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Ireland vs France in BORDEAUX August 2011 **mod warning post 287**

12467…37

Comments

  • #92
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 29,580 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    NikNak8 wrote: »
    Think Earls at centre has to be tried

    Earls at centre has been tried. It doesn't work. He's a winger, and a very good one at that. He should be left there, the amount of hopping around the backline he did for Munster really caused problems for him before.


  • #93
    totallegend
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,234 ✭✭✭totallegend


    NikNak8 wrote: »
    Think Earls at centre has to be tried, hendo makes some valid points in one of todays papers. Would like to see earls play outside O'Driscoll.

    It's nonsense.

    Moving the best #13 in the world (northern half anyway) to a less favoured position to accomodate a guy who has no pedigree there and has shown all his best form on the wing is, well, nonsense.

    The same suggestions came up before the Six Nations this year; I remember hearing Keith Wood on Newstalk going on about changing the centre partnership and bringing in Earls - he talked for 5 minutes without mentioning D'Arcy once!

    D'Arcy is our best 12, O'Driscoll is our best 13. Nuff said. If one or other is injured, we slot in a direct replacement and leave the other where he is. We can experiment with all these half-baked notions and cheerleading agenda after the World Cup.

    Yours in frustration at all these stupid ideas getting undeserved column inches,

    Totallegend.


  • #94
    GerM
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,592 ✭✭✭GerM


    durkadurka wrote: »
    Brendan fanning probable team
    Probable Ireland team v France:
    Rob Kearney;
    Andrew Trimble, Keith Earls, Paddy Wallace, Luke Fitzgerald;
    Ronan O’Gara,
    Eoin Reddan;

    Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross,
    Donncha O’Callaghan, Leo Cullen,
    Donnacha Ryan, Denis Leamy, Sean O’Brien.

    Replacements: Jerry Flannery, Tony Buckley, Paul O’Connell, Jamie Heaslip; Conor Murray, Fergus McFadden, Felix Jones

    All based on that being the actual team: it would appear things are being set up for a Hayes, Flannery, POC combination next week. Also, I am surprised to see that Ryan is given another start in the side. He must be in clear pole position now for that role given McLaughlin will only have one match left to get a start in and won't be able to really show if he can cut it at both lock and blindside.

    Looks like RK will be given every chance to get up to 100% fitness and that Flannery will struggle to make a claim on the starting jersey if he's being eased back still. Surprised not to see Jennings in the 23 either. Playing Leamy at 8 is just odd. He's our 3rd choice player there, why would we give him another run there when we have such limited time to look at players? SOB to 8 given he's our second choice and could do with a run there and that would allow Jennings a run and a look at another player.

    Reckon McFadden could be given a spell on the wing to make one last claim on a spot in the squad but unless he does something, he'll be staying at home this autumn.

    I wonder will that be the team at all, to be honest. I'd be surprised.


  • #95
    buck65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,969 ✭✭✭buck65


    Considering D'arcy is a 50/50 to be fit I would look at possibilities.


  • #96
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 29,580 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    But if D'Arcy doesn't make it surely Wallace and McFadden would go as the two 12s. I'd far sooner see a McFadden/BOD combo then a BOD/Earls one. The guy is a winger.


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  • #97
    Gracelessly Tom
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,053 ✭✭✭Gracelessly Tom


    It really is pure speculation until Kidney announces the team in a short while. No point in pondering and complaining over the probable side. Even though I did it myself!


  • #98
    NikNak8
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 172 ✭✭NikNak8


    Lots of Centres start their professional careers as wingers. Think BOD Earls partnership is worth a look. Even BOD himself admits that he has lost a bit (small bit) of pace. Might mean we get another couple of years out of him too.
    Don't think Wallace or McFadden are up to international level, how many other top six teams/squads would they get on?


  • #99
    TopOfTheRight
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 269 ✭✭TopOfTheRight


    If any of our wingers were to be moved to the centre it should be Bowe imo.


  • #100
    LostPassword
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 366 ✭✭LostPassword


    It seems that there is a significant chance that D'Arcy won't make the plane - hence it is understandable that Kidney might want to give Earls a go at 13. Because after Wallace, Earls is the most experienced centre we have - he has much more high-level experience in the position than McFadden or Bowe and has generally done alright. He definitely shines more in the back 3 but he's always done okay at centre too, just without the attacking sparkle.

    A BOD-Earls combination has a lot going for it potentially too - BOD's lost yard of pace is a potential liability at 13 - Foden skinned him on the outside at least 3 times in the Six nations and HEC final, and if D'Arcy is out, he's the only guy we have who can really do the business defensively at 12.


  • #101
    Gianna Loud Sailboat
    Posts: 0 ✭ Gianna Loud Sailboat


    If that's the team we are in serious trouble.
    fwiw, anyone who believes that Earls can do the attacking job of a 13 is sane, anyone who believes he can defend as a 13 should is out of their minds.

    With a ROG, Wallace, Earls axis, I see ball being ran at our posts all day long.
    NikNak8 wrote: »
    Think Earls at centre has to be tried, hendo makes some valid points in one of todays papers. Would like to see earls play outside O'Driscoll. Reddan, O'Gara, Wallace and Earls together would be way too lightweight in defense.
    after your recommendations of Niall Ronan getting a game last week, the weight of this comment is happily reduced.


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  • #102
    LostPassword
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 366 ✭✭LostPassword


    Deleted User wrote: »
    fwiw, anyone who believes that Earls can do the attacking job of a 13 is sane, anyone who believes he can defend as a 13 should is out of their minds.
    Ridiculous hyperbole - he did fine defensively last year at 13 in the HEC. He is liable to defensive lapses of concentration but just as much at 13 as on the wing. The simple fact is that he has the pace and quick feet to do the job at 13 which others lack - whether he has the concentration to do so at the highest level is another question, but he has the physical attributes for sure. You can make up for concentration with work, you can't make up for a lack of pace or quickness of feet.


  • #103
    Gianna Loud Sailboat
    Posts: 0 ✭ Gianna Loud Sailboat


    Earls is a lot quicker than BOD yet still his abilities to defend are incomparable.

    Note how McFadden managed to make one mistake in defence last week that cost us a try, note that McFadden is actually a centre, accustomed to playing there (perhaps not recently, but plenty of appearances for Ireland A, Leinster A and underage teams too).

    Earls has shown that when given time to play in the position he was born to play (left wing) that he can mature into an exciting and devastating player, but who's also shown that he takes the bumps a little harder than others, having setbacks by playing out of position at Munster and on the Lions. Putting a guy like that, who's been in serious form this season, into a new role against the French in the south of France 5 weeks before we'll need him to be scoring trys in NZ?

    Madness


  • #104
    LostPassword
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 366 ✭✭LostPassword


    Deleted User wrote: »
    Earls has shown that when given time to play in the position he was born to play (left wing) that he can mature into an exciting and devastating player, but who's also shown that he takes the bumps a little harder than others, having setbacks by playing out of position at Munster and on the Lions. Putting a guy like that, who's been in serious form this season, into a new role against the French in the south of France 5 weeks before we'll need him to be scoring trys in NZ?

    Madness
    This is a good point. Earls is definitely prone to nerves and crises of confidence and I can see the point that it could be seriously dangerous to risk his fragile confidence which has blossomed in the last year or so at wing, by putting him up against a savagely talented French backline in a position where he hasn't played for a while. Still, if he was able to come through it and play well, it could really boost our squad's depth - a risk but one that could be worth it.


  • #105
    bamboozle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,699 ✭✭✭bamboozle


    LostPassword wrote: »
    This is a good point. Earls is definitely prone to nerves and crises of confidence and I can see the point that it could be seriously dangerous to risk his fragile confidence which has blossomed in the last year or so at wing, by putting him up against a savagely talented French backline in a position where he hasn't played for a while. Still, if he was able to come through it and play well, it could really boost our squad's depth - a risk but one that could be worth it.

    Earls needs to be left fight it out for a wing berth with Luke, Trimble and Bowe, leave BOD, D'arcy & McFadden + Wallace for 12&13

    no idea why Leamy would be considered again at 8, he's living off reputation at this stage & does not deserve to be in the squad for WC.
    Hopefully Flannery gets 30 mins this weekend and then starts the home games against France & Munster, our WC hopes will be far better if a fit Flannery is starting for us!


  • #106
    thomond2006
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    Can us boardsies get together to superglue Earls to the wing?


  • #107
    profitius
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,976 ✭✭✭profitius


    When I first thought about BOD and Earls I thought it would be a bad idea. Thinking about it further it could offer Ireland a new attacking dimension. People talk about Earls' defense but they point out some lapses that happened earlier in his career. Last season he looked very solid and he is much more confident now too. Maybe its something to try after the world cup.

    Its about getting the balance right. Quade Cooper of Australia can't defend to save his life but his attacking ability means he is overall a valuable player to have.


  • #108
    colman1212
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,127 ✭✭✭colman1212


    bamboozle wrote: »
    Earls needs to be left fight it out for a wing berth with Luke, Trimble and Bowe, leave BOD, D'arcy & McFadden + Wallace for 12&13

    no idea why Leamy would be considered again at 8, he's living off reputation at this stage & does not deserve to be in the squad for WC.
    Hopefully Flannery gets 30 mins this weekend and then starts the home games against France & Munster, our WC hopes will be far better if a fit Flannery is starting for us!

    Thought Leamy did well at the weekend to be honest. One of the only forwards to put in a strong physical performance.


  • #109
    theboss80
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,838 ✭✭✭theboss80


    What time is time announcement? Can find it online


  • #110
    fitz
    Hosted Moderators Posts: 8,812 ✭✭✭fitz


    bamboozle wrote: »
    Earls needs to be left fight it out for a wing berth with Luke, Trimble and Bowe, leave BOD, D'arcy & McFadden + Wallace for 12&13

    Fully agree with this.
    no idea why Leamy would be considered again at 8, he's living off reputation at this stage & does not deserve to be in the squad for WC.

    I question it too...
    Between Heaslip, SOB and Wally in a pinch, surely we have plenty of cover for 8?


  • #111
    Riskymove
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,900 ✭✭✭✭Riskymove


    theboss80 wrote: »
    What time is time announcement? Can find it online

    press conference starts at 1pm, streamed live on irishrugby


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  • #112
    EmacB
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 308 ✭✭EmacB


    Where will the stream be on the website?


  • #113
    GerM
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,592 ✭✭✭GerM


    EmacB wrote: »
    Where will the stream be on the website?

    http://www.irishrugby.ie/matchdaytv/index/index/id/8938


  • #114
    Gracelessly Tom
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,053 ✭✭✭Gracelessly Tom


    GerM wrote: »
    http://www.irishrugby.ie/matchdaytv/index/index/id/8938

    Fvcking office firewall.... anyone update the team on here as it's called? Thanks.


  • #115
    PhatPiggins
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,881 ✭✭✭PhatPiggins


    Cullen captain again!


  • #116
    LeeroyJones
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,954 ✭✭✭LeeroyJones


    1 Healy
    2 Best
    3 Ross
    4 DOC
    5 Cullen (c)
    6 Ryan
    7 SOB
    8 Leamy

    9 Reddan
    10 ROG
    11 Fitzgerald
    12 Wallace
    13 Earls
    14 Trimble
    15 Kearney

    Fla Buckley POC Heaslip Murray
    McFadden Jones


  • #117
    totallegend
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,234 ✭✭✭totallegend


    15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/ Leinster)
    14 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
    13 - Keith Earls (Thomond/Munster)
    12 - Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/ Ulster)
    11 - Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/ Leinster)
    10 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
    9 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
    1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
    2 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
    3 - Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
    4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
    5 - Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster) Captain
    6 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
    7 - Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
    8 - Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
    Replacements:
    16 - Jerry Flannery (Shannon/ Munster)
    17 - Tony Buckley (Sale Sharks)
    18 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
    19 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)
    20 - Conor Murray (Garryowen/ Munster)
    21 - Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
    22 - Felix Jones (Shannon/ Munster)


  • #118
    Gianna Loud Sailboat
    Posts: 0 ✭ Gianna Loud Sailboat


    so as predicted.

    great


  • #119
    PhatPiggins
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,881 ✭✭✭PhatPiggins


    durkadurka wrote: »
    Brendan fanning probable team



    Actaul Ireland team v France:

    Rob Kearney;
    Andrew Trimble, Keith Earls, Paddy Wallace, Luke Fitzgerald;
    Ronan O’Gara,
    Eoin Reddan;

    Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross,
    Donncha O’Callaghan, Leo Cullen,
    Donnacha Ryan, Denis Leamy, Sean O’Brien.

    Replacements: Jerry Flannery, Tony Buckley, Paul O’Connell, Jamie Heaslip; Conor Murray, Fergus McFadden, Felix Jones

    As above


  • #120
    MungBean
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,915 ✭✭✭MungBean


    Hope Murray and Jones get a good stint on the pitch. Dont agree with moving Earls in though I think it should have been Trimble.


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  • #121
    totallegend
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,234 ✭✭✭totallegend


    Massive vote of confidence for Ryan, I'd say any sort of a decent shift will book his plane ticket for him, poor Kev McLaughlin is out of the running, Jennings has run out of time too.


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