Ireland v. New Zealand build-up thread

ssaye2

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

Agreed, considering Earl's injury I can't understand why he wasn't called up two weeks ago. Now with BOD out he could be called on for the biggest start of his life

I hope he is tbh, Darcy ins't the answer at 13

Is this confirmed he is not playing? or is he just resting today?

Mahatma Geansai

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

There's so much incorrect with that tbh.
Firstly Heaslip is exorbitently better than SOB at controlling off the base. Our scrum will likely not be going forward too.

Secondly, Heaslip has never, as far as I'm aware, played a senior game at 7. You'd advocate starting him there against NZ and McCaw? SOB has rarely played at 8 for Leinster in the last year.

Thirdly, eh, the only difference? What about all the rest of an opensides duties?!

If one of the posters here came up with it they'd rightly be slated.

Good to see you got a dig in at Heaslip though, 'hesitant' at taking contact eh?!

Heaslip rarely loses control of the ball at the base, but he doesn't do with it either. At least playing SOB (or POM) there would give us some aggressive carrying from the base.

I proposed that SOB's just be fulfilling the 8's duties at scrum time.

It's nothing about taking a dig at Heaslip, and you jumping to the defensive about a perceived slight tells a lot about your impartiality when he is concerned. Heaslip often stutters to adjust his foot positioning before taking contact and it greatly impacts on his ability to get over the gainline.

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

It's nothing about taking a dig at Heaslip, and you jumping to the defensive about a perceived slight tells a lot about your impartiality when he is concerned. Heaslip often stutters to adjust his foot positioning before taking contact and it greatly impacts on his ability to get over the gainline.

I agree, and for the life of me can't understand why he does it so often. It's obviously important for a dynamic 8 to have footwork, but Heaslip overdoes it

He's a big lad and well able to get over the gainline. I'd like to see him picking a line and sticking with it, and maybe try and free up his hands out of the tackle

.ak

awec wrote: »

What's with the tights?

Compression gear. It's absolutely baltic outside! Last night was the first night I found it very cold training, even running about etc.

.ak

Jesus. Hope these two are fit...

http://www.sportsfile.com/id/811752/

.ak

You get the feeling even if they aren't 100% they'll play...

Hurk

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

I agree, and for the life of me can't understand why he does it so often. It's obviously important for a dynamic 8 to have footwork, but Heaslip overdoes it

He's a big lad and well able to get over the gainline. I'd like to see him picking a line and sticking with it, and maybe try and free up his hands out of the tackle

I think he's been looking very lightweight lately, at least compared to a few years back. Maybe it's the jerseys or the photos I'm looking at.

Kanrith

ssaye2 wrote: »

Is this confirmed he is not playing? or is he just resting today?

I think it is a tightness in his calf, but he is expected to play.

Grimebox

.ak wrote: »

Jesus. Hope these two are fit...

http://www.sportsfile.com/id/811752/

BOD could pass for 50 in that photo :eek:

.ak

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

I agree, and for the life of me can't understand why he does it so often. It's obviously important for a dynamic 8 to have footwork, but Heaslip overdoes it

He's a big lad and well able to get over the gainline. I'd like to see him picking a line and sticking with it, and maybe try and free up his hands out of the tackle

Thing is, he doesn't have the bone-brunching run-into-contract dynamics SOB has, but he he's a tidy unit off the base. Watch him from any scrum and I guarantee you he makes yards and presents the ball on a plate.

Thekidneybean

Dunno if already posted but who's favorite for number 11 with McFadden out now

.ak

Hurk wrote: »

I think he's been looking very lightweight lately, at least compared to a few years back. Maybe it's the jerseys or the photos I'm looking at.

He's bigger if anything... Probably not in the muscle-mass sense, but he's defo heavier.

.ak

Thekidneybean wrote: »

Dunno if already posted but who's favorite for number 11 with McFadden out now

Hard to say. Pics of Fitz training so I reckon him tbh, but could be Trimble.

Artful_Badger

Thekidneybean wrote: »

Dunno if already posted but who's favorite for number 11 with McFadden out now

Fitz I'd imagine. Joe seems keen on giving players game time rather than picking the same ol same ol and Fitz is the type of fella who kinda fits (heyoo) into both categories. Is somewhat trusted at this level but at the same time on his way up the ladder.

There is very little reason not to start him imo.

Thekidneybean

.ak wrote: »

Hard to say. Pics of Fitz training so I reckon him tbh, but could be Trimble.

Didn't you say you were training last night....something your not telling us?;)

.ak

Thekidneybean wrote: »

Didn't you say you were training last night....something your not telling us?;)

I ain't saying nothin'!

Artful_Badger

Thekidneybean wrote: »

Didn't you say you were training last night....something your not telling us?;)

Luke Fitz, fits like a glove, driving gloves, driving range, shooting range....... .ak 47 :eek:

Hurk

.ak wrote: »

He's bigger if anything... Probably not in the muscle-mass sense, but he's defo heavier.

Ya. It's a strange one.

Tox56

bilston wrote: »

Not before time

He was training with the squad at the open training session so he could well have been training with them regularly

ulster_Beef

Grimebox wrote: »

BOD could pass for 50 in that photo :eek:

Is he not like 50 now anyway lol?

He has the body of a 50 year old bricklayer

force eleven

Can an Irish National side please beat these All Blacks? I've waited a lifetime to see it. Those Munster men of 78' need a rest from the legendary status

Berticus

I'm going to be very careful here... As I'll be mentioning BOD...

IF BOD IS INJURED - I'd go with Darcy to 13, Marshall at 12. Depending on the defensive system in place, the 13 calls the pace to the line. I'd want someone with experience against the AB's doing that. Plus, quite often for Leinster under Joe Schmidt, BOD and Darcy would swap their positions in defence - with say Darcy standing at 13. Darcy isn't the future at 13, we know, but this position is something of a temporary fix for the next twelve months anyway, with retirements, injuries etc.

Luke Fitz to slot in at 11 for me.

Jackson at 10 for me - presuming Jonny is unfit.

Rob Kearney injured apparently so would have to be either Dave Kearney, Ian Madigan or Felix Jones or Henshaw. Tough decision really. My preference would be Dave Kearney or Robbie Henshaw. Likely Henshaw I'd say.

Scrum half for me is Conor Murray.

Therefore, back line of:

9. Murray
10 Jackson
11 Luke fitz
12 Luke Marshall
13 Darcy
14 Bowe
15 Henshaw

(Very much like the idea of SOB at 8. With POM at 6 and Jennings perhaps at 7.)

Kev_2012

Lads, in fairness, some people here clearly only started watching rugby recently, or are arm chair supporters who think they know the lot.

You are trying to justify McFadden by saying he is the 2nd fastest player in the squad and other reasons, yet you want to drop Kearney because he had one bad game and Bowe who has been one of our few world class players over the last few years? Are ye insane?!

Rob Kearney, if fit, will shine through as will Bowe, who is also our best defensive winger, well last week excluded.

If Earls is fit, which I thought he wasn't, then he should come on to the wing for McFadden. Only thing is, I hope his defence holds up this time instead of getting slapped out of the way like Toeava did the last time.

And Fitzgerald would roast McFadden, some serious nonsense being spoken on this thread!

Quint2010

Will the team be named on Thursday or Friday?

Swiwi.

Kev_2012 wrote: »

Lads, in fairness, some people here clearly only started watching rugby recently, or are arm chair supporters who think they know the lot.

You are trying to justify McFadden by saying he is the 2nd fastest player in the squad and other reasons, yet you want to drop Kearney because he had one bad game and Bowe who has been one of our few world class players over the last few years? Are ye insane?!

Rob Kearney, if fit, will shine through as will Bowe, who is also our best defensive winger, well last week excluded.

If Earls is fit, which I thought he wasn't, then he should come on to the wing for McFadden. Only thing is, I hope his defence holds up this time instead of getting slapped out of the way like Toeava did the last time.

And Fitzgerald would roast McFadden, some serious nonsense being spoken on this thread!

In your opinion...:P

molloyjh

Swiwi. wrote: »

In your opinion...:P

Which is questionable at best.

I am pie

When you lose senior players, it really doesn't make an awful lot of sense to start dropping the remaining players you have in a game which, if we are honest, is relegated to damage limitation. If we can stay within 20 points I'd be happy and the blow won't be too severe in terms of morale for the 6N campaign.

If we get blown out of the water by 40 or more, a real possibility then the knock on effect might not be so encouraging.

jacothelad

.ak wrote: »

Fitz and Trimble can cover Kearney and McFadden. I wouldn't have too much worry about them stepping up as they're proven internationals, but I'd be worried about Fitz at FB as he could be badly exposed again. Out of all the players I'll be hoping Kearney is fit for sunday.

Not Fitz at full back. FFS. He was feckin' brutally awful there. You must have a short memory or a serious man crush. He's a good player but the volume of faith in him that avalanches across these threads has never been borne out by reality. He's not as quick as some believe nor is he as good a defender as some believe and in attack he certainly has good footwork but he has flaws there too.

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

David Wallace advocating starting SOB at 8 and Heaslip at 7 this weekend.

Seriously?!

Too many bangs to the head. SOB would be fine at 8 but Heaslip isn't a 7. Better left where he is.

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

Agreed, considering Earl's injury I can't understand why he wasn't called up two weeks ago. Now with BOD out he could be called on for the biggest start of his life

I hope he is tbh, Darcy ins't the answer at 13

I'd prefer Darcy at 12 and Marshall at 13 if they were the only fit ones tbh. Neither Trimble nor Cave will get within a long 3 wood of the team and hopefully they will get back to Ulster rather than scratch his hoop around the camp once the team is named. Scrabbling about for players is pretty unedifying. Not Joe's fault at all. This all should have been sorted as an ongoing system improvement since 2009. You can see why his first big effort is to do just that.

jamiedav2011

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Heaslip rarely loses control of the ball at the base, but he doesn't do with it either. At least playing SOB (or POM) there would give us some aggressive carrying from the base.

I proposed that SOB's just be fulfilling the 8's duties at scrum time.

It's nothing about taking a dig at Heaslip, and you jumping to the defensive about a perceived slight tells a lot about your impartiality when he is concerned. Heaslip often stutters to adjust his foot positioning before taking contact and it greatly impacts on his ability to get over the gainline.

Mate, I don't think you've much of a cause to be talking about impartiality.

.ak

jacothelad wrote: »

Not Fitz at full back. FFS. He was feckin' brutally awful there. You must have a short memory or a serious man crush. He's a good player but the volume of faith in him that avalanches across these threads has never been borne out by reality. He's not as quick as some believe nor is he as good a defender as some believe and in attack he certainly has good footwork but he has flaws there too.
.

Easy there Jaco, try rereading my post. I said he CAN cover there but I'd be worried about him there as he'd be exposed. If that's what you consider a man crush then your just a hopeless romantic!