RWC 2023 Ireland v Romania Buildup - Sat 09th Sep 14:30 Bordeaux

AdamD · 07-09-2023 1:28pm

Happy with that, not sure any other country bangs on about resting players quite so much as we do. We've a rest week after South Africa too.

Quin_Dub · 07-09-2023 1:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121080379#Comment_121080379

Romania look to be very weak indeed - I watched extended highlights of their game against the US a few back and they lost by a decent margin to a mediocre at best US team.

The heat could definitely be a factor at least in terms of fitness.

Trying to play high tempo in 34/35 degree weather won't be easy.

Must love hardship · 07-09-2023 1:37pm

Looks like Ireland are going easy on Romania.. left the current world player of the year off the starting 15.

Cluedo Monopoly · 07-09-2023 1:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121080411#Comment_121080411

Yeah I expect a 50 pointer margin. Romania were lucky to get in and have a bunch of injuries to starting players.

ionadnapokot · 07-09-2023 1:38pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121080334#Comment_121080334

With Conan out it forced their hands to rotate Beirne into the backrow. I can only see Beirne, Ryan and POM all starting v SA.

Its McCarthy v Henderson and Baird v Conan for the bench spots.

arsebiscuits1 · 07-09-2023 1:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121080227#Comment_121080227

This is certainly the most likely scenario for sure. And one I'm in favour of due to it being tried and tested in some of our biggest wins in recent years.

But Farrell is clearly looking at viable ways of getting 3 locks on the pitch at the same time. And I don't think it's to counteract Romanias formidable pack.

I do think our game how we've played it is more than enough to beat South Africa, and I think calls to put out the biggest beefiest pack from certain quarters has been overstated.

But that's not to say that Beirne at 6 would be a very good option if Joe McCarthy proves he's up to it.

07-09-2023 1:56pm

If South Africa throw a bunch of forwards off the bench at once, and you have VDF available to come on - you get a line speed bump that might mitigate some of the hard carrying. Dunno - Hansen the biggest surprise to me.

Earls going to eat right into BOD's Ireland try scoring record.

Buer · 07-09-2023 2:02pm

I'd hold back on the belief that this is first choice or an indication that some will start every game.

There's a few obvious changes that will happen both in the team and the 23. I'm not sure if they're looking to hold a couple of first team guys back for the Tonga match or if some are carrying minor knocks but I'd fully expect guys like VDF and Hansen now to start against Tonga along with guys from the first choice bench like Bealham, Kilcoyne, Henderson etc.

I think this is to get a run out for the bulk of the first team and some minutes into their lungs and then a number of them will rest/bench for Tonga to fully focus on the SA game.

SA have Romania before us so they will almost certainly play a near full second string side for that game and be nicely rested for our game. I don't see us going full strength (or close to) against Tonga on the same basis. Tonga are a tougher proposition but they have been, by and large, a massive let down given the buzz around their initial wider squad selection. I might be wrong but I think the only team that Tonga have beaten in the last 2-3 years is Canada. They're closer to the likes of Romania than they are to Georgia.

Fitness pending, for the Tonga game, I'd expect something along the lines of: JOB, Hansen, Henshaw, McCloskey, Hansen, Byrne, Casey, Conan, VDF, Baird, Henderson, McCarthy, Bealham, Kelleher, Kilcoyne. Subs: Herring/Sheehan, Porter, Furlong, Beirne, POM, Murray, Crowley, Ringrose.

Pete_Cavan · 07-09-2023 3:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121080607#Comment_121080607

I'd go along with most of this. Most here are giving Tonga credit they don't deserve. In any case, the schedule demands that we rest a lot of the front liners against Tonga and they start preping for SA instead. The wider squad players getting the job done against Tonga is as much a part of earning the right to be world champions as beating the top teams.

Farrell can’t send the first choice lads out every week and expect them to be able to perform at the level required against a rested France/NZ in the quarters. The gap between the SA and the Scotland games doesn't mean much given our toughest games are backloaded to the end of the pool stage. Getting through the quarters and semis means managing the squad. Farrell has clearly been building a squad the last few years with this in mind.

For Tonga I'd expect much the same team but with Earls and Crowley to start. If Crowley is backup 10 then he needs the game time.

pixelburp · 07-09-2023 3:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121080411#Comment_121080411

Re. Romania, I do feel a degree of sympathy for those Spanish players for whom Saturday would/should have been the start of a historic, crazy period where they got to play Ireland & South Africa at the WC - and yet instead a mess-up with player registration has resulted in them staying at home, while an inferior team took the place, all over again IIRC 2019 correctly.. (mind you, Portugal are probably feeling the reverse: delighted for Spain's mishaps, given they got into the repechage)

thebaz · 07-09-2023 6:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121081281#Comment_121081281

I do feal for Spain too - Romania are weak, dont understand the need to play a near full strength team , Id be given squad players game time, cause after Romania , is when the real tests begin , Rumania pre tournament results are shocking.

Jump_In_Jack · 07-09-2023 7:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121082072#Comment_121082072

Can only assume the 23 to face Tonga will be much more of a second string team than originally thought.

e.g.

Loughman, Sheehan, Bealham,

Henderson, McCarthy,

Baird, Conan, Van der Flier,

Casey, Byrne,

O’Brien, McCloskey, Henshaw, Hansen,

Keenan.

R: Kelleher, Kilcoyne, O’Toole, Beirne, O’Mahony, Gibson-Park, Sexton, Earls.

StevenToast · 07-09-2023 7:30pm

Irelands record win is 83 - 3 over the USA in 2000.

This will be broken on Saturday.

Pete_Cavan · 07-09-2023 7:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121082171#Comment_121082171

I'd say it's almost certain that JOB will be fb against Tonga with Earls on the wing. No need for Keenan to play two games before SA. Earls won't be starting against SA so he can play both the opening games.

thebaz · 07-09-2023 8:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121082171#Comment_121082171

Id be holding back Van derFlier and especially Keenan against Tonga - and I'd have Crowley at 10. - Byrne could do it , but will be Tongas first game , theyll be fired up and way tougher than Romania

Jump_In_Jack · 07-09-2023 8:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121082332#Comment_121082332

Who would you pick instead of Keenan and would Byrne need the game time?

lawrencesummers · 07-09-2023 8:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121082198#Comment_121082198

A slow, steady and injury free 8 point win would do just fine.

No need to be running ourselves into the ground in 37 degree heat. Nobody needs to be shedding 6/8kg of body weight with a tough game 7 days later.

No need to be opening a lot of the playbook.

Get sexton gametime and a chance to blownout some Cobweba

Get the basics of the setpiece right and everything else will take care of itself.

StevenToast · 07-09-2023 8:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121082513#Comment_121082513

Ireland dont need to run themselves ragged to run up a score against Romania...therell be plenty of first phase scores....

Cork Con would beat Romania.

aloooof · 07-09-2023 8:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121082513#Comment_121082513

Cobweba? That’s the SA hooker? ;)

Akrasia · 07-09-2023 9:21pm

Romania are the worst team in the competition by a significant margin. Ireland have to demolish them.

This team should put in an exhibition against them.

thebaz · 07-09-2023 10:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121082364#Comment_121082364

O'Brien at full back, I'd bring Byrne on once the game is nearly won, thats where hes at right now - The biggest thing we will learn from Saturday is where Sexton is at , hopefully not too rusty or doesnt pick up a niggle.

lawrencesummers · 07-09-2023 11:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121082532#Comment_121082532

Get a 12-15 point lead and control the tempo and clock for the rest of the game.

The world cup isnt won by the them with the best points difference in the pool

use the bench early for some players like henshaw and later for crowley.

Shank Williams · 08-09-2023 8:19am

Just seen a headline in Irish times “Tadhg furlong “we will treat Romania with the respect they deserve “- surely he is having a sly dig there- it can’t be genuine can it? Considering Romania have absolutely no business near a rugby World Cup even if they had managed to qualify- which they did not- here on a technicality and about to make a mockery of the competition