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Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread IV

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  • #6632
    Royal Legend
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,668 ✭✭✭Royal Legend


    vienne86 wrote: »
    So Furlong is the bolter - well fair play - delighted for the lad.

    +1 for Tadgh :)


  • #6633
    jm08
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,338 ✭✭✭✭jm08


    smiley_face wrote: »
    Or if Earls/Fitz start 11, Zebo can replace R Kearney directly.
    Same result, so why not Zebo at 23?

    Zebo is only covering 2 positions - left wing & fullback.

    Someone like Earls can cover 4 positions (11, 12, 13, 14 - 15 at a pinch).


  • #6634
    aimee1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,290 ✭✭✭aimee1


    jm08 wrote: »
    D Kearney was played on the right wing though v. Wales.

    Its no big deal moving from wing to fullback. They interchange throughout the match anyway. Similar situation between left wing and centre. Kidney said he liked moving Earls in from the wing into centre (for BOD) rather than bringing someone in cold from the bench in such a pivotal position - that way there was less disruption.

    Worth noting that Zebo has only subbed once internationally (in first warmup game). He came on for Andrew Trimble who was on the right wing (Fergus McFadden moved over to leave Zebo on left wing).

    It is a big deal if your left shuffling the backline around to make 2-3 forced changes. Hence jones being picked in the 6n but hardly playing.

    Kidney is no longer in charge. New man new ideas. The warm ups were to facilitate gametime, they arent too important.

    DK won a 6n medal in 2014 on the left wing and played all 400+ minutes


  • #6635
    .ak
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,308 ✭✭✭✭.ak


    Neil3030 wrote: »
    Scrumley in the IT now reporting the 'probable' squad as leaked:

    http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/joe-schmidt-to-take-calculated-risks-with-ireland-world-cup-squad-1.2335336

    Well if GT and the IT are reporting it then it must be true.

    Can we all just for a moment behold that squad? It's an absolutely stonkingly good side. To have a side with Earls, Fitz, Bowe and Kearney in it is just embarrassing. Only pity is Trimble didn't make it but we could have something special in Dave Kearney if he's buzzing right now.

    Every single one of those players is seriously good.

    I think obviously if we brought Boss instead of Cave and Bent instead of Furlong it'd be a much safer squad... But maybe that'd what we need, a little bit of spark and gamble to approach this differently than previous management.

    This is the sort of squad I think people were expecting when joe first took over. Interesting to see after two seasons of somewhat conservative feet finding he's now gambling...

    But to have such a strong squad and still leave crazy talent at home is something.


  • #6636
    Zzippy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,166 ✭✭✭✭Zzippy


    OTB this evening were talking about Gatland's comments, interesting viewpoint that he was canvassing for the Lions job in 2017, criticising his main rival's "lack of invention"... classless whatever he was at.


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  • #6637
    aimee1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,290 ✭✭✭aimee1


    jm08 wrote: »
    Zebo is only covering 2 positions - left wing & fullback.

    Someone like Earls can cover 4 positions (11, 12, 13, 14 - 15 at a pinch).

    So zebo and earls bench. Covers 11-15 seamlessly. Im taking a screen shot of your post and sending it to joe ;) every little helps


  • #6638
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 55,122 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    I'm gutted for Trimble if he has missed out. Can only presume he is still injured. :(


  • #6639
    smiley_face
    Closed Accounts Posts: 469 ✭✭smiley_face


    jm08 wrote: »
    Zebo is only covering 2 positions - left wing & fullback.

    Someone like Earls can cover 4 positions (11, 12, 13, 14 - 15 at a pinch).

    Earls can cover right wing and 13, left wing in a pinch, and not 12 nor 15.
    Zebo can cover fullback and left wing, and other players can move around, i.e. D Kearney can move left to right, Fitz can move to 13, Bowe can move to 13.
    What you seem to be overlooking is the overall strength of each combination.
    Zebo would be a good 23 if the starting wings had any 2 out of D Kearney, Earls and Bowe. Only with Fitzgerald would there be a problem if there were an injury on the right wing.


  • #6640
    irishbucsfan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    If Dave Kearney and Bowe started and Fitzgerald was on the bench then Dave Kearney can move across to the right wing, no bother.

    Earls has started at 15 for Ireland before, although I doubt we'll see Joe want to rely on him there.


  • #6641
    smiley_face
    Closed Accounts Posts: 469 ✭✭smiley_face


    irishbucsfan wrote: »
    If Dave Kearney and Bowe started and Fitzgerald was on the bench then Dave Kearney can move across to the right wing, no bother.

    Earls has started at 15 for Ireland before, although I doubt we'll see Joe want to rely on him there.

    Then who covers fullback?
    You'd have to move Payne to fullback or D Kearney. Those combinations seem far less likely.


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  • #6642
    irishbucsfan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    smiley_face wrote: »
    Then who covers fullback?
    You'd have to move Payne to fullback or D Kearney. Those combinations seem far less likely.

    Yeah it's much less likely. Zebo will either start or be in the 23 jersey I'd imagine unless Jones is in the squad.


  • #6643
    smiley_face
    Closed Accounts Posts: 469 ✭✭smiley_face


    irishbucsfan wrote: »
    Yeah it's much less likely. Zebo will either start or be in the 23 jersey I'd imagine unless Jones is in the squad.

    That's why I'd have Jones as our 23, and pick your two best wingers then.
    I don't know if we've done it before, but Rob Kearney can cover left wing as well as fullback, and Jones can cover right wing almost as well as he can at fullback. That's the reason I'd have them both, but would be willing to move R Kearney to left wing rather than Jones.
    Zebo and R Kearney effectively cover the same positions, so you'd need Earls or D Kearney on the left for that combination, or even Bowe though that'd be pointless.


  • #6644
    Tompatrick
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 210 ✭✭Tompatrick


    smiley_face wrote: »
    That's why I'd have Jones as our 23, and pick your two best wingers then.

    Which two are our best?


  • #6645
    irishbucsfan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    smiley_face wrote: »
    That's why I'd have Jones as our 23, and pick your two best wingers then.

    I certainly wouldn't, because he's not much use as cover on the wing. I would start both Kearney's and but Zebo on the bench. Otherwise I'd prefer to start Zebo with Earls on the bench or vice versa.


  • #6646
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 55,122 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    Tompatrick wrote: »
    Which two are our best?

    From the leaked list?

    Probably Bowe and Kearney. Zebo at 23.


  • #6647
    smiley_face
    Closed Accounts Posts: 469 ✭✭smiley_face


    awec wrote: »
    From the leaked list?

    Probably Bowe and Kearney. Zebo at 23.

    That, or swap Zebo and D Kearney.


  • #6648
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 55,122 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    Murray Sexton Kearney Henshaw Payne Bowe Kearney

    Reddan Madigan Zebo


    Need Madigan's 12 coverage with this selection so he trumps PJ for me, but IMO it's the best we have if this leak is true.


  • #6649
    smiley_face
    Closed Accounts Posts: 469 ✭✭smiley_face


    irishbucsfan wrote: »
    I certainly wouldn't, because he's not much use as cover on the wing. I would start both Kearney's and but Zebo on the bench. Otherwise I'd prefer to start Zebo with Earls on the bench or vice versa.

    He's grand cover on the right wing, he's pacier than Bowe and great in the air and a super tackler.


  • #6650
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 55,122 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    smiley_face wrote: »
    He's grand cover on the right wing, he's pacier than Bowe and great in the air and a super tackler.

    He's not a winger though. Maybe he could do a job for the last 10 or 15 minutes against the Canadas etc, but imagine he had to play there for the majority against France?

    No way.


  • #6651
    irishbucsfan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    smiley_face wrote: »
    He's grand cover on the right wing, he's pacier than Bowe and great in the air and a super tackler.

    He's not really a super tackler but he's very committed. He's not a winger though, and that's why he's never played there by choice. We have plenty of better options, if the rumour is true and he's been left out then it would appear the management agree with that.


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  • #6652
    smiley_face
    Closed Accounts Posts: 469 ✭✭smiley_face


    awec wrote: »
    He's not a winger though. Maybe he could do a job for the last 10 or 15 minutes against the Canadas etc, but imagine he had to play there for the majority against France?

    No way.

    Why no way?
    He has plenty of pace, he's strong, and he scores tries.
    And anyway he is only going to end up there if someone gets injured or exhausted, not likely to happen early in a match.


  • #6653
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 55,122 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    Random question, has Payne ever played full back for Ireland? He obviously has never been named at 15 and I don't think he's ever been subbed on at 15, but has he ever been shifted there even for 5 or 10 minutes at the end of a game?


  • #6654
    smiley_face
    Closed Accounts Posts: 469 ✭✭smiley_face


    irishbucsfan wrote: »
    He's not really a super tackler but he's very committed. He's not a winger though, and that's why he's never played there by choice. We have plenty of better options, if the rumour is true and he's been left out then it would appear the management agree with that.

    He doesn't play there because he's first choice fullback, and that's partly down to his tackling and partly down to his strike running ability. He definitely can play right wing as injury cover, no worries.


  • #6655
    PTH2009
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,543 ✭✭✭✭PTH2009


    awec wrote: »
    Random question, has Payne ever played full back for Ireland? He obviously has never been named at 15 and I don't think he's ever been subbed on at 15, but has he ever been shifted there even for 5 or 10 minutes at the end of a game?
    another random question. is zebo the only non white person to play for ireland ?. i cant remember Rodney Ah You playing for ireland


  • #6656
    gamma001
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 250 ✭✭gamma001


    ah you played vs georgia last year iirc


  • #6657
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 55,122 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    Why put Jones at 23 who can definitely cover full back and MAYBE wing, when you can put Zebo at 23 who can definitely cover full back and can definitely cover wing?


  • #6658
    irishbucsfan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    smiley_face wrote: »
    He doesn't play there because he's first choice fullback, and that's partly down to his tackling and partly down to his strike running ability. He definitely can play right wing as injury cover, no worries.

    He can do a job, that's it. Particularly on the right wing where you often find guys with midfield experience, which is no coincidence.


  • #6659
    smiley_face
    Closed Accounts Posts: 469 ✭✭smiley_face


    awec wrote: »
    Why put Jones at 23 who can definitely cover full back and MAYBE wing, when you can put Zebo at 23 who can definitely cover full back and can definitely cover wing?

    Jones is right legged and R Kearney is left legged so between them they can cover both wings and fullback.
    Zebo and R Kearney cover the same positions, so you would need Earls or D Kearney on the left or the bench to cover an injury on the right.
    That's all fine as long as one of them is your first choice left winger. (Zebo, D Kearney, or Earls)
    And Jones can definitely cover right wing, no maybe about it.


  • #6660
    The Pheasant2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,699 ✭✭✭The Pheasant2


    Can't sleep; here's a go at an unselected Ireland 23.

    Kilcoyne
    Herring
    Bent
    Touhy
    McCarthy
    Ruddock (he still injured or just not ready for RWC yet? McLaughlin otherwise?)
    Ryan
    Conan (is Copeland fit?)

    Boss
    Keatley
    Healey
    Reid
    D'arcy
    Gilroy
    Jones

    Casey
    Buckley
    Ah You
    Holland? Kearney?
    Coughlan (finally get him that cap!)
    Marmion
    JJ
    Conway


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  • #6661
    total former
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,784 ✭✭✭total former


    PTH2009 wrote: »
    another random question. is zebo the only non white person to play for ireland ?. i cant remember Rodney Ah You playing for ireland

    Ah You has a couple of caps, but we had a guy named Chris Saverimutto play for us in the 90s, he was of Indian descent.


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