I'm not getting involved in the bias debate.
How Munster played against Leinster is irrelevant. It's the individual players you are looking at not the team performance.
Strongly agree with this. Wouldn’t be surprised if Nash is soon over taken in Irish squads by the likes of Bolton and TOB. Kilgallen too if he can get an injury free run.
Nash doesn't make anything happen for you at this level imo. Compare his influence on the game to Lowe for example. He's a solid, honest player but he's just outclassed by the 3 other wingers on the field if he starts against France. Osborne is a better overall rugby player, better boot, better under the high ball, correct call imo.
I suspect Nash is available now, but was not able to train fully. Osborne also has a better boot on him if that is a road they are looking to go down.
Anyway, specific French match chat to the match thread please.
While I don't think anybody can argue against the bias the IRFU usually show to Leinster players, I think on this occasion it's not the case
Let's be kind and say Munster played like a junior schools team in both games against Leinster this season. Nash and Osborne started both games for their respective teams.
Put yourself in the shoes of the coach. If you were Simon Easterby watching those games, your first time in charge of a national team and there's a chance of a Grand Slam, who do you select? I think Easterby has it right
Ringrose is a big loss for this type of game,
We've handled Furlongs absence really well, heading towards 10 Test games without him.
I'd prefer Ryan at lock to start, big big Test for Sam
Not a fan of 6-2 we didn't do it v SA on summer tour
I don’t think that is the case here. Osbourne can cover centres and full back. Ireland have gone 6-2 so need more cover. If it was a 5-3 split on the bench I would imagine Nash starts. No idea if injured or not but Nash was holding his rips after every tackle for 15 minutes before he was taken off for Munster last week. Thought it was bonkers he wasn’t taken off before half time watching it. It may also have been taken into consideration.
Ireland highest missed tackle count for 6N at 91 v France at 61. That needs to be fixed, urgent.
hence why i said 'if nash is indeed available' - i had heard that he was both available and unavailable from different sources so it seemed up in the air
harry byrne has so few caps because of his unfortunate injury record, he was somewhat consistently getting picked in ireland squads though despite being 3rd choice at best for leinster at the time. he was getting picked ahead of ross (2nd choice/starter due to sextons limited availability), carty (starter) and ben healy (2nd choice/ starter since carbery was generally injured). to be fair, crowley was in a similar position when first picked in the squad but he ended up as first choice munster 10 fairly quickly after that
Well Ringrose would be available. Perhaps Hansen. James Ryan, Furlong if fit.
Rib injury according to the RTE website report today.
Easterby says otherwise re Nash, no?
Nash is injured.
Harry Byrne has 4 caps in 4 years. Who exactly has he been getting picked ahead of ?
if nash is indeed available, then there is an argument that there is an element of this with osbourne is being picked ahead of him. same with osbourne starting the SA games over the summer at 15 when he had barely played there for leinster
could argue it with harry b being involved in squads when he was barely playing with leinster
Anc who exactly is not being picked on that bias basis
i think the other poster's idea of 'bias' is a bit much, especially given the importance of the game in question
however, i do think there is a perception of a growing trend in selection where the thought is that playing/being involved with one of the provinces matters more than (again, perceived) performances
we know, look 9 posts up ^
theres a match thread
for what purpose?
No not a hope.
why would we?
I'm not sure we'd take any chances in a grand slam decider.
I would presume not.
so assuming it is Sunday and we had our big win, do we rotate our side for the Italy game?
Ah yes. Grand slam on the line and the coaching team choose due to Leinster bias. Of course.
Match thread here:
Mod - all further discussion specific to this game should move over there.
If Nash is actually fit, then this is a **** ridiculous decision.
I like Osbourne and think he's a great player.
He's clearly either a center or full back. Putting him on the wing ahead of Nash is taking Leinster bias to even new levels.
Makes me even more sure of my point re Clarkson starting against Wales being a way to get him ahead of Bealham.
If Clarkson had say a great game that day, he'd be starting today.
absolutely nothing wrong with Crowley to 15??
we retain a very comprehensive center partnership, with a strong footballing 15.
I'd assume Crowley to 15, Keenan to wing and Osborne to centre.
France conceded 26 to England and 24 to Italy so I think you are way off on what Ireland will score.
