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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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Burkie1203

Erik Shin wrote: »

With all being well I'd say he's 4th choice at 7 ?

He was captain on the summer tour. He is rated by Joe.

[Deleted User]

Erik Shin wrote: »

With all being well I'd say he's 4th choice at 7 ?

I don't know where he stands in the pecking order, I was responding to your comment that he doesn't cover both sides. Schmidt reckons he does.

Erik Shin

Former Former wrote: »

Ruddock is the form back row in the country but Conservative Joe will still pick his pet POM.

You spelled Rob wrong!

Former Former

Ruddock is the form back row in the country but Conservative Joe will still pick his pet POM.

Erik Shin

Interested Observer wrote: »

He's started test matches for Ireland at 7. You mightn't fancy him there but Schmidt has picked him there in the past and I can't see why he wouldn't again the future.

With all being well I'd say he's 4th choice at 7 ?

irishbucsfan

For me the best back row in the country is JVDF and I don't see any way he isn't wearing 7. After that I think POM and SOB are the two best players but both are struggling for form or fitness. Stander surely will be at 8 unless SOB is considered there. Ruddock is probably the best 6 in the country this season but I reckon once you get everyone into camp POM and SOB are both too good to not make the 23 if they're fit.

[Deleted User]

Erik Shin wrote: »

Not sure, he doesn't cover both sides...so he may not get a place on the bench, will be interesting to see how it all plays out though over the next few weeks

He's started test matches for Ireland at 7. You mightn't fancy him there but Schmidt has picked him there in the past and I can't see why he wouldn't again the future.

Buer

Erik Shin wrote:

Not sure, he doesn't cover both sides...so he may not get a place on the bench, will be interesting to see how it all plays out though over the next few weeks

He started against SA at openside before and can play 8.

Given the flexibility of the Irish back row players like Stander and SOB, I don't think versatility will be an issue. VDF was the preferred bench option last season, for example.

Erik Shin

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Ruddock was 12-1 on tackles yesterday and had a huge carrying game. If SoB is missing the added carrying of Ruddock could be a consideration

Not sure, he doesn't cover both sides...so he may not get a place on the bench, will be interesting to see how it all plays out though over the next few weeks

salmocab

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Ruddock was 12-1 on tackles yesterday and had a huge carrying game. If SoB is missing the added carrying of Ruddock could be a consideration

Ruddock has been brilliant so far this season, he was always a big lad but seems to have turned into a right old fashioned bullock of a 6.

Burkie1203

Erik Shin wrote: »

15 tackles and 0 missed yesterday....he must be doing something right for Joe to be picking him

Ruddock was 12-1 on tackles yesterday and had a huge carrying game. If SoB is missing the added carrying of Ruddock could be a consideration

Former Former

I'd predict vs SA

Kearney
Earls Aki Henshaw Zebo
Sexton Murray
McGrath Best Furlong
Toner Hendo
POM SOB Stander

Cronin Healy Ryan Treadwell VDF Marmion Carbery Stockdale

Zebo to play FB if Kearney not fit. VDF to start if SOB not fit. I'm assuming Payne is out.

Wegians89

salmocab wrote: »

If it was 6N maybe Keatley would be a steadier hand but yeah Byrne has looked good this year and from a development point of view would be a better shout

I would say Keatley Byrne beylendaal hanrahan and carty are all in a similarish level, all can have great games but prone to a shocker, no real standout from them yet Byrne looks like he has the most potential out of them when you take age into account too, I'd personally like if jj was picked at ten for next few weeks and got the call. But you could very easily see them going with sexton Carbery and scannell and bring an extra rookie ala sweetnam Adam Byrne etc

salmocab

Bridge93 wrote: »

Sorry should of made it clearer, McCloskey in for Byrne with as you say Scannell covering 10. If he insists on an out an out 10 I wouldn't be against Keatley being picked although Byrne would be the long term view

If it was 6N maybe Keatley would be a steadier hand but yeah Byrne has looked good this year and from a development point of view would be a better shout

Bridge93

Wegians89 wrote: »

Third choice ten will still be up for grabs I'd say too, mightn't even bring a third out and out ten in with scannell and Cadbury in the squad.

Sorry should of made it clearer, McCloskey in for Byrne with as you say Scannell covering 10. If he insists on an out an out 10 I wouldn't be against Keatley being picked although Byrne would be the long term view

Wegians89

Bridge93 wrote: »

I'd have McCloskey and Bealham other than that think I agree with it all

Third choice ten will still be up for grabs I'd say too, mightn't even bring a third out and out ten in with scannell and Cadbury in the squad.

Bridge93

I'd have McCloskey and Bealham other than that think I agree with it all

Wegians89

thomond2006 wrote: »

I forgot about Bealham. It's difficult to know between Archer and Ryan. Ryan is the man in possession with Ireland but Archer has just started ahead of him twice in Europe with Munster.

I'd go with Ryan and one of bealham and porter.

bilston

thomond2006 wrote: »

If it's a 37 man squad are we looking at:

FORWARDS (21)
Best, Scannell, Tracy
Healy, McGrath, Kilcoyne
Furligind, Archer, J Ryan
Henderson, Toner, J Ryan, Dillane, Treadwell
POM, Ruddock, SOB, VDF, TOD, Stander, Conan

BACKS (16)
Murray, Marmion, Cooney
Sexton, Carbery, Byrne
Henshaw, Scannell, Aki, Marshall
Earls, Stockdale, Sweetnam
Zebo, Conway, TOH

Injured: Heaslip, Kearney, Leavy, Payne, Ringrose

McCloskey should be in there somewhere, definitely ahead of Marshall anyway.

Former Former

Bridge93 wrote: »

Was Archer in Japan over the summer?

No. Bealham, Ryan and Porter.

There's an argument to be made for Bent as TH cover too, wouldn't be the most forward-looking though.

Bridge93

Was Archer in Japan over the summer?

thomond2006

Wegians89 wrote: »

Archer ahead of bealham? I wouldn't count on dillane being in the squad, he hasn't hit form yet at all this season

I forgot about Bealham. It's difficult to know between Archer and Ryan. Ryan is the man in possession with Ireland but Archer has just started ahead of him twice in Europe with Munster.

Wegians89

thomond2006 wrote: »

If it's a 37 man squad are we looking at:

FORWARDS (21)
Best, Scannell, Tracy
Healy, McGrath, Kilcoyne
Furligind, Archer, J Ryan
Henderson, Toner, J Ryan, Dillane, Treadwell
POM, Ruddock, SOB, VDF, TOD, Stander, Conan

BACKS (16)
Murray, Marmion, Cooney
Sexton, Carbery, Byrne
Henshaw, Scannell, Aki, Marshall
Earls, Stockdale, Sweetnam
Zebo, Conway, TOH

Injured: Heaslip, Kearney, Leavy, Payne, Ringrose

Archer ahead of bealham? I wouldn't count on dillane being in the squad, he hasn't hit form yet at all this season

[Deleted User]

Anyone else getting a 404 error when trying to go to the Leinster thread?

CIARAN_BOYLE

Erik Shin wrote: »

15 tackles and 0 missed yesterday....he must be doing something right for Joe to be picking him

POM is a great player don't get me wrong.

POM is in my opinion in addition to being a great player the best lineoutout jumper in the back row in Europe (one or two exceptions who also play second row).

Ruddock (yesterday's man of the match against Glasgow) is also a great player. I think he may be in general in slightly better form than POM this season. I would probably still pick POM because he has that extra string to his bow in the lineout.

That said Ruddock can also jump in the lineout so I'm asking how he is doing at that recently. I'm not trying to run down POM at all.

Former Former

thomond2006 wrote: »

If it's a 37 man squad are we looking at:

FORWARDS (21)
Best, Scannell, Tracy
Healy, McGrath, Kilcoyne
Furligind, Archer, J Ryan
Henderson, Toner, J Ryan, Dillane, Treadwell
POM, Ruddock, SOB, VDF, TOD, Stander, Conan

BACKS (16)
Murray, Marmion, Cooney
Sexton, Carbery, Byrne
Henshaw, Scannell, Aki, Marshall
Earls, Stockdale, Sweetnam
Zebo, Conway, TOH

Injured: Heaslip, Leavy, Ringrose

I presume you're including Kearney and Payne as injured too?

Add Sean Cronin in and you're close. Third choice SH will be tight between Cooney and McGrath.

Luke Marshall would be very fortunate but we're very thin on centre cover.

thomond2006

If it's a 37 man squad are we looking at:

FORWARDS (21)
Best, Scannell, Tracy
Healy, McGrath, Kilcoyne
Furligind, Archer, J Ryan
Henderson, Toner, J Ryan, Dillane, Treadwell
POM, Ruddock, SOB, VDF, TOD, Stander, Conan

BACKS (16)
Murray, Marmion, Cooney
Sexton, Carbery, Byrne
Henshaw, Scannell, Aki, Marshall
Earls, Stockdale, Sweetnam
Zebo, Conway, TOH

Injured: Heaslip, Kearney, Leavy, Payne, Ringrose

Erik Shin

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Does anyone have a site with stats that covers a players contribution to the lineout.

Espn scrum has stopped including these stats in their page.

My sense is that Ruddock has done decently at lineout time recently. As the lineout is POM's strength if I am right and Ruddock has been contributing it eases the argument for POM.

15 tackles and 0 missed yesterday....he must be doing something right for Joe to be picking him

CIARAN_BOYLE

Does anyone have a site with stats that covers a players contribution to the lineout.

Espn scrum has stopped including these stats in their page.

My sense is that Ruddock has done decently at lineout time recently. As the lineout is POM's strength if I am right and Ruddock has been contributing it eases the argument for POM.

Buer

I'd go with Stander, VDF and Ruddock but would expect Stander, SOB and POM. The return of Best has hit POM's chances though as his leadership qualities won't be as required.

I don't think SOB or POM have any right to a spot on form although SOB has come back in from injury previously and deliverered top class showings. POM just hasn't really got going this season yet. Ruddock could rightly feel very disappointed if he doesn't make the team.