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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.

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bilston

.ak wrote: »

The best part about the Scotland game for me was the fact our midfield clicked. It wasn't a case of two individuals playing their socks off but for the first time they started looking like a unit. I was really impressed with them and how they brought the back 3 into the game with them. This is just the beginning.

One moment I loved was Henshaw going down the right, passing to Fitz who made great yards before offloading back to Henshaw who ultimately ended in touch, it was great to see, but if you wind back to the beginning of the move it was sumptuous pass from Payne that helped create the space. There is real attacking potential in those three.

bilston

So have we found our starting XV for the WC now? I guess there will continue to be debate over the left wing spot. Fitzgerald is now the man in possession but Zebo remains very much in the frame, I hope Earls is still in contention as well and of course Trimble will hopefully be back from injury come the WC. I'd also add that Gilroy is in lethal form but he doesn't seem to be on Joe's radar right now. Plenty of wing options anyway.

The rest of the team will be hard to budge.

Looking at the bench, Henry and Jackson may push Murphy and Madigan/Keatley when they return and while I imagine Joe will see no reason to change his mind now I'd hope Earls would get the 23 shirt.

There are some interesting calls coming up at provincial level though which may or may not impact on things...

Ross or Moore at Leinster?
Payne at 13 or 15 for Ulster?
Madigan at 10 or 12 for Leinster?
Fitzgerald and Earls at centre or wing for Leinster/Munster?
Henderson at 6 or second row for Ulster?

irishbucsfan

bilston wrote: »

Ross or Moore at Leinster?
Payne at 13 or 15 for Ulster?
Madigan at 10 or 12 for Leinster?
Fitzgerald and Earls at centre or wing for Leinster/Munster?
Henderson at 6 or second row for Ulster?

Honestly I don't think any of these calls will affect the national squad. I think Moore could start every game for Leinster between now and the WC and Ross would still be favoured. I think Payne could play every game for Ulster at 15 and yet play for Ireland at 13. I think Madigan could play 12 and still be in that 22 jersey. Fitzgerald is seen as a winger by Joe it seems, Te'o's emergence at 13 may allow him to play there for Leinster but I don't think Fitz playing at 13 for Leinster would change much. I think Henderson similarly is going to be on the bench for Ireland, and it makes sense to put him in that 19 jersey.

I wouldn't say the squad is largely decided, but I'd say the judgement calls that will ultimately construct the squad are already made. I think there are a few edge cases which will come down to fitness/conditioning (and back 3 is the best example of that) but I can't see anything happening at provincial level between now and May that is going to make a major difference, apart from injuries.

captbarnacles

Very interesting when Trimble comes back as Joe obviously rates him highly. Would still like to see Payne at fullback with Luke at 13 bur doubt that setup is ever happening now.

Buer

If we're looking at a 31 man squad, I'll go for the following:

Ross, Moore, Healy, McGrath, Cronin, Best, Strauss, Bent
POC, Toner, Henderson, Ryan
Heaslip, SOB, POM, Murphy, Ruddock
Murray, Reddan, Boss
Sexton, Jackson, Madigan
Henshaw, Payne, Fitzgerald, Bowe, Earls, Zebo
Kearney, Jones

Honourable mentions to TOD and Trimble (I think injury will cost him his place as he will struggle to hit match fitness and has been out of the set up for too long).

Bent is a bit of a wildcard but if we have to go for another prop he has a good chance. He's gone ahead of Kilcoyne in the pecking order recently. Cronin might take that spot but versatility could play a part in terms of being able to offer some flexibility for replacements.

Buer

captbarnacles wrote: »

Very interesting when Trimble comes back as Joe obviously rates him highly. Would still like to see Payne at fullback with Luke at 13 bur doubt that setup is ever happening now.

He does, I think, but once you're on the outside it's much harder to get back in. Trimble has missed pretty much the entire season (11th October was his last appearance). That's going to make it very hard for him to get back in. The wingers that are in the set up now are all serious players.

One or two of McFadden, Dave Kearney and Gilroy may not even make the extended squad.

Tox56

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Honestly I don't think any of these calls will affect the national squad. I think Moore could start every game for Leinster between now and the WC and Ross would still be favoured. I think Payne could play every game for Ulster at 15 and yet play for Ireland at 13. I think Madigan could play 12 and still be in that 22 jersey. Fitzgerald is seen as a winger by Joe it seems, Te'o's emergence at 13 may allow him to play there for Leinster but I don't think Fitz playing at 13 for Leinster would change much. I think Henderson similarly is going to be on the bench for Ireland, and it makes sense to put him in that 19 jersey.

I wouldn't say the squad is largely decided, but I'd say the judgement calls that will ultimately construct the squad are already made. I think there are a few edge cases which will come down to fitness/conditioning (and back 3 is the best example of that) but I can't see anything happening at provincial level between now and May that is going to make a major difference, apart from injuries.

Think it will be Fitz 13 Te'o 12

total former

Buer wrote: »

He does, I think, but once you're on the outside it's much harder to get back in. Trimble has missed pretty much the entire season (11th October was his last appearance). That's going to make it very hard for him to get back in. The wingers that are in the set up now are all serious players.

One or two of McFadden, Dave Kearney and Gilroy may not even make the extended squad.

Yeah I think Trimble is up against it. He'll need injuries to others I think. But given the injury records of Earls, Fitzgerald, Bowe in recent years, that's very possible.

[Deleted User]

Has Schmidt offered any indication that he rates Earls to date? Genuine question. Earls was 13 for the Wolfhounds was he?

irishbucsfan

Tox56 wrote: »

Think it will be Fitz 13 Te'o 12

I think Madigan will play 12, and I think it'll either be Te'o outside him at 13 with Fitz at 11 or else just Fitz at 13 with Te'o on the bench.

total former

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Has Schmidt offered any indication that he rates Earls to date? Genuine question. Earls was 13 for the Wolfhounds was he?

Yeah, didn't have a great game but he was only back from injury. Joe kept him around for the 6N so must have some interest in him alright, I presume as 13.

Buer

Deleted User wrote: »

Has Schmidt offered any indication that he rates Earls to date? Genuine question. Earls was 13 for the Wolfhounds was he?

He commented positively on him in the past but the biggest indication was that Earls travelled to Rome as the 24th man in the opening game.

I'd be very surprised if he didn't travel.

rrpc

Deleted User wrote: »

Has Schmidt offered any indication that he rates Earls to date? Genuine question. Earls was 13 for the Wolfhounds was he?

He was 24th man for the England game I think and then Luke Fitz was 24th for Wales so he's very close. It must be tough for him, because Zebo was 24th for Scotland and that left Keith out in the cold. At least Luke got a start, but Earls had no part to play at any stage.

Mahatma Geansai

rrpc wrote: »

He was 24th man for the England game I think and then Luke Fitz was 24th for Wales so he's very close. It must be tough for him, because Zebo was 24th for Scotland and that left Keith out in the cold. At least Luke got a start, but Earls had no part to play at any stage.

He's suffering from Schmidt being unfamiliar with him. Hopefully Schmidt shows a desire to build the squad before the RWC, because it will be a shambles if a fit and firing Earls doesn't get a look in.

CatFromHue

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

He's suffering from Schmidt being unfamiliar with him. Hopefully Schmidt shows a desire to build the squad before the RWC, because it will be a shambles if a fit and firing Earls doesn't get a look in.

I think Earls being injured is a bigger reason.

Remember before the 6N he'd only been involved in 3 games for Munster and his longest gametime in any of those games was 44mins.

Meanwhile his competition for Ireland had been doing well all season.

SaveOurLyric

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

He's suffering from Schmidt being unfamiliar with him. Hopefully Schmidt shows a desire to build the squad before the RWC, because it will be a shambles if a fit and firing Earls doesn't get a look in.

Unfamiliar with him ?????

Certainly not that. Joe had him in the squad this season, the extended squadlast season, will have studiedhim when he was an opponent of Leinster, and there is no such thing as Joe being 'unfamiliar' with any top flight player, experienced international and Lions tourist, available to him. He will have serious file with all his attributes, stats, strengths, and weaknesses.
His marginal use of him will because this analysis shows that other candidates are better at implementing his strategy.

UnitedWeStand

Fair play to the RBS Six Nations channel on YouTube, they really do put up a range of highlights. They've uploaded this video of some of Fitzy's main contributions in the Scotland game.

PTH2009

delighted with the title. my heart was not able for the england vs france match really thought england had it

roll on the summer games and the world cup

hopefully we get a dvd of this years championship victory

rrpc

UnitedWeStand wrote: »

Fair play to the RBS Six Nations channel on YouTube, they really do put up a range of highlights. They've uploaded this video of some of Fitzy's main contributions in the Scotland game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xLi3GUDyPk

UnitedWeStand

rrpc wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xLi3GUDyPk

Haha I'm not at the races today, completely forgot to put the link in, cheers!

rrpc

UnitedWeStand wrote: »

Haha I'm not at the races today, completely forgot to put the link in, cheers!

I know the feeling. How many times have I sent an email with an attachment that I forgot to attach?

.ak

The reason Earls hasn't been picked because it was too soon after his injury rehab. Not because schmidt isn't familiar with him...

errlloyd

Why are we even having this debate, Fitzgerald was class.

marco_polo

.ak wrote: »

The best part about the Scotland game for me was the fact our midfield clicked. It wasn't a case of two individuals playing their socks off but for the first time they started looking like a unit. I was really impressed with them and how they brought the back 3 into the game with them. This is just the beginning.

Very pleased that Payne got his try as well, I really think he has had a much better tournament than he has got credit for.

Edit: On another note I think it is pretty clear that Earls in next in line after Luke in Joels plans (perhaps only a fit Trimble would have any effect on this), there is no reason to think he won't be give a chance to stake his claim in the warm ups. Sometimes you'd swear it was a bad thing to be blessed with plenty of talented options in the back division going into the RWC.

Fireball07

When's Henry due back?

I think our best 5 back rows are without doubt Heaslip, SOB, POM, Henry, Ruddock as well as Murphy & TOD played when called upon.

So much competition in the backline, sadly injuries are likely to play a part too. That's how most people have got their jerseys to date and then it's up to you to perform once you have it.

We can't afford to lose Sexton, Murray, POC most of all, I think.

thebaz

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

He's suffering from Schmidt being unfamiliar with him. Hopefully Schmidt shows a desire to build the squad before the RWC, because it will be a shambles if a fit and firing Earls doesn't get a look in.

A shambles - currently he is behind Fitzgerald, Bowe, Payne, Henshaw, Zebo, and Trimble and possibly McFadden and D'Arcy - while it would be disappointing to Earls if he doesn't make it , its hardly a national shambles.

thebaz

Fireball07 wrote: »

When's Henry due back?

I think our best 5 back rows are without doubt Heaslip, SOB, POM, Henry, Ruddock as well as Murphy & TOD played when called upon.

given Henrys illness, I would be very surprised if he makes it back in time for WC ,

Back-row for me would be - Heaslip, Murphy, TOD, SOB, POM and Ruddock.

padser

The only big concern for me coming out of yesterday was Sextons place kicking.

By chance, yesterday morning I ended up re watching a lot of the French game from last year, and I'd completely forgotten that Sextons kicking almost cost us that game.

There is no getting away from the fact, in the highest pressure situations, Johnny is prone to repeated missing of what should be 90%+ kicks for him.

The silver lining is that it doesn't negatively impact the rest of his game, but the fact remains, we will have some seriously high pressure kicks (hopefully) in the World Cup.

rrpc

padser wrote: »

There is no getting away from the fact, in the highest pressure situations, Johnny is prone to repeated missing of what should be 90%+ kicks for him.

Seriously, this is becoming a joke. Sexton missed four kicks this 6N. His percentage was 84%, he was 100% against France where every kick mattered. In contrast, George Ford who everyone seems to think was better at place kicking had 76%.

He was struggling with a hamstring injury through the last two games where his percentage dropped from 80% against Wales to 77% against Scotland.

irishbucsfan

rrpc wrote: »

Seriously, this is becoming a joke. Sexton missed four kicks this 6N. His percentage was 84%, he was 100% against France where every kick mattered. In contrast, George Ford who everyone seems to think was better at place kicking had 76%.

He was struggling with a hamstring injury through the last two games where his percentage dropped from 80% against Wales to 77% against Scotland.

Noone is criticising his overall kicking statistics though.

The problem is the kicks that he misses often come during big games and they are often from very kickable positions. I don't know why people are so hesitant to acknowledge that this is the case, it's a common occurrence at this stage.

It's the only downside I can think of when I think of Sexton's game. He's giong to start for us regardless, and he's going to kick for us regardless. It's just something he's going to have to work out.