Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread IV

TommyOM · 23-03-2015 03:13PM

Synode wrote: »

I'd call any 80%+ kicker top class

His stats mean that he is one of the better international kickers and all this while kicking with hamstring problems.

.ak · 23-03-2015 03:14PM

Korat wrote: »

Really?

I can't imagine Schmidt changing a winning formula.

We play Wales twice and I think we'll just try start quicker and hope the ref isn't Wayne Barnes.

Because international rugby is so tight, you rarely get oppertunity to try and test things our.

Fringe players like Jones, McFadden, TOD, Murphy Kearney will require game time, whilst guys like Trimble and Paddy Jackson will also badly need time if they want to get back into the 23.

Then again we'll need to maintain some structure so I reckon Henshaw and Payne will continue their partnership.

Synode · 23-03-2015 03:14PM

Is there anywhere that gives the % of kicks. EPC rugby gives total kicks, not percentages

http://www.epcrugby.com/statistics/players_goal_kickers.php?preset892=2014#rd892

Bridge93 · 23-03-2015 03:15PM

Halfpenny missed a kick on Saturday when Wales needed every point they could get - bottler
He missed one against Ireland to put Ireland two scores away - bottler

He missed one in a close game with England - bottler

What are his stats? I doubt he's miles ahead of sexton

23-03-2015 03:21PM

Synode wrote: »

Is there anywhere that gives the % of kicks. EPC rugby gives total kicks, not percentages

http://www.epcrugby.com/statistics/players_goal_kickers.php?preset892=2014#rd892

This a decent place to start

Click "Jonathan Sexton" in kicker, and then change Competition to "All". They haven't got the last round of games in yet though.

Pudsy33 · 23-03-2015 03:24PM

We conceded 3 tries over the course of the tournament. 3 in 5 test matches. All the other teams conceded at least that amount on the final day alone.

That's an absolutely remarkable statistics and makes things look very rosy going into knock out world cup matches.

Korat · 23-03-2015 03:49PM

.ak wrote: »

Then again we'll need to maintain some structure so I reckon Henshaw and Payne will continue their partnership.

I think that's the area most in need of experimentation. I'd love to see Henshaw tried at 13 with a competent inside centre, not Madigan, as his foil.

Bridge93 · 23-03-2015 03:52PM

I was critical at the start of the competition of the centre pairing.
I thought henshaw was out of position and if that's going to happen why is it for a guy who hadn't played a game at centre for months and hadn't played particularly well while there.
Happy to admit I'm wrong and Payne has exceeded all my expectations by miles. I'm now happy to have him in the 13 shirt while I would like to see a bit of experimentation even if inky for a game.

Pudsy33 · 23-03-2015 03:53PM

Korat wrote: »

I think that's the area most in need of experimentation. I'd love to see Henshaw tried at 13 with a competent inside centre, not Madigan, as his foil.

Only really Darcy falls into that category atm. I'd like to see Madigan get a run in the warm ups but I won't happen. I'd bet my life it'll be Henshaw and Payne in the world cup.

Actually Marshall would be great too, although he was injured at an inopportune time so can't see him getting a chance this time around.

total former · 23-03-2015 04:10PM

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Only really Darcy falls into that category atm. I'd like to see Madigan get a run in the warm ups but I won't happen. I'd bet my life it'll be Henshaw and Payne in the world cup.

Actually Marshall would be great too, although he was injured at an inopportune time so can't see him getting a chance this time around.

If there was an injury to Henshaw I think D'Arcy would come back in, Madigan just isn't a top-level 12, unless he shows us something wonderful in the next few months.

Marshall's main problem is being third choice at Ulster.

Korat · 23-03-2015 04:52PM

Les Kiss could do wonders for providing a back line conveyor belt. The talent at Ulster needs to be exploited soon.

TommyOM · 23-03-2015 05:04PM

I would still like to see 12.Henshaw 13.Fitzgerald

.ak · 23-03-2015 05:08PM

Korat wrote: »

I think that's the area most in need of experimentation. I'd love to see Henshaw tried at 13 with a competent inside centre, not Madigan, as his foil.

Nah. I've been critical of Payne, I still am, but I think we should stick with them as our pairing, they'll get better with each game.

trackguy · 23-03-2015 05:08PM

ROG & Sexton were/ are both very good kickers. Both have been known to miss some sitters.

I would view Farrell, Parra & Halfpenny as maybe slightly better (probably because I tend to care less when they miss!) but I'm not sure statistics would bear this out.

Larbre34 · 23-03-2015 05:09PM

total former wrote: »

If there was an injury to Henshaw I think D'Arcy would come back in, Madigan just isn't a top-level 12, unless he shows us something wonderful in the next few months.

Marshall's main problem is being third choice at Ulster.

McFadden.

.ak · 23-03-2015 05:12PM

Personally don't rate Farrell as a great kicker. Most of the kicks he takes are from easier areas on the pitch (which is fine!)

Guys like Madigan, Biggar, Halfpenny and Parra are probably the best technique-wise in the NH.

I would've had Kockott up there but his radar has completely gone to ****e.

.ak · 23-03-2015 05:13PM

Larbre34 wrote: »

McFadden.

You wouldn't really classify him as an experienced foil there...

dtpc191991 · 23-03-2015 05:46PM

Tbh I would like to see Jackson at 10 for a couple of games. I think he is the best backup and has the potential to be a top class international.

total former · 23-03-2015 06:24PM

dtpc191991 wrote: »

Tbh I would like to see Jackson at 10 for a couple of games. I think he is the best backup and has the potential to be a top class international.

He'll get one start maximum in the warm ups, he'll need to make the most of it.

There are going to be a few guys in the same position, they just won't have time to stake a claim.

CatFromHue · 23-03-2015 06:28PM

It's not just the games but performance in training will be a factor too.

They're going to be in camp for a long time.

Also Ireland play the BaaBaas on 28th May too, though that is the Thursday after the Pro12 play offs and before the Final so who'll be available I dunno.

bilston · 23-03-2015 06:37PM

CatFromHue wrote: »

It's not just the games but performance in training will be a factor too.

They're going to be in camp for a long time.

Also Ireland play the BaaBaas on 28th May too, though that is the Thursday after the Pro12 play offs and before the Final so who'll be available I dunno.

That Barbarians fixture has the potential to be totally worthless.

bilston · 23-03-2015 06:39PM

total former wrote: »

He'll get one start maximum in the warm ups, he'll need to make the most of it.

There are going to be a few guys in the same position, they just won't have time to stake a claim.

Unfortunately you also have to factor in the prospect that some guys who have just featured in the 6Ns may get injured too so those who missed the 6Ns through injury may still prove important. It's impossible to tell. I suppose the positive is the WC is at the start of the season so fingers crossed we will go into it with a relatively clean bill of health.

desertcircus · 23-03-2015 06:43PM

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 if a coach with six trophies in five years chooses to go to the RWC without a player who's had no active part in two consecutive Six Nations titles? If you think it'd be incorrect, fair enough, but calling it a shambles is ludicrous.

Micky Dolenz · 23-03-2015 07:01PM

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot, what a day of rugby.

Delighted we won, was playing to a packed pub full of Welsh fans on saturday night, would have been tough if we lost to them, even worse if we lost it to the English

To be fair to them,as soon as they knew Ireland had them, they were cheering us on to put up a big score to give England something to chase.

What a day, the best I've ever seen in all my years watching rugby. Brilliant.

Rightwing · 23-03-2015 10:23PM

What a great weekend in Edinburgh that was. Only pity was I had a €200 punt on Wales.

Goes to show, when teams need tries, they go for them.

Poor championship, great final day.

dregin · 23-03-2015 11:38PM

Any reason there's no proper reception for the team? Would have liked to have gone along to some form of public parading of the cup. I'm sure if the soccer crowd were European champions the party would be going well into next week!

.ak · 23-03-2015 11:55PM

dregin wrote: »

Any reason there's no proper reception for the team? Would have liked to have gone along to some form of public parading of the cup. I'm sure if the soccer crowd were European champions the party would be going well into next week!

Think we just keep that for the gs... And World Cup.