Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread

jacothelad · 31-12-2011 2:45pm

wixfjord wrote: »

No it's a camp for the WC players I think.
Over on sat too iirc.

I feel they would have been better 'getting to know each other' as opponents on the pitch.

jasper11 · 01-01-2012 5:23pm

anybody know how mushy been going at sale. just heard he was picked today but pulled out before kick off injured. must be doin ok if he was picked? miracles do happen no?

CIARAN_BOYLE · 01-01-2012 5:33pm

jasper11 wrote: »

anybody know how mushy been going at sale. just heard he was picked today but pulled out before kick off injured. must be doin ok if he was picked? miracles do happen no?

3 starts out of 4 in the Amlin 1 start and 3 sub in the league since he returned from the RWC. I think he has been doing decently but not great

jasper11 · 01-01-2012 5:40pm

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

3 starts out of 4 in the Amlin 1 start and 3 sub in the league since he returned from the RWC. I think he has been doing decently but not great

ONE OF THERE PROPS HAS GONE OFF WITH BAD INJURY APPARANTLY SO IF MUSHY NOT GOT BAD NJURY HE MIGHT GET A RUN BEFORE 6 NATIONS.

Tox56 · 01-01-2012 5:44pm

jasper11 wrote: »

ONE OF THERE PROPS HAS GONE OFF WITH BAD INJURY APPARANTLY SO IF MUSHY NOT GOT BAD NJURY HE MIGHT GET A RUN BEFORE 6 NATIONS.

Yep, looked really really bad, he was in a lot of pain. Mushy was meant to start ahead of him anyway, but now there is nobody standing in his way.

danthefan · 02-01-2012 4:09pm

jasper11 wrote: »

ONE OF THERE PROPS HAS GONE OFF WITH BAD INJURY APPARANTLY SO IF MUSHY NOT GOT BAD NJURY HE MIGHT GET A RUN BEFORE 6 NATIONS.

What difference would that make?

jacothelad · 02-01-2012 6:25pm

jasper11 wrote: »

ONE OF THERE PROPS HAS GONE OFF WITH BAD INJURY APPARANTLY SO IF MUSHY NOT GOT BAD NJURY HE MIGHT GET A RUN BEFORE 6 NATIONS.

FFS don't let Deccie know.

durkadurka · 02-01-2012 6:32pm

jacothelad wrote: »

FFS don't let Deccie know.

Lets throw stones at his sky dish or something

jacothelad · 02-01-2012 6:55pm

durkadurka wrote: »

Lets throw stones at his sky dish or something

:pac::D:pac:

thomond2006 · 02-01-2012 7:02pm

When is the extended squad announced?

Hype710 · 02-01-2012 8:59pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

When is the extended squad announced?

16th I think. Last year a 32 man squad was announced so we may see something similar.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 02-01-2012 9:04pm

Hype710 wrote: »

16th I think. Last year a 32 man squad was announced so we may see something similar.

Wolfhound squad was announced at the same time last year and there were a number of players who moved between the squads.

Pretty sure it was really a 60 man squad last year.

porterbelly · 02-01-2012 9:31pm

durkadurka wrote: »

Lets throw stones at his sky dish or something

Ara Deccie is too cute to pay for Sky

02-01-2012 9:32pm

porterbelly wrote: »

Ara Deccie is too cute to pay for Sky

streams it like the rest of us so...

its_phil · 03-01-2012 6:27am

The game vs the saxons is coming on 28th, anyone got any preferences for people they would like to see.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 03-01-2012 6:54am

its_phil wrote: »

The game vs the saxons is coming on 28th, anyone got any preferences for people they would like to see.

How do you balance between young talent you want to give experience and players who are doing a trial for positions. My team below, the better of 4/5 to bench in the six nations, the best back row to bench during the six nations, if 12/13 works as a pairing I'd start them for the 6Ns, I wouldn't be comfortable going into 6Ns with a center pairing who had never played together before. My other pics are players who deserve a reward for doing well or I think they are future internationals who should get experience.

1 McAllister
2 Sherry
3 Archer
4 Toner
5 DRyan
6 McLaughlin
7 POM
8 Henry
9 Marshall
10 Madigan
11 Gilroy
12 McFadden
13 Griffin
14 TOH
15 DKearney

its_phil · 03-01-2012 7:46am

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

1 McAllister
2 Sherry
3 Archer
4 Toner
5 DRyan
6 McLaughlin
7 POM
8 Henry
9 Marshall
10 Madigan
11 Gilroy
12 McFadden
13 Griffin
14 TOH
15 DKearney

I'd swap Hagan for Archer and McCarthy for one of the second rows. If McCarthy wasn't picked in the 30 squad I'd go nuts

totallegend · 03-01-2012 8:00am

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

its_phil wrote: »

The game vs the saxons is coming on 28th, anyone got any preferences for people they would like to see.

How do you balance between young talent you want to give experience and players who are doing a trial for positions. My team below, the better of 4/5 to bench in the six nations, the best back row to bench during the six nations, if 12/13 works as a pairing I'd start them for the 6Ns, I wouldn't be comfortable going into 6Ns with a center pairing who had never played together before. My other pics are players who deserve a reward for doing well or I think they are future internationals who should get experience.

1 McAllister
2 Sherry
3 Archer
4 Toner
5 DRyan
6 McLaughlin
7 POM
8 Henry
9 Marshall
10 Madigan
11 Gilroy
12 McFadden
13 Griffin
14 TOH
15 DKearney

Generally ok but McFadden and Ryan are gone beyond the Wolfhounds stage. Stick Spence or Cave in at centre and maybe Tuohy at lock and I'd be happy. Also, Hagan ahead of Archer.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 03-01-2012 12:42pm

totallegend wrote: »

Generally ok but McFadden and Ryan are gone beyond the Wolfhounds stage. Stick Spence or Cave in at centre and maybe Tuohy at lock and I'd be happy. Also, Hagan ahead of Archer.

I'd actually have Tuohy starting for the senior team alongside POC and whichever of Ryan and Toner does better for the wolfhounds on the bench. Thats just me.

In the center I went for the pairing I think should be first choice for the 6Ns and am looking at the wolfhounds match to give them experience together since they have never played together before. Maybe thats not right but I think its a good idea to help them build a partnership before being faced with wales

Tox56 · 03-01-2012 1:25pm

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

I'd actually have Tuohy starting for the senior team alongside POC and whichever of Ryan and Toner does better for the wolfhounds on the bench. Thats just me.

In the center I went for the pairing I think should be first choice for the 6Ns and am looking at the wolfhounds match to give them experience together since they have never played together before. Maybe thats not right but I think its a good idea to help them build a partnership before being faced with wales

Rightly or wrongly, the odds of a Connacht player starting on the national team for the 6N without any experience at that level, are absolutely astronomic. It's sad but true.

shuffol · 03-01-2012 1:31pm

I'd like to see Ruddock ahead of McLaughlin or Henry, realistically the latter 2 are never going to become regulars at international rugby, Ruddock has a good chance though. Henry lacks power for 8 and barely plays there nowadays.

McSharry should be in the running too. Backline should be tasty regardless who is there, interesting that in the centres we could go with 3 different provincial partnerships. Spence/Cave, Mcfadden/O'Malley, McSharry/Griffin. I like the balance of the connacht one best myself.

Amazotheamazing · 03-01-2012 2:43pm

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

How do you balance between young talent you want to give experience and players who are doing a trial for positions. My team below, the better of 4/5 to bench in the six nations, the best back row to bench during the six nations, if 12/13 works as a pairing I'd start them for the 6Ns, I wouldn't be comfortable going into 6Ns with a center pairing who had never played together before. My other pics are players who deserve a reward for doing well or I think they are future internationals who should get experience.

1 McAllister
2 Sherry
3 Archer
4 Toner
5 DRyan
6 McLaughlin
7 POM
8 Henry
9 Marshall
10 Madigan
11 Gilroy
12 McFadden
13 Griffin
14 TOH
15 DKearney

The only reason Archer should be in the A squad is to work with Feek, the guy has miles to go yet. Wouldn't mind having a look at Caldwell, rumours abound he's playing well in the AP. Don't see the point in giving Ryan A time.

jacothelad · 03-01-2012 6:46pm

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

How do you balance between young talent you want to give experience and players who are doing a trial for positions. My team below, the better of 4/5 to bench in the six nations, the best back row to bench during the six nations, if 12/13 works as a pairing I'd start them for the 6Ns, I wouldn't be comfortable going into 6Ns with a center pairing who had never played together before. My other pics are players who deserve a reward for doing well or I think they are future internationals who should get experience.

1 McAllister
2 Sherry
3 Archer....:eek::eek::eek:
4 Toner
5 DRyan
6 McLaughlin
7 POM
8 Henry
9 Marshall
10 Madigan
11 Gilroy
12 McFadden
13 Griffin
14 TOH
15 DKearney

Having seen Archer a few times this season getting royally humped by pretty average looseheads, to put him in against whoever is going to be at l.h. for England will be a really good scrummager. Archer would be lucky to stay on the pitch after a while. He is pretty hopeless. He actually looks fat and unfit. There are a few possible tight heads who are certainly better in nearly every facet of play even if they aren't top drawer players themselves. Hagan or Declan Fitzpatrick for example or John Andress all have a better claim to 'A' status than Archer. I think anyone who thinks Archer is or will become an international player is deluding them selves on current evidence.

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

The only reason Archer should be in the A squad is to work with Feek, the guy has miles to go yet. Wouldn't mind having a look at Caldwell, rumours abound he's playing well in the AP. Don't see the point in giving Ryan A time.

Caldwell has been frequently Bath's motm. He was a real loss to rugby here due in part to bad man management. He obviously fell out with McLaughlin over something - perhaps his perceived on-field discipline problems (not really as bad as made out) or maybe Brian didn't like his tattoo art. There are no Irish second rows, apart from O'Connell, with his natural ability. Caldwell is extremely athletic and quick for a 6'7" guy and he can pass really well. He is actually a considerably better ball carrier than POC - though that wouldn't be difficult. Caldwell under someone like Schmidt and his team would be a great player. He was pretty much abandoned at Ulster for Barker and Stevenson which is quite frankly laughable.

profitius · 03-01-2012 6:55pm

jacothelad wrote: »

Having seen Archer a few times this season getting royally humped by pretty average looseheads, to put him in against whoever is going to be at l.h. for England will be a really good scrummager. Archer would be lucky to stay on the pitch after a while. He is pretty hopeless. He actually looks fat and unfit. There are a few possible tight heads who are certainly better in nearly every facet of play even if they aren't top drawer players themselves. Hagan or Declan Fitzpatrick for example or John Andress all have a better claim to 'A' status than Archer. I think anyone who thinks Archer is or will become an international player is deluding them selves on current evidence.

Don't forget that Archer won a few penalties for Munster against Ulster in the first half. He has very little experience yet and it was his Munster start for a while. I'm not saying he'll be a world beater but I wouldn't write him off yet.

lologram · 03-01-2012 7:00pm

profitius wrote: »

Don't forget that Archer won a few penalties for Munster against Ulster in the first half. He has very little experience yet and it was his Munster start for a while. I'm not saying he'll be a world beater but I wouldn't write him off yet.

I wouldn't either, but he doesn't deserve an A spot. In an Archer vs. Hagan Battle of Limited Gametime (not quite as catchy as Rumble in the Jungle), Hagan has to win out on the basis of being a better scrummager.

Hagz · 03-01-2012 7:06pm

jacothelad wrote: »

Caldwell has been frequently Bath's motm. He was a real loss to rugby here due in part to bad man management. He obviously fell out with McLaughlin over something - perhaps his perceived on-field discipline problems (not really as bad as made out) or maybe Brian didn't like his tattoo art. There are no Irish second rows, apart from O'Connell, with his natural ability. Caldwell is extremely athletic and quick for a 6'7" guy and he can pass really well. He is actually a considerably better ball carrier than POC - though that wouldn't be difficult. Caldwell under someone like Schmidt and his team would be a great player. He was pretty much abandoned at Ulster for Barker and Stevenson which is quite frankly laughable.

Do you know how long his contract with Bath is? I'd love him at Leinster, he's been really impressive when I've seen him play with Bath.

GerM · 03-01-2012 7:15pm

Hagz wrote: »

Do you know how long his contract with Bath is? I'd love him at Leinster, he's been really impressive when I've seen him play with Bath.

2 years. His contract ends the summer the new rulings come in. Watch this space. I'd be surprised if one of the provinces doesn't make an approach to him. Cullen will be 35 and Browne will be 33. Leinster will definitely be looking to plug the gap. Caldwell will only be 28.

jacothelad · 03-01-2012 7:26pm

profitius wrote: »

Don't forget that Archer won a few penalties for Munster against Ulster in the first half. He has very little experience yet and it was his Munster start for a while. I'm not saying he'll be a world beater but I wouldn't write him off yet.

He didn't 'win' penalties. 2 penalties were awarded for binding offences and one when the Ulster scrum went tits up. If you consider that inexperience is a factor, consider also then that the guy who mullered him in the second half is younger and even less experienced.

profitius · 03-01-2012 7:58pm

jacothelad wrote: »

He didn't 'win' penalties. 2 penalties were awarded for binding offences and one when the Ulster scrum went tits up. If you consider that inexperience is a factor, consider also then that the guy who mullered him in the second half is younger and even less experienced.

Archer was marching him backwards in the first half remember. Credit to McAllister for being cute enough to change things in the second half. Archer couldn't cope but he is still 22 years old which is young for a prop.

I'm not calling for Archer to be in the Ireland A squad or anything I just think its too early to write him off. He did have some good performances before the Ospreys match.

siltirocker · 03-01-2012 8:16pm

I think McCarthy has arguably been the best Irish lock this season and he should be involved with the national team this spring.

Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread

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