Ireland vs England Team Thread.

CouchSmart

Serious changes needed. Team is under-performing. Players aren't repaying the faith shown in them. Coaches structures aren't working. This is it really big changes in our whole game are needed. In attack Gaffney is killing us with his overly flat alignment and lack of any constructive counter attacking patterns.

In the pack Smal has us playing the same way he had the Boks playing except we can't play that way. Yes he won a world cup but with an immense pack, full of actual giants.

Les Kiss is doing a great job so hats off to him.

Obviously personel change isn't the only thing needed but it's the easiest to discuss here so these are my thought on changes.

Front row: No change to starting players. They all had good games at the weekend. Best played well and I don't think Cronin is good enough yet to overtake him. Buckley to bench, I just don't understand what Court offers. Yes Buckley is a terrible scrummager but his impact negates this.

Second row: I'm probably going to seem a little harsh here because neither player deserves to be dropped because they are playing close to their best but I don't think DOC is dynamic enough for the current game we're trying to play. If I could pick I'd put Tuohy in there but as far as I'm aware he hasn't been involved with the squad this year so that won't happen.

I'm a huge fan of Cullen but I don't think he'd make a huge difference either because he's a lineout man. I'd be looking a bringing in Don. Ryan maybe or just trying something crazy and try Ruddock or McLoughlin there, drastic I know. Big Mick has been playing well down south but again as with Cullen, I don't feel he's the type of player we need.

Backrow: This is a tough one but it's where we have the most depth and so we should use it. I don't think Wallace and Heaslip should be kept. With the number of players we have available they're just not playing well enough to be starting. Obviously we don't know if the replacements will be good enough but we'll never know if we don't try. As we saw against Italy this year balance is key so that's a big issue. It's unfortunate that Jennings and Ferris are injured because if we could bring them in and move SOB to 8 that's a serious backrow.

Halves: Reddan straight in if he wasn't concussed - 3 week mandatory lay-off. After Stringers awful performance bring Boss in and let him and Reddan interchange. TOL should be available as well so he's an option.

Sexton to come back in. I don't buy the hype about Sexton not being able to control a game. He's the future. He's the better player. He plays the running type of game we need week in week out with Leinster.

Backs: Bowe is our best attacking threat. Need to get him in the centre and get him on the ball more often. I'd move Earls to fullback. He's looked assured under the high ball and definitely seems to have more confidence going forward than Fitzgerald. The backline just isn't clicking so change is needed. It's nothing against the individual players but the collective needs to change.

1. Healy
2. Best
3. Ross
4. Ryan
5. POC
6. Ruddock
7. Wallace/Jennings(probably not fit)
8. SOB

9. Reddan/Boss(dunno if Reddan can play)
10. Sexton
11. Fitzgerald
12. McFadden
13. BOD
14. Bowe(centre for set plays etc)
15. Earls

16. Cronin
17. Buckley
18. Cullen
19. Heaslip
20. Boss/TOL
21. O'Gara
22. Trimble

Podge_irl

CouchSmart wrote: »

Halves: Reddan straight in if he wasn't concussed - 3 week mandatory lay-off.

No there isn't. Though I still don't expect to see him play.

If Reddan can't play then Boss should come in. He won't though, TOL will and will stagnate and destroy any attempt at back play.

CouchSmart

Podge_irl wrote: »

No there isn't.

Yes there is. The problem is diagnosing the concussion, it's how the players get away with.

10.1.1 A Player who has suffered concussion shall not participate in any Match
or training session for a minimum period of three weeks from the time of
injury, and may then only do so when symptom free and declared fit after
proper medical examination. Such declaration must be recorded in a
written report prepared by the person who carried out the medical
examination of the Player.

http://www.irb.com/mm/document/lawsregs/regulations/04/23/26/42326_pdf.pdf

Podge_irl

CouchSmart wrote: »

Yes there is. The problem is diagnosing the concussion, it's how the players get away with.

The do cognitive tests these days. They're not allowed back til they match their pre-season scores. Though I've heard of some players deliberately doing poorly on the pre-season ones so as it's easier to match them after a concussion.

danthefan

CouchSmart wrote: »

Yes there is. The problem is diagnosing the concussion, it's how the players get away with.

Nope. They do psychometric tests at the start of the season, then do them again after a bang on the head and compare results, if results are comparable the players is cleared to play.

Badgermonkey

Donnacha Ryan in the second row?

Seen the size of that English pack?

That I don't get.

Ruddock I like the look of, Spence also but just not gonna happen at this stage.

Podge_irl

CouchSmart wrote: »

Yes there is. The problem is diagnosing the concussion, it's how the players get away with.

Fair enough...genuinely thought they'd gotten rid of that.

I would pick Ian Nagle and or Tuohy ahead of Donnacha Ryan if we were going adventurous in the second row.

I genuinely think that Ryan is miles off the pace at international level, and would prefer to see someone who might eventually be there as opposed to someone who's already missed the boat.

Buckley on the bench? What do we do if Healy gets hurt after 20 minutes?

thomond2006

I'm assuming Reddan is unfit. If fit I'd start him.

Healy, Best, Ross, Cullen, POC, SOB, Wallace, Heaslip;
Boss, ROG, Fitzgerald, McFadden, BOD, Bowe, Earls

Bench: Cronin, Court, DOC, Leamy, Stringer, Sexton, Trimble/D'Arcy

Quint2010

OK-cracks knuckles-there are 2 teams here. The first one is my team and the second one is the one I think Deccie will pick:

My team:
Bowe
Trimble
BOD
McFadden
Earls
Sexton
Boss
Healy
Best
Ross
Cullen
POC
Ruddock
Wallace
SOB

Subs:
Fitzgerald
ROG
TOL
Court
DOC
Heaslip
Cronin

I also wouldnt mind BOD at 12, Bowe at 13, Earls at FB and McFadden on the wing.

However the team Deccie will pick will be:

Fitzgerald
Bowe
BOD
McFadden
Earls
ROG
TOL
Healy
Best
Ross
DOC
POC
SOB
Wallace
Heaslip

Subs:
D'Arcy
Sexton
Stringer
Court
Cronin
Cullen
Leamy

In other words Deccie will make 2 changes to the starting 15 and 2 changes in the subs. Deccie will look only on the fact we were at the wrong end of a bad decision and not at the shortcomings of the team. I think he will bring McFadden in though.

danthefan

I'm thinking changes could be a deckchairs on the Titanic sort of situation. With a broken gameplan, lack of leadership, awful backs coach, players lacking confidence, etc, I'm not sure selection will make a huge difference.

blackdog2

Quint2010 wrote: »

OK-cracks knuckles-there are 2 teams here. The first one is my team and the second one is the one I think Deccie will pick:

My team:
Bowe
Trimble
BOD
McFadden
Earls
Sexton
Boss
Healy
Best
Ross
Cullen
POC
Ruddock
Wallace
SOB

Subs:
Fitzgerald
ROG
TOL
Court
DOC
Heaslip
Cronin

I also wouldnt mind BOD at 12, Bowe at 13, Earls at FB and McFadden on the wing.

However the team Deccie will pick will be:

Fitzgerald
Bowe
BOD
McFadden
Earls
ROG
TOL
Healy
Best
Ross
DOC
POC
SOB
Wallace
Heaslip

Subs:
D'Arcy
ROG
Stringer
Court
Cronin
Cullen
Leamy

In other words Deccie will make 2 changes to the starting 15 and 2 changes in the subs. Deccie will look only on the fact we were at the wrong end of a bad decision and not at the shortcomings of the team. I think he will bring McFadden in though.

Picking ROG twice is a bit much, even for deccie! :P

Quint2010

thomond2006 wrote: »

I'm assuming Reddan is unfit. If fit I'd start him.

Healy, Best, Ross, Cullen, POC, SOB, Wallace, Heaslip;
Boss, ROG, Fitzgerald, McFadden, BOD, Bowe, Earls

Bench: Cronin, Court, DOC, Leamy, Stringer, Sexton, Trimble/D'Arcy

Is that your team or the team you think Deccie will pick? I would love to see Boss too but I reckon TOL will be straight back in

PhatPiggins

Deleted User wrote: »

I would pick Ian Nagle and or Tuohy ahead of Donnacha Ryan if we were going adventurous in the second row.

I genuinely think that Ryan is miles off the pace at international level, and would prefer to see someone who might eventually be there as opposed to someone who's already missed the boat.

Buckley on the bench? What do we do if Healy gets hurt after 20 minutes?

This one is bandies out every time. No bench is going to be the perfect solution. Paddy Wallace supposedly covers 4 positions but is of no worth in 3 of them. You have to take the odd risk. Should be three sub fronts on the bench anyway.

I'd stick Touhy in as well

Quint2010

blackdog2 wrote: »

Picking ROG twice is a bit much, even for deccie! :P

I wouldn't put it past him would you?..:mad:

There's a huge huge huge difference between having Paddy Wallace covering positions he's not comfortable playing, and having a sub prop that's unable to play loosehead.

It's completely uncomparable! Scrums aren't to be taken lightly.

When we get to 23 man squads, then we will have room for Buckley, but as it stands, Court is going to be our bench prop until someone else can do both and challenge him for that.

tolosenc

tolosenc wrote: »

The next match is dead rubber. Using it as anything other than a chance to try out a few things/players is stupid, so I'd go with:

1. Cian Healy - Needs more international experience/ No other realistic option
2. Seán Cronin - Needs more international experience
3. Mike Ross - Needs more international experience/ No other realistic option
4. Leo Cullen - Criminally few caps at this stage of his career
5. Dan Tuohy - Probably the best lock in the country, needs experience
6. Seán O'Brien - Needs more international experience
7. Dominic Ryan - Monster for Leinster, let's see what he can do for Ireland
8. Rhys Ruddock - In with a real shot of making the plane to NZ, get him some caps!
9. Isaac Boss - Probably the best SH in Ireland at the moment, could do with more gametime for Ireland
10. Jonathon Sexton - Lacks the intenational experience, so every cap between now and NZ is crucial
11. Andrew Trimble - Deserves a good run out
12. Fergus McFadden - Him being dropped was one of the more retarded calls Kidney has made
13. Nevin Spence - I want to see how he does at international level, and noone (the captain included) has the right to a shirt
14. Tommy Bowe - No reason to change - if Shaggy is back, maybe give him a go
15. Gavin Duffy - Way too few caps for a player of his ability

16. Varley - Promising, and Best is a known entity
17. Court - Covers both sides, and is one of only three people in the country who can scrummage
18. O'Callaghan - The best of the 3 locks used to date, not exactly a level head, but someone who can bring experience if needed
19. Wallace - Has played well, and pips Heaslip on this one
20. Reddan/Stringer - If Reddan is fit, put him in, if not - Strings. Stringer is still the best 9 in the country.
21. Humphreys - Complete toss up between him and Keatley
22. Fitzgerald - Probably the most versatile back at our disposal

Now looks like Reddan is out.

thomond2006

Quint2010 wrote: »

Is that your team or the team you think Deccie will pick? I would love to see Boss too but I reckon TOL will be straight back in

That's the 22 I would pick.

I expect Saint Deccie to pick the same 22, outside of TOL/Reddan if available or unavailable.

Amazotheamazing

Get Keatley in on the bench for Sexton.

Brenireland

Tom Court,D.Varley,Dan Tuohy,I.Boss,Deasy,J.Murphy,humphreys all should get a game.

Amazotheamazing

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Get Keatley in on the bench for Sexton.

iHumph in far better form than him...

And no

PhatPiggins

Deleted User wrote: »

There's a huge huge huge difference between having Paddy Wallace covering positions he's not comfortable playing, and having a sub prop that's unable to play loosehead.

It's completely uncomparable! Scrums aren't to be taken lightly.

When we get to 23 man squads, then we will have room for Buckley, but as it stands, Court is going to be our bench prop until someone else can do both and challenge him for that.

How many of the other 6N's teams playing this weekend had a sub or a starter who can play both sides? Has Ross ever played 1 for Leinster?

danthefan

Touhy is injured chaps.

Risteard

1.Healy
2.Best
3.Ross
4.Cullen
5.POC
6.SOB
7.Wallace
8.Heaslip

9.Reddan
10.Sexton
11.Earls
12.McFadden
13.BOD
14.Trimble
15.Bowe

16. Cronin 17. Court 18. DOC 19. Ruddock 20. Boss 21. ROG 22. Fitz.

PhatPiggins

PhatPiggins wrote: »

How many of the other 6N's teams playing this weekend had a sub or a starter who can play both sides? Has Ross ever played 1 for Leinster?

Of course he hasn't, he's a Tight head prop.

Court is the only prop we have that adequately covers the bench when we only select one prop on that bench. This shouldn't even be up for debate tbh!

If you're suggesting we choose another prop, at the expense of a back row / second row, or else combine the backrow/second row sub and have someone like Donnacha Ryan or Kev McLaughlin on the bench instead, than I'm happy enough to entertain that option.

Just don't like the idea of dicking around with a front row unit that has been possibly the only improvement we've had in the last 8 months as a team.

Amazotheamazing

Deleted User wrote: »

iHumph in far better form than him...

And no

iHumph could have been a great player if he was more consistent and a better tackler. I think Keatley's been playing well since he came back in at 10 for Connacht, he's younger than iHumph which goes in his favour too. If we go to the RWC expecting Sexton to find his form we could be setting ourselves up for a fall, why not give Keatley a chance?

PhatPiggins

Deleted User wrote: »

Of course he hasn't, he's a Tight head prop.

Court is the only prop we have that adequately covers the bench when we only select one prop on that bench. This shouldn't even be up for debate tbh!

If you're suggesting we choose another prop, at the expense of a back row / second row, or else combine the backrow/second row sub and have someone like Donnacha Ryan or Kev McLaughlin on the bench instead, than I'm happy enough to entertain that option.

Just don't like the idea of dicking around with a front row unit that has been possibly the only improvement we've had in the last 8 months as a team.

Thats not a bad idea at all. Expected more from the FR yesterday against Wale's 3/4/5 choice props but the set piece was one of the few positives.

I'm going to keep my response short, because it feels like you're looking for an emotional response, and I'm not getting drawn into a pissing contest on the internt.

As a rational person, I reckon that banishing Sexton from the squad makes about as much sense as kicking the ball more than once every minute we had possession.

Rog and Sexton are both on a level which is quite a distance above Keatley and iHumph. ROG at his worst would be challenged but not overawed by either of them at their best. The same might not be as easily said about Sexton, but the guy is just far and away better than both of them.

Ian_K

Am i the only one expecting us to win on saturday? or at least try to?

Healy Best Ross
Touhy POC
SOB Heaslip Wallace
Stringer ROG
McFadden BOD
Earls Fitz Bowe

Varley Court DOC Leamy Boss Sexton Trimble

No point changing the front row, finally scrummaging well
Touhy deserves a chance after returning to fitness
Backrow is alright, Heaslip under pressure after saturday
Halfbacks to stay the same, Reddan out presumably
McFadden deserves a shot in the centre, Darcy anonymous
Back three stays, wing solid and England wont be kicking to Fitz

Podge_irl

Ian_K wrote: »

Am i the only one expecting us to win on saturday? or at least try to?
Halfbacks to stay the same, Reddan out presumably

If the idea is to try to win then keeping the halfbacks the same is an odd way to go about it.

freyners

can we please get someone instead of fitzgerald...hes been poor for most of the 6 nations...thought he was gettin back to form lately but he was crap v wales (some of it is down to the knock he took but he still was poor).... duffy is playing out of his skin for connacht and its criminal he isn't making the matchday 22, earls and bowe are also credible options for fb


my team for england would be

healy
cronin (he needs experience so does varley in case fla cant be fit)
ross
doc
poc
sob
wallace
heaslip
boss
rog
trimble
mcfadden
bod
bowe
duffy

varley
court
cullen
leamy
stringer
sexton
fitzgerald

Amazotheamazing

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm going to keep my response short, because it feels like you're looking for an emotional response, and I'm not getting drawn into a pissing contest on the internt.

As a rational person, I reckon that banishing Sexton from the squad makes about as much sense as kicking the ball more than once every minute we had possession.

Rog and Sexton are both on a level which is quite a distance above Keatley and iHumph. ROG at his worst would be challenged but not overawed by either of them at their best. The same might not be as easily said about Sexton, but the guy is just far and away better than both of them.

I disagree, a lot of the good stuff Connacht have done this season has been down to Keatley. He went missing for a while but he's back and looking very good again.

If we keep players with no form in the squad, what are we saying to guys who have form who are outside the squad. I'd say the same about bringing Ruddock or Dom Ryan in ahead of Leamy, we need to get away from the closed squad mentality, imo.

I think saying that Sexton has no form is also absolute nonsense.

Podge_irl

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

I disagree, a lot of the good stuff Connacht have done this season has been down to Keatley. He went missing for a while but he's back and looking very good again.

If we keep players with no form in the squad, what are we saying to guys who have form who are outside the squad. I'd say the same about bringing Ruddock or Dom Ryan in ahead of Leamy, we need to get away from the closed squad mentality, imo.

ROG and Sexton were both shockingly poor yesterday, but the our of form players that need to be addressed aren't at 10 so much as at 9, centre and fullback (and a coach). Dropping Sexton completely would be ridiculous, he's twice the player Keatley currently is. It would also be scapegoating him. He was absolutely fine against Italy and France and his two howlers aside he got into the game against Wales well.

Amazotheamazing

Deleted User wrote: »

I think saying that Sexton has no form is also absolute nonsense.

At International level it's not. He's been poor this six nations. At the start of the six nations, it was arguable as to who was playing better between Sexton and Flood, with Sexton clearly ahead of O'Gara, now he's behind both.

Anyhow, I can see you've no interest in really examining our options but more in persisting with what (and who) isn't working.

GerM

I'd start Sexton. For two reasons; one major, one minor. ROG is in better form but he generally is a kicking outhalf. We saw yesterday that a half decent back 3 can cover his kicks if they're not spot on and run the ball back. If an out of form Lee Byrne, an ageing Shane Williams and a half fit Leigh Halfpenny can do this I'd be concerned about the damage Ashton, Foden and Cueto could do with some handy ball in space. If ROG does start, we cannot give them possession so cheaply.

Secondly and more importantly, ROG is 34. Thirty four. He's done and dusted as a first choice international after the WC no matter how good people think he still is or how good he has been over the years. He's winding down whether we like it or not and the remainder of his international contract should be used to guide his replacement into place. If we don't sort out something in terms of a replacement then we're going to encounter a scenario like England did once they broke Wilkinson with no replacement lined up. I would like to see others brought into the set up fairly quickly also. We don't have deep enough resources to focus on just one player in Sexton. iHumph isn't a kid either, he'll be 30 next year, so perhaps Keatley should be working more with the international side with an eye to the long term.

This 6N is gone. There's no triple crown or championship available to us. We have a choice now, plan for the inevitable bumpy road ahead when ROG isn't available or try to boost our win ratio which we might well not succeed in doing regardless.

Amazotheamazing

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Anyhow, I can see you've no interest in really examining our options but more in persisting with what (and who) isn't working.

I see you haven't read any of my posts whatsoever and instead are making your own assumptions.

Rog and Sexton are not our problem.

BOD has shown no form this 6N
Heaslip has shown no form this 6N
D'Arcy has been poor
Fitz has been poor
TOL was woeful
Stringer had a strange day yesterday
Wallace has blown hot and cold
DOC has blown hot and cold
POC isn't match fit for 80mins

But the thing is, none of these are our problem. Swapping A for B won't "fix" the game that we've asked these players to play.

Also, if we kick any ball to Foden whatsoever, we will concede.

bamboozle

for a start i'd love to see forwards who can offload and not just trundle into contact at every opportunity(take a bow Paulie), i'd love to see team tactics that saw quick ruck ball going to our backs, i'd love to see a natural openside to be on Earls or SOB's shoulder when they makes yards, i'd love to see Boss at 9, Duffy or Murphy at 15 and room in the squad for McFadden...

however this is Eddie Kidney we're talking about, he'll make few if any changes, probably bringing in TOL to ensure our backline are starved of quality fast posession.

desertcircus

The Six Nations is over for us: I'm not interested in trying to pick a damage-limitation team and hoping we sneak past the English. At this point, we have this game and the four matches before the World Cup to figure out what kind of team we are and what we have.

From the front: there doesn't seem to be a whole lot we can do with the front row, and barring the Italian game we've actually done fairly well on that front. Healy-Best-Ross to stay. At least one of the second rows should be changed, though; as it is our first-choice replacement lock has had about twenty minutes in the last three games. Either bring in Cullen for the whole game, or give someone promising the jersey and tell them it's their chance to book their ticket to NZ. Maybe even do both - we know what O'Connell and O'Callaghan can do, so time to learn about someone else.

As far as the backrow goes, O'Brien writes himself in. I'm much less sure about the other two spots, though. The first-choice backrow at the World Cup, assuming no injuries, will (or should) be Ferris-Heaslip-O'Brien; Leamy and Wallace are substitutes and replacements. There's a limit to the use of continuing to play people you know won't be playing as first choice. We'd be best served playing either one or two younger players - Ruddock, McLaughlin or Ryan - alongside Sean O'Brien and/or one of the others.

Halfbacks: Stringer-Sexton hasn't been properly tried, despite the fact that they're both likely picks for the World Cup. It needs to be tested before then as a combination, so they're in.

Centres: here is where it gets a bit reckless. Call James Downey. He's nearly thirty, but he's something different - a monstrous bastard of a centre who can kick holes in a defence. We'll learn nothing about either D'arcy or O'Driscoll that we don't know already, so give McFadden the 13 jersey. At the very least, we'll know more about our centre options than we do now.

Back three: Switch Earls to fullback and see how Trimble does on the wing. Move Fitzgerald to the bench.

Substitutes: Cronin and Court at frontrow, backrower and lock depends on the picks in the fifteen, then Boss and O'Gara for halfback, and the aforementioned Fitz.

As for gameplan: not sure what can be done at this stage, but a move away from the current plan towards the style Joe Schmidt and Jono Gibbes have the Leinster pack using. Speed up the recycling massively and aim to run far more than we're doing at the moment. We're being killed at the breakdown, and we have players capable of working in a system that makes the breakdown far shorter.

And for the love of God, don't try to kick for territory against this England team. We'll be torn apart.

Ian_K

They will want to win this game more than any other really, experimentation is not going to happen when we have a chance of denying them whores a grand slam!

stephen_n

Face facts the only likely change to the team will be TOL coming back!

Podge_irl

CouchSmart wrote: »

Yes there is. The problem is diagnosing the concussion, it's how the players get away with.

Actually, myself and Dan were right. It's in the next clause. Essentially the 3 week period is only for age-grade rugby.

10.1.2 Subject to sub-clause 10.1.3 below, the three week period may be reduced
only if the Player is symptom free and declared fit to play after appropriate
assessment by a properly qualified and recognised neurological specialist.
Such declaration must be recorded in a written report prepared by the
properly qualified and recognised neurological specialist who carried out
the assessment of the Player

stephen_n

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

iHumph could have been a great player if he was more consistent and a better tackler. I think Keatley's been playing well since he came back in at 10 for Connacht, he's younger than iHumph which goes in his favour too. If we go to the RWC expecting Sexton to find his form we could be setting ourselves up for a fall, why not give Keatley a chance?

Really shouldn't but I will, find his form? There was nothing wrong with his form against Italy or France. He had a poor game yesterday but so did ROG since lee Byrne was able to predict exactly where ROG was going to kick it and position himself accordingly not to mention to couple of sliced kicks and the fact that Bowe had to cover the ten channel i'n defence. But there is no chance your going to allow reality get in the way of your provincial bias and BS and accept we are lucky enough to have two 10's good enough for the jersey!

Ciaran-Irl

Brenireland wrote: »

Tom Court,D.Varley,Dan Tuohy,I.Boss,Deasy,J.Murphy,humphreys all should get a game.

Deasy!? Half of boards come from the same insane school of rugby Lievremont came from.

Hype710

This Six Nations has been thorughly average in terms of quality. England have won because they have played with confidence, a decent skill level and a rough edge up front but they are still beatable. Hopefully we'll see a couple of changes to freshen things up as it is badly needed. Mallett made 7 changes and look what it did to his side, achieving their greatest ever victory .
FWIW,

Bowe
Trimble
O' Driscoll
McFadden
Earls
Sexton
Reddan

Healy
Best
Ross
Cullen
O' Connell
O' Brien
Wallace
Heaslip

Varley
Buckley (potential risk but Ross can cover LH if Healy has to go off)
O' Callaghan
Ruddock
Boss
O' Gara
Fitzgerald

Brenireland

Ciaran-Irl wrote: »

Deasy!? Half of boards come from the same insane school of rugby Lievremont came from.

I like him,Good Player.

Amazotheamazing

stephen_n wrote: »

Really shouldn't but I will, find his form? There was nothing wrong with his form against Italy or France. He had a poor game yesterday but so did ROG since lee Byrne was able to predict exactly where ROG was going to kick it and position himself accordingly not to mention to couple of sliced kicks and the fact that Bowe had to cover the ten channel i'n defence. But there is no chance your going to allow reality get in the way of your provincial bias and BS and accept we are lucky enough to have two 10's good enough for the jersey!

Why is it provincial BS to want a Leinster-born Connacht player to bench for Ireland? I think Keatley could be a class player, can play across the backline, can control games, fast enough to play 7's, decent defender. Has a fairly complete skillset, too. I support Munster btw. Yes, he has his flaws, he can be aimless and he's not fully consistent yet but as has been pointed out, O'Gara is 34 now, we need to find another outhalf anyway, I'd just drop Sexton because O'Gara is playing better at the minute. If Sexton was playing well, I'd still want us to look at Keatley, only it'd be at O'Gara's expense.

There's a handful of guys outside the squad who should be in it, imo. Boss ahead of O'Leary, Trimble, Duffy and dare-I-say, Spence?

Hype710

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Why is it provincial BS to want a Leinster-born Connacht player to bench for Ireland? I think Keatley could be a class player, can play across the backline, can control games, fast enough to play 7's, decent defender. Has a fairly complete skillset, too. I support Munster btw. Yes, he has his flaws, he can be aimless and he's not fully consistent yet but as has been pointed out, O'Gara is 34 now, we need to find another outhalf anyway, I'd just drop Sexton because O'Gara is playing better at the minute. If Sexton was playing well, I'd still want us to look at Keatley, only it'd be at O'Gara's expense.

There's a handful of guys outside the squad who should be in it, imo. Boss ahead of O'Leary, Trimble, Duffy and dare-I-say, Spence?

Apparently a school of thought up in Ulster that this lad should be thrown in at 12 in time for the World Cup.

Amazotheamazing

Brenireland wrote: »

I like him,Good Player.

Deasy has really struggled this season, he's Paddy Wallace-esque in that he's ok at three positions but not really very good at any of them, only he's at a much lower level to Wallace.

stephen_n

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Why is it provincial BS to want a Leinster-born Connacht player to bench for Ireland? I think Keatley could be a class player, can play across the backline, can control games, fast enough to play 7's, decent defender. Has a fairly complete skillset, too. I support Munster btw. Yes, he has his flaws, he can be aimless and he's not fully consistent yet but as has been pointed out, O'Gara is 34 now, we need to find another outhalf anyway, I'd just drop Sexton because O'Gara is playing better at the minute. If Sexton was playing well, I'd still want us to look at Keatley, only it'd be at O'Gara's expense.

There's a handful of guys outside the squad who should be in it, imo. Boss ahead of O'Leary, Trimble, Duffy and dare-I-say, Spence?

Keately has not even been tested at HC level yet hopefully he will get that experience at munster but tbh the fact he has been moved around the connacht back line this year and was unable to command the 10 berth as his own speaks volumes as to why he should not be I the squad that ship sailed with the AI's we have the WC in 6 months and 6 games times and bar serious injury ROG and Sexton will be the 10's for that competition! You obviously have an issue with Sexton though since you are in a small minority who think that he shouldn't have been the starting ten against Sotland as he was the form outhalf and wasn't dropped on merit!