Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread IV

Noopti wrote: »

A mate of mine who delivers coffee to Carton House told me he saw Ian Madigan practicing on the scrum machine out the back of the hotel. Make of that what you will.

Did they say what he was practicing on the scrum machine.......... :eek:

Why have 4 halfbacks so that a few outside backs can sit in the stands? I don't see the benefit.

I'll be absolutely stunned if Jackson misses out. Mental

The squad has to be submitted to World Rugby by today, so I don't see how it won't come out earlier than Tuesday. I agree with one of the other posters, expect the press to have very accurate squads in the morning

bilston wrote: »

Why would Madigan specifically be the 2nd out half? Surely that is the sort of thing that will be decided out there, or at least the players wouldn't be told until they got there?

Well he's not going to be 1st, and if PJ really wasn't going he would have to be 2nd...

If he was only bringing 5 halfbacks it would make a lot more sense to leave boss at home

I dunno. I wonder if players haven't come up to scratch in Joe's eyes, would he rather not bring a 3rd option in certain positions at all? Then if injury necessitates he can look at his options again.....

Can any of those outside backs make a decent fist of No.10 if needs be?

Larbre34 wrote: »

I dunno. I wonder if players haven't come up to scratch in Joe's eyes, would he rather not bring a 3rd option in certain positions at all? Then if injury necessitates he can look at his options again.....

Can any of those outside backs make a decent fist of No.10 if needs be?

We hesitated Yesterday between Murray, Darce, and Kearney Bros

Is the delay of the squad announcement not a bit cruel on players. Like Cave is being named in the leaked squad, but if he isn't named tomorrow it is has to be tough seeing loads of people discussing your inclusion.

gamma001 wrote: »

the squad should be let know today, or even this morning. Its only the general public who are being left until tomorrow at the press conference.

They were told yesterday.

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

Is the delay of the squad announcement not a bit cruel on players. Like Cave is being named in the leaked squad, but if he isn't named tomorrow it is has to be tough seeing loads of people discussing your inclusion.

The players know already.

smiley_face wrote: »

How were they told?
Was it each player was called in and told if they are in the squad or not?
And were they not told about other players?
And were they told not to contact anyone and discuss it until after the announcement tomorrow?

Or were they all called into one room and the team sheet called out, and they were asked to keep it quiet for 1 day?

The story goes that they were advised to be in their rooms with their mobiles between certain hours. They could then chose to the answer the phone and receive the news, or not and a voicemail would be left which they could reflect on and discuss later, if desired. As to a moratorium on letting it slip out? Who knows.

Theres a lot to be said for posting a sheet of paper on a noticeboard like the good old days

McGrath, Healy, Kilcoyne
Best, Strauss, Cronin
Ross, White, Furlong

POC, Toner, Ryan, Henderson

SOB, Henry, Heaslip, POM

Murray, Reddan, Boss

Sexton, Jackson, Madigan

Fitzgerald, Earls, D. Kearney, Trimble, Zebo

Henshaw, Payne

R.Kearney

I am constantly changing my mind on this. I just can't see Schmidt taking a risk by bring 2 SHs. I also can't see him taking a risk with the front row. So for my squad I have dropped Murphy, to free up a space to bring Boss and have 3 in each position in the front row. I am thinking that we have enough cover in the backrow (with the existing, and with Ryan and Henderson) to more easily absorb any issues with injuries in that area while we draft in a replacement.

Who knows though!

connachta wrote: »

But Boss is Leinster-mafia protected here:rolleyes:

connachta wrote: »

I'm not, 1-2 instead of 0 is an achievement. Must have been 2-3 without Schmidt extortion about Boss, but still it's ok on a Connacht point of view

Are we going to have to listen to this throughout the whole WC of how you feel JS should've taken Marmion, honestly it's like a broken record at this stage, just leave it.