Ireland V Georgia build up thread (team announced 12:50 Friday)

Putinovsky

Henshaw to replace D'arcy as Leinster's 12 at the end of the season?

thomond2006

Putinovsky wrote: »

Henshaw to replace D'arcy as Leinster's 12 at the end of the season?

Henshaw's under contract until 2016 with Connacht.

Putinovsky

thomond2006 wrote: »

Henshaw's under contract until 2016 with Connacht.

So was Conway with Leinster.

vienne86

Putinovsky wrote: »

Henshaw to replace D'arcy as Leinster's 12 at the end of the season?

I think Connacht fans are sick of hearing about Henshaw going to Leinster, and I wouldn't blame them. I'd love to see him in Leinster, but at the end of the day it will probably be up to Joe and also up to Robbie himself......but having Johnny and Robbie in our back line.....oh yes!

thomond2006

Putinovsky wrote: »

So was Conway with Leinster.

They're not really comparable. Conway wasn't a first choice player with Leinster and wanted more gametime at provincial level.

Even if the IRFU could move Henshaw now, they dare not. As good as he is/will be I don't want to see him moving to another province unless Connacht are happy to let him go.

MattD

I know it's just numbers on their back, but playing Darcy 13 and Henshaw 12 will just always seem backwards to me... If you want to arrange Henshaw at inside centre for defense and outside for attack, fine. But it just seems like unnecessary 'controversy' from Joe

NiallBoo

1. D. Kilcoyne
2. R. Strauss
3. R Ah You - but Ross to get a fair bit of game time.
4. D Foley
5. D Toner
6. R. Ruddock
7. T. O'Donnell
8. J. Heaslip - I think that JS will want experience and leadership somewhere.
9. K. Marmion
10. I. Keatley
11. D. Leader - Zebo has been getting a lot of gametime/ chances to prove himself but I think JS will want to give others a shot too.
12. I. Madigan
13. R. Henshaw
14. C. Gilroy
15. F. Jones

16. S. Cronin
17. J. McGrath
18. M. Ross
19. m. McCarthy
20. G. Heaslip
21. C. Murray
22. G. D'arcy
23. S. Zebo

It might not look exactly like this but I think there will be a lot of blooding new players. JS will want to have depth in all positions and we'll definitely see players like Keatley and Leader getting game-time at test level before the world cup.

wittycynic

Utah_Saint wrote: »

The problem is that Ulster have a glut of top quality 12's coming through. Our immediate concern at international level is 13. Keep Henshaw there...

Of those, only McCloskey fits the big, physical 12 mould.

S12b

wittycynic wrote: »

Very interesting if that Indo report is true and D'Arcy will be played at 13 rather than 12 to keep Henshaw on the inside.

I seem to recall Joe saying that he likes having a big guy at inside centre. Could Henshaw be our twelve from here on out?

It's a bit of a puzzler....Connacht have Aki and McSharry at 12 and Leader and Muliaina at 15 so Henshaw will only play at 13.

Equally, Darcy has spent the vast majority of his career at 12.

Why take both out of their natural positions?

molloyjh

MattD wrote: »

I know it's just numbers on their back, but playing Darcy 13 and Henshaw 12 will just always seem backwards to me... If you want to arrange Henshaw at inside centre for defense and outside for attack, fine. But it just seems like unnecessary 'controversy' from Joe

If after the NZ performance, the 6 Nations win, the tour win in Argentina (our first there) and that win over the Boks Joe still hasn't earned the right to select a side against Georgia without "controversy" then I truly despair.

Tox56

molloyjh wrote: »

If after the NZ performance, the 6 Nations win, the tour win in Argentina (our first there) and that win over the Boks Joe still hasn't earned the right to select a side against Georgia without "controversy" then I truly despair.

I don't think that's really what he meant, and honestly I think Schmidt is getting close to the point with Irish fans that he has been at with Leinster fans for a long time, even when he makes a decision you don't personally agree with you don't really care because he is almost always right. It's taken a while but if he gets a win over Aus I think he'll be there

jacothelad

Putinovsky wrote: »

What an odd post...

Look at the picture....:D

Buer

molloyjh wrote: »

If after the NZ performance, the 6 Nations win, the tour win in Argentina (our first there) and that win over the Boks Joe still hasn't earned the right to select a side against Georgia without "controversy" then I truly despair.

It's not so much controversial but people will always push their personal agendas and want to see their favourites selected. Most will understand the rationale and be accepting but some will always complain that their favourites were overlooked.

We could win the RWC and people would be miffed that their local player didn't get a start. There were many complaints in the autumn of 2009 when certain Leinster players weren't selected.

.ak

When is the team announced?

The Lost Sheep

molloyjh wrote: »

If after the NZ performance, the 6 Nations win, the tour win in Argentina (our first there) and that win over the Boks Joe still hasn't earned the right to select a side against Georgia without "controversy" then I truly despair.

National team selections and games in general will always attract crowds/posters in this forum that rarely if ever go to rugby games/go to this forum. There will always be "controversy"

Noopti

On against the head did Jackman say something about a recent Fiji v Georgia being abandoned after 20 minutes because Fiji had already scored 7 tries? Or was I hearing things?

If so....firstly, that is just weird they would abandon it. Secondly, this will be a massacre on Sunday. Even with a 2nd team we will be putting 70+ points at least on these guys.

awec

All this talk of us giving them a hiding makes us certain to lose.

aimee1

Noopti wrote: »

On against the head did Jackman say something about a recent Fiji v Georgia being abandoned after 20 minutes because Fiji had already scored 7 tries? Or was I hearing things?

If so....firstly, that is just weird they would abandon it. Secondly, this will be a massacre on Sunday. Even with a 2nd team we will be putting 70+ points at least on these guys.

Was in indo on sunday. It was a training game in south of france I think

aimee1

Noopti wrote: »

On against the head did Jackman say something about a recent Fiji v Georgia being abandoned after 20 minutes because Fiji had already scored 7 tries? Or was I hearing things?

If so....firstly, that is just weird they would abandon it. Secondly, this will be a massacre on Sunday. Even with a 2nd team we will be putting 70+ points at least on these guys.

Was in indo on sunday. It was a training game in south of france I think

aimee1

Noopti wrote: »

On against the head did Jackman say something about a recent Fiji v Georgia being abandoned after 20 minutes because Fiji had already scored 7 tries? Or was I hearing things?

If so....firstly, that is just weird they would abandon it. Secondly, this will be a massacre on Sunday. Even with a 2nd team we will be putting 70+ points at least on these guys.

Was in indo on sunday. It was a training game in south of france I think

Duckworth_Luas

awec wrote: »

All this talk of us giving them a hiding makes us certain to lose.

Remember the 60+ points Eddie's Eagles were going to put on them and Namibia in 2007?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl6xf0KTLUc

NiallBoo

NiallBoo wrote: »

1. D. Kilcoyne
2. R. Strauss
3. R Ah You - but Ross to get a fair bit of game time.
4. D Foley
5. D Toner
6. R. Ruddock
7. T. O'Donnell
8. J. Heaslip - I think that JS will want experience and leadership somewhere.
9. K. Marmion
10. I. Keatley
11. D. Leader - Zebo has been getting a lot of gametime/ chances to prove himself but I think JS will want to give others a shot too.
12. I. Madigan
13. R. Henshaw
14. C. Gilroy
15. F. Jones

16. S. Cronin
17. J. McGrath
18. M. Ross
19. m. McCarthy
20. G. Heaslip
21. C. Murray
22. G. D'arcy
23. S. Zebo

It might not look exactly like this but I think there will be a lot of blooding new players. JS will want to have depth in all positions and we'll definitely see players like Keatley and Leader getting game-time at test level before the world cup.

I think we won't see a team anything like that. There will be far more continuity. Neither Marion, Gilroy, TOD, Leader nor Keatley will start.

vienne86

.ak wrote: »

When is the team announced?

I presume Friday lunchtime.....and it's only Tuesday now! We'll have lots off permutations and combinations on here between this and then.

Duckworth_Luas

Duckworth_Luas wrote: »

Remember the 60+ points Eddie's Eagles were going to put on them and Namibia in 2007?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl6xf0KTLUc

The despair I was in watching that game. I worked up near the Woolshed for that world cup and watched a lot of the games there.

Haven't watched a rugby match there since. Miss the wooly club all the same.

.ak

Back when it was called the Outback. Good boozer for a match-day atmosphere.

kingofthekong

I know mcloskey isn't in the squad but I definitely think a combo of mcloskey and henshaw has the potential to be world class , hopefully for the six nations , just don't think darcy cuts it at international level anymore, hope he proves me wrong though.

.ak

Darce was possibly our best/most consistent back all over this year. It'll be interesting to see how it gets on in the AIs.

its_phil

.ak wrote: »

Darce was possibly our best/most consistent back all over this year. It'll be interesting to see how it gets on in the AIs.

Really? I would have rated Murray, Sexton and Trimble higher. Not that D'Arcy wasn't good just those 3 were exceptional.

.ak

its_phil wrote: »

Really? I would have rated Murray, Sexton and Trimble higher. Not that D'Arcy wasn't good just those 3 were exceptional.

Sorry I meant outside backs. I think Trimble had a great tournament, true, but I just thought Darce really gelled things together. He was exceptional in the England game, I thought.

its_phil

.ak wrote: »

Sorry I meant outside backs. I think Trimble had a great tournament, true, but I just thought Darce really gelled things together. He was exceptional in the England game, I thought.

Couldn't agree more.

thelad95

thomond2006 wrote: »

Henshaw's under contract until 2016 with Connacht.

At which point he will inevitably move to Leinster.

ionadnapokot

its_phil wrote: »

Couldn't agree more.

Bod?

ionadnapokot

D'Arcy - Henshaw is something I'm looking forward to.
In whatever combo St. Joe thinks!

.ak

ionadnapokot wrote: »

Bod?

BOD was hot n cold I thought. Definately pushing the boat out to get those caps. Against Italy he was at his finest, but against England and France I thought he struggled, defensively. The fitness just wasn't there. He still had the brains though and never really made any poor decisions. It was funny how they used him for crash ball against england though, with Darce probing the softer outside shoulders.

who_me

awec wrote: »

All this talk of us giving them a hiding makes us certain to lose.

We've always played our best rugby when up against it - not just the underdog mentality but also when trying to disrupt others from playing vs trying to play & impose our own game.

It's something we need to get over - one thing I've always admired about the ABs is how they seem to play the same regardless of whether they're against a top side or a minnow; it's the same cool, efficient play.

ionadnapokot

.ak wrote: »

BOD was hot n cold I thought. Definately pushing the boat out to get those caps. Against Italy he was at his finest, but against England and France I thought he struggled, defensively. The fitness just wasn't there. He still had the brains though and never really made any poor decisions. It was funny how they used him for crash ball against england though, with Darce probing the softer outside shoulders.

Yea not his finest defensive display. But it was a class outside centre display. he put up good numbers that day(Eng) and was allot more effective than D'Arcy in attack. D'Arcy-Bod had great "glue"
I am hoping D'Arcy can bring "the glue" if he partners Henshaw. As impressed as I was with Henshaw at 12 v SA he looked for contact when we had numbers in the right corner in the second half. And might prosper more at 13 with D'Arcy making the decisions inside him.

.ak

That's one thing Schmidt brought to Leinster. Cheika brought in a winning mentality against the odds. But Schmidt taught Leinster how to be favourites, which I think was massive problem at the time. We were ruthless against lesser sides, we never lifted the foot. Hopefully he can do the same with Ireland.

j8wk2feszrnpao

Hope we play a 2nd string team against 2nd string opposition.
There's very little to be gained from the match apart from game-time for the squad players.
No point having a lot of guys in camp for the duration, only to be holding tackle bags.

I definitely don't want to see Murray or Sexton out there; they are both miles ahead of their backups.
Possibly the best 9 and 10 combo we've had in a green jersey in my 30+yrs of watching.
Another 6N's title (hopefully GS) and a good WC would probably guarantee that.

.ak

I'd be very surprised if Murray or Sexton start. Personally I'd go with Reddan and Madigan, who are most likely to bench against Australia and in the 6N.

Buer

We've two games until the 6N starts. There's a huge amount to be gained from this fixture. I expect a very strong side to be named.

If the blokes holding tackle bags don't have sniff of being involved come the 6N or RWC, they have no business being involved against Georgia.

CatFromHue

munstermagic11 wrote: »

Hope we play a 2nd string team against 2nd string opposition.
There's very little to be gained from the match apart from game-time for the squad players.
No point having a lot of guys in camp for the duration, only to be holding tackle bags.

I definitely don't want to see Murray or Sexton out there; they are both miles ahead of their backups.
Possibly the best 9 and 10 combo we've had in a green jersey in my 30+yrs of watching.
Another 6N's title (hopefully GS) and a good WC would probably guarantee that.

There's alot to be gained by having a good mix of first teamers in there too. You'll get to see how certain combinations work and also for them to get experience playing with each other.

There's very little to be gained by fielding a complete 2nd string.

thelad95

Buer wrote: »

We've two games until the 6N starts. There's a huge amount to be gained from this fixture. I expect a very strong side to be named.

If the blokes holding tackle bags don't have sniff of being involved come the 6N or RWC, they have no business being involved against Georgia.

I don't think there's much to be gained from fielding a full-strength team who will pulverise the Georgians. Surely there's a lot more to be gained from trying out fringe players mixed with players who need game-time eg. Mike Ross

.ak

Buer wrote: »

We've two games until the 6N starts. There's a huge amount to be gained from this fixture. I expect a very strong side to be named.

If the blokes holding tackle bags don't have sniff of being involved come the 6N or RWC, they have no business being involved against Georgia.

True, but I think the turn around time will be a big factor. Plus Schmidt is very keen of getting a large number of players some sort of experience in a green jersey, he's talked about the replacements being important and their experience is vital. And he's not wrong - look at the injury crisis now, we have to assume something like that will happen pre-RWC. We need the largest pool of players as possible. No point parachuting someone in if they have no experience with the team.

I think we'll see a good mix of fringe players and some senior players in there to hold things together.

j8wk2feszrnpao

CatFromHue wrote: »

There's alot to be gained by having a good mix of first teamers in there too. You'll get to see how certain combinations work and also for them to get experience playing with each other.

There's very little to be gained by fielding a complete 2nd string.

Combinations against totally inferior opposition won't help against Aus or in the 6N's. Nor will a serious injury to a key player.

molloyjh

munstermagic11 wrote: »

Combinations against totally inferior opposition won't help against Aus or in the 6N's. Nor will a serious injury to a key player.

We'll get some sort of feel for players ability to fit into systems etc from the Georgia game. It's not a total waste of time. Putting out a second string side completely is almost certainly a complete waste of time. If a few players don't fit the system it will bring everyone else down with them. We need to identify which players we want to look at and figure out from there how best to slot them into the squad to learn as much as possible about them.

The Lost Sheep

Noopti wrote: »

On against the head did Jackman say something about a recent Fiji v Georgia being abandoned after 20 minutes because Fiji had already scored 7 tries? Or was I hearing things?

If so....firstly, that is just weird they would abandon it. Secondly, this will be a massacre on Sunday. Even with a 2nd team we will be putting 70+ points at least on these guys.

You were hearing things I think. They were playing Tonga at the weekend and It only finished 23-9 to Tonga.
That game was supposedly very ill tempered though.

kingofthekong wrote: »

I know mcloskey isn't in the squad but I definitely think a combo of mcloskey and henshaw has the potential to be world class , hopefully for the six nations , just don't think darcy cuts it at international level anymore, hope he proves me wrong though.

I wouldn't be sure on that and Darcy definitely still cuts it at international level.
McCloskey has good bit to go before up to international level IMO. Hard to say about a combo like that and with McCloskey having so much competition up in Ulster hard to say he'll be there for 6Ns

munstermagic11 wrote: »

Hope we play a 2nd string team against 2nd string opposition.
There's very little to be gained from the match apart from game-time for the squad players.
No point having a lot of guys in camp for the duration, only to be holding tackle bags.

I definitely don't want to see Murray or Sexton out there; they are both miles ahead of their backups.
Possibly the best 9 and 10 combo we've had in a green jersey in my 30+yrs of watching.
Another 6N's title (hopefully GS) and a good WC would probably guarantee that.

This isn't exactly 2nd string opposition and We are Georgia's only 6N/4N opposition this month so they will be gunning for us so there is plenty t be gained from this match considering its great preparation for our world cup game against Romania next year as we can get a sense from how we go v Georgia what Romania will be like in terms of standards

thelad95 wrote: »

I don't think there's much to be gained from fielding a full-strength team who will pulverise the Georgians. Surely there's a lot more to be gained from trying out fringe players mixed with players who need game-time eg. Mike Ross

We wont have a full strength side. Plenty of the big guns will be rested for the Australians and we'll be trying out different units etc

j8wk2feszrnpao

molloyjh wrote: »

We'll get some sort of feel for players ability to fit into systems etc from the Georgia game.

Maybe to play against opposition like Georgia, and that's it.

molloyjh wrote: »

Putting out a second string side completely is almost certainly a complete waste of time.

And playing starters isn't? That's a waste of time on players we know. The 15 against Aus are already picked. There's little, apart from game-time for the extended squad, to be learned from the game.

j8wk2feszrnpao

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

This isn't exactly 2nd string opposition

They are ranked 15th in the World.
If they aren't 1st string opposition, they I don't know what else to call them.

.ak

munstermagic11 wrote: »

Maybe to play against opposition like Georgia, and that's it.


And playing starters isn't? That's a waste of time on players we know. The 15 against Aus are already picked. There's little, apart from game-time for the extended squad, to be learned from the game.

In fairness, you have to also consider that we only really have very few games between now and the RWC. It's not like club rugby where Joe can test out things against weaker teams, he needs to know who is starters are and how they'll react to both pressure situations and being favourites.

Having said that, I think it'll be a good mix of fringe players and senior players.

j8wk2feszrnpao

.ak wrote: »

In fairness, you have to also consider that we only really have very few games between now and the RWC. It's not like club rugby where Joe can test out things against weaker teams, he needs to know who is starters are and how they'll react to both pressure situations and being favourites.

Having said that, I think it'll be a good mix of fringe players and senior players.

I'd imagine that Joe knows the vast majority of his starters; we kinda all do.
Either way, it's Joe's call, and he's the man with a plan.