Changes for Scotland vs Ireland

CouchSmart

Similar to last weeks threads; what changes would you make and just a general discussion of the game in two weeks.

Personally, I'd bring in Reddan - the most important change in my view. I'd also try out P. Wallace at 12 and start Cullen as well. If Bowe and Ferris are available I'd start them.

15. Fitzgerald
14. Bowe
13. Bod
12. Wallace
11. McFadden/Earls
10. Sexton
9. Reddan
8. Heaslip
7. Wallace/SOB
6. Ferris
5. POC
4. Cullen
3. Ross
2. Best
1. Healy

No point in going over the top with changes. Bringing Cullen in to improve the lineout, DOC has been going well but alas his lineout work isn't as good as POC or Cullen.

Difficult to drop Wallace or SOB after todays game but Ferris is obviously a class act at 6. I'd go for SOB at 7 myself but nothing wrong with Wallace there.

Reddan - hardly needs an explanation?

D'Arcy just isn't having a good time at the minute, Sexton-Wallace-BOD axis is exciting and hasn't been tried enough.

Bowe obviously comes back in with McFadden or Earls dropping to the bench - I'd start McFadden.

PhatPiggins

I'd go with the same but would leave DOC in there. He was good again today and Ferris will add the extra option in the line out. Rory Best is turning into a bit of a liability but there's not a lot of alternatives.

Stev_o

Put McFadden at 12, give him a shot in the centres and stop wasting him on the wing where he doesn't see the ball. Bring in Bowe or Trimble to fill up the spot. Reddan starting with Stringer on the bench.

Ian_K

Healy Cronin Ross
DOC POC
Ferris Heaslip SOB
Reddan Sexton
McFadden BOD
Trimble Fitz Bowe

Best Court Touhy Wallace Stringer ROG Earls

irishbucsfan

I'd like to see:

Healy, Best, Ross, Cullen, O'Connell, Ferris, O'Brien, Heaslip;
Reddan, Sexton, McFadden, Wallace, O'Driscoll, Bowe, Fitzgerald

Cronin, Court, O'Callaghan, Wallace, Stringer, O'Gara, D'Arcy

Reason for O'Brien over Wallace is the fact that Wallace is 35. Wallace is still a top player and if brought on for just 20 minutes (if Kidney is capable of that) he'd be lethal.

Cullen in for the lineout

Wallace in for D'Arcy who isn't in good form. Otherwise, I'd like to see McFadden at 12 with Trimble at 11

Bowe back into the team. Earls dropped after today. McFadden/Trimble are the options available at 11.

Reddan starts because O'Leary is diabolical.

CouchSmart

McFadden is definitely an option at 12 though I think realistically it's something we won't see before the WC.

wixfjord

I've actually changed my tune slightly on Cullen over the last two games. DOC has been very good, and POC is, rightly, undroppable.

I also see some merit in the one mullocker, one lineouter argument, and DOC and POC may be a bit similer.

However, the way Cullen was treated today, and has been treated by this management, is downright scandalous.

sock puppet

Are Ferris and Bowe expected to be back yeah?

Cosmo Kramer

If the injured players aren't back I would only make one change. I doubt anyone needs me to say what it would be.

Bet it won't happen though.

tolosenc

Cullen to get more than 6 seconds. Absolute disgrace.

I'd go for (assuming all are fit):

1. Court
2. Cronin
3. Ross
4. Cullen
5. Tuohy
6. SOB
7. Jennings
8. Heaslip
9. Stringer
10. Sexton
11. Trimble
12. D'arcy
13. BOD
14. Bowe
15. Fitzgerald

16. Best; 17. Healy; 18. DOC; 19. Ferris; 20. Reddan; 21. Humphreys ; 22. McFadden

CouchSmart

tolosenc wrote: »

1. Court

I can never understand this. Any explanation?

irishbucsfan

tolosenc wrote: »

Cullen to get more than 6 seconds. Absolute disgrace.

I'd go for (assuming all are fit):

1. Court
2. Cronin
3. Ross
4. Cullen
5. Tuohy
6. SOB
7. Jennings
8. Heaslip
9. Stringer
10. Sexton
11. Trimble
12. D'arcy
13. BOD
14. Bowe
15. Fitzgerald

16. Best; 17. Healy; 18. DOC; 19. Ferris; 20. Reddan; 21. Humphreys ; 22. McFadden

:pac:

I can't understand the majority of those calls!

Craziest part being changing the vast majoirty of the team and keeping the dire D'Arcy!

wixfjord

CouchSmart wrote: »

I can never understand this. Any explanation?

Agree, Healy was class today, some great runs. great turnover, and generally held up in the scrum.
Scrum actually got worse when Court came on.

SSK

Think the pack did very well today (a couple of brainless penalties apart), matched France in nearly every facet so I would be reluctant to change. We were always going to be up against it in the lineout as France have two world class operators in the backrow as well as their two 2nd rows so Best can be absolved of some of the blame. Would leave him in but Cronin should get more time to have an impact off the bench.

One potential change would be in the backrow is Ferris is fit but Heaslip was the quietest of the 3 today after injury so perhaps Ferris to bench and give him 20/25 mins. We looked well balanced there today.

O'Leary is terrible at the base of a ruck, takes wrong options all the time. Reddan to start with O'Leary off the bench is worth a shot.

D'arcy has had 2 poor games on the spin and we have a creditable replacement on the bench so Wallace has to get a run. The calls for McFadden in the centre are misguided, I think he's only started there once for Leinster in the HC.

Bowe to come in if fit (please God)

Fitz
Bowe
BOD
Wallace
Earls
Sexton
Reddan
Healy
Best
Ross
DOC
POC
SOB
Wally
Heaslip

Court
Cronin
Cullen
Ferris
TOL
ROG
McFadden

Leslie91

Ian_K wrote: »

Healy Cronin Ross
DOC POC
Ferris Heaslip SOB
Reddan Sexton
McFadden BOD
Trimble Fitz Bowe

Best Court Touhy Wallace Stringer ROG Earls

I'd go with this team. Might bring Strings into the starting 15. Is that 'wallace' on your bench David?. What is it with Court!?, the lad is a leaner. Surely we have a prop out there better than that chancer?.

SSK

wixfjord wrote: »

Agree, Healy was class today, some great runs. great turnover, and generally held up in the scrum.
Scrum actually got worse when Court came on.

Agree, thought Healy was on his way to MOTM until he was taken off (presume it was an injury, otherwise madness)

He was massive in defence (one great turnover), carried well and the scrum held up well against a savage French scrummaging unit

CouchSmart

SSK wrote: »

One potential change would be in the backrow is Ferris is fit but Heaslip was the quietest of the 3 today after injury so perhaps Ferris to bench and give him 20/25 mins. We looked well balanced there today.

Heaslip was anything but quiet, Ireland's best player today IMO.

donfers

tolosenc wrote: »

Cullen to get more than 6 seconds. Absolute disgrace.

I'd go for (assuming all are fit):

1. Court
2. Cronin
3. Ross
4. Cullen
5. Tuohy
6. SOB
7. Jennings
8. Heaslip
9. Stringer
10. Sexton
11. Trimble
12. D'arcy
13. BOD
14. Bowe
15. Fitzgerald

16. Best; 17. Healy; 18. DOC; 19. Ferris; 20. Reddan; 21. Humphreys ; 22. McFadden

lol this has got to be a wind-up

lions captain poc not even on the bench

rog after doing well when used twice not even on the bench

d'arcy who has been abysmal and almost single-handedly cost us both games still in there

if this is serious then you're seriously blinkered and bordering on delusional


d'arcy has to go, shove mcfadden or paddy wallace in there, personally i'd take a chance on james downey (do we want to experiment for the rest of the 6 nations with the world cup in mind?)

other than that i wouldn't change too much apart from stringer for TOL and i'd drop fitzgerald and give duffy a chance

Aidric

Dropping D'Arcy is paramount. After that ROG has earned his place in the starting 10. We need brains and a controlling element at 10, not a loop machine.

Aidric

donfers wrote: »

lol this has got to be a wind-up

tolensc picks players from outside Munster only. I thought this was common knowledge. Anyways best ignore, its not credible in the least.

tolosenc

CouchSmart wrote: »

I can never understand this. Any explanation?

I feel that Healy would be a phenomenal sub. Court needs a bit more experience. This 6N is gone, so it's time to get players some big game experience. That's all really. Healy was fantastic today, nothing to do with that. This'd be my team, and I'd actually use the bench.

irishbucsfan wrote: »

:pac:

I can't understand the majority of those calls!

Craziest part being changing the vast majoirty of the team and keeping the dire D'Arcy!

D'arcy is in because McFadden is a better bench option, or rather Darce is more limited. Cronin deserves a start - Best isn't amazing but is solid. Tuohy is the best lock in Ireland. Cullen was treated like sh1t today so I'd give him a game. Keep the Leinster back 3 together and see how they work for Ireland, wouldn't object to Ferris being in at all. TOL out for Strings is a no brainer. Bowe in is a no brainer. Earls is way to suspect in defence for my liking, so Trimble gets the nod - McFadden could go here too.

As for the bench, DOC is the better of the 2 that played to day. Reddan or Boss at 20 is a tough one. Actually, on reflection I'd put Boss there. I'd like to give Humphreys 20 minutes to see if he's up to this level.

SSK

CouchSmart wrote: »

Heaslip was anything but quiet, Ireland's best player today IMO.

Thought he was excellent in the tight but wasn't as dynamic as usual. Wallace made ground nearly every time he touched the ball and I thought SOB had a great game in defence and attack. All 3 were among Ireland's best players, just personally didn't think Heaslip was as effective as the other 2.

But like I say they worked well as a unit and I would be reluctant to change that to bring back in a rusty Ferris straight from the start.

wixfjord

Aidric wrote: »

tolensc picks players from outside Munster only. I thought this was common knowledge. Anyways best ignore, its not credible in the least.

Wow that's ironic!

Aidric

wixfjord wrote: »

Wow that's ironic!

Why?

wixfjord

Aidric wrote: »

tolensc picks players from outside Munster only. I thought this was common knowledge. Anyways best ignore, its not credible in the least.

Remind you of someone?

Aidric

wixfjord wrote: »

Remind you of someone?

No. This is a time for rational selections, not provincial.

little173

tolosenc wrote: »

I feel that Healy would be a phenomenal sub. Court needs a bit more experience. This 6N is gone, so it's time to get players some big game experience. That's all really.

One 2 point loss to France does not mean the 6N is gone. We still have a triple crown to go for and dispite a big win from England, a championship to play for.

clsmooth

tolosenc wrote: »

I feel that Healy would be a phenomenal sub. Court needs a bit more experience. This 6N is gone, so it's time to get players some big game experience. That's all really. Healy was fantastic today, nothing to do with that. This'd be my team, and I'd actually use the bench.



D'arcy is in because McFadden is a better bench option, or rather Darce is more limited. Cronin deserves a start - Best isn't amazing but is solid. Tuohy is the best lock in Ireland. Cullen was treated like sh1t today so I'd give him a game. Keep the Leinster back 3 together and see how they work for Ireland, wouldn't object to Ferris being in at all. TOL out for Strings is a no brainer. Bowe in is a no brainer. Earls is way to suspect in defence for my liking, so Trimble gets the nod - McFadden could go here too.

As for the bench, DOC is the better of the 2 that played to day. Reddan or Boss at 20 is a tough one. Actually, on reflection I'd put Boss there. I'd like to give Humphreys 20 minutes to see if he's up to this level.

we should start Leamy at No. 8 as Heaslip is a better bench option too :rolleyes:

PhatPiggins

little173 wrote: »

One 2 point loss to France does not mean the 6N is gone. We still have a triple crown to go for and dispite a big win from England, a championship to play for.

Absolutely, I think England and France will both lose one game unfortunately we're out of the points difference race after our showing against Italy.

barbarians

15 Fitzgerald
14 Bowe
13 O'Driscoll
12 Wallace
11 Trimble
10 Sexton
9 Stringer

1 Healy
2 Best
3 Ross
4 O'Connell
5 Cullen
6 Ferris
7 O'Brien
8 Heaslip

That's six changes but I think it's what's needed.
Bowe and Trimble on the wings instead of Earls and McFadden is obvious really, as is Stringer at scrum half instead of O'Leary.

D'Arcy had another shocker today and I think Wallace deserves his chance at centre.

Cullen has to start instead of O'Callaghan for the lineout and just because he's a better player.

Ferris in at 6 and David Wallace is the unlucky one and loses out inthe backrow.

Subs:
16 Court 17 Cronin 18 O'Callaghan 19 Wallace 20 Reddan 21 O'Gara 22 Earls

I know it seems crazy having two fly halfs starting and another one on the bench but if Sexton got injured after 20 minutes I wouldn't trust Wallace to take on the role and do well.

Dr.Evil

1. Cian Healy
2. Sean Cronin
3. Mike Ross
4. Donnacha O'Callaghan
5. Leo Cullen
6. Stephen Ferris
7. Sean O'Brien
8. Jamie Heaslip
9. Peter Stringer
10. Jonathan Sexton
11. Keith Earls
12. Fergus McFadden
13. Brian O'Driscoll
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Luke Fitzgerald
    
16. Rory Best
17. Tom Court
18. Paul O'Connell
19. David Wallace
20. Isaac Boss
21. Ronan O'Gara
22. Gordon D'Arcy

60 mins: O'Gara in for Sexton, D'Arcy in for McFadden
65 mins: O'Connell in for Cullen, Wallace in for O'Brien or Ferris

The team I would pick, with the subs I would intend to change. May depend on the match obviously, but I'd make this subs with the intention of impact players, and change of gameplan.

roycon

is there anybody out there who still thinks O'Leary should start at scrum half? i really believe that you need a physical scrum half at international level and despite his awful box kick today hes actually a good kicker too. france played with mignoni at scrum half for a while because he has the quickest pass and ellisalde also had a quick pass but mignoni in particular wasnt up to it physically. new zealand always promote a physical strong running all round rugby player at scrum half rather than merely a quick passing machine and i believe this is the way ireland should go aswell.

SSK

roycon wrote: »

is there anybody out there who still thinks O'Leary should start at scrum half? i really believe that you need a physical scrum half at international level and despite his awful box kick today hes actually a good kicker too. france played with mignoni at scrum half for a while because he has the quickest pass and ellisalde also had a quick pass but mignoni in particular wasnt up to it physically. new zealand always promote a physical strong running all round rugby player at scrum half rather than merely a quick passing machine and i believe this is the way ireland should go aswell.

His kicking (to my uneducated eye) has been poor for a good while now. Either overly long or out on the full seem to be the two main problems.

Parra is by no means a physical player but is infinitely better than TOL.

A physical scrumhalf is all well and good but if he can't do the basics then he has no business being there really. I'd keep him in the 22, but only because I think Boss has no hope of being selected. Stringer just can't play behind a struggling pack because he struggles to get the ball out cleanly under pressure and as I have no faith in Ireland's ability to really dominate up front I've left him out of my 22.

phog

tolosenc wrote: »

........Cullen was treated like sh1t today so I'd give him a game...........

:eek:

That's a great reason why a player should get the start.

roycon

i wasnt treated well by the catering staff at lansdowne maybe i should get the start too

Digifriendly

little173 wrote: »

One 2 point loss to France does not mean the 6N is gone. We still have a triple crown to go for and dispite a big win from England, a championship to play for.

Highly unlikely that Ireland can win championship and realistically only possible if England beat France and Ireland beat England but then points differential comes into play with England at a major advantage after their walloping of Italy and I expect France to paste the Azurri as well so realistically I can't see Ireland winning the title. Wales would probably have to beat France in Paris (highly unlikely) and Scotland beat England at Twickenham where they haven't won for 28 years so I think we can give up any real hope of winning the 6N for another year.

LuckyGent88

Dr.Evil wrote: »

1. Cian Healy
2. Sean Cronin
3. Mike Ross
4. Donnacha O'Callaghan
5. Leo Cullen
6. Stephen Ferris
7. Sean O'Brien
8. Jamie Heaslip
9. Peter Stringer
10. Jonathan Sexton
11. Keith Earls
12. Fergus McFadden
13. Brian O'Driscoll
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Luke Fitzgerald
    
16. Rory Best
17. Tom Court
18. Paul O'Connell
19. David Wallace
20. Isaac Boss
21. Ronan O'Gara
22. Gordon D'Arcy

60 mins: O'Gara in for Sexton, D'Arcy in for McFadden
65 mins: O'Connell in for Cullen, Wallace in for O'Brien or Ferris

The team I would pick, with the subs I would intend to change. May depend on the match obviously, but I'd make this subs with the intention of impact players, and change of gameplan.

I'd agree with most of this apart from starting Cullen over O'Connell....cant find any reason why Pauli should be omitted. I would have started the championship with Cullen over DOC but i think DOC has really played well and deserves to keep his place.
Would bring in Cullen after 65-70 for DOC in Murrayfield.

gally74

It's more now about the world cup, Cronin on, mc fadden to 12 Trimble and bowe on the wings Duffy full back.

funky penguin

I'd imagine we won't see much of a difference.

Baring injuries, we'll see Bowe back, probably pushing McFadden from the 22. Management won't drop P. Wallace for him.

durkadurka

funky penguin wrote: »

I'd imagine we won't see much of a difference.

Baring injuries, we'll see Bowe back, probably pushing McFadden from the 22. Management won't drop P. Wallace for him.

I'd be surprised if they dropped darce too.

Tigerandahalf

Hard to throw Cronin into mix straight off in such critical position. I thought Best was quite good today..some of the lineouts went astray but some of the jumping at the back was poor. His workrate was good. Thought Healy had an excellent game, shouldn't have been replaced. Anyway I'd stick to pretty much same team but would drop O'Connell for Cullen. Cullen deserves a run. His leadership would make a difference too. Very hard to drop Wallace after his performance today but the lineout is a serious worry. Darcy was poor but Paddy Wallace isn't big enough for international level. Darcy and BOD are too familiar..need someone more direct at 12. Is McFadden worth a shot?? What about Downey??

jolley123

1.Healy - played well today
2.Best - played poorly but think he's a better option than Cronin
3.Ross - again, did what was asked of him
4.Cullen - deserves a start
5.POC -played very well today minus a few knock-ons,he is crucial for re-starts
6.Ferris - why wouldn't you start him, one of the best 6s in the world
7.Wallace - improved performance today
8.Heaslip - Showed today how much of an asset he is
9.Reddan - TOL was poor
10.Sexton - our best 10, played pretty average today
11.Trimble - Earls was pretty sub-standard
12.McFadden - Although I rate Darcy as a better 12, he needs to put in better performances and McFadden is on form.
13.O'Driscoll - not his best performance today, but good nonetheless
14.Bowe
15.Fitzgerald

16.Cronin
17.Court - only based on versatility, thought he played poorly when came on.
18.DOC
19.SOB - his versatility makes him a great bench option
20.Boss - he varies the point of attack more so than the others. Plus he opens holes for the back-rowers to hit from deep. Him and SOB coming on would have a real impact.
21.ROG - great as a cover 10
22.Darcy

Shelflife

Just curious, what was the point of bringing Cronin on with 4 mins to go and the sheer lunacy of bringing on Cullen with 5 seconds to go?

were there injuries that i didnt pick up?

Ct25

Shelflife wrote: »

Just curious, what was the point of bringing Cronin on with 4 mins to go and the sheer lunacy of bringing on Cullen with 5 seconds to go?

were there injuries that i didnt pick up?

I think Cullen (were as it was sheer madness) may have been brought on to 1)stop the bloody clock and 2) it was a scrum we had to win to have any chance of winning, fresh body, maybe able to push harder than a tired poc! ( sounds so bad) only reason I can think of!

jolley123

Shelflife wrote: »

Just curious, what was the point of bringing Cronin on with 4 mins to go and the sheer lunacy of bringing on Cullen with 5 seconds to go?

were there injuries that i didnt pick up?

Don't know...but Cullen was waiting on the touch-line for a couple of minutes, so it wasn't supposed to be 5 seconds.Still pointless.

Cpt_Blackbeard

roycon wrote: »

i wasnt treated well by the catering staff at lansdowne maybe i should get the start too

No, but you may avail of a free dinner.

thomond2006

Healy
Cronin - Not sure if he's any better than Best in his throwing/scrummaging, but he is far more dynamic in the loose.
Ross
DOC
POC
Ferris
SOB
Heaslip
Reddan
Sexton
Trimble
McFadden
BOD
Bowe
Fitzgerald

Bench: Best, Court, Cullen, Wallace, Stringer, ROG, Earls

If only the management used subs as they should be used.

Chucky the tree

tolosenc wrote: »

Cullen to get more than 6 seconds. Absolute disgrace.

I'd go for (assuming all are fit):

1. Court
2. Cronin
3. Ross
4. Cullen
5. Tuohy
6. SOB
7. Jennings
8. Heaslip
9. Stringer
10. Sexton
11. Trimble
12. D'arcy
13. BOD
14. Bowe
15. Fitzgerald

16. Best; 17. Healy; 18. DOC; 19. Ferris; 20. Reddan; 21. Humphreys ; 22. McFadden

Switch D'Arcy with MCfadden and I'd pick the same.

Cpt_Blackbeard

The team selection for the Scotland game should be very interesting.

I'd leave the pack unchanged bar Best at hooker. Cronin deserves a start as he is unlikely to be any worse than Best, but has the potential to be much much better. We badly need a fit Flannery for the WC.

We will have the most close calls in the backline. Does Kidney stick with D'Arcy and TOL in an attempt for them to regain form like Wallace and DOC have? Wallace deserves a shot at 12, but his defense will always be targeted so do we try McFadden instead? Personally I'd go for:

1. Healy
2. Cronin - He's the best of a bad bunch
3. Ross
4. DOC
5. POC
6. SOB
7. Wallace
8. Heaslip
9. Reddan - See Cronin
10. Sexton - He is just holding on to the jersey. ROG has probably earned it, but the current use of the 2 OHs is working so there is no need to change it.
11. Earls - He is low on confidence, but should be stuck with. I'd like to see him in centre with BOD with McFadden going to the wing in some plays though.
12. McFadden - He is worth a shot. I'd have him alternating with Earls as mentioned above.
13. BOD - We currently have no alternatives. I still want to see him partnered with Earls, the worst that happens is that it doesn't work. People forget that D'Arcy won player of the 6N when he played outside BOD in '05.
14. Bowe - If he is fit he starts.
15. Fitzgerald - He needs to work on the highballs, but has potential at 15.

Subs:
16: Best - Fla will probably be fit, but he nees to be slowly introduced with Shannon and Munster first.
17. Court - His versatility wins it, but I ahve a soft spot for Buckley as an impact sub.
18. Cullen - Will hopefully get 20mins, but isn't good enough to start.
19. Ferris - Needs gametime and should be a fantastic impact sub.
20. Stringer - If TOL doesn't start, he souldn't be on the bench as he will be a poor impact sub.
21. ROG - Our secret weapon after 60mins.
22. D'Arcy - Just in case the centre partnership doesn't work out. Trimble and Wallace are unlucky to miss out.

durkadurka

Sorry but ROG made far too Many howlers in his 20 minutes. Failed to make touch with a pen, he got away with murder when the defender knocked on, did his best to butcher the third try. There is no basis for him threatening sextons place.

Wow, big step. I completely agree with your team Blackbeard!

Ferris / ROG / Stringer on at 55/60. Cullen Court Best and D'Arcy on at 65.

The biggest change I would like to see is us actually using our bench.