Ireland V All Blacks - Teams Announced and Matchday Thread

[clivemcl]

First topic message reminder :

IRELAND TEAM

15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 - Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (capt)
12 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
11 - Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster) *
10 - Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
9 - Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3 - Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon/Ulster) *
4 - Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)
5 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
6 - Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
7 - Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:

16 - Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17 - Ronan Loughney (Galwegians/Connacht) *
18 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
19 - Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
20 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
21 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
22 - Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)


NZ Team

15 Israel Dagg,
14 Zac Guildford,
13 Conrad Smith,
12 Sonny Bill Williams,
11 Julian Savea,
10 Dan Carter,
9 Aaron Smith,
8 Kieran Read,
7 Richie McCaw (capt),
6 Victor Vito,
5 Sam Whitelock,
4 Brodie Retallick,
3 Owen Franks,
2 Andrew Hore,
1 Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: Hika Elliot, Ben Franks, Ali Williams, Adam Thomson, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Ben Smith.

Tour Previews:
http://www.v2journal.com/irelands-summer-tour.html
http://www.v2journal.com/new-zealands-june-tests-preview.html

[Rava]

Rory, I doubt it really. O'Mahony had a very poor game which won't help.

Possibly we will see an all Leinster backrow.

I know the Cave-BOD axis is popular but what about:

09 Reddan
10 Sexton
11 Zebo
12 McFadden
13 O'Driscoll
14 Trimble
15 Kearney

Stag, I'd get down to your local Paddy Power and have a tenner on that if I were you.

Not what I would have but its a more likely combination.

[Mickado]

Rory, I doubt it really. O'Mahony had a very poor game which won't help.

Possibly we will see an all Leinster backrow.

I know the Cave-BOD axis is popular but what about:

09 Reddan
10 Sexton
11 Zebo
12 McFadden
13 O'Driscoll
14 Trimble
15 Kearney

I'd prefer Cave to McFadden in there but other than that it's the team i'd want to see.

[rodders]

Rory, I doubt it really. O'Mahony had a very poor game which won't help.

Possibly we will see an all Leinster backrow.

I know the Cave-BOD axis is popular but what about:

09 Reddan
10 Sexton
11 Zebo
12 McFadden
13 O'Driscoll
14 Trimble
15 Kearney

McFadden v SBW would be a disaster. Even if McFadden manages to bring him down he won't stop the offload, if he thought North and Davies were powerful SBW would eat him alive.

D'arcy is a better defender so I'd go with him before McFadden although he struggles against big guys too.

Earls tackling ability is a big loss in that midfield.

[toml]

Rory, I doubt it really. O'Mahony had a very poor game which won't help.

Possibly we will see an all Leinster backrow.

I know the Cave-BOD axis is popular but what about:

09 Reddan
10 Sexton
11 Zebo
12 McFadden
13 O'Driscoll
14 Trimble
15 Kearney

I'd go for this too. Think McFadden should not be considered as a wing option anymore, he should concentrate on 12.

[Rory_Gallagher]

I can't see why people would feel confident with McFadden anymore in the team to be quite honest. Maybe I am being harsh, but literally every game now I have seen him play he has been at fault for a try. He just can't seem to defend any decent players.

[asoreleftshoulder]

Yeah unless he's at 12 I see no reason for McFadden to be in the team,he is a decent option as a number 22 though.

[rodders]

Unless there's a spanish influenza outbreak I see no reason for McFadden to be on the team..... he's a decent option for the IRFU summer tag rugby series though.....

[Rory_Gallagher]

I have a question. Without Ferris in our backrow, do you think we look a bit weak? In terms of physicality I mean.

When you consider the likes of Higginbotham, Alberts, Denton.. I suppose NZ have a rather light and mobile backrow though.

[rodders]

I have a question. Without Ferris in our backrow, do you think we look a bit weak? In terms of physicality I mean.
.

Yes I do. I don't think Ferris would have been brushed off by Reid the way O'Mahoney was.

SOB is a powerful guy and O'Mahoney is strong and aggressive but neither have Ferris sheer strenth and physicality.

I wouldn't mind seeing McLaughlin get a chance at 6 to be honest.

[Mickado]

I don’t think POM was “brushed off”, he just broke too far from the scrum and he has a weak inside shoulder.

Question, should Ross start this week if he’s fit? I think Dekkie Fitz has done nothing to lose the jersey. Ross to the bench though, most definitely, Loughney is not up to playing at this level.

[Rory_Gallagher]

Hmm.. Read isn't a huge specimen himself though. He is an inch taller than O'Mahony, and the same weight. I watched the try again and I agree, POM should have stopped him in his tracks. But I have seen him put in some huge tackles before. I would stick with POM to be honest.

When Ferris returns, will it be POM who leaves the side? I hope not.

[red_stag]

Should Ross play if he is fit.

No! I think Fitzpatrick played well and we would do well to motivate him by rewarding his last game. It would send a good message.

[rodders]

Neither Deccie or Ross will be up to playing the 80min, if at all.... personally I'd go with Ross and bring Fitzpatrick off the bench.

Dear God yer man Lougney is so far out of his depth it's scary

[Pete330v2]

I don’t think POM was “brushed off”, he just broke too far from the scrum and he has a weak inside shoulder.

Question, should Ross start this week if he’s fit? I think Dekkie Fitz has done nothing to lose the jersey. Ross to the bench though, most definitely, Loughney is not up to playing at this level.

I concur Mr Kado
POM isn't the kind of player to be 'brushed' off and it's difficult to defend from a rapidly retreating scrum. With Ross and Dekkie Fitz we have 2 tight heads who are obviously up to this level and can at the very least anchor the scrum against the very best. That's all I ask of our tight 5, give us a solid scrum.

[Rory_Gallagher]

Two players need developed ASAP for the provinces. Macklin, and Furlong. I REALLY like Furlong. He has looked great so far in the U20s tournament. He has to get game time at Leinster. Who would he have ahead of him? Ross and Hagan?

[The Great Aukster]

Thought Fitzpatrick had picked up an injury?

[Rory_Gallagher]

Also, Ryan for Leinster as a 7 should be developed too. I really want to see him progress next season.

I am so much more excited to see Ulster, Leinster, Munster and Connacht next year than Ireland.

[Mickado]

POM’s problem isn’t a lack of physicality. It’s his weak left shoulder. Which is a massive problem for a blindside flanker.

To start at the weekend I’d go for:

Healy – Best – Fitzpatrick
Tuohy – Ryan
McLaughlin – Heaslip – O’Brien
Reddan – Sexton
Zebo – BOD – Cave – Trimble
Kearney

Cronin – Ross – O’Callaghan – Henry – Murray – ROG - McFadden

[rodders]

Come on lads its not conspiracy here.... the blindside flanker's main job when defending off a scrum is to stop the opposition no 8... the terminology is academic, Reid got the better of him and it led to a try.

At this level you expect more from your no 6 in that scenario, it's bread and butter stuff.

O'Mahoney is a good player and he will be very disappointed with himself for not nailing Reid and preventing the offload.

[Rory_Gallagher]

I'd rather see Heaslip off the team than O'Mahony. I fear Heaslip is going to be the Spies of the Ireland team. Undroppable.

[Mickado]

Heaslip made 15 tackles and missed none and was our top carrying forward.

[Thomond]

It's his first start lads, give the guy a chance before you write him off.That goes for Tuohy,Zebo and Cave. I wouldn't mind seeing McLaughlin get some game time though.

[rodders]

Wilkinson – Best – Loughney
Tuohy – Ryan
McLaughlin – Heaslip – O’Brien
Reddan – Sexton
Zebo – D'arcy - BOD – Trimble
Kearney

Cronin – A.N Other – O’Callaghan – Henry – Murray – ROG - McFadden

[Rory_Gallagher]

Heaslip made 15 tackles and missed none and was our top carrying forward.

Where did you get those stats? O'Mahony was the only guy in our back row to beat a defender. None of them made many metres.

[rodders]

Actually O'Callaghan for Tuohy aswell there's too many Ulstermen in there .

[Mickado]

Come on lads its not conspiracy here.... the blindside flanker's main job when defending off a scrum is to stop the opposition no 8... the terminology is academic, Reid got the better of him and it led to a try.

At this level you expect more from your no 6 in that scenario, it's bread and butter stuff.

O'Mahoney is a good player and he will be very disappointed with himself for not nailing Reid and preventing the offload.

Rods, it may have seemed like I was being pedantic. I’m broadly agreeing with you, I’m just saying that some people would look at POM and see an aggressive player who makes a good few tackles and often can push someone back in the process and think why are you saying his not physical enough. I’m simply saying that he’s got a massive technical fault to his game that is leading you to that impression (correctly) but the armchair pundit wouldn’t see it that way.

[Rory_Gallagher]

I can't believe I would prefer D'Arcy to McFadden at this point.

[Mickado]

Heaslip made 15 tackles and missed none and was our top carrying forward.

Where did you get those stats? O'Mahony was the only guy in our back row to beat a defender. None of them made many metres.

http://www.espnscrum.com/ireland-tour-2012/rugby/match/153842.html

[Rory_Gallagher]

Yeah that is what I used. I would say POM was more effective as he actually got past someone. Though 17 metres as our best carry in the backrow isn't really much to brag about..

[Thomond]

Mick, I don't recall him slipping off many tackles down his left side. However if it is a problem, it's correctable.

[rodders]

Aye no bother Mick, regardless of the reason for it I want whoever plays 6 to do better there in that position.

I'm a big fan off O'Mahoney to be honest. Really good player but to beat the best you have to be ultra critical I suppose.

[Rory_Gallagher]

As I've said before, I think it is almost certain that our back row for the next world cup and beyond will consist of O'Brien and O'Mahony.

[Rory_Gallagher]

..And that our centres will be D'Arcy and O'Driscoll.

[rodders]

As I've said before, I think it is almost certain that our back row for the next world cup and beyond will consist of O'Brien and O'Mahony.

Will thats a cast iron certainty Rory but he still shouldn't have let Read offload....that is like all I'm saying man

[Rory_Gallagher]

No I agree, Read shouldn't have had that option. I have no idea what our back row will end up being in terms of who plays where, but I do know those two guys will be playing with someone. Whether that is Ferris, Heaslip or one of the new guys, we will have to see.

[Mickado]

I’m going to stick my neck out and say that I think Conor Gilsenan will be a key international player for Ireland some day. Huge fella, good skills, massive workrate, every team needs one of them…

[Rory_Gallagher]

He isn't that big Mickado? Smaller than any of the current guys we have playing. Do you rate him over Dominic Ryan?

[Mickado]

Maybe I’m mixing him up with Conan, who is huge. But he’s still a fine player.

Ryan will get caps internationally, he could become a regular starter but I think it would be as a 6 not a 7.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Conan shined as a Barbarian but hasn't done anything of note since then.

[Rory_Gallagher]

Oh really? Many of your Leinster pals seem to think he will be a 7.. why do you think he will be a 6?

Yeah Conan is the 8, the massive guy, who has looked absolutely monstrous, this year and last year.

[rodders]

What about yer man at Munster Dave O'Callaghan? Isn't he a big chap?

[Rory_Gallagher]

Conan shined as a Barbarian but hasn't done anything of note since then.

[rodders]

To be fair you can't go wrong with a fella called Conan.

[Rory_Gallagher]

What about yer man at Munster Dave O'Callaghan? Isn't he a big chap?

Yeah, 6 foot 5, but only 100kg apparently. Looks very lanky but quick. Valjester thinks he will end up settling at second row.

[Thomond]

I think 6'5 is a bit small for a secodn row now if he were 6'6........


I'd say DOCv2 will play second row but he us incredibly athletic so would provide the kind of new mobile lock that we need.

[Rory_Gallagher]

He has a fair bit of bulking up to do though. 100kg is very light. Considering that Chris Farrell is the same height and 3 kilos heavier. It seems Munster are producing some very light but mobile forwards atm?

[rodders]

Terrible expensive in Limerick Rory, not surprised these chaps don't eat that much.

[Thomond]

That's not a bad thing Rory.

[Rory_Gallagher]

That's not a bad thing Rory.

You do need a fair bit of bulk in the pack though Thomond. Considering the monsters on the field nowadays. Who are just as mobile as anyone else.

[Thomond]

Munster still have grunt but those guys still have time to put on a bit.

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