.ak wrote: » I have a feeling we'll see Kearney Trimble Payne Henshaw Dave Kearney Sexton Murray Murphy Henry POM POC Hendo Ross Best McGrath Cronin Bent Moore Ryan Heaslip Boss Madigan Fitzgerald
.ak wrote: » Good call actually. It'd be a pretty big test and if there's question marks over Moore I think you might be right.
The provincial system has been a big help n allowing Schmidt ‘not cut’ players. The coming hours will bring another raft of players released from Ireland duty to “put the boots on” for their province this weekend. Ireland’s coaching staff will insist that those players remain in with a shot of inclusion on the list submitted on Monday. It will be a long shot though. “I dare say after the provincial matches we’ll still have a couple of quandaries on Saturday night. That’s a great thing to have.
Witheringeye wrote: » Yeah I'd say that's fairly close. I can see the logic of DK at 11 but I still don't understand it. He's already tried 3 players there in the first two games. I would think joe would see it as a priority to give his expected 23 as much game time as possible this just baffles me. Just worries me that he hasn't a clue who his 11 is.
bilston wrote: » The England game worries me a bit. I expect we will see both Ireland and England go at it full pelt and I'd be pleasantly surprised if all 46 players involved come out of it in one piece.
b.gud wrote: » Ya it's a worry for any of these games, but am I right in thinking that there were no injuries after the England Ireland 6N game this year?
[Deleted User] wrote: » It makes sense if Dave Kearney is currently first choice. I'm not suggesting he is at all, but he hasn't started Murray, Sexton, Henshaw etc yet but they are obviously no.1 in their positions. The first two matches seem to have been about providing match fitness and assessing marginal calls. The next two matches are about sharpening up our first choice squad more than assessing marginal calls so should be telling as to where things are.
[Deleted User] wrote: » It makes sense if Dave Kearney is currently first choice. I'm not suggesting he is at all, but he hasn't started Murray, Sexton, Henshaw etc yet but they are obviously no.1 in their positions. I The first two matches seem to have been about providing match fitness and assessing marginal calls. The next two matches are about sharpening up our first choice squad more than assessing marginal calls so should be telling as to where things are.
dregin wrote: » I'd be surprised to see our first choice 15 on the field. I think it would be utterly insane to play either Murray or Sexton. I know they need game time, but we just can't afford to lose them.
TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: » The likes of Murray and Sexton could probably get their game time against Canada and Romania. Chances are they'll be "easier" matches than playing Wales/England.
TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: » It'll be interesting to see what kind of team England name against us. They'll have the squad announced by then and given they have to be 100% for pretty much the entire pool stage will they risk their bigger names getting injured in their last warm up? At the same time they need to be sure that their preferred starting 15 have as much game time together as possible.
Quin_Dub wrote: » Had their other games gone to plan I'd have said that they'd probably put out a bit of a mixed team.. However, given the abject nature of the performance in Paris I suspect that they will be pretty much fully loaded as they need a "performance" at home to try to build momentum and to get the media/supporters onside..
bilston wrote: » I agree, I think they will go full strength as well. I don't know what way their fixtures fall other than they kick off against Fiji and that is a game where they will obviously be expected to win, but equally they will have to be fully primed for. We on the other hand could go full strength against Wales, mix and match against England and then full strength against Romania when the tournament starts.
bilston wrote: » I agree, I think they will go full strength as well. I don't know what way their fixtures fall other than they kick off against Fiji and that is a game where they will obviously be expected to win, but equally they will have to be fully primed for. We on the other hand could go full strength against Wales, mix and match against England and then full strength against Romania Canada when the tournament starts.
Henwin wrote: » When is the Irish squad being announced
TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: » England play Fiji on the 18th, Wales on the 26th, Australia on the 3rd, finish with Uruguay on the 10th. You'd assume they'll beat Uruguay at the end even with a few players missing/resting but it does mean that they'll have to go full strength for their first 3 matches. They'll want to beat Fiji and get the bonus point there too, you'd assume.
redmca2 wrote: » If the big 3 happen to cancel each other out, i.e. 1 win and 1 loss each then England may end up playing Uraguay needing a cricket score to be sure of qualification .....
sydthebeat wrote: » loosing bonus points could also be a huge factor if the top 3 cancel each other out, england might have nothing to play for going into the last game they are playing fiji at the worst time
TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: » Granted, I would probably feel differently if it was Ireland stuck in there.