Ireland Wolfhounds vs England Saxons, Fri 25 Jan 7:30pm; Live on RTÉ

thomond2006

Ireland Wolfhounds:
15 - Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)*
14 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster/49)
13 - Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster/3)
12 - Dave McSharry (UCD/Connacht/)*
11 - Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster/23)
10 - Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)*
9 - Paul Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster/)*
1 - David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster/2)
2 - Mike Sherry (Garryowen/Munster)*
3 - Michael Bent (Dublin University/Leinster/2)
4 - Lewis Stevenson (Malone/Ulster)*
5 - Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster/3)
6 - Kevin McLaughlin (St.Mary's College/Leinster/5)
7 - Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)*
8 - James Coughlin (Dolphin/Munster)* Captain

Replacements:
16 - Damien Varley (Garryowen/Munster/2)
17 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster/29)
18 - Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon /Ulster/2)
19 - Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster/2)
20 - Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary's College/Leinster/1)
21 - Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster/15)
22 - Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)*
23 - Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster/2)

England Saxons:
Elliot Daly; Christian Wade, Joel Tomkins, Jordan Turner-Hall, Tom Biggs; George Ford, Richard Wigglesworth;
Nick Wood, Joe Gray; Paul Doran-Jones; Graham Kitchener, George Robson; George Kruis, Will Fraser, Jordan Crane (c).

Replacements: Rob Buchanan, Matt Mullan, Shaun Knight, Ed Slater, Jamie Gibson, Joe Simpson, George Lowe, Kyle Eastmond.

Pretty strong lineup, not sure of Tomkins is the real deal but Turner-Hall will get them over the gainline. George Ford is regarded as one of the top talents in the English game, so much so that at 19 he is moving club to get more first team rugby. I haven't seen much of Biggs but Wade and Daly are both very dangerous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pak5t9N0zk

awec

Pity it's in Galway or would have taken it in.

ScissorPaperRock

thomond2006 wrote: »

Ireland Wolfhounds: TBA

England Saxons:
Elliot Daly; Christian Wade, Joel Tomkins, Jordan Turner-Hall, Tom Biggs; George Ford, Richard Wigglesworth;
Nick Wood, Joe Gray; Paul Doran-Jones; Graham Kitchener, George Robson; George Kruis, Will Fraser, Jordan Crane (c).

Replacements: Rob Buchanan, Matt Mullan, Shaun Knight, Ed Slater, Jamie Gibson, Joe Simpson, George Lowe, Kyle Eastmond.

Pretty strong lineup, not sure of Tomkins is the real deal but Turner-Hall will get them over the gainline. George Ford is regarded as one of the top talents in the English game, so much so that at 19 he is moving club to get more first team rugby. I haven't seen much of Biggs but Wade and Daly are both very dangerous.

Disappointing amount of logos for a Thomond match thread

totallegend

15 - Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)*
14 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster/49)
13 - Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster/3)
12 - Dave McSharry (UCD/Connacht/)*
11 - Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster/23)
10 - Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)*
9 - Paul Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster/)*
1 - David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster/2)
2 - Mike Sherry (Garryowen/Munster)*
3 - Michael Bent (Dublin University/Leinster/2)
4 - Lewis Stevenson (Malone/Ulster)*
5 - Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster/3)
6 - Kevin McLaughlin (St.Mary's College/Leinster/5)
7 - Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)*
8 - James Coughlin (Dolphin/Munster)* Captain
Replacements:
16 - Damien Varley (Garryowen/Munster/2)
17 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster/29)
18 - Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon /Ulster/2)
19 - Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster/2)
20 - Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary's College/Leinster/1)
21 - Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster/15)
22 - Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)*
23 - Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster/2)

totallegend

Coughlan as captain is about the only surprise.

Jackson gets the nod to start; you'd assume (hope) Madigan will get 40 minutes. Any significance in Keatley wearing 23? i.e. is he going to be coming in at centre or full-back rather than Madigan?

Lelantos

totallegend wrote: »

15 - Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)*
14 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster/49)
13 - Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster/3)
12 - Dave McSharry (UCD/Connacht/)*
11 - Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster/23)
10 - Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)*
9 - Paul Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster/)*
1 - David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster/2)
2 - Mike Sherry (Garryowen/Munster)*
3 - Michael Bent (Dublin University/Leinster/2)
4 - Lewis Stevenson (Malone/Ulster)*
5 - Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster/3)
6 - Kevin McLaughlin (St.Mary's College/Leinster/5)
7 - Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)*
8 - James Coughlin (Dolphin/Munster)* Captain
Replacements:
16 - Damien Varley (Garryowen/Munster/2)
17 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster/29)
18 - Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon /Ulster/2)
19 - Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster/2)
20 - Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary's College/Leinster/1)
21 - Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster/15)
22 - Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)*
23 - Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster/2)

Good side, no real complaints, perhaps Madigan can count himself unlucky not to start, but will prob get 30 mins at least?

Quint2010

Can't really pick too many holes in that line up. Great for Coughlin being captain. Kidney really likes his no.8's as captain!

Hype710

Very happy with that team, particularly with the retention of Jackson.

That's a great team.

awec

Henderson on the bench? Would have thought he'd have started.

Hype710

totallegend wrote: »

Coughlan as captain is about the only surprise.

Jackson gets the nod to start; you'd assume (hope) Madigan will get 40 minutes. Any significance in Keatley wearing 23? i.e. is he going to be coming in at centre or full-back rather than Madigan?

He was the most obvious captain to me? Who would you have chosen? McLaughlin is probably the only other realistic candidate.

freyners

delighted to see McSharry and Henshaw get picked.

Keatley at 23 is interesting, he can cover outside centre and fullback as well as outhalf so he is a good choice imo

NoelJ

freyners wrote: »

delighted to see McSharry and Henshaw get picked.

Keatley at 23 is interesting, he can cover outside centre and fullback as well as outhalf so he is a good choice imo

Yeah really looking forward to these two and Marshall both playing. Should be a good test for them all! See if they can make the step up.

totallegend

Hype710 wrote: »

He was the most obvious captain to me? Who would you have chosen? McLaughlin is probably the only other realistic candidate.

Should probably have said "the only talking point" rather than "the only surprise", yeah he's a grand choice as captain. McLaughlin was the other option, or Trimble is by far the most experienced player in the XV. Not sure it's hugely relevant anyway.

Quint2010

Please please let Jackson or Madigan have a stormer. Please.

Hype710

On paper Stevenson and Toner sounds like a very balanced combination.

Fireball07

I like the look of that team. Hopefully we can win now.

.ak

I think it'll be a disjointed performance with so many new combos. Having Marshall with Paddy will help steer the ship tho. Excited to see Cave and McSharry together.

TBH I would've liked Gilroy to go to 23 for this, if he's going to be involved in the Irish setup regularly then some more game time could be good.

Walthari

.ak wrote: »

I think it'll be a disjointed performance with so many new combos. Having Marshall with Paddy will help steer the ship tho. Excited to see Cave and McSharry together.

TBH I would've liked Gilroy to go to 23 for this, if he's going to be involved in the Irish setup regularly then some more game time could be good.

When does an A game ever not have new combos?

Saxons face the same problems as well, even more so considering the wide selection of teams it draws its squad down from.

.ak

Aye, but when does a preseason game ever not be disjointed. I'm just pointing out the obvious is all.

We could be looking at absolute muck for the first 30.

bilston

.ak wrote: »

Aye, but when does a preseason game ever not be disjointed. I'm just pointing out the obvious is all.

We could be looking at absolute muck for the first 30.

Still what it means is that if someone is able to rise above the inevitable disjointedness they will do themselves no harm at all.

Walthari

.ak wrote: »

Aye, but when does a preseason game ever not be disjointed. I'm just pointing out the obvious is all.

We could be looking at absolute muck for the first 30.

Hmm, I have seen many an A game where the lads have hit the ground running. Will hold judgement until then, they could just as easily click.

andymx11

Overall very happy with that team.

Would maybe have liked to see Henderson starting but then again we can't have everything!

Most looking forward to seeing the centre partnership. Really hoping McSharry puts in a great performance. He's got great ability and really deserves his shot.

Jackson/Madigan 40 mins each at 10. Hopefully they both put in amazing performances and one will take ROG's place on the bench!

I am honestly looking forward to this game as much as the Welsh one. It will be great to see what our future stars perform like outside of a provinsional setting.

some_dose

Quint2010 wrote: »

Please please let Jackson or Madigan or Keatley or anyone with 2 legs who can kick a ball and replace ROG on the bench in the 6 Nations have a stormer. Please.

Fixed

thomond2006

Exciting lineup, looking forward to this one.

evil_seed

freyners wrote: »

delighted to see McSharry and Henshaw get picked.

Keatley at 23 is interesting, he can cover outside centre and fullback as well as outhalf so he is a good choice imo

They were always going to start IMO cos it's being played in the Sportsground. It's kind of a tradition at this stage that you play the few guys fom the home ground.

Can't wrap my head around Keats and Madigan both on the bench

CIARAN_BOYLE

evil_seed wrote: »

They were always going to start IMO cos it's being played in the Sportsground. It's kind of a tradition at this stage that you play the few guys fom the home ground.

Can't wrap my head around Keats and Madigan both on the bench

TOH should have gotten the 23 shirt ahead of Keatley as backthree cover in my opinion

Otacon

Anywhere for the ex-pats to watch this? Does seem to be on Sky Sports.

freyners

evil_seed wrote: »

They were always going to start IMO cos it's being played in the Sportsground. It's kind of a tradition at this stage that you play the few guys fom the home ground.

Can't wrap my head around Keats and Madigan both on the bench

Keatley can cover multiple positions, everything bar SH and 12 AFAIK. Madigan is more than likely just OH cover

CIARAN_BOYLE

freyners wrote: »

Keatley can cover multiple positions, everything bar SH and 12 AFAIK. Madigan is more than likely just OH cover

Keatley can cover 12 infact he has played 12 for Ireland before sure it was against Connacht but Kiss mentioned it this week during an interview

freyners

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Keatley can cover 12 infact he has played 12 for Ireland before sure it was against Connacht but Kiss mentioned it this week during an interview

cant remember that, even better