Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread

thomond2006 wrote: »

Healy, Best, Ross, Ryan, McCarthy, POM, SOB, Heaslip;
Murray, Sexton, Zebo, McSharry, Earls, Gilroy, R Kearney

Bench: Strauss, Kilcoyne, Bent, Tuohy, Henry, Marshall, Jackson, Trimble

If RK is unfit then move Zebo to 15 and put Trimble at 11, with McFadden on the bench.

Where's BOD?

thomond2006 wrote: »

Healy, Best, Ross, Ryan, McCarthy, POM, SOB, Heaslip;
Murray, Sexton, Zebo, McSharry, Earls, Gilroy, R Kearney

Bench: Strauss, Kilcoyne, Bent, Tuohy, Henry, Marshall, Jackson, Trimble

If RK is unfit then move Zebo to 15 and put Trimble at 11, with McFadden on the bench.

That's a pretty piss poor midfield for international standard imo... Which is more my opinion of where were at as a team right now rather than a dismissal of McSharry and Earls

Also i really think Henry deserves to start ahead of POM. I'd have SOB at 6 with Henry at 7.

Deano7788 wrote: »

That's very dismissive of McSharry's performances this year. He's been excellent. Also, Earls isn't that bad at 13. He seems to be the only way Munster offer any midfield threat atm.

Edited my post a bit to clarify my views. McSharry has played well but he's not international standard IMO. Also no matter much Earls and Kindey may believe it, Earls is not a natural 13. It annoys me the way Earls was pushed into midfield after he complained about wanting to play there. The fact that he played 12 against NZ is case and point for me. He's doesn't have the passing game or the creativity (with regards to creating for others) to be a top international 13.
The team has never played as well with him at 13 as with him on the wing (although that does coincide with BOD playing).

I'd personally prefer to see Marshall at 12. I know McSharry has started more games this season but he has been inconsistent and i do believe Marshall would make the players around him better due to his creativity.

Banbridgeman2 wrote: »

Kidney gone. Confirmed off the recod to me by someone very high up at one of provinces at a charity gig this afternoon

I'd find it very hard to believe that the conservative IRFU would drop the coach directly before the 6 Nations, the most important rugby tournament in their opinion.

I also find it hard to believe that someone in one of the provinces would be passing that info around so freely.

I'd well believe that Kidney has no future with the Irish side and that the decision has pretty much been made for all intents and purposes. There'll be no actions from any of it until after the 6 Nations at best.

molloyjh wrote: »

I'd find it very hard to believe that the conservative IRFU would drop the coach directly before the 6 Nations, the most important rugby tournament in their opinion.

I also find it hard to believe that someone in one of the provinces would be passing that info around so freely.

I'd well believe that Kidney has no future with the Irish side and that the decision has pretty much been made for all intents and purposes. There'll be no actions from any of it until after the 6 Nations at best.

I would take that what he is saying is that Kidney's contract won't be renewed after it runs out at the end of the Six Nations, which I think most people already knew.



On the team itself for the Six Nations, everyone knows it will be the same as we have had for the last while depending on injuries. If Bod, Poc, Ferris and Kearney play any time at all before the Six Nations they will come back into the side.

McSharry won't be involved, he is behind Darcy, Marshall and a BOD/Earls combo in the eyes of the coaches.