Your 22 for the French Match

Co45

Team to be announced tomorrow. Until then your 22? Heres mine.

1.Healy
2.Flannery
3.Hayes

Did well against Italy yesterday. Healy carried well and held his own, Flannery's throws were perfect and Hayes was solid

4.O'Connell
5.Cullen

Regardless of O'Callaghan's return to fitness to drop Cullen after winning 5 opposition lineouts would be madness. There was also a serious improvement on Cullen's side of the scrum yesterday.

6.Quinlan
7.Wallace
8.Heaslip

Don't get me wrong I think McLaughlin had a solid game but just feel if were going to win against France away then we need experience in the backrow. Quinlan's borderline cheating along with his great form should give him in the nod. Unlikely to happen though [BBC Ulster Radio have confirmed Ferris won't be back.]

9.Boss

Hes in superb form and we need a scrum half who has the ability to spot gaps everywhere

10.Sexton

O'Gara had a good game but one cannot disagree that his creativity against probably the easiest defence in the 6N was seriously lacking. Sexton offers everything O'Gara has with the added bonus of being able to run with the ball. I don't want the likes of Rougerie, Basteaurd and Jauzion running down O'Gara's channel all day [last year at Croke Park it was O'Gara's missed tackle that led to a French try] we simply can't afford any defensive weaknesses against this French backline.

11.Trimble

Some of the downright negativity thrown against Trimble has been appaling. He was one of our best players yesterday and deserves to stay. I can't help but think that if it was anyone else but Earls behind him no one would bat an eye lid. It seems that a lot of people for whatever reason like to place Earls on some kind of podium who deserves his spot ahead of the most in form winger in the country despite playing 13 most of the season. Trimble may not be as flash as Earls but he deserves his spot ahead of him.

12.D'arcy

This was the hardest decision for me as I thought Wallace was brilliant in his brief cameo but once again with Bastaurd charging down the 12 channel I feel a hell of a lot safer with D'arcy defending.

13.O'Driscoll

No explanation necessery

14.Bowe

Same reason.

15.Kearney

Bad game but still the best 15 in the world I think

16.Best
17.Court
18.O'Callaghan
19.O'Brien [If Henry could cover 6,7,8 I would have him ahead of O'Brien]
20.O'Leary
21.O'Gara
22.Earls

JustinDee

Co45 wrote: »

6.Quinlan
7.Wallace
8.Heaslip

Don't get me wrong I think McLaughlin had a solid game but just feel if were going to win against France away then we need experience in the backrow. Quinlan's borderline cheating along with his great form should give him in the nod. Unlikely to happen though [BBC Ulster Radio have confirmed Ferris won't be back.

Quinlan is not in the squad. Nor is he in the bump-up list of replacement squad players this week.

twinytwo

Healy
Flans
Hayes
Cullen
O Connell
McLaughlin- I Would have loved quinlan if ferris is out. The french back row is quality and we would need the old fox. So long as he behaved himself... most of the time
Wallace
Heaslip
O Leary
O Gara .. O Gara is O Gara and Paris is Paris im going for experience.
Earls... ya trimble was good on saturday but his **** up with kearney was shocking and something that cant happen against the french.
Darcy
Drico
Bowe
Kearney was a bit rusty on saturday but will rise to the big game as always

Co45

JustinDee wrote: »

Quinlan is not in the squad. Nor is he in the bump-up list of replacement squad players this week.

Nor is Boss [first squad that is], its the team I want.

Riskymove

1. Healy
2. Flannery
3. Hayes

4. O'Connell
5. O'Callaghan

6. Ferris - if not back then McLoughlin
7. Wallace
8. Heaslip

9. O'Leary
10. O'Gara

11. Trimble - Solid enough first half, wasn't really a wingers game
12. D'Arcy
13. O'Driscoll
14. Bowe

15. Kearney


I think most of the team still picks itself, injuries not withstanding. While Cullen played well, i think DOC brings a bit more physicality/workhorse to the game.

I wouldn't change outhalf now so Sexton to bench if fit

Quinny would be fun but we have to be realistic about it

O'Leary to stay at outhalf due to Reddan apparantly being the competition, cannot understand why Boss is not in there

like the outhalf position I would not start Earl's now in paris leave on bench

PhatPiggins

I have mixed views on Cullen. He stole some good ball (aided by weak throwing) and made a big contribution in the tight but gave away 3 penalties and should really have been binned. Maybe he was trying to hard.

I dont think you could bring Sexton back in against the French, its a big ask for an inexperienced player who's a bit short on game time

Trimble and McLoughlin did enough to warrent another game

Co45

PhatPiggins wrote: »

I have mixed views on Cullen. He stole some good ball (aided by weak throwing) and made a big contribution in the tight but gave away 3 penalties and should really have been binned. Maybe he was trying to hard.

Was it not McLaughlin who gave away three penalties? Cullen to my knowledge gave away 2. One for that lineout where you think he should of been binned and then another for not rolling away.

Brewster

twinytwo wrote: »

Healy
Flans
Hayes
Cullen
O Connell
McLaughlin- I Would have loved quinlan if ferris is out. The french back row is quality and we would need the old fox. So long as he behaved himself... most of the time
Wallace
Heaslip
O Leary
O Gara .. O Gara is O Gara and Paris is Paris im going for experience.
Earls... ya trimble was good on saturday but his **** up with kearney was shocking and something that cant happen against the french.
Darcy
Drico
Bowe
Kearney was a bit rusty on saturday but will rise to the big game as always

Blaming Trimble for the Italian try is a bit Irish to say the least. Kearney made the call im sure and it was up to him to clear it then. Earls is a great man to have on bench. We need all our big men on Sat and this includes D'Arcy and Trimble. I would worry about Earls defensively on wing, Trimble is probably not as exciting a runner as Earls but he will put in massive hits and defend better than Earls.

Ferris to come back in if fit, thats it. Same team again. Cullen to stay in team.

fade2che

I agree that blaming Trimble for Kearneys lapse in concentration is unfair. I dissagree on Trimble not being as exciting a player as Earls and I think Trimbles form of late (fine try against bath where he seemed to an extra gear for each defender) puts him slightly ahead of Earls, this coming from a Munster supporter too!
Edit back on topic: Trimble on first and Earls as an impact sub in a similar fashion to Italian match

Risteard

I'd agree with the OP. Except for Quinlan, I'd like to see O'Brien at 6 if Ferris isn't fit. Nothing against McLaughlin, he didn't have a bad game but we saw in the Scotland match that we need a big physical presence in the backrow and I think SOB would offer that more than McLaughlin.

With regards to Sexton and ROG, likewise, ROG didn't have a bad game but to me the running threat posed by Sexton just shades it as both are great passers and kickers, but Sexton can fix defenders before unleashing the backs more than O'Gara IMO. I wouldn't mind if ROG started but I'd prefer Sexton.

PhatPiggins

fade2che wrote: »

I agree that blaming Trimble for Kearneys lapse in concentration is unfair. I dissagree on Trimble not being as exciting a player as Earls and I think Trimbles form of late (fine try against bath where he seemed to an extra gear for each defender) puts him slightly ahead of Earls, this coming from a Munster supporter too!
Edit back on topic: Trimble on first and Earls as an impact sub in a similar fashion to Italian match

Trimble annoys me a bit as he has all the attributes of a fine player but refuses to use the top two inches too much for my liking. He can run around or over players but the move often dies with him as he seems oblivious to his team mates. The positional weaknesses are still there.

France will be his acid test

Co45

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Trimble annoys me a bit as he has all the attributes of a fine player but refuses to use the top two inches too much for my liking. He can run around or over players but the move often dies with him as he seems oblivious to his team mates. The positional weaknesses are still there.

He did extremely well to get that offload off the ground after his break. Showed great awareness there. Could someone explain to me how Trimble is positionally weak?

twinytwo

Brewster wrote: »

Blaming Trimble for the Italian try is a bit Irish to say the least. Kearney made the call im sure and it was up to him to clear it then. Earls is a great man to have on bench. We need all our big men on Sat and this includes D'Arcy and Trimble. I would worry about Earls defensively on wing, Trimble is probably not as exciting a runner as Earls but he will put in massive hits and defend better than Earls.

Ferris to come back in if fit, thats it. Same team again. Cullen to stay in team.

the problem with earls and iv seen it loads of times now is his acceleration over 5 yards is immense when he looks like he is going through a small gap the defenders always just manage to get him.. if he could just find an extra inch he would be through 9 times out of 10

Spud83

Can't see the team changing too much for this one.

If Ferris is back which apparently is unlikely he would obviously come back in. There are only a few other spots that are up for grabs really.

Cullen v O'Callaghan. Depends on O'Callaghans fitness of course, but I think Cullen had a good game on Saturday and will keep the jersey for the moment.

O'Gara v Sexton. I don't think O'Gara deserves to lose the jersey now, and I don't think it would be a good idea to swap him out either. Before the weekend I would have preferred Sexton starting against Italy, and then continuing on to the French game. The injury was unfortunate, so with the lack of game, and O'Garas current form being good it just does not make sense to me to swap them.

Trimble v Earls Trimble to start and Earls to be an impact sub. I think this is how Kidney sees Earls at the moment, and it will stay that way this weekend. Earls will get a start but probably not until Wales/Scotland. For me Trimble had a decent game on Saturday.

D'arcy v Wallace Don't know which way this will go, if I was forced to bet it would be D'arcy.

O'Leary v The Rest O'Leary will start, I'm not his biggest fan, but I think he executes exactly what Kidney wants him to.

Kearney You don't drop a player like him based on one shaky/poor performance unless he has a shocker of a week in training.

So as I started off I think it will be pretty much the same team unless Ferris is back. Cullen, and D'arcy the most vulnerable in the team.

PhatPiggins

Co45 wrote: »

He did extremely well to get that offload off the ground after his break. Showed great awareness there. Could someone explain to me how Trimble is positionally weak?

Ah he should have passed it long before then, if Fitzgerald had been playing it would have been a try. He has a habit of over running attacking plays and constantly rushes on D or is too flat leaving him exposed to the chip over his head.

On hindsight you right on the penalty count I think I was blaming Cullen for one of McLaughlins penaltie. You made a good point on the improved scrum with Cullen in it. I think Hayes improved fitness is also a factor but Cullen has proved for Leinster/Leicester that he is a serious scrummager.

JustinDee

PhatPiggins wrote: »

He has a habit of over running attacking plays and constantly rushes on D or is too flat leaving him exposed to the chip over his head

No he doesn't.
In attack, provided he can keep possession or present the ball well, it doesn't matter. If he's breaking from a game plan, his skipper will tell him so. As it happens, he hasnt been breaking any game plan.
I've been watching vid footage of him this morning and the only time in the entire game he ever rushed in defence was when he was one man in and someone else was covering wing.

Some food for thought also: When a team wants opposition to kick away, they will hold flat out wide.

pappyodaniel

My 22
1.Healy
2.Flannery
3.Hayes
4.O'Connell
5.Cullen ;had a brilliant game and it would be a travesty if he were dropped
6.Ferris ;if he's not fit i'd love to see Quinny(not gonna happen though) so McLoughlin would get another chance

7.Wallace
8.Heaslip
9.O'Leary; horses for courses in this selection. I don't think he played well at the wknd and if we weren't up against such a dynamic French back-row I'd start Reddan

10.O'Gara ; Played well at the wknd. Sexton to make an appearance if things aren't going well

11.Trimble
12.D'arcy
13.O'Driscoll
14.Bowe
15.Kearney
16.Cronin ;the lineout didn't function as well last wk when Best made an appearance, rushed back too soon.
17.Court
18.O'Callaghan
19.O'Brien [If Henry could cover 6,7,8 I would have him ahead of O'Brien]
20.Reddan
21.Sexton ;will be fit but if not Wallace
22.Earls; can make a difference in the later stages when legs are tired.

Nilther

I reckon there's a chance Jennings could find himself at 6. Had a great game on friday and is one of the eight or nine drafted into the full squad. In my mind there's a good balance to Wallace, Heaslip and Jennings..

ScrubsfanChris

Incase nobody knows 96fm just said that Trimble is out through injury for the France game.
Link on its way.

TitoPuente

pappyodaniel wrote: »

My 22
1.Healy
2.Flannery
3.Hayes
4.O'Connell
5.Cullen ;had a brilliant game and it would be a travesty if he were dropped
6.Ferris ;if he's not fit i'd love to see Quinny(not gonna happen though) so McLoughlin would get another chance

7.Wallace
8.Heaslip
9.O'Leary; horses for courses in this selection. I don't think he played well at the wknd and if we weren't up against such a dynamic French back-row I'd start Reddan

10.O'Gara ; Played well at the wknd. Sexton to make an appearance if things aren't going well

11.Trimble
12.D'arcy
13.O'Driscoll
14.Bowe
15.Kearney
16.Cronin ;the lineout didn't function as well last wk when Best made an appearance, rushed back too soon.
17.Court
18.O'Callaghan
19.O'Brien [If Henry could cover 6,7,8 I would have him ahead of O'Brien]
20.Reddan
21.Sexton ;will be fit but if not Wallace
22.Earls; can make a difference in the later stages when legs are tired.

Pretty much my sentiments exactly.

You need real agression.The only change I would make is that O'Brien plays 6 and Mclaughlin benches.

Our backrow is pretty versitile,I wouldnt be concerned about having cover.They can all swap if needed.

I would also ditch O'Leary and start stringer but maybe im the only one who cant stand watching a scrumhalf take 2 minutes to pass the ball?

Forgot,I would also Bring in Sexton instead of O'gara.O'Gara didnt have a bad game but for me Sexton at this point is a better player.

Kenteach

If all fit, I'd go with the same 15 that started on Saturday. Reckon Kidney will have a serious think about 6, 10 and 11, however. On the bench, don't think Best is up to it yet, Ryan may keep his spot and if Earls gets the nod over Trimble then Trimble will drop from the squad with Reddan, the unlucky one of ROG/Sexton and Wallace covering the backs.

greendom

alanmurphy83 wrote: »

Can't see the team changing too much for this one.

If Ferris is back which apparently is unlikely he would obviously come back in. There are only a few other spots that are up for grabs really.

Cullen v O'Callaghan. Depends on O'Callaghans fitness of course, but I think Cullen had a good game on Saturday and will keep the jersey for the moment.

O'Gara v Sexton. I don't think O'Gara deserves to lose the jersey now, and I don't think it would be a good idea to swap him out either. Before the weekend I would have preferred Sexton starting against Italy, and then continuing on to the French game. The injury was unfortunate, so with the lack of game, and O'Garas current form being good it just does not make sense to me to swap them.

Trimble v Earls Trimble to start and Earls to be an impact sub. I think this is how Kidney sees Earls at the moment, and it will stay that way this weekend. Earls will get a start but probably not until Wales/Scotland. For me Trimble had a decent game on Saturday.

D'arcy v Wallace Don't know which way this will go, if I was forced to bet it would be D'arcy.

O'Leary v The Rest O'Leary will start, I'm not his biggest fan, but I think he executes exactly what Kidney wants him to.

Kearney You don't drop a player like him based on one shaky/poor performance unless he has a shocker of a week in training.

So as I started off I think it will be pretty much the same team unless Ferris is back. Cullen, and D'arcy the most vulnerable in the team.

I really can't see Ireland winning if they have to play against themselves :pac:

thomond2006

France have named the same 23 man squad.

Forwards: Thomas Domingo (Clermont), Luc Ducalcon (Castres), Sylvain Marconnet (Stade Français), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Williams Servat (Stade Toulousain), Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Français), Pascal Papé (Stade Français), Lionel Nallet (Racing-Métro), Julien Pierre (Clermont), Julien Bonnaire (Clermont), Thierry Dusautoir (Stade Toulousain), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier).

Backs: Morgan Parra (Clermont), François Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Frédéric Michalak (Stade Toulousain), Mathieu Bastareaud (Stade Français), Yannick Jauzion (Stade Toulousain), David Marty (Perpignan), Vincent Clerc (Stade Toulousain), Aurélien Rougerie (Clermont), Benjamin Fall (Bayonne), Clément Poitrenaud (Stade Toulousain)

Judgement Day

1.Healy
2.Flannery
3.Hayes
4.O'Connell
5.Cullen
6.Ferris
7.Wallace
8.Heaslip
9.Reddan
10.O'Gara
11.Trimble
12.D'Arcy
13.O'Driscoll
14.Horgan
15.Kearney

16.Cronin
17.Court
18.O'Callaghan
19.Quinlan
20.Stringer
21.Sexton/Wallace
22.Earls/Bowe

My 'fantasy' team - it won't happen though - especially Shane Horgan starting instead of Tommy Bowe.

wixfjord

Judgement Day wrote: »

1.Healy
2.Flannery
3.Hayes
4.O'Connell
5.Cullen
6.Ferris
7.Wallace
8.Heaslip
9.Reddan
10.O'Gara
11.Trimble
12.D'Arcy
13.O'Driscoll
14.Horgan
15.Kearney

16.Cronin
17.Court
18.O'Callaghan
19.Quinlan
20.Stringer
21.Sexton/Wallace
22.Earls/Bowe

My 'fantasy' team - it won't happen though - especially Shane Horgan starting instead of Tommy Bowe.

Theres a reason for that I think. Dropping the form NH winger, and possibly in the world? What are you smokin?!

Judgement Day

Wexfjord - I don't think Horgan is actually slouching it for Leinster either. Going like a train here and not a CIE one!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMCHj8I3GiY

maddness

I would also ditch O'Leary and start stringer but maybe im the only one who cant stand watching a scrumhalf take 2 minutes to pass the ball?

Forgot,I would also Bring in Sexton instead of O'gara.O'Gara didnt have a bad game but for me Sexton at this point is a better player.[/QUOTE]

Totally agree.

danthefan

Start Stringer!?!?

I despair. He's the worst of the 4 OHs in contention now, by miles. He was incredibly bad against the Saxons, it was embarrassing.

PhatPiggins

danthefan wrote: »

Start Stringer!?!?

I despair. He's the worst of the 4 OHs in contention now, by miles. He was incredibly bad against the Saxons, it was embarrassing.

Er what game were you watching and what in particular did you find so terrible?

Co45

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Er what game were you watching and what in particular did you find so terrible?

I think he was referring to the English Saxons game.

danthefan

Co45 wrote: »

I think he was referring to the English Saxons game.

I was indeed, and Stringer's performance is what I found so terrible. I would have thought that was clear.

Judgement Day

Highlights of the 2009 defeat of France to help renew flagging spirits. http://rugbydump.blogspot.com/2009/02/ireland-impressive-against-france-at.html

anonymous_joe

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Er what game were you watching and what in particular did you find so terrible?

He wasn't great against the Saxons in fairness...

I'd be scared of dropping O'Leary for such a big game, really. I just hope what I viewed as a bad performance was a coaching decision and not him being shíte. Which happens to human beings.

thomond2006

On ATH, Thornley made a good point about France always having one "big" performance in them.

In the Six Nations last year, they destroyed Wales.
In the Autumn, they outmuscled the Boks.

From an Irish perspective, I hope France don't produce that "big" performance against us.
In saying that, if they do, it promises to be an amazing contest.

irishbucsfan

danthefan wrote: »

I was indeed, and Stringer's performance is what I found so terrible. I would have thought that was clear.

Agreed. I thought he was a very important player for us last season but from what little I've seen of him this season I wouldn't have the same level of confidence.

O'Leary has been poor as well, but I'd rather him than Reddan at the moment.

I wouldn't change the team at all.. I thought both Cullen and McLaughlin made great contributions and there's noone out there who would offer more (Quinlan is a great auld sly fox but his age is catching up with him and it shows in his lessened work rate. Locky however is a beast, and really helps the back row control the ball.) D'arcy would be the only player under threat in my opinion, given Sexton's return to fitness means that Wallace has been freed up to start again. I think Wallace offers more but D'Arcy is hardly a poor player! It's a great problem to have.



If Trimble is injured then Earls must be next in line.

anonymous_joe

thomond2006 wrote: »

On ATH, Thornley made a good point about France always having one "big" performance in them.

In the Six Nations last year, they destroyed Wales.
In the Autumn, they outmuscled the Boks.

From an Irish perspective, I hope France don't produce that "big" performance against us.
In saying that, if they do, it promises to be an amazing contest.

Don't forget twatting New Zealand in the summer. :pac:

Podge_irl

The only player you could replace TOL with and have an improvement is Boss, but considering he wasnt called into the extended squad for this game it's not gonna happen so TOL it is.

I'd rather see Sexton start, but I would be worried about his lack of game time over the last few months. Sexton and D'Arcy have been doing great things for Leinster this season. ROG is in good form, but I just think Sexton-D'Arcy-BOD could make that French mid-field look rather stupid with their ability to all carry it to the line. There was definitely space to be exploited against France and Sexton running up to the line would be far more effective at doing so than ROG. Wouldn't be surprised or too disappointed to see ROG start though. I think you have to have the other on the bench, which means Wallace would drop out which is a bit harsh, but can't be helped.

There is not a hope that Quinlan would hack the pace of a game in Paris. He looked out of it after 40 mins against the Argies last season and was reasonably ineffectual in that game. Age catches up with everyone, he's a great provincial level player, but that's it now. Hopefully Ferris is back.

Judgement Day

I didn't get to see the Ireland v Saxons game but match reports that I have read are not complimentary about Peter Stringer but surely he can't be playing much worse than TOL? I am a Munster fan and don't like to slag off our players but I feel that TOL has not been the same since his pre-Lions tour injury and his try against Italy went against his present run of form. I think Reddan is playing well for Leinster but seem to be in a minority on this and I haven't seen enough of Boss recently to make a judgement. I would still go with Reddan to start and Stringer on the bench but it won't happen will it?

Podge_irl

Judgement Day wrote: »

I didn't get to see the Ireland v Saxons game but match reports that I have read are not complimentary about Peter Stringer but surely he can't be playing much worse than TOL? I am a Munster fan and don't like to slag off our players but I feel that TOL has not been the same since his pre-Lions tour injury and his try against Italy went against his present run of form. I think Reddan is playing well for Leinster but seem to be in a minority on this and I haven't seen enough of Boss recently to make a judgement. I would still go with Reddan to start and Stringer on the bench but it won't happen will it?

Stringer was okay against Scotland, but was terrible against Saxons. He took the wrong decisions constantly, costing tries in the process, and was passing above people, straight to the ground or in between people on multiple occasions. His pass itself was still nice and fast, if inaccurate, but he was back to his worst days of staring at rucks until the ball is perfectly presented.

thomond2006

Podge_irl wrote: »

Stringer was okay against Scotland, but was terrible against Saxons. He took the wrong decisions constantly, costing tries in the process, and was passing above people, straight to the ground or in between people on multiple occasions. His pass itself was still nice and fast, if inaccurate, but he was back to his worst days of staring at rucks until the ball is perfectly presented.

That's a fair assessment imo.

I never like to say it about any player, but Stringer looks like he's "past it".

He's been inconsistent for a while now. His pass is still the best in Ireland, but there is more to a scrum half than passing.

Trojan

I wouldn't drop him for once incident, but I would assign the majority of the blame for the charge down try to Trimble. You don't let it bounce.

JustinDee

thomond2006 wrote: »

On ATH, Thornley made a good point about France always having one "big" performance in them

Stopped clock and all that . . .

dub_skav

Trojan wrote: »

I wouldn't drop him for once incident, but I would assign the majority of the blame for the charge down try to Trimble. You don't let it bounce.

I thought that was a very well placed kick from Gower and the only blame (if we feel the need to blame somebody) has to be on Kearney

fade2che

irishbucsfan wrote: »

(Quinlan is a great auld sly fox but his age is catching up with him and it shows in his lessened work rate.

His work rate in particular won him Man of the Match against the lastest tight game against Northampthon. I agree his age is catching up but he would be no loss in the Irish 22.

Crash

dub_skav wrote: »

I thought that was a very well placed kick from Gower and the only blame (if we feel the need to blame somebody) has to be on Kearney

I'd have been of the opinion they're both at fault. Trimble ate up the space on the left wing by going for that ball, should have either claimed it first time, or left the space for Kearney to claim and look to be in support. Instead he stood off, allowed the bounce, gave up time and space for Kearney, which Rob then finished off with a stupidly low clearance kick.

Both at fault, but in fairness, it happens from time to time.

PhatPiggins

danthefan wrote: »

I was indeed, and Stringer's performance is what I found so terrible. I would have thought that was clear.

Not really I would have presumed we would have been judging him on his last game, against Scotland, which was a huge improvement.

stephen_n

Healy
Flannery
Hayes
O'Connell
Cullen
MCLoughlin (Quinlan but that's not going to happen)
Heaslip
Wallace
TOL (his extremely poor box kicking could cost us badly in this game but Reddan is to inconsistent IMO for him to start abd Boss isn't in the running)
O'Gara (Big game experience and good form combined with sextons lack of game time would make this the sensible choice for me)
Bowe
Darcy (still think he is a better out and out 12 than wallace)
BOD
Kearney
Earls

Best
Court
DOC
O'Brien
Reddan (Boss not going to happen)
Sexton
Wallace ( provides better cover than Horgan for all positions outside 10)

PhatPiggins

Are Sexton and Wallace both going to be on the bench together?

Doesn't provide you with a lot of options if one of the back three are injured. Personally I dont like moving two players if one gets injured e.g if Kearney got injured Earls would go 15 ,Darcy to the wing and Wallace to 12. Though I guess Wallace could go 15, ignore me I'm rambling on a bit.

Co45

stephen_n wrote: »

Healy
Flannery
Hayes
O'Connell
Cullen
MCLoughlin (Quinlan but that's not going to happen)
Heaslip
Wallace
TOL (his extremely poor box kicking could cost us badly in this game but Reddan is to inconsistent IMO for him to start abd Boss isn't in the running)
O'Gara (Big game experience and good form combined with sextons lack of game time would make this the sensible choice for me)
Bowe
Darcy (still think he is a better out and out 12 than wallace)
BOD
Kearney
Earls

Best
Court
DOC
O'Brien
Reddan (Boss not going to happen)
Sexton
Wallace ( provides better cover than Horgan for all positions outside 10)

Why play Bowe at 11?? Also I really don't think Earls is anywhere near Kearney's level at full back. A back three of 11.Earls 15.Kearney 14.Bowe would be much more effective.

PhatPiggins

Co45 wrote: »

Why play Bowe at 11?? Also I really don't think Earls is anywhere near Kearney's level at full back. A back three of 11.Earls 15.Kearney 14.Bowe would be much more effective.

I'd say that is what he ment it to be, to be honest.