'd play him just for the first half. He'd get more experience against opposition props who are at their freshest and we can see how he gets on. Hayes could come on for second half no problem if he's knackered. And Italy is the least big of the games, perfect time for him even though their props are best in competition.

zAbbo

Italy will change the full front row after 60mins anyway, whoever he is up against will be pretty fresh.

JWAD

The 22 has been announced. I reckon he's defo going to start with Best at hooker and Easterby at blindside. Not what I'd do, in the back row at least, as it knocks Heaslip to bench.

Forwards
Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)
Simon Easterby (Llanelli)
John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster)
Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)
Bernard Jackman (Clontarf/Leinster)
Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Malcolm O’Kelly (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)
David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)

Backs
Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster)
Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Geordan Murphy (Leicester)
Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)
Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Eoin Reddan (Wasps)
Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

Not Considered
Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster) - Suspension
Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster) - Injury
Alan Quinlan (Shannon/Munster) - A Team
Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster) - A Team



The Ireland A team to play England Saxons
Welford Road, Leicester on Friday, 1st February at 19:45

15. Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht)
14. John Murphy (Leicester)
13. Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
12. Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster)
11. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
10. Andrew Dunne (Old Belvedere/Connacht)
9. Isaac Boss (Ballymena /Ulster)
1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2. Frankie Sheahan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
3. Bryan Young ( Ballymena/Ulster)
4. Trevor Hogan (Shannon/Leinster)
5. Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon/Ulster)
6. Stephen Keogh (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
7. Shane Jennings (St. Mary’s College /Leinster)
8. Alan Quinlan (Shannon/Munster)

Replacements:
16. Adrian Flavin (Buccaneers/Connacht)
17. Declan Fitzpatrick (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
18. Donncha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
19. David Pollock (Queens University/Ulster)
20. Chirs Keane (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
21. Niall O’Connor (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
22. Daniel O’Riordan (Buccaneers/Connacht)

Not Considered
Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Keith Gleeson (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) - Injury
Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Johnny O’Connor (Corinthians/Connacht)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster) - Injury

Commenting on the overall selections, Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan said, “The match 22 selection for the Italy game was made on the basis of form and while the response of the all of the squad over the last week has been excellent, there were some tight calls to be made. This will be even harder to do next week when we decide the final selection for the game.”

“The A team game allows us the opportunity to give experience to some players at this level and also in particular positions, such as Luke Fitzgerald in the centre as well as Cian Healy and Ryan Caldwell. The game also allows us to give other more experienced players who may have not been starting for the provinces or who were returning from injury , such as Shane Horgan, Trevor Hogan and Alan Quinlan, some valuable game time.”

“There were a number of senior players not consid ered in the A team as we felt that it would be of less benefit to them as they either had enough experience or already had enough games under their belts.”

JWAD

jdivision wrote: »

And Italy is the least big of the games, perfect time for him even though their props are best in competition.

I'll never understand this attitude. Italy were robbed twice in Lansdowne road against us and once at Ravenhill

Stev_o

JWAD wrote: »

The 22 has been announced. I reckon he's defo going to start with Best at hooker and Easterby at blindside. Not what I'd do, in the back row at least, as it knocks Heaslip to bench.

Forwards
Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)
Simon Easterby (Llanelli)
John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster)
Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)
Bernard Jackman (Clontarf/Leinster)
Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Malcolm O’Kelly (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)
David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)

Backs
Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster)
Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Geordan Murphy (Leicester)
Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)
Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Eoin Reddan (Wasps)
Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

Not Considered
Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster) - Suspension
Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster) - Injury
Alan Quinlan (Shannon/Munster) - A Team
Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster) - A Team



The Ireland A team to play England Saxons
Welford Road, Leicester on Friday, 1st February at 19:45

15. Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht)
14. John Murphy (Leicester)
13. Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
12. Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster)
11. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
10. Andrew Dunne (Old Belvedere/Connacht)
9. Isaac Boss (Ballymena /Ulster)
1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2. Frankie Sheahan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
3. Bryan Young ( Ballymena/Ulster)
4. Trevor Hogan (Shannon/Leinster)
5. Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon/Ulster)
6. Stephen Keogh (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
7. Shane Jennings (St. Mary’s College /Leinster)
8. Alan Quinlan (Shannon/Munster)

Replacements:
16. Adrian Flavin (Buccaneers/Connacht)
17. Declan Fitzpatrick (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
18. Donncha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
19. David Pollock (Queens University/Ulster)
20. Chirs Keane (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
21. Niall O’Connor (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
22. Daniel O’Riordan (Buccaneers/Connacht)

Not Considered
Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Keith Gleeson (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) - Injury
Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Johnny O’Connor (Corinthians/Connacht)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster) - Injury

Our worst nightmares have come true!!! =(

Team will be

1.Horan
2.Best
3.Hayes
4.DOC
5.MOD
6.Easterby
7.Wallace
8.Leamy
9.Stringer
10.O Gara
11.Trimble
12.Darcy
13.Driscoll
14.Murphy
15.Dempsey

When will he learn that this combo just wont work ever ever ever ever!!!

Feel bad for Ireland A Saxons are going to make a joke of them oh well

Podge_irl

Stev_o wrote: »

Feel bad for Ireland A Saxons are going to make a joke of them oh well

I would have said that was a very good A team selection.

JWAD

Stev_o wrote: »

Our worst nightmares have come true!!! =(

Team will be

1.Horan
2.Best
3.Hayes
4.DOC
5.MOD
6.Easterby
7.Wallace
8.Leamy
9.Stringer
10.O Gara
11.Trimble
12.Darcy
13.Driscoll
14.Murphy
15.Dempsey

When will he learn that this combo just wont work ever ever ever ever!!!

Feel bad for Ireland A Saxons are going to make a joke of them oh well

Now correct me if I'm wrong but isn't much of that 'combo' the very same that was a small matter of a try away from winning the Six Nations last year? :rolleyes:
The difference is how the bench is used. The spare 7 are to be utilised. They're not there to make up the numbers.

The Ireland A selection is actually a fairly strong and promising squad. Most of England's fringe players from last year are now on the first team squad.

Timothy Bryce

JWAD wrote: »

Now correct me if I'm wrong but isn't much of that 'combo' the very same that was a small matter of a try away from winning the Six Nations last year? :rolleyes:
The difference is how the bench is used. The spare 7 are to be utilised. They're not there to make up the numbers.

The Ireland A selection is actually a fairly strong and promising squad. Most of England's fringe players from last year are now on the first team squad.

Indeed. Also the same side who were a try away from losing to Georgia in the WC

toomevara

Kearney but no Bowe...hmmm, bit harsh...but other than that no big surprises.

toomevara

JWAD wrote: »

I'll never understand this attitude. Italy were robbed twice in Lansdowne road against us and once at Ravenhill

Totally agree, they'll be a tough test, especially first up...lots of little demons and doubts floating around in the corner of guys minds and they've got nothing to loose at all. Great pity they've lost Bortolami though, but oodles of experience in that pack, will test any side on their day

Jackz

Quinlan and Horgan will be delighted to be on the Ireland A team.

jdivision

JWAD wrote: »

I'll never understand this attitude. Italy were robbed twice in Lansdowne road against us and once at Ravenhill

It's not an attitude in fairness, I love watching Italy and agree they were robbed on more than one occasion. that said if there's a team that fell apart more than us in the world cup it'd be... italy

dc69

it will be interesting to see if he includes geordan murphy in the starting team,i would start him ahead of dempsey but i wonder will eddie put him at wing?

Stev_o

Podge_irl wrote: »

I would have said that was a very good A team selection.

Mate their pack is about as light weight as it gets. Why Mike Ross isnt starting at prop is baffling. Why Frank Murphy and O Riordan in the squad aswell is also baffling. The second row pairing will more then likely be picked apart by Kennedy.



And to answer someone elses post about Murphy on the wing, yes chances are he ll play him at wing and Murphy wont do much and be the cause of much slating amongst Irish fans. Thing is him and Kearney share the same trait, great Fullbacks moments of madness aside but as wingers they just dont know what to do they look lost. Stupid EOS playing people out of position :rolleyes:

Podge_irl

Stev_o wrote: »

Mate their pack is about as light weight as it gets. Why Mike Ross isnt starting at prop is baffling. Why Frank Murphy and O Riordan in the squad aswell is also baffling. The second row pairing will more then likely be picked apart by Kennedy.

Front row is a bit useless, but I would have said 4-15 are good picks. I'm surprised Ross isn't there given he was in the A squad last summer and did well enough (and covered both sides of the scrum). Also Young is ****. Possibly would have had Ryan starting in the second row, but I guess EOS wants Hogan to get some game time. Frank Murphy isn't in the squad and O'Riordan has been playing very well for Connacht.

High&Low

dc69 wrote: »

it will be interesting to see if he includes geordan murphy in the starting team,i would start him ahead of dempsey but i wonder will eddie put him at wing?

I think he'll start Murphy on the wing, hopefully with Kearney on the other with Trimble on the bench.

Anyone know why Leo Cullen is not considered, is he injured?

toomevara

Bowe has signed for the Ospreys, interesting.....bad news for Ulster, one of the few class acts they'd got left. Wonder if his strange,imo, omission from the squad any way related?

AbusesToilets

Madness,Cullen is one of the best 2nd rows going at the moment and he can't even make it into the A squad? Talk about a slap in the face.Yet MOD is considered good enough for match day 22.

:rolleyes:Lunacy

Podge_irl

AbusesToilets wrote: »

Madness,Cullen is one of the best 2nd rows going at the moment and he can't even make it into the A squad? Talk about a slap in the face.Yet MOD is considered good enough for match day 22.

:rolleyes:Lunacy

EOS wasn't considering him for the A squad, he's mostly using it for developmental reasons as opposed to a second XV. The only reason Horgan and Quinlan are in there is because they're coming back from injury and need game time.

phog

AbusesToilets wrote: »

Madness,Cullen is one of the best 2nd rows going at the moment and he can't even make it into the A squad? Talk about a slap in the face.Yet MOD is considered good enough for match day 22.

:rolleyes:Lunacy

What does Leo have that MO'D hasn't I'd go with Micko but that could be because I see more of him with Munster, if they're that close in performance then EOS might be just see something that might give one of them the edge over one another.

BTW, Ireland A will be playing in England so he might decided to keep Leo around just in case of a call-up????

Podge_irl

Cullen's organisation and leadership (something Ireland is sorely lacking) would be better than MOD. His handling would probably be better too.

phog

Podge_irl wrote: »

Cullen's organisation and leadership (something Ireland is sorely lacking) would be better than MOD. His handling would probably be better too.

Micko isn't lacking any of those qualities - in fact iirc he captained Ireland A last year. He has ceratinly led out Munster as captain.

JWAD

High&Low wrote: »

I think he'll start Murphy on the wing, hopefully with Kearney on the other with Trimble on the bench

Yep he'll start Murphy on wing but Trimble will be onfield before Kearney.
I know Kearney is a good attacker but when he gets the ball in his own 22 for Leinster he makes some incredibly stupid f**k ups. I wouldnt have had him in the squad of 22 at all. Bowe would have been my first choice.

Jackz

I wouldn't have Trimble on the wing at all ever.

Beanmachine

Cullen would definetly be my pick ahead of Mick O'driscoll. Cullen was one of leicesters best players last season in the premiership which has far more quality players in it compared to the magners league, and yet again he has shown his quality with leinster this year i cannot beleive he has been overlooked.

High&Low

Beanmachine wrote: »

Cullen would definetly be my pick ahead of Mick O'driscoll. Cullen was one of leicesters best players last season in the premiership which has far more quality players in it compared to the magners league, and yet again he has shown his quality with leinster this year i cannot beleive he has been overlooked.

It's pretty obvious that Eddie has a serious problem with Leicester/ex-leicester players. He doesn't like Geordan Murphy, apparently doesn't speak to Jennings and now ommits Cullen when he is in the form of his life.

Cullen offers so much around the pitch as well as being a great line-out jumper. He is one of the main reasons for Leinster's pack performing so well this season.

Stev_o

High&Low wrote: »

It's pretty obvious that Eddie has a serious problem with Leicester/ex-leicester players. He doesn't like Geordan Murphy, apparently doesn't speak to Jennings and now ommits Cullen when he is in the form of his life.

Cullen offers so much around the pitch as well as being a great line-out jumper. He is one of the main reasons for Leinster's pack performing so well this season.

So now it remains to see will Leo and Jennings be in touch with a certain Argentinian manager then? As many people now the only reason they returned was to get back into the Ireland setup and have proved the worth and well frankly both have been laughed at by EOS. Treatment like that make me go back over the pond and play for a team that they have no worries about

EdgarAllenPoo

I feel bad for Cullen and Jennings, coming back to Irish rugby based on empty promises.

EOS is like a Russian army general in world war 2, he has all the troops he needs to win comfortably but doesn't know what to do with them so sends them charging out blindly to be shot down.

We have all the players we need but the man pulling the strings is ****ing useless.

I wonder if Jackman's lineouts will be as polished without Cullen. That could pose a problem for him.

I think EOS should coach the All Blacks he has the same mentality as their coaching staff "unless you play in at home (or you last name is Easterby) you get shafted."

Funkstard

At this stage you can see where Eddie is going...ie. the exact same route he has for the last few years. I'd happily accept a diabolical Six Nations if it means he gets the shaft. I'm speechless at how he can continue to keep with his favourites and ignore the form players at the moment.

EdgarAllenPoo

Funkstard wrote: »

At this stage you can see where Eddie is going...ie. the exact same route he has for the last few years. I'd happily accept a diabolical Six Nations if it means he gets the shaft.

+1

I couldn't have put it better. It's the kick up the arse we need.