Ireland Team (Announced) vs Wales - 6Nations 2012 Round 1

First topic message reminder :

Here we go...

IRELAND Team & Replacements (v Wales, RBS 6 Nations Championship 2012, Aviva Stadium, Sunday, February 5th, kick-off 3pm):

15 -Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
10 - Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
9 - Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
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 - Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:

16 -Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
18 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
19 - Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)*
20 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
21 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
22 - Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

*Denotes uncapped player



ORIGINAL: So the Declan Kidney will be naming his team to face Wales at lunchtime today. In preparation for complete meltdown of 606v2 as is customary for all Ireland team selections I suggest that we keep everything to one thread, namely here.

I'm assuming this one will be broadcast live on irishrugby.ie and as such, I'll be posting that link here before the announcement is made.

Helmets at the ready folks, this could get ugly.

The only conceivable reason I can think for O'Callaghan starting is that he does choke tackles better than Ryan. With Gethin Jenkins and Matthew Rees both injured do Ireland feel that forcing Wales into conceding scrums is the best way forward. . .

I really don't see how Munster's 2nd choice 4 starts ahead of the first choice 4.

That's worrying new about Earls. Hopefully he'll be ok though.

Delighted for POM.

Great team!

In Deccie we Trust!

Is this Murray's first start with Sexton?

Really not happy about DOC and a little suprised to be honest. Really unhappy about D'Arcy but not really suprised.

Happy with the rest though.

Boy do I feel stupid

well ok, I am not happy with a couple of decisions.. Earls & DOC being the main ones.

DOC - 1. is not the player he used to be & 2. has the discipline of a puppy.

red_stag wrote:The only conceivable reason I can think for O'Callaghan starting is that he does choke tackles better than Ryan. With Gethin Jenkins and Matthew Rees both injured do Ireland feel that forcing Wales into conceding scrums is the best way forward. . .

That must be it Stag. I really can't think of any other reason. Still don't agree with it though. Ryan must be disappointed. Still, we can only imagine the carnage he'll cause if he gets on at some stage!

Also, fair play to Murray on his first 6 Nations cap. It's one of those ones that's easy to miss given his remarkable rise.

Nor do I MMC. As I say thats the only reason I could muster up to justify O'Callaghans inclusion.

Ryan isnt that inexperienced. 12 Ireland A caps. 13 Ireland Senior caps. Starting for Munster and playing fantastic for them.

Every single pundit was predicting DOC would get the nod...it was written in the stars.

Apparantly Kiss rates him higher than Ryan so is likely to get the start at 4 until he's 6 feet under in a box......

MMC wrote:I really don't see how Munster's 2nd choice 4 starts ahead of the first choice 4.

That's worrying new about Earls. Hopefully he'll be ok though.

Delighted for POM.

Earls will be grand, he was a bit busy for the last week with the birth of his first child, so missed some training.


I can't wait for the weekend, just been told I'll be working at the Stade de France on Saturday

valjester wrote:I can't wait for the weekend, just been told I'll be working at the Stade de France on Saturday

Nice!

I absolutely LOVE this time of year. There's nothing quite like the buzz of the 6 Nations.

Come on Ireland!

I hope that if D'Arcy is not playing well early that DK will have what it takes to sub him early. Its been a nightmare watching him play for Ireland the last few years dropping ball after ball after ball....

Full strength Irish team bar BOD - Oh dear...

eirebilly wrote:Really not happy about DOC and a little suprised to be honest. Really unhappy about D'Arcy but not really suprised.

Happy with the rest though.

Yeah this sums up how I feel.

I don't really think DoC instead of Ryan is a game changing decision though so I can get over it.

MMC wrote:

valjester wrote:I can't wait for the weekend, just been told I'll be working at the Stade de France on Saturday

Nice!

I absolutely LOVE this time of year. There's nothing quite like the buzz of the 6 Nations.

Come on Ireland!

Yep, its excellent, was talking to some of the French players this week and I've a feeling
Saturday is going to be a very tough day for the Italians. I'm nearly 90% sure that I'll be
working their for the Ireland and England games as well, so happy days.

valjester wrote:
I can't wait for the weekend, just been told I'll be working at the Stade de France on Saturday

Fantastic, what is it you do?

Wow well I was feeling a little less confident after the news of Rees' injury but Declan has cheered me up a but with that selection.

red_stag wrote:

valjester wrote:
I can't wait for the weekend, just been told I'll be working at the Stade de France on Saturday

Fantastic, what is it you do?

Bits and pieces of work for French companies in the general media area, don't really want to be too specific.

Delighted for O Mahony. Great stuff.

Darcy is there to help Earls along sooo.

DOC ... God Kidney! Still, Ryan is in the 22 and can show his stuff when needed.

Its a good team/22. Its evolving, albeit slowly. And Kidney has to win this game, or it will near impossible to get on a roll if he loses it.

Im happy.

MON IRELAND!

Believe!

valjester wrote:

red_stag wrote:

valjester wrote:
I can't wait for the weekend, just been told I'll be working at the Stade de France on Saturday

Fantastic, what is it you do?

Bits and pieces of work for French companies in the general media area, don't really want to be too specific.

Enjoy the experience though I suspect France will crucify the Italians.

eirebilly wrote:I hope that if D'Arcy is not playing well early that DK will have what it takes to sub him early. Its been a nightmare watching him play for Ireland the last few years dropping ball after ball after ball....

I hope D'Arcy has a stormer. DOC too. They certainly owe Kidney for his loyalty.

I think that's a very good team. Yes, I would've had Ryan over DOC and probably McFadden over D'Arcy but it's not as if the gulf in class between them is enormous.

I'm feeling very optimistic about Sunday now. Not to mention extremely nervous...

TycroesOsprey wrote:Wow well I was feeling a little less confident after the news of Rees' injury but Declan has cheered me up a but with that selection.

What a surprise!

Can't wait to see O'Mahoney come on, Wales won't know whats hit them. Donnacha Ryan too has been like a man posessed lately.

DOC has got an olive branch and needs to take it here with Ryan and Tuohy breathing down his neck.

Likewise D'arcy with McFadden there too.

This is a very strong squad and I hope Deccie uses the bench wisely because there is a lot of impact there.

Ireland by 18 pts.

roddersm wrote:Can't wait to see O'Mahoney come on, Wales won't know whats hit them. Donnacha Ryan too has been like a man posessed lately.

DOC has got an olive branch and needs to take it here with Ryan and Tuohy breathing down his neck.

Likewise D'arcy with McFadden there too.

This is a very strong squad and I hope Deccie uses the bench wisely because there is a lot of impact there.

Ireland by 18 pts.

Ryan and POM will come on and a minute later two Welshmen will be carried off.

The only thing I'm not really happy about is O'Callaghan ahead of Ryan.

Earlier people were happy that there was so much competition in the squad and that many of the position were up for grabs. I didn't believe that for a second. Almost everyone here predicted that Irish team, bar DOC for Ryan, The other positions were secure in Kidney mind. Maybe Doc for Ryan isn't a game changing decision but I'm worried what message it's sending out to the other players? You won't get in the team unless one of the stalwarts are injured.

I'm happy for POM though.

MMC,

I really dont hope that D'Arcy has a stormer... it will just keep him getting selected. If he does, based on recent history, it will be his only good game in the tournement as he is no way near as consistent as he used to be. A real shame because he was my favourite Irish player for years.

They'll confuse the Welsh if they come on together, owing to the fact that they share the same face. Don't believe me, have a look at a photo of the 2 of them, Ryan is taller, but other than that they're identical.

Really not happy about Donners (big ledge that he is) but if you can't get in the starting VX for province you shouldn't be in it for country. Once again Deccie going for history over form.

Also the Welsh centres are going to love facing Earls, really should have been McFadden!

There's massive impact on that bench all right. I just hope Kidney uses it. It's one thing McGahan has been excellent at this season.

- POM and Ryan to come on at 60 to frighten the life out the opposition.
- Reddan to come on around the same time to inject new life into our attack.
- ROG on for the last 10 minutes to steer the ship safely home.
- McFadden to come on to stake a claim for a centre berth (scoring a try in the process).

Yep, that'll do nicely.

Dont forget DOCs work in the defensive lineouts and his ability to secure ball on our own if under pressure. Also his scrummaging with Ross is much better (no one seems to have noticed that improvement last year due to DOC switching sides in the scrum).

A pity for Ryan but he will come good this 6ns.

Delighted for POM....hopefully he will get some time.

Rest of the team is as expected looking forward to seeing Earls make the no.13 his own.

The french back three is terrifying. Hence why I chose them for my fantasy 6 nations team

On topic though, I feel Ireland will put Wales back in their place

So, no rows then lads? Ah sure where's the craic in that?

I know...

Bloody Munster Coach, giving that POM his chance over the far superior Henry. Its racism Father, I tell ye!

And Bowe is there for marketing reasons - cos he's cute(apparantly - I think hes a Ug) . Should have been McFadden at 14 and Bowe should have been benched to stir him up.

Ah well... at least Paddy feicin Wallace has dropped off the edge of the squad. As well as that waster Jennings. Its over for both of them. TF.

Seriously delighted for Trimble. He could not have done much more to get there.

Now lets rip in to em lads.

They'll be weepin in the Valleys on Sunday night.

Gretgael1 wrote:I'm worried what message it's sending out to the other players? You won't get in the team unless one of the stalwarts are injured.

I don't know about that. Look at Murray. Look at POM. Look at McFadden. These guys are all there on merit. They're there because their form this season has been better than most of the others.

Zebo, young Kearney and Madigan are 3 more that will break through next season. I'm convinced of it.

To paraphrase a blue-blooded honourary Dutchman who's namesake was one of Ireland best ever centres (answers on a postcard please):

- Evolution, not revolution.

1F'sgonnagetya! wrote:Once again Deccie going for history over form.

As Stag said earlier, it's more likely a Kiss decision than a Deccie one.

1F'sgonnagetya! wrote:Really not happy about Donners (big ledge that he is) but if you can't get in the starting VX for province you shouldn't be in it for country. Once again Deccie going for history over form.

Also the Welsh centres are going to love facing Earls, really should have been McFadden!

DOC is better defensively and apparently a better scrummager to DRyan.

Earls has faced the Welsh centres plenty of times and come out on top and have you forgotten what happened when Earls went off against Russia? (In case you have, McFadden moved to centre and Russia scored two tries, having been scoreless up to that).

Earls may not be as good a defender as BOD, but neither is McFadden.

Also, remember that Earls has a good record against Wales in the centre. Scored two tries the last time in the 6Ns that he played there against them.

Gibson wrote:
They'll be weepin in the Valleys on Sunday night.

There will be two of them weeping in Cassidy's on Sunday night...

1F'sgonnagetya! wrote:Really not happy about Donners (big ledge that he is) but if you can't get in the starting VX for province you shouldn't be in it for country.

+1

Mickado wrote:

Gibson wrote:
They'll be weepin in the Valleys on Sunday night.

There will be two of them weeping in Cassidy's on Sunday night...

Oh yeah Mick. Be nice to em... They take this game very seriously for some reason.

no real surprises and on paper a very good side, as per usual. just have to turn up and play with pace, passion and a coherent game plan which is where most of our problems lie. Lets hope kidney gets things right and the players execute. fingers crossed

well done o mahony. very good player. minor rant, strange that a tackle bag holder has been called up. makes a mockery of the wolfhounds selection really.

o halloran to start in paris???

It's too bad that Wales aren't announcing their team until Friday. It'd be interesting to see how the teams look side-by-side (I know, I know, games are played on grass and not on paper).

I'm very excited about the prospect of Trimble being on the team. He's been in scintillating form for Ulster all season.

Delighted for him.

[quote="Sin é"]

1F'sgonnagetya! wrote:Really not happy about Donners (big ledge that he is) but if you can't get in the starting VX for province you shouldn't be in it for country. Once again Deccie going for history over form.

Also the Welsh centres are going to love facing Earls, really should have been McFadden!

DOC is better defensively and apparently a better scrummager to DRyan.

I don't think Ryan would have let us down defensively and if we're changing the way we play, which has been reported in some papers, then we should be going for more mobile players. DOC should have been 4th choice especially as we've got form players. When are these lads going to get a chance?

If it wasn't for Drico being injured we'd have exactly the same starting team that turned us over in NZ and Wales know how to cope with.

i think we can really get at their lineout!

DOC will bring something to the lineouts and the defence but Ryan must feel somewhat aggrieved that he got the nod over him.

I am not at all concerned over Earls at 13, he is not as weak in defence as some prople think he is and he certainly doesnt shirk his responsibilities...

dublin_dave wrote:no real surprises and on paper a very good side, as per usual. just have to turn up and play with pace, passion and a coherent game plan which is where most of our problems lie. Lets hope kidney gets things right and the players execute. fingers crossed

well done o mahony. very good player. minor rant, strange that a tackle bag holder has been called up. makes a mockery of the wolfhounds selection really.

o halloran to start in paris???

Not really Dave. How guys perform in training has been a big factor in selection throughout Kidney's tenure. He's obviously shown the management team that he's good enough to make the step up. Fair play to both them for seeing it and to him for putting in the hard work to win selection.

I'm most interested to see how D'Arcy plays. He had a nightmare 2011 Six Nations.

MMC wrote:

Gretgael1 wrote:I'm worried what message it's sending out to the other players? You won't get in the team unless one of the stalwarts are injured.

I don't know about that. Look at Murray. Look at POM. Look at McFadden. These guys are all there on merit. They're there because their form this season has been better than most of the others.

Zebo, young Kearney and Madigan are 3 more that will break through next season. I'm convinced of it.

To paraphrase a blue-blooded honourary Dutchman who's namesake was one of Ireland best ever centres (answers on a postcard please):

- Evolution, not revolution.

1F'sgonnagetya! wrote:Once again Deccie going for history over form.

As Stag said earlier, it's more likely a Kiss decision than a Deccie one.

Murray has been in the mix since the world cup and McFadden since this time last year. Murray benefited through lack of any great option in the scrum half position, McFadden makes sense in the squad since he covers wing and centre and it was a straight call between POM and Henry, one or the other, since it's clear Kidney doesn't rate Jennings and the others can cover all three positions. That's not to say they're lucky to be in the squad, they are in there on merit but Kidneys hand had been forced a little imo.

I'd like a few players blooded in before the tour to New Zealand, not huge changes, integrate them. But the likes of Ryan and Mcfadden have done their time on the bench, give them a start and lets see what they can do. Hopefully it will happen before the end of the 6 nations.

Anyway, the team is picked and once Sunday comes I'll be cheering Ireland on no matter who plays.

Notch wrote:I'm most interested to see how D'Arcy plays. He had a nightmare 2011 Six Nations.

I am dreading watching him play....

The thing I worry about with the D'Arcy/Earls partnership, as I have stressed before, is that our plan of playing attacking rugby, and our downfall at the RWC when it came to our back-line play, will not be solved with this combination. With a smooth operator inside him I think Earls would probably have benefitted, but with D'Arcy and Earls I think we will still struggle in attack.. defensively I worry about D'Arcy who got shrugged aside against Rougerie last year. The welsh centres are even bigger.

dublin_dave wrote:i think we can really get at their lineout!

But Wales won't kick the ball out. They'll keep it in play, kicking it down the middle if necessary, but they won't kick it out.

Feckless Rogue wrote:

dublin_dave wrote:i think we can really get at their lineout!

But Wales won't kick the ball out. They'll keep it in play, kicking it down the middle if necessary, but they won't kick it out.

That will be a very dangerous tactic i feel. Kearney is a pretty good open play runner...