Italy v Ireland Build Up Thread

Ireland travel to Italy this weekend to play a game of rugby. Discuss.

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058285324/italy-v-ireland-build-up-thread

I expect minimal changes outside of the injury enforced changes, since there's a rest week again next week.

Even with the changes, we'll win this comfortably, and will probably rack up a decent score.

Wouldn't be surprised if we get 50+ points.

Dave_The_Sheep

Oh for f*ck's sake.

Clegg

Like Awec said above; given the injury enforced changes that Farrell has to make, I doubt we'll see rotation elsewhere. Henderson and Byrne will come in for Beirne and Sexton. Other than that it'll be mostly the same selection. Maybe Kelleher to start ahead of Sheehan at a push.

I don't expect much change to the bench either. Baird will probably get the nod at lock cover and Crowley to cover 10. Other than that I can't see Conan losing the 20 jersey or Aki the 23. Both have made solid impacts from the bench and I think we'll go for that continued consistency.

Porter/Kelleher/Bealham

Henderson/Ryan

PoM/Doris/VDF

Murray/Byrne

McCloskey/Ringrose

Lowe/Keenan/Hansen

phog

Now that Joey and Crowley are in camp and it looks like Murray & Casey will be scrumhalfs should Andy stick with the combos that play together rather than have Byrne in there.

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120271433#Comment_120271433

I really doubt it. If Sexton is out he will give Byrne the chance to start with Crowley on the bench.

lawrencesummers

Ive a feeling we might see some of the bench players from the first two rounds like AKi starting, killer etc.

Maybe casey and conan getting 60 mins with the bench able to have a massive impact.

Pudsy33

I'd like to see Casey in from the start, I thought he was excellent when he came on last week

SaoPaulo41

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120271231#Comment_120271231

I would be very surprised if we scored 50+ Italy are no mugs. If we had full strength team we probably wouldn't score that against this team.

They have vastly improved their discipline, they stay in games until the end. Garbisi will be back who is a much better player than Allen. Their back row is excellent.

I think it could be like 36-19 to Ireland.

Quin_Dub

I don't see 50 points but I do see a BP win with some degree of comfort, Ireland by more than 2 scores (17-20 point margin)

Irelands structure and pressure will break the Italians down.

They are a lot better than they have been in the past but decision making under pressure is still a big issue for them and Ireland will exert far more pressure than France or England did.

lawrencesummers

The one noticeable attribute of our play is the near complete lack of errors both forced and unforced.

If we keep that intensity and quality in our play we wont be beaten, the margin will depend on other factors.

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120271433#Comment_120271433

If combos mattered that much Ross Byrne would have been brought in to replace Sexton previously. It was no issue for Carberry to start JGP.

phog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120271758#Comment_120271758

Previously Byrne wasn't of a standard that would have him starting.

Now (imho) Byrne & Carbery are very close so changing to have a combo that know each other a bit better might give you a boost.

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120271778#Comment_120271778

It will be interesting to see if it’s Carberry or Crowley who gets selected. It would be a very strange decision to start Carberry from outside the squad. I would doubt having familiar combos would make that much of a difference. When it never was before.

Shehal

If people think this will be a high scoring game just remember Adamson is the ref. He's a ref directly from the Glasgow Warriors rugby forum and will penalise every single thing he can and completely destroy any semblance of this being a free flowing game.

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120271812#Comment_120271812

Ya. I don’t think Carbery will start either. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was on the bench tho.

phog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120271812#Comment_120271812

He's not outside the squad.

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120271868#Comment_120271868

I’m fairly sure you know that he was outside the squad until this week. So therefore would be coming into start from outside the squad if he started this weekend.

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120271859#Comment_120271859

Maybe but I’m not sure what the point in having Crowley in the squad is, if that’s the case.

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120271882#Comment_120271882

I think if Sexton had been fit and RB, injured, he might be happier with Crowley in the 23 then.

With RB starting, I can see a case for Carbery on the bench.

No issue with either, mind.

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120271951#Comment_120271951

I think if Murray starts and he probably will. There will be no issue with Crowley benching. It’s unlikely he will bench in any of the other games unless Sextons injury is worse than they are letting on. We know at this stage what Carberry brings. So it’s a good opportunity for Crowley.

phog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120271879#Comment_120271879

Yes but he is in the squad this week. Which gives him a few days to refamilarise himself with the team. Others have done it before and others will do it again in the future.

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120272029#Comment_120272029

Who came from outside the squad to starting. When the options ahead of them were fit?

Also Byrne doing the press today would strongly suggest he’s starting, so is probably a moot point.

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120271778#Comment_120271778

He wasn't, but he has improved massively.

There is zero chance he goes from benching behind Sexton to outside of the 23 with Sexton missing and I think you know that!

lawrencesummers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120271835#Comment_120271835

Don't forget he will happily penalise things that didn't happen also.

tjhook

I'd love to see Ireland winning well against Italy. But Italy have surprised me with their performances this year. I've seen many an Irish team over the years beat good teams and then take "weaker" teams for granted and fall.

It's not often an Irish team is ranked first in the world in a sport... it's deserved in this case, Long may it last!

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120272769#Comment_120272769

I've seen many an Irish team over the years beat good teams and then take "weaker" teams for granted and fall.

In rugby or in general?

Because this has not generally been the rugby team's downfall. More often we've gone to teams on an equal keel with us on paper and been disappointingly beaten.

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120271835#Comment_120271835

a ref directly from the Glasgow Warriors rugby forum

I've read this line over and over and cannot figure out what it means.

tjhook

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120272944#Comment_120272944

Yeah, I suppose I'm thinking in sport generally. In rugby there was the world cup in 2015 - topping the group and then dumped out by Argentina. Or 2019, beating Scotland and then losing to Japan.

flatface

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120271835#Comment_120271835

This could be an issue. For all the criticism of Barnes last week I thought he was great at letting the game flow which really suited Ireland and their game plan of high tempo, keeping the ball in play. A penalty fest may keep the score down.

OldRio

Weather forecast for Rome is 18C with rain for Saturday. Not great but it may change.

Shehal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120273071#Comment_120273071

Basically it means he's a ref that will penalise every single thing no matter how big or small rather than taking a softer approach, like the majority of top ref's do, in a bid to let help the game flow better. Its exactly what the Glasgow Warriors fans would want judging by their forums but as a consequence our game with Italy will probably be unwatchable for spells.

Former Former Former

It's very hard to get excited about this week's match. Hammer them, sure it's only Italy. End up in a close game, it's a disaster. Losing is absolutely unthinkable.

Hopefully we'll see some rotation to keep things interesting, but unlikely to be much. Obviously Henderson will start and presumably Kelleher too. I wouldn't be surprised to see Aki get a start over McCloskey, and maybe Conan in for POM. Really interesting part might be who gets promoted to the bench.

I doubt we'll see any real fringe players but Farrell has surprised us before.

phily2002

James Ryan named as captain this weekend

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120275177#Comment_120275177

This to me hints at more rotation than what I expected, as I would have expected POM to be captain if he was playing.

sydthebeat

i posted in the other thread before it was closed:

we will be without a minimum of 5 starters already for this game, so rotation will be minimal. If there are changes it will be looking at units playing together, so more Murray and Ross Byrne, with possibly Casey and Sexton from the bench. Joe Mc and Tadgh B out leaves it likely it will be Henderson and James Ryan starting with Treadwell possibly going straight back in onto the bench.

POM is on 991 minutes already this season, which is 70 more than Doris.. and while its about 40 less than JVDF its possible he might be rested to allow for a back row of doris, JVDF and Conan, with Baird on the bench? maybe JVDF will be benched and only get a half?

i dont really see any surprises in the front row, other than the bench to get on a bit sooner.

id imagine the back 3 will remain the same, with possibly JOB onto the bench. Centres will remain as is.

Clegg

I think it's more of a long term planning thing. Sexton is gone after the World Cup and POM is probably gone the season after. Get your new captain ready in advance.

Poorside

Porter, Kelleher, Bealham

Ryan, Henderson,

Conan, JVDF, Doris

Murray, Byrne

Aki, Ringrose

Hansen, Lowe, Keenan

Sheehan

Kikcoyne

O Toole

Baird

Coombes

Casey

Carbery

McCloskey

Wouldn't mind seeing this squad, get the game won and give the junior lads on the bench a good run, also there's enough on the bench to change the game if needed.

pickarooney

McCloskey on the bench doesn't work that well for me. OK, Aki benching for McCloskey worked fine the first two games but if there's any backline injury there's little cover.

Former Former Former

Per Gerry Thornley

IRELAND (possible v Italy): Hugo Keenan (Leinster); Mack Hansen (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Bundee Aki (Connacht), James Lowe (Leinster); Ross Byrne (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster); Andrew Porter (Leinster), Rónan Kelleher (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht); Iain Henderson (Ulster), James Ryan (Leinster, capt); Caelan Doris (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster).

Replacements: Dan Sheehan (Leinster), David Kilcoyne (Munster)/Cian Healy (Leinster), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Ryan Baird (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Conor Murray (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster).

sprucemoose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120277139#Comment_120277139

eh, its the exact same either way though? they both are specialist 12s so if there is a change needed elsewhere in the backline it means others moving, who starts and who is subbing doesnt really matter

Clegg

Cian Treacy of the Indo has a similar story to Thornley. Casey and Byrne to start at 9&10 with Doris/VDF/Conan the backrow.

Dubinusa

What will happen if...... Penny gets into the squad? Lol.

Ben Bailey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120277249#Comment_120277249

Worse still, what if Penny gets into the squad but is released before the Scotland game. Will the Penny drop ?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120277249#Comment_120277249

I got a powerful AI to simulate what Limerick will look like in that eventuality

https://twitter.com/Jake_Hanrahan/status/1628371504676175876

Dubinusa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120277648#Comment_120277648

What the fuppin hell?

Yeah_Right

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120277648#Comment_120277648

WTF was that?!?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120275177#Comment_120275177

Happy to see this. He's been absolutely excellent this year.

It's interesting how Garry Ringrose seems to be the heir apparent to the Leinster captaincy, but Andy Farrell has tended to turn to James Ryan (after Sexton & O'Mahony).

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120278249#Comment_120278249

It's some kind of 1000 year old game. Only rule is you can't kill people. Goal is to end up with the ball after a day. I think they've got the ball at that entrance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O54mLffhGXg

irelandrover

Deleted post

pc7

Delighted to see Baird on the bench if GT right.