molloyjh wrote: » Whats everyone else thinking in terms of a first choice 23 for the 2 6Ns games? Is the below the most likely or am I missing someone? Healy Herring Porter Dillane Ryan Doris Stander VDF Murray Sexton Aki Ringrose Stockdale Keenan Conway Kelleher, Byrne, Ryan, Roux, Conan, Marmion, Byrne, Henshaw
Burkie1203 wrote: » https://twitter.com/leinsterrugby/status/1317131866802094082?s=19
PCros wrote: » Even if it goes to Level 4 can this proceed?
PTH2009 wrote: » The Italy match must be cursed Country going into level 5 with no sporting events to take place
Jump_In_Jack wrote: » I think you’re not appreciating how important the tight head lock is in a scrum. It is a physically demanding position, and Quinn Roux and Jean Kleyn have the ideal type of build for that role.
The Lost Sheep wrote: » we're talking about a second row not a prop which is very different.
sydthebeat wrote: » very definitive statement there. its incredibly hard to win any game is your scrum is giving away penalties all the time... there is quite recent evidence for this. J-in-J has already stated why the inclusion of Roux is a valid suggestion. you can be guaranteed that France will target our scrum as a point of weakness for us. You asked: and i think many would argue that yes, it is... especially considering missing first choice tight head and an ageing first choice loose head, and missing his able replacement
sydthebeat wrote: » just to come back to this again.... its absolutely dripping with the conservatism and over-management that has been used as a stick to beat irish rugby with over the last couple of years. Allowing the players to be freer to play is what we should be aiming for... or we end up with this:https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2020/1010/1170715-irish-mitre-10-new-zealand-regan-odonnell-jager/
Guinness RFC wrote: » As far as the mindset of the players is concerned I believe it is possible to determine what that is like individually and collectively by merely watching them play. Trying to pull off flicks behind the back or forwards stationed out on the wings are signs of Prima Donna attitude. It’s not the players’ faults they simply haven’t been taught not to do these things. I know some will say sometimes it’s in Leo’s gameplan to create mismatches on the wing and have forwards blazing down that channel but I think if you are young and trying to make an impression you get stuck in to the basics and are seen to be working your ass off. You don’t hang out in the wide channels. This could also be said of tackling technique, trying too many fancy plays, kicking the ball excessively (I.e. hogging possession to make yourself look good) or simply not digging out tough matches.
Oliver Jager wrote: » I remember once at home I threw an offload behind my back in training and a coach came up and said that was awesome, but do it again and I’ll drop you
Conan O'Donnell wrote: I find I have changed my game a good bit. My skills have come on a lot. Even when we are playing tag, I’m pulling out all sorts of moves. Through the leg passes and behind the head passes, I couldn’t do that before. They don’t give out to you for some stuff. If you make a line break, you are encouraged to keep the ball alive. It can be riskier, but those passes are on more because support players are looking for them rather than going to a ruck.
The Lost Sheep wrote: » But he wont be the difference between winning and losing the game which is what matters.
Is the scrum really been such an issue that it needs to be strengthened up that much?
sydthebeat wrote: » When it comes to scrum time, there is probably no better tighthead lock available in the country. outside of the scrum, i agree that he wont be the winning or losing of a game.... and his discipline can be a hindrance... but we're discussing Roux in the strict terms of the scrum here... and to say that he wouldn't make a difference to the winning or losing of the scrum just isnt correct. He is incredibly influential at that aspect.
The Lost Sheep wrote: » Im saying a second row like Roux is not going to be the big difference that some are trying to say he would be.
sydthebeat wrote: » that is quite a naive statement
The Lost Sheep wrote: » And a second row isnt going to be near why the scrum will be difference between winning and losing
Jump_In_Jack wrote: » In general, look at the world cup final, look at Saracens beating Leinster, if you lose the scrum it can prevent you from getting much of a foothold in the match. Against Italy maybe it won't come down to the scrum, but against France it certainly could.
The Lost Sheep wrote: » So what if he's big heavy second row. Is the scrum really been such an issue that it needs to be strengthened up that much?
Jump_In_Jack wrote: » He's a big heavy tight-head, I think he would strengthen up our scrum, also would free up Ryan from having to do that (necessary) grunt work. Dillane was called up as injury cover, so don't know what you mean by he deserves it more than a player that was called up to the squad before that. There's not much between them, Dillane is a better carrier in the tight, Beirne is better at jackaling.
The Lost Sheep wrote: » Dillane deserves to be involved more than Beirne and Roux shouldnt start. Why does he need to?
Jump_In_Jack wrote: » Tadhg Beirne ahead of Dillane perhaps? I'd also start Roux as a dedicated tight-head.
molloyjh wrote: » Seriously though, I'm getting pretty worried about Ireland in the short term at the very least. We dont have any top level LHs knocking about. Our hooker options aren't great. While Kelleher is a great prospect, for now that's all he is. We've 2 great TH options if they could both stay fit. But Furlongs absence will hurt us. Behind them Ryan is great obviously, but we dont exactly have great depth. Hendo is good and Baird looks a prospect, but everything after that is various shades of average at Test level. We're also a far, far cry from our back row hey day of Ferris, Wallace, Heaslip & SOB. We've some good options there, but no real great ones. Certainly no destructive ball carriers like that former back row. At half back we dont have clear cut Test level replacements for either Murray or Sexton. We've some good centres thankfully, and the overall age profile there is good. Our back 3 options mainly have some great strengths with glaring weaknesses. I can see us being a good team over the coming years, but not a great team. I dont think we have the squad to be challenging England or possibly even France if they are in fact finally getting their act together. It makes me appreciate the 2014 - 2018 period all the more. I think we might be seeing a slump in the coming years. Certainly for the coming few games, we're not in the best of shapes anyway. Thank god one of those is Italy.
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