The Six Nations General Banter Thread. Read Mod Warning. Post no.5

PhatPiggins · 25-01-2010 12:29pm

Risteard wrote: »

Yep. I mean someone like Fitz. gets injured we can bring two young talents who are in form and guy with a wealth of experience who is playing great.

Not bad. If only we could get a TH though.

Even Hurley and Carr have shown enough to fill a gap.

TH :mad: The IRFU should send a Corrigan and Clohessy to Georgia and bring back a couple of 18yr old wrestlers.

wixfjord · 25-01-2010 12:35pm

After two more fairly poor performances from our two main sh's TOL and Reddan, what do people think are the chances of them being dropped and Boss/Stringer being brought in. Id love to see Stringer and Sexton together, but dont think it will happen.

If TOL is picked he will have to greatly improve his kicking, which has been poor enough for a while now.

twinytwo · 25-01-2010 12:40pm

wixfjord wrote: »

After two more fairly poor performances from our two main sh's TOL and Reddan, what do people think are the chances of them being dropped and Boss/Stringer being brought in. Id love to see Stringer and Sexton together, but dont think it will happen.

If TOL is picked he will have to greatly improve his kicking, which has been poor enough for a while now.

Dont know what to do with O Leary that needless intercept pass last weekend the blockdown friday night which could have cost us the game... his game has seriously gone hill since he busted his ankle.. Bring back the stringer.

TheGod · 25-01-2010 12:40pm

Can't see Stringer getting picked ahead of O'Leary if O'Leary's starting ahead of him for Munster. If I was McGahan however Stringer would be 100% starting for Munster.

Risteard · 25-01-2010 12:42pm

I'd like O'Leary to be given a chance against Italy despite playing poorly at the moment to see how he'll play under Kidney. When he's playing well, I think he's our best scrum-half but if his poor form continues then I'd like Boss to be introduced.

wixfjord · 25-01-2010 12:48pm

Risteard wrote: »

I'd like O'Leary to be given a chance against Italy despite playing poorly at the moment to see how he'll play under Kidney. When he's playing well, I think he's our best scrum-half but if his poor form continues then I'd like Boss to be introduced.

Yeah but if Kidney is going to actually stick by his idea of playing players in form, O Leary shouldnt start. Hes been very poor, and may be good defensively and very quick and strong, but his pass isnt anything special and his kicking is poor. Boss is without doubt the form sh and should be given a chance imo.

Risteard · 25-01-2010 12:50pm

wixfjord wrote: »

Yeah but if Kidney is going to actually stick by his idea of playing players in form, O Leary shouldnt start. Hes been very poor, and may be good defensively and very quick and strong, but his pass isnt anything special and his kicking is poor. Boss is without doubt the form sh and should be given a chance imo.

I agree. I would have absolutely no issues whatsoever if Boss plays. Maybe give them a half each against Italy.

anonymous_joe · 25-01-2010 2:45pm

twinytwo wrote: »

flipping country is awash with wingers,fb's and backrows... why no props:(... id be happy if we could just find one for hayes

I'd always guess it's some tendency for Irish people to be tall and a bit lanky really.

Compared to the Georgians who have a remarkable tendency to be short, squat and angry.

Talking vague averages, I mean, Dimitri Yachvilli is technically Georgian and I wouldn't describe him as prop like. :pac:

wixfjord · 25-01-2010 2:47pm

anonymous_joe wrote: »

I'd always guess it's some tendency for Irish people to be tall and a bit lanky really.

Compared to the Georgians who have a remarkable tendency to be short, squat and angry.

Talking vague averages, I mean, Dimitri Yachvilli is technically Georgian and I wouldn't describe him as prop like. :pac:

Short and angry though!

anonymous_joe · 25-01-2010 2:50pm

wixfjord wrote: »

Short and angry though!

You can take the man out of Georgia, but you can't take the Georgian out of the man?

sock puppet · 25-01-2010 6:32pm

twinytwo wrote: »

flipping country is awash with wingers,fb's and backrows... why no props:(... id be happy if we could just find one for hayes

I was just thinking about this actually. At the moment Kearney's the only quality Irish fullback getting gametime. Earls and Bowe are our only other options and they don't play there much.

25-01-2010 7:00pm

sock puppet wrote: »

I was just thinking about this actually. At the moment Kearney's the only quality Irish fullback getting gametime. Earls and Bowe are our only other options and they don't play there much.

I was also thinking about this recently. I think this is the reason Cheika played Kearney at wing a few weeks ago. Just to keep his options open.

thomond2006 · 25-01-2010 8:00pm

Oh Johnson, you plonker: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12321_5885161,00.html

Steve Borthwick has retained the captaincy of the England side, assuring him of a place in the starting line-up against Wales on February 6.

25-01-2010 8:40pm

sock puppet wrote: »

I was just thinking about this actually. At the moment Kearney's the only quality Irish fullback getting gametime. Earls and Bowe are our only other options and they don't play there much.

Kearney
Fitzgerald
Murphy
Bowe
Earls

We are fine at FB,when everyone is fit mind you.
Fitzgerald and Bowe both prefer playing fullback aswell.

Personally I would feel confident down to Murphy on that list,Bowe or Earls I wouldnt be too keen on.

Risteard · 25-01-2010 9:00pm

Noe Big Material wrote: »

Kearney
Fitzgerald
Murphy
Bowe
Earls

We are fine at FB,when everyone is fit mind you.
Fitzgerald and Bowe both prefer playing fullback aswell.

Personally I would feel confident down to Murphy on that list,Bowe or Earls I wouldnt be too keen on.

Has Fitz. played FB recently?

IMO, if his catching is up to the same level as Kearney's then I think he would be a better counter attacker from FB with a lot more space than on the wing.

Judgement Day · 25-01-2010 9:01pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

Oh Johnson, you plonker: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12321_5885161,00.html

Oh I don't know, it's an ill wind and Borthwick can only help Ireland's cause. Johnson would be better coming out of retirement himself!

PhatPiggins · 25-01-2010 9:12pm

Judgement Day wrote: »

Oh I don't know, it's an ill wind and Borthwick can only help Ireland's cause. Johnson would be better coming out of retirement himself!

Borthwicks not that bad if you pair him with an athletic player like Lawes,Shaw or Kennedy but sticking him in beside the likes of Deacon is pointless.

He's a better captain then player imo

Crash · 25-01-2010 9:31pm

Has Fitz. played FB recently?

IMO, if his catching is up to the same level as Kearney's then I think he would be a better counter attacker from FB with a lot more space than on the wing.

Fitz spends a huge amount of time with Leinster covering back as an auxiliary FB, my only worry would be his positioning, purely because he hasn't had as much time alone back there. I'd agree, though for FB i'd put Murphy ahead of Fitz on that list.

edit: His catching wouldn't be as good as Kearneys, seeing as very few players worldwide can match him for his ability to take a high ball under pressure consistently, but it'd be decent enough. See Fitz getting flipped catching a high ball against Italy last year, I think?

Ciaran-Irl · 25-01-2010 10:19pm

Judgement Day wrote: »

Oh I don't know, it's an ill wind and Borthwick can only help Ireland's cause. Johnson would be better coming out of retirement himself!

At a guess, Johnson must have been thinking about playing Lawes & Shaw, but with Croft injured, he will play Lawless at 6. Problem solved. Foolish coach.

danthefan · 25-01-2010 10:21pm

Crash wrote: »

Fitz spends a huge amount of time with Leinster covering back as an auxiliary FB, my only worry would be his positioning, purely because he hasn't had as much time alone back there. I'd agree, though for FB i'd put Murphy ahead of Fitz on that list.

edit: His catching wouldn't be as good as Kearneys, seeing as very few players worldwide can match him for his ability to take a high ball under pressure consistently, but it'd be decent enough. See Fitz getting flipped catching a high ball against Italy last year, I think?

Think that might have been the Quins game, he definitely got upended in the air, accidentally.

profitius · 25-01-2010 10:30pm

I'd start Court at loosehead and see how he does. Healy isn't as good a scrummager yet. No replacement for Hayes.

Cronin at hooker I'd like to see but he could be injured.

I'd like to see a high impact bench. Donnacha Ryan, Sean O'Brien etc.

Boss deserves a chance too as he is the form scrum half.

Podge_irl · 26-01-2010 12:40am

profitius wrote: »

No replacement for Hayes.

You know what, at this stage I think it would be almost worth just shoving Ross in there and seeing how he gets on. He can certainly lock out a scrum and Hayes' contribution around the field is dwindling anyway. While Hayes is probably still the better all round prop at the moment there is not a hope that he will be in a years time.

sock puppet · 26-01-2010 12:46pm

Noe Big Material wrote: »

Kearney
Fitzgerald
Murphy
Bowe
Earls

We are fine at FB,when everyone is fit mind you.
Fitzgerald and Bowe both prefer playing fullback aswell.

Personally I would feel confident down to Murphy on that list,Bowe or Earls I wouldnt be too keen on.

Oh I know long term we're okay. I was talking about just this tournament. Fitz and Murphy are injured. Though Murphy may be returning soon?

theKramer · 26-01-2010 1:22pm

Podge_irl wrote: »

You know what, at this stage I think it would be almost worth just shoving Ross in there and seeing how he gets on. He can certainly lock out a scrum and Hayes' contribution around the field is dwindling anyway. While Hayes is probably still the better all round prop at the moment there is not a hope that he will be in a years time.

I was thinking the exact same thing myself. And have Hayes on the bench in case it all goes pear-shaped.
The potential benefits outweigh any possible drawbacks.

thomond2006 · 29-01-2010 8:13am

Italy 30 man squad for Ireland match:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8486044.stm

Forwards: Matias Aguero (Saracens), Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais), Marco Bortolami (Gloucester), Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester), Lorenzo Cittadini (Benetton Treviso), Carlo Antonio Del Fava (MPS Viadana), Paul Derbyshire (Petrarca Padova), Simone Favaro (Banca Monte Parma), Quintin Geldenhuys (MPS Viadana), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Benetton Treviso), Fabio Ongaro (Saracens), Antonio Ravanello (Benetton Treviso), Salvatore Perugini (Bayonne), Josh Sole (MPS Viadana), Manoa Vosawai (Banca Monte Parma), Alessandro Zanni (Benetton Treviso).

Backs: Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais), Riccardo Bocchino (Femi-CZ Rovigo), Gonzalo Canale (Clermont), Gonzalo Garcia (Benetton Treviso), Craig Gower (Bayonne), Andrea Marcato (Benetton Treviso), Andrea Masi (Racing-Metro), Luke McLean (Benetton Treviso), Simon Picone (Benetton Treviso), Matteo Pratichetti (MPS Viadana), Kaine Robertson (MPS Viadana), Michele Sepe (MPS Viadana), Alberto Sgarbi (Benetton Treviso), Tito Tebaldi (Plusvalore Gran Parma).

twinytwo · 29-01-2010 9:41am

thomond2006 wrote: »

Do you think Flannery will still be considered for Italy given that he won't have featured for Munster this weekend?

For the sake of development, I would like to see Cronin start, whether Flannery is available or not.

But then we run into the problem of development over victory... if kidney was to play 3/4 of the younger players and we lost you still have people crying for kidneys head etc etc so he is stuck between a rock and a hard place

TheGod · 29-01-2010 9:45am

Anyone know when Ireland's 30 man squad will be announced?

Jbone07 · 29-01-2010 11:15am

twinytwo wrote: »

But then we run into the problem of development over victory... if kidney was to play 3/4 of the younger players and we lost you still have people crying for kidneys head etc etc so he is stuck between a rock and a hard place

I think if we start discounting the threat of the likes of Italy, we will be undone. Maybe if the game is getting on and we are winning by a comfortable margin Cronin should come in?

anonymous_joe · 29-01-2010 11:28am

thomond2006 wrote: »

Italy 30 man squad for Ireland match:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8486044.stm

Forwards: Matias Aguero (Saracens), Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais), Marco Bortolami (Gloucester), Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester), Lorenzo Cittadini (Benetton Treviso), Carlo Antonio Del Fava (MPS Viadana), Paul Derbyshire (Petrarca Padova), Simone Favaro (Banca Monte Parma), Quintin Geldenhuys (MPS Viadana), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Benetton Treviso), Fabio Ongaro (Saracens), Antonio Ravanello (Benetton Treviso), Salvatore Perugini (Bayonne), Josh Sole (MPS Viadana), Manoa Vosawai (Banca Monte Parma), Alessandro Zanni (Benetton Treviso).

Backs: Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais), Riccardo Bocchino (Femi-CZ Rovigo), Gonzalo Canale (Clermont), Gonzalo Garcia (Benetton Treviso), Craig Gower (Bayonne), Andrea Marcato (Benetton Treviso), Andrea Masi (Racing-Metro), Luke McLean (Benetton Treviso), Simon Picone (Benetton Treviso), Matteo Pratichetti (MPS Viadana), Kaine Robertson (MPS Viadana), Michele Sepe (MPS Viadana), Alberto Sgarbi (Benetton Treviso), Tito Tebaldi (Plusvalore Gran Parma).

Weakest Italian side for a while...

Other than the props, the Bergamascos and Canale there's very little there at all.

BoarHunter · 29-01-2010 11:32am

twinytwo wrote: »

But then we run into the problem of development over victory... if kidney was to play 3/4 of the younger players and we lost you still have people crying for kidneys head etc etc so he is stuck between a rock and a hard place

We have the same problem in France and i am mixed about this. We are definitly not playing our best chances in the 6N since the last WC with our group but the target is 2011.

IMO there is too many things that you can't be on top to bet "all in" for the WC ( form, weather, luck, and so on ) and it is too much of a gamble.

It is very hard to find a good balance between team building and performance. Winter and Summer tests are all about this i guess.

toomevara · 29-01-2010 12:08pm

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Weakest Italian side for a while...

Other than the props, the Bergamascos and Canale there's very little there at all.

+1, I Worry about this Italian side, I can see little in store for them but a steady diet of defeat.

Armada · 29-01-2010 3:24pm

Random burst of excitement:

I cant wait for the six nations to kick off, I actually get to go this year woohoo. My luck of course that the England and France games are away but the Wales game could be a cracker. Looking forward to the Italy and Scotland games too though!

Pub -> Bus -> Match -> Bus -> Pub

Nice little plan I think

Sorry about that.....

thomond2006 · 29-01-2010 4:28pm

The championship just won't be the same without Parisse.:(

Without him, Italy are doomed.

TheGod · 29-01-2010 4:29pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

The championship just won't be the same without Parisse.:(

Without him, Italy are doomed.

They were doomed anyway.

thomond2006 · 29-01-2010 4:33pm

TheGod wrote: »

They were doomed anyway.

Yeah, probably.

btw if anyone wants to see Wales youngsters Kristian Phillips and Tom Prydie, they are lining out the Ospreys tonight in the LV= Cup. Live on S4C at 7:30pm afaik.

Ospreys: 15 Tom Prydie 14 Kristian Phillips, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Gareth Owen, 9 Jamie Nutbrown, 8 Tom Smith, 7 Steve Tandy (c), 6 Ben Lewis, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Andy Lloyd, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Ed Shervington, 1 Ryan Bevington.

Replacements: 16 Marc Breeze, 17 Craig Mitchell, 18 Cai Griffiths, 19 James Goode, 20 James King, 21 Rhys Webb, 22 Matthew Jarvis, 23 Jonny Vaughton

thomond2006 · 29-01-2010 6:01pm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8486602.stm

Lee Byrne banned for two weeks, therefore missing Wales' opener against England. Massive blow for Wales

Who to play at FB?

It's probably between Halfpenny and Hook. Doubt young Prydie would get a look in in any case.

ScrubsfanChris · 29-01-2010 6:34pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

The championship just won't be the same without Parisse.:(

Without him, Italy are doomed.

Agree, he was the 2nd best player last year behind BOD, and Italy didn't even win a game.

twinytwo · 29-01-2010 8:54pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8486602.stm

Lee Byrne banned for two weeks, therefore missing Wales' opener against England. Massive blow for Wales

Who to play at FB?

It's probably between Halfpenny and Hook. Doubt young Prydie would get a look in in any case.

that sucks.. neither have a tap on byrne and i was looking forward to wales giving england a good thumping

Crash · 29-01-2010 10:48pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8486602.stm

Lee Byrne banned for two weeks, therefore missing Wales' opener against England. Massive blow for Wales

Who to play at FB?

It's probably between Halfpenny and Hook. Doubt young Prydie would get a look in in any case.

They'll throw hook into fullback - its been tried before, and they like halfpenny as a winger.

Judgement Day · 29-01-2010 11:40pm

twinytwo wrote: »

that sucks.. neither have a tap on byrne and i was looking forward to wales giving england a good thumping

I don't Lee Byrne's absence will make any difference to the outcome at Twickenham and if anyone is going to be thumped on the day it's Wales. So much depends on whether Jonny Wilkinson starts ahead of Flood or they could both start.

anonymous_joe · 30-01-2010 3:21am

Judgement Day wrote: »

I don't Lee Byrne's absence will make any difference to the outcome at Twickenham and if anyone is going to be thumped on the day it's Wales. So much depends on whether Jonny Wilkinson starts ahead of Flood or they could both start.

Eh?

That Welsh team could tear anyone apart if they wanted.

thomond2006 · 30-01-2010 12:01pm

Wales coach Warren Gatland will reveal his team to face England at Twickenham during a special Scrum V RBS Six Nations preview programme.

Join Scrum V presenter Gareth Lewis for the announcement on BBC TWO Wales at 1800 GMT on Sunday.

.

wixfjord · 30-01-2010 12:11pm

**** thats early! Hook at fb? Id love to see martin roberts get a go at sh, think hes going to be very good.

thomond2006 · 31-01-2010 4:00pm

For Italy match:

Healy
Cronin
Hayes
POC
DOC
Ferris
Wallace
Heaslip
Boss
Sexton
Earls
D'Arcy
BOD
Bowe
Kearney

Best / Flannery
Court (Horan looked good in the A match though)
Cullen
SOB (again played well in A game)
TOL
ROG
Trimble

Stev_o · 31-01-2010 4:06pm

Replace Court with Ross, having Court covering TH would be a disaster.

Podge_irl · 31-01-2010 4:10pm

I'd start Best, other than that I can't argue.

Would seriously toy with the idea of starting Ross in some of the games though if it was up to me.

danthefan · 31-01-2010 4:12pm

I'd start Rory Best after today's game. Horan didn't do enough to force his way back in, SOB for the bench, Stringer and Buckley for the glue factory.

wixfjord · 31-01-2010 4:13pm

Id start best and horan, cant see why youd put such an inexperienced front row up against the best scrummagers in the 6n. Hayes scrummaging has disimproved aswell I feel so that lineup could be a disaster.

Id start Boss and O Gara, but think it will be TOL and O Gara.

danthefan · 31-01-2010 4:14pm

How could anyone justify starting Horan? If it's not Healy it should be Court.

SomeFool · 31-01-2010 4:19pm

I'd have Ryan on the bench instead of Cullen, Ross instead of Court and I'd start Best ahead of Cronin.

The Six Nations General Banter Thread. *Read Mod Warning. Post no.5*

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The Six Nations General Banter Thread. Read Mod Warning. Post no.5