nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread IV

RoundBox11

Pairing Luke Marshall with Cave in the centre and Payne at fullback could be really good for the wolfhounds backline. They should know each other inside out. Then Gilroy could be on one wing.

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

phog

LostArt wrote: »

4 weeks out for Heaslip confirmed

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/33845.php#.VOI3Dy5gvb4

So he'll be back in time to share the celebrations in Edinburgh.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Some Yoke wrote: »

When in rhys ruddock back does anyone know? I Googled and in December it said 6 weeks so should be soon but didn't see or hear any updates. Unfortunate to think how strong an injured backrow we have 6 ruddock 8 heaslip 7 henry. Hopefully injuries like these will be a distant memory come the world cup and no more nasty surprises

It keeps getting pushed back, just two weeks ago leinster were advertising the dragons match yesterday as the return of rhy ruddock.

Some Yoke

When in rhys ruddock back does anyone know? I Googled and in December it said 6 weeks so should be soon but didn't see or hear any updates. Unfortunate to think how strong an injured backrow we have 6 ruddock 8 heaslip 7 henry. Hopefully injuries like these will be a distant memory come the world cup and no more nasty surprises

UnitedWeStand

A shame but hell better than we feared. No long term damage suffered which is the main thing.

vienne86

Bummer about Jamie. I suppose it could have been worse, but nothing that happens with Papé's citing can compensate Ireland and Leinster for losing him for four weeks. To say nothing of the discomfort to Jamie.

salmocab

Really its a kick in the nuts with England up next, I like Jordi but its a pity Ruddocks not fit, he would be good to have against the English.

LuckyGent88

LostArt wrote: »

4 weeks out for Heaslip confirmed

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/33845.php#.VOI3Dy5gvb4

Not exactly the news we wanted but that's a lot better diagnosis than I thought it would be.

MJohnston

total former wrote: »

Well that's as good as we could have hoped I suppose.

Aside from him not getting kneed in the back to start with anyway!

It's rather annoying that because of Pape's citing, Ireland will somewhat be doubly punished.

total former

LostArt wrote: »

4 weeks out for Heaslip confirmed

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/33845.php#.VOI3Dy5gvb4

Well that's as good as we could have hoped I suppose.

LostArt

4 weeks out for Heaslip confirmed

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/33845.php#.VOI3Dy5gvb4

BoardsMember

wittycynic wrote: »

This.

We have some great fielders in the team. Kearney, Zebo, and Bowe always look comfortable under the high ball and weren't troubled on Saturday.

It's great that everyone from 11 to 15 (and 23) has played full back at either European or international level, and are over six foot. Gives us a lot of options in that department.

Zebo looks comfortable under a high ball kicked to him, but chasing our own up & unders I think he has a bit to go before he's at the Bowe level, and a bit further again to the Kearney level, though Kearney is exceptionally good at it so a tough comparison.

[Deleted User]

shuffol wrote: »

I wonder is Schmidt developing a plan for this team of turning us into the best contestable kicking team in world rugby and using that as our primary means of beating our opposition. We've arguably the 2 best tactical kicking halfbacks in the game, every outside back we have is 6"1 plus, all with the ability to play 15, our no.23 is a 6"1 specialist fullback. Is it possible that he see's this as our best means of launching an assault on the WC and is running with it.

This.

We have some great fielders in the team. Kearney, Zebo, and Bowe always look comfortable under the high ball and weren't troubled on Saturday.

It's great that everyone from 11 to 15 (and 23) has played full back at either European or international level, and are over six foot. Gives us a lot of options in that department.

UnitedWeStand

shuffol wrote: »

I wonder is Schmidt developing a plan for this team of turning us into the best contestable kicking team in world rugby and using that as our primary means of beating our opposition. We've arguably the 2 best tactical kicking halfbacks in the game, every outside back we have is 6"1 plus, all with the ability to play 15, our no.23 is a 6"1 specialist fullback. Is it possible that he see's this as our best means of launching an assault on the WC and is running with it.

It seems genius if so. Kicking game is so underrated, the law variations around 08 seemed to make everyone hate the thing. In a nation where most of our players have played GAA we should be making the most of it!

thomond2006

Henderson is a cartoon character in possession, he should start for entertainment value if nothing else!

First Up

bilston wrote: »

Will never know for sure but I would think Best's yellow card was the reason Henderson only got 6 mins.

I thought Henderson's 6 minutes was terrific stuff. He certainly got stuck in. Maybe I'm biased because I probably see him a lot more than many here but he'd always be in my team.

I'd be happy with him too - great athlete. However he is a very tempting bench option as he covers so many spots (all of them well.)

bilston

phog wrote: »

I was a bit underwhelmed with Murphy on Saturday but as Joe only gave Henderson 6 minutes I think it's fair to say Murphy is in pole position to start if Jamie is out.

Will never know for sure but I would think Best's yellow card was the reason Henderson only got 6 mins.

I thought Henderson's 6 minutes was terrific stuff. He certainly got stuck in. Maybe I'm biased because I probably see him a lot more than many here but he'd always be in my team.

efb

I just look at our 9 & 10 and feel blessed.

shuffol

I wonder is Schmidt developing a plan for this team of turning us into the best contestable kicking team in world rugby and using that as our primary means of beating our opposition. We've arguably the 2 best tactical kicking halfbacks in the game, every outside back we have is 6"1 plus, all with the ability to play 15, our no.23 is a 6"1 specialist fullback. Is it possible that he see's this as our best means of launching an assault on the WC and is running with it.

AbusesToilets

.ak wrote: »

My issue is if Jones can't be used as an impact sub when we were 12 points up he's only there for injury cover... I'd like to see Joe use the bench a bit more positively like he has done in the past.

There is no need for Jones on the bench, he adds very little impact value. How many of the starting backs can cover 15 already? Waste of a bench spot imo.

Quint2010

Backrow for England: Henderson, SOB, POM. That is all.

First Up

shuffol wrote: »

Best had a decent game before his moment of madness. Was responsible in a good turnover at a maul in the first half and was his usual busy self around the field.

POM was very quiet for the first 50 mins but had a few good moments after that most notably the turnover from the maul near our line. Would still like to see him with a higher tackle count particularly with O'Brien in the side.

He got more credit for that rip than he deserved - much of the work was done by others. However I thought he played OK and I would be confident that he will be well motivated against England. Fearless.

sullivlo

.ak wrote: »

Heaslip is out having coffee, a double espresso by the looks of it, no sugar. He says coffee makes things better. Textbook behaviour of an injured lesser spotted hipster.

Coffee is good though - it means surgery unlikely, right?!

.ak

Heaslip is out having coffee, a double espresso by the looks of it, no sugar. He says coffee makes things better. Textbook behaviour of an injured lesser spotted hipster.

sydthebeat

when are we getting the injury update? this afternoon??

shuffol

BoardsMember wrote: »

Thought Murphy was brilliant when he came on too, he seemed to be in tune with what was going on immediately. Would have liked to have seen Henderson on a little earlier, love seeing him come on, he looks like a total headcase!! Thought the front row bench could have come in a little earlier too, particularly Ross who looked absolutely whacked coming off. Surely he could have "risked" Moore coming in earlier than the 64th minute? I wasn't at the game, but thought Best (for the second game in a row?) and POM were not that noticeable. I know suggesting anything derogatory about the latter is tantamount to treachery, but just my observation on a casual watch of the game, and no doubt he was doing loads of the hidden stuff, and lots of stuff I just missed.

Best had a decent game before his moment of madness. Was responsible in a good turnover at a maul in the first half and was his usual busy self around the field.

POM was very quiet for the first 50 mins but had a few good moments after that most notably the turnover from the maul near our line. Would still like to see him with a higher tackle count particularly with O'Brien in the side.

BoardsMember

First Up wrote: »

I think Murphy at 8 is a foregone conclusion, with Henderson covering 2nd row and back row from the bench. Schmidt won't make any changes more than necessary.

Agreed. It's a pretty small back row compared to the English one. We could have used a fit & firing Ruddock in there in the form he showed in the AIs. I'm increasingly anxious about this one, could get murdered in the front row and the back row is going to be very tough too with us giving height and weight in each position.

First Up

BoardsMember wrote: »

Thought Murphy was brilliant when he came on too, he seemed to be in tune with what was going on immediately. Would have liked to have seen Henderson on a little earlier, love seeing him come on, he looks like a total headcase!! Thought the front row bench could have come in a little earlier too, particularly Ross who looked absolutely whacked coming off. Surely he could have "risked" Moore coming in earlier than the 64th minute? I wasn't at the game, but thought Best (for the second game in a row?) and POM were not that noticeable. I know suggesting anything derogatory about the latter is tantamount to treachery, but just my observation on a casual watch of the game, and no doubt he was doing loads of the hidden stuff, and lots of stuff I just missed.

I think Murphy at 8 is a foregone conclusion, with Henderson covering 2nd row and back row from the bench. Schmidt won't make any changes more than necessary.

total former

.ak wrote: »

My issue is if Jones can't be used as an impact sub when we were 12 points up he's only there for injury cover... I'd like to see Joe use the bench a bit more positively like he has done in the past.

It was an odd one on Saturday; neither Boss nor Jones were used and if Sexton hadn't got a knock, then Madigan wouldn't have been used either. Henderson, the epitome of the impact sub, got 7 minutes and who knows if Murphy would have got on if Heaslip hadn't been injured.

So basically he used the front row as legitimate replacements and the rest as break-glass-in-emergency cover. I know it was tight and there's a risk with guys going in cold into an intense match, but France's subs made a difference, maybe ours could have done likewise.

BoardsMember

Thought Murphy was brilliant when he came on too, he seemed to be in tune with what was going on immediately. Would have liked to have seen Henderson on a little earlier, love seeing him come on, he looks like a total headcase!! Thought the front row bench could have come in a little earlier too, particularly Ross who looked absolutely whacked coming off. Surely he could have "risked" Moore coming in earlier than the 64th minute? I wasn't at the game, but thought Best (for the second game in a row?) and POM were not that noticeable. I know suggesting anything derogatory about the latter is tantamount to treachery, but just my observation on a casual watch of the game, and no doubt he was doing loads of the hidden stuff, and lots of stuff I just missed.

.ak

total former wrote: »

Murphy is a tackling machine. In fairness he was on the pitch during France's best (only?) spell of prolonged possession and pressure so there were a lot of tackles to be made, but he was everywhere during that period.

Murphy to start, O'Donnell to bench and a possible swap of the looseheads will be the only changes to the 23 I reckon. Reddan maybe. There will be plenty of talk about Earls/Fitzgerald again but I'd be surprised to see Jones dropped.

My issue is if Jones can't be used as an impact sub when we were 12 points up he's only there for injury cover... I'd like to see Joe use the bench a bit more positively like he has done in the past.