ireland 6N warmdown and look ahead to RWC

First topic message reminder :



Two years in a row!! Both tournaments have been close run, but this team has come on leaps and bounds in the time Schmidt has been in charge. The team is playing with a confidence that has rarely been seen as consistently as this from past Irish teams, we can vary the gameplan to meet the needs of the contest, the new combinations are starting to gell, and we have genuine competition in most positions around the pitch.

So rather than scurrying around the rest of the forum attempting to put out fires that try to feebly illegitimise the championship win, I think we can look back on another positive campaign showing real growth but with plenty of areas for improvement.

Six Nations
Comfortable if not spectacular for the most part. The team looked in control in games versus Italy and France without impressing two much, both results felt like a job done. Against England and Scotland were the real high points. Ireland's plan of attack put England on the back foot for most of the game with Sexton and Murray managing the game brilliantly. Against Scotland it was great to see us play positive and expansive stuff, it is good to know we can play that ball in hand game and have the players to do so. The low point was the Wales game, but even then I feel the territory and possession Ireland had was encouraging, but there are lessons to be learned about finishing chances and adapting to the ref (although credit also to the Welsh defense who were immense).

The Squad
Front Row: McGrath has shown more evidence he is an able replacement to Healy, for me he is not that far off now and was unlucky to lose his place. Rory Best is fantastic in the loose and at the breakdown, but at times his throws can be suspect and Cronin is a great option to bring on and run the ball. Total turnaround for Mike Ross, had a very strong campaign I thought, and great there is finally an able body to come on in Marty Moore
Lock: POC is absolutely vital to the cause and I worry about the impact of his loss more so than BOD. Toner has become a beast in the last two years, but I would love to see what Henderson is capable of starting for Ireland. Getting the best locks in Ireland fit at the right times (Touhy and Ryan are both useful options) has been a problem but these three currently are head and shoulders above the challengers.
Back Row: One of our strongest positions in quality and depth. SOB grew into the tournament, Heaslip and POM work incredibly hard. Honorable mention to Murphy for his early performances which were very positive.
Half Backs: Sexton and Murray have to be the form pair in the world right now, blip against Wales aside. The drop off in quality from those two is a concern, although Reddan had a very strong cameo against Wales. The position of understudy for 10 is still very much up for grabs between Madigan, Jackson and Keatley. I feel the team need to bring on Marmion more as well.
Centres: Starting to get to know each other's games. Henshaw has been absolute quality in all performances, reliably outstanding. Payne has grown into the role and really shone against Scotland. I think there  may be options in coming through in Olding, McCloskey, Marshall and eventually Ringrose, and I'd say Henshaw may eventually move to 13 in green, but I'd wager the incumbents go into the world cup as 12 and 13.
Wings: Another area of strength, with some great variety in the options. Zebo was unlucky to miss out against Scotland but Fitzgerald made a real difference. Bowe for me has been solid but I think Trimble has been missed. Earls for me should be competing for this spot rather than at centre and I would like to see Gilroy push on from his early promise. I have slight concerns about how the wingers are slowly losing their creativity as they come into the set up a la Zebo, and would like to see them try something other than take the soonest contact and recycle
Full Back: Not sure about Rob. Not pulling up and trees but hasn't let anyone down either. I don't know if Jones offers much else that Kearney doesn't. I'd say there are more creative options in the wings that can play fullback in the Pro 12 but against the other 6Ns fullbacks I don't know when they could be blooded. Payne at 15 maybe?

World Cup
Anything other than a semi-final appearance would be a huge disappointment following the last two years of progress. A semi-final win at Twickers against England is certainly doable but it would be a big ask. Despite the last showing at a World Cup I am confident Ireland can go further this time.

Do you think Best is 'very poor' at lineout throwing?

Notch wrote:Do you think Best is 'very poor' at lineout throwing?

He is poor, yea. He gets the jips far too often. He got Devin Toner into the team and is keeping him there.

Priceless stuff as usual.

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Yeah but he has only started a few games so thats a completely pointless stat that you actually robbed from me cause I mentioned that a couple of weeks ago.

He subbed against England and he played for 60 minutes and had a great game. You know England who Ireland lost to the year before with Henry at openside ! You did claim that he hadn't played any big games!

We lost by three points in Twickers. Hardly Chris Henry's fault.

No, it wasn't Chris's fault. It was poor selection from Schmidt to have Dave Kearney on the wing who if he had a bit of pace would have run in for a try and not be outpaced by a lock.

Kearney cut infield towards the said lock because thats where the space was. You cant be outpaced by someone you run towards. Idiotic comment.

Even dumber when you consider that Kearney arguably had a better tournament that Zebo did this year.

I'd say Luke Fitzgerald outshone them all

Sin é wrote:

Notch wrote:Do you think Best is 'very poor' at lineout throwing?

He is poor, yea. He gets the jips far too often. He got Devin Toner into the team and is keeping him there.

This I believe but that's now in the past. I have actually been very impressed with Toners physicality in the last year. He is also become very good at disrupting opponents mauls. He has earned his spot now, no matter how he got it in the first place.

I think throwers get nervous when they get a gut feeling their lineout calls and habits have been rumbled by the opposition. That hesitancy then grows and grows.

But on a general sidenote - the number of blatantly crooked throws that are now allowed pass I think must be getting on for epidemic levels at this point. I'm certain I've seen a bunch this season.

Notch wrote:Priceless stuff as usual.

Have you forgotten that we won a Grand Slam with a good line out (and we didn't need a 7ft lock for secure ball!). All we can manage with the present one are championships. The lineout was very poor against v. Wales - that cost us a GS.

Ireland have peaked, lets face it lads, you'll struggle to get of your group and will fold in the 1/4's again.

[quote="

But on a general sidenote - the number of blatantly crooked throws that are now allowed pass I think must be getting on for epidemic levels at this point.  I'm certain I've seen a bunch this season.[/quote]

I have noticed they stand on the mark then take a step toward there own team just before throwing it in.

RubyGuby wrote:Ireland have peaked, lets face it lads, you'll struggle to get of your group and will fold in the 1/4's again.

Gubs, we didn't struggle to get out of our group in the last world cup. We topped our pool, beating Australia - something you wouldn't know too much about!

Sin é wrote:

Notch wrote:Priceless stuff as usual.

Have you forgotten that we won a Grand Slam with a good line out (and we didn't need a 7ft lock for secure ball!). All we can manage with the present one are championships. The lineout was very poor against v. Wales - that cost us a GS.

Yeah, it's terrible. All we can manage is back to back championships! Woe is us!

Amongst other things lineout difficulties impeded our progress in Cardiff and one of the line outs we lost in that game to an under throw can be attributed to Best. Thats disappointing, but errors happen and I think you have to look at how much he's eradicated them from his game when he plays for Ireland. His consistency is there and if it wasn't he wouldn't be. Similarly for Toner, the strides he's made in terms of his all-round game have been fantastic and there's more to his lineout game than being tall. He's in as a secondary caller and as a big asset in terms of both the attacking and defensive maul. I'm sure if we had Flannery and a few others available from that era there would be a conversation about other personnel who could come in and strengthen the lineout but of the personnel we do have, who would realistically replace Best and Toner? I wouldn't have had Toner down as my first choice at the start of last years championship, but you'll remember that Tuohy and Donnacha Ryan have been injured a lot and thats cost them opportunities and been a bit fortuitous for Toner. Given the importance the lineout he's an obvious first choice. I'm not sure whether we'd be able to execute a lot of the set moves which have resulted in tries straight off the lineout in the past few years without him.

I think you do both players a disservice in short. Henderson is pushing Toner and Tuohy and Ryan will push them both, but as long as those lineout plays and the maul are so integral to our game...

What are the chances of one of the Ulster 12s making the RWC squad? I know that one of them will be a stalwart in the Irish starting XV in the fairly near future, but is the RWC too soon for any of them to make an impression? Were it not for injury, I think we may have seen Stuart Olding feature in the 6 nations.

It's going to be very interesting- I think Luke Marshall has the most experience of playing in Ireland squads so if he is able to hold down a place in Ulsters first XV he has a chance, Stuart Olding would be my favourite of the three to travel but has not got much experience of playing 12 under Schmidt and McCloskey hasn't got any so it seems like it would be impossible for him to make the squad at this point.

Olding has the most utility as he's played at 15 for Ireland, briefly, and can cover that position although I doubt Schmidt would trust him at 15 outside of the easier pool games.

It is a weakness looking at our squad that we have no specialist cover at 12 if Henshaw is injured- if we're taking three centres and Henshaw and Payne are the first two as a 12 and 13 respectively Earls, Fitzgerald, Bowe and McFadden are possible back three choices who can cover 13... Madigan is a possible out half choice who can cover 12. It might come down to whether they want to bring three out halves. We'll see if Madigan is named at 12 in the warm-ups or not. For me, the cover at centre is the most interesting part of the squad. D'Arcy has been playing that role but may have been overtaken.

My money is on Madigan to cover 12 and some of those wingers to cover 13.

Nachos Jones_1 wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:In terms of the back row contenders, one thing I would like to add is that Jordi Murphy has been a complete revelation. I see him as an open side flanker longterm, probably replacing O'Brien, but he is very versatile and probably one of the best support runners we have. He has shot himself up to 4th choice, hopefully putting a lot of pressure on Heaslip as well.

One of the Munster fans on here described him as a Leinster squad player and no more, well, based on his performances so far for both Leinster and Ireland I would say that person feels pretty silly now!

That's a big call Rory and one that I don't necessarily disagree with but I would personally like to see him develop more as and 8 with a view to replacing Heaslip, in the future, rather than SOB. He has come on leaps and bounds and is really knocking on Heaslip's door now. In fact, I would have started him against Scotland over Heaslip.

Both Murphy and TOD should be in the RWC squad as both bring so much to the team. That said, I think it will be a straight choice between the two and I would not mind which will be selected.

I think Murphy is too small to be a Number 8, he is more mobile and rangy rather than a robust wrecking ball, which I think we really need if POM starts in the back row. I actually think SOB would be better there, with more license to run. I can't see it happening though, he seems settled at open side now. The question is how much longer can he stay injury free in the game, as I fear his career may go the direction of Stephen Ferris.

Although they do a good job, I still think the balance if slightly off with POM-Heaslip-SOB. But they will be starting for the majority of the RWC, so there is little to debate really.

Notch wrote:It's going to be very interesting- I think Luke Marshall has the most experience of playing in Ireland squads so if he is able to hold down a place in Ulsters first XV he has a chance, Stuart Olding would be my favourite of the three to travel but has not got much experience of playing 12 under Schmidt and McCloskey hasn't got any so it seems like it would be impossible for him to make the squad at this point.

Olding has the most utility as he's played at 15 for Ireland, briefly, and can cover that position although I doubt Schmidt would trust him at 15 outside of the easier pool games.

It is a weakness looking at our squad that we have no specialist cover at 12 if Henshaw is injured- if we're taking three centres and Henshaw and Payne are the first two as a 12 and 13 respectively Earls, Fitzgerald, Bowe and McFadden are possible back three choices who can cover 13... Madigan is a possible out half choice who can cover 12. It might come down to whether they want to bring three out halves. We'll see if Madigan is named at 12 in the warm-ups or not. For me, the cover at centre is the most interesting part of the squad. D'Arcy has been playing that role but may have been overtaken.

My money is on Madigan to cover 12 and some of those wingers to cover 13.

Madigan is quite similar to Olding, and brings a lot of flair into the back line. Obviously he has a lot more experience, so yes I also see him getting the nod. I think Madigan will be playing 12 next year for Leinster as well.

I do think Olding is the better player though.

Sin é wrote:

RubyGuby wrote:Ireland have peaked, lets face it lads, you'll struggle to get of your group and will fold in the 1/4's again.

Gubs, we didn't struggle to get out of our group in the last world cup. We topped our pool, beating Australia - something you wouldn't know too much about!

I loves fishing, peaked lads, you peaked after that mighty win against Aus in the last RWC - You were fooked come the 1/4's absolutely fooked.

We yawned through that Six Nations, Ruby.  God, were we jaded by it all.  I think we must have gotten bored watching the others do so much pretend rugby that we snoozed off.  We woke up to the sharp shock of being in Wales and it being a second half!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the Alarm bell   We're in our pyjamas now, heading down for the full Irish breakfast.  Plenty of time to get dressed for the World Cup.

RubyGuby wrote:

Sin é wrote:

RubyGuby wrote:Ireland have peaked, lets face it lads, you'll struggle to get of your group and will fold in the 1/4's again.

Gubs, we didn't struggle to get out of our group in the last world cup. We topped our pool, beating Australia - something you wouldn't know too much about!

I loves fishing, peaked lads, you peaked after that mighty win against Aus in the last RWC - You were fooked come the 1/4's absolutely fooked.

Welsh seemed pretty tired too. Poor old Captain Sam couldn't even hold little Morgan Parra up in the air for long without dropping him on his coconut!

Notch wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Notch wrote:Priceless stuff as usual.

Have you forgotten that we won a Grand Slam with a good line out (and we didn't need a 7ft lock for secure ball!). All we can manage with the present one are championships. The lineout was very poor against v. Wales - that cost us a GS.

Yeah, it's terrible. All we can manage is back to back championships! Woe is us!  

Amongst other things lineout difficulties impeded our progress in Cardiff and one of the line outs we lost in that game to an under throw can be attributed to Best. Thats disappointing, but errors happen and I think you have to look at how much he's eradicated them from his game when he plays for Ireland. His consistency is there and if it wasn't he wouldn't be. Similarly for Toner, the strides he's made in terms of his all-round game have been fantastic and there's more to his lineout game than being tall. He's in as a secondary caller and as a big asset in terms of both the attacking and defensive maul. I'm sure if we had Flannery and a few others available from that era there would be a conversation about other personnel who could come in and strengthen the lineout but of the personnel we do have, who would realistically replace Best and Toner? I wouldn't have had Toner down as my first choice at the start of last years championship, but you'll remember that Tuohy and Donnacha Ryan have been injured a lot and thats cost them opportunities and been a bit fortuitous for Toner. Given the importance the lineout he's an obvious first choice. I'm not sure whether we'd be able to execute a lot of the set moves which have resulted in tries straight off the lineout in the past few years without him.

I think you do both players a disservice in short. Henderson is pushing Toner and Tuohy and Ryan will push them both, but as long as those lineout plays and the maul are so integral to our game...

Maybe we were spoilt with Flannery - but he was ROG like with his darts which he threw flat and quick - no one every had time to get up for them. Best & Cronin lob the ball which is a pity because the lineout could be a real weapon.

What I see is the problem is that all the hookers are poor throwers - I'm really surprised that Schmidt tolerates it - what about everyone else being sent off with their 'work ons'. I'm really surprised that Schmidt ignored Duncan Casey completely from the squad who looks potentially to be the best lineout thrower we have (though he is now injured).

The point is now that there could be a couple of players available (like Tuohy, Ryan & Foley for the world cup), but he will have to stick with Toner.

Sin - Munster seem to have a few talented hookers coming through the ranks, is that correct?

Please excuse the unintentional innuendo..

Fitzgerald is on second captains atm if anyones interested.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Sin - Munster seem to have a few talented hookers coming through the ranks, is that correct?

Please excuse the unintentional innuendo..

A couple alright. Duncan Casey is very accurate with his throwing and Niall Scannell seems to be the real deal as well. He was the U20s captain for the Junior World Cup in SA. His brother Rory is also a very good prospect at 12/outhalf - he was the out half that played against Ravens last week. Sherry is quite good as well (if he gets back from all his injuries).

By the way - Donnacha Ryan got concussed in that game - it seems to have been a bit physical!

Well all I can say is that the marker has been put down.  There'll be few 'Invitations'.  The World Cup is around the corner.  A few months of Pro12 to go.  Fringe players know what they must do.  They have to impress.  Last chance saloon.
Up to this point the provinces, bar Connacht, have all mostly been performing below the standards they've set for themselves in recent years.  They're being bullied around by the Welsh regions and the Scottish sides.  I know what the table looks like but we all know we're all less than happy with how the Provinces are performing to date.

So let's see where we go from here.  The fringe players know exactly the levels they need to be at to impress Schmidt and his coaches.  No hiding place. Players have the window now to impress if it's in them.

It's a real pity that Ireland don't have the Bull anymore to do that single lift in the lineout, that would make everyone's life so much easier.

Too few farmers left....... that kind of strength comes from dragging bulls into crushes.

It's not secret that some of our toughest hombres are our farmers - Best, O'Brien.

Funny to see all the anti-rugby articles coming out since Ireland lifted the 6 nations. Most of them are soccer supporters.

profitius wrote:Funny to see all the anti-rugby articles coming out since Ireland lifted the 6 nations. Most of them are soccer supporters.

The Ken Early article was very amusing. The problem international 'soccer' has is that the qualification process is so dull, normally featuring games against nations with which no traditional rivalries exist interspersed with meaningless friendlies. Only tournament football is worth watching.

Irish soccer so sooooooooo 90s!

Declan Lynch's little jealous rant in the Irish Independent caught my attention.

Anything Irish journalists pretend to be a 'bad thing' they usually try to stick the term 'Official Ireland' to.

So Declan says he might be taking the dog for a walk during the rugby World Cup as even though he's a big sports lover, he can't buy into rugby because it's the sport 'Official Ireland' rate as the sport for them - with their upper to middle class attitudes of having a nice day out even if their side lose.  Declan doesn't like that attitude.... it's obviously not working class rioting-splurge honest-Joe-soap enough for his tastes.

Meanwhile, he's part of the very Engine of Official Ireland, working as he has been for the Irish Celtic Tiger Independent all his life; the paper that praised and swooned over the mighty millionaires swanning around Dublin nightclubs in the boom years, in a time when most Independent Journalists were loaded enough themselves to join the chic and chat fun.

Meanwhile too, Declan continues to support a sport were most players earn in a two or three week period what most rugby players earn in a year.  Working Class honest Joe stuff?  Really?  Oligarchs?  Plus Billion pound TV rights?  

Meanwhile again, Declan also supports football across the water and seldom advances any argument that might suggest Irish football should begin to mimic rugby by taking the bulk of their Internationals from the League of Ireland on principle, instead of from across the water.  
Doing so might aid in assisting the prominence of Irish working-class football.  It might also provide for more prominent headlines in his very newspaper.  Also, Irish Internationals might actually then play in front of their local fans week in week out.  Finally, the quality of Irish football might eventually improve to equate with the level rugby is currently at in this country.

The scent of Jealousy reeks in the air   But carry on with the tap, tap, tap, pass, tap, tap, pass, miss game, Declan.  Everyone to their own.

You have a link that article by Lynch fly? Want to angry up my blood! Also great shame to see Olding injured against the Blues. I thought he might have been one of the few potential bolters for the World Cup Squad if he got a good run.

Marshes, here she is:

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/official-ireland-falls-in-love-with-rugby-31102551.html

Marshes wrote:You have a link that article by Lynch fly? Want to angry up my blood! Also great shame to see Olding injured against the Blues. I thought he might have been one of the few potential bolters for the World Cup Squad if he got a good run.

Is it a bad injury? An 'out-for-a-long-time' one?

Don't know yet.

He's been really unfortunate, as has Luke Marshall actually. Had Marshall had more luck I think he could have nailed down that 12 jersey before Schmidt came in. Ulster seem pretty blessed at 12 in talent, but been unlucky with injuries. I saw Gilroy got another try on against the blues aswell, top tryscorer in the Pro 12 now..

Gilroy is doing great, but you need to do more than excel in the Pro12 to prove you can be a test winger at the moment because its just so damn competitive... It's still good to know that he will be around in the post-Trimble and Bowe era.

McCloskey will probably start against Connacht as Luke Marshall is still banned. If Luke Marshall got 5 weeks for his thing you can only imagine Nick Williams is gone.

So are we going to see another pre world cup contract extension with Schmidt? Or have the IRFU learned their lesson?

Would like to see Schmidt nailed down for a while but it really didnt work out well for our last two coaches. A good world cup and the NZ teams will be circling, if theyre not already.

SecretFly wrote:

Marshes wrote:You have a link that article by Lynch fly? Want to angry up my blood! Also great shame to see Olding injured against the Blues. I thought he might have been one of the few potential bolters for the World Cup Squad if he got a good run.

Is it a bad injury?  An 'out-for-a-long-time' one?

It certainly looks like it.

If we let Schmidt go without a fight to retain him then it'll go down as one of the greatest foot shots in Irish sporting history.  Of course if his mind is for moving on, I don't think money will stop him.  He has rarely stayed longer than three years anywhere - we'll be lucky if he breaks what has become a solid habit with him.

I personally think it's much more than winning or losing too.  POC has admitted that we'll lose again.  SA and Australia lost games when they've been 2nd and 3rd in rankings.  So losing will happen.  
But with Schmidt I think we have a coach as teacher, who remains hungry to learn himself.  So as he keeps watching and learning, I think he'll be invaluable to Irish rugby and Irish players to keep teaching them the extras he'll keep learning himself.  
We've always needed a blunt systems coach - in the past we've had reasonable tacticians but they've always tended to suggest that we'd only do so much thinking of the opposition and then impose our own game on them.  
Schmidt is not like that.  He doesn't have that emotional approach.  And his teams don't overly pat each other on the back when winning and neither do they fall into deep depressions when losing.

You only have to look at Leinster to see how differently the same players play when coached differently.  I hope he stays for more than three years but.................... it'll be his decision and I wouldn't begrusdge him the opportunity to coach his own Nation if that invitation came his way

Fly, Gatland outcoached Schmidt recently. I'd imagine there are a fair few clever coaches out there who will be able to do the same.

SecretFly wrote:If we let Schmidt go without a fight to retain him then it'll go down as one of the greatest foot shots in Irish sporting history.  Of course if his mind is for moving on, I don't think money will stop him.  He has rarely stayed longer than three years anywhere - we'll be lucky if he breaks what has become a solid habit with him.

I personally think it's much more than winning or losing too.  POC has admitted that we'll lose again.  SA and Australia lost games when they've been 2nd and 3rd in rankings.  So losing will happen.  
But with Schmidt I think we have a coach as teacher, who remains hungry to learn himself.  So as he keeps watching and learning, I think he'll be invaluable to Irish rugby and Irish players to keep teaching them the extras he'll keep learning himself.  
We've always needed a blunt systems coach - in the past we've had reasonable tacticians but they've always tended to suggest that we'd only do so much thinking of the opposition and then impose our own game on them.  
Schmidt is not like that.  He doesn't have that emotional approach.  And his teams don't overly pat each other on the back when winning and neither do they fall into deep depressions when losing.

You only have to look at Leinster to see how differently the same players play when coached differently.  I hope he stays for more than three years but.................... it'll be his decision and I wouldn't begrusdge him the opportunity to coach his own Nation if that invitation came his way

That is very big of Paulie!

I agree though, I think the atmospheres and noise out of the camp is very different from under Kidney or EOS. I'd sign him up, there is no alternatives to my mind of his calibre available and even if there were they wouldn't know the Irish game as well as Joe does.

The main difference for me is the belief in ability, adaptability to opponents, consistency we have never seen and that when the team loses they respond rather than capitulate. In Autumn 2013, bad result against Australia, bounce back by nearly beating NZ and respond to tht with a strong opening to six nations 2014. Lose a close game to England away, strong performances against Italy and France to win the championship, followed by an unbeaten run. Lose to Wales, bounce back to put 40 on Scotland away from home. I think JS has instilled those qualities in the Irish team and long may it continue.

SecretFly wrote:If we let Schmidt go without a fight to retain him then it'll go down as one of the greatest foot shots in Irish sporting history.  Of course if his mind is for moving on, I don't think money will stop him.  He has rarely stayed longer than three years anywhere - we'll be lucky if he breaks what has become a solid habit with him.

I personally think it's much more than winning or losing too.  POC has admitted that we'll lose again.  SA and Australia lost games when they've been 2nd and 3rd in rankings.  So losing will happen.  
But with Schmidt I think we have a coach as teacher, who remains hungry to learn himself.  So as he keeps watching and learning, I think he'll be invaluable to Irish rugby and Irish players to keep teaching them the extras he'll keep learning himself.  
We've always needed a blunt systems coach - in the past we've had reasonable tacticians but they've always tended to suggest that we'd only do so much thinking of the opposition and then impose our own game on them.  
Schmidt is not like that.  He doesn't have that emotional approach.  And his teams don't overly pat each other on the back when winning and neither do they fall into deep depressions when losing.

You only have to look at Leinster to see how differently the same players play when coached differently.  I hope he stays for more than three years but.................... it'll be his decision and I wouldn't begrusdge him the opportunity to coach his own Nation if that invitation came his way

That is very big of Paulie!

I agree though, I think the atmospheres and noise out of the camp is very different from under Kidney or EOS. I'd sign him up, there is no alternatives to my mind of his calibre available and even if there were they wouldn't know the Irish game as well as Joe does.

The main difference for me is the belief in ability, adaptability to opponents, consistency we have never seen and that when the team loses they respond rather than capitulate. In Autumn 2013, bad result against Australia, bounce back by nearly beating NZ and respond to tht with a strong opening to six nations 2014. Lose a close game to England away, strong performances against Italy and France to win the championship, followed by an unbeaten run. Lose to Wales, bounce back to put 40 on Scotland away from home. I think JS has instilled those qualities in the Irish team and long may it continue.

Ruddock aswell I see is out for the rest of the season, may struggle to get back into contention.. http://www.the42.ie/rhys-ruddock-injured-2019774-Mar2015/

SecretFly wrote:Marshes, here she is:

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/official-ireland-falls-in-love-with-rugby-31102551.html

Also Fly Lynch comes across as a proper spod in that article. Talking like he is a working class hero.

His dad was chairman of Athlone Town in the 70s when they drew with AC Milan at Mel's Park (resulting in one of the best photos ever published ). At the time GAA had a ban on at the time for lads attending soccer matches, so while all the working-class lads were hurley or O' Neill's ball in hand, it was the uni students and professionals following Athlone Town week-in, week-out. Such a hypocrite. No big loss to the cause.

Yes sign him up...pre world cup..can remember a similar situation with a certain EOS in 2007.

Marshes wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Marshes, here she is:

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/official-ireland-falls-in-love-with-rugby-31102551.html

Also Fly Lynch comes across as a proper spod in that article. Talking like he is a working class hero.

His dad was chairman of Athlone Town in the 70s when they drew with AC Milan at Mel's Park (resulting in one of the best photos ever published ). At the time GAA had a ban on at the time for lads attending soccer matches, so while all the working-class lads were hurley or O' Neill's ball in hand, it was the uni students and professionals following Athlone Town week-in, week-out. Such a hypocrite. No big loss to the cause.

The GAA 'Ban' was lifted in 1971. The Athlone Town v AC Milan game was in 1975.

Marshes wrote:Ruddock aswell I see is out for the rest of the season, may struggle to get back into contention.. http://www.the42.ie/rhys-ruddock-injured-2019774-Mar2015/

Jaysus, this isn't really relevant for Ireland but Leinster's medical staff have been dodgy this season. Marty Moore was brought back to play early in the Autumn and trebled his time on the sidelines, as was SOB - which we all know about. Really annoying to see Ruddock's injury handled this way, he shouldn't have been playing if it wasn't healed.

Sin é wrote: I'm really surprised that Schmidt ignored Duncan Casey completely from the squad who looks potentially to be the best lineout thrower we have

I'd say Strauss is our best thrower. Not sure why he isn't ahead of Cronin to be honest. Cronin offers something different I suppose.

kunu wrote:

Sin é wrote: I'm really surprised that Schmidt ignored Duncan Casey completely from the squad who looks potentially to be the best lineout thrower we have

I'd say Strauss is our best thrower. Not sure why he isn't ahead of Cronin to be honest. Cronin offers something different I suppose.

I wouldn't agree. Duncan Casey's fires bullets like Flannery used to do. Cronin is preferred for his dynamic ball carrying.

Strauss also throws like that, like he's aiming rather than hoping. He's almost never crooked, which is a lot better than what our current hookers offer. I think Cronin's speed is a bit of a gimmick at times, and other parts of his game are lacking - his passing isn't great, throwing as you've said is below par and he doesn't seem to be able to hook the ball under pressure.