Bundee aki showing today why his best days in green of ireland are behind him..
Very weird thing to say. You clearly didn't watch the NZ series in the summer.
Ireland's most consistent performer since 2017 arguably, and somehow one game for Connacht means he's finished. You clearly have an agenda against Aki. Wasn't it you who was calling for him to be dropped from the squad a while ago?
It was me yeah... I said his form badly dipped for the end of the season for connacht last year. He was very poor in the games v Leinster and looked like he had thrown in the towel for connacht after that.
I was proposing Frawley, Henshaw, Ringrose and Hume ahead of him for the world cup due to his form and lack of versatility.
He's now gotten at least 3 red cards against his name all for high hits..
he hasnt learned abd he is a liability at this stage.
He came on today and just stunk the place out. 3 penalties in 10 minutes and capped it off with a silly clean out costing his team a try and a chance in a game they in contention of winning.
He then remonstrates with the referee and linesmen. Chances are he will be banned for the November internationals anyway.
Aki was excellent against New Zealand when he came back into the side after Ringrose's injury. I've no issue with him being in the squad and he's certainly still a top three centre for Ireland.
He'll be 33 during the World Cup and I reckon that might be the time to start phasing him out. But he's definitely still worth his place.
If you'd seriously rather have Frawley at 12 for a big world cup game ahead of Aki, you're mad. Frawley doesn't have the physicality or robustness to play 12 at that level. I'd have McCloskey ahead of him. Aki is Ireland's best 12 and has never let Ireland down.
The versatility argument is a weird one. Should we drop Sexton for the same reason? Or Henshaw? Or Lowe?
Nobody is denying he had a sh*t game today. But writing off one of Ireland's most reliable and consistent performers, because of one sh*t game, after outstanding performances in our historic series win a couple of months ago is just bizarre.
Sexton, Lowe and Henshaw are first choice players, their versatility is irrelevant. Aki is not.
If Stockdale takes the 11 jersey back, then Lowe very likely isn't going to the RWC.
Regardless, Aki will still be in the squad but his discipline and self discipline are far bigger issues than his versatility.
Mccloskey surely going to get a well deserved shot in November now, would have him as third choice centre
There's no reason to think McCloskey will be in the 23 tbh. He's not a better 12 than either Henshaw or Aki. And he doesn't have the versatility like Henshaw to play at 13 either.
He has been 4th-5th choice centre in the eyes of Irelands coaching team for about 7 years now. I don't think that's changing.
McCloskey is in that Ruddock/Jack O'Donoghue position where he has been putting in great performances for years, but his peers have been even better.
Not right now maybe. But that can change very quickly and the world cup is a year away. I just think leaving out one of your 3 best centres on the ground of versatility is a weird one. Remember the squad size has been increased to 33, making versatility less of a pre requisite. We have guys who can cover the back 3 like Carbery and Ringrose, but nobody I'd trust to cover centre.
If the world cup was tomorrow (assuming an 18/15 split) I'd go with
(3) JGP, Murray, Casey
(3) Sexton, Carbery, Frawley
(4) Aki, Henshaw, Ringrose, Hume
(5) Hansen, Lowe, Baloucoune, Conway, Keenan
He’ll be in the 12 jersey for Fiji and the historically Ringrose and henshaw have very rarely got through an international window without some sort of injury. Personally believe he’s better than Hume. Also he’s in amazing form so getting to show that in camp too will be an advantage
with frawley able to cover 12, would the possibility of a Earls / Jimmy o brien type who could cover back three and 13 not be of more benefit than 4 centres?
Frawley was seen as a 10 after HB was injured. Once again, he needs to grab his chance by the nads.
Aki has 4 red cards in the last 4 seasons. He will be phased out post world cup. But, he will travel next year if he's healthy.
What was the 4th red card. There was today, England, and Samoa.
The stats website misses a 4th one too.
I'll be honest and admit that I have concerns about his discipline. I'm not going to doubt his quality though. I suspect that he will be 3rd choice center going to the world cup.
Larmour is an option in that mold as well. I’d have him ahead of JOB.
Aki's distribution game for Ireland sets him apart from all other options at 12 bar Henshaw. It's a massive part of Farrells game plan. Aki will definitely travel if his form doesn't go out the window.
I thought he got a red card in 2017? I must be wrong! I thought it was a urc match!
I went digging. He was cited for misconduct in 2017.
He also got a citing commisioner's warning (essentially an after game yellow) for mouthing off at a referree in early 2022.
You may have counted the citing as a red card mentally.
Thanks for that! I knew it was something, thought he was red carded.
I wouldn't be comfortable with Frawley travelling as 2nd choice 12. Henshaw goes down in the warm up and all of a sudden Frawley is playing 12 v France in a 1/4 final. I think we need to bring two specialist 12s.
I'd trust Ringrose to cover wing, much more than I'd trust Earls to cover 13. I can't see Earls making the squad to be honest.
I'm pretty sure that the argument for only bringing 3 centers is that 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice at both 12 and 13 are Henshaw, Ringrose and Aki.
Whoever the 4th choice center may well be break glass in case of emergency.
If there is a back 3 player that barely misses out of the squad and can cover 13 there might be value in sneaking them into the squad as 4th center/6th back 3 player. At least then they offer some extra flexibility in the 23 shirt.
The name I'm thinking about isn't Earls. Instead it's Larmour.
That said I think McCloskey will have a good season and be the standout option for the 4th center spot.
I believe that a break glass scenario, Ringrose could cover 12.
Ciarán Frawley, Caolin Blade, Alex Soroka, and Alex Kendellen have been ruled out of Emerging Ireland’s tour of SA.
Cathal Forde, Ben Murphy and David McCann called up to the squad.
Wow, that changes the complexion. Terrible luck for Frawley. Ten is jinxed is you're not Ross Byrne.
It certainly feels like 2 of the players who had the most to gain from this tour are out of it. That is terrible luck.
Frawley is worryingly injury prone
As something that could have been quite useful for the RWC. This tour is now fast becoming fundamentally pointless for the short term. There maybe be some benefit to it in 3-4 years time.
This tour really has proven an embarrassment for the organisers. Hopefully Farrell takes the reigns going forward, implements his own plans and heads them up.
Was thinking along the likes of bringing just Henshaw, Ringrose and bundee as centres but having frawley 10/12 and larmour/ earls / job type coving 13 / back three
Worth remembering that Aki also got a YC for a high shot against Leinster back in April.
And was extremely lucky that the TMO didn't look at that clear out on Tuungafasi during the summer, it was a definite yellow and probably more.
Edit: this one
https://mobile.twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/1548647219775119361
There is a definite problem here.
Having a tour where Murphy and Forde are live options is a farce.
It makes no sense at all.
If you truly weant this to be about the future, where is Hawkshaw et al?
utter farce of a tour and a random selection based on nothing.
