McFadden to start against Italy?

lynchy101

I think McFadden should start ahead of D'arcy due to the latters lack of form.

Kidney has to take the chance and if he goes well there keep his place for the quarter final.

phog

lynchy101 wrote: »

I think McFadden should start ahead of D'arcy due to the latters lack of form.

Kidney has to take the chance and if he goes well there keep his place for the quarter final.

It's getting to point where Darcy has to up his game, I think he was vastly improved last week but I still think he isn't a patch on what he could be.

MLC61

I think that this is becoming a self fulfilling prophesy - no matter how Darcy plays we won't be happy. This is true of certain players - O'Callaghan being another one - where they have played their part but because of popular pre conceived ideas it will always be popular to call for a change.

I thought Darcy played well at the weekend.

Leinster have already intimated that McFadden isn't a centre - doesn't have the hands. He should be considered for the wing against Italy if anything.

.ak

I think McFadden handles himself nicely in the 12 shirt and has done for Leinster.

D'arcy isn't going to get picked because they'll want to rest his leg. But will McFadden take his spot? I'd like to see that, but most likely Kidney will give it to Wallace.

ambid

MLC61 wrote: »

I think that this is becoming a self fulfilling prophesy - no matter how Darcy plays we won't be happy. This is true of certain players - O'Callaghan being another one - where they have played their part but because of popular pre conceived ideas it will always be popular to call for a change.

I thought Darcy played well at the weekend.

Leinster have already intimated that McFadden isn't a centre - doesn't have the hands. He should be considered for the wing against Italy if anything.

Really? How and when did they do that? McFadden plays most of his games for Leinster at centre and only occasionally covers on the wing.

phog

MLC61 wrote: »

I think that this is becoming a self fulfilling prophesy - no matter how Darcy plays we won't be happy. This is true of certain players - O'Callaghan being another one - where they have played their part but because of popular pre conceived ideas it will always be popular to call for a change.

I thought Darcy played well at the weekend.

Leinster have already intimated that McFadden isn't a centre - doesn't have the hands. He should be considered for the wing against Italy if anything.

His Leinster profile has him shown as a centre

PhatPiggins

ambid wrote: »

Really? How and when did they do that? McFadden plays most of his games for Leinster at centre and only occasionally covers on the wing.

I'd be fairly sure that by 'centre'the poster is indicating that he's not a 12 and that Ireland should consider him for the wing not that Leinster consider him as only a winger.

For the poster who thinks he's handled himself well at 12, what games are you thinking off? I think 12 is his worst positon personally

.ak

PhatPiggins wrote: »

I'd be fairly sure that by 'centre'the poster is indicating that he's not a 12 and that Ireland should consider him for the wing not that Leinster consider him as only a winger.

For the poster who thinks he's handled himself well at 12, what games are you thinking off? I think 12 is his worst positon personally

I honestly think it's his best position. He scores more tries on the wing, but that's just the nature of the position. His handling skills, low center of gravity, core strength and speed make him an ideal center and I have no doubt he'll take over Ireland's starting 12 shirt within the next year or so.

But if you want games to look up (there is plenty last season) where he started in the 12 shirt and held it down then have a look at the Cardiff Blues game in the RDS last year, he dominated the midfield and ended up going over for a try as well.

Also do you remember him playing in the Italy game? He played on the wing but nearly all his runs were up the center and he was the only back that had any decent penetrating runs that day. You could say the same about the French game and the try he got there.

People seem to have his perception that he's a natural wing just because he's fast... But in my humble opinion (and that's just what it is, an opinion) I think he's far more suited to center.

GerM

PhatPiggins wrote: »

For the poster who thinks he's handled himself well at 12, what games are you thinking off? I think 12 is his worst positon personally

I've long been of the opinion that he's not a good 12. His handling was awful and is now alright only. Nowhere near the level it needed to be. For a good goalkicker, he has no kicking game to speak of from hand either. He's a natural 13 that has the gas and work rate to be a very industrious winger. His strength in attack has always been popping up on the carrier's shoulder. Nearly all his tries for Leinster have come as a result of it. His defensive alignment has always been suspect but, if he sorts that, he can be a handy 13.

Incidentally, there were one or two games towards the end of last season where he did play well at 12 including a MOTM award against Llanelli I think so his game is evolving under Schmidt and he could yet prove me wrong. Schmidt was surprised (in a bad way) at the level of handling skills when he first came on the scene and has been doing a lot of work in that area.

CIARAN_BOYLE

McFadden had a brilliant game at 12 against Ulster twice in the regular season last season. Saracens at home was very good at 12 as well. I think those were his three best games at 12 last season. A lot of people have been complaining about him as a 12 cause he had a very poor game in the ML final including several who wanted him ahead of D'arcy before that.

Its a bit of people looking at his last game in the position.

GerM

MLC61 wrote: »

I think that this is becoming a self fulfilling prophesy - no matter how Darcy plays we won't be happy. This is true of certain players - O'Callaghan being another one - where they have played their part but because of popular pre conceived ideas it will always be popular to call for a change.

I think you're right there. People have the mindset now that he's not up to it. Now, there's no doubt that in recent games he hasn't been good until last weekend but the stuff spouted was over the top. People were claiming he hadn't a good game for Ireland in 2 or 3 years. He was very good against NZ in the autumn putting in a massive shift and was hard done by for man of the match against Argentina. Class is permanent. Hopefully he can find his top form now and kick on from here.

.ak

GerM wrote: »

I think you're right there. People have the mindset now that he's not up to it. Now, there's no doubt that in recent games he hasn't been good until last weekend but the stuff spouted was over the top. People were claiming he hadn't a good game for Ireland in 2 or 3 years. He was very good against NZ in the autumn putting in a massive shift and was hard done by for man of the match against Argentina. Class is permanent. Hopefully he can find his top form now and kick on from here.

Here's hoping. As much of a fan of McFadden I am, he's hardly going to take the 12 shirt and start for the rest of the tourny.. And hopefully Wallace doesn't get near the pitch for any important games.. so yeah, I'm also hoping this is the beginning of Darce finding his feet again.

Personally I think it's down to him changing his game - he can't play the game he was playing two years ago, and he said in an interview the other day that he's trying to balance his game with a tighter style of play and he nailed it against Aus... More to come hopefully?

lynchy101

GerM wrote: »

I've long been of the opinion that he's not a good 12. His handling was awful and is now alright only. Nowhere near the level it needed to be. For a good goalkicker, he has no kicking game to speak of from hand either. He's a natural 13 that has the gas and work rate to be a very industrious winger. His strength in attack has always been popping up on the carrier's shoulder. Nearly all his tries for Leinster have come as a result of it. His defensive alignment has always been suspect but, if he sorts that, he can be a handy 13.

Incidentally, there were one or two games towards the end of last season where he did play well at 12 including a MOTM award against Llanelli I think so his game is evolving under Schmidt and he could yet prove me wrong. Schmidt was surprised (in a bad way) at the level of handling skills when he first came on the scene and has been doing a lot of work in that area.

D'Arcy has no kicking game.
D'Arcy is dodgy defensively.

Bogsnorkler

lynchy101 wrote: »

D'Arcy has no kicking game.
D'Arcy is dodgy defensively.

Put in a nice couple of grubbers the last day, sand is very decent in defence.

shuffol

Not the biggest fan of Mcfaddens but I'd like to see him given a chance to stake a claim for the 12 shirt, he's very positive and purposeful when he gets the ball and looks to inject pace into the game. This is D'arcys biggest drawback IMO, he's very hesitant when in possession and never seems to aggressively attack the gainline anymore, Heaslips suffering a similiar problem. Wallace is a useful ML player but is very average at this level, has decent skills but doesnt have the physical attributes to properly express himself.

tolosenc

To be honest, there are bigger injustices in the squad regarding who is or isn't in form. Trimble, anyone?

thebaz

lynchy101 wrote: »

D'Arcy has no kicking game.
D'Arcy is dodgy defensively.

d'Arcy has always been the perfect foil for BOD , and thats why he rates him so highly - usually when D'Arcy plays well, so do ireland - he gives BOD space - i believe mcfadden should start, but in place of Earls

cython

Bogsnorkler wrote: »

Put in a nice couple of grubbers the last day, sand is very decent in defence.

Not to mention a very good chip in behind the Australian defensive line that served for Bowe to chase, but also as a touchfinder when he didn't make it that arguably ROG himself would have been proud of. Certainly, that may be out of character for D'Arcy, but to say he has no kicking game at all is selling him short.

Leslie91

Would love to see McFadden in at 12 but looks like a v long shot now that he has been picked on the wing for the Russia game.

Just don't get it. #headscratchingdecision

GerM

D'Arcy has no kicking game.
D'Arcy is dodgy defensively.

Perfect example of people going over the top and spouting hyperbole. D'Arcy is a very good defender. He has missed one high profile tackle and it's being used as a stick to beat him with. I'd rather use the 7 years of being a very solid international defender as evidence. He doesn't kick much but he can do so to an alright level when called upon i.e. his touch finder last weekend or the little chip and gather for his try last autumn. There's a big difference between not kicking much and not being able to kick.

JustinDee

lynchy101 wrote: »

D'Arcy has no kicking game.
D'Arcy is dodgy defensively.

d'Arcy is not "dodgy defensively". He has one of the highest tackle-percentages in the squad and is also quite proficient in forcing turnover ball too.

As for his kicking game, he has plenty of deft skills at through-ball kicks and can clear just fine for touch in his own third of the field.

Ardillaun

GerM wrote: »

Perfect example of people going over the top and spouting hyperbole. D'Arcy is a very good defender.

He's a good defender and an evasive attacker and he looked like he was paying attention against Oz. His understanding with BOD is the key magic ingredient. What he's not is a hole-puncher like Jamie Roberts but we've nobody in the squad who can do that - which is why I would like to have seen Downey make the trip. So I'd go with D'Arcy as long as his form stays at this level.

chancer12

Think Luke is looking livelyat 12 for Leinster. He's a far classier player than McFadden when he's on form and hopefully we'll continue to see a return to that.

CatFromHue

chancer12 wrote: »

Think Luke is looking livelyat 12 for Leinster. He's a far classier player than McFadden when he's on form and hopefully we'll continue to see a return to that.

I think the jury is still out on Fitzgerald at 12. It didn't work out before so we have to wait and see this time. There is also a difference between being lively and being effective.

I'd consider McFadden as a winger for Ireland not a centre. Some of his biggest and best games last season were on the wing where he was very effective.

.ak

chancer12 wrote: »

Think Luke is looking livelyat 12 for Leinster. He's a far classier player than McFadden when he's on form and hopefully we'll continue to see a return to that.

That. And he hasn't been on form since 2009. McFadden is coming on leaps and bounds and is beyond the 'nursery' stage now IMO. Give him 80 minutes in a tough test match and I have no doubt he'll preform.