Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread VIII - ** MOD NOTE POST #4781 **

turnikett1 wrote: »

Possible South Africa selection.....

Very few games this season allow for a true assessment of form. Running in tries against the Kings tells you very little. The interpro games, the Ulster v Scarletts games are all reasonable indicators and this weekend will be the best indicator.

As for your selection, it's hard to know with some of the players. Zebo if fit I'd have ahead of Carbery at full back. Stockdale v Conway is an interesting one too.

I'd also be putting VDF as first choice back row currently, with SOB moving to 6 if fit and Stander at 8.

Don't think Scannell is quite as bolted on at Hooker as people think. He was poor at the weekend, Munster's line out is a shambles.

Might also be a bit early for Ringrose. I don't see him dropping in for his first game back in a full test against the South African's.

Think the second test was a blip personally, All Blacks well below par and gave a sucker a fair chance. I think we'll win with a bit of room to spare.

turnikett1 wrote: »

Well obviously we haven't had a chance to see Ringrose that was bad writing on my part. POM hasn't been great tbf, but the rest haven't been bad (or particularly special) or what do you think? Bare in mind I've only had to chance to see 2 games of Munster and Leinster each this season so perhaps my judgement is a bit skewed.

Still from what I've seen this looks like the squad that would be picked. Intensity levels will be ramped up under Ireland/Schmidt, they always are. I'd say it's one of the better looking squads we've had in a few years.

Id say you are certainly close to the mark even with limited view time so fair play on that.

The one thing that might throw us all for a bit of surprise is that there are no seeding issues at play between now and the World Cup so Joe might look to bed in some new formations.

I'd say the build up to 2019 begins now effectively so there might be further changes.

I could well see Porter on the bench by way of example.

RichieRich89 wrote: »

I think the backrowers...

That's a very interesting selection that we should definitely quote a number of times and discuss / disagree with for a few pages.

b.gud wrote: »

Anyone reckon that if Henshaw and Aki are the centres that it'll be Henshaw 13 and Aki 12? That's the where they played when they were at Connacht and they were a really devastating combo.

With regards Aki not hitting the heights that he previously did I've actually been thinking about this recently and I think the reason is that he's a marked man, every time he gets the ball there's about 2 or 3 people on him and teams can get away with doing that because we normally don't have any other players that really worry teams there. When we won the league we had Henshaw as an option too so teams couldn't put as many numbers into Aki as they were also worried about Henshaw. I think that is what is limiting his performances a bit

No doubt he is considered a threat but that's been going on a while. The really top drawer guys can find more to their game. Sean O'Brien for example in 2011 was making some insane carries but now he's known more for his breakdown work than his carrying.

I think Aki is probably just finding his feet in a new setup like everyone else. I'd say KK is quite different to Lam going by their public demeanour.

I'd say Aki has a good shot of starting at least one if not two games this Autumn.

arsebiscuits1 wrote: »

I think the biggest problem is if not Aki then who? Earls has never been a proper option at 13 at international level and will probably be much more important on the wing anyway/

Payne hasn't played any rugby and doesn't look like he will before November

Ringrose... ditto

Farrell is barely here a week and not capable yet of defending 13 channel at test level.

Even the 12 options if you push Henshaw out one aren't overly promising.

Marshall isn't good enough, far too prone to mistakes or anonymity.

McCloskey has obvious threats going forward, I have my doubts about that effectiveness against the Boks though.

Scannell maybe a possibility. But he needs a good showing now in Europe.

We could do worse than a Scannell Henshaw axis but I don't think it offers the least flaws.

I miss BOD

Think Payne is back fairly imminently. I'd imagine Marshall is ahead of Scannell / Farrell etc. Unless some kind of catastrophe happens I doubt we'll see Earls starting at centre.

If the status quo persists I imagine we'll see Aki Henshaw as 12 / 13.

If Payne is back that might change for SA. Though it could well be Aki / Payne if that was the case, just to have a bit of a roflocopter with Kimmage.