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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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ionadnapóca

total former wrote: »

Stating the obvious here but that team doesn't include Trimble...

Nailed on to get into the squad now that he is declared fit. If thats the team it looks 5 others are fighting it out for 3 spots.
Guessing JS order at the moment is:
1. Fitz
2. Earls
3. Zebo
4. Kearney
5. McFadden

Witheringeye

They way it's written it sounds like he has the inside track. It's also Murray kinsella so I'd say it's spot on.

Permutations for squad selection:

Strauss getting two starts? Don't even know what that means

Perhaps there's only one seat on the plane between earls and fitz?

Jordi being given a chance to prove that the drop between himself and Henry at 7 is small enough that jordi's ability to play 6 &8 just as well should edge Henry for the bench?

Dave Kearney looking more and more likely to be a rwc 23 bolster?

molloyjh

Ceadog wrote: »

Normally I'd agree but Kinsella doesn't seem the type just pull a team out of thin air and post it as fact. Plus it's quite a realistic team.

Oh yeah it's entirely plausible and I'm not having a go at Kinsella at all. I quite like the guy. Going with that side plus Best, Killer, Moore/Ross, Toner, Henry, Reddan, Madigan, Trimble would be a great one to see. I just wouldn't count it as absolute fact is all.

Witheringeye

ionadnapokot wrote: »

Nailed on to get into the squad now that he is declared fit. If thats the team it looks 5 others are fighting it out for 3 spots.
Guessing JS order at the moment is:
1. Fitz
2. Earls
3. Zebo
4. Kearney
5. McFadden

I'd probably swap DK and earls/fitz. Don't think he'll bring two winger/13s at the expense of bringing an ambi footed winger who can play fb in a pinch. Also, looking at the way he's been phased back in with the rest of the big guns would suggest joe has big plans for him.

total former

ionadnapokot wrote: »

Nailed on to get into the squad now that he is declared fit. If thats the team it looks 5 others are fighting it out for 3 spots.
Guessing JS order at the moment is:
1. Fitz
2. Earls
3. Zebo
4. Kearney
5. McFadden

I don't think Trimble is one of the golden circle who gets picked regardless of game time. If he doesn't play this weekend he's gone.

But Kiss said yesterday he was fine and would play, that's why I'm sceptical of this team.

[Deleted User]

total former wrote: »

I don't think Trimble is one of the golden circle who gets picked regardless of game time. If he doesn't play this weekend he's gone.

But Kiss said yesterday he was fine and would play, that's why I'm sceptical of this team.

He could well be on the bench.

ionadnapóca

Witheringeye wrote: »

I'd probably swap DK and earls/fitz. Don't think he'll bring two winger/13s at the expense of bringing an ambi footed winger who can play fb in a pinch. Also, looking at the way he's been phased back in with the rest of the big guns would suggest joe has big plans for him.

DK cant play 13 tho

total former

[Deleted User] wrote: »

He could well be on the bench.

Yeah very possible.

Witheringeye

[Deleted User] wrote: »

He could well be on the bench.

I don't know about that

Hasn't the point been raised before that if a guy has a niggle he's better off starting rather than bench?

If he starts and has to come off that's fine. But if he's on the bench and someone gets injured early he has to play the whole game which might not be possible.

I'd like to see Trimble at 23 if that's the team but I'm expecting to see bowe

Witheringeye

ionadnapokot wrote: »

DK cant play 13 tho

I never said he did?

ionadnapóca

Deleted User wrote: »

He could well be on the bench.

he wud be an odd 23. but with the versatile players on the pitch maybe not.
i do think he is in that group of dead certs.

ionadnapóca

Witheringeye wrote: »

I never said he did?

it wud count against his selection in the squad over fitz & earls is what i mean

.ak

Witheringeye wrote: »

I don't know about that

Hasn't the point been raised before that if a guy has a niggle he's better off starting rather than bench?

If he starts and has to come off that's fine. But if he's on the bench and someone gets injured early he has to play the whole game which might not be possible.

I'd like to see Trimble at 23 if that's the team but I'm expecting to see bowe

I think that point only applies to important games really... Not the end of the world if we lose this game. Just about easing players into match sharpness.

Witheringeye

ionadnapokot wrote: »

it wud count against his selection in the squad over fitz & earls is what i mean

My point is that (in joes eyes) fitz is an 11/13 and earls is a 13/14 whereas Dave Kearney is an 11/14 so it's likely that fitz and earls are likely to be in competition for each other as there's no need to bring 2 back up 13s when you can bring the only guy who can cover both wings

Witheringeye

.ak wrote: »

I think that point only applies to important games really... Not the end of the world if we lose this game. Just about easing players into match sharpness.

Yeah I agree with you completely.
Just wondering would be there a serious risk of him doing his foot in again if he was forced to play 65 minutes of rugby?

ionadnapóca

Witheringeye wrote: »

My point is that (in joes eyes) fitz is an 11/13 and earls is a 13/14 whereas Dave Kearney is an 11/14 so it's likely that fitz and earls are likely to be in competition for each other as there's no need to bring 2 back up 13s when you can bring the only guy who can cover both wings

Earls has played 11 a number of times for Ireland in the 6N. He can play both wings along with Bowe and Trimble. DK is still behind all of them as i see it

Witheringeye

ionadnapokot wrote: »

Earls has played 11 a number of times for Ireland in the 6N. He can play both wings along with Bowe and Trimble. DK is still behind all of them as i see it

Well not according to Joe. He prefers his wingers to kick the same side as their wings. Joe has never played Trimble or bowe or earls on the left and he's never played fitz or Zebo on the right.
Dave Kearney is two footed and joe had played him on both sides

ionadnapóca

just for the record DK is not 2 footed. i can count the amount of times i have seen him kick a ball in a match on one hand. he is right footed of that im nearly sure. But he is left handed and that helps him when out on the left wing

Witheringeye

And he's also known to be very good off his left as well. joe sees him as the only person who can cover both wings so it's fitz vs earls

Ceadog

Don't forget Trimble has started several tests in the centre for Ireland. And it went perfectly well and I haven't repressed those memories at all.

molloyjh

I wonder is there any chance that Fitz is actually going to be named at 12? That might make more sense in terms of rounding out the squad. And he has played there under Joe before.

09: Murray, Reddan, Boss
10: Sexton, Jackson, Madigan
11: Fitzgerald, Earls, Zebo
12: Henshaw, Fitzgerald, Madigan
13: Payne, Earls
14: Bowe, Trimble, Earls
15: R Kearney, Zebo

smiley_face

Witheringeye wrote: »

And he's also known to be very good off his left as well. joe sees him as the only person who can cover both wings so it's fitz vs earls

Would agree,
Earls for me is ahead of Fitz,
And D Kearney is close to Jones.
Zebo at this point is our sole exciting winger, we have loads of solid wingers, but he alone offers something special.
Whether he starts 11 or is 23 on the bench, he is worth a squad position.
So, D Kearney has a very good chance of being a backup winger, which would leave Fitz and Earls in direct competition as centre/wing replacements.
Personally I'd take Zebo, Trimble, R Kearney, Earls, Bowe, Jones.
I've left out McFadden but I'd have no problem if he made the final squad, great worker.
And I'd only choose Jones over D Kearney as I'd rather a full-time 15 to be our backup to R Kearney, and would have Zebo employed as first choice left wing.

CatFromHue

smiley_face wrote: »

Zebo at this point is our sole exciting winger, we have loads of solid wingers, but he alone offers something special.

Like what?

For me Zebo is a finisher, a fox in the box, but not a creator or player like that.

smiley_face

CatFromHue wrote: »

Like what?

For me Zebo is a finisher, a fox in the box, but not a creator or player like that.

You're right that he's a finisher, but I also think he is great at sniffing out gaps, even if in his own half, he looks more dangerous than the others we have, and he is strong going into contact and rarely loses the ball unless the support is slow to get to him.
The next most exciting player is Gilroy, then D Kearney IMO, but they haven't had enough game time in the 1st two warm-ups to impress much.
Earls also has a bit of magic on the wing, but I think he's ear-marked as a centre.

jm08

CatFromHue wrote: »

Like what?

For me Zebo is a finisher, a fox in the box, but not a creator or player like that.

He also has pace which is on short supply with the rest of the wingers.

edit: not to mention great composure which might come in very handy closing out a game.

Witheringeye

molloyjh wrote: »

I wonder is there any chance that Fitz is actually going to be named at 12? That might make more sense in terms of rounding out the squad. And he has played there under Joe before.

09: Murray, Reddan, Boss
10: Sexton, Jackson, Madigan
11: Fitzgerald, Earls, Zebo
12: Henshaw, Fitzgerald, Madigan
13: Payne, Earls
14: Bowe, Trimble, Earls
15: R Kearney, Zebo

Yeah I'd agree with it if henshaw had played last week and Payne was playing this week. Don't see why they'd have fitz playing 12 if he wasn't beside Payne

smiley_face

molloyjh wrote: »

I wonder is there any chance that Fitz is actually going to be named at 12? That might make more sense in terms of rounding out the squad. And he has played there under Joe before.

09: Murray, Reddan, Boss
10: Sexton, Jackson, Madigan
11: Fitzgerald, Earls, Zebo
12: Henshaw, Fitzgerald, Madigan
13: Payne, Earls
14: Bowe, Trimble, Earls
15: R Kearney, Zebo

Doubt Fitz will make the squad so wouldn't waste a match with him at 12.
Zebo is clearly the better 11, and Madigan and Earls are sewn up as centre backup, so no need for fitz anymore.
D Kearney v Jones is the only call left IMO.

PTH2009

tears will be had if we win the world cup

i was nearly having a nervous breakdown during the last 6 nations final day this year and i was watching the england/france game in my work canteen alone with no drink in me.

hopefully going to the wales game sat but more worried about our guys coming through to the england game not injured(btw what a weekend of sport that weekend, Soccer, hurling,rugby)

irishbucsfan

I'd be absolutely shocked if Earls doesn't make the squad, he's probably the most talented out of all the guys in competition there. I'd be similarly shocked about Fitzgerald, the only justification for him not travelling would be fitness questions. I'd imagine both are on the plane.

phog

Witheringeye wrote: »

Well not according to Joe. He prefers his wingers to kick the same side as their wings. Joe has never played Trimble or bowe or earls on the left and he's never played fitz or Zebo on the right.
Dave Kearney is two footed and joe had played him on both sides

How many caps has Earls under Joe? I think it's only two, he like Fitz and Trimble to a lesser degree was injured for most of games that Joe was manager.

I doubt Earls has enough caps to be tried in the positions you mention.