Ireland team to play France announced

Crash

http://www.irishrugby.ie/10735_10929.php

n the backs, Andrew Trimble moves into the centre to partner his Captain Brian O’Driscoll in midfield. With Trimble moving from the wing, Robert Kearney is named to start on the left wing with Geordan Murphy moving to the right wing to form a back three combination completed by Girvan Dempsey, who will be winning his 80th cap for Ireland in the game. There are also changes in the forwards with Bernard Jackman, who came off the bench against Italy, starting at hooker for the first time in an RBS Six Nations game in place of Rory Best who is named among the replacements. Leinster’s Jamie Heaslip comes into the team at No.8, with Denis Leamy moving to the blinside and Simon Easterby also moving to the replacements. The other change to the squad sees Shane Horgan, who came through the Ireland A game last Friday night, named in the replacements.
Ireland team to play France

RBS 6 Nations Championship on Saturday, 9th February 2008 in Stade de France, Paris at 17.00hrs (local time).
Player Club Caps
15 - Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster) 79
14 - Geordan Murphy (Leicester) 54
13 - Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) 80 Captain
12 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 20
11 - Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 2
10 - Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster) 78
9 - Eoin Reddan (Wasps) 6

1 - Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster) 52
2 - Bernard Jackman (Clontarf/Leinster) 5
3 - John Hayes (Bruff/Munster) 80
4 - Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 41
5 - Malcolm O’Kelly (St.Mary’s College/Leinster) 90
6 - Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster) 28
7 - David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster) 42
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster) 4
Replacements

16 - Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 18
17 - Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster) 3
18 - Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster) 12
19 - Simon Easterby (Llanelli) 63
20 - Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster) 80
21 - Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster) 6
22 - Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster) 58


Not Considered

Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster) {suspension}
Gordon D’Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster) {arm}
Paul O’Connell (Young Munster/Munster) {back}

Crash

Thats more like it!

only a couple of problems I see with that - Bowe not getting any call up, and easterby still being on the bench. Could argue about shaggy being in the replacements, but considering i was expecting to see him starting i'm happy to see him on the bench.

Blisterman

Good to see Rob Kearney, getting a shot. Though I still think Tommy Bowe would have been a better choice.

Podge_irl

What exactly has Bowe done to displease Eddie so much. He should be starting, but having Horgan ahead of him on the bench is laughable at best. Not entirely sure of the point of having Easterby on the bench either, he was dropped for a reason, why is he good enough to come off the bench but not start? I can only assume BOD will actually play 12 but wants to keep the 13 shirt.

The phrase "rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic" has rarely seemed more apt (actually, that may be a bit harsh, it is a better selection).

Crash

Ideally i'd have liked one on each wing blisterman.

Though it was interesting to see in the italian game that murphy was positioning himself much more in the role of second fullback than winger. Great for cover, ****e for attack :P

LostinBlanch

O'Sullivan must be really feeling the pressure to even countenance such changes. Though they are the ones that most people were calling for. Kind of shows how wrong the Italy selection was though, doesn't it?

Jackz

Wow goooder! Shocked most of all the he resisted starting Shaggy even though he looked slow in the A game. Murphy poped on to the other wing. Maybe just maybe.

Hippo

How is Bowe not there, even on the bench? At least he's made the really obvious changes.

dc69

how horgan is ahead of bowe is beyond me,although he does have the experience but still

youcancallmeal

I just hope Kearney can handle the likes of Clerc and Heymans otherwise it could all come apart very quickly on Saturday. Would of been nice to see a shake up in the second row as well especially bringing in Cullen, even to the Bench.

redzerdrog

delighted with that team only thing id change would have cullen in the squad at least.

Orchard Rebel

Very worried about the tight. I know Jackman is in form but I don't think he's as good a scrummager as Best. If Lievremont starts Mas, we could be in big trouble at scrum time. Heaslip could find himself with Vermeulen in his face at the back of a retreating scrum.

The back row has a better balance but it's hard to see who's actually going to slow the French ball down - something we need to do to keep them from tearing us apart. This might have been the game to play a specialist openside like Gleeson/Jennings or at least have that option on the bench. But then again EOS doesn't do horses for courses.

Disappointed Bowe didn't make the 22. Surely BOD will move to 12 and Trimble will play at outside centre, where he plays for his province. I firmly believe in having an inside centre who can at least kick the ball (Catt, Henson), to take the pressure off the fly-half - particularly when playing in Paris.

Pleased for Kearney, although I think he should be installed at full-back come the autumn.

My heart says this is a better team than last weekend but my head still thinks we could go for 50.

jameshayes

Is horgan 100% fit?

Killme00

Finally..

6 - Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster) 28
7 - David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster) 42
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster) 4

Thank you Eddie...maybe Jenning or Gleeson on the bench instead of Easterbunny is too much to ask.

Podge_irl

Orchard Rebel wrote: »

Heaslip could find himself with Vermeulen in his face at the back of a retreating scrum.

Thankfully, that's one thing he's exceptionally used to.

Beanmachine

Thankfully, that's one thing he's exceptionally used to.

Yes thats true. I'm glad to see jackman and heaslip in not so happy with the two omissions of cullen and bowe AGAIN.

After watching horgans dismall display against the saxons it is clear he isn't match fit but i still believe eddie will bring him on anyway.How he made it onto to the bench ahead of bowe is beyond me.

I'd have a go about paddy wallace's selection but i won't waste my time because in all fairness were not gifted in the out half position at all. I just hope to god O'gara never gets injured for the rest of his Irish Career

Crash

pity johnny sexton got his injury when he did, i'd say the lad would have been in with a chance at a cap this year.

athtrasna

He does it again!!

Easterby on the bench?? We have a wealth of back row players who have youth on their side (unlike Easterby) and who actually listen when they're told to stop breaking the rules!

And the whole Bowe/Horgan thing?? Bowe could have realistically hoped to make the XV but not to make the XXII is lunacy altogether!! Horgan is not ready and the French game is the last place you'd want him to have his "easing back into the squad" game.

EOS - wtf??

youcancallmeal

After all the discussion is done with the squads and what not does anyone think Ireland actually have a realistic chance of winning this?
The odds on paddy power are France 1-8 and Ireland 9-2 to win.
About right I reckon but I cant help but feel Ireland could do something special on Saturday, maybe I'm just being overly optimistic though?

zAbbo

These are the changes we wanted, apart from Bowe coming in.

This is a huge change in thinking from EOS, and to get most of the changes then whinge about Easterby/Bowe is a bit much.

I'd say the decision was between an openside & blindside for the bench, personally I'd have went with Jennings to cover 6/7 instead of Easterby who can only cover 6.

Slightly more optimistic

Jackz

youcancallme>al wrote: »

After all the discussion is done with the squads and what not does anyone think Ireland actually have a realistic chance of winning this?
The odds on paddy power are France 1-8 and Ireland 9-2 to win.
About right I reckon but I cant help but feel Ireland could do something special on Saturday, maybe I'm just being overly optimistic though?

You can only but hope as a fan of this team.

High&Low

çrash_000 wrote: »

Thats more like it!

only a couple of problems I see with that - Bowe not getting any call up, and easterby still being on the bench. Could argue about shaggy being in the replacements, but considering i was expecting to see him starting i'm happy to see him on the bench.

Podge_irl wrote: »

What exactly has Bowe done to displease Eddie so much. He should be starting, but having Horgan ahead of him on the bench is laughable at best. Not entirely sure of the point of having Easterby on the bench either, he was dropped for a reason, why is he good enough to come off the bench but not start? I can only assume BOD will actually play 12 but wants to keep the 13 shirt.

The phrase "rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic" has rarely seemed more apt (actually, that may be a bit harsh, it is a better selection).

Hippo wrote: »

How is Bowe not there, even on the bench? At least he's made the really obvious changes.

dc69 wrote: »

how horgan is ahead of bowe is beyond me,although he does have the experience but still

athtrasna wrote: »

He does it again!!

Easterby on the bench?? We have a wealth of back row players who have youth on their side (unlike Easterby) and who actually listen when they're told to stop breaking the rules!

And the whole Bowe/Horgan thing?? Bowe could have realistically hoped to make the XV but not to make the XXII is lunacy altogether!! Horgan is not ready and the French game is the last place you'd want him to have his "easing back into the squad" game.

EOS - wtf??

zAbbo wrote: »

These are the changes we wanted, apart from Bowe coming in.

This is a huge change in thinking from EOS, and to get most of the changes then whinge about Easterby/Bowe is a bit much.

I'd say the decision was between an openside & blindside for the bench, personally I'd have went with Jennings to cover 6/7 instead of Easterby who can only cover 6.

Slightly more optimistic

Horgan has been selected ahead of Bowe as cover for the centre... Wingers are only ever considered as subs when other players on the pitch can be moved around to accomodate all positions.

Podge_irl

Wallace can play IC and Murphy can play OC (kind of). Both would be better in the centre than Horgan atm, who's injured, out of form and while an excellent wing has been poor in the centre the last number of times (even when fit).

Though, frankly, if that is his thinking (which it probably is) one of Kearney/Murphy should have been dropped out of the 22 for Bowe.

bleg

happy with that selection, more than i had hoped for.

would have been nice to see quinlan in there but you can't always get what you want.

High&Low

Podge_irl wrote: »

Wallace can play IC and Murphy can play OC (kind of). Both would be better in the centre than Horgan atm, who's injured, out of form and while an excellent wing has been poor in the centre the last number of times (even when fit).

Though, frankly, if that is his thinking (which it probably is) one of Kearney/Murphy should have been dropped out of the 22 for Bowe.

Its bad enough that O'Sullivan plays people out of position in the first place, but its one thing putting a centre on the wing but a whole other story the other way round.

I forgot about Paddy Wallace, but there is a reason why he was the only player that did not come on during the Italy match, he is there purely as a last resort to cover for O'Gara and is in no way good enough.

Perhaps Bowe should have been considered over Kearney/Murphy but they both played reasonably on Saturday and maybe don't deserve to be dropped.

pd101

I'm pleasently suprised with that selection. I was half expecting that the only change would be to replace D'Arcy. Agree with all the previous points about Bowe, Horgan etc.

MikeHoncho

Delighted with the team selection. Bringing in Bowe, Cullen, Jennings etc would have been an admitance of complete failure on Eddies part so was never going to happen. Dont think Paris is the right place to be experimenting with them anyway. I think he has picked the best team he could.

Podge_irl

High&Low wrote: »

Its bad enough that O'Sullivan plays people out of position in the first place, but its one thing putting a centre on the wing but a whole other story the other way round.

Which is what you're doing with Horgan. The man simply is not a centre and has shown nothing to indicate he can play well there since the South Africa game in 04.

None of Murphy, Wallace or Horgan are good enough in the centre so you may as well rely on the previous two and pick the best wing in the country atm. Bowe is playing much better than "reasonably" and deserves a shot.

Sherifu

Team's looking a bit better now, we can start to have a small bit of hope.

foz_e_bear

I've been dying for Big MAl to get back on the team, but he looked his age on Saturday, I think Cullen should have got his place. He's agro, but knows where the ref is. What you need in a Lock.

I also really think EOS needs to name a new capitano (No chance of it happening, especially after just 1 6 nations match) - and let BOD play rugby, we need leadership...who? ROG maybe??? Dunno!

thefox84

think I would have a fully fit horgan over bowe but maybe its murphy that should have made way for bowe anyway. murphy has had some pretty bad games against the french

tomred1

He has made good changes but i feel if we lose the match he will use these changes as an excuse.

Super Sidious

tomred1 wrote: »

He has made good changes but i feel if we lose the match he will use these changes as an excuse.

Exactly the first thought that came into my head...this team should've been from the start, and bowe deserves a call up, just unfortunate it wasnt Murphy who got injured aswell as D'Arcy, he had a howler imo.

toomevara

zAbbo wrote: »

Slightly more optimistic

Agree...just lose Easterby completely, and get Bowe in the matchday 22 and we're there, or there abouts. Question is does Eddie have the knowse to let the players play whats in front of them????....

Frank_Gallagher

bleg wrote: »

happy with that selection, more than i had hoped for.

would have been nice to see quinlan in there but you can't always get what you want.

Yeah I agree, would have been nice to see Quinlan coming off the bench, certainly offers more than bringing on a spoiler in Easterby. Also, would have been nice to see Cullen brought in either at 5 or 18 considering so much of Jackman's improved lineout performance has been down to having a confidant, capable and experienced guy to throw to. Not that Mal isn't, but Cullen's been calling the lineouts this year at Leinster and that relationship could both bolster Jackman's confidence and bring more dynamism-Mal is beginning to look his age, and Mick O'Driscoll has never been an international standard lock

Edit: Imagine Bonnaire (if they start him-which you'd imagine they will if they go after the lineout)getting under Jackman's skin early on? D O'C and Mal aren't really players of the calibre to stand up to a world class lineout jumper early on....unless O'C has an outstanding game out of touch or Mal rolls back the years.

chris85

Good selection and I think Horgan will be a fantastic impact sub when needed seeing as know EOS is changing his mind about impact subs now.

Would proabaly have switched the centres around myself.

Otherwise happy enough to see EOS listening.

MikeHoncho

I agree with you Frank. Much of the reason Mal has had such a big resurgence in his game this year is that the presure of the lineout calls has been given to Cullen. This has allowed him to concentrate on just getting his own job right. As brilliant a jumper as he used to be his knees just cant do it anymore.

dub_skav

chris85 wrote: »

Good selection and I think Horgan will be a fantastic impact sub when needed seeing as know EOS is changing his mind about impact subs now.

Would proabaly have switched the centres around myself.

Otherwise happy enough to see EOS listening.

If he was listening he'd have stepped down:).

Better selection, glad to see changes being made, just hope the lads can do themselves proud against the French

Stev_o

Hold up hold up are you telling me the only thing we can complain about is that Horgan's on the bench and not Bowe????? Boooooo go back to the team so this forum can go back into rant mode


Least he's trying ill give him that tbh. Im not going to complain, if Horgan was starting then i would. He's there for cover for wing and centre as everyone has said but still not in form. But im presuming the real reason he's there is that EOS might think that Rougiere [spelling please] might go a bit mad on his wing if he gets selected so he needs to a winger his size to counter him

davyjose

Jesus lads, will anything make you happy. I'm a fierce critic of EOS at the best of times, but he's stepped things up an awful lot here.
Heaslip won't leave that number 8 jersey from now til the end of his career methinks.*

* Excluding injury or shammer tours to Argentina right before the world cup

Agreed Davy. With people being played in position and deserving players earning a starting spot, things are looking up.

EdgarAllenPoo

That's a start but I think Bowe,Cullen and Quinlan should have made it into the 22. This means we now have to depend on Easterby in the dying minutes of a match to possibly try and improve things and I don't think he's up to it.

I also would have started Buckley ahead of Horan.

How soon is it before Jonathan Sexton and Ian Dowling are back to full fitness? Would mind seeing either of them get a run for the Scotland match if they're fit.

Podge_irl

I think Sexton is supposed to be out for 4 weeks, so might be back before the end of the 6 Nations, but I'm not certain. Shame, as I feel he would have been on the bench ahead of Wallace, who EOS clearly has no faith in.

terry mac

MikeHoncho wrote: »

I agree with you Frank. Much of the reason Mal has had such a big resurgence in his game this year is that the presure of the lineout calls has been given to Cullen. This has allowed him to concentrate on just getting his own job right. As brilliant a jumper as he used to be his knees just cant do it anymore.

This makes absolutely no sense. How would having to make the calls affect your game in a big way? It sounds like your suggesting Mal was running round the field missing tackle's because he was feeling stressed out about the next lineout!

I didn't see any big resurgence on Saturday. Mal was terrible, by far and away the worst player. But people had the knives out for Best and Easterby, so when they didn't deliver everyone concentrated on them being the bad performers when in fact there were many many more (and worse).

I don't subscribe to the "Jackman needs Cullen" theory either. They have the lineout moves/options all worked out in training. Jackman will have thrown to DOC and Mal hundreds of times. Its just a matter of a call, its not rocket science. If Jackman can't deliver the goods on the field, its his problem.

ManCalledHorse

Well atleast it's proving that EOS is starting to grow his ball's back:rolleyes:

Would still liked to have seen Cullen at least in the 22

and definately get Gleeson in instead of easterby

juvenal

ireland.com/sport wrote:

France number eight Elvis Vermeulen has been ruled out of Saturday's Six Nations championship clash with Ireland because of a rib injury.

"Elvis was injured during the game against Scotland. X-rays revealed a broken rib. He will be sidelined for four to six weeks," said team spokesman Lionel Rossigneux.

Vermeulen will be replaced for the Stade de France encounter by uncapped Louis Picamoles, who received the call from the selectors while celebrating his 21st birthday.

Picamoles plays club rugby with Montpellier. He will rejoin France's training base where team mates Francois Trinh-Duc and Fulgence Ouedraogo, who are also 21 and won their first and second caps respectively at Murrayfield.

France, who were fielding four newcomers, won the game 27-6.

Coach Marc Lievremont is due to announce his starting lineup tomorrow morning.

It will be interesting who starts at number 8 for France. I think Bonnaire may be a more than adequate replacement.

athtrasna

A small step for a match that needs a giant leap. Am sick of paying to go to away games (cos I can't get home tickets) and having EOS serve up a team that's not the best we have to offer.

Would love to know what's going on in his mind - the whole Easterby thing is so wrong. He had his chance last week and blew it but he still makes the 22 ahead of others?

Jigsaw

If I was Tommy Bowe I'd be pissed off. He has played so well and perhaps his move to the Ospreys has been fuelled by his being ignored by EOS. Sure Shane Horgan would be the better wing if fully fit but is he? I doubt it. I just want Ireland to do as well as possible and I think that Bowe could be justifiably disappointed in not being considered. Happy enough for Jackman to come in instead of Best because he didn't do as well as could be expected. Let's hope they are training hard this week and put up a good performance against the Frenchies.

PS - Is Paddy Wallace as bad as you all make out? I reckon not. He is not a world beater but give the guy a break.

shmaido

I'd be delighted about the selection it weren't for this small fact: THESE CHANGES SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE BEFORE THE ITALY MATCH!! not before arguably the biggest game we have in the 6 nations! Jesus, he's setting these boys up for a huge fall if we get beaten, which we will anyway because there's no confidence in the team. So now he's throwing the newbees in to the deep end because he's finally folded under the pressure and made the changes he was supposed to make at least a game ago! Christ on a fnerking trcycle - CAN YOU GET ANY WORSE COACHING THAN THAT!!!

dub_skav

terry mac wrote: »

This makes absolutely no sense. How would having to make the calls affect your game in a big way? It sounds like your suggesting Mal was running round the field missing tackle's because he was feeling stressed out about the next lineout!

I didn't see any big resurgence on Saturday. Mal was terrible, by far and away the worst player. But people had the knives out for Best and Easterby, so when they didn't deliver everyone concentrated on them being the bad performers when in fact there were many many more (and worse).

I don't subscribe to the "Jackman needs Cullen" theory either. They have the lineout moves/options all worked out in training. Jackman will have thrown to DOC and Mal hundreds of times. Its just a matter of a call, its not rocket science. If Jackman can't deliver the goods on the field, its his problem.

Making the calls dos affect your game. If your team lose their first 2 lineouts that means you need to come up with something to restore confidence, the pressure is on the caller. Not saying you should miss tackles as a result, but it's an extra pressure, a bit like people saying BOD should be relieved of captaincy to improve his game.

Also, practicing throws with the jumpers is not the issue, Cullen knows how to manage a lineout and very importantly his hooker. You have to be able to see when your hooker's confidence is shaken and give him his favourite throw to get him back on track, DOC and MOK may not be able to read these signs as well as Cullen

MikeHoncho

terry mac wrote: »

This makes absolutely no sense. How would having to make the calls affect your game in a big way? It sounds like your suggesting Mal was running round the field missing tackle's because he was feeling stressed out about the next lineout!

I didn't see any big resurgence on Saturday. Mal was terrible, by far and away the worst player. But people had the knives out for Best and Easterby, so when they didn't deliver everyone concentrated on them being the bad performers when in fact there were many many more (and worse).

I don't subscribe to the "Jackman needs Cullen" theory either. They have the lineout moves/options all worked out in training. Jackman will have thrown to DOC and Mal hundreds of times. Its just a matter of a call, its not rocket science. If Jackman can't deliver the goods on the field, its his problem.

I take it your used to the presure of making lineout calls at an inter provincial and Heineken cup level?

Maybe you wouldnt be thinking about the next one but you could be thinking about the one previous that you made a complete balls of.