Ireland XV vs Fiji, Match Thread and Build-Up

[Notch]

First topic message reminder :

Looking ahead to this game, Eoin Reddan is a doubt apparently but there are no other new injury concerns. Ferris and O'Connell are confirmed out of this and next week.

I've already talked about the issue of this game not being considered a full international which can be found HERE and we should should probably try and keep discussion of that issue to the relevant thread.

I'm very much of the opinion that we should largely keep the same team. I don't see how wholesale changes are going to help prepare the firsts for Argentina. There should of course be a few tweaks (please put Earls back in the back three) but this team needs time on the pitch together. Of course, I think our problems run deeper than a lack of pitch time together but we're in a desperate situation here. We need to beat Argentina and this game has to be treated as a dry run for the week after.

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

I agree with you on the issue around 9, but Darcy wasn't really crabbing he took the ball up more often than not, I think he made the most metres our of all our players. He was by no means great but he doesn't crab. The thing is his carries used to be explosive, getting 7 metres and then ball back like lightening, they aren't anymore. It takes him more time to make those metres and the ball coming back is slow. He also doesn't make anywhere near as much.

Also it doesn't have to be your 12 taking it over the gainline, look at Rougerie, Tuilagi, Davies, AAC (when at 13)

Our wings rarely get any good attacking ball

[Submachine]

1. Kilcoyne
2. Cronin
3. Bent
Need the game time. Replace all 3 with SA starters after 50-60 mins
4. Ryan
5. McCarthy
Good first start together. Retained to work on lineout
6. Henderson
7. Henry
8. Wilson
Let’s see what Henderson can do. Henry needs game time at 7. Wilson is our only other specialist 8 and is a much better player for his stint in England.
9. Marshall
10. Sexton
Marshall has to get at least 40 mins 1st or second half. Please god he has a good run and gets the nod for Arg.
12. Darcy
13. Bowe (Captain)
See what the big guy can do at 13.
11. Earls
14. Trimble
15. Zebo
Zebo needs to continue apprenticeship. Earls must only be allowed to play on the wing internationally. Trimble gets a chance on his preferred wing.

16. Strauss 17. Healy 18. Ross 19. Touhy 20. POM 21. Murray 22. Jackson 23. Gilroy

Hopefully Bent, Henderson and Wilson can add a bit of dynamism to our ball carrying. I think Earls is an excellent player but not international 13. He can demand to play there for Munster all he likes but we need to look at other options there.
I think some of the criticism of Murray has been a bit unfair. He has adapted to the new 5 second rule and early in the first half v SA his passing was crisp with no steps taken. Accuracy did waver considerably as the game wore on. He can improve here but needs to sort it quickly.
I don’t think Wilson has a hope in hell of making the squad particularly with Heaslip now the captain but I’d like him to get a shot.

[rodders]

Also it doesn't have to be your 12 taking it over the gainline, look at Rougerie, Tuilagi, Davies, AAC (when at 13)

No thats true but the 12 is in the best position to do it if the ball is quick because he's far enough away from the scrum/ruck/Lineout to get away from the opposition back row but close enough to his own support that he doesn't get isolated.

The is also best positioned to set up a good midfield attacking platform off 1st and second phase. The 13 can do it but he has to be even quicker and stronger to make the same ground as he's coming from a deeper position and the support will be slower to get to him.

D'arcy was hitting up behind the gainline line, struggling to get the ball on the deck and then you are reseting slow ball again behind the gainline, therefore no momentum and you are going against against a reset defence.

If we'd have played until Monday we still wouldn't have scored a try.

[the-goon]

No idea who should start really for this game. I think we need to focus on righting the wrongs of the SA game.

But who knows what Kidney will pick for this game but I can tell you the team for the Arg game regardless of the performance... barring injury:

Healy
Strauss
Ross
McCarthy
Ryan
POM
Henry
Heaslip
Murray
Sexton
McFadden
D'Arcy
Earls
Bowe
Zebo

Kilkoyne
Bent
Cronin
DOC
Henderson
Marschall
ROG (!)
Gilroy/Trimble

I reckon I'll have 20 of 23 right there... oh yeah, and no change to the game plan. Expect a lot of passion and commitment but no penetration. It might be enough to squeek home as Arg may be tired from such a long season but it won't be pretty...

[rodders]

Totally agree. That will be the starting 15 anyways.

We haven't a hope against Argentina if we play like we did against SA.

[Notch]

I think you have to look at D'Arcys role and say how positive is it? Because he takes the ball on and makes small gains. Thats good- but its hard yards through leg drive and then the ball coming back is slow. Slow ball negates any small gain line advantage we might get out of it.

I don't want that to read as a pop at D'Arcy, I'm just saying. Our biggest problem is there's not enough tempo in our game. We need to be doing everything we can to keep the ball alive and speed things up. Slow ball back kills us every time and I don't know how often D'Arcy taking the ball on himself gets us quick, front foot ball.

[the-goon]

Does anyone know the maths/permuatations of what we need to do to hold onto 8th? Scotland have SA and Tonga at home, Samoa have Wales and France, Italy have NZ and Australia, ARG have France and Ireland and we just have ARG, what results would mean we lose our 2nd seed rankings?

7(8) ARGENTINA 80.29
8(7) IRELAND 79.04
9(9) SCOTLAND 77.97
10(10) SAMOA 77.14
11(11) ITALY 76.61

[Notch]

The big one is Scptland vs South Africa next week. If they (Scotland) win that I think we'll be going into the Argentina game in 9th.

If Scotland do lose it takes a lot of pressure off. You earn a lot more ranking points for beating higher ranked teams. An easy win for Scotland vs Tonga won't gain them much.

[Golden]

I'd rest Healy think were fecked against Argentina if anything happens to him. I'd start Kilcoyne if hes seen as back up to Healy (i would have had Court but anyway).

[Golden]

As long as Scotland dont beat South Africa I think well stay at 8th.

[the-goon]

Samoa getting a win against Wales could blow this wide open, in fact any upset from Sco vs SA, Ita vs Aus, Wal vs Sam could mean 9th place...

They look plausable, 1 of the 3 could easily happen anyway...

[Golden]

Anyone think if we lose to Fiji and Argentina and drop out of the top 8 the IRFU will take action? Or are they just crossing off the days like the rest of us irrespective of what happens?

[the-goon]

All the permutations are possible here.

http://rugby.alfred-wallace.com/

If we lose by more than 15 vs Arg, Scoland just need to lose by less than 15 vs SA to climb above us.

[dublin_dave]

if we end up in 9th we have nobody to blame but ourselves.

If it means that the IRFU take some drastic action and all of the yes men in the media wake up and smell the coffee it may not be a bad thing.

[LeinsterFan4life]

if we end up in 9th we have nobody to blame but ourselves.

If it means that the IRFU take some drastic action and all of the yes men in the media wake up and smell the coffee it may not be a bad thing.

We do have someone to blame...Kidney

[Notch]

It's simplistic to put all the blame on Kidney. Who extended his contract before the World Cup? Who failed to bring in a replacement for Gaffney after the RWC? There are problems in the organisation above his head.

Kidney's been given a job and all he can do is his best. He's a good man and he's doing his best. Unfortunately, this is the professional era. Being a nice guy doesn't come into it. Success is everything, the only thing that matters.

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

All the permutations are possible here.

http://rugby.alfred-wallace.com/

If we lose by more than 15 vs Arg, Scoland just need to lose by less than 15 vs SA to climb above us.

Ok that makes it a bit more ok, nice long odds there. We could easily lose to Arg by more than 15 but can't see Scotland beating S.Africa by that much unless their is some sort of conspiracy!

[BelfastNI]

if we end up in 9th we have nobody to blame but ourselves.

If it means that the IRFU take some drastic action and all of the yes men in the media wake up and smell the coffee it may not be a bad thing.

We do have someone to blame...Kidney

Agreed! And whilst I don't doubt the IRFU will take drastic action if we drop out of the top 8, it's more likely to be another millstone around the necks of the provinces with their irritatingly competent coaches and administrators.

For Kidney to have taken a team littered with world class players* to the brink of the third tier of international rugby is both criminal and indefensible!

*Although somewhat negated by picking off form favourites.

[clivemcl]

Belfast Dick claims not to be biased with 9 / 15 players coming from Ulster....

Whats so strange about the most successful club providing the most players anyway? Seems logical to me...

Also, can I just say, whats with all the evening posting? So much reading to do. When i'm at work I check every half our or less, and there was barely a peep all day! You all put me to shame what with actually working at work!

[rodders]

It's simplistic to put all the blame on Kidney. Who extended his contract before the World Cup? Who failed to bring in a replacement for Gaffney after the RWC? There are problems in the organisation above his head.

Kidney's been given a job and all he can do is his best. He's a good man and he's doing his best. Unfortunately, this is the professional era. Being a nice guy doesn't come into it. Success is everything, the only thing that matters.

+ 1. Kidney is doing his best, I don't doubt it. Unfortunately his best isn't good enough and hasn't been for a while now.

[LeinsterFan4life]

Belfast Dick claims not to be biased with 9 / 15 players coming from Ulster....

Whats so strange about the most successful club providing the most players anyway? Seems logical to me...

Also, can I just say, whats with all the evening posting? So much reading to do. When i'm at work I check every half our or less, and there was barely a peep all day! You all put me to shame what with actually working at work!

If we are going by that logic than the Irish team should have had 13 leinster players starting the last couple of years.

[rodders]

Belfast Dick claims not to be biased with 9 / 15 players coming from Ulster....

Whats so strange about the most successful club providing the most players anyway? Seems logical to me...

Also, can I just say, whats with all the evening posting? So much reading to do. When i'm at work I check every half our or less, and there was barely a peep all day! You all put me to shame what with actually working at work!

If we are going by that logic than the Irish team should have had 13 leinster players starting the last couple of years.

It should have though, well 11 or 12 anyways, that's the problem. Ulster have been the form side and yet there's only 3 in the 15 and 4 in 22.

There's too many guys getting picked who aren't playing well at provincial level, some have hardly played at all, and it shouldn't be a great surprise that don't play well when they step up to international level.

Not to pick on Munster but they've had a mixed start to the season and Murray, Ryan, Earls, O'Mahoney have done very little of note so far and ROG has been abysmal. Yet they all walk on to the starting 22. Zebo and DOC have been playing well but the other guys are there on reputation alone. Why are we surprised that they didn't show up on Saturday against one of the top sides in the world when they have been struggling in the Rabo?

Marshall, Jackson, Touhy, Madigan, Stevenson, Gilroy, Court, Keatley, Cave and Jennings have all been standout players for their provinces but can't even make the bench whilst other guys who haven't produced anything this season so far just walk into the side.

The best players should play no matter what province they are from.

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

I'm with Rodders on that one: if you wanted a form Irish XV (with injuries) you'd probably go:

Healy-Strauss-Bent
Tuohy-McCarthy
Henderson-Henry-Jennings
Marshall-Sexton
McSharry-Bowe
Earls-Zebo-Trimble

[LeinsterFan4life]

Belfast Dick claims not to be biased with 9 / 15 players coming from Ulster....

Whats so strange about the most successful club providing the most players anyway? Seems logical to me...

Also, can I just say, whats with all the evening posting? So much reading to do. When i'm at work I check every half our or less, and there was barely a peep all day! You all put me to shame what with actually working at work!

If we are going by that logic than the Irish team should have had 13 leinster players starting the last couple of years.

It should have though, well 11 or 12 anyways, that's the problem. Ulster have been the form side and yet there's only 3 in the 15 and 4 in 22.

There's too many guys getting picked who aren't playing well at provincial level, some have hardly played at all, and it shouldn't be a great surprise that don't play well when they step up to international level.

Not to pick on Munster but they've had a mixed start to the season and Murray, Ryan, Earls, O'Mahoney have done very little of note so far and ROG has been abysmal. Yet they all walk on to the starting 22. Zebo and DOC have been playing well but the other guys are there on reputation alone. Why are we surprised that they didn't show up on Saturday against one of the top sides in the world when they have been struggling in the Rabo?

Marshall, Jackson, Touhy, Madigan, Stevenson, Gilroy, Court, Keatley, Cave and Jennings have all been standout players for their provinces but can't even make the bench whilst other guys who haven't produced anything this season so far just walk into the side.

The best players should play no matter what province they are from.

Agree with that, well said.

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

Belfast Dick claims not to be biased with 9 / 15 players coming from Ulster....

Whats so strange about the most successful club providing the most players anyway? Seems logical to me...

Also, can I just say, whats with all the evening posting? So much reading to do. When i'm at work I check every half our or less, and there was barely a peep all day! You all put me to shame what with actually working at work!

If we are going by that logic than the Irish team should have had 13 leinster players starting the last couple of years.

It should have though, well 11 or 12 anyways, that's the problem. Ulster have been the form side and yet there's only 3 in the 15 and 4 in 22.

There's too many guys getting picked who aren't playing well at provincial level, some have hardly played at all, and it shouldn't be a great surprise that don't play well when they step up to international level.

Not to pick on Munster but they've had a mixed start to the season and Murray, Ryan, Earls, O'Mahoney have done very little of note so far and ROG has been abysmal. Yet they all walk on to the starting 22. Zebo and DOC have been playing well but the other guys are there on reputation alone. Why are we surprised that they didn't show up on Saturday against one of the top sides in the world when they have been struggling in the Rabo?

Marshall, Jackson, Touhy, Madigan, Stevenson, Gilroy, Court, Keatley, Cave and Jennings have all been standout players for their provinces but can't even make the bench whilst other guys who haven't produced anything this season so far just walk into the side.

The best players should play no matter what province they are from.

It's not as simple as this Rodders. A coach either has to pick his team with the best players and then work tactics to suit them, or he works out his tactics and then picks the best team to affect it. Kidneys problem is two fold; 1) His tactics are three seasons out of date, and 2) even if they could work consistently, he either doesn't have the players, or he picks the wrong players to play to the plan.

You can't play a counter-attacking game with your scrum half cannot provide the backs with quick ball. You can't score tries and exploit space if your 13 can't performance a basic 2-on-1 overlap or complete a simple 8 yard pass. You can't compete with a physical team at the breakdown by having a ball winning 7 and a 6 who is not physical enough to carry the ball effectively as two main ball carriers.

This entire thread is pointless- Kidney's tactics mean that it doesn't matter who we pick. We are about to become a third tier rugby nation officially, though we know that we already are. Let's not kid ourselves, we don't have the players to be the best in the world. We do have the players to be able to beat South Africa, Australia, Wales, England, France, Argentina and Scotland on a consistent basis. Really the world rankings are misnomers- on paper there isn't that much difference between those nations and you could be competitive at 8th in the world. If we manage to hang onto 8th we all know that we are some way adrift of those countries.

The IRFU need to show leadership. The fact is we have had the worst defeat in the professional area. We are on the worst losing streak of the professional area. We are about to drop to 9th in the world. How can that be acceptable?

[rodders]

No I agree with that Hook but give me a break man....we have so many problems I can't tackle them all in one post! Out of scope man!

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

Everyone is searching for some sort of selection magic bullet here Rodders. Yes, lets pick our teams, but what difference will selection make if the tactics are the same garbage? In other hands the same team that meekly surrendered against South Africa may have won. But instead we say 'D'Arcy is finished'. Nonsense, he is still the form 12 in Irish rugby and has been consistently good this season. 'Trimble is terrible'. No, he's the best winger in the form team in the Rabo and arguably the form winger in Ireland. 'Murray is a dreadful scrum half'. No, he had a poor game, but his performance against Racing aside he has improved for Munster this season. I do not believe for one second that somehow they cannot play international rugby, that the step up is too much. That's just lazy thinking. These players are being used incorrectly- they are basing their entire game on something that they do not do naturally for their provinces, the things that make them excel.

So by all means, lets pick a team to face Fiji. Is there anyone who believes even an outstanding performances from someone like Paul Marshall or Paddy Jackson will make one ounce of difference to the Argentinian team?

[rodders]

No I don't. The team is already picked for Argentina. Kidneys team is always 99% picked.

You pick your tactics then you pick your team, that's a no brainer but the point above is that the team selection is not reflecting who is playing well for their provinces, or even playing full stop.

They're two separate points but not mutually exclusive.

You pick the tactics against a given opposition, then the players to carry out those tactics based on specific skill sets, who is fit, performing well and has a recent track record of delivery.

Its not about stepping up per se, its about not picking guys who aren't playing well full stop, sticking them in an Ireland shirt they haven't earned and then expecting that they will somehow just roll back the years or produce a type of rugby they aren't suited to.

[clivemcl]

I think this whole notion of picking units and picking players who fit a gameplan is a joke. They are the highest of professionals. The coach is also supposed to be a professional. I don't see why people seem to suggest that some players aren't capable of following a certain gameplan as well as others. Thats what COACHING is, is it not, getting non-units to play like units and getting players to adapt their ability and improve aspects of their game?

You make it sound like Declan's only job is picking the players and gameplan. His job is to effin well develop the effin team. And he's had plenty of time to do it (or fail to).

[gleesonisgod]

What if it's a good thing for us to drop down to 9th in the world?

Surely it would mean Kidney would have to be sacked before the Six Nations.... something every messeger hear wants. We get fresh coaching staff, ones who can bring out the talents of our backline and begin to develop younger players for the next WC. It will also give us a hope of winning the Six Nations.... maybe even a GS.

If we are to have serious ambitions in the next WC then what difference is it being the 3rd seed in our group? Memories of the Argies in '07 spring to mind.

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

What if it's a good thing for us to drop down to 9th in the world?

Surely it would mean Kidney would have to be sacked before the Six Nations.... something every messeger hear wants. We get fresh coaching staff, ones who can bring out the talents of our backline and begin to develop younger players for the next WC. It will also give us a hope of winning the Six Nations.... maybe even a GS.

If we are to have serious ambitions in the next WC then what difference is it being the 3rd seed in our group? Memories of the Argies in '07 spring to mind.

Nonsense. What has brought you to the point that you believe the IRFU have any semblance of competence in this area? Even if they do sack him, who will replace him? Who are the leading contenders? Connor O'Shea would be my favourite- give him the job, let him oversee a coaching team that he puts together. The IRFU and O'Shea aren't best buds to put it mildly, so I can't see them approaching him. Even if they do, why on earth would Harlequins permit him to leave considering how well they are doing this season with a real chance of major silverwear.

Why would any of the Irish provinces allow their coach to double up with the Irish team if it affects their season? Leinster especially, but also Ulster and Munster to a lesser extent.

We might end up with Mike Ruddock, who might be a very fine coach, proved in charge in the Welsh setup that he couldn't cope with the politiking and a senior players revolt. I would love him to be part of a coaching setup, but head coach? Some people might suggest it is a bit of a step up going from Lansdowne to Irish coach.

When we lose to Argentina its going to be a DISASTER for the Irish team. We will be making World Cup knockout qualification very difficult- imagine a group with New Zealand and France, or South Africa and Australia for instance. The Six Nations will be a write off. Alot of layers with Lions ambitions will either spend the summer on a beach with Paddy Wallace, or on a glorified Wolfhounds tour.

[Notch]

I do think we can still beat Argentina even with the handicap of no attack.

It's going to be a close and ugly game. But if Wales and South Africa win this weekend, a defeat will mean we drop to 8th... not 9th. The major pressure comes on us is if the Scots upset the Springboks.

[asoreleftshoulder]

Even Wales losing wouldn't be a complete disaster as they'd drop below us but it would make things way too tight and mean we had to win v Argentina and hope Wales lost the rest of their matches.

[gleesonisgod]

What if it's a good thing for us to drop down to 9th in the world?

Surely it would mean Kidney would have to be sacked before the Six Nations.... something every messeger hear wants. We get fresh coaching staff, ones who can bring out the talents of our backline and begin to develop younger players for the next WC. It will also give us a hope of winning the Six Nations.... maybe even a GS.

If we are to have serious ambitions in the next WC then what difference is it being the 3rd seed in our group? Memories of the Argies in '07 spring to mind.

Nonsense. What has brought you to the point that you believe the IRFU have any semblance of competence in this area? Even if they do sack him, who will replace him? Who are the leading contenders? Connor O'Shea would be my favourite- give him the job, let him oversee a coaching team that he puts together. The IRFU and O'Shea aren't best buds to put it mildly, so I can't see them approaching him. Even if they do, why on earth would Harlequins permit him to leave considering how well they are doing this season with a real chance of major silverwear.

Why would any of the Irish provinces allow their coach to double up with the Irish team if it affects their season? Leinster especially, but also Ulster and Munster to a lesser extent.

We might end up with Mike Ruddock, who might be a very fine coach, proved in charge in the Welsh setup that he couldn't cope with the politiking and a senior players revolt. I would love him to be part of a coaching setup, but head coach? Some people might suggest it is a bit of a step up going from Lansdowne to Irish coach.

When we lose to Argentina its going to be a DISASTER for the Irish team. We will be making World Cup knockout qualification very difficult- imagine a group with New Zealand and France, or South Africa and Australia for instance. The Six Nations will be a write off. Alot of layers with Lions ambitions will either spend the summer on a beach with Paddy Wallace, or on a glorified Wolfhounds tour.

Never mind Conor O'Shea and Joe Schmidt, there are surely other quality coaches available besides those two.

When you say that the Six Nations will be a write off well thats exactly my point. Get Kidney sacked and maybe it won't be a write off .

Also, it's unlikely we'll end up in a group with New Zealand and France. And, if we can get our act together before 2015 then I believe we have the potential to be one of the top 3.

[Hookisms and Hyperbole]

Firstly, if your name refers to Keith Gleeson then you are extremely wise and I will find it hard to disagree with anything you ever say.

Obviously we don't know who we would get drawn against until the rankings are finalised, but it is conceivable France will be in the second pot, so could Australian at this rate. You are of course right, if we get ourselves together we can beat those teams just as Argentina had to do in 2007.

But who are these quality coaches available? Any one at a decent club will not be available until next summer. Who are the unemployed candidates? Nick Mallett perhaps, but his spell in charge of Italy doesn't completely convince me in truth.

[rodders]

Next coach will be Ruddock, then Foley. The IRFU won't be bringing in an outsider or boat rocker into the old boys/yes men club.

Don't get excited about any great improvements when Kidney goes because sure as fiec the IRFU will replace him with someone even worse.

[Irishhoneymonster]

I have worried so much about dropping down to the 3rd tier for the RWC lately. But then I took a step back and realised that it wouldn't be the end of the world. We could end up in an awful group or we could end up with SA and Scotland or something like that.

For me that makes it harder for the other teams too, the teams in the top 2 tiers certainly won't want Ireland in their group as the 3rd tier team.

So I really am at the point where I don't care any more. If Kidney goes before this 6 Nations then great but I think that is a slim possibility. The most important thing for me is to get an effective coach (who has a strategy that suits us) in after Kidney and good specialised coaches to back him up to get us playng the Rugby we can play. Anything short of that after Fudd and I will not be a happy bunny. Please just let us have a coach who isn't a conservative idiot and let him let rip with this team. Please

[Irishhoneymonster]

Just to add to that, we had conservative selection with good oul Eddie but at least his game plan wasn't conservative! We had some great attacking play at the end of the day! Now with Deccie we have a double Whammy, both conservative selection and tactics! Have to say I really want our next coach to be radical with both selection and gameplan Within reason of course

[Irishhoneymonster]

And gaud have to say never thought I'd be praising Eddie in the slightest the way I felt about him at the time. Kind of how I feel with Kidney now to be honest but with hindsight he wasn't as bad as fudd.

[Notch]

Next coach will be Ruddock, then Foley. The IRFU won't be bringing in an outsider or boat rocker into the old boys/yes men club.

Don't get excited about any great improvements when Kidney goes because sure as fiec the IRFU will replace him with someone even worse.

We have a rare opportunity now. The three provinces have coaches who all subscribe to a similar rugby playing philosophy, all having come from similar backgrounds in NZ. The problem in the professional era has always been merging the different styles in each province to produce a philosophy of playing rugby Ireland can be successful with.

We now have uniformity of approach across the provinces, for the time being at least. If we can install a coaching set-up with the national team with a similar emphasis on a fast-paced, high continuity offloading game the players are learning that at provincial level. So the next coach has an opportunity to really take us forward a great deal.

The problem is... this is the IRFU we are talking about. I can see us wasting a chance by insisting on an Irish candidate, despite the fact there is no home-grown candidate of the requisite quality. We desperately need to look overseas.

[Notch]

I have to say, I don't think Kidney has been conservative with selection. He's tried to gradually phase out experienced players for newer guys. No, the problem is what he is or isn't telling the players to do.

[LeinsterFan4life]

I have to say, I don't think Kidney has been conservative with selection. He's tried to gradually phase out experienced players for newer guys. No, the problem is what he is or isn't telling the players to do.

ROG and DOC are taking a long time to phase out.

[Nipps]

ROG definately, DOC still deserves to be in the Irish squad especially with POC out.

[gleesonisgod]

Just say the IRFU do look at an overseas prospect... who are we looking at?

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

I really hope that we have a foreign coach I don't think an Irish coach will do us any good at this point. Get someone who has an attacking mindset in and isn't loyal to anyone or anywhere

[LeinsterFan4life]

I really hope that we have a foreign coach I don't think an Irish coach will do us any good at this point. Get someone who has an attacking mindset in and isn't loyal to anyone or anywhere

Not even O'Shea? I think he's the perfect coach .

[Notch]

Just say the IRFU do look at an overseas prospect... who are we looking at?

Don't know who is out there. There are obvious candidates like Joe Schmidt, Nick Mallett and Wayne Smith. Wayne Smith is unlikely to want to leave New Zealand. I have no idea of the availability or interest of Schmidt or Mallett. One from leftfield; Robbie Deans. Has endured a frustrating time in Australia and may be tempted by a new challenge.

But realistically the net should be cast wide and deep and I think the best candidate will be someone who surprises us, rather like Schmidt and Anscombe were surprises for their provincial fans when first unveiled. They need to first set out what they want from a coach and see who is available who best fits that bill. They need to avoid hiring on reputation and hoping his coaching philosophy meshes with the provinces and players.

[thebluesmancometh]

Ruddock?

[Irishhoneymonster]

I have to say, I don't think Kidney has been conservative with selection. He's tried to gradually phase out experienced players for newer guys. No, the problem is what he is or isn't telling the players to do.

I'm, sorry is the above a joke? The only time Kidney has ever been daring with selection really was just before the WC when he threw Murray in and wanted to do the same with F.Jones. Any other changes he has been forced into. Other than that I really don't know how you come to that conclusion. The centre positions are a testament to his conservatism.

[Notch]

I think that it was a ballsy call to make Cian Healy, Johnny Sexton et al. regulars when he did. Similarly bringing in Zebo, Henderson this past week, Ferris etc.

He's a curates egg. Most of the time he balances some really conservative calls with some progressive calls. People think he is conservative because of the rate of change but he's still given out more first caps than any other coach in our history.

I'm not defending him; he's a lousy tactician. Thats been the kiss of death for us for about two, three years now. He makes bizarre and baffling selection calls sometimes too, but not always conservative ones. Sometimes they are big gambles, progressive selections, like calling in Murray or Kilcoyne, or playing Zebo at fullback. Sometimes they make no sense; like the continued selection of Murray and Sexton together. Sometimes he is overly conservative in that he selects the likes of O'Callaghan and D'Arcy long after they've served their purpose. Sometimes his calls are simply baffling altogether (McFadden on the wing).

He's a random one.

[Sponsored content]