P.Walnuts wrote: » Leavy was picked ahead of a fit VDF against NZ last autumn but pulled out the day of the game because of injury.
ClanofLams wrote: » Henderson was out for the first two six nations games. He said Kearney wasn’t 100% for England match, in fairness that might have just been a nice way of dropping him publicly. Sexton was injured or not 100% for Japan, Aki out with concussion. Sean O’Brien came back and got injured straight away again iirc. Aki was suspended for last game (not saying he would have started). He gave a couple of guys games in warmups alright. There can certainly be a debate over whether his approach was right or not but I don’t think there’s much disputing that the first XV was pretty much unchanged for nine months despite a very poor run of form.
Skyfloater wrote: » Then there's only two candidates, Ryan and Furlong.
Faugheen wrote: » This isn’t true. Leavy was never making that game.
Downlinz wrote: » Furlong missed 3 tackles last week and got obliterated by the Japanese scrum, when even was the last time he did something of note in the loose? He's in abysmal form in 2019 and bizarrely seems to have flown under the radar for criticism.
Shefwedfan wrote: » The back row is critical to Ireland. We have always had a strong back row but we have had issues recently with balance. Something to consider is who Ireland have lost between the WC cycle. Heaslip, SOB, Leavy, Conan, Nordi(who wasn't fit) to name a few. That is some loss of power and experience It does give us a chance to rethink the whole back row and how it plays. All of the above would be our big ball carriers! are the players coming up of the same size/strenght? or do we have to be smart? Running guys into Billy Vunipola is not going to work.....simple as that
blinding wrote: » Didn’t Saracens give Leinster a good spanking in the Heineken Cup this year as well . Yet another warning sign that was ignored .
salmocab wrote: » A good spanking? 10 points if I remember right. Your really stretching if you think that was relevant to the World Cup.
blinding wrote: » Leinster were nowhere in that game in the second half . Yes it was another warning . Another warning ignored . Schmidt went in to tunnel vision and was not taking note of warning after warning .
salmocab wrote: » I think the balance thing is right, individuals are all good although some playing below par recently but as a unit it’s not great. Heaslip is a big loss more so than SOB I think.
blinding wrote: » Leinster may be one of the best teams in Europe but they were well beaten by Saracens that day . It was another warning . Another warning missed .
blinding wrote: » It was another warning . Another warning missed .
Shefwedfan wrote: » I think we can all agree the form of the provinces in Europe doesn't seem to convert into form in the WC.... But we don't have to worry about that for 4 years.
Clegg wrote: » You should probably rewatch the game.