Irish team for quarter final announced: same 22, Rory Best provisionally selected.

thomond2006

MichaelCorcoran on Twitter wrote:

RK, TB, BOD, GD, KE, ROG, CM, CH, RB/SC, MR, DOC, POC, SF, SOB, JH. SC/DV, TC, DR, DL, ER, JS, AT

Healy, Best/Cronin, Ross, DOC, POC, Ferris, O'Brien, Heaslip;
Murray, ROG, Earls, D'Arcy, BOD, Bowe, Kearney

Bench: Cronin/Varley, Court, Ryan, Leamy, Reddan, Sexton, Trimble

So it looks like Best needs more time to prove his fitness. Otherwise it's the same 22.

Wales team to be announced this time tommorrow. I'll stick up a match thread after.

CIARAN_BOYLE

From the IRFU site

15 - Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) Captain
12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
9 - Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)/Sean Cronin (Leinster)
3 - Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
6 - Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
7 - Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)
Replacements:
16 - Sean Cronin (Leinster)/Damien Varley (Garryowen/Munster)
17 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
18 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
19 - Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
20 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
21 - Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
22 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

durkadurka

As you were. Not a surprise really , keeping options open on best. I would prefer sexton but the decision is understandable.

Cpt_Blackbeard

Meteoric rise to prominence for Murray. 5 months ago he was 4th choice at Munster and now he is first choice for Ireland. I'm absolutely delighted for the lad!

thomond2006

durkadurka wrote: »

As you were. Not a surprise really , keeping options open on best. I would prefer sexton but the decision is understandable.

+1. There were never going to be changes.

It's vital that Best proves his fitness, I worry about Cronin's dodgy throwing, Wyn Jones and Charteris could make hay there.

pappyodaniel

Tried and tested. This is the strongest 15 available and is picked on form so I'm happy. Last week I along with most wanted Trimble for Earls but if he keeps popping up in the right place and scoring tries then he deserves the jersey.

As usual there is worry over Murray's selection. Not from me, but he'll have to speed it up a bit with Warburton around.

thebaz

as expected - whilst it is uncertain about best , hopefully if required cronin can deliver - bests darts were suspect pre WC - so hopefully cronin can up his performance too , i believe he can

Chucky the tree

Mike Phillips will be licking his lips.

Predator_

great to see best there, cronin not good enough imo

Ardillaun

Predator_ wrote: »

great to see best there, cronin not good enough imo

Best has been ridiculously good in every facet of the game recently, especially the passing and running - which is great if you can also do the compulsory stuff to the required standard. With Cronin, I must confess I have doubts about everything except his pace.

danthefan

Can't see Best starting, an AC injury would seriously restrict the movement in his arm.

phog

No great surprise in the selection, it was alaways going to be the same team with the exception of Best. Though the management are still giving him every opportunity to recover.

flynninio

the welsh forums are delighted rog is in again defence bla bla bla. they never learn poor fellas do they. we certainly cant accuse father kidney of been conservative with his selections with murray becoming number one. i am delighted murray starts as i really think this bloke has some serious confidence and can attack off rucks brilliantly.
i kinda think earls has earned the right to start now even if i cringed everytime he was selected til now. but i do hope he not stuck one on one with north.

roll on all night session fri night....

GerM

flynninio wrote: »

i kinda think earls has earned the right to start now even if i cringed everytime he was selected til now. but i do hope he not stuck one on one with north.

One great thing about our current form is the defensive systems. How many times have we seen a one on one in four games? Kearney has only once has been left one on one when isolated and I think the Earls and Bowe haven't been at all. Our ability to make mud of opposition breakdown ball and have our defensive alignment ready has been great. If our defensive system wasn't playing so well, I'd be concerned but I think they'll be conscious of North's threat and have him shackled accordingly. That is, if you can shackle him.

Quint2010

Team and subs the same as expected. A little surprised Leamy keeps his place on the bench ahead of Jennings when we know Wales will try to run us all over the park..

Big Nelly

Won't pass any negative comments! Ireland needs to be together on this.

I think Kidney, and again think, he is going for old Munster way of wearing down the team, then bring on Sexton and Redden to run riot. Still not sure why Leamy is on bench, he brings nothing compared to other players in squad.

I can see Sexton and Redden coming on alot earlier. And I hope O'Gara is just not included for his kicking, because his field play was poor against Italy but I think that is the way he was told to play. Gatland will be doing his usual c**p but who cares.

Big Nelly

One other comment, lets keep the Leinster/Munster cr*p off this. Ireland should be united!!!!!!

I have my opinions but I am just behind Ireland!! I don't care who is in green as long as we win!!!!:D

COME ON IRELAND

JustinDee

Big Nelly wrote: »

And I hope O'Gara is just not included for his kicking, because his field play was poor against Italy

Do point out some examples.
What I saw was sharp passing, improved defence and excellent decision-making.

GerM

Quint2010 wrote: »

Team and subs the same as expected. A little surprised Leamy keeps his place on the bench ahead of Jennings when we know Wales will try to run us all over the park..

It's the one selection I cannot get on board with. ROG/Sexton, Murray/Reddan, Earls/Trimble etc I have no problem with but having both Ryan and Leamy on the bench does not make a lick of sense to me. I would go with Ryan and Jennings. Ryan has taken his opportunities decently. Leamy, whilst an honest and hardworking player, is probably making the least impact of any Irish player when given the opportunity. He carried strongly against Russia but, lets be honest, it was Russia and he was also guilty of a couple of very poor handling errors.

Big Nelly

JustinDee wrote: »

Do point out some examples.
What I saw was sharp passing, improved defence and excellent decision-making.

I can watch the whole game and take points, I could do the same for Murray! but I am not. I am behind the team. O'Gara plays and that is that!! get behind the team, if you want a keyboard war over Sexton and O'Gara then start with someone else. If you can't pick out faults then so be it, if Sexton was playing I could of picked out faults of his game against Italy. He wasn't and I don't care. Ireland all the way till Saturday evening and then into RDS and it will be Leinster all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

mikedragon32

+1 on this (and it's rare Justin and I would see eye to eye). His decision making was excellent, he controlled the game superbly and I think he got the balance right in terms of spreading the ball or keeping it tight as was required.

He also made a couple of tackles against guys you would have expected to steamroll him and I don't recall him being dropped off a tackle during the game.

He's included on merit, which is just too bad for SexyTime but we need to go with the guys on form. I have no doubt that when they switch up he'll perform too. We're in a great place for OHs right now!

No quibbles with this selection at all. How could you???!!!!???

BlarneyArmy

Were setting ourselves up for a fall lads. Murray is slow getting to the breakdown and our backrows will have to have one eye on the 10 channel due to O'Gara's defensive frailities. Warburton is going to run riot. This is probably THE game where I would advocate Sexton's inclusion, we need a strong defender to negate the threat of Roberts and we need our backrow solely focused on the threat of Warburton. Anyone who thinks Murray and O'Gara is the right call is taking a very simplistic view. I would also like to add that Murray struggled in the first half against Italy, if he struggles like that against Wales even for 20 minutes, we will be made pay. Another baffling call is the selection of Leamy on the bench. I'm not a big Jennings fan but considering Warburton is starting at 7 surely Jennings should be on the bench in case it all goes tits up. Thats not even mentioning the fact that if its a tight game and a backrow player gets injured, the last person you want is a penalty machine like Leamy to come on.....Wales by 10, our backrow to be anonymous due to the factors I've mentioned and Heaslip to be the scapegoat for the simplistic fans.

phog

Big Nelly wrote: »

Won't pass any negative comments! Ireland needs to be together on this.

I think Kidney, and again think, he is going for old Munster way of wearing down the team, then bring on Sexton and Redden to run riot. Still not sure why Leamy is on bench, he brings nothing compared to other players in squad.

I can see Sexton and Redden coming on alot earlier. And I hope O'Gara is just not included for his kicking, because his field play was poor against Italy but I think that is the way he was told to play. Gatland will be doing his usual c**p but who cares.

Big Nelly wrote: »

One other comment, lets keep the Leinster/Munster cr*p off this. Ireland should be united!!!!!!

I have my opinions but I am just behind Ireland!! I don't care who is in green as long as we win!!!!:D

COME ON IRELAND

Very confused

JustinDee

Big Nelly wrote: »

I can watch the whole game and take points, I could do the same for Murray! but I am not. I am behind the team. O'Gara plays and that is that!! get behind the team, if you want a keyboard war over Sexton and O'Gara then start with someone else. If you can't pick out faults then so be it, if Sexton was playing I could of picked out faults of his game against Italy. He wasn't and I don't care. Ireland all the way till Saturday evening and then into RDS and it will be Leinster all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

I'm not bringing up anything. You baselessly said his on-field play was poor. Not one example. He wasn't in any way poor. Its not up to me to point out any faults. Thats in your court since you brought it up in the first place.
O'Gara had an excellent game in one of the best under-pressure team performances Ireland have ever played.

BlarneyArmy

JustinDee wrote: »

Do point out some examples.
What I saw was sharp passing, improved defence and excellent decision-making.

Improved defence means not missing tackles, yeah? Because he was giving up far too much ground to the Italians when he was in the process of making the tackles. If he does the same against Wales we will be punished badly. And the Welsh backrow and centres are a lot harder to put down.... the solution? the backrow to 'babysit' him.....except the backrow shouldn't have that distraction considering the opposition backrow they have to face. Its unfortunate but Kidney has made his decision.

flynninio

anybody think heaslip has been immense as our scavenger? i think it will be him that will be up against warburton more than o brien. think its been a master stroke by kidney due to o brien been better ball in hand type of animal

Quint2010

ROG deserves to retain his place simple as. The OH plan worked well last sunday. No need to change it.

JustinDee

BlarneyArmy wrote: »

Improved defence means not missing tackles, yeah? Because he was giving up far too much ground to the Italians when he was in the process of making the tackles. If he does the same against Wales we will be punished badly. The Welsh backrow and centres are a lot harder to put down.

I've already given a decent outline on how to flip Wales defence inside-out (backs to forwards), draw to the ruck and how I'm pretty sure the gameplan will go. ROG saved two balls that were 50/50 with Italians on Sunday. He more than held his own in the tackle.

You're thinking about the opposition too much and giving them way too much kudos with this woe-betide-us line. Thats not how a gameplan is formulated.
The aim is to dictate the game. Not put out bloody fires for 80 minutes.

Big Nelly

phog wrote: »

Very confused

How are you confused!!!! I want everyone behind Ireland!!!! not very confusing!!!!!!!!!

totallegend

JustinDee wrote: »

I'm not bringing up anything. You baselessly said his on-field play was poor. Not one example. He wasn't in any way poor. Its not up to me to point out any faults. Thats in your court since you brought it up in the first place.
O'Gara had an excellent game in one of the best under-pressure team performances Ireland have ever played.

Well, he actually said ROG's "field play" (as opposed to "on-field play") was poor, and if by that he meant his kicking for territory, I'd agree, a few kicks went straight down the middle to the Italian backs, as they did against Australia.

But please, let's drop it, let's get behind the team as selected and keep the vibe as positive as possible.

bamboozle

flynninio wrote: »

anybody think heaslip has been immense as our scavenger? i think it will be him that will be up against warburton more than o brien. think its been a master stroke by kidney due to o brien been better ball in hand type of animal

Heaslip and POC both do great jobs as scavengers, Heaslip is doing far more donkey work now given the abilities of Ferris and SOB.

My only concern with the team is the physical mis-match between 17 stone 6'4 George North and 12/13 stone 5'10 Keith Earls. I think we can expect to see Mike Phillips going blind off a lot of scrums trying to isolate North on Earls in a one on one.

Big Nelly

totallegend wrote: »

Well, he actually said ROG's "field play" (as opposed to "on-field play") was poor, and if by that he meant his kicking for territory, I'd agree, a few kicks went straight down the middle to the Italian backs, as they did against Australia.

But please, let's drop it, let's get behind the team as selected and keep the vibe as positive as possible.

Thanks, picking thru everyone's thread will get us nowhere!!! Ireland all the way! Then Leinster all the way that evening!!!

BlarneyArmy

JustinDee wrote: »

I've already given a decent outline on how to flip Wales defence inside-out (backs to forwards), draw to the ruck and how I'm pretty sure the gameplan will go. ROG saved two balls that were 50/50 with Italians on Sunday. He more than held his own in the tackle.

You're thinking about the opposition too much and giving them way too much kudos with this woe-betide-us line. Thats not how a gameplan is formulated.
The aim is to dictate the game. Not put out bloody fires for 80 minutes.

I think you should watch the game again because he didn't hold his own in the tackle and gave up a considerable amount of ground. I am not solely thinking about the opposition as I am quite clearly talking about the weaknesses of certain Irish players as well. Its all well and good sucking in Welsh players to the ruck but what if your scrumhalf is slow to get to that ruck? What happens if your backrow is tires quicker from having to put in the extra tackles that will be necessary to protect O'Gara and hold the defensive line? No matter how you try and spin it, the selection of Murray and O'Gara impedes our backrow and will slow down the ball we get.

Quint2010

bamboozle wrote: »

Heaslip and POC both do great jobs as scavengers, Heaslip is doing far more donkey work now given the abilities of Ferris and SOB.

My only concern with the team is the physical mis-match between 17 stone 6'4 George North and 12/13 stone 5'10 Keith Earls. I think we can expect to see Mike Phillips going blind off a lot of scrums trying to isolate North on Earls in a one on one.

What about Tommy Bowe V Shane Williams?

JustinDee

BlarneyArmy wrote: »

I think you should watch the game again because he didn't hold his own in the tackle and gave up a considerable amount of ground. I am not solely thinking about the opposition as I am quite clearly talking about the weaknesses of certain Irish players as well. Its all well and good sucking in Welsh players to the ruck but what if your scrumhalf is slow to get to that ruck? What happens if your backrow is tires quicker from having to put in the extra tackles that will be necessary to protect O'Gara and hold the defensive line? No matter how you try and spin it, the selection of Murray and O'Gara impedes our backrow and will slow down the ball we get.

I've already watched the game again and in a more analytical manner than you might think, I might add.
You're perceiving alleged weaknesses for whatever reasons (Murray slower to breakdown than other two halfbacks in squad?? C'mon...).

For someone who would think someone with a view on the squad different to your own as being "simplistic", I wouldn't give up the day-job if I were you.

yimrsg

When is the Welsh team named?

JustinDee

yimrsg wrote: »

When is the Welsh team named?

Late tonight (tomorrow morning)

bleg

I can't wait for this match. It's going to be great! 2 teams playing great stuff.

I think Ireland will be slightly fitter, with perhaps up to three Welsh players returning from injury. Would love to see Best and O Brien running full tilt at Hook!

Going to be great!

Ireland by 8!!

JRant

Pretty much as expected. We're in an unreal position to have two No 10's who are both playing well in different facets of the game, what would the Kiwi's give for that!!! A little worried our backrow might have to much to do with RoG/Murray starting but if that not working we can change it early enough with Sexton/Reddan coming on. Personally I don't see how Murray has gone from 5th to 1st choice without doing a whole lot. Very strange but there you go. Anyone else notice Thornley in the Times this morning? He seems to be grooming Murray for his next object of unbridaled Man-Love. That is of course until ROG hangs up the Green jersey.

theKramer

JRant wrote: »

Anyone else notice Thornley in the Times this morning? He seems to be grooming Murray for his next object of unbridaled Man-Love. That is of course until ROG hangs up the Green jersey.

Actually, Geordan Murphy is his current object of man-love...
Its tough on Geordan, but time waits for no man

bleg

I really really love the "Best" puns in all the articles today. /sarcasm

bamboozle

Quint2010 wrote: »

What about Tommy Bowe V Shane Williams?

i fully expect us to target Williams also, plenty of cross field kicks, drop offs down his throat, ROG's prowess with the boot will ensure Williams will have a torid time defensively. My concern is for Earls having seen him destroyed by Tuilagi that North will do the exact same.

gosplan

Big Nelly wrote: »

Thanks, picking thru everyone's thread will get us nowhere!!! Ireland all the way! Then Leinster all the way that evening!!!

I've stopped paying attention to anything said on this forum about O'Gara/Sexton/Reddan/Murray simply because 90% of it is driven by a provincial bias which is quite rediculous given where the Irish team are.

So, the only thing I read and put any stock in are neutral reports or player ratings...

From Rugby 365

10 Ronan O'Gara:
He was bang on target with his first penalty kick, hit the uprights with an easier kick in his second attempt, but from then on was a 100 percent man. He was given plenty of room to move in and got his backline away almost at will. Never troubled by the Azzurri.
7/10

9 Conor Murray:
Struggled with his ball control behind the rucks and conceded possession on occasion in what was generally a scrappy performance. His service to O'Gara was acceptable, as he was little more than a link and passed 64 of the 71 balls he received.
6/10


So I'd say neither had perfect games but probably did enough to keep their places. The question mark is over their defence which probably wasn't tested too mauch against Italy.

Quint2010

bleg wrote: »

I can't wait for this match. It's going to be great! 2 teams playing great stuff.

I think Ireland will be slightly fitter, with perhaps up to three Welsh players returning from injury. Would love to see Best and O Brien running full tilt at Hook!

Going to be great!

Ireland by 8!!

Surely you mean Ferris and O'Brien? (and apologies for calling you Surely..)

Trevor Kent

bamboozle wrote: »

Heaslip and POC both do great jobs as scavengers, Heaslip is doing far more donkey work now given the abilities of Ferris and SOB.

My only concern with the team is the physical mis-match between 17 stone 6'4 George North and 12/13 stone 5'10 Keith Earls. I think we can expect to see Mike Phillips going blind off a lot of scrums trying to isolate North on Earls in a one on one.

Earls is only about 5'10" but he is over 14 stone, still giving away a bit of weight but he's a well built chap. Im not to worried about it

decisions

Overall I'm happy withthe squad. ROG earned the right to start this weekend and there is no doubt in my mind that Sexton will be on around the hour mark with Reddin.

Murray has played out of his skin so far, his darting runs are impressive to say the least there are a few parts of his game that reddin is better at but overall he deserves to start.

I would rather Jennings on the bench over Leamy.

Having Best on the pitch would be a huge plus but I think Cronion has a big game in him.

I can't wait for the match and Come On Ireland!!!

Reloc8

The Welsh will try and run over O'Gara. Sometimes that works out for people, sometimes it doesn't.

With Murray at 9 and SOB at 7 I don't see this as being a more difficult proposition on Saturday than it has throughout ROG's career.

In the 2009 slam game the Welsh were obsessed with running into ROG. I hope they are again - it cost them points.

More fundamentally wear Warburton out and keep their ball slow from the phases.

JRant

theKramer wrote: »

JRant wrote: »

Anyone else notice Thornley in the Times this morning? He seems to be grooming Murray for his next object of unbridaled Man-Love. That is of course until ROG hangs up the Green jersey.

Actually, Geordan Murphy is his current object of man-love...
Its tough on Geordan, but time waits for no man

Geordan is only a passing whim. We all know RoG is his No.1, if he was 'that' way inclined he most definitely would!!!

Lord Trollington

bamboozle wrote: »

Heaslip and POC both do great jobs as scavengers, Heaslip is doing far more donkey work now given the abilities of Ferris and SOB.

My only concern with the team is the physical mis-match between 17 stone 6'4 George North and 12/13 stone 5'10 Keith Earls. I think we can expect to see Mike Phillips going blind off a lot of scrums trying to isolate North on Earls in a one on one.

What about Geroge North v Keith Earls? On paper North would be a mismatch for any winger in the modern game but I would overly worry about that.

You can't be 6'4, 17 stone and have the quick jinking feet or the pace that Earls has.

Talking to a strength and conditioning coach who took Munster last season for fitness tests and he said Keith Earls is one of the fittest and fastest players he's ever worked with. Blew the others out of the water.

If I were North I'd be very worried about the pace of Earls and his ability to create gaps.

totallegend

I'll be fascinated to see the Welsh team; key calls are at:

• Full-back; Hook will probably come back in even though I think FB is his worst position; I've been really impressed by Halfpenny when he's played; I expect Hook to play with Halfpenny on the bench covering wing and FB.
• Out-half; Jones' reliability vs Priestland's flair will be an interesting call, I think they'll stick with Priestland and maybe Jones to come on to 'close out' the game (eerily familiar).
• Centre; Jamie "Quagmire" Roberts is nailed down but Scott Williams will be pushing Jonathan Davies hard to partner him after an excellent show against Fiji

This is going to be a cracking match, I was so impressed by Wales against Fiji and South Africa that I'm surprised Ireland are favourites.

decisions

JRant wrote: »

theKramer wrote: »

JRant wrote: »

Anyone else notice Thornley in the Times this morning? He seems to be grooming Murray for his next object of unbridaled Man-Love. That is of course until ROG hangs up the Green jersey.

Actually, Geordan Murphy is his current object of man-love...
Its tough on Geordan, but time waits for no man

Geordan is only a passing whim. We all know RoG is his No.1, if he was 'that' way inclined he most definitely would!!!

I feel so sorry for Murray already. And the articles haven't even started yet.