Ireland vs Scotland build up thread

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

We haven't actually talked much the actual match over the last few days. I can only hope and assume the squad aren't taking such a lax view of the Scots (although I doubt they're sitting around bitching about the Zebo omission)

Anyway Scotland have been a sticky wicket for us lately, but hopefully with a new coach we can make our superior quality in virtually every sector count

I'd go for:

15 Kearney
14 McFadden
13 BOD
12 Marshall
11 Fitz
10 Sexton
9 Murray
8 Heaslip
7 Henry
6 POM
5 POC
4 Toner
3 Moore
2 Cronin
1 Healy

16 Best
17 McGrath
18 Ross
19 Henderson
20 TOD
21 Reddan
22 Jackson
23 Henshaw

Bit of rotation ahead of next week (namely Marshall and Cronin for Darcy and Best). Healy to be shipped off after 60 minutes when we hopefully will hold a commanding lead

Marshall to target the soft 9-10 axis Scotland will have. If Jackson starts at 10 I'll be very happy

thomond2006

First Six Nations in a long time with ROG not involved. It feels strange.

briantwin

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

If Jackson starts at 10 I'll be very happy

First game of 6N and you want to start Paddy Jackson at 10?

Are you a blood relative of his or something?! (joke)

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

Don't worry, the Munster/Leinster divide has found something else to fall out about

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

briantwin wrote: »

First game of 6N and you want to start Paddy Jackson at 10?

Are you a blood relative of his or something?! (joke)

Ruadhri Jackson, the Scottish 10

briantwin

Thanks for that. It makes so much more sense.

andymx11

The more I think about it the more I think Ruddock will be the curve ball starting at 6. Wouldn't consider any of the wing choices, loose head or inside center a curve ball so where else will it come from? O'Donnell instead of Henry? But I dont see it. Obviously there doesn't have to be one- but i just assume there will be!

stephen_n

As always against the Scots it will be the battle of the backrows that determine the game, we need quick ball at the rucks and Scotland will do everything in their power, to stop that. For that reason I think Henry has to start, he is the only real out and out 7 we have. Both POM and Heaslip will probably step up to fill the carrying duties of SOB, I'd expect to see Heaslip out in the wider Chanel's again on Sunday as he was against New Zealand.

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

stephen_n wrote: »

As always against the Scots it will be the battle of the backrows that determine the game, we need quick ball at the rucks and Scotland will do everything in their power, to stop that. For that reason I think Henry has to start, he is the only real out and out 7 we have. Both POM and Heaslip will probably step up to fill the carrying duties of SOB, I'd expect to see Heaslip out in the wider Chanel's again on Sunday as he was against New Zealand.

Tommy O Donnell?

Kayless

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

We haven't actually talked much the actual match over the last few days. I can only hope and assume the squad aren't taking such a lax view of the Scots (although I doubt they're sitting around bitching about the Zebo omission)

Anyway Scotland have been a sticky wicket for us lately, but hopefully with a new coach we can make our superior quality in virtually every sector count

I'd go for:

15 Kearney
14 McFadden
13 BOD
12 Marshall
11 Fitz
10 Sexton
9 Murray
8 Heaslip
7 Henry
6 POM
5 POC
4 Toner
3 Moore
2 Cronin
1 Healy

16 Best
17 McGrath
18 Ross
19 Henderson
20 TOD
21 Reddan
22 Jackson
23 Henshaw

Bit of rotation ahead of next week (namely Marshall and Cronin for Darcy and Best). Healy to be shipped off after 60 minutes when we hopefully will hold a commanding lead

Marshall to target the soft 9-10 axis Scotland will have. If Jackson starts at 10 I'll be very happy

Really good team and the bench looks impressive. However,I think Schmidt will start his strongest team or at least the team he want's to play against Wales to give them some game time together.

This is actually the team I would like to see start against Italy with TOD at 7 and Jackson at 10, I can't see BOD playing all of the games so might also see Henshaw came in for BOD in that one in which case Sexton starts ahead of Jackson.

The Pheasant2

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

I'd go for:

15 Kearney
14 McFadden
13 BOD
12 Marshall
11 Fitz
10 Sexton
9 Murray
8 Heaslip
7 Henry
6 POM
5 POC
4 Toner
3 Moore
2 Cronin
1 Healy

16 Best
17 McGrath
18 Ross
19 Henderson
20 TOD
21 Reddan
22 Jackson
23 Henshaw

Thought Henderson went very well for the Wolfhounds, although on form I think it'd be really unfair to leave Mike McCarthy out - he's been huge for Leinster lately with massive amounts of work in the tackle and at the breakdown. His carrying wouldn't be up to Henderson's standard but he's certainly improved that aspect of his game throughout this season.

trackguy

Kearney
McFadden/ Kearney
BOD
Marshall
Fitzgerald
Sexton
Reddan
Heaslip
Henry
POM
POC
Toner
Ross
Best
Healy

That would be my preferred team for the first game. I'd like to see the replacement front row given plenty of gametime along with Jackson, Henshaw etc

Slightly worried by lack of gainline-breakers in the pack which is another way of saying I miss Sean O'Brien.

former legend

I'll have a stab at the Scotland team so:

Hogg, Maitland, Lamont, Scott, Evans, Jackson, Laidlaw
Grant, Ford, Low, Gray, Hamilton, Brown, Beattie, Denton

It'll be along those lines anyway; might see De Luca in the centre but Scott and Lamont are better players.

Out-half is a serious concern for them; neither Jackson nor Weir would strike terror into any international defence; Greig Tonks is continuing his conversion to an out-half in the 'A' game against England this weekend so that might bear fruit later on in the tournament.

That back-three of Hogg, Maitland and Evans has serious gas; they'll miss Visser's finishing ability (injured) but still a threat.

And of course, a Sunday match = no Euan Murray.

thomond2006

Euan Murray is missing the tournament anyway, he cut his thumb at a team-building BBQ!

http://www.espn.co.uk/scotland/rugby/story/211129.html

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

Jackson and Weir really are as bad as each other. Like many Scottish tens that have come before them (Goodman anyone?), I have a degree of sympathy for them because they simply don't have the ability. Dan Parks was probably Scotland's best outhalf of late and he cited the abuse he used to get as a big reason for retiring from the international game

thomond2006

Scotland must be annoyed to have missed out on Tommaso/Tommy Allan who played for Scotland at U20s level but is now capped for Italy.

ssaye2

Dont give Scotland easy fecking penalties. Keep the ball, run them ragged with the intensity of the first 20 minutes of the NZ game and keep your discipline.

Hoping the weather changes as it can be a leveller and laidlaw of whoever will take his points.

Ireland to win the key battles and I expect a win by 8-15 points.

If its really close with 10 minutes to play I will be disappointed.

thomond2006

For those interested, Richie Gray has been a regular in the Castres team recently:

http://www.lnr.fr/richard-gray,16030.html

former legend

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

Jackson and Weir really are as bad as each other. Like many Scottish tens that have come before them (Goodman anyone?), I have a degree of sympathy for them because they simply don't have the ability. Dan Parks was probably Scotland's best outhalf of late and he cited the abuse he used to get as a big reason for retiring from the international game

Really? Wow, never heard that.

But Scotland have tended to produce these sort of staid, reliable but not very dynamic out-halves for a while alright so it would be good to see this Tonks experiment pan out, he might bring a bit of attacking ability to the game, we might even see the Hogg experiment revived. With Laidlaw at 9, he's doing a lot of the game management anyway so there is scope for a bit of unpredictability at 10.

ssaye2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxNzPL97-a8

trackguy

I'd like to see some of the varied attacking play through the forwards, as per NZ game instead of the one-out runner approach of the Kidney era.

It is that predictable running through the forwards that often dragged us down to the level of inferior teams.

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

former legend wrote: »

I'll have a stab at the Scotland team so:

Hogg, Maitland, Lamont, Scott, Evans, Jackson, Laidlaw
Grant, Ford, Low, Gray, Hamilton, Brown, Beattie, Denton

It'll be along those lines anyway; might see De Luca in the centre but Scott and Lamont are better players.

Out-half is a serious concern for them; neither Jackson nor Weir would strike terror into any international defence; Greig Tonks is continuing his conversion to an out-half in the 'A' game against England this weekend so that might bear fruit later on in the tournament.

That back-three of Hogg, Maitland and Evans has serious gas; they'll miss Visser's finishing ability (injured) but still a threat.

And of course, a Sunday match = no Euan Murray.

Bar Kelly Brown there's not much bite in that backrow. Denton could be in for a rude awakening with Chris Henry marshaling him

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

former legend wrote: »

Really? Wow, never heard that.

But Scotland have tended to produce these sort of staid, reliable but not very dynamic out-halves for a while alright so it would be good to see this Tonks experiment pan out, he might bring a bit of attacking ability to the game, we might even see the Hogg experiment revived. With Laidlaw at 9, he's doing a lot of the game management anyway so there is scope for a bit of unpredictability at 10.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/feb/07/six-nations-2012-dan-parks-retires good read on it

ssaye2

got this
confirmed
http://www.scottishrugby.org/news/14/01/29/quartet-tune-championship-bow

Scotland team to play Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin on Sunday 2 February in the RBS 6 Nations Championship, kick-off 3pm

15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) 15 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

14 Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps, 1 try, 5 points
13 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps, 1 try, 5 points
12 Duncan Taylor (Saracens) 6 caps
11 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) 82 caps, 12 tries, 60 points

10 Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps, 1 try, 2 conversions, 9 points
9 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) 24 caps, 3 tries, 23 conversions, 54 penalties, 223 points

1 Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors) 13 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) 71 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
3 Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors) 23 caps
4 Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps
5 Jim Hamilton (Montpellier) 50 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) 4 caps
7 Kelly Brown (Saracens) CAPTAIN 60 caps, 4 tries, 20 points
8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby) 17 caps

Substitutes

16 Pat MacArthur (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps
17 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) 30 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
18 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby) 23 caps, 1 try, 5 points
19 Richie Gray (Castres) 33 caps, 1 try, 5 points
20 Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier) 26 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
21 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) 64 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
22 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby) 16 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
23 Max Evans (Castres) 37 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa). Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) and Mike Fraser (New Zealand). TMO: Carlo Damasco (Italy)

danthefan

Looks fairly uninspired imo, but if they're well organised they could be quite tough to break down. They're going to kick, a lot.

former legend

Wow, I was way off!

Some big calls there. Swinson has been impressive but didn't expect Gray to be dropped. No out-half cover on the bench so presume either Laidlaw or Hogg would step in.

Hmmm

trackguy

What's Swinson like in the lineout?

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

at least they had the sense to drop Richie Grey

thomond2006

Nick de Luca has been robbed, top class centre at international level.

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

Is that actually the team? Not doubting ssaye2 but it seems very early to be naming a team for a Sunday game!

thomond2006

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

Is that actually the team? Not doubting ssaye2 but it seems very early to be naming a team for a Sunday game!

There's the link: http://www.scottishrugby.org/news/14/01/29/quartet-tune-championship-bow

Anyone know much about Dunbar in the centre?

.ak

We should be naming our team today or tomorrow then?

former legend

thomond2006 wrote: »

Anyone know much about Dunbar in the centre?

He's a big unit but he can play as well, could be a threat if he gets the ball in decent positions. He's looked good for Glasgow alright, bit of a step up for him now.

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

.ak wrote: »

We should be naming our team today or tomorrow then?

Friday

Classic Ireland!

But you can undestand why we leave it late. Now the Irish guys have an extra few days training knowing Weir will be at ten instead of Jackson, both woeful outhalfs but with different weaknesses that I'm sure Schmidt will target

ssaye2

http://inpho.ie/assignment/Ireland-Rugby-Squad-Training-Wednesday/erplMpMSFZDzbExUyvqDXg..a?ts=aoofAMaKGSCU0XjC-gCmPg..a


BOD looks so relaxed, its gonna be good

http://www.sportsfile.com/more-images/1401211/

ionadnapokot

HE is good to go! i hate to see him bloody kicking though!

trackguy

http://inpho.ie/media/cxsCsvgzMm4lKC5Fq3yMzQ..a?wosid=nXvtU1pPE62i7xbbKt30c0&woinst=1&ts=KioRoUR1IbQsyJXhBzlGBBOeVMMBymTYKES1tn3oBEU.a

Henshaw is starting in the 2nd row with POC

ssaye2

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

trackguy wrote: »

http://inpho.ie/media/cxsCsvgzMm4lKC5Fq3yMzQ..a?wosid=nXvtU1pPE62i7xbbKt30c0&woinst=1&ts=KioRoUR1IbQsyJXhBzlGBBOeVMMBymTYKES1tn3oBEU.a

Henshaw is starting in the 2nd row with POC

Henshaw for Toner

Toner for BOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXQeyugDTc4

19543261

......:cool:

stephen_n

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

Tommy O Donnell?

Don't think TOD is the same sort of 7 as Henry, He's more in the mould of SOB as in a big ball carrier, but Henry's better in and around the rucks IMO

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

stephen_n wrote: »

Don't think TOD is the same sort of 7 as Henry, He's more in the mould of SOB as in a big ball carrier, but Henry's better in and around the rucks IMO

ya that's true but it doesn't make him any less of a "genuine seven"

stephen_n

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

ya that's true but it doesn't make him any less of a "genuine seven"

No but Henry is a specialist seven like Jenno, TOD is an anywhere across the backrow player, like SOB and I just think Joe will go for that, given the way Scotland play but then again you never know.

rrpc

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

ya that's true but it doesn't make him any less of a "genuine seven"

George Hook never actually defined what a 'genuine seven' does.








Where's me coat?

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

stephen_n wrote: »

No but Henry is a specialist seven like Jenno, TOD is an anywhere across the backrow player, like SOB and I just think Joe will go for that, given the way Scotland play but then again you never know.

Jennings is more in the mold of TOD than Henry

And Henry is more versatile and has more experience than TOD playing at 6 and 7!

former legend

stephen_n wrote: »

No but Henry is a specialist seven like Jenno, TOD is an anywhere across the backrow player, like SOB and I just think Joe will go for that, given the way Scotland play but then again you never know.

OK, I don't mean this to sound snippy, but where is this notion coming from? Has O'Donnell played any meaningful games outside of 7?

MongotheBongo

former legend wrote: »

OK, I don't mean this to sound snippy, but where is this notion coming from? Has O'Donnell played any meaningful games outside of 7?

Hes an all rounder and has the skillset to play any of the positions across the backrow. In my opinion thats what makes him the most talented youngster in the country

duckysauce

tbm wrote: »

that's sad :rolleyes:

ssaye2

MongotheBongo wrote: »

Hes an all rounder and contains the skillset to play any of the positions across the backrow. In my opinion thats what makes him the most talented youngster in the country

TOD is 26 and again another sweeping generalisation

Hagz

MongotheBongo wrote: »

Hes an all rounder and contains the skillset to play any of the positions across the backrow. In my opinion thats what makes him the most talented youngster in the country

Youngster? He'll be 27 in the summer...

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

MongotheBongo wrote: »

Hes an all rounder and has the skillset to play any of the positions across the backrow. In my opinion thats what makes him the most talented youngster in the country

Jesus, the hyperoble is strong in this one

For such an all rounder it's weird that for the last two seasons he's played virtually every game for club and country in the one position?

MongotheBongo

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

Jesus, the hyperoble is strong in this one

For such an all rounder it's weird that for the last two seasons he's played virtually every game for club and country in the one position?

For the last two seasons (when fit) he has been one of the best opensides in europe so not that weird at all really.