Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread V

CMOTDibbler

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

If you didn't want to break up the midfield partnership it would make sense.

If that's what he's decided so be it.

Zebo has probably the most experience at playing full back of any of the other options this season and that experience includes international experience from the RWC.

And we're back to the classic conservative selection again. I don't care if he has the most experience, I don't accept for a moment having him in there gives us the strongest backline we can field.

former total

former total wrote: »

The other question is; if Kearney is out injured and Zebo isn't picked, then why was Zebo in the squad to begin with?

Good question.

irishbucsfan

I don't understand the problem with Zebo at 15. Last times he's played there for Ireland he's looked very good. He's not Kearney but it looks like he's unavailable. Seems he's a natural replacement for Kearney despite probably not being quite as good at anything bar his attacking play.

dub_skav

former total wrote: »

The other question is; if Kearney is out injured and Zebo isn't picked, then why was Zebo in the squad to begin with?

To keep Toulouse from sniffing about

Clegg

I'd have reservations about Tommy O'Donnell coming up against Warburton and Tipuric as well. Bit of a disaster that Henry is injured at the moment.

irishbucsfan

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I don't understand the problem with Zebo at 15. Last times he's played there for Ireland he's looked very good. He's not Kearney but it looks like he's unavailable. Seems he's a natural replacement for Kearney despite probably not being quite as good at anything bar his attacking play.

Against Italy? Don't think he was "very good", and his form has been a bit all over the place this year for Munster.

Mr Tickle

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I don't understand the problem with Zebo at 15. Last times he's played there for Ireland he's looked very good. He's not Kearney but it looks like he's unavailable. Seems he's a natural replacement for Kearney despite probably not being quite as good at anything bar his attacking play.

Ah but Payne is leagues ahead of Zebo. Henshaw probably is too. we also now have an option at 12 who (from all evidence available to us) seems to be the business. Zebo is good cover in an emergency and given the small squad size for the WC it made some sense.

thomond2006

If we're going to use primarily a kicking game to suffocate Wales and go after the back three then Zebo is your man rather than Payne.

Clegg

With a fully fit squad to choose from SoB is still our most important player. In an injury hit side without O'Brien we're at praying to God status.

Harry FM

Principal Skinner wrote: »

Zebo, Earls, Payne, Henshaw, Trimble, Sexton, Murray, McGrath, Best, White, Toner, McCarthy, Stander, O'Donnell, Heaslip.

Very conservative team....
Welsh will have a field day with earls and Zebo defence

How do we know this is the team?

WeleaseWoderick

I know it's been said by others but this whole "conservative selection" thing being thrown around is ridiculous. It really is just a term used by people who want all their favourites in the team.

Wholesale changes to teams have been a hallmark of France for the last 4 or 5 years, and of England when at their worst in the mid to late 2000s. Neither of these are examples to model ourselves on.

WeleaseWoderick

I know it's been said by others but this whole "conservative selection" thing being thrown around is ridiculous. It really is just a term used by people who want all their favourites in the team.

Wholesale changes to teams have been a hallmark of France for the last 4 or 5 years, and of England when at their worst in the mid to late 2000s. Neither of these are examples to model ourselves on.

CMOTDibbler

It's funny how this forum has gone from "Why no Zebo?" to "Why Zebo?"

former total

Jackson on the bench for Ulster. Go Mads, go!

bilston

Jackson on the bench for Ulster tomorrow night. Madigan benches then.

andymx11

bilston wrote: »

Jackson on the bench for Ulster tomorrow night. Madigan benches then.

Is McC released also?

irishbucsfan

I understand Madigan offers better positional cover but with Sexton in his current state not picking Paddy Jackson on the bench is, to me, 100% a mistake.

irishbucsfan

Mr Tickle wrote: »

Ah but Payne is leagues ahead of Zebo. Henshaw probably is too. we also now have an option at 12 who (from all evidence available to us) seems to be the business. Zebo is good cover in an emergency and given the small squad size for the WC it made some sense.

Payne will be starting at 13, which is much more important.

former total

andymx11 wrote: »

Is McC released also?

No. Herring and Jackson the only Ireland squad members released.

Mahatma Geansai

Principal Skinner wrote: »

Zebo, Earls, Payne, Henshaw, Trimble, Sexton, Murray, McGrath, Best, White, Toner, McCarthy, Stander, O'Donnell, Heaslip.

Very conservative team....
Welsh will have a field day with earls and Zebo defence

Both Earls and Zebo would be significantly stronger defenders that the Kearney brothers they are replacing. Earls' defence is actually very strong anyway.

McCloskey must be spitting to be ignored. Jackson would be very unlucky to be behind Sexton too, but Sexton has plenty of the credit in the bank.

McCarthy is a worry as he can barely last 50 minutes at provincial level. We only have the one accomplished (Toner due to his height) lineout forward in that pack.

Clegg

At least it means Sexton is fit.

He was improving game on game over the last few months so hopefully the progression will continue.

Mahatma Geansai

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Both Earls and Kearney would be significantly stronger defenders that the Kearney brothers they are replacing. Earls' defence is actually very strong anyway.

McCloskey must be spitting to be ignored. Jackson would be very unlucky to be behind Sexton too, but Sexton has plenty of the credit in the bank.

McCarthy is a worry as he can barely last 50 minutes at provincial level. We only have the one accomplished (Toner due to his height) lineout forward in that pack.

Fair play to Kearney on being a better defender than himself. Some achievement.

Schrödinger's Kearney

Stheno

The team hasn't been announced has it?

CMOTDibbler

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Both Earls and Kearney would be significantly stronger defenders that the Kearney brothers they are replacing. Earls' defence is actually very strong anyway.

McCloskey must be spitting to be ignored. Jackson would be very unlucky to be behind Sexton too, but Sexton has plenty of the credit in the bank.

McCarthy is a worry as he can barely last 50 minutes at provincial level. We only have the one accomplished (Toner due to his height) lineout forward in that pack.

There's a third Kearney?

former total

Stheno wrote: »

The team hasn't been announced has it?

No, tomorrow. Another poster claims to know the team so that is what is being discussed.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Stheno wrote: »

The team hasn't been announced has it?

The only thing we know for sure is Jackson is in the Ulster squad this weekend so Madigan on the bench seems a certainty.

molloyjh

Podge_irl wrote: »

.ak. And that basically was his reasoning.

Well I see he said that after the post you quoted. Had he said it before it? Honest question.....

CMOTDibbler

former total wrote: »

No, tomorrow. Another poster claims to know the team so that is what is being discussed.

I'd be very surprised if the team was settled already given the 'slight' doubts on RK's and SOB's fitness.

There's no training today and the next session is tomorrow, I would have thought that no decision would be made until then.

Teferi

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

There's a third Kearney?

Yeah, Simon zKearney.

Changing his name was the only way of getting in the team.

thomond2006

John Hayzebo?

Mahatma Geansai

Jackson playing for Ulster at the weekend. Farcical yet comprehensively unsurprising selection from Joe tbh.

Repeating the mistakes that helped cost us the RWC quarter?

Hagz

Tommy O'Donnell. Jesus wept.

Mahatma Geansai

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Jackson playing for Ulster at the weekend. Farcical yet comprehensively unsurprising selection from Joe tbh.

Repeating the mistakes that helped cost us the RWC quarter?

Which mistakes are you referring to here?

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

On the "conservative selection" issue.... looking at the squads the other countries have selected, bar France, has anyone selected a surprising or exciting team? Most of us could have named the England, Wales and Scotland squads before they were announced.

Mahatma Geansai

Deleted User wrote: »

Which mistakes are you referring to here?

Ignoring Jackson for Madigan.

"Helped cost us" is overly harsh, but it was definitely contributory.

Hopefully the Journos fields questions about Jackson's exclusion. The best 10 on the island this season by a considerable margin.

Utah_Saint

so its Mads on the bench then...

All the better for Ulster...

accidentprone1

Is there not a chance that this rumored "two different starting XVs" for the first two games is going ahead, and Jackson's been released to play at the weekend to keep him ticking over?

Mahatma Geansai

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Both Earls and Zebo would be significantly stronger defenders that the Kearney brothers they are replacing. Earls' defence is actually very strong anyway.

McCloskey must be spitting to be ignored. Jackson would be very unlucky to be behind Sexton too, but Sexton has plenty of the credit in the bank.

McCarthy is a worry as he can barely last 50 minutes at provincial level. We only have the one accomplished (Toner due to his height) lineout forward in that pack.

Red > Blue

FYP

Mahatma Geansai

accidentprone1 wrote: »

Is there not a chance that this rumored "two different starting XVs" for the first two games is going ahead, and Jackson's been released to play at the weekend to keep him ticking over?

It would make more sense than picking Madigan over him.

Mahatma Geansai

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Ignoring Jackson for Madigan.

"Helped cost us" is overly harsh, but it was definitely contributory.

Hopefully the Journos fields questions about Jackson's exclusion. The best 10 on the island this season by a considerable margin.

How so?

It seems like some people's reasoning behind that loss changes as often as the weather.

FWIW, I'd have Jackson on the bench, given that he's a far better 10 than Madigan, and is also now in far better form than him, but I'm absolutely bemused (though patently unsurprised) by your assertion above regarding the WC. Revisionist at best.

irishbucsfan

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Ignoring Jackson for Madigan.

"Helped cost us" is overly harsh, but it was definitely contributory.

Hopefully the Journos fields questions about Jackson's exclusion. The best 10 on the island this season by a considerable margin.

So instead of 'repeating the mistakes that cost us'

It's actually, 'continuing with a mistake that was contributory to the eventual outcome'

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

I'd pick Jackson over Madigan every day of the week but unless we're extremely unlucky and Sexton picks up an injury very early on we're pretty much looking at his replacement getting between 10-20 minutes at the end, depending on how tight the score is. I'm disappointed it's not Jackson but it's not like Schmidt has picked Madigan to start.

Noopti

I just hope for one thing: That Sexton has suddenly become a chop tackle maestro. I really do fear for him this championship.

leakyboots

No Jackson in the 23 is a bizarre choice to be honest if that's the case.

MJohnston

leakyboots wrote: »

No Jackson in the 23 is a bizarre choice to be honest if that's the case.

There's no question it's the case.

former total

It's now two years since Jackson was last ahead of Madigan in the pecking order.

People can't seriously claim that this was unexpected.

MJohnston

I've always thought if Sexton was injured, Jackson would start, if not Madigan would bench. It's that oul flexibility argument striking again.

Teferi

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Farcical yet comprehensively unsurprising selection from Joe tbh.

lol.

I would love to see the team you would field including comprehensive details on why you picked those players.

aimee1

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

There's a third Kearney?

Mick Kearney. He wasnt even there but he is guilty by surname

lunarhog

on a slightly unrelated note, does anyone know how Paul OConnell's recovery from his hamstring injury is going?