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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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.ak

Finally!!

Teferi knows what.

Awesomeness

total former wrote: »

Why do people think we need to have dedicated FB cover on the bench?

And pretty much everyone except McFadden and Trimble has played FB at some point. Henshaw, Payne, Madigan, Dave Kearney, Earls, Fitz, even Isaac Boss.

I agree but from everything Joe has done till this point he has made sure to have fb cover on the bench ie jones

I dont think we do need him there but I would be pleasantly surprised if someone covers fb in a match when they have not played there recently ie zebo or jones

sydthebeat

total former wrote: »

Why do people think we need to have dedicated FB cover on the bench?

And pretty much everyone except McFadden and Trimble has played FB at some point. Henshaw, Payne, Madigan, Dave Kearney, Earls, Fitz, even Isaac Boss.

snap

Witheringeye

Awesomeness wrote: »

In that case you would have to expect Zebo to start or be on the bench and luke to miss out as hes the only other person to have played fb

No I expect Trimble and jones to miss out with fitz, Zebo, bowe and DK to travel

I just don't see fitz missing out as he seems to be the only person being prepped solely as an 11 which indicates joe is strongly considering him as a starter

sydthebeat

accidentprone1 wrote: »

If Earls is centre cover, then would it not make sense to take Jones as your back three cover? Earls can slot in at wing if necessary, and Jones provides an excellent option at fullback if Kearney gets injured.

madigan, D Kearney, Zebo, Earls, Henshaw, Payne......

total former

Awesomeness wrote: »

In that case you would have to expect Zebo to start or be on the bench and luke to miss out as hes the only other person to have played fb

Why do people think we need to have dedicated FB cover on the bench?

And pretty much everyone except McFadden and Trimble has played FB at some point. Henshaw, Payne, Madigan, Dave Kearney, Earls, Fitz, even Isaac Boss.

.ak

Mr Tickle wrote: »

If we're asking questions of Bowe It might be worth looking at Rob Kearney too. He's another one who's been in a bit of a dip in form for long while. Again he's got a lot of credit in the bank but i don't know if he should have a total lock on the 15 jersey.
there are options there now (including Payne and Henshaw if Joe becomes possessed by some evil spirit) so maybe after the world cup it could be looked at.

What both of them do have going for them is that they're solid out under a high ball which worked well early in the 6 nations.

TBH that question has been asked and answered. RK had a very good 6N, stats back that up also.

Bowe, however, seems to have been struggling with something.

accidentprone1

MattD wrote: »

I think that there's only really 2 places in the squad up for grabs on merit and its SH and Back 3 Cover. For me only one from Trimble, D. Kearney and Jones will go, and I couldn't really call it. Fergus is out unfortunately.

Murray, Sexton, Fitzgerald, Henshaw, Payne, Bowe, Kearney

Reddan, Madigan, Zebo

SH Cover: Boss/Marmion
OH Cover: Jackson
Centre Cover: Earls
Back 3 Cover: Trimble/Kearney/Jones

In the forwards you're looking at Kilcoyne or White/Furlong potentially benefiting from an injury. Otherwise it's set with Ryan ahead of Tuohy and Murphy ahead of Conan/O'Donnell.

If Earls is centre cover, then would it not make sense to take Jones as your back three cover? Earls can slot in at wing if necessary, and Jones provides an excellent option at fullback if Kearney gets injured.

irishbucsfan

I don't think anyone SHOULD be guaranteed a place but I also think it's most probable that Bowe is our best option in the position. We could well see a different animal by the time the competition starts.

Mr Tickle

If we're asking questions of Bowe It might be worth looking at Rob Kearney too. He's another one who's been in a bit of a dip in form for long while. Again he's got a lot of credit in the bank but i don't know if he should have a total lock on the 15 jersey.
there are options there now (including Payne and Henshaw if Joe becomes possessed by some evil spirit) so maybe after the world cup it could be looked at.

What both of them do have going for them is that they're solid out under a high ball which worked well early in the 6 nations.

Awesomeness

Witheringeye wrote: »

Yeah I think DK has a very good shot at the 23 jersey if jones doesn't travel

In that case you would have to expect Zebo to start or be on the bench and luke to miss out as hes the only other person to have played fb

MattD

I think that there's only really 2 places in the squad up for grabs on merit and its SH and Back 3 Cover. For me only one from Trimble, D. Kearney and Jones will go, and I couldn't really call it. Fergus is out unfortunately.

Murray, Sexton, Fitzgerald, Henshaw, Payne, Bowe, Kearney

Reddan, Madigan, Zebo

SH Cover: Boss/Marmion
OH Cover: Jackson
Centre Cover: Earls
Back 3 Cover: Trimble/Kearney/Jones

In the forwards you're looking at Kilcoyne or White/Furlong potentially benefiting from an injury. Otherwise it's set with Ryan ahead of Tuohy and Murphy ahead of Conan/O'Donnell.

Witheringeye

awec wrote: »

Agreed. I suspect he'll be under a lot of pressure for his Ulster place in a year or two too, but right now he's still a guaranteed starter for Ireland cause he has more than enough credit in the bank to make up for any dip in form at the moment.

I still think he'll start but I think it's definitely debatable. As of now he's a guaranteed starter but I think that could change between now and the France game. I doubt whether he has enough credit to automatically warrant a starting place in the event that he's been in poor/average form and been training badly(according to reports) while either DK (who may well be in the peak of his career) excels and/or Trimble recovers and finds his 2014 form(far less likely situation)

Witheringeye

Awesomeness wrote: »

If Zebo or Fitz start on the wing does that rule the other out of the 23 spot or has Joe changed his mind on having 3 left footers in the back 3 if Bowe gets injured

Yeah I think DK has a very good shot at the 23 jersey if jones doesn't travel

RobbieRuns

I think that he will be.......

molloyjh

Yeah_Right wrote: »

I don't think Bowe is a guaranteed starter any more. In the squad yes but he needs to lift his game to keep his starting spot.

I'm not sure he should be, but I think he will be.

Yeah_Right

I don't think Bowe is a guaranteed starter any more. In the squad yes but he needs to lift his game to keep his starting spot.

Awesomeness

If Zebo or Fitz start on the wing does that rule the other out of the 23 spot or has Joe changed his mind on having 3 left footers in the back 3 if Bowe gets injured

awec

Buer wrote: »

I think he is but this is his last tournament as such and rightly so. He's starting to get on for a winger now. Can see him being out of the team entirely by the end of 2016 unless he turns back the clock.

Agreed. I suspect he'll be under a lot of pressure for his Ulster place in a year or two too, but right now he's still a guaranteed starter for Ireland cause he has more than enough credit in the bank to make up for any dip in form at the moment.

Buer

Witheringeye wrote: »

No you're right he's not going to miss the 31. But I don't think he's a guaranteed starter anymore. DK and a fit Trimble could put serious pressure on him

I think he is but this is his last tournament as such and rightly so. He's starting to get on for a winger now. Can see him being out of the team entirely by the end of 2016 unless he turns back the clock.

Witheringeye

awec wrote: »

Our best wing partnership is Trimble on the left and Bowe on the right IMO. If Trimble manages fitness that is what I suspect we'll be hoping to field for the big games.

That is very tasty looking I'll admit, but I don't see joe going for it. Joe's been vocal before about how he prefers his left wingers to be left footed and vice versa either the right. It seems like fitz and Zebo are being groomed for 11 and bowe and Trimble for 14 with DK being the guy who can switch between both

awec

Witheringeye wrote: »

No you're right he's not going to miss the 31. But I don't think he's a guaranteed starter anymore. DK and a fit Trimble could put serious pressure on him

Our best wing partnership is Trimble on the left and Bowe on the right IMO. If Trimble manages fitness that is what I suspect we'll be hoping to field for the big games.

Witheringeye

awec wrote: »

Our first choice 15 will be:

1. Healy / McGrath
2. Best
3. Ross
4. Toner
5. POC
6. POM
7. SOB
8. Heaslip
9. Murray
10. Sexton
11. ??
12. Henshaw
13. Payne
14. Bowe
15. Kearney

16. Strauss / Cronin
17. Healy / McGrath
18. Moore
19. Henderson
20. Henry
21. Reddan
22. Jackson / Madigan
23. ??

Every player mentioned above is 100% going if they are fit. Bowe is not going to be left behind, not a chance.

I suspect that of the 3 question marks above and the other 8 open positions that there is really only a question about one or two of those.

No you're right he's not going to miss the 31. But I don't think he's a guaranteed starter anymore. DK and a fit Trimble could put serious pressure on him

[Deleted User]

You spelt Heaslip wrong

awec

Our first choice 15 will be:

1. Healy / McGrath
2. Best
3. Ross
4. Toner
5. POC
6. POM
7. SOB
8. Heaslip
9. Murray
10. Sexton
11. ??
12. Henshaw
13. Payne
14. Bowe
15. Kearney

16. Strauss / Cronin
17. Healy / McGrath
18. Moore
19. Henderson
20. Henry
21. Reddan
22. Jackson / Madigan
23. ??

Every player mentioned above is 100% going if they are fit. Bowe is not going to be left behind, not a chance.

I suspect that of the 2 question marks above and the other 8 open positions that there is really only a question about one or two of those.

Noopti

I think we could well see Moore and White play against Wales. Depending on how Moore gets on against Ulster he could start, with White on the bench.

White made a good impression against Scotland. Moore does need to have a good game(s) I feel, to not only prove his fitness but also show he is in form. It has been said a few times already by the coaching staff, Easterby being one, that they will not simply be picking on reputation. So Moore 100% has to prove he is fit and on form.

Witheringeye

vienne86 wrote: »

I find it hard to imagine Bowe being left at home, even though it is a while since we have seen him really sparkle.

Yeah it's the least likely situation, and at this stage highly improbable. But I think if Trimble had stayed fit, there's a chance himself and DK could have brought as the two right wings

flangemeistro

vienne86 wrote: »

I find it hard to imagine Bowe being left at home, even though it is a while since we have seen him really sparkle.

He was non existent Saturday, even Fitz poor performance was more memorable than his non performance.
I was a huge Bowe fan but he really hasn't shown anything of note in the last 18 month's.
If Joe truly has no time for sentiment or reputations then Bowe should get a wake up call.

vienne86

Witheringeye wrote: »

Yeah that seems the likely scenario.

For arguments sake lets look at all the scenarios. 2 assumptions: Zebo travels ahead of jones. McFadden is out of the running
Scenario 1 (most likely): Trimble is out. Fitz, bowe and DK travel

2: Trimble & bowe in. DK vs Fitz

3 Trimble fitz and DK in. Bowe loses out

I find it hard to imagine Bowe being left at home, even though it is a while since we have seen him really sparkle.

Witheringeye

total former wrote: »

A bruised bone is one of those things that could heal in a few days or drag on for weeks.

I honestly don't know re: Fitz. If Earls is the preferred back-up centre, that makes his life harder. If one of Zebo and Jones goes and assuming Bowe does too, then it puts Trimble, Fitz, McFadden and DK in the mix for two spots. McFadden would be the outside bet, but any one of the other three could miss out and I wouldn't be surprised.

Yeah that seems the likely scenario.

For arguments sake lets look at all the scenarios. 2 assumptions: Zebo travels ahead of jones. McFadden is out of the running
Scenario 1 (most likely): Trimble is out. Fitz, bowe and DK travel

2: Trimble & bowe in. DK vs Fitz

3 Trimble fitz and DK in. Bowe loses out