Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread

GerM

jm08 wrote: »

Outclassing Boss in the game against Connacht in the warm-ups (both had a half).

I don't know if you were at that game or not but that's a serious stretch. Murray had a very patchy 40 minutes where he was pulled into rucks, gave away penalties and turned over possession.

thomond2006

Healy to see a specialist about a shoulder injury, oh gawd.

GerM

With the failure to call up Jones at this point, I'm assuming that we are still going to see Earls at full back and possibly McFadden at 13. Two of his seven starts under DK have come at 13 so it's not out of the ordinary. I wouldn't select it myself but DK is clearly a fan given he was one of the very few to start all tests in NZ. Wouldn't be hugely surprised to see a back line of:

Murray, Sexton, Zebo, D'Arcy, McFadden, Bowe, Earls with Trimble in the 23 jersey.

phog

thomond2006 wrote: »

Healy to see a specialist about a shoulder injury, oh gawd.

This is going on since the Connacht game (?) why does it take til now to be found out? I hope they drop him now and make sure he's fully fit for 6Ns rather than risk him now for tha AIs.

.ak

GerM wrote: »

With the failure to call up Jones at this point, I'm assuming that we are still going to see Earls at full back and possibly McFadden at 13. Two of his seven starts under DK have come at 13 so it's not out of the ordinary. I wouldn't select it myself but DK is clearly a fan given he was one of the very few to start all tests in NZ. Wouldn't be hugely surprised to see a back line of:

Murray, Sexton, Zebo, D'Arcy, McFadden, Bowe, Earls with Trimble in the 23 jersey.

That's probably how it'll go, but I'd rather Ferg at 23 with Cave starting at 13. But that's probably not gonna happen.

GerM

phog wrote: »

This is going on since the Connacht game (?) why does it take til now to be found out? I hope they drop him now and make sure he's fully fit for 6Ns rather than risk him now for tha AIs.

I think it's generally a case of seeing whether the injury can be managed or not. Then it gets to the point where they have to make a call on putting him into rehab and having him right for the 6N or not. Wait any longer and, if it worsens, Healy could miss the 6N. Priority will always be the 6N for the IRFU.

Fishooks12

It's brilliant how in-tune we're all getting with Kidney logic

Seph503

So Healy could be out?

Ah, injury - Ireland's most ambitious selector...

irishbucsfan

So if we're missing Healy we'll have Court starting and Kilcoyne on the bench.

No one can make up for the loss of Healy but I'll be happy to see Kilcoyne at the highest level.

thomond2006

phog wrote: »

This is going on since the Connacht game (?) why does it take til now to be found out? I hope they drop him now and make sure he's fully fit for 6Ns rather than risk him now for tha AIs.

Agreed, plus he's got a Lions Tour to look forward to.

irishbucsfan

GerM wrote: »

With the failure to call up Jones at this point, I'm assuming that we are still going to see Earls at full back and possibly McFadden at 13. Two of his seven starts under DK have come at 13 so it's not out of the ordinary. I wouldn't select it myself but DK is clearly a fan given he was one of the very few to start all tests in NZ. Wouldn't be hugely surprised to see a back line of:

Murray, Sexton, Zebo, D'Arcy, McFadden, Bowe, Earls with Trimble in the 23 jersey.

McFadden was also player of the tournament (MVP actually) when Kidney coached Ireland A to the 2009 Churchill Cup, pretty sure he started every game at 13.

He's a danger in defense though unfortunately. I'd much much prefer Cave. We're so unlucky that by losing Kearney and BOD we effectively lose our 1st and 2nd choice 13 as well as our 1st choice 15.

phog

GerM wrote: »

I think it's generally a case of seeing whether the injury can be managed or not. Then it gets to the point where they have to make a call on putting him into rehab and having him right for the 6N or not. Wait any longer and, if it worsens, Healy could miss the 6N. Priority will always be the 6N for the IRFU.

Yes but of the 3 out injured since the week-end Healy's shoulder problem has been known for 4 weeks, why was it allowed go on so long?

Tox56

Fishooks12 wrote: »

It's brilliant how in-tune we're all getting with Kidney logic

We can't experiment now because of our average 6 Nations performance.

I say don't bother making too many changes now as he'll be gone in a few months, a fresh start with a new coach and a few new faces in the team for next season.

GerM

phog wrote: »

Yes but of the 3 out injured since the week-end Healy's shoulder problem has been known for 4 weeks, why was it allowed go on so long?

Monitor it and see if it's one they can manage through the autumn series before sending him to rehab. If it has deteriorated in the meantime, they'll get him into surgery/rehab now and have him fit for January and the 6N.

Tox56

Just noticed Jeremy Guscott Q&A on the BBC site..

Hi Rob, I think O'Gara is still the best 10 for Ireland at closing out a game. He still has a lot to offer both on and off the field, especially for the new boys in the squad.

How many tight H Cup/Rabo wins will it take for Sexton to debunk this myth??

ssaye

Tox56 wrote: »

Just noticed Jeremy Guscott Q&A on the BBC site..



How many tight H Cup/Rabo wins will it take for Sexton to debunk this myth??

Guscott probably only watches 5 mins of ROG per year outside the England V Ireland 6 Nations. Fair enough its his opinion but most see it as flawed on current form.

irishbucsfan

Tox56 wrote: »

Just noticed Jeremy Guscott Q&A on the BBC site..



How many tight H Cup/Rabo wins will it take for Sexton to debunk this myth??

Sexton still has slight issues with game management. I'd say it's his biggest weakness, but considering how good he is that doesn't mean I'm saying its poor. There are times in games where he should be playing territory and he doesn't.

But when was the last time ROG managed a game? For me, the last time he took a game by the scruff of the neck like the old days was against Northampton in 2010.

Tox56

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Sexton still has slight issues with game management. I'd say it's his biggest weakness, but considering how good he is that doesn't mean I'm saying its poor. There are times in games where he should be playing territory and he doesn't.

But when was the last time ROG managed a game? For me, the last time he took a game by the scruff of the neck like the old days was against Northampton in 2010.

Leinster have become masters of closing out tight games in the H Cup, just last year there was Montpellier, Glasgow (away), Bath (away) and the Clermont semi-final.

We could very easily have lost any of those games, and you can throw in the Exeter game this year (and Treviso in the Rabo) and many more games from the 2011 season. The fly-half in every game was Sexton.

You could put some of those down to "luck", but there comes a point where it ceases to be a coincidence.

jm08

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Well you said Murray's defense and partnership with ROG got him the start against Australia. Sexton and Reddan started against Australia. Which was coincidentally the last time we managed to beat a top 8 nation.

O'Gara & Murray were fairly involved in that game as well. Seem to remember Murray breaching the Australian defence for a disallowed try. O'Gara scored 2 penalties in his 30 minute cameo.

jm08

GerM wrote: »

I don't know if you were at that game or not but that's a serious stretch. Murray had a very patchy 40 minutes where he was pulled into rucks, gave away penalties and turned over possession.

I was at the game. Boss was poor more than anything else.

leftleg

jm08 wrote: »

O'Gara scored 2 penalties in his 30 minute cameo.

There is a youtube clip clearly showing Rogs contribution in that game and whoever made it, did so to show that he did sweet fa in that game when he came on and then had a rant afterwards to the meeja about retiring.

molloyjh

leftleg wrote: »

There is a youtube clip clearly showing Rogs contribution in that game and whoever made it, did so to show that he did sweet fa in that game when he came on and then had a rant afterwards to the meeja about retiring.

Didn't Sexton score more points than Australia that day? So all ROG contributed was a greater cushion. As for Murrays break, it meant feck all as it wasn't allowed.

jm08

leftleg wrote: »

There is a youtube clip clearly showing Rogs contribution in that game and whoever made it, did so to show that he did sweet fa in that game when he came on and then had a rant afterwards to the meeja about retiring.

I'd be able to make a video to show Brian O'Driscoll did nothing if I set out to achieve that. :rolleyes:

GerM

jm08 wrote: »

I was at the game. Boss was poor more than anything else.

Fair enough, you're opinion but I don't know what you're basing that on. Boss showed the only moment of class from either player in the match when he delayed a pass at the fringes to put a runner through the gap after sucking in the defence. Didn't have a great game but was solid enough.

leftleg

jm08 wrote: »

I'd be able to make a video to show Brian O'Driscoll did nothing if I set out to achieve that. :rolleyes:

do whatever you like , not sure what your trying to achieve by that but its you time and money.

danthefan

leftleg wrote: »

There is a youtube clip clearly showing Rogs contribution in that game and whoever made it, did so to show that he did sweet fa in that game when he came on and then had a rant afterwards to the meeja about retiring.

Off the top of my head, his first touch was an excellent touchfinder. Apart from that he put a kick out on the full and just handed Cooper + the Aus back 3 possession a number of times, made some routine passes, kicked the aforementioned penalties. This idea of him coming on and controlling the game is complete hogwash.

irishbucsfan

Tox56 wrote: »

Leinster have become masters of closing out tight games in the H Cup, just last year there was Montpellier, Glasgow (away), Bath (away) and the Clermont semi-final.

We could very easily have lost any of those games, and you can throw in the Exeter game this year (and Treviso in the Rabo) and many more games from the 2011 season. The fly-half in every game was Sexton.

You could put some of those down to "luck", but there comes a point where it ceases to be a coincidence.

Montpellier away we played poorly and were lucky to draw. Sexton held his nerve with a late kick to draw the game, but that's not really the sort of thing Guscott is referring to, I don't think.

Bath were very poor and we were never in trouble. Didn't take much management.

Sexton was actually pretty awful against Glasgow, however he was clearly injured early on so I wouldn't blame him. He was also playing outside Reddan who was having a bit of a mare... The game changed with the introduction of Boss.

The Clermont game is not an example either. When the game went against us we just simply allowed them to control possession. I don't think you can say it was Sextons game management that won that game as we were completely dominated in both possession and territory in the closing stages and escaped thanks to a D'Arcy tackle. I remember Sextons defense that day was unbelievable though.


Sexton doesn't have the ability yet to do what ROG did in his prime in the closing stages of games. But I don't see ROG displaying that ability any more either... If he did surely he would have closed out against Ulster?

irishbucsfan

jm08 wrote: »

O'Gara & Murray were fairly involved in that game as well. Seem to remember Murray breaching the Australian defence for a disallowed try. O'Gara scored 2 penalties in his 30 minute cameo.

Did they start?

Fishooks12

leftleg wrote: »

There is a youtube clip clearly showing Rogs contribution in that game and whoever made it, did so to show that he did sweet fa in that game when he came on and then had a rant afterwards to the meeja about retiring.

Infairness to ROG he nailed two penalties when he came on that gave Ireland the cushion we needed. Sextons kicking was patchy that day, hence why ROG took over

jm08

molloyjh wrote: »

Didn't Sexton score more points than Australia that day? So all ROG contributed was a greater cushion. As for Murrays break, it meant feck all as it wasn't allowed.

He was on for 30 mins. Ireland scored 6pts. Hardly nothing as claimed. It als took pressure off Sexton that he didn't have to take the kicks.

At least Murray's breaking ability was putting Australia under pressure.