I think Conan 6 and Doris 8
so Beirne at 5
we need heft for this big french pack.
(Is Conan ok?)
Mod Edit
Warning issued.
I think the selection between POM and Conan will be close. Conan may be better but who on the bench - I think POM is start or nothing. I would play Nash but expect they will go with Mack.
Big fan of POM, but Conan loves playing against a a french team.
I agree, POM starts or he's not involved.
I'd love to see Ahern, post HIA, on the bench.
We did it before in SA and in November. I hope we don't but could we go 6-2 with POM and Baird on the bench along with Murray and Crowley
Doris was on the pitch yesterday collecting the trophy but his knee was in a brace. Wouldn't be too confident of him being available in 2 weeks
Mack looked very good for me, he also stepped into ten several times and put in some good distribution. Nash puts himself about but is he as good a playmaker?
I thought POM had a great game yesterday, would be surprised if he isn't starting. Ringrose being presumably suspended takes one decision out too.
My guess
Keenan
Lowe Aki Henshaw Hansen
Prendergast JGP
Porter Sheehan Bealham
Beirne McCarthy
POM Doris/Conan VDF
Kelleher/McCarthy, Healy, Clarkson, Ryan, Conan/Baird, Murray, Crowley, Osborne
i think Bealham showed us that himself and Porter are the most important irish players at the moment.
He was everywhere but was not very effective. Butchered a try as well. Not as sharp as pre injury.
Conan was pretty great til he went off as well. I wouldn't be shocked if he started, though he has been excellent off the bench also.
Agree that this is what I think will happen, except for one position: Why do you think they'll bench Ryan who has been excellent in favour of McCarthy who was not good against Wales?
Healy?
I'd be very disappointed if Healy gets on the bench ahead of Boyle, would be a big step back. Osborne simply has to be in the 23 going forward, he's the perfect bench option at a minimum.
He is an excellent player. Like a good wine he is getting better with age.
To beat France I think Ireland will really have to move it up a couple of gears. how Hansen and prendergast go is key, so far they have been both been average this tournament and if they don’t up their standard we will lose.
I’d pick Ryan too but McCarthy did OK (but no more) yesterday and that seems to be the favoured partnership.
What was that, the one where he was held up?
We messed up another clear chance with that pass from Osborne. We'd be talking very differently about the game if we'd converted those.
This is a needlessly aggressive post imo.
I was literally posting what was brought up, a few minutes after i posted, by Ian madigan on VM this afternoon. Given we have played Crowley at 15 off the bench in last two games I was thinking the same, 6-2 bench to counter the French power.
Guess a bland discussion is not allowed anymore
I didn't think there was anything major in what you said. If Doris is out I wouldn't mind looking at that as a potential option personally but I'm not the coaches and I'm just having a chat.
There was a similar aggressive post aimed at me yesterday because I said Prendergast was fine but nothing special.
Why do people seem to think Crowley has the mental strength of a tulip and is going to quit on his international career? It's the latest nonsense being thrown out in this debate. To me it's clear SP is being given every chance to get up to speed, and he is doing a phenomenal job, for me he's slightly ahead of Crowley now but form will probably dictate after this year.
Its exactly the 'long term thinking to build depth' people are constantly demanding on here. Imagine in 3 weeks we could have back to back Grand Slams with 2 different (young) 10s and some g0bsh1tes are still going to be giving out.
We didn't do the slam last year
Apologies, titles*
3 titles in 3 years with three outhalfs! 😆
Conan went off yesterday with a back injury i think. Doris seemingly was in a knee brace. Who plays 8 if neither make it for France.
Timoney is in the squad more regularly but is playing 7 more often with Ulster.
Coombes is probably most likely and was with the team as 24th man in Cardiff.. some call In from the cold for Coombes potentially
Would definitely prefer to see Crowley at 10 for the france game. Just think whoever plays at 10 will have to contend with power runners hitting his channel.
C prendergast is next on line for the 8 jersey I would imagine. He's the last player to start in that jersey who isn't Doris, and he was the back row bench cover on Saturday before pulling out injured
Conan is fine. Had a hamstring tweak and was taken off as a precaution. People who know him told me he was fine after the match.
but there is an argument that SP didnt really earn it seeing as he barely played for leinster before the fiji & australia games, so he was basically handed the jersey and it is almost impossible for JC to stake a claim to be the starter again when he is getting 10/15 min cameos at fullback, even when the incumbent is having a very mixed game as happened yesterday
its true that the actual game itself isnt 'fair' and knows no sentimentality, but the players absolutely deserve to be treated fairly by the coaching/management
that is one of the most stupid things ive read on here for a while
