Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread IV

Trabejo · 07-09-2015 08:05PM

philstar wrote: »

Trimble played a blinder on fri night, and yet he didn't make the squad

if he's got a foot injury what he doing playing?? or is there more to it then that??

Unfortunately the almighty strop that would occur if Zebo wasnt brought outweighs the form of Trimble. Certain sections of media and fans would do everything in their power to disrupt the squads preperation by constantly bringing up Zebo's exclusion. Keeping things tranquil is essential

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 07-09-2015 08:15PM

Trabejo wrote: »

Unfortunately the almighty strop that would occur if Zebo wasnt brought outweighs the form of Trimble. Certain sections of media and fans would do everything in their power to disrupt the squads preperation by constantly bringing up Zebo's exclusion. Keeping things tranquil is essential

Personally I would have brought Zebo and left Fitzgerald at home.

awec · 07-09-2015 08:17PM

Trabejo wrote: »

Unfortunately the almighty strop that would occur if Zebo wasnt brought outweighs the form of Trimble. Certain sections of media and fans would do everything in their power to disrupt the squads preperation by constantly bringing up Zebo's exclusion. Keeping things tranquil is essential

If Trimble had travelled it would not have been at Zebo's expense.

I also would have brought him ahead of Fitzgerald.

total former · 07-09-2015 08:49PM

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Personally I would have brought Zebo and left Fitzgerald at home.

I think it was a straight shoot out between Dave Kearney and Trimble. Rightly or wrongly, Joe seems to regard Earls and Fitzgerald as centre/wing cover and DK and AT as pure wingers.

If that's right, i.e. that it was Trimble or Kearney, then it looks to have been the right call.

redmca2 · 07-09-2015 08:54PM

total former wrote: »

I think it was a straight shoot out between Dave Kearney and Trimble. Rightly or wrongly, Joe seems to regard Earls and Fitzgerald as centre/wing cover and DK and AT as pure wingers.

If that's right, i.e. that it was Trimble or Kearney, then it looks to have been the right call.

After Saturday's game you should have included Bowe in that comparison

vienne86 · 07-09-2015 08:54PM

total former wrote: »

I think it was a straight shoot out between Dave Kearney and Trimble. Rightly or wrongly, Joe seems to regard Earls and Fitzgerald as centre/wing cover and DK and AT as pure wingers.

If that's right, i.e. that it was Trimble or Kearney, then it looks to have been the right call.

And Bowe was nailed on? You're probably right.

awec · 07-09-2015 08:56PM

I think Bowe would still be a nailed on selection even if the squad was being picked this week.

total former · 07-09-2015 09:10PM

awec wrote: »

I think Bowe would still be a nailed on selection even if the squad was being picked this week.

Yeah, I think so. I think Joe would give him every chance to pull his socks up and try to show a bit of form. Credit in the bank etc.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 07-09-2015 09:12PM

I'm sure Trimble used to play centre, at least for Ulster. Never did it for Ireland because BOD was there but if you can make Jared Payne a centre I don't see why someone who used to play the position can't do it too. A lot of the talk about selection seemed to centre around players who could play more than one position. Zebo seems to have been passable as a full back, although some disagree, they could have given Trimble the same opportunity to prove he could play somewhere else. Granted I know there's limited time and certain combinations need to be tested and all of that and I know the missing 8 months of rugby was an issue, or seems to be the reasoning they're falling back on but the more I think about it the more it seems like a coin toss kind of decision.

Podge_irl · 07-09-2015 09:14PM

Pretty sure Trimble did play centre for Ireland. He was a great strike runner but never really had the passing game for it.

Buer · 07-09-2015 09:15PM

AT has a few caps at centre although not for a good few years. Started there. Played 12 and 13.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 07-09-2015 09:19PM

Podge_irl wrote: »

Pretty sure Trimble did play centre for Ireland. He was a great strike runner but never really had the passing game for it.

Buer wrote: »

AT has a fair few caps at centre although not for a good few years.

This makes the decision to play Payne there all the more confusing to me. You've got a number of players actually playing the position week in week out, a couple of guys who have played it in the past and Joe goes and picks a FB to play there. Unless Payne has played centre way back in the day?

Buer · 07-09-2015 09:22PM

Payne suits what Schmidt wants. Good hands, makes few errors, very strong both in possession and tackle, good positionally in centre and good talker/organiser.

Trimble is a lot of things but he's not all of the above.

Ulster would be better served by having Payne at 15 but not Ireland.

Utah_Saint · 07-09-2015 09:22PM

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

This makes the decision to play Payne there all the more confusing to me. You've got a number of players actually playing the position week in week out, a couple of guys who have played it in the past and Joe goes and picks a FB to play there. Unless Payne has played centre way back in the day?

He played centre for a number of games at the Blues...

He's pretty good there but a much better fullback..

irishbucsfan · 07-09-2015 09:23PM

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

This makes the decision to play Payne there all the more confusing to me. You've got a number of players actually playing the position week in week out, a couple of guys who have played it in the past and Joe goes and picks a FB to play there. Unless Payne has played centre way back in the day?

Andrew Trimble wasn't a great centre but he is a great winger. That's why he hasn't played there in years.

Payne did indeed play center in New Zealand before he came to Ireland.

phog · 07-09-2015 09:30PM

Trabejo wrote: »

Unfortunately the almighty strop that would occur if Zebo wasnt brought outweighs the form of Trimble. Certain sections of media and fans would do everything in their power to disrupt the squads preperation by constantly bringing up Zebo's exclusion. Keeping things tranquil is essential

Yes, Joe got a call from Philip Browne and was told in no uncertain terms that Zebo must be on the list. Apparently, that was the only demand from the IRFU. Joe did as he was told.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 07-09-2015 09:31PM

Okay, Payne as centre makes more sense then.

How about this though, if Rob Kearney got injured and was out of the WC, or an important match, would you put Payne at FB and go with a different centre pairing?

Podge_irl · 07-09-2015 09:32PM

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

This makes the decision to play Payne there all the more confusing to me. You've got a number of players actually playing the position week in week out, a couple of guys who have played it in the past and Joe goes and picks a FB to play there. Unless Payne has played centre way back in the day?

Ah, Payne is a better centre than Trimble ever really was. The 13 position accentuates all of Trimble's faults, he's much better off on the wing.

alias no.9 · 07-09-2015 09:35PM

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

This makes the decision to play Payne there all the more confusing to me. You've got a number of players actually playing the position week in week out, a couple of guys who have played it in the past and Joe goes and picks a FB to play there. Unless Payne has played centre way back in the day?

The best thing about Payne playing 13 is that even if someone else steps in next year, they don't have the burden of being the replacement for BOD. For whatever reason, Payne doesn't attract much critique in the media. Had Henshaw, Earls, Cave, Fitzgerald or any other Irish born and developed player... slotted straight in after BOD, there'd be incessant comparrisons.

total former · 07-09-2015 09:39PM

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Okay, Payne as centre makes more sense then.

How about this though, if Rob Kearney got injured and was out of the WC, or an important match, would you put Payne at FB and go with a different centre pairing?

I'd play Payne at FB.

I think Joe would leave Payne at centre and call Jones up.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 07-09-2015 09:40PM

alias no.9 wrote: »

The best thing about Payne playing 13 is that even if someone else steps in next year, they don't have the burden of being the replacement for BOD. For whatever reason, Payne doesn't attract much critique in the media. Had Henshaw, Earls, Cave, Fitzgerald or any other Irish born and developed player... slotted straight in after BOD, there'd be incessant comparrisons.

I think I said it before but Payne and Henshaw have been great as a central pairing when it comes to defending and it seems like that's what Joe wants from them. I don't think we've seen anything notable from them in an attacking sense but then maybe Joe's not looking to use them that way. I don't have a problem with Payne, just by the way, I just always found it interesting that of all the options available to us we've ended up with a FB in there.

dtpc191991 · 07-09-2015 09:45PM

http://www.the42.ie/analysis-ireland-attack-england-world-cup-2315914-Sep2015/

This article would suggest that there are a a few more strings to our attacking game than people expect. Actually if we can fix our accuracy, intensity and a couple of minor positioning errors we can pose a real threat going forward.

I am feeling alot more encouraged after reading this.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 07-09-2015 09:46PM

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

This makes the decision to play Payne there all the more confusing to me. You've got a number of players actually playing the position week in week out, a couple of guys who have played it in the past and Joe goes and picks a FB to play there. Unless Payne has played centre way back in the day?

Payne had 3 seasons starting in super rugby, 1 as a wing, 1 as a fb, and 1 as a centre. He lost a bit of pace since he came to Ireland (never right again after 1st season injury imo) so wont make it as a wing.

He came to Ireland with the idea of playing centre, then marshall, olding, mccloskey spence (rip) etc all broke through. When he was signed Ulster only really had Wallace and Cave established in the centre but everyone broke througn so Payne was shunted to FB.

typhoony · 07-09-2015 09:52PM

the only issue with Henderson playing in the backrow is that he's not as good at the breakdown as POM, if Healy is fit then we have 3 good turnover experts with Heaslip and O'Brien, and up against a bigger physical french team we are going to need Henderson. with a few players capable of playing FB I'm struggling to understand why Trimble was left out of the squad in the first place, also tommy bowe has looked liked he's lost a yard of pace in the last 12 months

mfceiling · 07-09-2015 09:54PM

If you watch Payne at fb you will know that's his best position. He runs really great lines and just seems to have a second or 2 more to make his decision (always seems to be the correct one as well).
I'd have no fear at putting him in there for Ireland.

alias no.9 · 07-09-2015 09:56PM

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

I think I said it before but Payne and Henshaw have been great as a central pairing when it comes to defending and it seems like that's what Joe wants from them. I don't think we've seen anything notable from them in an attacking sense but then maybe Joe's not looking to use them that way. I don't have a problem with Payne, just by the way, I just always found it interesting that of all the options available to us we've ended up with a FB in there.

Joe could just as easily have went with Payne at 12 / Henshaw at 13, as many were speculating way back when, and Henshaw could have had his every action analysed.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 07-09-2015 09:59PM

alias no.9 wrote: »

Joe could just as easily have went with Payne at 12 / Henshaw at 13, as many were speculating way back when, and Henshaw could have had his every action analysed.

I'm just looking at Henshaw's history there and he too played FB more than centre before Schmidt put him in there.
I'm not complaining about Payne playing there, or Henshaw for that matter, I just always thought it funny that there were other players he could have picked who were already mainly playing centre but he went for the pairing he did.

I suppose the likes of Fitzgerald and Earles being made of paper may have influenced his decision.

total former · 07-09-2015 10:01PM

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

He came to Ireland with the idea of playing centre, then marshall, olding, mccloskey spence (rip) etc all broke through. When he was signed Ulster only really had Wallace and Cave established in the centre but everyone broke througn so Payne was shunted to FB.

I'm not sure about this. He was always viewed as a full back when he arrived, and most of the guys named above weren't really in the picture when he was signed by Ulster.

aimee1 · 07-09-2015 10:02PM

typhoony wrote: »

the only issue with Henderson playing in the backrow is that he's not as good at the breakdown as POM, if Healy is fit then we have 3 good turnover experts with Heaslip and O'Brien, and up against a bigger physical french team we are going to need Henderson

best, mcgrath are both good in the breakdown,

Trabejo · 07-09-2015 10:25PM

dtpc191991 wrote: »

This article would suggest that there are a a few more strings to our attacking game than people expect. Actually if we can fix our accuracy, intensity and a couple of minor positioning errors we can pose a real threat going forward.

I am feeling alot more encouraged after reading this.

I'm pretty sure any team can pose a threat if they are accurate, intense and positionally perfect in their attacking.

Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread IV

Comments