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

Steve

Continuing on from the previous thread....

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Buer

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote:

If it doesn't work for Leinster how much will it matter to Ireland that Henshae isnt playing 13?

In fairness, it didn't hinder him playing 12 for Ireland when he was playing 13 and 15 for Connacht.

D14Rugby

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

If it doesn't work for Leinster how much will it matter to Ireland that Henshae isnt playing 13?

Payne didn't really play 13 fo Ulster when he became first choice 13 for Ireland so I'd say it doesnt really matter, what they do at camps probably matters more.

clsmooth

Ringrose for me is potentally world class. Last season he was excellent, becoming the starting 13 for Leinster and Ireland last year and consisitently preforming at a high level. Hit's harder than his size, has an eye for a gap and has no problem rolling up his sleeves. Him and Henshaw are the longterm 12-13. Bundee is a quality player and will get starts in November but come 6N I think Henshaw/Ringrose will start baring injury or Bundee absoluting tearing it up. Still you wouldnt see Bundee or Henshaw do what Ringrose did below in a pivotal moment in Leinster's biggest game last season. That genuinely was world class.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL_IHflsD1k

Clegg

Henshaw's passing game was spot on today. Threw some lovely ones that had his outside backs running onto at pace. He was pivotal to Leinster's bonus point try. Got the ball and drifted left before straightening and drawing the defender so Carbery had more space to run into. It's something we don't see him do enough with Ireland. Maybe that the game plan is for him to be the battering ram, but I feel we could do more in attack if we used him as a distributor more often. He has the skills to do so.

For me Carbery is the form full back in the country. But I'm not sure he's exactly what Schmidt is looking for. He's a decent tackler and reader of the game, but still gets caught out sometimes and he still needs to work on fielding high kicks. But from a creative standpoint he's our best full back. He steps in at first receiver often and has a lovely range on passes to stretch defences. Also a deadly counter attacker. Doesn't have the gas of Zebo or ToH, but has the vision to see where the defensive line is weak and picks the right spot to attack.

errlloyd

I dunno how true this is or whether it was just a bit of banter. But in the post game interview Henshaw said he had shed a bit of weight in anticipation of playing some rugby at 13.

He did look slightly slighter than previous years.

errlloyd

So sounds like a three test tour of Australia has been confirmed for this summer. That's a pretty good return for Ireland. To get 4 Tests v South Africa, 4 Tests v Australia and 2 Tests v New Zealand between world cups is great. And there is one more autumn to go.

Wegians89

Reading the 42s article on Zebo and his contract situation, is he a definite starter for Ireland and does he deserve a central contract ?? Personally wouldn't like to see him go and with bowe and Trimble on central contracts surely Zebo should get one too? I don't think he's a 100% starter for Ireland on the other hand

Former Former

Wegians89 wrote: »

Reading the 42s article on Zebo and his contract situation, is he a definite starter for Ireland and does he deserve a central contract ?? Personally wouldn't like to see him go and with bowe and Trimble on central contracts surely Zebo should get one too? I don't think he's a 100% starter for Ireland on the other hand

No, he's not a 100% starter for Ireland.

But Trimble's central contract expired during the summer, while both Bowe and Rob Kearney will see their central deals expire in June 2018, so there's a bit of leeway in what they can hand out. You'd imagine Kearney will be renewed but Bowe must be done.

I don't think provincial vs central really matters any more though.

[Deleted User]

Himself and Earls are surely first choice for the wings at the moment

The Pheasant2

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Himself and Earls are surely first choice for the wings at the moment

Stockdale is certainly making a decent claim for the jersey also.

[Deleted User]

Deleted User wrote: »

Himself and Earls are surely first choice for the wings at the moment

Not necessarily no. Stockdale has really started to show what he's capable of and only going to get better.

aloooof

I'd guess that the majority of his more recent starts for Ireland have been at FB as well, no?

[Deleted User]

aloooof wrote: »

I'd guess that the majority of his more recent starts for Ireland have been at FB as well, no?

Wouldn't worry too much about that tbh, he's comfortably in either position.

clsmooth

Back 3 of Earls Stockdale and Zebo at 15 has a nice ring to it. Carbery on the bench covering 10/15?

Former Former

clsmooth wrote: »

Back 3 of Earls Stockdale and Zebo at 15 has a nice ring to it. Carbery on the bench covering 10/15?

Kearney is back training so should be fit (if he doesn't collapse again, of course).

I would say most likely back three for South Africa is Earls, Zebo, Kearney. Stockdale to get a chance against Fiji and make a claim for the Argentina game.

Vinnie222

Former Former wrote: »

Kearney is back training so should be fit (if he doesn't collapse again, of course).

I would say most likely back three is Earls, Zebo, Kearney. Stockdale to get a chance against Fiji and make a claim for the Argentina game.

When is the last time Kearney had a run of games ? 2 injury prone these days like his brother . Time for other options

awec

Former Former wrote: »

No, he's not a 100% starter for Ireland.

But Trimble's central contract expired during the summer, while both Bowe and Rob Kearney will see their central deals expire in June 2018, so there's a bit of leeway in what they can hand out. You'd imagine Kearney will be renewed but Bowe must be done.

I don't think provincial vs central really matters any more though.

Not sure I'd give Kearney another central deal at this stage. 31 and can barely play two weeks in a row.

damianmcr

See's mention of Kearney. Shoots self in face.

Erik Shin

What's the latest on Jamie Heaslip? I know he had back surgery, but do we know anything about a timeframe for his comeback?

Buer

Kearney has played 100 minutes since March. If he's going to be starting against South Africa he needs to be starting this weekend I reckon and I don't see that happening. I don't think he has enough credit in the bank anymore to see him move back into the team after such an absence.

I'd say a back three of Zebo, Earls and Stockdale is looking increasingly likely.

If RK isn't back into the starting line up for Ireland, I don't see him getting a central deal either. There are other options available and he's 32 in the spring. The only thing that may save him would be if Zebo departed to foreign lands given his contract is coming to an end.

irishbucsfan

Zebo is pretty much first choice. I'd imagine it'll be a central contract for him. Or at least that'll be the intention at the start of negotiations...

Buer

Erik Shin wrote: »

What's the latest on Jamie Heaslip? I know he had back surgery, but do we know anything about a timeframe for his comeback?

Gone quiet again. Was aiming to comeback in time for Leinster's trip to South Africa but had some form of setback. It's a week by week situation. The silence suggests that retirement must be a genuine possibility now.

irishbucsfan

Buer wrote: »

Kearney has played 100 minutes since March. If he's going to be starting against South Africa he needs to be starting this weekend I reckon and I don't see that happening. I don't think he has enough credit in the bank anymore to see him move back into the team after such an absence.

I'd say a back three of Zebo, Earls and Stockdale is looking increasingly likely.

If RK isn't back into the starting line up for Ireland, I don't see him getting a central deal either. There are other options available and he's 32 in the spring. The only thing that may save him would be if Zebo departed to foreign lands given his contract is coming to an end.

The only other thing Rob Kearney has in the bank is his off-field impact, with RPI and all that. I still would be very surprised if he is given another deal.

Former Former

Zebo might be first choice now - but he never has been up to this point. I'm just not sure that's central contract material.

I'd agree that Kearney has an uphill task to get into the team - but Joe has not been shy about throwing him in cold before.

I would say that Earls is the only nailed on starter in the back three for the SA game.

[Deleted User]

Kearney would be a dreadful selection.

molloyjh

Interested Observer wrote: »

Kearney would be a dreadful selection.

People were saying that this time last year and he had a cracking game against NZ. I'm not saying he should be selected, but people tend to be far too quick writing players off. If he trains with Ireland and proves himself there then he should be in the mix. It's not like Joe is going to select an inferior player for the craic.

bilston

clsmooth wrote: »

Back 3 of Earls Stockdale and Zebo at 15 has a nice ring to it. Carbery on the bench covering 10/15?

That would be my thinking, but we don't really know where Stockdale sits in Schmidt's thinking. Either way I'd imagine Earls and Zebo will start one way or the other.

Carbery seems to be the new Madigan regarding the bench.

[Deleted User]

bilston wrote: »

That would be my thinking, but we don't really know where Stockdale sits in Schmidt's thinking. Either way I'd imagine Earls and Zebo will start one way or the other.

Carbery seems to be the new Madigan regarding the bench.

Not beyond possibility that Carbery starts at 15.

molloyjh

Interested Observer wrote: »

Not beyond possibility that Carbery starts at 15.

Yeah, he hasn't played at 10 at all yet this season IIRC, other than a bit in pre-season. So if Ireland are looking at him as a back up 10 it is odd that he isn't being asked to play there at all.

Buer

molloyjh wrote: »

People were saying that this time last year and he had a cracking game against NZ. I'm not saying he should be selected, but people tend to be far too quick writing players off. If he trains with Ireland and proves himself there then he should be in the mix. It's not like Joe is going to select an inferior player for the craic.

He had plenty of game time under his belt going into the NZ game last year including starting both Leinster's ECC games in the lead up. He won't have that or close to it this time around. I can't see Schmidt giving him the nod.

I just don't see him being involved. If he doesn't feature against SA, I'm not sure he should feature at all. He's getting on in age now and I'd be happy to examine other options. I'm not even sure his spot at Leinster is going to be secure by the end of this season.