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Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread
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I think it has to be Reddan, TOL and Boss going.
Murray has no experience and Stringer isn't good enough. If I was in Kidneys position I would do something similar to Schmidt and have Reddan on when you want an expansive game and Boss on for the more physical games or closing out games.
Basically Reddan v Australia and Boss v Italy
Stringer's beyond international rugby now unfortunately, there's no point bringing him along, Reddand and TOL are certs (in Kidney's eyes) while either Boss or Murray should go as 3rd choice depending on whether Kidney wants to give Murray this exposure in developing his career or use Boss for the different skill-set he brings.0 -
Stringer's beyond international rugby now unfortunately, there's no point bringing him along, Reddand and TOL are certs (in Kidney's eyes) while either Boss or Murray should go as 3rd choice depending on whether Kidney wants to give Murray this exposure in developing his career or use Boss for the different skill-set he brings.
Kidney is reluctant to use Autumn internationals against Fiji and Samoa to give people experience, it would be a Damascene conversion if he were to use the RWC to blood people.
Assuming Reddan is nailed down and Kidney will pick TOL no matter what, the only question is who the third #9 is and based on form this season, it's hard to see past Boss - but since Kidney has never actually picked him, it's really hard to predict.*
*Edit: He got three minutes against Samoa last November. I think my point is still valid.0 -
Join Date:Posts: 18021
Like the two Leinster v Ulster and Munster v Connacht games recently the Magners Final on Saturday is also an Ireland trial match.
Alot of fellas will be coming up against their direct competition for the Ireland jersey.0 -
O.K first off anyone who thinks Murray deserves to be there ahead of Boss is frankly crazy but anyone who thinks that Stringer deserves to be there ahead of Boss is delusional. Boss is by far the second best scrumhalf in the country. A world cup is simply not the time for giving a player HIS FIRST CAP unless there is a huge injury crisis. I find the calls for bringing Murray ahead of Boss, for giving Barnes a shot (yes there have been those calls), bringing Zebo for experience, letting Flannery take up a hooker spot despite not having played in over a year and putting Felix Jones on the plane ahead of Luke Fitzgerald (Lions capped, ML winner, 2 time HC winner and GS winner) who had a great final where Jones showed huge inexperience in a semi of the Amlin against Harlequinns (despite a try) making an abundance of mistakes to be wholly unrealistic. Theres even calls for Donnacha Ryan over Kevin McLaughlin which is just as crazy considering McLaughlin was a regular in a HC winning team whereas Ryan rarely makes the bench for Munster (before they were knocked out of the group stages of the HC) if not for injury. Leamy shouldn't even get ahead of McLoughlin but Ryan??? What a joke. Honestly this is a world cup year, lets try take off the red tinted glasses. Boss should travel, Murray-Barnes-Zebo should be nowhere near the plane, Flannery should not be afforded world cup games to attempt to play into fitness, Fitzgerald should definitely travel, Kevin McLaughlin deserves to be there ahead of Leamy and Donnacha Ryan. Jesus I wonder what this place would have been like if Munster had actually got to the HC quarters. I'm sorry if that appears like a dig but I am shocked that so many people are calling for Munster players over better performing Leinster players considering the positions of the two teams at the end of this season. Rant over.0
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go easy on the blue tint also though...
Here's a squad most people reckon would make sense at this stageWell with one game of the season left to play I figured I'd post up my squad in an ideal situation for the WC:
Props: Healy, Ross, Court, Buckley
Hookers: Best, Cronin, Flannery
Second-Rows: DOC, POC, Cullen
Back Rows: Ferris, SOB, Heaslip, Wallace, Jennings (Ryan/McLaughlin)
Scrum-Halves: Reddan, Murray, Stringer
Out-Halves: Sexton, ROG
Wingers: Earls, Bowe. Horgan, Trimble
Centres: D'arcy, BOD, McFadden
Fullback: Jones, Kearney
A couple of weeks ago I'd have had McLaughlin no questions, but Ryan has really upped his game recently, even playing out of position while McLaughlin has continued to do well. Flannery would be replaced by Varley if unable to travel.
Fitzgerald will travel ahead of Jones, but Jones may well travel ahead of Kearney if he can't get back to speed. Boss should/will/could displace Stringer there. Unfortunately I can't see TO'L not travelling.0 -
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Reddan will be first choice, no question about that IMO. FFS even with no experience Murray is hardly going to be phased if starting against the likes of Russia/USA.
Saturday is a HUGE game for Murray. If he plays well I think he should be on the plane.0 -
I just don't understand why we'd waste that spot on a useless 3rd hooker. Even if one gets hurt we can call up a 3rd with little bother. If we use that sport on an extra back (McFadden/Wallace) it would be 20 times more useful.
Fullback is an interesting runoff. Kearney/Fitzgerald/Murphy/Jones all going for 2 spots. That's if Murphy didn't have a setback. When he was in Dublin for the Leinster/Leicester game he said he was going to definitely be fit for the World Cup.0 -
Could be wrong but heard Murray wasn't one of those asked to fill out the forms for the WC and therefore isn't in the reckoning. Felix Jones and James Downey both did however. DK has given caps to 4 scrum halves in the past 6 months 3 of whom played for him throughout the 6N. If we're looking for a bolter, it's going to be in an area where we're genuinely stretched for nailed on selections such as full back.0
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Folks just want to take a temperature so to speak:
James Downey to go to WC... what do we think?0 -
irishbucsfan wrote: »I just don't understand why we'd waste that spot on a useless 3rd hooker. Even if one gets hurt we can call up a 3rd with little bother. If we use that sport on an extra back (McFadden/Wallace) it would be 20 times more useful.
What if a hooker picks up a strain in a warm up or captain's run? We're left with one player for an extremely specialised position for a WC match. Have to bring 3 scrum halves, 3 tightheads (or players capable of covering) and 3 hookers in my opinion. 3 outhalves is definitely an important one also but I feel that we can cover that very slightly more readily in the event of an injury being picked up during a game.0 -
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irishbucsfan wrote: »I just don't understand why we'd waste that spot on a useless 3rd hooker. Even if one gets hurt we can call up a 3rd with little bother. If we use that sport on an extra back (McFadden/Wallace) it would be 20 times more useful.
Its the same reason that Wallace will go as 3rd choice outhalf/ centre cover, if Best picks up a hamstring injury that rules him out of one game, we will have to replace him because you must have two recognised hookers in the 22. This would mean losing Best for the rest of the tournament even though he'd be fit again after the one match. Its the same reason why there will be 3 people who can cover 10.0 -
What is a hooker picks up a strain in a warm up or captain's run? We're left with one player for an extremely specialised position for a WC match. Have to bring 3 scrum halves, 3 tightheads and 3 hookers in my opinion. 3 outhalves is definitely an important one also but I feel that we can cover that very slightly more readily in the event of an injury being picked up during a game.
P.Wallace will travel on the basis of covering 10 and 12 then. Very few teams will bring 3 specialized OH's.
Think England had Wilko, Flood and Catt in 2007 with Barkley being called up when Wilko go injured?0 -
Could be wrong but heard Murray wasn't one of those asked to fill out the forms for the WC and therefore isn't in the reckoning. Felix Jones and James Downey both did however. DK has given caps to 4 scrum halves in the past 6 months 3 of whom played for him throughout the 6N. If we're looking for a bolter, it's going to be in an area where we're genuinely stretched for nailed on selections such as full back.
Yeah I've heard that as well. I'm not really bothered what happens with Murray because as good an experience as the World Cup would be for him, I doubt he'd get much gametime as Reddan and TOL are clearly Kidney first choice players. In the likely event of him missing out I think it'll be good for Irish rugby in the longterm because if he has a good start to the season for Munster playing full games it will be good for him and make it very hard for TOL/stringer to get back in ahead of him.
Personally I'd take Reddan, Boss and Murray going purely on form but I will be shocked if its not Reddan, TOL and Stringer.0 -
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Maybe Kearney isn't going to South Africa after all, the Stormers are denying it:
http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/rugby/article1082817.ece/WP-playing-it-close-to-their-chest0 -
val_jester wrote: »Its the same reason that Wallace will go as 3rd choice outhalf/ centre cover, if Best picks up a hamstring injury that rules him out of one game, we will have to replace him because you must have two recognised hookers in the 22. This would mean losing Best for the rest of the tournament even though he'd be fit again after the one match. Its the same reason why there will be 3 people who can cover 10.
Actually never thought of it that way. Thought you could swap players in and out but I suppose it would take his replacement picking up an injury to allow us to do that.
Now I see why. You've talked sense into me.
My squad would then be
Healy, Court, Best, Cronin, Flannery(Varley), Ross, Buckley, DOC, POC, Cullen, McLaughlin, Ferris, O'Brien, Wallace, Jennings, Heaslip;
Reddan, Boss, Stringer/Murray, Sexton, O'Gara, Wallace, D'Arcy, O'Driscoll, McFadden, Trimble, Earls, Bowe, Kearney, Fitzgerald
No Horgan. He's just not versatile enough to be a squad player and Bowe is undoubtedly the better player in his position. Also think Murray is a mile better than O'Leary but if he really is not in the reckoning then Stringer is my man.0 -
Downey is probably being looked at if there is an injury to D'Arcy or BOD, to be able bring in experience. I personally wouldn't look past McFadden in either case but others may differ in opinion. Remember, there could be injuries before the tournament even begins rendering much of this irrelevant. Also, squads for tournaments like this one are not all about playing skill, you need a good mix of characters (remember Quinlan getting picked for the Lions squad for instance).
Boss is apparently a good squad player who keeps high morale, and would be another link between the provinces due to his playing days with Ulster. He should go. TOL will go because he knows all the calls and can execute them well in my opinion. I'd be surprised if he isn't given gametime in the warm up games to get back up to speed. He shouldn't be in the matchday 22 however for the RWC.0 -
Folks just want to take a temperature so to speak:
James Downey to go to WC... what do we think?
If the team plane to New Zealand goes down somewhere over the Pacific, then maybe he'll get a call up. Other than that, no chance.
We all have to keep in mind that bringing someone to the World Cup means dropping someone else. Downey going means D'Arcy being dropped. It ain't going to happen.0 -
irishbucsfan wrote: »Actually never thought of it that way. Thought you could swap players in and out but I suppose it would take his replacement picking up an injury to allow us to do that.
Now I see why. You've talked sense into me.
My squad would then be
Healy, Court, Best, Cronin, Flannery(Varley), Ross, Buckley, DOC, POC, Cullen, McLaughlin, Ferris, O'Brien, Wallace, Jennings, Heaslip;
Reddan, Boss, Stringer/Murray, Sexton, O'Gara, Wallace, D'Arcy, O'Driscoll, McFadden, Trimble, Earls, Bowe, Kearney, Fitzgerald
No Horgan. He's just not versatile enough to be a squad player and Bowe is undoubtedly the better player in his position. Also think Murray is a mile better than O'Leary but if he really is not in the reckoning then Stringer is my man.
I agree with you on that and I feel really sorry for him because he has been playing superbly this year but Bowe is the better player. I'd say he will be on standby and if, god forbid, Bowe breaks he'll be brought out.
Also I doubt Boss will go, Kidney just doesn't seem to rate him.0 -
Downey is probably being looked at if there is an injury to D'Arcy or BOD, to be able bring in experience. I personally wouldn't look past McFadden in either case but others may differ in opinion. Remember, there could be injuries before the tournament even begins rendering much of this irrelevant. Also, squads for tournaments like this one are not all about playing skill, you need a good mix of characters (remember Quinlan getting picked for the Lions squad for instance).
Boss is apparently a good squad player who keeps high morale, and would be another link between the provinces due to his playing days with Ulster. He should go. TOL will go because he knows all the calls and can execute them well in my opinion. I'd be surprised if he isn't given gametime in the warm up games to get back up to speed. He shouldn't be in the matchday 22 however for the RWC.
In fairness that is a completely different story as you are trying to bring players from 4 different countries together who have never played with each before. I would say that every player who makes the 30 man squad will have been involved in Irish camps over the last few years and it won't be a consideration. Like I said before Boss won't go because he is not rated by the Irish management and Kidney, which I sort of agree with.0 -
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TheHighRoad wrote: »O.K first off anyone who thinks Murray deserves to be there ahead of Boss is frankly crazy but anyone who thinks that Stringer deserves to be there ahead of Boss is delusional. Boss is by far the second best scrumhalf in the country. A world cup is simply not the time for giving a player HIS FIRST CAP unless there is a huge injury crisis. I find the calls for bringing Murray ahead of Boss, for giving Barnes a shot (yes there have been those calls), bringing Zebo for experience, letting Flannery take up a hooker spot despite not having played in over a year and putting Felix Jones on the plane ahead of Luke Fitzgerald (Lions capped, ML winner, 2 time HC winner and GS winner) who had a great final where Jones showed huge inexperience in a semi of the Amlin against Harlequinns (despite a try) making an abundance of mistakes to be wholly unrealistic. Theres even calls for Donnacha Ryan over Kevin McLaughlin which is just as crazy considering McLaughlin was a regular in a HC winning team whereas Ryan rarely makes the bench for Munster (before they were knocked out of the group stages of the HC) if not for injury. Leamy shouldn't even get ahead of McLoughlin but Ryan??? What a joke. Honestly this is a world cup year, lets try take off the red tinted glasses. Boss should travel, Murray-Barnes-Zebo should be nowhere near the plane, Flannery should not be afforded world cup games to attempt to play into fitness, Fitzgerald should definitely travel, Kevin McLaughlin deserves to be there ahead of Leamy and Donnacha Ryan. Jesus I wonder what this place would have been like if Munster had actually got to the HC quarters. I'm sorry if that appears like a dig but I am shocked that so many people are calling for Munster players over better performing Leinster players considering the positions of the two teams at the end of this season. Rant over.
I don't have red tinted glasses and tend to agree with most of that with the exception of Fitzgerald who has played like a drain all season. Claiming he should go because he was a Lion 2 years ago is pointless. If, in 2009, he'd played as he has done this season he wouldn't have played for Leinster that year never mind Ireland and the Lions.Deleted User wrote: »go easy on the blue tint also though...
Here's a squad most people reckon would make sense at this stage
Props: Healy, Ross, Court, Buckley
Hookers: Best, Cronin, Flannery
Second-Rows: DOC, POC, Cullen
Back Rows: Ferris, SOB, Heaslip, Wallace, Jennings (Ryan/McLaughlin)
Scrum-Halves: Reddan, Murray, Stringer
Out-Halves: Sexton, ROG
Wingers: Earls, Bowe. Horgan, Trimble
Centres: D'arcy, BOD, McFadden
Fullback: Jones, Kearney
Fitzgerald will travel ahead of Jones, but Jones may well travel ahead of Kearney if he can't get back to speed. Boss should/will/could displace Stringer there. Unfortunately I can't see TO'L not travelling.
I must'n be part of the pack that is 'most people'. I don't know what evidence you have for that claim.
Buckley can't scrummage and is a waste of a space. In order to cover for his lack of ability, a fiction was created that he was good in the loose. Bilge as far as I'm concerned.
Flannery, while the best lineout 2 we have has played about 6 games in 2 years. He has had major surgery on a very difficult medical condition. We all hope he recovers/ has recovered. We don't know how he will play and he is no young man.
Don. Ryan is very average indeed. McLaughlin is a better option by far but may only be cover for Ferris who we all know has a knee as fragile as candyfloss.
Claiming that Murray would be 'most people's' selection to play 9 for Ireland in the RWC after 4 or 5 games for Munster is totally without foundation and just plain wrong. He may be good. Right now he is o.k. and very inexperienced. Let's see what he is like after a season rather than a few weeks.
Stringer is done. Was great, is now very pedestrian.
TOL has to be the most limited s.h. after Stringer.
No. If we were to bring different centres, I'd rather have someone who has a bit of versatility. One of McFadden, Spence, O'Malley.Folks just want to take a temperature so to speak:
James Downey to go to WC... what do we think?
Yes. We need 3 tightheads. We have one. Court is a loosehead - let's not kid anyone.What if a hooker picks up a strain in a warm up or captain's run? We're left with one player for an extremely specialised position for a WC match. Have to bring 3 scrum halves, 3 tightheads (or players capable of covering) and 3 hookers in my opinion. 3 outhalves is definitely an important one also but I feel that we can cover that very slightly more readily in the event of an injury being picked up during a game.0 -
Maybe I should read things before I quote them in future!
Props: Healy, Ross, Court
Hookers: Best, Cronin
Second-Rows: DOC, POC, Cullen
Back Rows: Ferris, SOB, Heaslip, Wallace
Scrum-Halves: Reddan
Out-Halves: Sexton, ROG
Wingers: Earls, Bowe, Trimble
Centres: D'arcy, BOD
Fullback:
These are actually the only "certs" I can choose to travel.0 -
jacothelad wrote: »I don't have red tinted glasses and tend to agree with most of that with the exception of Fitzgerald who has played like a drain all season. Claiming he should go because he was a Lion 2 years ago is pointless. If, in 2009, he'd played as he has done this season he wouldn't have played for Leinster that year never mind Ireland and the Lions.
I've always been a huge fan of his but I'm unfortunately coming to the same conclusion. The other night, to hype myself up for Cardiff, I went back through a load of old videos on YouTube and some of the rugby he was playing in 2008 & 2009 was simply outstanding, way beyond what McFadden or Earls are capable of. But like you said, it's two years ago and he just does not deserve a spot on the plane, unless he does something dramatic in the five remaining games.jacothelad wrote: »Buckley can't scrummage and is a waste of a space. In order to cover for his lack of ability, a fiction was created that he was good in the loose. Bilge as far as I'm concerned.
Yes. We need 3 tightheads. We have one. Court is a loosehead - let's not kid anyone.
I agree with the first statement, not the second. We have neither room on the plane nor players or sufficient ability to bring 3 tightheads; Ross is the nailed-on first choice TH; who else would you bring? Buckley, Hayes? Is Jamie Hagan a realistic prospect?
And since Court will be the sub prop in the match-day 22, you're effectively bringing two guys covering a specialist position who will sit in the stands...0 -
jacothelad wrote: »
I must'n be part of the pack that is 'most people'. I don't know what evidence you have for that claim.
That's a bit harsh, he's just offered an opinion on what he thinks most people would like to see as the squad and you've highlighted 5 or 6 players you disagree with which isn't much difference.
Yet he will go due to a lack of alternatives, unless you want us to bring Hayes.jacothelad wrote: »Buckley can't scrummage and is a waste of a space. In order to cover for his lack of ability, a fiction was created that he was good in the loose. Bilge as far as I'm concerned.jacothelad wrote: »Flannery, while the best lineout 2 we have has played about 6 games in 2 years. He has had major surgery on a very difficult medical condition. We all hope he recovers/ has recovered. We don't know how he will play and he is no young man.
I disagree with you on Ryan and I'd say he will go, personally I'd take both him and McLaughlin.jacothelad wrote: »Don. Ryan is very average indeed. McLaughlin is a better option by far but may only be cover for Ferris who we all know has a knee as fragile as candyfloss.jacothelad wrote: »Claiming that Murray would be 'most people's' selection to play 9 for Ireland in the RWC after 4 or 5 games for Munster is totally without foundation and just plain wrong. He may be good. Right now he is o.k. and very inexperienced. Let's see what he is like after a season rather than a few weeks.
Stringer is done. Was great, is now very pedestrian.
TOL has to be the most limited s.h. after Stringer.
And thats the reason most people are saying he should be brought to the world cup, we're not saying he is going to start or even bench but that we would have more confidence he him than the alternatives. He has managed to get past two of the other contenders and should be in consideration.jacothelad wrote: »Yes. We need 3 tightheads. We have one. Court is a loosehead - let's not kid anyone.
Court is unfortunately one of the best three tightheads in the country, and the only prop we have capable of covering both sides. I know he got destroyed against England but for the most part he has been solid for Ireland.0 -
TheHighRoad wrote: »O.K first off anyone who thinks Murray deserves to be there ahead of Boss is frankly crazy but anyone who thinks that Stringer deserves to be there ahead of Boss is delusional. Boss is by far the second best scrumhalf in the country. A world cup is simply not the time for giving a player HIS FIRST CAP unless there is a huge injury crisis. I find the calls for bringing Murray ahead of Boss, for giving Barnes a shot (yes there have been those calls), bringing Zebo for experience, letting Flannery take up a hooker spot despite not having played in over a year and putting Felix Jones on the plane ahead of Luke Fitzgerald (Lions capped, ML winner, 2 time HC winner and GS winner) who had a great final where Jones showed huge inexperience in a semi of the Amlin against Harlequinns (despite a try) making an abundance of mistakes to be wholly unrealistic. Theres even calls for Donnacha Ryan over Kevin McLaughlin which is just as crazy considering McLaughlin was a regular in a HC winning team whereas Ryan rarely makes the bench for Munster (before they were knocked out of the group stages of the HC) if not for injury. Leamy shouldn't even get ahead of McLoughlin but Ryan??? What a joke. Honestly this is a world cup year, lets try take off the red tinted glasses. Boss should travel, Murray-Barnes-Zebo should be nowhere near the plane, Flannery should not be afforded world cup games to attempt to play into fitness, Fitzgerald should definitely travel, Kevin McLaughlin deserves to be there ahead of Leamy and Donnacha Ryan. Jesus I wonder what this place would have been like if Munster had actually got to the HC quarters. I'm sorry if that appears like a dig but I am shocked that so many people are calling for Munster players over better performing Leinster players considering the positions of the two teams at the end of this season. Rant over.
First of all I can understand the calls for Boss, but I think Murray has been in good form. I wouldn't have anything against Boss anyway. Stringer would be a pure bench option only, he does well in that capacity.
Secondly you seem to have it in your head that people are clamouring for Zebo and Barnes to go to the world cup, they're not. On this site I saw one person mention Zebo going to the world cup (which was shot down by both Munster and Leinster fans, something you choose to ignore) and didn't even see Barnes' name mentioned, even if so, it was probably one person.
As for Flannery not being given a chance to play, what's your take on the Fullback situation? Kearney hasn't nearly all season, Murphy nearly as bad. Since these players shouldn't be given a chance to play themselves into contention, it leaves Jones or Gavin Duffy. Jones isn't capped yet, but in good form. But that leaves Duffy as the WC isn't a place to be getting 1st caps. Which wouldn't be the case anyway as there are warm up games.
The whole Luke Fitzgerald thing ahead of Jones flies completely in the face of the whole issue of form versus experience. Fitz. has been in seriously average form since his return form injury, he was lucky to make the starting team ahead of McFadden IMO and Jones has been growing from game to game, added to the fact that Fitz. has shown that he is in no way shape or form a fullback during the 6 Nations. Yet if Kidney was to pick a player due to vast international experience e.g. Leamy(GS winner, ML winner 2 time HC winner) vs.McLaughlin I'm sure you'd cry foul that players are being picked on reputation, you can't have it both ways.
On the Ryan/McLaughlin situation. That is based on covering second row in case DOC/POC/Cullen get injured. Ryan being primarily a second row who can play six coupled with a good recent run of form. Wheras McLaughlin is a 6 who has recently began playing second row. Anyway, I think had it not been for Jennings injury, McLaughlin wouldn't have started the final in any case.
And as for the end of the season positions, Leinster have played some fantastic rugby in the HC, no doubt about that, but Munster have been the most consistent team in the ML.
My picks have nothing to do with 'red tinted glasses'. Pick players on how they are performing, not on what team they play for.0 -
I don't want to turn this into a Munster v Leinster p*ssing contest, but can someone who has maybe seen more Munster games this season please enlighten me as to what is the basis for saying Jones is in good enough form to warrant a spot?
I've only seen him against:
a) Leinster at Thomond, and he was anonymous
b) Brive in the ACC, he looked lively but that match was a glorified 7s game, not a serious contest.
c) Harlequins in the ACC, scored a try from three yards out and butchered another two opportunities.
Maybe I just haven't seen enough of him?0 -
totallegend wrote: »I don't want to turn this into a Munster v Leinster p*ssing contest, but can someone who has maybe seen more Munster games this season please enlighten me as to what is the basis for saying Jones is in good enough form to warrant a spot?
The only reason people are advocating picking Jones to travel to NZ is he is one of the best options we have left to us.
Do we bring Kearney or Murphy, who haven't played or Gavin Duffy who hasn't gotten a look-in since the tour south.
BTW I would probably pick Duffy and Kearney. Have Duffy start the big games and give Kearney a chance at some gametime also. Hopefully, if we get to the knock-outs, either Duffy or Kearney will have proven themselves. In saying all that though, I wouldn't think bringing Jones would be a bad decision, but only because of our other options.0 -
The only reason people are advocating picking Jones to travel to NZ is he is one of the best options we have left to us.
Do we bring Kearney or Murphy, who haven't played or Gavin Duffy who hasn't gotten a look-in since the tour south.
BTW I would probably pick Duffy and Kearney. Have Duffy start the big games and give Kearney a chance at some gametime also. Hopefully, if we get to the knock-outs, either Duffy or Kearney will have proven themselves. In saying all that though, I wouldn't think bringing Jones would be a bad decision, but only because of our other options.
Anytime I've seen Jones play he has looked good, his positioning, his fielding and his tackling are all very good and those are the basic skills for a fullback. He has also been very good in an attacking sense, despite the butchered passes against quins.
I don't think Duffy is of the standard required and Kearney needs to prove he is fully fit. If Kearney is fully fit he will be first choice and then it depends on whether Kidney wants to take another full back or if Earls is going to be his 2nd choice in which case Earls will need to play there in one of the warm ups and Kearney and Jones to split the other 3.0 -
totallegend wrote: »I don't want to turn this into a Munster v Leinster p*ssing contest, but can someone who has maybe seen more Munster games this season please enlighten me as to what is the basis for saying Jones is in good enough form to warrant a spot?
I've only seen him against:
a) Leinster at Thomond, and he was anonymous
b) Brive in the ACC, he looked lively but that match was a glorified 7s game, not a serious contest.
c) Harlequins in the ACC, scored a try from three yards out and butchered another two opportunities.
Maybe I just haven't seen enough of him?
Jones has played no better then Fitz, he just looks better because Fitz is surrounded by 14 players who are on amazing form while Jones is mostly surrounded by players floundering for form.
If you watch a Munster game you think 'at least Jones was decent'
If you watch a Leinster game you think 'Hmm didn't see much of Fitz'
The Loughie v Leamy thing is a bit different, I have never rated Leamy so maybe I'm not best placed to comment on his form.
However it would be usefull to have Loughie in the squad to cover Lock0 -
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Jones has played no better then Fitz, he just looks better because Fitz is surrounded by 14 players who are on amazing form while Jones is mostly surrounded by players floundering for form.
If you watch a Munster game you think 'at least Jones was decent'
If you watch a Leinster game you think 'Hmm didn't see much of Fitz'
The Loughie v Leamy thing is a bit different, I have never rated Leamy so maybe I'm not best placed to comment on his form.
However it would be usefull to have Loughie in the squad to cover Lock
That has to be the weakest excuse ever for trying to explain someone's poor form. People are able to judge the form of a player based on what they see him doing not by judging him in relation to the rest of the players on his team.0
This discussion has been closed.
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