Ireland Team vs England - 27th Aug 2011

Ireland Team:
15 - Geordan Murphy (Leicester)
14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
10 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
9 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)

1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 - Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
3 - Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) Captain
6 - Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
7 - David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:
16 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
17 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
18 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
19 - Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
20 - Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
21 - Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
22 - Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

England team:
15 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints),
14 Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints),
13 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers),
12 Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby, captain),
11 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks),
10 Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon),
9 Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens),

1 Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks),
2 Steve Thompson (London Wasps),
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers),
4 Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers),
5 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints),
6 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers),
7 James Haskell (Ricoh Black Rams),
8 Nick Easter (Harlequins).

Replacements: 16 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), 17 Matt Stevens (Saracens), 18 Simon Shaw (Unattached), 19 Tom Wood (Northampton Saints), 20 Joe Simpson (London Wasps), 21 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), 22 Delon Armitage (London Irish).

Bit of a sensationalist headline about O'Brien on the Indo's website this morning:

"O'Brien major doubt for World Cup"
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/world-cup/obrien-major-doubt-for-world-cup-2857248.html

My understanding is that he's likely to miss the USA game but hopefully nothing more than that. Thankfully he has a few matches under his belt at this point so he should be able to hit the ground running when he gets back.

I wouldn't say this has any baring on today's selection as I had expected him to be rested anyway.

I wouldn't be surprised if the backrow named later reads:

6. Leamy
7. Wallace
8. Heaslip

19. Ferris

I can't see Kidney starting Ferris in only his second game back. I think his reintroduction will resemble Flannery's. i.e. a few appearances off the bench.

What do others think the backrow selection for this game will be?

I think I would start Ferris to see how he gets on for 50 mins or so.

Don't feel very confident about what i just wrote though!

Ya I'm not sure how confident I'd be about him lasting for longer than 30-40 minutes. I'd hate to see him regress, with O'Brien a doubt as well we'd be in serious trouble if it were to happen.

Personally I think starting Leamy at 6 is the way to go. My biggest problem with him at 8 is that he's too much of a "head down" player for that position. Added to that, his ball control at the back of a retreating scrum is very poor (granted that's difficult for anyone but he doesn't handle it well).

Would like to see Murray start this game also or at the very least come on for a sizeable portion

Apprently O'Brien has togged out for training today.

Think Farrelly has got it all wrong!!!!

Feadh was talking to Seanie's dad and apparently it's a tendon

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Would like to see Murray start this game also or at the very least come on for a sizeable portion

Ya me too. I'd lean heavily towards having him on the bench rather than playing him from the start though. International rugby is a big step up from what he's experienced so far at club level. I think he'd have a better chance to show what he's got coming off the bench rather than trying to force it from the start.

I believe he's more than capable of doing very well from the start but I'd rather have someone experienced like Boss or Reddan to weather the initial storm that England will bring.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Feadh was talking to Seanie's dad and apparently it's a tendon

Really. Hopefully he is ok anyway

Yeah glad you heard he can at least run and stuff and train.

Can't be too bad I guess.

Just thinking there. It may not be Leamy at 6 that DK goes for. He could decide to start Ryan there too. Which would people prefer?

For what its worth mmc
My team would be

Court
flannery
ross

DOC
POC

Leamy
wallace
heislip

redden
sexton

earls
dorce
BOD
bowe
Murphy

Who'd your bench be D24?

D24tress wrote:For what its worth mmc
My team would be

Court
flannery
ross

DOC
POC

Leamy
wallace
heislip

redden
sexton

earls
dorce
BOD
bowe
Murphy

I'd go along similar lines barring a few positions.

I'd probably start Boss and ROG at halfback. I'd also consider Buckley over Ross, purely for the fact that I'm terrified Ross will get injured. I know that's not a great attitude but the reality is that we have a lot of walking wounded as it is. We cannot afford for Ross to be amongst them.

As for the subs bench, I'd go with:
16. Best
17. Ross
18. Ryan
19. Ferris
20. Murray
21. Sexton
22. McFadden

Just a throwing it out there...does Darcy deserve a start considering it is the last warm up game and Wallace has been doing pretty well???

I think our entire back 5 are badly in need of game time.

Bowe hasn't played a single minute of the series. D'Arcy and O'Driscoll are just back from injury and looking rusty. Murphy hasn't played with the senior team yet this series either. And finally Earls needs to calm the fup down and just concentrate on the basics and not trying to show everyone that he's better than Trimble.

benchwise i am not sure mmc's looks good to me
however i would like to see us try the redden boss swap at some stage, just to see if it works aswell as at leinster.
Whenever one comes on for the other they seem to up there game alot(very much like rog)

I was also thinking that we will prob play most of our starters against the US but we also want to win this game.

Its pretty big balancing act for deccie.

Court – Flannery – Ross (can’t wrap him in cotton wool)
Cullen – POC
Leamy – Heaslip – Wallace
Boss – Rog
Earls – Darcy – BOD – Bowe
Murphy

Cronin – Healy – DOC – Ferris – Murray – Sexton –McFadden

That’s the team that needs to be put out. Not necessarily the best team we have though.

Considering then that you want to play a relatively cold (haven't play much) team all together would it make more sense to start our 1st choice 10 so that they can all get game time together again and that way at least there is a guy who has been going through the motiions for the last couple of weeks

I don't think Cullen and POC work together. It puts a lot more pressure on your backrow. I would agree with the team besides that.

Mickado wrote:Court – Flannery – Ross (can’t wrap him in cotton wool)
Cullen – POC
Leamy – Heaslip – Wallace
Boss – Rog
Earls – Darcy – BOD – Bowe
Murphy

Cronin – Healy – DOC – Ferris – Murray – Sexton –McFadden

That’s the team that needs to be put out. Not necessarily the best team we have though.

I wouldn't be unhappy with that 22. Fair enough about Ross. Is Healy's foot not injured though? I wouldn't have said he'd be involved this weekend.

I'm not sure that Cullen and POC would work as a combo but I suppose this is the best time (considering it's now or during the world cup) to find out. One thing that I think might be no harm would be to drop DOC completely and have Ryan on the bench (or Cullen depending on who starts). DOC seems to constantly need a kick in the ar$e to get him motivated. Not a "quality" you look for in a professional rugby player.

Pete, I think D'Arcy needs the gametime. And he'll get it I'm sure.

Notch wrote:Pete, I think D'Arcy needs the gametime. And he'll get it I'm sure.

I agree.

Paddy has been the best performing 12 that we've played over the last few games. I wouldn't have any issues with him starting in any of the big world cup games.

On the other hand, D'Arcy is only just back from injury and looked poor against France - as did O'Driscoll. No one is doubting their ability, but they do need game time.

The team i would go for would be:

1. Court (with Healy out this is a big chance for him to show what he can do)
2. Flannery (Has gone well when he has come on, time to give him 55 mins)
3. Ross (Buckley would be mullered by the england front row and we need ross to keep his good form going. give him 50 mins anyway)
4. Doc (Got a bit of criticism last week i think, but think he is playing well)
5. Poc (Very impressive in his first start last week. Another hour here will serve him well)
6. Ferris (Let him loose and pray he gets through an hour at least before bringing in leamy)
7. Wallace (hopefully he is fully fit, needs game time)
8. Heaslip (Vital to ireland doing well)
9. Boss (Needs game time, especially as he is currently 2nd choice)
10. ROG (Playing well, needs to keep it going - having tuilagi running at him is going to be a big ask so hopefully there are no injuries)
11. Earls (hopefully he can get a score to get his confidence back up)
12. Darce (needs to build on a slow start last week and clear some rust)
13. BOD (Same as Darce)
14. Bowe (needs the game time, lets hope he is 100%, hasnt been at his best this year)
15. Murphy (needs the game time, as does Kearney, but with SuperRob a little banged up, Murphy gets the nod.

16. Buckley
17. Cronin
18. Cullen
19. Leamy
20. Murray
21. Sexton
22. McFadden

So let's say Darcy has an average game on Saturday would you be thinking of putting Wallace ina t 12 against America?

I suppose he does deserve a shot.

Yikes a lot of our team are very, very cold going into this game!

Murphy, Bowe, Wallace haven't played once for the senior team this summer and Fla hasn't started a game yet.

I agree with MBD's team except would start Sexton and have Kearney on the bench

England team:
15 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints),
14 Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints),
13 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers),
12 Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby, captain),
11 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks),
10 Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon),
9 Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens),
1 Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks),
2 Steve Thompson (London Wasps),
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers),
4 Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers),
5 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints),
6 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers),
7 James Haskell (Ricoh Black Rams),
8 Nick Easter (Harlequins).

Replacements: 16 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), 17 Matt Stevens (Saracens), 18 Simon Shaw (Unattached), 19 Tom Wood (Northampton Saints), 20 Joe Simpson (London Wasps), 21 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), 22 Delon Armitage (London Irish).

Well there can be no doubting what that team was picked for. It's a big big side that'll look to go straight through us. It's going to be a seriously physical game.

The England side pretty much the strongest in the 30. The only questionable position is 12.

Moody injured so Haskell in.
Youngs/Care injured so Wigglesworth in

Hape Poopie so Tuilagi in

I'm glad.

I was tempted to go with Kearney too Pete because Murphy wont have a full game in him and Kearney needs game time too. But if he has a tweek, i would rather he rested it than risking aggravating it.

I actually think whoever starts at 10 will only play 50, and can see the merit in either of them starting. Its a shame SOB isnt playing if Boss gets the start because the lines that he picks off boss are outstanding

Wilkinson is a superb call by England. Much more secure defensively when taking on Heaslip, O'Brien. Ferris, Wallace etc running straight at him.

HammerofThunor wrote:The England side pretty much the strongest in the 30. The only questionable position is 12.

Moody injured so Haskell in.
Youngs/Care injured so Wigglesworth in

Hape Poopie so Tuilagi in

I'm glad.

I'd much rather see Hape in there than Tindall. I think Tindall and Tuilagi will work well as a combination. I can see England punching massive holes in our midfield using their pack and centres. It'll be a big test of Ireland's scramble defence.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:So let's say Darcy has an average game on Saturday would you be thinking of putting Wallace ina t 12 against America?

Well, we'll just see how this game goes first!

Interesting news; Sean Cronin and Isaac Boss both named in the Leinster side to play Northampton tomorrow.

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/8320.php

LEINSTER:

15: Andrew Conway
14: Fionn Carr
13: Eoin O’Malley
12: Eamonn Sheridan
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Ian Madigan
9: Isaac Boss

1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Sean Cronin
3: Jamie Hagan
4: Damian Browne
5: Steven Sykes
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Dominic Ryan
8: Rhys Ruddock CAPTAIN

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Aaron Dundon
17: Jack McGrath/Simon Shawe
18: Jack O’Connell
19: Devin Toner
20: Shane Jennings
21: John Cooney/Cillian Willis
22: Mat Berquist
23: Brendan Macken
24: Jason Harris-Wright
25: Mark Flanagan
26: Leo Auva’a
27: Darren Hudson

MMC wrote:

HammerofThunor wrote:The England side pretty much the strongest in the 30. The only questionable position is 12.

Moody injured so Haskell in.
Youngs/Care injured so Wigglesworth in

Hape Poopie so Tuilagi in

I'm glad.

I'd much rather see Hape in there than Tindall. I think Tindall and Tuilagi will work well as a combination. I can see England punching massive holes in our midfield using their pack and centres. It'll be a big test of Ireland's scramble defence.

I'm guessing you're saying it from an Irish point of view? I'm English so I'd prefer Tindall and Tuilagi to be tried. Not sur eif it'll work but we can always miss Tindall out if we want to get the ball wide

Totally agree re: SOB and Boss they are great together especially the way Boss offloads off the side of rucks.

I think Kearney is ok now they said. Thought he was available for selection anyways.

That is a very big, physical english team

Qu'elle surprisé

Declan Kidney, you are a genius!!!
Makes a lot of sense, considering he can tell Schmidt to play Boss/Cronin for any number of mins and Schmidt has to say yes!

Great move Kidney!
It means all 3 hookers and 9's get game time!

Notch wrote:

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:So let's say Darcy has an average game on Saturday would you be thinking of putting Wallace ina t 12 against America?

Well, we'll just see how this game goes first!

Interesting news; Sean Cronin and Isaac Boss both named in the Leinster side to play Northampton tomorrow.

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/8320.php

LEINSTER:

15: Andrew Conway
14: Fionn Carr
13: Eoin O’Malley
12: Eamonn Sheridan
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Ian Madigan
9: Isaac Boss

1: Heinke van der Merwe
2: Sean Cronin
3: Jamie Hagan
4: Damian Browne
5: Steven Sykes
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Dominic Ryan
8: Rhys Ruddock CAPTAIN

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Aaron Dundon
17: Jack McGrath/Simon Shawe
18: Jack O’Connell
19: Devin Toner
20: Shane Jennings
21: John Cooney/Cillian Willis
22: Mat Berquist
23: Brendan Macken
24: Jason Harris-Wright
25: Mark Flanagan
26: Leo Auva’a
27: Darren Hudson

JEYSUS!

HammerofThunor wrote:

MMC wrote:

HammerofThunor wrote:The England side pretty much the strongest in the 30. The only questionable position is 12.

Moody injured so Haskell in.
Youngs/Care injured so Wigglesworth in

Hape Poopie so Tuilagi in

I'm glad.

I'd much rather see Hape in there than Tindall. I think Tindall and Tuilagi will work well as a combination. I can see England punching massive holes in our midfield using their pack and centres. It'll be a big test of Ireland's scramble defence.

I'm guessing you're saying it from an Irish point of view?

Ya I am. I don't rate Hape at all. I do rate Tindall though.

Interesting that Boss is playing for Leinster. I'd have played him in this game. The big question is whether it'll be Murray or Reddan who starts now.

It's important everybody at hooker and scrum-half does get time on the pitch. Kidney has talked many times about having 30 match fit players, ready and raring to go when we reach New Zealand.

reddan with Rog or Murray with Sexton is my reckoning. It's the last chance to try things may as well try things so

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:reddan with Rog or Murray with Sexton is my reckoning. It's the last chance to try things may as well try things so

I would say that if Murray starts it'll be with ROG though. If I was a betting man, I'd say it'll be those 2 to start. Personally I'd probably start Reddan with ROG (though my first choice would've been Boss).

Notch wrote:It's important everybody at hooker and scrum-half does get time on the pitch. Kidney has talked many times about having 30 match fit players, ready and raring to go when we reach New Zealand.

I agree. It’s a good call. I was just a little shocked though.
I must stop buying non shatter proof monocles, it’s costing me a fortune with these team selections!

From Twitter: irfurugby - Live team announcement on Irish Rugby TV shortly www.irishrugby.ie

From www.irishrugby.ie

The Ireland team to play England in the final game of the Guinness Summer Series has been named and there are a number of changes to the starting XV that played last weekend against France.

Share
In the backline Geordan Murphy comes in at fullback to win his 70th cap with Tommy Bowe making his first start of the series on the wing. Andrew Trimble completes the back three.
Keith Earls will start alongside Gordon D'Arcy in the centre while Ronan O'Gara and Eoin Reddan form the halfback partnership.

Up front Jerry Flannery is named at hooker alongside Cian Healy and Mike Ross. Donncha O'Callaghan and Paul O'Connell are paired in the second row for their 40th start together in green with O'Connell named as captain.

Stephen Ferris and David Wallace both start for the first time in August with Jamie Heaslip completing the backrow trio.

Ireland Team & Replacements (V England, Guinness Summer Series, Aviva Stadium, Saturday August 27th, 14:30)

15 - Geordan Murphy (Leicester)
14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
10 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
9 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 - Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
3 - Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) Captain
6 - Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
7 - David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:
16 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
17 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
18 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
19 - Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
20 - Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
21 - Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
22 - Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

No BOD??

Surprised about BOD but other than that a very nice team and bench.

wheres brian

no BOD means it big effort needed from ROG darce and earls with manu tuilagi coming at them

other then that good side and our backrow should outclass them

Plenty to mull over there anyway.

Firstly congratulations to POC on captaining the side.
Excellent backrow. Seriously, wow....

You'd have to feel a bit aggrieved for Earls being shunted around like he has been. Fullback-centre-wing-centre. How's he supposed to stake a claim on a starting berth?

Great impact off the bench. Ryan is showing his value by covering a second backrow position with Leamy incase Ferris and/or Wallace have to come off early (hopefully not!).

Very happy with that team as a whole.

Are they giving BOD the cotton wool treatment? He took a knock on the shoulder last week; is that why?

Makes sense if there is any kind of little niggle; he'll still have a full game against the USA before the Aussie game.

Cheers MMC. Can't wait to see Tommy back in the green

Is BOD carrying an injury or something?

So is Ireland going to win?

Definately