Your Team Vs Italy

Kayless

Also, does anyone know when the teams will be announced?

Quint2010

I think Kidney will start the same 15 as started against Australia. Personally I would have ROG in for Sexton.

molloyjh

1. Healy
2. Best
3. Ross
4. DOC
5. POC
6. Ferris
7. SOB
8. Heaslip

9. Reddan
10. ROG/Sexton (I'm torn almost 50:50 on this one. ROG shades it given that I think it will a close game but I'm happy enough with either in truth)

11. Earls (Trimble is pushing him close but Earls did enough last week against a poor Russian side to edge it here. But only just.)
12. Darce
13. BOD
14. Bowe
15. Kearney

16. Court
17. Varley
18. Cullen
19. Leamy
20. Murray
21. Sexton/ROG
22. Trimble

Kayless

id start with ROG and Trimble and put Earls on at around 60 when the Italians start to fade

tolosenc

1 Healy
2 Best
3 Ross
4 Cullen (Far superior to DOC last Sunday, destroyed the albeit terrible Russian lineout)
5 O'Connell
6 Ferris
7 O'Brien
8 Heaslip
9 Reddan
10 Sexton
11 Trimble
12 D'arcy (McFadden if D'arcy is injured)
13 O'Driscoll
14 Bowe
15 Kearney

16 Cronin
17 Court
18 O'Callaghan
19 Ryan (Leamy should be dropped from the 22 as punishment for not offloading to Cronin - I know it didn't matter in that game, but that selfishness could cost us this game. Plus he's a penalty machine, last thing we need if the game is tight)
20 Boss
21 O'Gara
22 McFadden/Earls (If McFadden starts, then Earls gets the 22, otherwise it's 50:50)

BERBA

tolosenc wrote: »

1 Healy
2 Best
3 Ross
4 Cullen (Far superior to DOC last Sunday, destroyed the albeit terrible Russian lineout)
5 O'Connell
6 Ferris
7 O'Brien
8 Heaslip
9 Reddan
10 Sexton
11 Trimble
12 D'arcy (McFadden if D'arcy is injured)
13 O'Driscoll
14 Bowe
15 Kearney

16 Cronin
17 Court
18 O'Callaghan
19 Ryan (Leamy should be dropped from the 22 as punishment for not offloading to Cronin - I know it didn't matter in that game, but that selfishness could cost us this game. Plus he's a penalty machine, last thing we need if the game is tight)
20 Boss
21 O'Gara
22 McFadden/Earls (If McFadden starts, then Earls gets the 22, otherwise it's 50:50)

Leo Cullen gimme a break , you a leinster man by any chance?;) DOC starts all day long.

Sport101

tolosenc wrote: »

4 Cullen (Far superior to DOC last Sunday, destroyed the albeit terrible Russian lineout)

Really? Watched the Russian match a couple of times and don't seem to remember multiple steals, or even one of note. Could well be wrong though, fun police have scrum.com on the banned list so can't check.

Crash Bang Wall

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

9. Reddan
10. Sexton....ROG is a better impact player of the bench IMO than Sexton would be. Sextons defence also swings it for me

11. Earls
12. Darcy
13. Drico
14. Bowe
15. Kearney

irishbucsfan

DOC has had a great tournament so far, definitely will start.

redmca2

On another thread I supported ROG starting because he is clearly at the moment 6 to 9 points better with his boot than Sexton.

That said, I am confident we can and will beat Italy with either starting at 10. On reflection and without getting ahead of ourselves I now think Sexton is the right man to start against Wales and any team beyond the QF. True he has not played up to his Heineken Cup heroics so far but I believe he should be retained against Italy because we need him to play his way back into top form. ROG in fairness ios already at his top form. I know starting means the world to ROG, but his potential influence from the bench is streets ahead of the opposite -- Sexton subbing in for ROG.

Regarding the possible unavailability of Darcy, I would go for ROG at 10 and Sexton at 12. McFadden was primarily responsible for Russia's 2nd try. I don't think he has earned a place in the 22. Sexton has all the necessary attributes of a 12.

I would start Trimble, as Earls covers all back 5 positions from the bench.

davegrohl48

DOC has had a good tournament is true. What would ye think about when both sides are tired in last ten minutes bringing on Ryan at 4 and use him to add some extra pace? Just a thought.
In last ten mins extra pace could mean the difference betwen making five yards of a gain and making 15 yards. Ryan seems to be able to move well and avoid contact to make big gains. But admittedly I'v seen him only a few times. Munster fans would know if that was a non-runner (apologies for the unintended pun).

phog

Sport101 wrote: »

Really? Watched the Russian match a couple of times and don't seem to remember multiple steals, or even one of note. Could well be wrong though, fun police have scrum.com on the banned list so can't check.

Irish players who have stolen Opps Lineout Ball

Player

---

Qty Won---Opposition
Sean Cronin

---

1

---

Russia
Leo Cullen

---

1

---

Russia
Jamie Heaslip

---

1

---

Russia
Donncha O'Callaghan

---

1

---

USA
Paul O'Connell

---

1

---

USA
Donnacha Ryan

---

1

---

Russia

Fishooks12

Kearney
Bowe
BOD
Sexton
Earls
ROG
Reddan
Heaslip
O Brien
Ferris
POC
DOC
Ross
Best
Healy


Cronin
Court
Leamy
Murray
Wallace
Trimble

Otacon

1. C. Healy
2. R. Best
3. M. Ross
4. D. O'Callaghan
5. P. O'Connell
6. S. Ferris
7. S. O'Brien
8. J. Heaslip
9. E. Reddan
10. R. O'Gara
11. A. Trimble
12. G. D'Arcy
13. B. O'Driscoll
14. T. Bowe
15. R. Kearney

16. T. Court
17. S. Cronin
18. L. Cullen
19. D. Leamy
20. C. Murray
21. J. Sexton
22. K. Earls

ROG and Trimble are the form players IMO so they should start.

Risteard

davegrohl48 wrote: »

DOC has had a good tournament is true. What would ye think about when both sides are tired in last ten minutes bringing on Ryan at 4 and use him to add some extra pace? Just a thought.
In last ten mins extra pace could mean the difference betwen making five yards of a gain and making 15 yards. Ryan seems to be able to move well and avoid contact to make big gains. But admittedly I'v seen him only a few times. Munster fans would know if that was a non-runner (apologies for the unintended pun).

Ryan would offer more impact off the bench than Cullen but we'd be up **** creek if POC got injured early as neither DOC or Ryan can/have experience of running a decent lineout. Munsters game against LI springs to mind. It goes back to what you want your bench for, impact or covering injuries. Ideally it should be able to do both and we have that in some positions, 10 and outside back for example but the second rows are pretty opposite to each other. You could have Cullen and Ryan on the bench but I'd have Jennings as the back row spot.

1.Healy
2.Best
3.Ross
4.DOC
5.POC
6.Ferris
7.SOB
8.Heaslip
9.Reddan
10.ROG
11.Trimble/Earls Honestly don't care about this one, though would like to see Trimble get a run.
12.D'arcy
13.BOD
14.Bowe
15.Kearney

16.Cronin
17.Court
18.Cullen/Ryan (Unsure)
19.Jennings
20.Murray
21.Sexton
22.Earls/Trimble

tolosenc

Sport101 wrote: »

Really? Watched the Russian match a couple of times and don't seem to remember multiple steals, or even one of note. Could well be wrong though, fun police have scrum.com on the banned list so can't check.

F*ck tha (fun) po-lice!





He stole 1. As far as I recall, the Cronin steal was basically Cullen jumping at the Russian and causing him to miss it, so it went to Cronin at the back. 4 steals, but 6 losses, the other 2 were down to the pressure being put on. Cullen read nearly every throw correctly.

Otacon

Risteard wrote: »

...but I'd have Jennings as the back row spot.

1.Healy
2.Best
3.Ross
4.DOC
5.POC
6.Ferris
7.Jennings
8.Heaslip
9.Reddan
10.ROG
11.Trimble/Earls Honestly don't care about this one, though would like to see Trimble get a run.
12.D'arcy
13.BOD
14.Bowe
15.Kearney

16.Cronin
17.Court
18.Cullen/Ryan (Unsure)
19.Jennings
20.Murray
21.Sexton
22.Earls/Trimble

And on the pitch! :pac:

Risteard

Otacon wrote: »

And on the pitch! :pac:

Jesus, I should be banned for forgetting the almighty SOB. Hope he doesn't read the forum, he'd probably use mental powers to torture me or something.

Kayless

yeah would be great to see POC & Cullen work the lineout (just for one match DK!) the only thing I didn't like about Cullen in the Russia was when he came in from the side.

phog

Kayless wrote: »

yeah would be great to see POC & Cullen work the lineout (just for one match DK!) the only thing I didn't like about Cullen in the Russia was when he came in from the side.

Is that when he almost blocked Jennings scoring his try?

keano_afc

I'd bring Trimble in for Earls, I think his extra physicality would be a benefit against Italy. Apart from that it would be the same team as v Australia.

Hersheys

I'd (personally) go for:

Healy
Best
Ross

DOC (Cullen on at 50)
POC

Ferris
SOB
Heaslip

Redden
ROG

Earls
Wallace
BOD
Bowe
Kearney

Bench: Court, Cronin, Cullen, Leamy, Boss, Sexton, Trimble

Fireball07

1. Healy
2. Best
3. Ross
4. O'Callaghan
5. O'Connell
6. Ferris
7. O'Brien
8. Heaslip
9. Reddan
10. O'Gara
11. Earls
12. D'Arcy
13. O'Driscoll
14. Bowe
15. Kearney

Cronin, Court, Cullen, Leamy, Murray, Sexton, Trimble


If D'Arcy is injured...I think Sexton should go 12 and McFadden should come onto the bench.

evil_seed

1. Healy
2. Best
3. Ross
4. O'Callaghan
5. O'Connell
6. Ferris
7. Jennings
8. O'Brien
9. Reddan
10. O'Gara
11. Trimble
12. D'Arcy
13. O'Driscoll
14. Bowe
15. Kearney

irishbucsfan

Healy, Best, Ross, O'Callaghan, O'Connell, Ferris, O'Brien, Heaslip;
Reddan, O'Gara/Sexton, Earls, D'Arcy, O'Driscoll, Bowe, Kearney

Cronin, Court, Cullen, Jennings, Murray, Sexton, Trimble

Healy, Best, Ross, DOC, POC, Ferris, SOB, Heaslip - EASY selection
Reddan, ROG, Earls, D'Arcy, BOD, Bowe, Kearney - Only 9/10 really debatable after Earls' 2 tries. Harsh that Trimble offers a better bench option.

Cronin, Court, Cullen, Jennings (essential change of back row for second half), Boss, Sexton, Trimble.

If we do it properly, we choke the Italians for 55/60 mins, then Sexton comes on for D'Arcy and assumes first receiver role on some of the plays. We can extend any lead quite well with a swap of Jennings in to keep the Italians honest and allowing SOB/Ferris/Heaslip to punch holes off the side of rucks. Italian fan defence will get caught shy and we can move the ball to either side with ROG and Sexton both lining up as #10s on either side of rucks with players outside.

Important to not let the Italians into the game at all though, and make changes when and if they are needed!