Ireland vs Scotland

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Ireland v Scotland

Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Sunday, 2 Feb 2014
Kick-off: 15:00

Referee: Craig Joubert (SARU)
Assistant referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU)
Assistant referee: Mike Fraser (NZR)
TMO: Carlo Damasco (FIR)

A. Squads

1. Ireland

Backs:
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster), Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster), Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster), Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster), Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht), Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster), Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster), David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster), Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster), Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster), Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster), Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) *, Luke Marshall (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster), Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

Forwards:
Rodney Ah You (Buccaneers/Connacht) *, Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster), Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster), Robin Copeland (Cardiff Blues) *, Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Robbie Diack (Malone/Ulster) *, Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster), Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) *, David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster), Mike McCarthy (Leinster), Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster) *, Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) *, Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster), Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster), Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster), Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster), Damien Varley (Garryowen/Munster)

* Uncapped player

2. Scotland

Forwards:
John Beattie (Montpellier), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Geoff Cross, David Denton, Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (all Edinburgh Rugby), Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Ryan Grant, Jonny Gray (both Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Jim Hamilton (Montpellier), Robert Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons), Kieran Low (London Irish), Moray Low, Pat MacArthur (both Glasgow Warriors), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby) Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Tim Swinson and Ryan Wilson (both Glasgow Warriors).

Backs:
Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Max Evans (Castres), Dougie Fife (Edinburgh Rugby), Stuart Hogg, Ruaridh Jackson, Sean Lamont (all Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby), Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby) and Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors).

B. Head To Head

127 Played 127
57 Wins 65
65 Losses 57
5 Draws 5
203 Tries 210
104 Conversions 109
111 Penalties 131
17 Drop Goals 38
1,344 Points 1,303

C. Recent Form

24 February 2013
Scotland 12–8 Ireland

10 March 2012
Ireland 32–14  Scotland

27 February 2011
Scotland 18–21  Ireland

D. Teams

1. Ireland



15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 49
14. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) 2
13. Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) 128
12. Luke Marshall (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 4
11. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 50
10. Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92) 38
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 22
1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 42
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 70
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 34
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 10
5. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) (capt) 88
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 19
7. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster) 9
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) 60

Replacements:

16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 30
17. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 3
18. Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster) *
19. Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster) 7
20. Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) 2
21. Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster) 17
22. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) 5
23. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 21

* Denotes uncapped player

2. Scotland




15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) 15 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
14 Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps, 1 try, 5 points
13 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps, 1 try, 5 points
12 Duncan Taylor (Saracens) 6 caps
11 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) 82 caps, 12 tries, 60 points
10 Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps, 1 try, 2 conversions, 9 points
9 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) 24 caps, 3 tries, 23 conversions, 54 penalties, 223 points
1 Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors) 13 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) 71 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
3 Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors) 23 caps
4 Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps
5 Jim Hamilton (Montpellier) 50 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) 4 caps
7 Kelly Brown (Saracens) CAPTAIN 60 caps, 4 tries, 20 points
8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby) 17 caps

Replacements:

16 Pat MacArthur (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps
17 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) 30 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
18 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby) 23 caps, 1 try, 5 points
19 Richie Gray (Castres) 33 caps, 1 try, 5 points
20 Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier) 26 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
21 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) 64 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
22 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby) 16 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
23 Max Evans (Castres) 37 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

Notch wrote:Schmidt highlights Trimbles physicality, aerial skills and defensive play as reasons for his selection, highlights danger of Scottish wings.

Thats fair enough. At this stage we all know what David Skrela brings to the table. He hasnt had too many bad games for Ireland has he so he is a pretty reliable choice IMO.

Yep, 50 caps and he brings a high work rate and good defensive qualities. Think he deserves this; he's definitely been Ulsters form win over the past two seasons, but he's had to watch Bowe and Gilroy leapfrog him in selection despite not showing the same kind of provincial form.

He has a massive challenge to hold onto the shirt when Fitzgerald and Bowe come back and Zebo gets some more game time under his belt.

Notch wrote:Yep, 50 caps and he brings a high work rate and good defensive qualities. Think he deserves this; he's definitely been Ulsters form win over the past two seasons, but he's had to watch Bowe and Gilroy leapfrog him in selection despite not showing the same kind of provincial form.

He has a massive challenge to hold onto the shirt when Fitzgerald and Bowe come back and Zebo gets some more game time under his belt.

Hopefully the thought of so many others on the fringe of the squad will spur on some good performances from the likes of Trimble, D. Kearney, Henry, Toner etc.

This is Schmidt's proving time.  Competition for places - yes ... even for next week.  He's keeping moods hot and I'm sure enjoys the competitive rivalries in camp.  
But also I think just stoic squad dynamics will be his method... as in proving to himself that he has a squad by making this 6N a squad event.  Trimble and others will feel they have to show up and fight to keep their place.  BUT, I don't think that will matter so much as I do expect rotation of certain positions even after good displays.  Players won't be fighting for their shirts so much as they'll be fighting to be a continuing part of the squad.

Notch wrote:The rumoured team was spot on. Reddan and Fitzgerald out. Schmidt "better to err on the side of caution". Call at 12 partly due to D'Arcy having a stomach bug at the start of the week.

I'm not surprised, that beard must be a breading ground for all sorts of bugs and bacteria.

Maybe he caught Avian Flu from the birds who live in there rodders

D'Arcys Beard:

Team is very conservative. Don't expect anything to fancy in terms of a new rugby playing dawn for Ireland. Has all the hallmarks of a dogfight...

I'm Glad to see Trimble start I think that a physical winger is needed to counter the Welsh wing giants and would have him earmarked for the Welsh game, good to see him start the Scotland game. Counter S Lamont get time with team and two games in a row (something that he hasn't got in a long time), and then for maybe England or Italy I'd rotate him for Bowe and Zebo/Gilroy.

Marshall this week and the more physical D'arcy for Wales, then whichever shows better form for the rest.

What is clear now is that Schmidt will rotate a certain amount which is good prep for a World cup where the number of games close together will make this a nessacarity, and the better news is we have the players to do it.

What's the players who would have made it less conservative and more new dawn,ME-109?

Zebo

I disagree though, look at the number of young guys pushing through on the bench. Zebo will be back.

There are I think 8 players with less than 10 caps in the 23.

Henshaw, Marmion TOD, Zebo, Henderson, Gilroy, Harahan (as a bolter). At least he is starting Marshall which gives me some hope but apparently its only because Darcy was ill.

Like I said I expect this game to be a dogfight, I don't see any great creativity..

On another note I love how the BBC website are predictring Ulster future signings they have Heaslip listed as Ulster

ME-109 wrote:Henshaw, Marmion TOD, Zebo, Henderson, Gilroy, Harahan (as a bolter). At least he is starting Marshall which gives me some hope but apparently its only because Darcy was ill.

Like I said I expect this game to be a dogfight, I don't see any great creativity..

Hopefully the creativity will come in the way they play and not in individual moments. In all fairness if Schmidt does away with pre-arranged substitutions we will be moving forward.

ME-109 wrote:Henshaw, Marmion TOD, Zebo, Henderson, Gilroy, Harahan (as a bolter). At least he is starting Marshall which gives me some hope but apparently its only because Darcy was ill.

Like I said I expect this game to be a dogfight, I don't see any great creativity..

yeah...possibly.  All that goes terribly wrong, terribly quickly and the media hounds are out in force though - "Whacky selection bites the dust".

BTW, sorry for giving you your formal 'full' title back there,ME (ME-109)  Don't know what came over me bein' so formal.

neilthom7 wrote:On another note I love how the BBC website are predictring Ulster future signings they have Heaslip listed as Ulster

Must be his modern ways. Southerners would never wear their pants so low..we is too rustic for that buzz.

GunsGerms wrote:

ME-109 wrote:Henshaw, Marmion TOD, Zebo, Henderson, Gilroy, Harahan (as a bolter). At least he is starting Marshall which gives me some hope but apparently its only because Darcy was ill.

Like I said I expect this game to be a dogfight, I don't see any great creativity..

Hopefully the creativity will come in the way they play and not in individual moments. In all fairness if Schmidt does away with pre-arranged substitutions we will be moving forward.

I hope so as well. However a concern with JS is the detail he imparts. Clearly this was an issue with Leinster when he started originally but after the initial problems it all came good. Problem with international rugby is the timeframe he has with the players. So he goes for a conservative enough selection with players that 'know' his expectations/systems. The problem is that integrating new players could be an issue going forward. Reminds me a little of EOS' approach. Anyway the interesting thing I am looking for on Sunday is whether this game plan from leinster will work at the international level and that we are showing signs of moving forward.

SecretFly wrote:

neilthom7 wrote:On another note I love how the BBC website are predictring Ulster future signings they have Heaslip listed as Ulster

Must be his modern ways.  Southerners would never wear their pants so low..we is too rustic for that buzz.

and McFadden

SecretFly wrote:

neilthom7 wrote:On another note I love how the BBC website are predictring Ulster future signings they have Heaslip listed as Ulster

Must be his modern ways.  Southerners would never wear their pants so low..we is too rustic for that buzz.

Maybe it was just posted by David Humphreys and he is playing some sort of Jedi Mind trick to get Heaslip to play for Ulster next season

I think Schmidt is going about things well. He looks over every detail and I presume he has a different opinion on what a top player is.


I think he is being a bit conservative with the team selection against Scotland but thats because its probably selected with Wales in mind. Trimble for example. Maybe thats why Boss is ahead of Marmion too.


Average Dave is a good player. I thought he outplayed Zebo when they played for Ireland A a few years back. He has a high workrate and is solid at most things. The high workrate helps defensively and offensively. Things like that are not picked up by most fans but in a Schmidt team its clear he wants everyone bursting theirr balls to give options to the player on the ball, which makes it very hard for defenders.

'On and off the ball' was I think how Schmidt's observational approach was described; which I'm sure sounds elementary coaching basics but I think players know that he means it.  What they do off the ball, like simply getting back to their feet quickly and into position again, makes them aware that he requires big lungs and honest ones.

Yup - Joes a pragmatists, a bit like myself ... I was chatting to him at ravers one time....I said "Joe if you get the Ireland job, don't be picking them auld fancy dans like Zebo and Earls" .... he said "rodders don't you worry mate, I most certainly won't" .....

Two teams of missing players.


Court        1  Kilcoyne
Strauss     2  Sherry
Archer       3  Fitzpatrick
Henderson 4  McCarthy
Foley         5  Ryan
Ruddock     6  Ferris
SOB          7   Dougal
Copeland   8   Jordi Murphy
Marmion    9   Reddan
Hanrahan  10  Madigan
Fitzgerald  11  Earls
D'Arcy      12  Olding
Cave        13  Henshaw
Gilroy      14   Bowe
Keatley    15   Zebo


No Coughlan, Wilson, DOC, Dom Ryan, James Cronin, Varley, McLaughlin, Denis Buckley etc. Depth not too bad in Irish rugby nowadays.

or even James Hart, Niall Morris, Leo Cullen or James Downey. All decent players.

That's a pretty damn good Ireland team, and as you say guys massive strength in depth (some seriously good players injured or not selected).

Generally we are glad Hogg is getting some confidence and form back after the Lions selection debacle, and our back three of Hogg/Maitland/Schlong should front up and hopefully gain parity with those well known funeral directors Kearney, Trimble and Kearney, and I have a feeling that our midfield of Dunbar and Taylor who has been excellent for the Sarries this season could do a number on the Master and his Apprentice.

That unfortunately is where my confidence ends and with the exception of Kelly Brown and Tim Swinson your 1-10 are comfortably the better more destructive footballers.

Its ironical but Jackson has been playing well for Glasgow and Weir has been gash, and yet this time Jackson doesn't get anywhere near the squad and wee Dunky is left to play the full 80 mins with no specialist 10 on the bench as cover. I believe Wilson is selected at blindside to protect and help Weir with his offloading options as Denton and Brown like to play tight and ruck and maul more than run and offload. I am not convinced myself that Wilson will operate at blindside however and you will see him and Denton interchange positions a lot during the match.

Be happy if we can keep the score down to a 10 point difference, but can see you guys giving us a 20 plus point caning.

Andrew Trimble was so confident of his chances of being selected, he'd already agreed to commentate on Sundays game for Radio Ulster   

GunsGerms wrote:or even James Hart, Niall Morris, Leo Cullen or James Downey. All decent players.

I really wish Hart was capped with the Wolfhounds but I understand why they prefer the Irish based players.

Straight swap Trimble for Fitz in my fantasy team then...

What pleases me about the selection is the potential impact we have of the bench dynamic ball carriers who can come on and up the tempo

I think that it is going to be a tight game based on the team selection. Scotland should not be under estimated at all. Think that Ireland will win by more than a score but it will be very tight.

Jaysus you Irish talk a lot - I spend a day off here to move house and I've got 2 pages to read!   

... not as much as you Scots swear... (heavy work moving houses?)

... maybe it's the DIY sort i.e. self-raising

... flour of Scotland?

The Great Aukster wrote:... maybe it's the DIY sort i.e. self-raising

... flour of Scotland?

Noh. You wouldn't catch us wasting good yeast on baking bread...  

Think Ireland by 10 for today - unless SJ is shrewder than I thought !

Two intensely nerve racking games yesterday, this is sure to be another firework. Can't wait. Really can't call this, history would say an easy Irish win, but I have a feeling Scotland have enough in their tank to make this a very competitive match.

Good luck to all the fans.

I woke up this morning full of hope and anticipation of the game today. Then reality set in.

My day is going to consist of a downward spiral of depression with some flashes of optimisim up until 3pm. Then 80 minutes of torture, followed by some soul searching and quiet reflection.

cake,
if the Irish try to turn it into an arm wrestle we could sneak it, but I think Schmidt is too smart for that, otherwise we will get beaten. I will then get the Monday, 6Ns blues feeling going to work. Brighten up through the week with moments of quiet optimism for the Calcutta Cup, but as per yourself, reality kicks in and realism pervades.

After watching Italy play yesterday I have mentally prepared myself for the wooden spoon.

This for me could be the game of the week end. Ireland out to prove that the game against NZ was not a fluke. they really do have the game skills to be the best in the NH.

Looking forward to this game. If they click and the Irish forwards get on top then it could be a bad day in the office for Scotland.

Ireland by 20.

Jaysus Yappy - you could have lied out of pity/courtesy and said that it might be close.  

RDW_Scotland wrote:Jaysus you Irish talk a lot - I spend a day off here to move house and I've got 2 pages to read!   

Rumour has it you've moved to the west coast so you can support a decent rugby side.
I'm sticking my neck out here, but I get the felling that our Celtic cousins are looking beyond today's match and thinking Triple Crown , Championship and Grand Slam. Good say I. Take your collective eye off the ball lads, please get over confident. I'm in the bubbling effervescent phase at the mo. I'll be Private Fraser by two o'clock.
If Taylor-Dunbar click and Wilson puts in the kind of shift he does at Glasgow then we can do this.   

As long as the score line isn't as bad as our woman's team... (lost 59-0 to the Irish)

George Carlin wrote:Jaysus Yappy - you could have lied out of pity/courtesy and said that it might be close.  

Sorry George, I come from the tough love school of thought   

On a side note i'm stunned that Sexton has less then 50 caps for Ireland. It feels like he's been around for ever and he's nearly 30 now right?!

Was he a slow starter, really poor when he was younger? Or did ROG just play well enough to stop him playing?

He didn't get his first cap until he was about 25, he was pretty poor when he was the same age as Jackson is now.

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Think Ireland by 10 for today - unless SJ is shrewder than I thought !

To be fair Johnsons Ospreys always made life tough for Schmidts Leinster.

Nothing is written until it's written.  One of these sides will still be in the hunt for a Slam after the game... I certainly wouldn't feel ready to claim it'll be Ireland.

You have to prove form and we were beaten last year, came 2nd last and had one 'hot' game against the All Blacks in the Autumn (but Ireland always has perhaps just the one 'hot' game in a year.)

So, nothing is written yet.  Ireland have to prove they're back at the races competitively and Scotland should look to sow any seeds of doubt they come across during the game.  Irish rugby minds should still be fragile enough to possibly implode under the right pressure levels.  Scotland will be looking for them.

yappysnap wrote:Looking forward to this game. If they click and the Irish forwards get on top then it could be a bad day in the office for Scotland.

Ireland by 20.

Its also time for the scottish pack to front up and show what they can do. Should be a real good scrap. I just wish we had the ginger tackle monster playing