Ireland vs South Africa Sat 28th.Read Mod Warnings, Posts 451,520.

chupacabra

Ireland team to face South Africa in Croker this saturday Kick Off 2:30pm:

15. Rob Kearney
14. Tommy Bowe
13. BOD
12. Paddy Wallace
11. Keith Earls

10. Johnny Sexton (Absolutely DELIGHTED!!!)
9. TOL

1. Cian Healy
2. Flannery
3. Hayes
4. DOC
5. POC
6. Ferris
7. Wallace
8. Heaslip

16. Sean Cronin
17. Tony Buckley
18. Leo Cullen
19. Denis Leamy (pending fitness)
20. Peter Stringer
21. Ronan O'Gara
22. Gordon D'Arcy

Sexton at 10.... great call by kidney.

The South African team wont be announced until Thursday, but expect a weakened squad, they have a raft of injuries some of which will be miraculous if they can recover in time. I've my tickets secure, my scarf and coat ready to take a battering. ROLL ON SATURDAY

fullback4glin

Delighted to see Sexton in there even thou I'm a Munster fan, this will be a real test for him!

fair play to Deccie for giving him the oppertunity

Jello

Yeah great to see Sexton in. Hope he performs well now!

Stringer back, would've preferred Reddan I think.

danthefan

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes.

I am very happy.

jrd_old

Excellent!! am delighted that kidney has the courage to pick the players that are on form rather than the old reliables..

The competition for places will add an extra egde to the guys

Ciaran-Irl

Buckley & Stringer on the bench is interesting all right. Delighted for Sexton.

gcgirl

On Form Sexton is the player i'd pick and fair play to Kidney we have to beat the Springboks we have to pick the Form Players !

maherro

wooop!!
Bring it on now!

fullback4glin

Jello wrote: »

Yeah great to see Sexton in. Hope he performs well now!

Stringer back, would've preferred Reddan I think.

jesus i dunno about Reddan, TOL really showed him up against Fiji like, Strings has d edge I think

Stev_o

Bench looks a bit tame though.

Diabhal Beag

Great to see Sexton get the start he deserves. Hopefully he will score a good few points.

Hope Keith Earls has a good match too.

chupacabra

Stev_o wrote: »

Bench looks a bit tame though.

To have the physicality of Buckley waiting on the bench is a good option i think. Darce doesn't really give us much cover tbh, id rather have Trimble in there.

eyeball kid

A bit surprised about this. I was certain Kidney would pick O'Gara but it great for Sexton to get the nod.

It will be a lot more difficult than the Fiji game but he should be alright.

davyjose

Lads, is this match on RTE? I presume so, but want to make sure before I make plans.

marco_polo

chupacabra wrote: »

To have the physicality of Buckley waiting on the bench is a good option i think. Darce doesn't really give us much cover tbh, id rather have Trimble in there.

I guess the thinking is that Bowe, Earls and Kearney can cover the other backline positions if a reshuffle is required I suppose.

marco_polo

davyjose wrote: »

Lads, is this match on RTE? I presume so, but want to make sure before I make plans.

Yup, 2pm coverage start.

Aidric

I would have given Cullen a start beside O Connell in the second row.

smurphy29

Ye Gods, how could we ever have doubted the great man? I feel embarrassed for assuming he'd go with ROG! Sure, when has he ever shied away from the tough call - didn't he drop Strings for a HEC quarter final?

Great selection all round. Selection of Sexton-Wallace and with Strings to come off the bench shows impressive commitment to get the ball out wide, which is how we can win this game. I, for one, cannot wait for saturday. To be fair to Mushy, he played himself into the 22 with that impressive, not to mention surprising, cameo on saturday. Deccie seems to be able to get something from him.

Aidric, care to comment on the selection?

chupacabra

davyjose wrote: »

Lads, is this match on RTE? I presume so, but want to make sure before I make plans.

Yup it should be on alright.

twinytwo

what time is kickoff...?

chupacabra

twinytwo wrote: »

what time is kickoff...?

2:30

Aidric

smurphy29 wrote: »

Aidric, care to comment on the selection?

I wish him all the best and hope he has a cracker. I've always stated I have complete faith in Kidney's selections.

Hyperbullet

Good squad there, delighted for Mush, he played well on Saturday I thought. I probably would've put Sean O Brien in instead of Leamy but if he's fit to play i'm not gonna complain.

And now for the big call. Sexton.

Its make or break time for this guy. I hope he shines against the Boks.

irishbucsfan

chupacabra wrote: »

Darce doesn't really give us much cover tbh, id rather have Trimble in there.

D'Arcy covers more positions, better, than Trimble.

Spud83

Hyperbullet wrote: »

Its make or break time for this guy. I hope he shines against the Boks.

Jesus I wouldn't say its make or break, surely the guy will get more than one chance in an Ireland shirt. It's a serious test, and a chance to put down a marker, and will certainly be taken into consideration come 6 nations, but I don't think a bad game would be the end of him.

WeeBushy

marco_polo wrote: »

I guess the thinking is that Bowe, Earls and Kearney can cover the other backline positions if a reshuffle is required I suppose.

But what if one of those three get injured? There's no real cover for the back three on the bench. I would've put Horgan on the bench, or Trimble to provide more cover. But tbh he could've pick 14 Connacht academy players in the starting line-up and I wouldn't care, cuz he's starting Sexton. Absolutely delighted.

Nice to see Stringer on the bench, I think Reddan and TOL are quite samey, Stringer will offer something different.

Never been a Buckley fan but he played well against Fiji nd there's not many other props around.

subfreq

Delighted for Sexton. This is the litmus test. Brussow, Botha, Burger, Kankowski will all have a seek and destroy mandate.

I certainly think he will be up to it but it's going to be great to watch.

Otacon

irishbucsfan wrote: »

D'Arcy covers more positions, better, than Trimble.

If Trimble were in, we could cover more based on the players on the pitch.

if Wallace is down, move BOD to 12, Bowe to 13 and Trimble at 14

If BOD goes down [Bod Forbid] same as above

If Earls or Bowe goes down its a straight swap and if Kearney goes down, Earls to 15 and Trimble to 11.

D'arcy does not offer that versatility. What would happen if Bowe, Earls or Kearney goes down with D'arcy on the bench?

eigrod

Hyperbullet wrote: »

Its make or break time for this guy. I hope he shines against the Boks.

I don't think it's make or break to be honest. He is the future. If he plays badly, he will get many other chances in the future. I'm sure Kidney will be re-assuring him on that score. Oh, and there's life in O' Gara still too.

molloyjh

Otacon wrote: »

If Trimble were in, we could cover more based on the players on the pitch.

if Wallace is down, move BOD to 12, Bowe to 13 and Trimble at 14

If BOD goes down [Bod Forbid] same as above

If Earls or Bowe goes down its a straight swap and if Kearney goes down, Earls to 15 and Trimble to 11.

D'arcy does not offer that versatility. What would happen if Bowe, Earls or Kearney goes down with D'arcy on the bench?

I dunno, after the way D'arcy linked up with Earls at the weekend I'd think he'd feel a bit hard done by not taking the 12 spot. Some of his handling was fantastic. And I'm still not sold on Wallace at 12.

AdeT

Good selection. Kidney must have had a look at D'arcy on the wing in training for him to be selected on the bench. Obviously he's centre first and foremost but DK must be happy that he can cover other positions. Probably good to have cover for Wallace with his head being prone to mass bleeding!

Delighted for Jonno, he deserves his go. I'd imagine DK's plan all along was to play both in the first two games and then make his selection for the third.

Looking forward to this now

Hyperbullet

alanmurphy83 wrote: »

Jesus I wouldn't say its make or break, surely the guy will get more than one chance in an Ireland shirt. It's a serious test, and a chance to put down a marker, and will certainly be taken into consideration come 6 nations, but I don't think a bad game would be the end of him.

I never said this will be the end of him should he play bad. But after all the hype and all the talk, this game is the real test.

bleg

Great selection. Just goes to show, you can never second guess declan kidney

Spud83

Hyperbullet wrote: »

I never said this will be the end of him should he play bad. But after all the hype and all the talk, this game is the real test.

Sorry but your "make or break" statement came across that way.

Peter B

Kidney has not put a foot wrong in team selection during these Autumn internationals.

irishbucsfan

Otacon wrote: »

If Trimble were in, we could cover more based on the players on the pitch.

if Wallace is down, move BOD to 12, Bowe to 13 and Trimble at 14

If BOD goes down [Bod Forbid] same as above

If Earls or Bowe goes down its a straight swap and if Kearney goes down, Earls to 15 and Trimble to 11.

D'arcy does not offer that versatility. What would happen if Bowe, Earls or Kearney goes down with D'arcy on the bench?

Tommy Bowe's not as effective at center as he is on the wing so it'd be far more likely that they'd move Trimble in to center, his natural position. But thats irrelevant.

With D'Arcy on the bench, he can cover both the wing and center (don't forget he played a lot on the wing in the early days and then again for both Ireland and Leinster last season on his way back from injury). If Wallace went down D'Arcy would slot straight into 12. If Drico went down D'Arcy would slot into 13 (he's arguably more effective there, remember Drico played 12 when D'Arcy burst onto the scene?) If either Winger went down, D'Arcy can cover them in a straight swap quite easilly. If Kearney went down then Earls would move to 15 and D'Arcy will play on the wing.

nosco

Hyperbullet wrote: »

I never said this will be the end of him should he play bad. But after all the hype and all the talk, this game is the real test.

you said make or break. What's break?

WeeBushy

Hyperbullet wrote: »

I never said this will be the end of him should he play bad. But after all the hype and all the talk, this game is the real test.

Of course it's a real test, but you did say it was "make or break". It definately isn't. If he plays badly (which he wont ) he ain't 'broke'.

twinytwo

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Tommy Bowe's not as effective at center as he is on the wing so it'd be far more likely that they'd move Trimble in to center, his natural position. But thats irrelevant.

With D'Arcy on the bench, he can cover both the wing and center (don't forget he played a lot on the wing in the early days and then again for both Ireland and Leinster last season on his way back from injury). If Wallace went down D'Arcy would slot straight into 12. If Drico went down D'Arcy would slot into 13 (he's arguably more effective there, remember Drico played 12 when D'Arcy burst onto the scene?) If either Winger went down, D'Arcy can cover them in a straight swap quite easilly. If Kearney went down then Earls would move to 15 and D'Arcy will play on the wing.

trimbke should never see an irish shirt again... people also have to get this drico to 12 out of their head he will play 13 till the day he retires... and did u actually just say that darcy is a better oc to drico?

bleg

McFadden, Jones and cave should get a start ahead of trimble. Trimbe is poor.

ScrubsfanChris

Would liked to have seen D'Arcy start ahead of Paddy Wallace, he has never really performed well enough at international level.

WeeBushy

twinytwo wrote: »

trimbke should never see an irish shirt again... people also have to get this drico to 12 out of their head he will play 13 till the day he retires... and did u actually just say that darcy is a better oc to drico?

Why shouldn't trimble play for Ireland again? He's in really good form at the moment.

I think what he was saying is that D'arcy is a better 13 than 12, not that he is a better 13 than BOD..

WeeBushy

bleg wrote: »

McFadden, Jones and cave should get a start ahead of trimble. Trimbe is poor.

None of them are wingers though, so you can't compare them.

danthefan

bleg wrote: »

McFadden, Jones and cave should get a start ahead of trimble. Trimbe is poor.

When did Jones play for Munster last?

iain-not-ian

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

Would liked to have seen D'Arcy start ahead of Paddy Wallace, he has never really performed well enough at international level.

D'Arcy has not been the same since injury and proved that by being very mediocre against a poor Fiji.

Sexton starting is an excellent call and one I didn't think that Kidney would make. Fair play to him

hardCopy

Delighted to see Deccie make the big call, sorry I doubted him. Sexton deserves a shot and I'm sure he'll impress.

I think it sends a powerful message to everyone in the squad that nobody is undroppable, they'll all have to look over their shoulders whenever a young pretender shows up at provincial level. Tough on ROG obviously, but good motivation for everyone else.

GiftofGab

Lads what are your realistic opinions on the outcome of this match??

I for one, being a tad bit bias of course, think that Ireland can win this. With weather conditions, it's going to be close, maybe 3 points. Ireland are playing in their own back yard and we have the momentum of a great year. It's the end of long South African season and they look like they are starting to tire.

Come on Ireland. Really looking forward to a great game. Kidney you made our whole country happy with that selection.

yimrsg

Didnt D'arcy start/play as a fullback originally? I may be wrong but I thought I read that somewhere. Either way he offers a good deal at the breakdown which could be in Kidney's mind to help combat Brussow if he's on form. Horgan didn't impress me that much against Fiji, yes he scored one but butchered another chance when there was men outside him on an overlap. Probably down to trying too hard.

Delighted for Sexton and really hope to see this brings the best from O'Gara. We've been in this situation before with ROG and Humphreys dividing up game time, let the younger chap get us in the lead then bring the wise old head to draw upon his big match experience and keep us there.

irishbucsfan

twinytwo wrote: »

trimbke should never see an irish shirt again... people also have to get this drico to 12 out of their head he will play 13 till the day he retires... and did u actually just say that darcy is a better oc to drico?

No thats what it ended up saying but I wanted to say, D'Arcy is arguably a better 13 than he is a 12.

For example if Drico went down I'd argue that D'Arcy should play 13 with Wallace at 12.

Drico is the best 13 in the world, and the best to ever wear an Irish jersey.

davyjose

iain-not-ian wrote: »

D'Arcy has not been the same since injury and proved that by being very mediocre against a poor Fiji.

He'd a better 6N than Wallace, to the point he won his place back.

thebaz

Super team - great selection all round - the only surprise i see is Leamy , i thought he'd be gone for months - but if fit another great selection - speediest recovery ever ?