Italy v Ireland Build Up Thread

Shehal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120273071#Comment_120273071

Basically it means he's a ref that will penalise every single thing no matter how big or small rather than taking a softer approach, like the majority of top ref's do, in a bid to let help the game flow better. Its exactly what the Glasgow Warriors fans would want judging by their forums but as a consequence our game with Italy will probably be unwatchable for spells.

Former Former Former

It's very hard to get excited about this week's match. Hammer them, sure it's only Italy. End up in a close game, it's a disaster. Losing is absolutely unthinkable.

Hopefully we'll see some rotation to keep things interesting, but unlikely to be much. Obviously Henderson will start and presumably Kelleher too. I wouldn't be surprised to see Aki get a start over McCloskey, and maybe Conan in for POM. Really interesting part might be who gets promoted to the bench.

I doubt we'll see any real fringe players but Farrell has surprised us before.

phily2002

James Ryan named as captain this weekend

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120275177#Comment_120275177

This to me hints at more rotation than what I expected, as I would have expected POM to be captain if he was playing.

sydthebeat

i posted in the other thread before it was closed:

we will be without a minimum of 5 starters already for this game, so rotation will be minimal. If there are changes it will be looking at units playing together, so more Murray and Ross Byrne, with possibly Casey and Sexton from the bench. Joe Mc and Tadgh B out leaves it likely it will be Henderson and James Ryan starting with Treadwell possibly going straight back in onto the bench.

POM is on 991 minutes already this season, which is 70 more than Doris.. and while its about 40 less than JVDF its possible he might be rested to allow for a back row of doris, JVDF and Conan, with Baird on the bench? maybe JVDF will be benched and only get a half?

i dont really see any surprises in the front row, other than the bench to get on a bit sooner.

id imagine the back 3 will remain the same, with possibly JOB onto the bench. Centres will remain as is.

Clegg

I think it's more of a long term planning thing. Sexton is gone after the World Cup and POM is probably gone the season after. Get your new captain ready in advance.

Poorside

Porter, Kelleher, Bealham

Ryan, Henderson,

Conan, JVDF, Doris

Murray, Byrne

Aki, Ringrose

Hansen, Lowe, Keenan

Sheehan

Kikcoyne

O Toole

Baird

Coombes

Casey

Carbery

McCloskey

Wouldn't mind seeing this squad, get the game won and give the junior lads on the bench a good run, also there's enough on the bench to change the game if needed.

pickarooney

McCloskey on the bench doesn't work that well for me. OK, Aki benching for McCloskey worked fine the first two games but if there's any backline injury there's little cover.

Former Former Former

Per Gerry Thornley

IRELAND (possible v Italy): Hugo Keenan (Leinster); Mack Hansen (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Bundee Aki (Connacht), James Lowe (Leinster); Ross Byrne (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster); Andrew Porter (Leinster), Rónan Kelleher (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht); Iain Henderson (Ulster), James Ryan (Leinster, capt); Caelan Doris (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster).

Replacements: Dan Sheehan (Leinster), David Kilcoyne (Munster)/Cian Healy (Leinster), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Ryan Baird (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Conor Murray (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster).

sprucemoose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120277139#Comment_120277139

eh, its the exact same either way though? they both are specialist 12s so if there is a change needed elsewhere in the backline it means others moving, who starts and who is subbing doesnt really matter

Clegg

Cian Treacy of the Indo has a similar story to Thornley. Casey and Byrne to start at 9&10 with Doris/VDF/Conan the backrow.

Dubinusa

What will happen if...... Penny gets into the squad? Lol.

Ben Bailey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120277249#Comment_120277249

Worse still, what if Penny gets into the squad but is released before the Scotland game. Will the Penny drop ?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120277249#Comment_120277249

I got a powerful AI to simulate what Limerick will look like in that eventuality

https://twitter.com/Jake_Hanrahan/status/1628371504676175876

Dubinusa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120277648#Comment_120277648

What the fuppin hell?

Yeah_Right

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120277648#Comment_120277648

WTF was that?!?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120275177#Comment_120275177

Happy to see this. He's been absolutely excellent this year.

It's interesting how Garry Ringrose seems to be the heir apparent to the Leinster captaincy, but Andy Farrell has tended to turn to James Ryan (after Sexton & O'Mahony).

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120278249#Comment_120278249

It's some kind of 1000 year old game. Only rule is you can't kill people. Goal is to end up with the ball after a day. I think they've got the ball at that entrance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O54mLffhGXg

irelandrover

Deleted post

pc7

Delighted to see Baird on the bench if GT right.

kuang1

So now we know.

Irish rugby team finally becoming the team to beat in world rugby does not guarantee everyone here develops a sense of humour.

sydthebeat

The team is as predicted

just the right amount of changes... both injury enforced and selection

lawrencesummers

As predicted he has given the subs from the first two rounds a chance to be starters and its a great call.

Baird and sheehan could make a big impact when they comes on, this is probably a game that wont be put to bed until 65/70 mins.

Above all though its a big day for byrne to show he can be trusted as a starter, im not sure how many people will agree but his performance could have a big impact on the world cup and giving us the peace of mind to rest sexton for some games in france or not.

farmingquestion

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120278860#Comment_120278860

Probably won't be tested that much in this match.

I don't really think Byrne has the level required to be Jonny's heir. I think he's the best we have though.

Solid kicker so he'll likely get many chances at penalties and putting us into the 22 etc which pundits will lap up. But I don't view him as a threat in the backline.

v South Africa and France he came on to see the game out, have us playing in the right areas which he did fine at.

But I don't see him as much of a threat in the backline in terms of identifying gaps or weakenesses and decision making.

awec

Using humour to mask goading / trolling is not going to fly. Posts in this thread have been deleted.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120278915#Comment_120278915

But I don't see him as much of a threat in the backline in terms of identifying gaps or weakenesses and decision making.

pretty much disagree 100%.

i see ross byrnes ability to manipulate defenses to create weakness and gaps to be among his biggest strengths. His ability then to choose the correct option to exploit these gaps is second only to sextons in the current ireland squad.

Clegg

Sheehan, Kilcoyne, O'Toole and Baird is a great bunch of players to bring on if you need to make a quick, physical impact.

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120278931#Comment_120278931

Absolutely, he may not have the pace to go through the gaps himself. That doesn’t mean he can’t engineer them. That’s a completely different thing. The strongest part of his game is his decision making.

awec

It's a very strong selection, can't argue with any of it. Feel sorry for McCloskey but Aki was definitely going to be given a start at some stage.

I suppose one nitpick is whether or not it's wise to move Doris to accommodate Conan, as Doris is one of our top players at 8. Can Conan not play 6?

I'll reiterate my position that we'll score 50 points though.

TRC10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120278915#Comment_120278915

Byrne didn't play v South Africa. I take it you meant the Wales match.

And I've been a pretty big Ross Byrne skeptic over the years. However, to say he's "not much of a threat in terms of identifying gaps or weaknesses and decision making" is pretty harsh when in both 6N games so far, he's orchestrated prolonged passages of multi-phase play which resulted in tries, in both of which his decision making and execution was excellent.

Yes Ireland were in winning positions in both instances, so the challenge for him now is delivering from the start and put Ireland into a winning position. But he's been excellent in the two cameos he's had thus far.