Donncha O Callaghan should start the 1st test poll

zenmonk

I have been impressed with this guy all year and with O Connell they have the understanding to rattle a few cages.
We need an out and out 4 to compliment O Connell. I fear for AW Jones or Shaw at 4 , not to mention Hynes.
What ye think?

thomond2006

Nice invisible poll.

Max Power1

thomond2006 wrote: »

Nice invisible poll.

My sentiments exactly!!

No Ocallaghan should not start for the lions. End of.

Amazotheamazing

Max Power1 wrote: »

My sentiments exactly!!

No Ocallaghan should not start for the lions. End of.

How come?

I'd have DOC in any team, his work rate is massive, and massively under-appreciated by Irish rugby fans. Not sure Jones and O'Connell is a well balanced partnership.

thomond2006

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

I'd have DOC in any team, his work rate is massive, and massively under-appreciated by Irish rugby fans. Not sure Jones and O'Connell is a well balanced partnership.

+1.

Stealdo

thomond2006 wrote: »

Nice invisible poll.

You should hold tutorials


I reckon DOC is currently sitting 5th in line in the coach's thinking. None of the locks have really set the world alight, they've all been decent in the tight and meh in the loose. Shaw and Hynes IMO are probably the best performing up to this point, but nothing really in it. Don't think DOC was ever in with too strong of a shout because it looks at the moment like it was always going to be POC and AWJ.

thomond2006

Stealdo wrote: »

You should hold tutorials

:D:D:D

Max Power1

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

How come?

I'd have DOC in any team, his work rate is massive, and massively under-appreciated by Irish rugby fans. Not sure Jones and O'Connell is a well balanced partnership.

Not a slight on O'Callaghan, but i would rate Hynes over him, maybe Jones also. I wouldnt have picked him for the Lions either, but thats just me

Amazotheamazing

Max Power1 wrote: »

Not a slight on O'Callaghan, but i would rate Hynes over him, maybe Jones also. I wouldnt have picked him for the Lions either, but thats just me

I don't like Hynes simply because he walked out on his team-mates. Self-centred bastard who can eff off back to Australia, imo.

Agree Jones is a very good player, and will probably be a great player for a long time, but I don't think he suits POC, you need a grafter to allow POC do what POC does.

Sandwich

_

chupacabra

I agree that O'Callaghan should start on saturday. Himself and O'Connell have years of experience together, the same experience that Botha and Matfield have together. They are both contrasting players who play well off of each other, but its not gonna happen. Geech will pick Jones.

RuggieBear

merge

funky penguin

See what happens Tuesday, he has a big task on his shoulders, and for once in his life he won't be overshadowed by the Jolly Ginger Giant.

I for one hope he plays a blinder.

escobar

Doubtful he'll be playing on the 16th and the 20th.

Surely most of the forwards especially and the team ,playing on the 16th, in general won't be making an appearance again on the 20th

NickNolte

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

massively under-appreciated by Irish rugby fans

Not so sure about that as a generalisation. Even as a Leinster supporter, I've been a big fan of DOC. As was already pointed out, his workrate is fantastic. He's also been a great ambassador for Ireland. He's had his off days but himself and POC make a formidable pairing.

Unforunately Lions tests are won largely on individual form and not necessarily pairing up familiar compatriot pairings. Although DOC's had an excellent game on Sat so you never know.

Stev_o

Sorry but seriously does provincial loyalties need to be dragged into this discussion aswell? Re-do the poll with a simple yes or no or does will get dragged into a another "Well it looks like the X supports don;t want him starting while the Y supporters do typical of them!" crap.

thomond2006

I agree with Stevo.

Why do we have to bring provinces into this? I'm sick of it tbh.

Munster fans will not automatically answer yes, you know.

My answer is yes btw, but with good reason. Are the other second rows covering themselves in glory? No.

This partnership has proven itself. Enough said.

zenmonk

zenmonk wrote: »

I have been impressed with this guy all year and with O Connell they have the understanding to rattle a few cages.
We need an out and out 4 to compliment O Connell. I fear for AW Jones or Shaw at 4 , not to mention Hynes.
What ye think?

You have got to be joking.

Hines and AWJ are both ahead of Doc as the second option beside Poc.We dont need an out an out 4 at all,we need the best locks we have on the pitch and Donncha does not fit that category.
We also have the luxury of using Croft in the lineout or Heaslip.

Hines would be my choice as AWJ didnt cover himself in glory the last time he played but I would have no gripes if they went with Jones.

thomond2006

Can someone tell me what is an "out and out" no.4

thomond2006

thomond2006 wrote: »

Can someone tell me what is an "out and out" no.4

Its to do with the position in which they jump but its pretty much irrelivent in modern rugby.

thomond2006

Vaughn Obnoxious Senselessness wrote: »

Its to do with the position in which they jump but its pretty much irrelivent in modern rugby.

Cheers. :)

Aidric

Vaughn Obnoxious Senselessness wrote: »

Its to do with the position in which they jump but its pretty much irrelivent in modern rugby.

:rolleyes:

Aidric

Aidric wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Good post.
Probably your best to date on this forum.

thomond2006

Aidric, you're making a habit of coming onto this forum and p11sing off me and Goose.

Why, oh why?

thebaz

No - I wouldn't have him starting for Ireland either - his form has dipped from his high standards up to 2 years - I feal he needs a long rest to get his appetite back to his best

mink_man

o connell is under pressure for his place its said!

anonymous_joe

Aidric wrote: »

:rolleyes:

You hinting at an enforcer type like Shaw and a more athletic leaper at five, who often works with the back row at the breakdown, while the four lays in with the front row, creating two pods of four?

toomevara

Well, he's been handed the captaincy against the Kings, so that gives him a fair chance to put down a marker for the test spot...It also says two things to me...

1. Geech rates him
2. He's been asked to step up and stake his claim.

Icidentally, though I'm from Munster, contrary to some of the sillier comments above, should I think another player merits a test berth over DOC, I'll say so...Fact is, the jury's out...

davyjose

I think DOC is playing for the Bench. Jones will start alongside O'Connell, and if that's not working out, I can see DOC (or Hynes or Shaw) come on early enough as a replacement. As I don't think Jones and POC complement each other perfectly.

Micky Dolenz

thomond2006 wrote: »

Can someone tell me what is an "out and out" no.4

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=202634

Stealdo

Stev_o wrote: »

Sorry but seriously does provincial loyalties need to be dragged into this discussion aswell? Re-do the poll with a simple yes or no or does will get dragged into a another "Well it looks like the X supports don;t want him starting while the Y supporters do typical of them!" crap.

While I agree with your sentiment Stevo, take a look at the result so far and you can see why it's there. Without the breakdown we'd see 50/50 and know nothing. Obviously we're all biased towards all of the Irish players and we're probably all a little more biased towards the players from our province, and we'd probably be even more biased to the point of being Welsh if a player from our own club or family were involved.

To me the result says that he's pretty far down the list even though a straight up one would have said 50/50.

Sandwich

Quote:
Originally Posted by thomond2006 View Post
Can someone tell me what is an "out and out" no.4

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=202634

:D:D

Seriously though. "Out and out" is a phrase that has acquired a very specific meaning these days - it can only be used in reference to open sides. To do so in any other context is a major faux pas. Dont do it.

danthefan

Not for me.

Stev_o

Thought he was solid today and showed really character as a captain and made the right decisions. Again their hasn't been any stand out locks so i wouldn't be surprised if it goes to 50/50 between himself and AWJ with the starting place and bench spot up for grabs.

buck65

Well DOC nearly made it!
Great to see him on the bench. Obviously DOC has impressed not just myself and a few others but the Lions selectors as well.