Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread

Podge_irl

errlloyd wrote: »

Do people think the squad is stronger or weaker than say the squad the went to the world cup last year.

I think its irrelevant.

CIARAN_BOYLE

A few newspapers are reporting that its bent's first time ever in Ireland however on his profile at his old club he had Ireland listed a favourite vacation spot

Any know the truth?

wicklowwonder

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

A few newspapers are reporting that its bent's first time ever in Ireland however on his profile at his old club he had Ireland listed a favourite vacation spot

Any know the truth?

I read today somewhere he sister competed in the Rose of Tralee and lives in Dublin for last number of years, so I imagine he came over to visit her.

bilston

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 have optimisim that eventually we'll be stronger, but that is probably 12 months away. For now like everyone else we're in transition and unless you're NZ that generally leads to a bit of inconsistency so it's hard to compare a WC squad with an Autumn Test squad 12 months after a WC.

I do think we'll beat both SA and Argentina though but in the case of SA that may be partly down to their missing personnel.

molloyjh

Ah ffs!!!!! Drico out for 8-12 weeks. Best out for 4-6 weeks.

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/27582.php

RuggieBear

****

shuffol

So what'll that mean for the backline.

Possibly...
11. Zebo
12. D'arcy
13. Cave
14. Bowe
15. Earls

Suddenly D'arcy's experience becomes vital in midfield, so much for trying out new options there.

molloyjh

shuffol wrote: »

So what'll that mean for the backline.

Possibly...
11. Zebo
12. D'arcy
13. Cave
14. Bowe
15. Earls

Suddenly D'arcy's experience becomes vital in midfield, so much for trying out new options there.

I wonder will this force the inclusion of Jones and leave us with:

11. Zebo
12. Darcy
13. Earls
14. Bowe
15. Jones

Deano7788

I'd say we could see:

11. Zebo
12. Darcy
13. Earls
14. Trimble
15. Bowe

just as easily

This is just purely because Kidney really seems to prefer Earls to Cave and he did ask Ulster to play Bowe at 15. Also, I think Earls has been training at 13 so far, although that mightn't mean anthing.

I'd prefer Cave at 13, Earls at 15 though.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Deano7788 wrote: »

This is just purely because Kidney really seems to prefer Earls to Cave and he did ask Ulster to play Bowe at 15. Also, I think Earls has been training at 13 so far, although that mightn't mean anthing.

I'd prefer Cave at 13, Earls at 15 though.

Anscombe claims that he made the call

phog

molloyjh wrote: »

Ah ffs!!!!! Drico out for 8-12 weeks. Best out for 4-6 weeks.

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/27582.php

Big blow for Ireland, why did we hear all was ok and then BOD is out for 8 to 12 weeks. Imagine if he played on last weekend, what damage he could have done to himself. Best will be a huge loss too, two leaders gone in one fell swoop and POC only hanging on by a thread.

ROG may be needed yet for his leadership :P

phog

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Anscombe claims that he made the call

Did he? Most here suggested it was Kidney's call.

Deano7788

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Anscombe claims that he made the call

I'm sure he had the final say but Kidney probably asked if it was possible.

Edit: Never saw that article below. Strange call if it's true.

CIARAN_BOYLE

phog wrote: »

Did he? Most here suggested it was Kidney's call.

Yep, I thought it was Kidney's call before I saw this yesterday

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/anscombe-decision-to-play-bowe-at-full-back-not-kidneys-call-212283.html

GerM

phog wrote: »

Big blow for Ireland, why did we hear all was ok and then BOD is out for 8 to 12 weeks. Imagine if he played on last weekend, what damage he could have done to himself. Best will be a huge loss too, two leaders gone in one fell swoop and POC only hanging on by a thread.

ROG may be needed yet for his leadership :P

Ankles can be funny things. I've done my ligaments a few times and had surgery on the area. They can be fine, not a huge amount of pain but significant instability and mobility in the joint with badly frayed ligaments and you risk going over on it and snapping the ligaments entirely. Things may not have shown up until they did an MRI.

I suspect that this might have been done with the 6N in mind and the aim of getting him fully fit for that and the business end of the domestic season rather than mucking around and risking a bad injury with the Lions also on the horizon.

molloyjh

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Yep, I thought it was Kidney's call before I saw this yesterday

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/anscombe-decision-to-play-bowe-at-full-back-not-kidneys-call-212283.html

Well that just makes Kidneys decision to only include Earls as a FB option even worse. He's deliberately going into this series without a specialist FB and without any back-up to a guy who has rarely played there as it is. He's got to be having a laugh at this stage???

.ak

To be honest, I think Earls is the best FB option we have at the moment, so we need to look at the bright side of things - we might get to see a Darce/Cave midfield which will be interesting. Darce has a habbit of bringing out the best in his outside centres.

Swiwi

.ak wrote: »

To be honest, I think Earls is the best FB option we have at the moment, so we need to look at the bright side of things - we might get to see a Darce/Cave midfield which will be interesting. Darce has a habbit of bringing out the best in his outside centres.

Or outside centres have a habit of bringing out the best in D'Arcy.

Time for Cave to shine.

Fireball07

Terrible news. Does this mean Sherry will get a callup as hooker backup? Strauss to start, I suppose...

As for 13, at least we do have a few decent options. Personally, I'd play Cave with Earls at full-back. Cave and D'Arcy would be a solid defensive partnership, and should get the outside backs into play.

thomond2006

BOD and Best both out?! Dear lord...

If BOD is gone for 12 weeks, he might struggle to make the Six Nations opener too.

Healy, Cronin, Ross, Ryan, POC, Ferris, Henry, Heaslip;
Reddan, Sexton, Zebo, D'Arcy, Cave, Bowe, Earls

is what I'd go for, but I'm certain Earls will play at 13 as he's always been Kidney's second choice outside centre.

Lelantos

.ak wrote: »

To be honest, I think Earls is the best FB option we have at the moment, so we need to look at the bright side of things - we might get to see a Darce/Cave midfield which will be interesting. Darce has a habbit of bringing out the best in his outside centres.

With BOD out of the autumn series Earls is a shoe in for outside centre I think.

GerM

Worth noting that Best is listed as being out for up to 6 weeks at which point there will be a further assessment not necessarily a return to action. RB did miss the guts of an entire season two years ago with a bad neck injury so it's always a concern to see him suffer anything related to the neck.

Tox56

Lelantos wrote: »

With BOD out of the autumn series Earls is a shoe in for outside centre I think.

With Kearney also out... ?????

irishbucsfan

I wouldn't be surprised if they call up Jones for BOD and use Earls at 13.

Really hope Bests isn't serious.

Lelantos

Tox56 wrote: »

With Kearney also out... ?????

Yep, Felix Jones will get a shout I would think.

Fishooks12

15 Earls
14 Bowe
13 Cave
12 Darcy
11 Zebo
10 Sexton

is probably the most logical selection now


But don't be surprised to see

15 Jones
14 Bowe
13 Earls
12 Darcy
11 Zebo
10 Sexon

Tox56

Lelantos wrote: »

Yep, Felix Jones will get a shout I would think.

The last thing Felix needs after all he has been through is a few 18 stone boks running down his way, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. Very interesting decision for Kidney, I think 15. Earls 13. Cave is a better option than 15. Jones 13. Earls but it wouldn't be the first time I've disagreed with DK.

Lelantos

Fishooks12 wrote: »

15 Earls
14 Bowe
13 Cave
12 Darcy
11 Zebo
10 Sexton

is probably the most logical selection now


But don't be surprised to see

15 Jones
14 Bowe
13 Earls
12 Darcy
11 Zebo
10 Sexon

Why not Trimble at 11?

irishbucsfan

If Jones plays well this weekend I'd pick him at 15 anyway. We should be selecting full backs at full back.