Quinnie and Buckley Possibly Out of Irish 22

Teg Veece

A reliable source has just announced that Alan Quinlan and Tony Buckley, two of Munsters most outstanding players of the season so far, have been told that they'll be playing AIL this weekend. This would be a strong indication that they're out of the Irish 22.

If this is confirmed to be true, it's absolute madness and beggars belief tbh. Ridiculous decision making for Eddie. Clearly, he's learnt nothing from the world cup.

Does this mean the Cian Healy could be up against the likes of Castrogiovani and co.? I've nothing against the youngster but he's too inexperienced and light to be thrown into an international game like that.

I'm hoping that Eddie is just telling them to play AIL to get some game time but knowing Eddie...

GreenHell

Would you be surprised

Amazotheamazing

Both need gametime, I don't see the harm, neither were likely to start for Ireland.

Teg Veece

Maybe not start, but you'd still expect both to at least make the bench. Although given Eddie's track record for using the bench, it's either starting 15 or nothing.

MikeHoncho

As far as I know Buckley cant play loosehead as he is too big and he was never going to take Hayes spot that being said if Healy is selected he will get KILLED in the scrums. I actually fear for his safety. I always thought that front row cover was going to be one of the big selection points of the tournament.

The Quinlan one annoys me more. He is an aggresive, passionate and versatile player who should at the very least be on the bench. The fact that he can slot in at second row or 6 would have made him a sure thing for me.

My fear is that he is gonna pick the same Easterby, Leamy, Wallace backrow which underperformed so badly in the worldcup. I think at least for the Italian match he needs to try Leamy, Heaslip, Wallace.

brucy9

I believe that both will be on the bench against italy but they clearly need to get through 80 mins with there clubs first.Whats the point in them resting up this weekend like the other squad memebers when there short on match practise

tHE vAGGABOND

Healy is selected he will get KILLED in the scrums. I actually fear for his safety.

He has not done too bad at all in the Heineken cup - against some of the best club scrums in world rugby [They don't come that much better than Toulouse and Leicester]! He has played some good minutes, and while has had the odd dodgy scrum [doesn't everyone] he has been grand overall. At the end of the day he is only young [*6 years* younger than Buckley]. So I'm very happy he is in the squad, and getting experience. I think the only way we see him on the bench, or on the field is in the event of injuries.

Anyway, Buckey has not played very many full games this season, he needs time on the field, 60 or 70 minutes in an AIL game will be no harm at all. I do think he will be on the bench. But game time will do him no harm at all.

Quinlan is competing in the most competitive spot on the squad. We have 5 or 6 blokes with a very strong shout for a back row spot [and 1 or 2 not in the squad, with a strong shout!] You cant play everyone I'm afraid.

bugler

Quinlan on this seasons form is ahead of any other 6 in the squad. The back row should be 7 Wallace, 8 Heaslip, 6 Quinlan. It probably will be Wallace, Heaslip and Leamy. I just hope to god it's not Wally, Leamy and Easterby.

Leamy looks somewhat revitalised away from the duties of 8.

barnesd

I believe Leo Cullen won't be involved either.

bugler

It might seem harsh on Cullen but realistically lock is looking ok for us. Ironic we should say that when POC is crocked, but with the two Munster locks going well (I just hope MOD can keep it up in an international) and MOK then someone is going to lose out.

tHE vAGGABOND

MOD has never had a single good game for Ireland. I think if he gets selected ahead of Cullen it will be a mistake, cullen has been in savage form for Leinster..

If anything Big Mal should step aside and retire from international rugby. He is at the end of his career and dragging things out for a season or two is just greedy. I know these are harsh words, but I think its justified.

Stev_o

tHE vAGGABOND wrote: »

He has not done too bad at all in the Heineken cup - against some of the best club scrums in world rugby [They don't come that much better than Toulouse and Leicester]! He has played some good minutes, and while has had the odd dodgy scrum [doesn't everyone] he has been grand overall. At the end of the day he is only young [*6 years* younger than Buckley]. So I'm very happy he is in the squad, and getting experience. I think the only way we see him on the bench, or on the field is in the event of injuries.
.

Against Toulouse his first scrum he gave away a penalty if remember. Then Poux was subbed [which makes sense for a manager to blood a player against another blooded player]

Same thing happened against Leicester to a degree, White came off and then came on their 20 something year old prop Dave Young, scrum 10 meters from the Leinster line it wheels penalty against Leicester which seemed harsh since Healy didnt seem to be having the most comfortable time in the world

Good prospect for the future but the boys way too young to be coming up against hardened front rows at the moment when he hasnt even started a Heinekin Cup match

markk06

How can you say MOK should retire. He is on top form at the moment and will definitely start in the 6N

jackbhoy

tHE vAGGABOND wrote: »

If anything Big Mal should step aside and retire from international rugby. He is at the end of his career and dragging things out for a season or two is just greedy. I know these are harsh words, but I think its justified.

Have you actually watch Mal/Leinster play this season or are you just basing this on his age? He has been in outstanding form all season and we are not exactly overflowing with young lockes that he should be stepping aside for in any case...

Stev_o

To be honest Malcom is very quickly becoming our own Fabian "waste of space" Pelous. His international career should be over. Great servant to Ireland but please stop going around preventing younger and more able locks from working their way up

legspin

Mushy is in the match 22. If Cooder is going to keep him from us at least I hope he gets a decent amount of game time. Could be a great impact sub.

tHE vAGGABOND

Have you actually watch Mal/Leinster play this season

For what its worth I'm a leinster season ticket holder, and have only missed the home games over Christmas..

Mal has been in good form this season yes. I think a big difference for him has been a good front row in front of him and Cullens leadership skills raising the play of the whole leinster pack.

But what kills Irish rugby at times is this culture of short term gain! Mal is one of our best locks ever, but I really think his best days are behind him.

In international team sport there comes a time when you should step aside and let younger lads in so they can get experience before the games when it really matters. We happen to have a few second rows in their 20's who could do with a few international games, as we will need them in a year or two. I would like those games to start sooner rather than later..

legspin

Just out of curiosity, what does Cullen weigh? His natural lankyness does suggest that purely from a pack weight point of view, if DOC is there that the compromise of MOD has been employed. Cullen has been unlucky I feel, as he is one of the few Leinster players to impress me consistantly this season.

Crash

Half the reason that jackmans throwing has worked and that lineout has been firing is Leo. Thats a disgrace.

Which also leads me to believe that if Leo's not in the pack, Jackman won't be starting - the two work fairly well together so odds on best will be throwing. interesting to see if DOC's form continues with Best throwing.

Stev_o

çrash_000 wrote: »

Half the reason that jackmans throwing has worked and that lineout has been firing is Leo. Thats a disgrace.

Which also leads me to believe that if Leo's not in the pack, Jackman won't be starting - the two work fairly well together so odds on best will be throwing. interesting to see if DOC's form continues with Best throwing.

Yeah was just thinking about this after reading the paper. Will Jackman have a horrible time with DOC and MOD with DOC more then likely making the calls? Seems all to iffy for me hope it works out but it wouldnt take much for it to go all pants on them

Sandwich

çrash_000 wrote: »

Half the reason that jackmans throwing has worked and that lineout has been firing is Leo.

Have never understood the logic of this one. How can a jumper improve a hookers throwing? Good throwers throw well however is down the line. What a good jumper can do, is make a hooker look better by being better able to cope with bad throwing, and so the hooker is not shown up as much.

Sundy

Stev_o wrote: »

Against Toulouse his first scrum he gave away a penalty if remember. Then Poux was subbed [which makes sense for a manager to blood a player against another blooded player]

Same thing happened against Leicester to a degree, White came off and then came on their 20 something year old prop Dave Young, scrum 10 meters from the Leinster line it wheels penalty against Leicester which seemed harsh since Healy didnt seem to be having the most comfortable time in the world

Good prospect for the future but the boys way too young to be coming up against hardened front rows at the moment when he hasnt even started a Heinekin Cup match

healy came on in the 67th minute and young came on in the 79th minute. And in the toulouse game healy came on in the 40th minute and poux was subbed on the 59th minute..so your theory is slightly flawed

Podge_irl

Sandwich wrote: »

Have never understood the logic of this one. How can a jumper improve a hookers throwing? Good throwers throw well however is down the line. What a good jumper can do, is make a hooker look better by being better able to cope with bad throwing, and so the hooker is not shown up as much.

It's not that Cullen's a good jumper, more that he is a good organiser of the line-out. A lot of the time last year I got the distinct impression that Jackman threw where he was supposed to but no one was there to catch it.

Sundy

Exactly Podge, a hooker can throw well and get slaughtered for his throwing simply because the jumper is useless. A good jumper will get more or less the same height everytime, which is cruical because the hooker throws before the jumper is in the air. A good jumper will also be aggresive and get ahead of his opponent if hes under pressure. Theres nothing more fustratin than having a butter fingers jumping either and the hooker still getting blamed.