Wales vs Ireland RWC warmup buildup - IT'S ONLY ON BBC WALES

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Okay, but the point is that it's a highly unlikely scenario where there's nobody bar a winger to step into the centre.

Happened last 6N. Two 6N ago Peter O'Mahony had to move to wing.

Boss was much better than Reddan at the end of last season...

Boss was fine, not great. Which says a lot about Reddan!

connachta

Deleted User wrote: »

Boss was much better than Reddan at the end of last season...

Boss was fine, not great. Which says a lot about Reddan!

Maybe but for international games Boss never made it, don't know why he would now. Even McGrath threatens him in Leinster IMO

If we bring 3 SH, it should be Marmion, if not just Murray and Reddan

connachta

connachta wrote: »

Maybe but for international games Boss never made it, don't know why he would now. Even McGrath threatens him in Leinster IMO

If we bring 3 SH, it should be Marmion, if not just Murray and Reddan

Boss was easily the best option at the end of the season at Leinster. McGrath wasn't #2 either.

Leinster have a problem at 9.

connachta

connachta wrote: »

Maybe but for international games Boss never made it

He has 22 caps and has played in two world cups. What are you talking about?

connachta wrote: »

Maybe but for international games Boss never made it, don't know why he would now. Even McGrath threatens him in Leinster IMO

If we bring 3 SH, it should be Marmion, if not just Murray and Reddan

Reddan has a lot of experience and went well in 2015 6N. Boss was the second best Irish qualified scrummie at the end of the season and Marmion's form dipped to the point of being a liability at times for Connacht. I'm not that fussed who between Marmion and Boss goes, but I'd say it's more likely that Boss will go.

I actually felt that Cooney was going better than Marmion or McGrath by the end of last season.

connachta

Deleted User wrote: »

Boss was easily the best option at the end of the season at Leinster. McGrath wasn't #2 either.

Leinster have a problem at 9.

It's called "age", everybody can't be Stringer or 20 y-o machine like Marmion

total former

Here's an eye-opening stat; Isaac Boss has only 21 caps, only 7 international starts, but this will be his third World Cup. He was good after Christmas last season, which was handy because Reddan fell off a cliff.

I don't think Marmion is on Joe's radar at all though, he's been in plenty of training squads so he's had chances to impress the coaches, I'd be very surprised if he makes it and wouldn't be shocked if he got zero game time in the warmups.

connachta

connachta wrote: »

It's called "age", everybody can't be Stringer or 20 y-o machine like Marmion

The WC is in 6 weeks not 2 years though. It's about picking the best players now.

connachta

Deleted User wrote: »

He has 22 caps and has played in two world cups. What are you talking about?

I'm talking about converting himself as starter on the teamsheet, he had occasion and didn 't step up


Reddan has a lot of experience and went well in 2015 6N. Boss was the second best Irish qualified scrummie at the end of the season and Marmion's form dipped to the point of being a liability at times for Connacht. I'm not that fussed who between Marmion and Boss goes, but I'd say it's more likely that Boss will go.

I actually felt that Cooney was going better than Marmion or McGrath by the end of last season.

I'm not thinkin about the end of last season. What's relevant is long term (on the last 2 years Marmion was far above Boss) or real short term i.e the current shape now. Not a mix of both.

molloyjh

total former wrote: »

He hasn't played any meaningful rugby there in years though. We might see it for 20 minutes at the end of a game but not in a starting line up.

.ak wrote: »

Well that's if we see Madigan getting the 22 jersey... But yeah, you'd imagine Madigan would step in at 12... but at 13 I'm not sure. Also, we're presuming Madigan hasn't replaced Sexton at this stage.

Both Bowe and Earls have played 13 in the last 12 months under Joe. Bowe moved there during one of the AIs and Earls started the Wolfhounds game there in January. You'd have to figure that one of these 2 guys are being lines up as Paynes back-up.

connachta

Deleted User wrote: »

The WC is in 6 weeks not 2 years though. It's about picking the best players now.

Yeah now, not 3 months ago. Try both Marmion and Boss Saturday, and we'll get the real answer

total former

connachta wrote: »

Yeah now, not 3 months ago. Try both Marmion and Boss Saturday, and we'll get the real answer

Marmion has had a few weeks in Ireland camp now, the coaches will have learned far more about their merits in that time than they will in a warmup game between two experimental sides that have never played as units before.

Which is the problem with these games I suppose, we've no idea how much importance the coaches place in them. I reckon Joe has 95% of the squad decided and hardly anyone is going to play their way in. Injuries and TOL-style meltdowns will be the only major factors in changing his mind to any great extent.

It will be frustrating for fans if e.g. Gilroy tears it up but McFadden travels, or Jackson has a mare with Keatley not even involved, but that's the way it is I reckon.

justsomebloke

connachta wrote: »

Yeah now, not 3 months ago. Try both Marmion and Boss Saturday, and we'll get the real answer

no point, he won't get enough game time overall to be prepared for WC level as everyone else will need game time before it starts. Boss while not a great option is still a more known quantity at this level so probably won't loss his head (well not that much).

wp_rathead

Boss is without doubt ahead of Marmion in the SH pecking order - I'd be shocked if Marmion gets the seat at his expense for RWC

Funk It

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I actually felt that Cooney was going better than Marmion or McGrath by the end of last season.

I'm a big fan of Marmion, but agree with this completely.

connachta

justsomebloke wrote: »

no point, he won't get enough game time overall to be prepared for WC level as everyone else will need game time before it starts. Boss while not a great option is still a more known quantity at this level so probably won't loss his head (well not that much).

Marmion was tired when he went to the camps (played every week for Connacht). And you condamn him to prefer the experience of Boss. But when the same argument comes for White ahead of Furlong, you (not you in particular:o) reject it, ignoring it's relevant, White played in N-Z, knows how to handle the southern hemisphere style of playing

smiley_face

sydthebeat wrote: »

players who i think should definitely play on saturday

7 henry
6 murphy
12 payne
13 henshaw
11 earls
14 trimble (if 100%)
10 Jackson
4 henderson

after that a lot of choices are 50 / 50
eg best / cronin
touhy / ryan
jones / zebo (zebo to wing if trimble not 100%)
reddan / boss (though starting murray with jackson would make sense)


if jamie is to be bubble wrapped then i think we could see
6 henderson 7 henry 8 murphy
with
4 ryan 5 touhy

im not sure TOD will make the plane therefore is there any sense in giving him gametime?

We'll know soon enough, (1.45pm today) but,
I would like to see guys that are presently unknown quantities.
With about 5 to 10 players going to be cut in the next 10 days, this could be their last chance to impress.
It would put a lot of pressure on them, similar to the pressure experienced at the World Cup. Make or break, you'd be cut if you didn't perform well enough.
That to me would be the most interesting way to approach selection, especially seeing as Wales are putting out a very experimental team, would be a waste to put out a full strength team against that.

Here's my effort at an experimental pack to match Wales,
(LP) 1. Kilcoyne, (H) 2. Strauss, (TP) 3. Furlong
(LL) 4. Tuohy, (TL) 5. Ryan
(BF) 6. Henderson, (No.8) 8. Murphy, (OF) 7. Henry,

(H) 16. Herring
(LP) 17. Buckley
(TP) 18. White
(Lock) already have 3, Hendo to move if needed,
(Back Row) 19. O'Donnell
(Back Row) 20. Conan

O'Donnell to come on at 55 for Henry.
Conan to come on at 70 for Murphy.
If any injury to Tuohy/Ryan/Henderson, would bring Conan in at 6.

Here's my effort at an experimental backline to match Wales,
(SH) 9. Marmion
(OH) 10. Jackson
(IC) 12. Reid, (OC) 13. Earls
(LW) 11. Dave Kearney, (RW) 14. Trimble
(FB) 15. Gilroy

21. Boss
22. Cave
23. McFadden

Boss to come on at 55 for Marmion.
Cave to come on at 55 for Earls.
McFadden to come on at 55 for Trimble and to swap to LW,
moving Gilroy to RW and Dave Kearney to FB.

Couldn't fit in Bent or D'Arcy, but could possibly swap Bent for White or Furlong, and D'Arcy for Cave.

connachta

wp_rathead wrote: »

Boss is without doubt ahead of Marmion in the SH pecking order - I'd be shocked if Marmion gets the seat at his expense for RWC

:eek: How.. How could you.. you're dead to me:D

connachta

total former wrote: »

Hah?

Also: Wasn't Cooney playing more of the rugby by end of season?

I was answering the guys saying he had chances in the past trainning camps, not about this one. On the contrary, Cooney played a lot in the end it's true, so Marmion is fresher for RWC:D

wp_rathead

connachta wrote: »

:eek: How.. How could you.. you're dead to me:D

Ha ah look, I prefere Marmion as a player but Boss more suited to Joe's gameplan.

connachta

wp_rathead wrote: »

Ha ah look, I prefere Marmion as a player but Boss more suited to Joe's gameplan.

connachta wrote: »

Marmion was tired when he went to the camps (played every week for Connacht). And you condamn him to prefer the experience of Boss. But when the same argument comes for White ahead of Furlong, you (not you in particular:o) reject it, ignoring it's relevant, White played in N-Z, knows how to handle the southern hemisphere style of playing

And what do you say about that point in White vs Furlong controversy? (I give you one last chance ^^)

Buer

total former wrote: »

Here's an eye-opening stat; Isaac Boss has only 21 caps, only 7 international starts, but this will be his third World Cup.

I think that has a lot to with the finer details that we're not privy to which saw Quinlan selected for a Lions tour and Jennings go to the last RWC. While all fine players in their own right, these lads are brilliant characters to have around a squad. When you're together for a short amount of time and need leaders and strong characters within a set up, they're the guys who keep others going and put huge effort into preparing the first choice players.

I believe that Boss is very much in that mould. His presence is strongly felt off the pitch even if he's not involved on it.

With all that said, Boss was undoubtedly playing better rugby in the last few months than Marmion anyway. Cooney was probably the pick of the bunch though, for me.

connachta

Buer wrote: »

With all that said, Boss was undoubtedly playing better rugby in the last few months than Marmion anyway. Cooney was probably the pick of the bunch though, for me.

Once again why "last month", and not last years (Marmion far ahead) or last weeks in the camp (we don't know who's in better shape right now, good/bad in April doesn't mean at all good/bad in the following September). You highlight only the few weeks going Boss' way

leonard7

i'm about to have my lunch and still no sign of an ireland team

.ak

Buer wrote: »

I think that has a lot to with the finer details that we're not privy to which saw Quinlan selected for a Lions tour and Jennings go to the last RWC. While all fine players in their own right, these lads are brilliant characters to have around a squad. When you're together for a short amount of time and need leaders and strong characters within a set up, they're the guys who keep others going and put huge effort into preparing the first choice players.

I believe that Boss is very much in that mould. His presence is strongly felt off the pitch even if he's not involved on it.

With all that said, Boss was undoubtedly playing better rugby in the last few months than Marmion anyway. Cooney was probably the pick of the bunch though, for me.

Apparently Boss is an absolute beast in the gym and in fitness tests. A lot of what he does probably rubs off on the younger guys, especially when gym sessions are actually competitive (progress, weight vs bodyweight ratios etc are all tracked and there's a leader board).

Leinster did a conditioning session in FFS and Boss destroyed everyone else in any of the condition tests. He had like some crazy record for chins, like almost 100, without stopping.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Watch it live! If that floats your boat.

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/35159.php

connachta

leonard7 wrote: »

i'm about to have my lunch and still no sign of an ireland team

Ireland team to face Wales

1) Leinster's starter
2) Leinster's back-up
3) Leinster's substitute of the back-up guy
4) BOD
5) Shane Horgan
6) Any Molly Malone singer
7) if a bomb falls on Dublin, than one of these stupid Westeners

.ak

leonard7 wrote: »

i'm about to have my lunch and still no sign of an ireland team

Ha!

All joking aside, why does it take so long to get the names out. Like, they're not waiting on player's fitness, Wales already know what sort of team we're gonna put out, if they're even interested... Is it just tardiness or is there some logic behind it?

.ak

connachta wrote: »

Ireland team to face Wales

1) Leinster's starter
2) Leinster's back-up
3) Leinster substitute of the back-up guy
4) BOD
5) Shane Horgan
6) Any Molly Malone singer
7) if a bomb falls on Dublin, than one of these stupid Westerns

Ah c'mon that's just ridiculous...






If a bomb drops on Dublin we'll look up North for players.

scott1974

connachta wrote: »

Ireland team to face Wales

1) Leinster's starter
2) Leinster's back-up
3) Leinster's substitute of the back-up guy
4) BOD
5) Shane Horgan
6) Any Molly Malone singer
7) if a bomb falls on Dublin, than one of these stupid Westeners

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