Ireland vs South Africa pre-match talk and squad announcements.

First topic message reminder :

The much anticipated Autumn Iinternationals has arrived and South Africa will begin their three test tour against Ireland on Saturday at Landsdowne road. With a record of only one win in their last four test matches and 3 straight losses between 2004 and 2009, the Springboks would like to continue their resurgence against Ireland and emulate their two point victory of 2010.

But will they be up for an Ireland team who have been just about as disappointing as the Springboks were in 2012.

Ireland who boast wins over Scotland and Italy and a Hard earned draw over France at Stade de France earlier in the year has a disappointing return of 5 losses, 2 wins and 1 draw for the year.

South Africa has not fared much better, with 4 wins, 3 losses and 2 draws for the year.

Both teams will rue lost opportunities during the year where execution and specifically goal kicking have haunted the Springboks in Particular. Their goal kickin records stands at a miserly 55% for the year and will lose you more tests than win.

Ireland will be without their inspirational captain Brian O'Driscoll and South Africa after a long season will bewithout the services of Arguably the best Hooker in world rugby Bismarck du Plessis, the athletic Andries Bekker, talisman Schalk Burger, Pierre Spies, Heinrich Brussow, Johan Goosen, Bryan Habana (yeah I know I am complaining a bit much here), Frans Steyn and Coenie Oosthuizen.

Will this end of season tour be a bridge too far for an injury riddled South African squad or will they be able to overcome an Irish team who hasn't convinced this year.

Likely SA matchday 22.

1. Beast Mtwarira
2. Adriaan Strauss
3. Jannie du Plessis
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Juandre Kruger (Marco Wentzel)
6. Francois Louw
7. Willem Alberts
8. Duane Vermeulen
9. Ruan Pienaar
10. Patrick Lambie
11. Francois Hougaard
12. Jean de Villiers
13. Jaco Taute
14. JP Pietersen
15. Zane Kirchner

Bench
16. Gurthro Steenkamp
17. Schalk Brits
18. Pat Cilliers
19. Flip v d Merwe
20. Marcelle Coetzee
21. Franco v d Merwe
22. Jan Vermaak
23. Morne Steyn

I'll update if someone provides me a likely Irish matchday 22.

you will pay northern rates rodders haha

i reckon it would be tenner from inchicore to aviva depending on traffic on canal. Would take 15mins i reckon to get you near pubs around ground

Luas is a 25minute hop to 02 then a 20minute walk to Aviva, wont do in the inevitable rain. The Tallaght Luas picks up some colourful characters at St James Hospital.

rodders wrote:Mrs P has answered this already but does anyone know the quickest and handiest way to get from Inchicore to the Aviva and back? Also what time to set off from there for a 5.30 KO? Is there a DART?

Cheers....

Get bus / Luas into city centre from Inchicore.

Loads of buses from city centre to Ballsbridge (No. 6 & 8 go from around Trinity College).

Can get the DART from Tara Street (probably best option) or you could walk out from the city centre - its only about 20 mins. walk.

Want to give it about 1.5 hours to get there comfortably.

Edit: traffic will be mental around Dublin then.

Thanks Sin and Dave

Sin maybe walking from the city center to the Aviva might be the best bet? 1.5 hours, gees what a bollix man...how do yous city slickers live like that....

Rodders if you get to the city centre the walk isn't too long and pretty pleasant part of town too, that's what I'll be doing for the Argie match anyways

I got tickets to that game in the upper tier for €17! Boom

Ps:

Healy*-Strauss-Ross
Ryan-POC*
POM-Heaslip (c)-Henry
Reddan-Sexton
Darcy-Cave
Zebo-Earls-Bowe

Cronin-Court-Bent-Tuohy-McLaughlin-Marshall-Jackson-McFadden

Would be my preferred team.

*=Possibly injured

Jeebus 17euro! Ya bollixes! Hope its a borefest..... ....

I think Trimble is in the best form out of any of the outside backs, by a distance, and would be the first name on my teamsheet ahead of Bowe, Cave, Earls, McFadden and anyone else of that ilk.

Bowe has done ok for Ulster (2 tries v the blues and some very good linebreaks), but Trimble has upstaged him over the past few games with his all action performances. Zebo and Gilroy are the only other back 3 players catching the eye imo outside these two.

rodders wrote:I think Trimble is in the best form out of any of the outside backs, by a distance, and would be the first name on my teamsheet ahead of Bowe, Cave, Earls, McFadden and anyone else of that ilk.

Bowe has done ok for Ulster (2 tries v the blues and some very good linebreaks), but Trimble has upstaged him over the past few games with his all action performances. Zebo and Gilroy are the only other back 3 players catching the eye imo outside these two.

I actually agree with you but Trimble isn't that good under the high ball and is a poor kicker which is why I haven't chosen him given the opponents. If it was different opposition I would have put him down first thing too

rodders wrote:Thanks Sin and Dave

Sin maybe walking from the city center to the Aviva might be the best bet? 1.5 hours, gees what a bollix man...how do yous city slickers live like that....

I'm allowing lots of time - but coming from Inchcore you are in the general direction of one of the main routes out of Dublin to the south-west just when everyone is going home from shopping.

Best route out to the Aviva is from top of Grafton Street towards Baggot Street, stopping at Shelbourne Hotel to see team off, then saunter down Baggot Street/Pembroke Rd. maybe stopping in Doheny & Nesbitts.

Very pleasant walk.

Fair point Pete.

Thanks sin, good advice there, much appreciated....

Pete, seems Whiff of Cordite are a fan of Earls in the centre

(If I may return to the rugby for a moment, as opposed to the directions thereto) It's important to consider the point that the generation of Boks for whom Ireland seemd to be a mental bogey man has virtually no players left in the current setup...most of the boks' only game, if any, against Ireland was the victory a couple of years back....

I don't think we were a bogey team for the Boks. We had a strong side and beat them a few times with the benefit of home advantage. Games have always been close between us over the past 5-6 seasons.

The Boks won't have any mental issues facing us, never have.

If we front up physically and get our tactics right we have a chance, otherwise we don't.....

Mr Fishpaste wrote:(If I may return to the rugby for a moment, as opposed to the directions thereto) It's important to consider the point that the generation of Boks for whom Ireland seemd to be a mental bogey man has virtually no players left in the current setup...most of the boks' only game, if any, against Ireland was the victory a couple of years back....

you really think we had a mental bogey with Ireland?

The first loss was a try from a quick tap whilst we were under the poles under instruction from Paul Honiss.
The second loss was a convincing win and the third win was a kcking display by Sexton.

Nothing mental about that, just poor rugby from us.

And Boks have won the last two.....

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Ps:

Healy*-Strauss-Ross
Ryan-POC*
POM-Heaslip (c)-Henry
Reddan-Sexton
Darcy-Cave
Zebo-Earls-Bowe

Cronin-Court-Bent-Tuohy-McLaughlin-Marshall-Jackson-McFadden

Would be my preferred team.

*=Possibly injured

I like that team,possibly harsh on Trimble but against the Boks I'd like at least 2 big kickers in the back 3.

edit:Don't like Bent on the bench we have no clue how good or bad he is but desperate times I suppose,is there any hope Deccie Fitz will be fit?

I'd like to see Jackson on the benchnot because he's an Ulsterman or because I think ROG is shot at this level ... but because he has been outstanding this year and deserves it on merit.

Defensively hes very solid, his goal kicking has been top class and he's shown some nice touches in attack, like the reverse flick for Paynes try against the Dragons. He's becoming a very well rounded fly half. Hard to believe he's only 20.

JJ and Henderson have deservedly been getting a lot of plaudits but Jackson, who I previously wasn't a big fan of, has slipped under the radar a bit.

Totally agree,he's shot ahead of Madigan and should also start the Fiji game.

asoreleftshoulder wrote:Totally agree,he's shot ahead of Madigan and should also start the Fiji game.

+1

Very impressed with Jackson over the last 2 months. Great stuff

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Ps:

Healy*-Strauss-Ross
Ryan-POC*
POM-Heaslip (c)-Henry
Reddan-Sexton
Darcy-Cave
Zebo-Earls-Bowe

Cronin-Court-Bent-Tuohy-McLaughlin-Marshall-Jackson-McFadden

Would be my preferred team.

*=Possibly injured

I like that team,possibly harsh on Trimble but against the Boks I'd like at least 2 big kickers in the back 3.

edit:Don't like Bent on the bench we have no clue how good or bad he is but desperate times I suppose,is there any hope Deccie Fitz will be fit?

Think Deccie Fitz is out with concussion.

Yeah that was my thinking re: Trimble as well. Real shame as the Pumas are the same sort of team but Zebo has proved he is good under the high ball (very good there this year) and he has a canon in his boot where as Trimble does not have those attributes

Sin é wrote:Pete, seems Whiff of Cordite are a fan of Earls in the centre

So?

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:

Sin é wrote:Pete, seems Whiff of Cordite are a fan of Earls in the centre

So?

They're also a fan of Heaslip as captain,i wonder why he forgot to mention that?

Re Trimble... I actually think he's fairly good under the high ball (I can think of examples when he hasn't been) although kicking is not his forte for sure.

Tactically I have a different slant though .

I think his physical presence and defensive qualities are more suited to the likes of the Boks than against more counter attacking teams like Australia, France or NZ, where the game breaks up a bit more and theres more space for the speedsters like Earls.

Trimble is a guy who, like Bowe can gather kicks and take them back into heavy traffic whilst retaining posession and setting up an attacking platform. He'll put people on their backsides all day in defense too, which is important with BOD out because he's the only other guy, bar Sexton, who comes up to take attackers on the gainline.

He and Bowe link very well together and there is a lot of merit in a back 3 with those two and Zebo in Kearneys absence imo.

Are you saying you'd play Bowe at 15 Rodders?

Good tactical summary, different way of looking at it I guess.

Well he's the most likely pick as he played there vs Dragons at Kidneys behest I believe. Did some good things and some not so good but overall decent enough imo.

Zebo has played there I think too? either or.

Not keen on bringing Jones in. He's been out a long time and isn't ready for this imo. Maybe v Argentina.

Bowe is a risk at fullback, as is Zebo, but with Kearney out and Jones just back I don't think there is really a safe option for this one.

I'd go for broke and pick the most potent backline available.

rodders wrote:Well he's the most likely pick as he played there vs Dragons at Kidneys behest I believe. Did some good things and some not so good but overall decent enough imo.

Zebo has played there I think too? either or.

Not keen on bringing Jones in. He's been out a long time and isn't ready for this imo. Maybe v Argentina.

Anscombe: Decision to play Bowe at full-back not Kidney’s call

By John Fallon

Monday, October 29, 2012

Ulster coach Mark Anscombe has revealed the decision to play Tommy Bowe at full-back against the Dragons at the weekend was not on the instruction of Declan Kidney.

Anscombe said he had made the call without input from the Irish management as Ulster wanted to rest Jared Payne. It was believed that Kidney had requested the selection of Bowe at No.15 as he ponders who to select at full-back for the autumn internationals.

But the Ulster boss rubbished such claims. "Jared had played since the start of the season and we wanted to see how Tommy went in that position and we were pleased with the way it went," said Anscombe after their 46-19 win which maintained their perfect start to season with eight straight victories.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/anscombe-decision-to-play-bowe-at-full-back-not-kidneys-call-212283.html

I stand corrected....unless Ancombe is under instructions not to divulge that he was under instructions....

I mean we wouldn't want the Boks to know our plans would we....

rodders wrote:I stand corrected....unless Ancombe is under instructions not to divulge that he was under instructions....

I mean we wouldn't want the Boks to know our plans would we....

No matter who is chosen at fullback, they are not going to have a lot of analysis on them.

Jean de Villiers would have played against Tommy Bowe when he was at fullback for the HCup QF against Ospreys in Thomond Park. Best Ospreys player that day.

Rodders run there you soft Poopie! Regulation pie and pint at every pub you come across as well. By the time the final whistle blows you won't care if SA wins. You'll be hurling your ring out in some random field.

Ha ha good man Kia..... I don't think I could afford a in every pub...I'll get charged Northern rates you know

Sin who would you play at full back?

rodders wrote:Ha ha good man Kia..... I don't think I could afford a in every pub...I'll get charged Northern rates you know

Sin who would you play at full back?

Bowe or Zebo. Probably leaning towards Zebo because he is so good in the air and a better attacker than Bowe. Only concern is that he hasn't played there before.

Poopie! Classic. The censor now recognises the Irish lingo. Just out of curiosity gobshoite.

Time to use your Northern ingenuity then rodders. Say you're being sponsored to run the length of the country and every pint you get you will later donate twice the amount. Just don't mention you will make a donation to the urinal.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Poopie! Classic. The censor now recognises the Irish lingo. Just out of curiosity gobshoite.

Time to use your Northern ingenuity then rodders. Say you're being sponsored to run the length of the country and every pint you get you will later donate twice the amount. Just don't mention you will make a donation to the urinal.

Problem is Kia, a lot of the pubs are owned by cute hoors from Cavan (so are Ulstermen).

rodders wrote:And Boks have won the last two.....

The last two matches? Nix to that.
In my lifetime of watching home matches v SA - 3 wins, 3 losses and a draw.

1970 8-8
1998 13-27
2000 18-28
2004 17-12
2006 32-15
2009 15-10
2010 21-23

PS Ireland have never won in SA out of 7 games.

Sin é wrote:

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Poopie! Classic. The censor now recognises the Irish lingo. Just out of curiosity gobshoite.

Time to use your Northern ingenuity then rodders. Say you're being sponsored to run the length of the country and every pint you get you will later donate twice the amount. Just don't mention you will make a donation to the urinal.

Problem is Kia, a lot of the pubs are owned by cute hoors from Cavan (so are Ulstermen).

wouldnt play a full back would play 3 centres : )

i mean in soccer who plays a sweeper anymore.

if anscome selected bowe their off his own accord who knows what deccie will do. rog 10 sexton 12 darcy 15 ala clongowes days

Sin é wrote:

rodders wrote:Ha ha good man Kia..... I don't think I could afford a in every pub...I'll get charged Northern rates you know

Sin who would you play at full back?

Bowe or Zebo. Probably leaning towards Zebo because he is so good in the air and a better attacker than Bowe. Only concern is that he hasn't played there before.

I think zebo has to start in this game because he is so good in the air. He has improved so much in the last 6 mOnths in this area.
His defensive positioning is looking better too. The guy must be working his socks off on these two areas of his game.

Fair play to him.

Sin é wrote:

Bowe or Zebo. Probably leaning towards Zebo because he is so good in the air and a better attacker than Bowe. Only concern is that he hasn't played there before.

Is that not a bit like saying. I would probably play Gordon D'Arcy at 7 because he is so good over the ball. Only concern is that he hasn't played there before.

My 2 cents. Stick Earls at FB, with Zebo at 11 and Bowe at 14. Either Cave or McFadden at 13. D'Arcy at 12 Trimble or McFadden at 23.

Outside backs sorted.

And yes of course I would play Redan and Sexton as halfbacks

Sin é wrote:

rodders wrote:Ha ha good man Kia..... I don't think I could afford a in every pub...I'll get charged Northern rates you know

Sin who would you play at full back?

Bowe or Zebo. Probably leaning towards Zebo because he is so good in the air and a better attacker than Bowe. Only concern is that he hasn't played there before.

Sure why would you worry about that!

Biltong, why do Ireland never play your Boks in SA?

Morgannwg wrote:Biltong, why do Ireland never play your Boks in SA?

We went there in 98 and 04. We are not due back in NZ until 2022 or something. Not sure when we are going to SA again.

Morgannwg wrote:Biltong, why do Ireland never play your Boks in SA?

They're AFRAID

Hold on... Zebo is a better attacker than Bowe?

Biltong wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Biltong, why do Ireland never play your Boks in SA?

They're AFRAID

Ireland have always gone for two tests - NZ & Aus. Think we're going there in 2014.

CJ seems to be settling in well in Munster. Seems to be a very nice lad - about 5,000 have started following him on twitter over the last while and he seems to have thanked everyone individually who tweeted him with a welcome.

Notch wrote:Hold on... Zebo is a better attacker than Bowe?

That is the part that confused me also.. prepare for upcoming stats on try scoring records over the past few seasons in club rugby, though.

Notch wrote:Hold on... Zebo is a better attacker than Bowe?

Yes. Bowe is more of a strike runner. Zebo has a step.

Sin é wrote:

Biltong wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Biltong, why do Ireland never play your Boks in SA?

They're AFRAID

Ireland have always gone for two tests - NZ & Aus. Think we're going there in 2014.

CJ seems to be settling in well in Munster. Seems to be a very nice lad - about 5,000 have started following him on twitter over the last while and he seems to have thanked everyone individually who tweeted him with a welcome.

He is a good lad, very promising player, I think you'll get your money's worth out of him.

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:

Sin é wrote:Pete, seems Whiff of Cordite are a fan of Earls in the centre

So?

They're also a fan of Heaslip as captain,i wonder why he forgot to mention that?

Only if Paul O'Connell isn't fit.

(They are all Leinster supporters so you'd expect them to be a fan of Heislip)

Biltong wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Biltong wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Biltong, why do Ireland never play your Boks in SA?

They're AFRAID

Ireland have always gone for two tests - NZ & Aus. Think we're going there in 2014.

CJ seems to be settling in well in Munster. Seems to be a very nice lad - about 5,000 have started following him on twitter over the last while and he seems to have thanked everyone individually who tweeted him with a welcome.

He is a good lad, very promising player, I think you'll get your money's worth out of him.

I think we will too. Article here about how he came to Munster which might interest you.

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/11061.php