Maybe, but I don't see it. Compared to someone like Marchand he looks slight.
Those numbers are all made up anyway. Dane Coles is listed at 110kg and he's hardly a big hooker. Google reckons Garry Ringrose is taller and heavier than Robbie Henshaw.
Dane Coles is a big hooker
He's played no.8 for Wellington
Marchand might look bulkier but that's because he's only 5'11.
Sheehan is objectively big for a hooker.
Deegan was another who was playing quality, still think he has the potential to be the best 8. Hopefully he gets a run of games but going to be difficult for him with the new format
Ah no mate, you need to get a proper look at him if you're considering him anything other than an extremely athletic specimen.
The kid is a monster
Yeah it's ridiculous, he's only like half the size.
It could be so much worse than a purple jersey though.......
Craig Casey had that awful haircut on his debut. Poor fella, that's what all the pictures will be.
On a more serious note having family around on your debut is something a few of the lads missed out on and my heart genuinely does go out to them
No one? what are the coaches paid to do then?
Hendo in for Beirne, Herring to bench
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 14 caps
14. Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 26 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 35 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 32 caps
11. James Lowe (Leinster) 7 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 100 caps CAPTAIN
9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 11 caps
1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 38 caps
2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 14 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 50 caps
4. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 64 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 38 caps
6. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 10 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 33 caps
8. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 21 caps
Replacements
16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 22 caps
17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 110 caps
18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 17 caps
19. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 23 caps
20. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 77 caps
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 90 caps
22. Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 25 caps
23. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 94 caps
Tadhg Beirne unluckiest to miss out for me, he hasn't done much wrong.
Beirne was not the one I saw benching. Tough call.
But some player to bring on.
Letsfuckinggo!!!!!!
I think in terms of athleticism that's probably the best pack we've had in a good few years.
Backs are what I expected. Really could have done with Henshaw being fit.
Tadhg Beirne's dropping is a bit of a baffling one.
But Faz made some questionable selections last week and got them all right.
That’s a good starting XV but outside of Beirne I don’t see that bench having much of an impact. We reverted to type a fair bit when they came on last week and I just don’t see those players bringing a tonne of energy to the game. Hopefully this time next year we’ll have the likes of Sheehan, Coombes/Connors and Stockdale/Addison/Larmour in there. And with any luck we might see one of our other options at 10 kick on too.
We've three very good second rows so for Beirne himself it's harsh but I don't think it's a bad selection or anything, you could pick any 2 of the 3.
If we go behind, it is not a bench to chase the game. So we need to keep in touch with them no matter what imo.
The Hardest job. Picking the best players who are up to the task and continually building the squad. 10. Burns P45. 15. Stockdale P45
Sounds easy but zero big games to judge Sheehan on. To reiterate, I would have picked him. Farrell has gone with what he knows.
This was the pack for the QF in 2019. There are four changes to it and I think the four are all improvements on what came before. Healy and Best are legends of Irish rugby, but neither were near their physical prime. Best especially was running on fumes by then. Doris is simply a better athlete than PoM. Conan and Stander is a closer one. In terms of physicality and athleticism they're pretty close with.CJ probably shading it. But Conan is the better footballer.
1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Iain Henderson
5. James Ryan
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. CJ Stander
Henderson is there as NZ have a much more Physical pack than the Japanese. Good team, would rather Sheehan on bench but can see why he would go with Herring for his throwing.
VDF has hugely added to his game since then too. Our starting pack is certainly a lot better I think.
Like the team, Henderson is the right call.
Don't like Herring on the bench mind you but hey ho, he can't get it all right................
Really looking forward to this.
Nothing against Henderson's selection.
But Beirne is one of our best players and I'd say hes world class. I'd have him at 6.
I'm sure Sheehan would love a crack off the All Blacks, but the prudent management call is to mind him for now. We're looking for finishers not replacements and wily old dogs are the ones for that.
Hard to argue with the XXIII, hope they leave it all out on the pitch.
We have three class second rows, it will horses for courses at times. Yes it is a tough call on Beirne, but equally it’s an tough call to leave Hendo out of any Irish starting 15. It is my first game back at Aviva on Saturday since Six Nations in 2020, as it will be for a lot of people. I hope we have a full house the following week also against Argentina. We can do this!
Surprised that Beirne got dropped. Might be an indication that Ireland are going to play it allot tighter.
Anyone know who was calling the LO v Jap? Ryan?
I think he was always likely to give way to Henderson, but personally I'd have moved him to six. Then that would be harsh on Doris...
Would also say van der Flier is a far better player today. He's been off to a flier... Sorry
I forgot that Greg Feek was New Zealands scrum coach. He was a with Leinster and then Ireland for 10 years. He'll have a lot of insight into what we're trying to do at the weekend.
It's a pity Coombes has an illness for these test matches. Would love to see him on the bench instead of POM. Try scoring machine from 5m out. That's the kind of thing you need coming off the bench. Pete's been a great player but I'm not sure he brings impact off the bench. Tadhg Beirne is unlucky to miss out, but his introduction to the pitch with 20 mins to go should be a boost. If we can get the lineout right we should be able to put in a big performance and give the ABs a fright. Really excited to see this backrow go well, very mobile athletic unit.
Not sure playing Henderson exactly denotes a tight game. Given everything I would be shocked if the plan was to do anything except basically try and recreate the Japanese performance.
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