Ireland v. New Zealand build-up thread

Kev_2012

1 Healy
2 Best
3 Ross
4 POC
5 Toner
6 POM
7 SOB
8 Heaslip
9 Murray
10 Jackson
11 Fitzgerald
12 Marshall
13 BOD
14 Bowe
15 Kearney

16 Cronin
17 McGrath
18 Fitzpatrick (if fit)
19 DOC
20 McLaughlin
21 Reddan
22 Madigan
23 McFadden

I thought Reddan starting last week would be better than coming off the bench, but I think this week we need Murray's physicality and to steady the ship for the first 60/65 minutes. Reddan to freshen it up off the bench.

Paddy Jackson and Marshall will be more solid as a unit defensively.

Kearney was cat, but he is a world class fullback and will make up for a bad performance, same for POC.

DOC is a fantastic impact player, he just goes nuts when he comes in off the bench. Has been doing it for Munster all season.

I don't and never have really rated McFadden, I don't think he is up to standard. He nearly got caught rotten early on for pace. Fitz will do a job there.

mohawk

I know I am asking for trouble posting this but here goes nothing.

Right now we have no alternatives to Kearney so he is going to be picked next weekend. I would like to see him 'rotated' in the 6N as I feel that the lack of competition for the jersey is bad for his form.

Kearney is a good player, but IMO you can't call a player world class if he can't/won't pass the ball. He is an infuriating to watch because you know he isn't fulfilling his potential.

.ak

Most of the time when Kearney gets lambasted for not passing it isn't on. Not saying he doesn't make the mistake of taking it into contact but I can think a few stand out moments in the past 12 months where he's been dissed here for not passing when it was never on. When it is on he passes; he was key to a few try assists for Leinster coming into the business end of the season IIRC.

He's a pragmatic, percentage playing FB. People obviously aren't happy with that, they want to see his halcyon days of returning ball with venom and guile.

TBH I'd rather a guy doing the safe things at this level. He's not on song at the moment but he's still one of the better FBs in Europe at the moment. Realistically I'd only have Browne and Halfpenny ahead of him, and Browne only because he's hit a rich vein of form.

I've liked what I've seen of Zebo at FB, but he needs to tidy up his house before coming back onto the international scene. His form pre-injury wasn't great. Hopefully come 6N he can be rotated with Kearney and we'll see what the best option is then. He really is the complete polar opposite of Kearney so it'd be interesting to see what Schmidt makes of him.

.ak

Sorry folks, no buying or selling of tickets on the forum - even at face value - as it leads to all sorts of bidding and ****e. Use adverts and stick the link in your sig here if you want.

DUBACC

oops sorry ak - ill bear that in mind in future

molloyjh

Kev_2012 wrote: »

I don't and never have really rated McFadden, I don't think he is up to standard. He nearly got caught rotten early on for pace. Fitz will do a job there.

After the weekend I really don't get this about Ferg. He made more metres than anyone. Himself and Marshall were the 2 making all the line breaks and he didn't miss a single tackle. He chased kicks effectively but lost the aerial battle to truly excellent opposition which isn't something be should be dismissed for. Exactly what about his performance against Australia warrants him being dropped to the bench. And more to the point what has Bowe done in the last 2 games to warrant a spot ahead of Ferg this week? He has missed tackles, hasn't been anywhere near as effective in attack and hasn't been any better in the air

Celly Smunt

Bumped into a few of the New Zealand lads walking around grafton street today.Big lads...very big lads

On another note,I would love to see madigan get a run out this week.

Journeyman_1

Does anybody here know if NZ are doing any public events/training this week in the city?

Clearlier

it sounds like I'm in a pretty small minority in thinking that we have a shout this weekend? i think that new Zealand will underestimate us and we'll play well. i still only give us about a 30% chance but I expect that that's higher than most.

Grimebox

Clearlier wrote: »

it sounds like I'm in a pretty small minority in thinking that we have a shout this weekend? i think that new Zealand will underestimate us and we'll play well. i still only give us about a 30% chance but I expect that that's higher than most.

A 50% chance is a fair contest... I'm thinking more like 5%

Mahatma Geansai

Clearlier wrote: »

it sounds like I'm in a pretty small minority in thinking that we have a shout this weekend? i think that new Zealand will underestimate us and we'll play well. i still only give us about a 30% chance but I expect that that's higher than most.

We were beaten 4 tries to nil against an Aussie side out on the píss during the week. The New Zealand game is likely to be about damage limitation. It will take a superhuman effort and a tonne of luck to get away with a scalp on the weekend.

awec

Clearlier wrote: »

it sounds like I'm in a pretty small minority in thinking that we have a shout this weekend? i think that new Zealand will underestimate us and we'll play well. i still only give us about a 30% chance but I expect that that's higher than most.

I'll take a pint of whatever you're on. :pac:

AngeGal

Clearlier wrote: »

it sounds like I'm in a pretty small minority in thinking that we have a shout this weekend? i think that new Zealand will underestimate us and we'll play well. i still only give us about a 30% chance but I expect that that's higher than most.

I have a similar feeling, think we'll surpass all expectations and make a game out of it but lose narrowly.

Ardillaun

I'm not sure POC and Toner are a good fit. We need more grunt from the second row. I'd go with Toner for the jumping.

Re damage limitation, I think Darce and BOD might be slightly less porous outside Jackson. After these 'friendlies' we can make the big changes.

McFadden definitely deserves to play but, like Mike Brown, he's a worthy player rather than a great talent. Like LF, he depends too much on jinking inside instead of beating players by speed or running over them. And yet, despite my carping, he was our best back against Oz.

CatFromHue

I've a feeling from reading some of Schmidt's quotes that if Madigan or Jackson are to start it'll be D'arcy at 12 for his experience.

NIMAN

Can't see this ending well for us if we continue playing the way we are.

NZ -30pts might be a good bet, unfortunately.

Ardillaun

Jeekers, is McFadden injured too?

If so, I'd be tempted to go with Trimble for some robust tackling.

Kev_2012

molloyjh wrote: »

After the weekend I really don't get this about Ferg. He made more metres than anyone. Himself and Marshall were the 2 making all the line breaks and he didn't miss a single tackle. He chased kicks effectively but lost the aerial battle to truly excellent opposition which isn't something be should be dismissed for. Exactly what about his performance against Australia warrants him being dropped to the bench. And more to the point what has Bowe done in the last 2 games to warrant a spot ahead of Ferg this week? He has missed tackles, hasn't been anywhere near as effective in attack and hasn't been any better in the air

It was an overall awful performance by the whole team. McFadden looked alright in a terrible team performance. He's too slow to be a top class international winger. Did you not see him nearly get caught rotten for pace with the chip chase early on? He's not a bad player but he's not 1st choice international quality. Cory Jane or piutau will have an absolute field day against him. Did you see the kick through try scored by piutau against France? Mcfadden will get roasted by them.

former legend

Kev_2012 wrote: »

It was an overall awful performance by the whole team. McFadden looked alright in a terrible team performance. He's too slow to be a top class international winger. Did you not see him nearly get caught rotten for pace with the chip chase early on? He's not a bad player but he's not 1st choice international quality. Cory Jane or piutau will have an absolute field day against him. Did you see the kick through try scored by piutau against France? Mcfadden will get roasted by them.

The old "McFadden is too slow" chestnut. I'd back him in a foot race against any of our other wingers.

He played well in a bad team performance, but that makes no difference to your opinion? Is it not a lot easier to look good when the team is playing well?

If the other 14 lads had done as well as McFadden, we wouldn't have taken a hiding from Australia. If he's fit, he has to play against NZ, if Earls is fit then Bowe should get the bullet.

dodderangler

Well he's a concern now for the match.
He has an injury on his hand and is doubtful

Howard Juneau

awec wrote: »

I'll take a pint of whatever you're on. :pac:

He's been on Harp & Jaeger mixers

Klunk_NZ

I will be bitterly disappointed with anything under a 25 point winning margin. I'm not expecting 60-Nil either though.

Howard Juneau

Klunk_NZ wrote: »

I will be bitterly disappointed with anything under a 25 point winning margin. I'm not expecting 60-Nil either though.

Grrr! Get out, it's bad enough us thinking we're going to get beat, but when the kiwis come on & say it, shìt just got real! :P

molloyjh

Kev_2012 wrote: »

It was an overall awful performance by the whole team. McFadden looked alright in a terrible team performance. He's too slow to be a top class international winger. Did you not see him nearly get caught rotten for pace with the chip chase early on? He's not a bad player but he's not 1st choice international quality. Cory Jane or piutau will have an absolute field day against him. Did you see the kick through try scored by piutau against France? Mcfadden will get roasted by them.

So all you can really say is he was "nearly" beaten for pace but in the end wasn't? He's actually pretty fast btw. He's been far better than Bowe so far and deserves a start on that basis, i.e. that he's been arguably our best player of the series overall.

If he's out he'll be a genuine loss, whether you think it or not.

jamiedav2011

So McFadden is too slow, yet you'd put Luke Fitz in instead of him?
Does not compute.

Quint2010

I would doubt very much if Rob Kearney will feature now either. Rib cartilage injuries are very awkward and take longer than a few days to clear up. Better news on Sexton mind you and apparently BOD got a knock early on Saturday which might explain his below-par performance. If RK and McFadden are out then Henshaw and Fitzgerald to start.

accidentprone1

Any particular reason Luke Fitz wasn't included in the match-day squads?

.ak

accidentprone1 wrote: »

Any particular reason Luke Fitz wasn't included in the match-day squads?

Timing. Was just coming back from an injury and didn't have a lot of game time with Leinster to prove himself.

.ak

Just on the McFadden thing, AFAIK he's clocked as the 2nd fastest player in the squad (when Zebo is in the squad) over 100m.

Wheeker

Just read about McFadden's injury in the IT http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/mcfadden-hand-fracture-adds-to-ireland-s-tale-of-injury-woe-1.1599211. Very bad luck, he was one of the few players to at least make a go of it last Sat.

So, have I got this right- Ireland's wingers in order of preference are: Bowe, Zebo, Earls, Gilroy, McFadden, D. Kearney, Fitzgerald.... and now Jones(?!). Can someone please tell me what Andrew Trimble has done wrong to not even make Ireland's 8th best winger? This season already I have seen him play 2 or 3 potential MOTM displays for Ulster. Has he upset Joe Schmidt (& Gerry Thornley?) or something?