Pick Your Irish XV For Scotland

Alright, with the Wolfhounds winning 14-8 on a horrible night in Gloucester, we've no rugby left before Irelands 2014 Six Nations campaign kicks off on Sunday. Joe Schmidt has watched the 4 provinces from Rounds 3 to 6 in the Heineken Cup and tonights game was his last chance to see any player who needs game time after an injury or is on the fringes of the squad push their claim in a competitive match.

This time next week, the Ireland guys selected to play Scotland will be in a hotel in Dublin with I'd imagine some considerable amount of nerves and anticipation, all the preparation done, and we'll have seen the form of France, England and Wales on the opening day of the tournament.

So- who's gonna be in, who's gonna be out, who are the bolters, who are the conservative picks and who do you think should be there? Get cracking.

I'll have a crack;

1 Cian Healy, 2 Rory Best, 3 Mike Ross, 4 Mike McCarthy, 5 Paul O'Connell (c), 6 Peter O'Mahony, 7 Chris Henry, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 9 Conor Murray, 10 Jonathon Sexton, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 12 Luke Marshall, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 14 Simon Zebo, 15 Rob Kearney

16 Sean Cronin, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Martin Moore, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Rhys Ruddock, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 David Kearney

I have a feeling Gordon D'Arcy and Andrew Trimble could both be involved though, and neither of them will be very popular choices on here I'd imagine.

I was really tempted to put Iain Henderson on the bench, he has the kind of mobility and power we often lack, but Toner has been playing well too. I really do think we need an athlete like Henderson, we have a lot of back rowers who are technically excellent at the tackle, lineout, maul and breakdown but not athletic ball carriers.

Robin Copeland could be on the bench too, he fits that bill, but Heaslip is a guy I feel is always going to play the full 80 minutes when he's available and I'm not sure about asking Copeland to come on and play flanker. I wanted a blindside flanker on the bench, O'Mahony can shift to 7 if Henry has to go off or to 8 if Heaslip has to go off.

If Jackson is preferred to Madigan at 10, we need cover across the back three. Fitzgerald can move to centre- 13, or 12 in a pinch.

I think Schmidt will pick this team

1. Healy
2. Best
3. Ross
4. Toner
5. POC
6. POM
7. Henry
8. Heaslip
9. Murray
10. Sexton
11. Fitz
12. Darcy
13. BOD
14. Zebo
15. Kearney

16. Cronin 17. McGrath 18. Archer 19. Henderson 20. O'Donnell 21. Reddan 22. Jackson 23. McFadden

1 Healy, 2 Best, 3 Ross, 4 Toner, 5 POC (c), 6 POM, 7 Henry, 8 Heaslip, 9 Murray, 10 Sexton, 11 Luke Fitz
12 Marshall, 13 BOD, 14 Zebo, 15 Kearney

16 Cronin, 17 McGrath, 18 Moore, 19 Henderson, 20 TOD, 21 Reddan, 22 Jackson, 23 Henshaw

Thats would be mine.

Notch, I agree with your team and bench, apart from McCarthy, I think Toner will start.

I thought Moore was poor today but I'd still have him ahead of Archer. I wouldn't be too surprised if TOD, McFadden and Madigan make the bench though.

Lot of competition for that last utility spot on the bench. Obviously Henshaw and McFadden can cover at centre, Henshaw actually really impressed me this weekend at 13.

Can BOD last 80 mins at test level five games in a row? I'd suggest Henshaw is in with a brilliant shot.

Gretgael1 wrote:Notch, I agree with your team and bench, apart from McCarthy, I think Toner will start.

I thought Moore was poor today but I'd still have him ahead of Archer. I wouldn't be too surprised if TOD, McFadden and Madigan make the bench though.

Moore looked to have trouble at scrum time, particularly with his footing but he made 13 tackles! That's superb. To be honest both the replacement props looked better at scrum time.

Backrow I just can't pick and I think I would be tempted to drop O'Mahoney for O'Donnell. It's very hard to pick a good side. If it were mine Tuohy would start with O'Connell too

Notch wrote:Lot of competition for that last utility spot on the bench. Obviously Henshaw and McFadden can cover at centre, Henshaw actually really impressed me this weekend at 13.

Can BOD last 80 mins at test level five games in a row? I'd suggest Henshaw is in with a brilliant shot.

Good point. I might be wrong but I don't think BOD will last all 5 full games, especially when you consider they way he puts his body on the line everytime he makes a tackle.

I must say I was really impressed with Henshaws defence tonight, at one point he made a big tackle, got right back up and made another within like 2-3 seconds. He looks like a real athletic workhorse and I can definitely see him starting against Italy and subbing for BOD in a lot of the games. It makes sense to manage BOD whilst slowly exposing Henshaw with a view of him taking the 13 jersey or at least competing for it with Payne next season.

TOD should start as Henry is a one trick pony and TOD has a better all round game. Zebo should also start but not sure because of the coaches approach. Marshall probably will start but he has not been great the last couple of games for Ulster so its possible Darcy will scrape in. Archer was very good when he came on but again Schmidt's preference will bd for the blue colour shirt again.

Actually ye against Scotland (no disrespect) it could be a good game to have Henshaw on the bench and get him some minutes.

Agreed slane.

Can I ask why Donnacha Ryan seems to be disregarded by everyone here? Has he had much gametime since returning from injury?

I would have thought Ryan would be better thought of than the likes of McCarthy and Toner.

I would pick:

1. Healy
2. Best
3. Moore (won't happen though)
4. Tuohy (?)
5. POC
6. POM
7. TOD
8. Heaslip
9. Murray
10. Sexton
11. Fitz
12. Marshall
13. BOD
14. Zebo
15. Kearney

16. Cronin
17. McGrath
18. Ross
19. Ryan
20. Henderson
21. Marmion (won't happen)
22. Jackson
23. Henshaw

Ryan is injured. He would be in the mix but he isn't standout above the other candidates to parachute him in. The only one I think that May apply to is Henderson due to age and even then I wouldn't be so sure

Golden wrote:I think Schmidt will pick this team

1. Healy
2. Best
3. Ross
4. Toner
5. POC
6. POM
7. Henry
8. Heaslip
9. Murray
10. Sexton
11. Fitz
12. Darcy
13. BOD
14. Zebo
15. Kearney

16. Cronin 17. McGrath 18. Archer 19. Henderson 20. O'Donnell 21. Reddan 22. Jackson 23. McFadden

I like that team. But McFadden will start before Zebo. If Zebo even makes the 23. Dave Kearney has been in great form for a while now.   Also, no Moore? I'd start him and have Ross on the bench. I'd also start Cronin. Best, in-form  hooker we have at the minute. Fast, dynamic, ball-carrier to boot. Madigan in to cover 10 and 12.

As a Scotland fan, I am very nervous about this one. It will either be the case that (a) it will be desperately tight until the final 20 or (b) we will sustain a comprehensive kick in the crackers and ship at least 30 points in a comprehensive defeat.

There are no obvious weaknesses in Golden or Notchs' teams.

I do love watching Cronin play - never seen a hooker who so patently wants to be a centre. The best front row sidestep in the world, surely.

My team:

Healy- Probably the best loosehead in the world
Best- Scotland have a strong pack, Best's tackle/maul/breakdown work will be critical
Moore- The Scot scrum isn't very strong and Moore really can get around in ways Ross dreams about. Give him a chance in this game ahead of the others.
McCarthy- I'd start Toner but I think McCarthy's beef and weight will be important dealing with the strong Scottish pack in mauls, breakdowns.
POC- Obvious call.
POM- Not a massive fan of his, but he's been playing well and we'll need his lineout skills.
Henry- I think TOD is a better impact option and Henry can slow down Scot ball/speed up ours.
Heaslip- Work-a-holic. Massively underrated player IMO.

Murray- Another abrasive option to deal with Scotish blunt force before putting width on ball.
Sexton- Best 10 in Ireland when not jaded.
Fitzgerald- Seriously well rounded player and in great form too. Running well again.
Marshall- His ball carrying will be critical and also his kicking game. Needs game time with BOD.
BOD- Needs to find big form as he has been patchy.
Zebo- Quick game breaking ability and also a big boot. Good aerial skills too.
Kearney- Needs to show Autumn form again.

Cronin-McGrath-Ross-Toner-TOD-Reddan-Jackson-Henshaw

Healy-McGrath
Best-Cronin-Strauss
Moore-Ross
POC-Toner-McCarthy-Henderson
POM-Henry-Heaslip-TOD-Ruddock

Murray-Reddan-Boss
Sexton-Jackson
Darcy-Bod-Marshall-Henshaw
Fitzgerald-Kearney-Zebo-McFadden-Gilroy
Kearney

I mean no disrespect to our Scottish friends but I think Schmidt is going to start our strongest team (whatever he perceives that to be) and try to put the game beyond Scotland by half-time so that he can rotate the squad and give our main players more resting time with our 6 day turnaround for the Wales game. It makes sense because it also gives the guys coming off the bench a run against quality opposition which should improve their match sharpness.  

It's a tricky one because you want to give players the full 80 to get match fit but if we do then the 6 day turn around will leave us at a disadvantage when playing Wales who will have had 7 days to rest up.

From a Scottish fan, I wouldn't be too worried. A full strength Munster, Ulster or Leinster would beat Glasgow and Edinburgh easily. Given they are packed with Irish players, I don't see how we can win.

In the backs though Hogg is in good form. Scott and Dunbar are an effective pairing and S Lamont is actually pretty decent atm. Our weakness is at ten but Hogg can kick for distance.

In short, you've won and should be a nice spectacle for you.

All the best in the 6N, I'm 1/8th Irish so I'll be supporting you after Scotland.

* We'll pick something like
Grant, Ford, Low, Hamilton, Gray, Beattie, Brown, Denton, Laidlaw, Jackson, Lamont, Scott, Dunbar, Maitland, Hogg. (If Scott inj, Dun to 12 Lam to 13 Seymour to 11).

Nematode- its a particularly Scottish trait to say 'you've won' to your opponents before the game!

I remember far too well this game to take Scotland for granted; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfSiu18itCw

Last year Ireland beat Wales with some great attacking rugby and lost to Italy in a game where we struggled to tell the difference between arse and elbow. Anything can happen!

Notch wrote:Nematode- its a particularly Scottish trait to say 'you've won' to your opponents before the game!

I remember far too well this game to take Scotland for granted; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfSiu18itCw

Last year Ireland beat Wales with some great attacking rugby and lost to Italy in a game where we struggled to tell the difference between arse and elbow. Anything can happen!

In 2010 we had the Killer B's IN FORM, Euan Murray who was excellent in the scrum and our backs were not bad too. 2010 was a really good year for us. Anyway, we normally start poorly in competitions (think Samoa and England)

True, true. I'm very hopeful that we can win and win well tbh. I'm very confident and excited about what we can offer. There's a real sense of hope and optimism in the Irish camp right now I think. But its not like we've been so consistent over the past few years we can take anyone for granted!

Notch wrote:True, true. I'm very hopeful that we can win and win well tbh. I'm very confident and excited about what we can offer. There's a real sense of hope and optimism in the Irish camp right now I think. But its not like we've been so consistent over the past few years we can take anyone for granted!

True.  

In my last post I was referring to how I think Schmidt will approach the game, he will want to win it but I'm not so sure about winning well. The players form would suggest that we should win well but I think a tight enough game with no injuries and couple of sups on at 60 would suit us well. I don't think we want to get into a dogfight with the Scottish and potentially lose someone like POC to injury this early in the tournament. I think Schmidt and the coaching team will be aware of this going into this match and thus will throw the kitchen sink at Scotland in the first 20 to make sure it doesn't happen.

Nematode wrote:

Notch wrote:Nematode- its a particularly Scottish trait to say 'you've won' to your opponents before the game!

I remember far too well this game to take Scotland for granted; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfSiu18itCw

Last year Ireland beat Wales with some great attacking rugby and lost to Italy in a game where we struggled to tell the difference between arse and elbow. Anything can happen!

In 2010 we had the Killer B's IN FORM, Euan Murray who was excellent in the scrum and our backs were not bad too. 2010 was a really good year for us. Anyway, we normally start poorly in competitions (think Samoa and England)

I agree. There are tectonic plates that move faster than us at the start of tournaments.

If Glasgow were motoring as they were last season and had built a momentum of consistently good performances with wins, then I would be much more confident. But they haven't. And nobody can really explain why. So I'm not. Don't get me wrong - we still have good players and will try our arses off. But there are so many unknowns - key members of our pack (Hamilton, R Gray, Strokosch, Beattie) have been plying their trade in France and we haven't had too much visibility of how well they're playing.

The other thing is injuries. There are some important players who are either out (Visser, Horne) or questionable (Matt Scott, whom Gatland admitted this week came within the width of a baw hair of making the Lions tour) and other guys who are good but have just come back from injury and simply won't be match sharp (Lamont, Bennett).

And yes, yes, Edinburgh are playing well with Laidlaw looking good. But the best players? Du Preez, Nel and Bezzywhatsit. Not SQ yet...

Get the picture? And don't even start me on fly half. Any of Sexton, Jackson, Madigan and possibly even JJ would get a starting navy shirt in that position. And that's a bit depressing.

George Carlin wrote:Get the picture? And don't even start me on fly half. Any of Sexton, Jackson, Madigan and possibly even JJ would get a starting navy shirt in that position. And that's a bit depressing.

You forgot Keatley. I'd take him as well, probably Ian Humphreys too......

There will be no real excuses for Ireland if we don't win, I agree. Schmidts honey moon will grind to a very abrupt halt if we lose!

George Carlin wrote:

Nematode wrote:

Notch wrote:Nematode- its a particularly Scottish trait to say 'you've won' to your opponents before the game!

I remember far too well this game to take Scotland for granted; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfSiu18itCw

Last year Ireland beat Wales with some great attacking rugby and lost to Italy in a game where we struggled to tell the difference between arse and elbow. Anything can happen!

In 2010 we had the Killer B's IN FORM, Euan Murray who was excellent in the scrum and our backs were not bad too. 2010 was a really good year for us. Anyway, we normally start poorly in competitions (think Samoa and England)

I agree. There are tectonic plates that move faster than us at the start of tournaments.

If Glasgow were motoring as they were last season and had built a momentum of consistently good performances with wins, then I would be much more confident. But they haven't. And nobody can really explain why. So I'm not. Don't get me wrong - we still have good players and will try our arses off. But there are so many unknowns - key members of our pack (Hamilton, R Gray, Strokosch, Beattie) have been plying their trade in France and we haven't had too much visibility of how well they're playing.

The other thing is injuries. There are some important players who are either out (Visser, Horne) or questionable (Matt Scott, whom Gatland admitted this week came within the width of a baw hair of making the Lions tour) and other guys who are good but have just come back from injury and simply won't be match sharp (Lamont, Bennett).

And yes, yes, Edinburgh are playing well with Laidlaw looking good. But the best players? Du Preez, Nel and Bezzywhatsit. Not SQ yet...

Get the picture? And don't even start me on fly half. Any of Sexton, Jackson, Madigan and possibly even JJ would get a starting navy shirt in that position. And that's a bit depressing.

Scotlands situation does look pretty dire atm but on a positive note in June you have Vern Cotter a World Class coach coming into the set-up. I'm sure he will do a lot of good for Scotland and make the team a lot more competitive internationally.

Notch wrote:There will be no real excuses for Ireland if we don't win, I agree. Schmidts honey moon will grind to a very abrupt halt!

Yep, talking about killing the momentum.

Zebo, Kearney and Fitzgerald would be a very dangerous back 3.

I think most of us Scotland fans are fed up of "positives" and "potential".

The problem with being in my early 30s is that I can remember Scotland winning tournaments (well, two anyway), and being respected as a genuine force in international rugby. Very few sides "expected" to beat us. Sure, we gave Ireland a fright last year, and were competitive against Wales and their star player Craig Joubert, but we're still struggling to execute under pressure, and are still letting sides off the hook having done all the hard work.

The classic sequence of play over the last few years has been for Scotland to toil away for 10 minutes and about 30 phases, drill down the opposition defence, win a penalty and for Greg to slot it over. Cue the return kick off. We choke up possession, the opposition tears into us and comes away with 7 points in about 30 seconds and 3 phases. Scottish rugby in a nutshell.

We need to find players who can execute under pressure, and forwards with the same sort of intensity as the likes of POC, Best and Healy. Players who never seem to switch off and make their lifes work ensuring that no opposition player makes an inch of territory without a fight.

Execution under pressure, and intensity in defence. That's what Scotland needs into order to convert "promise" and "potential" into wins, and ultimately respect.

You beat us last year, though. The Great Murrayfield Robbery. Jacksons test debut and O'Garas last ever game for Ireland.

We'll be fairly desperate to return the favour on our home patch!

I honestly feel it's gonna be really close against against Scotland. Beat us last year and deservedly so we were poor under kidney bean. Although, Ireland have the talent to win, we will be beaten by wales and England. We'll be lucky to finish third. Give the team a break too much pressure we flop we will come good but give it I'd rather flop this six nations and get to a semi final of World Cup then it's anybody's game.

Healy Best Moore
Toner POC
POM Henry Heaslip

Murray
Sexton

Fitzgerald
Marshall
Bod
Zebo
Kearney


Cronin McGrath Ross Henderson Ruddock Reddan Madigan Henshaw

My Team / Schmidt's Team

Healy
Best
Fitzpatrick/Ross
Tuohy/Toner
POC
POM
Henry
Heaslip
Murray
Sexton
Fitz
Marshall
BOD
Zebo
Henshaw/Kearney

McGrath
Cronin
Moore/Fitzpatrick
Henderson/McCarthy
Copeland/TOD
Marmion/Reddan
Madigan/Jackson
Gilroy/McFadden

I injury to sexton of Healy and were screwed

**1 injury

Notch wrote:You beat us last year, though. The Great Murrayfield Robbery. Jacksons test debut and O'Garas last ever game for Ireland.

We'll be fairly desperate to return the favour on our home patch!

Yes, it was a robbery. The territory and possession statistics were bizarre that day. Ultimately Jackson had a shocker with the boot and Laidlaw had a stormer. I don't read too much into that game to be honest. Marshall and Earls butchered several tries that day, and the scoreline did not reflect the play. Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed the result, it didn't tell us much about the direction of travel of Scottish rugby. Jim Hamilton was MOTM for basically wrecking the Irish lineout and making a complete nuisance of himself. Says it all really.

Toner? Oh dear.

Thats the frustration with the Ireland team. Jim Hamilton did a number on our line out in Murrayfield but when Ulster go over to Montpellier we plan around Hamilton, we neutralise his threat and we win the game. Why can't we do it against the exact same players in an international context?

Jim Hamilton would be a player I have a massive amount of time for as a line out forward.

Toner? Oh dear.... What's up with toner

RugbyFan182 wrote:I injury to sexton of Healy and were screwed

Not so sure about that tbh...

Jackson is playing good rugby at the moment and while nowhere near the finished article is really growing and has done well.
McGrath is a monster, not Healy but not a million miles off either.

Only place I think an injury could really hurt us would be at 8.

Options would be POM or Copeland. POM is good and so is Copeland but neither are in Jamie's league in terms of slowing down opposition ball, gaining ball retention, tackle rate/success. I believe he is one of the most underrated players in Ireland by many fans. If Jamie was to go down I'd be pretty worried. That being said if Healy went down it would be a real big loss, likewise Sexton, Murray.

I would suggest "Toner? Oh dear" is a comment based on the fact that he is not an international rugby player whatsoever.  Anyone who has watched Dan Tuohy this season knows that though Toner may be taller, Tuohy is head and shoulders above him on the field.  That my friends is a play on words about Toner's height.  You are welcome.

Tuohy should be playing with POC.  I genuinely don't even see it as a discussion based on this season's form and the merits of each player.  

Apart from that I would perhaps play D'Arcy over Marshall at 12, though its a marginal call.  BOD shouldn't be on the team, his form is frankly dreadful.  

Zebo and McFadden for the wings.  Never been a fan of McFadden's, but he was Ireland's best back by a distance in the autumn.  Zebo's attitude in green in the summer tour leaves a nasty taste in the mouth, but if I had a chance of going on a Lions tour would I do the same?  Probably.  Shame Earls isn't fit for a spot on the wing.  Bowe, even if fit, hasn't played well this season and Earls and Zebo would have been my first choice.  

As for Madigan ahead of Jackson on the bench?  Seriously?  Jackson is a mile ahead of Madigan this season, an absolute mile.

I'd also start with someone else at tighthead. I would prefer Moore over Fitzpatrick. Moore is a decent scrummager and I'm sure he would hold his own. What you might lose in dropping Ross in the scrum you would more than make up for around the pitch. Ross offers the tam absolutely nothing at the breakdown. Time to look to someone else.

I admire the character of Schmidt he's out of nowhere seemed to create depth in a squad and fine talent but in terms of winning the thing we can't afford injury. We need a bloody good season to restore what we all no and believe we can do. A

RugbyFan182 wrote:I honestly feel it's gonna be really close against against Scotland. Beat us last year and deservedly so we were poor under kidney bean. Although, Ireland have the talent to win, we will be beaten by wales and England. We'll be lucky to finish third. Give the team a break too much pressure we flop we will come good but give it I'd rather flop this six nations and get to a semi final of World Cup then it's anybody's game.

Well, you're optimistic aren't you.

The RWC is neither here nor there in terms of what Ireland do or don't do in this year's 6 Nations. Your right in one sence coming into form for next years tournament would be a massive advantage going into the World Cup. In saying that I fully expect us to win all of our home games in this years tournament. The Welsh game is the one Schmidt is targeting and rightly so because if we win that game we will have 2 wins in the bag before our first away game and have a chance at the Triple Crown going to England (not bad for his 6th game in charge) if we win that then who knows.

We shouldn't aim for a triple crown to be the norm we want to win it don't we? I'm saying without the passion of the Nz game in every game we won't win. Maybe it just horrors from previous seasons under kidney. Too many heart breaks to believe what we are capable of consistently

...play at that intensity game after game without a flop

I think it will be Jackson on the bench. There is an interview in the Indo with Conor Murray (about the Schools Cup) where he says that he is now back practicising place kicking seriously. He said he gave it up for a while to concentrate on other aspects of his game, but got into practising it seriously again on the Lions Tour.

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:I would suggest "Toner? Oh dear" is a comment based on the fact that he is not an international rugby player whatsoever.  Anyone who has watched Dan Tuohy this season knows that though Toner may be taller, Tuohy is head and shoulders above him on the field.  That my friends is a play on words about Toner's height.  You are welcome.

Tuohy should be playing with POC.  I genuinely don't even see it as a discussion based on this season's form and the merits of each player.  

Apart from that I would perhaps play D'Arcy over Marshall at 12, though its a marginal call.  BOD shouldn't be on the team, his form is frankly dreadful.  

Zebo and McFadden for the wings.  Never been a fan of McFadden's, but he was Ireland's best back by a distance in the autumn.  Zebo's attitude in green in the summer tour leaves a nasty taste in the mouth, but if I had a chance of going on a Lions tour would I do the same?  Probably.  Shame Earls isn't fit for a spot on the wing.  Bowe, even if fit, hasn't played well this season and Earls and Zebo would have been my first choice.  

As for Madigan ahead of Jackson on the bench?  Seriously?  Jackson is a mile ahead of Madigan this season, an absolute mile.

I'd also start with someone else at tighthead.  I would prefer Moore over Fitzpatrick.  Moore is a decent scrummager and I'm sure he would hold his own.  What you might lose in dropping Ross in the scrum you would more than make up for around the pitch.  Ross offers the tam absolutely nothing at the breakdown.  Time to look to someone else.    

Agree with all of this especially the part about Tuohy partnering POC I actually think those would work perfectly together as a second row pairing similar to the old combination of DOC/POC. It is unfortunate that Henderson doesn't have more experience because him and POC together would be unreal.

As for the wings I think if were picking on form it would have to be Fitz and Trimble for the Scotland game although I think everyone know's McFadden will play.

RugbyFan182 wrote:We shouldn't aim for a triple crown to be the norm we want to win it don't we? I'm saying without the passion of the Nz game in every game we won't win. Maybe it just horrors from previous seasons under kidney. Too many heart breaks to believe what we are capable of consistently  

Yes but for Joes first outing I think a Triple Crown and a second place finish would suffice. The NZ game is the benchmark because the players, Schmidt and the fans now know what Ireland are capable of, anything less against England, Wales or France would be disappointing when you consider how good that NZ actually are. If we really want to win this year we need to play every game like we did that day.

slane wrote: Agree with all of this especially the part about Tuohy partnering POC I actually think those would work perfectly together as a second row pairing similar to the old combination of DOC/POC. It is unfortunate that Henderson doesn't have more experience because him and POC together would be unreal.

As for the wings I think if were picking on form it would have to be Fitz and Trimble for the Scotland game although I think everyone know's McFadden will play.

I'm afraid I can't agree with you Slane. Henderson for me is a 6 and no amount of wishing will make him a top class second row. I just don't think he will ever be a truly effective second row for Ulster or Ireland. He best display for Ulster are at 6. Frankly, both sides need to decide where his best position is and stop treating as a utility forward. He's far too talented for that.

Also, Trimble for me should be nowhere near the side. Last season he was Ireland's best wing at provincial level and was screaming for selection. Unfortunately Ireland were encumbered with a coach with no understanding of how to use him effectively. However it must be said, he far short of that level of play this year. I would pick McFadden, Zebo and Fitzgerald in front of him at the moment.