Are they still good enough to be starting Heineken Cup

- Ronan O'Gara

- Gordon Darcy

- Andrew Trimble

ROG, might be good enough don't want him starting. He is declining and has been for a while

D'Arcy- Yes.

Trimble- Good enough probably but won't start.

Agree with Thomond

ROG good enough but someone has to be brought through and given experience in top level games.

D'arcy and Trimble both yes but have younger players pushing for there places.

Trimble is still young I don't even know why he is on this list, its not like he's peaked and in the declince like D'arcy and ROG.

Trimble has still got a good future ahead of him, but with him Bowe and Gilroy, there is very tough competation for 2 places, but it's not because he has declined and isn't good enough, it would make more sence to have DOC on the list instead

Kingshu wrote:Trimble is still young I don't even know why he is on this list

Because although he started for Ulster all last year on their way to the HEC Final and in Gilroy and Bowe there are better players than he.

Yes I think you should start ROG in every HC game.

Joke aside - no he shouldn't start - his experience should be used to close out a tight game if needed.

Darcy and Trimble - yes they are good enough to start.

Darcy and Trimble have younger players behind them, ROG doesn’t have much in the way of competition trying to take the jersey off him. So of the 3 you’ve mentioned, he probably should start, but he probably shouldn’t have to start. If yeknowwarrameanbud?

red_stag wrote:

Kingshu wrote:Trimble is still young I don't even know why he is on this list

Because although he started for Ulster all last year on their way to the HEC Final and in Gilroy and Bowe there are better players than he.

But the question is Are they still good enough to be starting Heineken Cup, Trimble may not be starting for Ulster, but he is still good enough to be playing H cup rugby.

What your saying is if Leinster signed Dan Carter that then Sexton wouldn't be starting and isn't good enough for the H cup.

It can be argued that ROG and D'arcy may not be that standard anymore, but Trimble is still very much Hcup standard.

OK Kingshu,

Fair enough thats not what Im interested in.

Should they start for their provinces in the HEC

If they are playing the best in their position then yes, I don't think the squads can be divided up too strictly.

To be honest, I think Bowe will be nailed on for Ulster but Trimble/Gilroy will be very close and will go with the man in form. Gilroy was playing much better than Trimble at the close of the season but the complete opposite was true in between the World Cup and the Six Nations.

Trimble seems to be a real confidence player, he can be outstanding with a bit of confidence but when his form slumps he struggles to get involved in games sometimes. An in-form Trimble would be a marked man for any team in Europe because he's a handful. An out of form Trimble will probably lose his place and I'm curious to see how he responds to the competition.

Gilroy has a higher ceiling for improvement as well- at this stage I just don't know which Andrew Trimble will turn up. Hopefully the right one does and we have a real battle on our hands

red_stag wrote:- Ronan O'Gara

- Gordon Darcy

- Andrew Trimble

Good enough? Yes absolutely. No question for me that when playing well these 3 all have plenty to offer at this level. Trimble is only 27 and has plenty of top level rugby in him. A bit like Fitzgerald 2 seasons ago his supposed poor form is much exaggerated.

Good enough to be guaranteed to start? Probably not.

If I was the Leinster coach I'd be starting McFadden at 12 ahead of D'arcy. D'arcy really showed his worth against Clermont this with his defensive contribution at the end. But he offers almost nothing in attack anymore, so I don't think his defensive contribution is worth a starting place any more.

It's a shame McFadden hasn't managed to get into the HC starting 12 spot. He has lightning pace and a good boot. A players defensive qualities generally get better with experience, but he's just not getting the game time in his best position.

Feckless Rogue wrote:If I was the Leinster coach I'd be starting McFadden at 12 ahead of D'arcy. D'arcy really showed his worth against Clermont this with his defensive contribution at the end. But he offers almost nothing in attack anymore, so I don't think his defensive contribution is worth a starting place any more.

It's a shame McFadden hasn't managed to get into the HC starting 12 spot. He has lightning pace and a good boot. A players defensive qualities generally get better with experience, but he's just not getting the game time in his best position.

Thanks be to Jaysus you're not the Leinster coach then.