Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread

Fireball07

totallegend wrote: »

Devil's advocate is one thing, but in reality Cronin is substantially better than Sherry.

Yeah, I don't think he's "substantially better". Cronin has certain attributes that make him a very useful player, he's got an explosive burst of pace and gets around the field very well.

But Sherry's handy enough in the loose, and his darts are better imo. He's coming along okay, if he hadn't had injuries last season, I think he'd be firmly established as first choice. Cronin hasn't come on as much as I'd have liked in the last couple of years

jm08 wrote: »

Andress changed his mind about moving to Munster when he heard BJ Botha was also coming.

Edit: Here is a quote from him.

http://www.irishpost.co.uk/index.php/component/content/article/2-sport-news/182-school-of-hard-props%E2%80%8F

Well, at least he's determined to play first-team rugby. And he did think about it before, could be a good signing for next season. What's his current contract status, does anyone know?

snow mad

p jackson, p marshal, gilroy, t o hal, cronin, fitzpatrick added to the training squad and bent straight in too

thomond2006

Andress is contracted till 2014: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/16960849

leonard7

Any news on that fella O'Driscolls injury? heard it was a sprained ankle but didnt hear how bad it

GerM

leonard7 wrote: »

Any news on that fella O'Driscolls injury? heard it was a sprained ankle but didnt hear how bad it

Should be back for the international series but it will be monitored. I suspect he'll play but will be strapped up and not 100% (but he rarely is anyway).

leonard7

cheers GerM

shuffol

What particularly peeves me about Kidneys squad selections is that he all too often sends out the wrong message to players. I know we're a bit stuck at TH but not this badly, this is a bit embarrassing IMO, what does it mean for Hagans situation at Leinster, he's backup TH as things stand, will Schmidt be under pressure now to select Bent ahead of Hagan.

Maybe Bent will only be holding tackle bags but that makes it all the worse for me, why make such a controversial selection for a guy just to hold tackle bags.

rrpc

shuffol wrote: »

What particularly peeves me about Kidneys squad selections is that he all too often sends out the wrong message to players. I know we're a bit stuck at TH but not this badly, this is a bit embarrassing IMO, what does it mean for Hagans situation at Leinster, he's backup TH as things stand, will Schmidt be under pressure now to select Bent ahead of Hagan.

Maybe Bent will only be holding tackle bags but that makes it all the worse for me, why make such a controversial selection for a guy just to hold tackle bags.

I would imagine that promises were made and now have to be delivered.

CatFromHue

shuffol wrote: »

What particularly peeves me about Kidneys squad selections is that he all too often sends out the wrong message to players. I know we're a bit stuck at TH but not this badly, this is a bit embarrassing IMO, what does it mean for Hagans situation at Leinster, he's backup TH as things stand, will Schmidt be under pressure now to select Bent ahead of Hagan.

Maybe Bent will only be holding tackle bags but that makes it all the worse for me, why make such a controversial selection for a guy just to hold tackle bags.

It's not just tackle bags they'll be holding now. There are loads of drills they will be doing and most importantly there will be live scrummaging which will show were he really is.

RoundBox11

IMO Deccie Fitzpatrick is more than capable of backing up Ross and is a pretty good scrummager himself so why is there an urgent need for Bent? I never thought i'd say this but i'd actually rather have Archer in the squad. At least he's made some sort of contribution to Irish rugby...

CatFromHue

It could be a fitness issue. Fitzpatrick has just come back from injury whereas Bent as far as I know was playing/training with Taranaki in the ITM Cup in NZ (He started their last game in the playoff/SF on 20 Oct).

leftleg

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2012/1029/1224325884574.html

I will be watching that game

Hagz

Deano7788

Hagz wrote: »

And some people were worried about his Irishness! :pac:

Fishooks12

Hagz wrote: »

What a brilliant picture

Winters

GerM wrote: »

Should be back for the international series but it will be monitored. I suspect he'll play but will be strapped up and not 100% (but he rarely is anyway).

Himself, Darce, Healy and Redden sat out training today. He was walking around fine so precautionary I would say.

BIGGIEsmall

http://www.thescore.ie/irish-rugby-training-654075-Oct2012/#slide-slideshow9

Tommy Bowe, Keith Earls and Paddy Jackson run a backs move with Jackson notably in the fullback role rather than the two men favourite to start there against the 'Boks

leonard7

wouldnt take too much note of the numbers, however wouldnt be unlike ireland to play players out of position

CIARAN_BOYLE

BIGGIEsmall wrote: »

http://www.thescore.ie/irish-rugby-training-654075-Oct2012/#slide-slideshow9

numbers on the bibs aren't worth anything.

wicklowwonder

BIGGIEsmall wrote: »

http://www.thescore.ie/irish-rugby-training-654075-Oct2012/#slide-slideshow9

First day of training, match not for another two weeks. I imagine they were just running lines, most of them I heard were boozing Saturday so probably just a run to shake off the cobwebs. Also we don't know who was wearing the other 15 jersey? Maybe Zebo?

thomond2006

If Jackson at 15 was a serious option for Kidney, he would have played there at the weekend and not Tommy Bowe.

bilston

thomond2006 wrote: »

If Jackson at 15 was a serious option for Kidney, he would have played there at the weekend and not Tommy Bowe.

There is absolutely no way in a million years that Jackson is even remotely in contention to play FB against SA!!!!

bilston

Hagz wrote: »

Is that Michael Bent then?...

bilston

bilston wrote: »

There is absolutely no way in a million years that Jackson is even remotely in contention to play FB against SA!!!!

Unless!

Hagz

bilston wrote: »

Is that Michael Bent then?...

Yes.

Lelantos

bilston wrote: »

There is absolutely no way in a million years that Jackson is even remotely in contention to play FB against SA!!!!

I would say the last 3 words of your statement are surplus to Kidneys requirements

jm08

Keith Earls will more than likely start at 15 (and he is filling in for Brian O'Driscoll in training as brian is looking on!).

errlloyd

Do people think the squad is stronger or weaker than say the squad the went to the world cup last year. For some reason I have some optimism, I think this squad is stronger. Lots of players who weren't on the radar last year are sticking their hands up, albeit a few who were have dipped a little.

CatFromHue

errlloyd wrote: »

Do people think the squad is stronger or weaker than say the squad the went to the world cup last year. For some reason I have some optimism, I think this squad is stronger. Lots of players who weren't on the radar last year are sticking their hands up, albeit a few who were have dipped a little.

I think 'cos we're missing SOB and Kearney we're a fair bit weaker. Plus some of the weaknesses in the squad at the RWC are still there e.g. at 12 and TH.

In second row and possibly hooker as well we're stronger though.

clsmooth

CatFromHue wrote: »

I think 'cos we're missing SOB and Kearney we're a fair bit weaker. Plus some of the weaknesses in the squad at the RWC are still there e.g. at 12 and TH.

In second row and possibly hooker as well we're stronger though.

You could say that the coaching team is weaker. Hard to get excited about the series with Kidney calling the shots