Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread II

GerM

Whilst it should be highlighted that it was a non contact session, Drico and RK took full part in the Ireland team session in Kildare today.

danthefan

GerM wrote: »

Whilst it should be highlighted that it was a non contact session, Drico and RK took full part in the Ireland team session in Kildare today.

Drico's being an ankle injury you'd think that just being up and running/sprinting/turning/etc. on it would be half the battle. I'd say it's not far from that to contact.

Kearney can't come back quick enough, missed him desperately.

phog

Read somewhere that an IRL U20s take on an Ulster development team tomorrow in Old Belvedere. Can't find where I saw it but I think ko is 3.30.

Higher

Ireland desperately needs Kearney and O'Driscoll back to be honest. Such a huge void in our back line that hasn't come close to being filled.

Glass Prison 1214

Higher wrote: »

Ireland desperately needs Kearney and O'Driscoll back to be honest. Such a huge void in our back line that hasn't come close to being filled.

To an extent have to disagree with this, no doubt that any team will miss some of their top players but our backline play against Argentina was excellent an the fresh new faces(Gilroy and Zebo) played a big part in that. Our problem with the backline is we need a new backs coach and the return of BOD and Kearney isn't the solution to our problem(although having them back wouldn't exactly be a bad thing :pac: )

leftleg

Glass Prison 1214 wrote: »

Our problem with the backline is we need a new backs coach

Leinster have the best backs coach in the world already

Deano7788

leftleg wrote: »

Leinster have the best backs coach in the world already

But Ireland don't.

Zyzz

Higher wrote: »

Ireland desperately needs Kearney and O'Driscoll back to be honest. Such a huge void in our back line that hasn't come close to being filled.

Kearney I wholeheartedly agree with, Drico, not so much, nor Darcy..

Glass Prison 1214

leftleg wrote: »

Leinster have the best backs coach in the world already

I agree, there is however a massive difference in the standard of performance between the Leinster and Ireland backlines (Argie game aside) which I think enhances my point that Ireland need a new one as our potential is shown by Leinster (and also the other provinces)

leftleg

Deano7788 wrote: »

But Ireland don't.

agreed my bad was thinking of leinster there not Ireland

JustinDee

phog wrote: »

Read somewhere that an IRL U20s take on an Ulster development team tomorrow in Old Belvedere. Can't find where I saw it but I think ko is 3.30.

12.30 kick-off

P.Walnuts

Zyzz wrote: »

Kearney I wholeheartedly agree with, Drico, not so much, nor Darcy..

I would agree with this. No need to state how important BOD has been for us over the past decade, but fact is he wont be around possibly even next year. To be honest I wouldn't even have him in the 6 nations squad. Short term gain. We need to develop his successor now, not when he retires.

And by that I mean give Cave a shot in there too (wont happen with Kidney though)

Another thing, would BOD still be playing for Ireland if there wasn't a Lions tour in the summer? Doubtful imo.

Zyzz

P.Walnuts wrote: »

I would agree with this. No need to state how important BOD has been for us over the past decade, but fact is he wont be around possibly even next year. To be honest I wouldn't even have him in the 6 nations squad. Short term gain. We need to develop his successor now, not when he retires.

And by that I mean give Cave a shot in there too (wont happen with Kidney though)

Another thing, would BOD still be playing for Ireland if there wasn't a Lions tour in the summer? Doubtful imo.

As George Hook once said, "The Irish rugby team is selected by way of the 'best' players, not the best players for the job"

Perfect example is Darcy..he has been Irelands 'best' 12 for many years, but now it is time to move on and give Marshall etc more game time so we aren't f*cked when Darcy and the like get injured and we are stuck with an above average player filling in

its_phil

Zyzz wrote: »

As George Hook once said, "The Irish rugby team is selected by way of the 'best' players, not the best players for the job"

Perfect example is Darcy..he has been Irelands 'best' 12 for many years, but now it is time to move on and give Cave/Marshall etc more game time so we aren't f*cked when Darcy and the like get injured and we are stuck with an above average player filling in

I'm open to correction on this but Cave isn't really a 12 is he?

Zyzz

its_phil wrote: »

I'm open to correction on this but Cave isn't really a 12 is he?

Edited my post, but you get where Im coming from..

thomond2006

If Marmion and Henshaw continue their excellent vein of form they cannot be ignored. Henshaw in particular is making a mockery of Hurley's selction against Fiji (not meant as a slight on Hurley!).

Podge_irl

I bigged up Henshaw on Talking Rugby before the AIs. My Nostradamus qualities tell me he'll be massive for Ireland. Absolutely cracking player.

jm08

thomond2006 wrote: »

If Marmion and Henshaw continue their excellent vein of form they cannot be ignored. Henshaw in particular is making a mockery of Hurley's selction against Fiji (not meant as a slight on Hurley!).

Bearing in mind Connacht's injury crisis, it would have been a mockery of Connacht if those two were pulled to play in a meaningless game against Fiji.

Fishooks13

jm08 wrote: »

Bearing in mind Connacht's injury crisis, it would have been a mockery of Connacht if those two were pulled to play in a meaningless game against Fiji.

That should have been beside the point. Ireland is the bigger picture, and while I have great time for Hurley we would have learned a lot more playing Henshaw

jm08

Fishooks13 wrote: »

That should have been beside the point. Ireland is the bigger picture, and while I have great time for Hurley we would have learned a lot more playing Henshaw

Learn what? Most Rabo games are more challenging than that Fiji game was.

Hurley was there as the older head in a very young set of backs from 10 out. Henshaw hadn't played a huge number of games up to November for Connacht (and some of his starts were at 13, not fullback).

thomond2006

jm08 wrote: »

Bearing in mind Connacht's injury crisis, it would have been a mockery of Connacht if those two were pulled to play in a meaningless game against Fiji.

Do you genuinely believe that is the reason they didn't play?

jm08

thomond2006 wrote: »

Do you genuinely believe that is the reason they didn't play?

No. I'd say there is a bit of a Q to give everyone a go. The squads were selected 3 months ago when Henshaw had played a couple of games for Connacht. what was the point of throwing him into a game where Ireland was already trying to develop some back-up for (Zebo). It also highly unlikely that he will manage to displace Rob Kearney as fullback and perhaps it would be much better for him to be involved with the Ireland U20s this 6Ns rather than holding tackle bags for the seniors.

He would also probably be better off going to the Junior World Cup than going on tour to Canada & USA (2 games), so don't be surprised if Dinny gets another outing there on that tour.

gally74

jm08 wrote: »

No. I'd say there is a bit of a Q to give everyone a go. The squads were selected 3 months ago when Henshaw had played a couple of games for Connacht. what was the point of throwing him into a game where Ireland was already trying to develop some back-up for (Zebo). It also highly unlikely that he will manage to displace Rob Kearney as fullback and perhaps it would be much better for him to be involved with the Ireland U20s this 6Ns rather than holding tackle bags for the seniors.

He would also probably be better off going to the Junior World Cup than going on tour to Canada & USA (2 games), so don't be surprised if Dinny gets another outing there on that tour.

This is thgr real benefit of Eric giving youth be chance,

JJ was beside marmion at the last u 20 WC/, look how much marmion has developed since

GerM

gally74 wrote: »

JJ was beside marmion at the last u 20 WC/, look how much marmion has developed since

It's remarkable how far he has come. When he first appeared for the U20 side he was roundly criticised and many thought Connacht were mad to sign him. He has been a revelation and should be going to north America next summer.

Hype710

If BOD is back I hope Marshall gets selected alongside him at 12. Hugely impressed by him in recent weeks. One poor tackle on POM aside last night his defence was very strong and he offers a lovely attacking threat that would dovetail nicely with Sexton IMO. With Bowe out it would free up Earls to give us more options on the wing. I don't think Wallace being selected ahead of Marshall for Ulster is a big reflection on Marshall, rather that Jackson needs an experienced 12 alongside him and Wallace is normally excellent for Ulster anyway. I don't think it has a chance of happening unless BOD is back though.

Deano7788

Hype710 wrote: »

If BOD is back I hope Marshall gets selected alongside him at 12. Hugely impressed by him in recent weeks. One poor tackle on POM aside last night his defence was very strong and he offers a lovely attacking threat that would dovetail nicely with Sexton IMO. With Bowe out it would free up Earls to give us more options on the wing. I don't think Wallace being selected ahead of Marshall for Ulster is a big reflection on Marshall, rather that Jackson needs an experienced 12 alongside him and Wallace is normally excellent for Ulster anyway. I don't think it has a chance of happening unless BOD is back though.

To tell you the truth I don't think it has a chance of happening even with BOD back. If he's not starting for Ulster in the big games there's no way Kidney will select him, much as I would like to see him get a few games. It would be extremely unlikely even if he was ahead of Wallace.

Besides, imo, if any young 12 is given a chance it should be McSharry, who fully deserves the chance after his excellent form this season.

thomond2006

jm08 wrote: »

No. I'd say there is a bit of a Q to give everyone a go. The squads were selected 3 months ago when Henshaw had played a couple of games for Connacht. what was the point of throwing him into a game where Ireland was already trying to develop some back-up for (Zebo). It also highly unlikely that he will manage to displace Rob Kearney as fullback and perhaps it would be much better for him to be involved with the Ireland U20s this 6Ns rather than holding tackle bags for the seniors.

He would also probably be better off going to the Junior World Cup than going on tour to Canada & USA (2 games), so don't be surprised if Dinny gets another outing there on that tour.

Who would you pick now? Hurley or Henshaw? If you had to select between the two.

I'm not arguing for Henshaw to displace Kearney mind. But if Kearney was hurt I know who I would pick if Zebo had to play on the wing.

bilston

I think that after the last two weeks Luke Marshall has every chance of getting the Ulster 12 shirt for the upcoming HEC games, if that happens then I think he'll be a genuine contender, he definitely got the better of D'Arcy last week, but if he doesn't start for Ulster he won't start for Ireland.

phog

thomond2006 wrote: »

Who would you pick now? Hurley or Henshaw? If you had to select between the two.

I'm not arguing for Henshaw to displace Kearney mind. But if Kearney was hurt I know who I would pick if Zebo had to play on the wing.

Would Duffy get his place back for Connacht if he was back from injury

thomond2006

phog wrote: »

Would Duffy get his place back for Connacht if he was back from injury

When he was back fit a few weeks ago he was stuck on the wing with Henshaw remaining at fullback. To me that's a sign that Duffy won't get his place back. IMO Henshaw is a better option at the moment than him, even though I have massive time for Duffy as a 15.