Ireland's Rugby World Cup 2015 Thread - "You're wrong on several counts..."

[Don Alfonso]

First topic message reminder :

Alright.

The time for whinging at the Welsh, sniping at the Scots and educating the English is done. Playtime is over. The bitterness is dialled up to ten, the eye-patches producing metaphorical one-eyedness are donned, chips are placed on shoulders – it’s time for some proper, down n’ dirty, internecine bickering.

Who will go to the 2015 Rugby World Cup to play for Ireland?

Who should go?



The players have the following opportunities to shine like a diamond for Joe:


Emerging Ireland Tbilisi Cup

Emerging Italy v Emerging Ireland
Saturday 13th June 14:00 BST

Uruguay v Emerging Ireland
Wednesday 17th June 14:00 BST

Georgia v Emerging Ireland
Sunday 21st June 16:00 BST


Ireland Matches

Wales v Ireland
Millennium Stadium
Saturday 8th August

Ireland v Scotland
Aviva Stadium
Saturday 15th August

Ireland v Wales
Aviva Stadium
Saturday 29th August

England v Ireland
Twickenham Stadium
Saturday 5th September


31 players.

A 17/14 split? Has Madigan played himself off the plane? Do Ruddock or Trimble have enough time to make it back? Can Rory’s darts be trusted? Does POM spend too much time on the wing? Are Payne and Strauss “Irish” enough? Why is Reddan there? Has Zebo been by-passed? Is Cave too slow? Why Felix Jones?

HAVE AT THEE!

[The Great Aukster]

Probably a way of keeping guys on a lower salary

You jest rodders, but isn't there some recognition for capped players from the IRFU? All the provinces have agreed targets and incentives to achieve them.

It was a half joke aukster ... not that I'm cynical of course but rarely are there no reasons behind these things - the IRFU didn't come up with the term and marketing for "emerging Ireland" for nothing one would presume....

The wolfhounds are sniffing a conspiracy emerging...

[rodders]

I'll bet Sine will have the answer...

[The Great Aukster]

Does it involve Thomond?

[TJ]

*doffs cap to The Great Aukster*

[SecretFly]

Ireland go to the trouble (and expense) of branding the A team as the 'Wolfhounds' and then don't use it?

It seems to me far more likely that World Rugby have had a heavy hand in what name they would allow. Very few outside of Ireland would know that the Wolfhounds were actually an Ireland team.

Nope Aukster, I say it's about marketing alright but as in not using/cheapening the Wolfhound brand to play against lower tier nations. A third title overcomes that risk and signifies to our more regular opponents that they can't use any banter against us if we conspire to lose against any of these lower tier Nations that we've been playing now on a regular basis for a few years. Protecting the status of the Wolfhound brand is the thinking and I'd say it's more a case of the IRFU insisting that if they play these mini tournaments to help the lower tier Nations out, like World Rugby wants, then it's going to be under a new Title distinct to these mini tournaments.
.

BTW - I don't think either that many people in the world would know that a team called The President's XV was South African 'A'.

[The Great Aukster]

Georgia and Uruguay are playing in the RWC, with Georgia 14th in the world rankings - why shouldn't that be worthy of a cap letalone the Wolfhounds distinction?

What's the point of a brand that never appears? All the marketing people would tell you is that you put your brand out there and you keep putting it out there or it will become forgotten is an instant.

If the Wolfhounds brand isn't used the general public will start associating "Emerging Ireland" as Ireland's next test players, and the Wolfhounds name will sit shoulder to shoulder with OMO and Spangles in the brand cemetery.

Remember the ridiculous "Ireland XV" v Fiji at Thomond? That game wasn't graced with the distinction of being a capped International, but presumably using the term 'Wolfhounds' was too demeaning to Fiji (ranked 11).

It looks to me as though the marketing department has zero control over the naming, because if they do they must have been sick the day it was taught at Marketing College.

[Don Alfonso]

Team for Saturday:

EMERGING IRELAND Team & Replacements (v Emerging Italy, Tbilisi Cup Round 1, Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia, Saturday, June 13, kick-off 5pm local time/2pm Irish time):

15. Tiernan O'Halloran (Buccaneers/Connacht)
14. Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster)
13. Eoin Griffin (London Irish)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
11. Matt Healy (Lansdowne/Connacht)
10. JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster)
9. Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster)
1. Denis Buckley (Corinthians/Connacht)
2. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
3. Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster)
4. Ben Marshall (Old Belvedere/Connacht)
5. Billy Holland (Cork Constitution/Munster)
6. Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary's College/Leinster) (capt)
7. Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster)
8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

Replacements:

16. Dave Heffernan (Buccaneers/Connacht)
17. Andrew Warwick (Ballymena/Ulster)
18. Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)
19. Andrew Browne (Galwegians /Connacht)
20. Eoghan Masterson (Corinthians/Connacht)
21. John Cooney (Terenure College/Connacht)
22. Rory Scannell (Dolphin/Munster)
23. Peter Nelson (Malone/Ulster)

[Pete330v2]

Is this game televised?

[theshanker]

Pete

Georgians are streaming it( hope you speak the lingo!!)

http://site.rugby.ge/en/news-view/?n...Live_Broadcast

[Pete330v2]

Pete
 
Georgians are streaming it( hope you speak the lingo!!)

http://site.rugby.ge/en/news-view/?n...Live_Broadcast

Good man

[Pete330v2]

Damn it, link not working:(

[theshanker]

Pete go to the ireland site and then to the match preview in the secon or third line you wil see (Georgian live stream) click on it for the link , though it doesn't start till 2 .

[The Boss]

Was just about to say the same as theshanker. You can get an English version on the Georgian rugby union website to and one of the first links is the live streams.

Looking forward to this today. Good too see Ruddock back and McCloskey and a few of the Connacht lads.

[profitius]

http://rugbyge.tulix.tv/

[Pete330v2]

Many thanks lads

[eirebilly]

Afternoon all.

I agree pretty much with most of peoples team selections but I would not bring Boss, I really do feel that he is that bad. I would also try and get JJ Hanrahan in the squad as well as he covers a few positions and to me is the better option than Madigan.

[eirebilly]

First post back after a while and it duplicates...

[LeinsterFan4life]

Madigan's kicking is a huge asset, especially with the way Ireland plays. JJ would have to play really well in the warm up games to get near the squad but I don't think JS will even play him.

Foley really has mismanaged JJ and it is for the best he is gone to Northampton. Even when the internationals were away JJ was still left on the bench.

[Sin é]

Madigan's kicking is a huge asset, especially with the way Ireland plays. JJ would have to play really well in the warm up games to get near the squad but I don't think JS will even play him.

Foley really has mismanaged JJ and it is for the best he is gone to Northampton. Even when the internationals were away JJ was still left on the bench.

Keatley wasn't away (except for Italian game when there was no Pro12 game) and he needed to be kept fit for Ireland. JJ was needed to cover 15 as Felix Jones was with Ireland (which he did).

[The Great Aukster]

E Ireland 25 - E Italy 0

Didn't see any of it - highlights anywhere?

By the sounds of it JJ had a fairly good game but was poor from the tee?

[profitius]

E Ireland 25 - E Italy 0

Didn't see any of it - highlights anywhere?

By the sounds of it JJ had a fairly good game but was poor from the tee?

His kicking from the tee was off but he was good everywhere else.

Highlighs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72ynTBShQ_4

[George Carlin]

I cannot work out if this is a Happy Thread or not.

[The Great Aukster]

All Ireland threads are happy threads GC.

Have a glorious green day.

[George Carlin]

All Ireland threads are happy threads GC.

Have a glorious green day.

[the-goon]

Good 1st half, terrible 2nd half.

JJ, Ruddock and McCloskey were all a level above the other players on the pitch.

The 2nd half just never got going, errors all over the shop. And as each scrum took an age to setup, and would subsequently result in a penalty one way or another, no could create any momentum.

Scrums are ruining the game. Something needs to be done, sadly I'm not sure what...

[Golden]

Is the rest of the competition going to go ahead with all the flooding going on in Tbilsi?

[Don Alfonso]

Good 1st half, terrible 2nd half.

JJ, Ruddock and McCloskey were all a level above the other players on the pitch.

The 2nd half just never got going, errors all over the shop. And as each scrum took an age to setup, and would subsequently result in a penalty one way or another, no could create any momentum.

Scrums are ruining the game. Something needs to be done, sadly I'm not sure what...

Thought Matt Healy looked lively, but actually didn't think Ruddock stood out at all. He needs to shift up a gear.

[rodders]

First post back after a while and it duplicates...

Well I never..... if only gg and awop could make a comeback ....

[Don Alfonso]

No Emerging team named yet for tomorrow?

Is it happening, what with what's happening in Tbilisi?

[The Great Aukster]

Maybe they could have the Lions v Cheetahs instead?

[Don Alfonso]

Emerging Ireland Squad to play Uruguay
Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia KO 17:00 / 14:00 GMT
15. Peter Nelson (Malone/Ulster)
14. Cian Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)
13. Eoin Griffin (London Irish)
12. Noel Reid (Clontarf/Leinster)
11. Matt Healy (Lansdowne/Connacht)
10. Rory Scannell (Dolphin/Munster)
9. John Cooney (Terenure/Connacht)

1. James Cronin (Dolphin/Munster)
2. Dave Heffernan (Buccaneers/Connacht)
3. Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster)
4. Andrew Browne (Galwegians /Connacht)
5. Billy Holland (Cork Constitution/Munster)
6. Rhys Ruddock (St Mary's College/Leinster) captain
7. Frank Taggart (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
8. Eoghan Masterson (Corinthians/Connacht)

Replacements:
16. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
17. Denis Buckley (Corinthians/Connacht)
18. Andy Warwick (Ballymena/Ulster)
19. Ben Marshall (Old Belvedere/Connacht)
20. Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster)
21. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
22. Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster)
23. JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster)

[profitius]

http://rugbyge.tulix.tv/

Bump!

[Notch]

Just tuned in and it's already 19-0.

[rodders]

Who to?

[The Great Aukster]

E I 33 Uruguay 7

[pete (buachaill on eirne)]

Is that Ruddock out of the RWC picture?

[rodders]

Any standout performances?

[profitius]

Any standout performances?

I only saw bits of the match but like the first they started well and seemed to ease off in the second half.

Griffin played well and Kelleher showed why people are talking about him. The scrum in the first half (with Archer and J Cronin) steamrolled the Uruguay scrum but after half time, when Ireland made changes, Uruguay got a penalty try from the scrum.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0CNyZRfPVE

[The Great Aukster]

Wasn't Warwick being played on the TH side where he hasn't played all season?

[profitius]

Wasn't Warwick being played on the TH side where he hasn't played all season?

He came on as sub and struggled. Theres talk of James Cronin switching sides next season for Munster. If thats true, maybe they should have put him there.

After Archer (who isn't great) theres a big drop off in quality of tightheads. Another way of putting it is the top 3 Irish tightheads are Ross, Moore and Furlong. Ross is 35, Moore is 23 and Furlong 22. Theres a gap between Ross and Moore or about 12 years with no decent Irish tighthead. Declan Fitz was unlucky with injuries, Archer doesn't look good enough, Ah You and White are Kiwis. Just goes to show how much props were ignored in Irish rugby up until a few years ago. At least theres a good production line of props now.

I head the other week that only 3 tightheads have started for Ireland in the 6 nations. John Hayes, Mike Ross and I think the third was Paul Wallace.

[Marshes]

E. Ireland beating Georgia 45-12. Hanrahan and Cooney having good games

[Don Alfonso]

Training Squad announced.

LH Prop
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Michael Bent (Dublin University/Leinster)

TH Prop
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)*

Hooker
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster)

Lock
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)

Backrow
Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)
Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster)
Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)*
Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)
Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Scrumhalf
Isaac Boss (Terenure/Leinster)
Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Outhalf
Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92)
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)

Centre
Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Jared Payne (Ulster)
Noel Reid (Clontarf/Leinster)

Back Three
Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster)
Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster)
David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Simon Zebo (Cork Con/Munster)




No McCloskey. Shame. D'Arcy? Reid? Ugh.

Delighted for Herring, O'Donnell, Conan, Furlong.

Surprised by Trimble. And Gilroy.

[Sin é]

Not all of those are back 3 players - you have 10 competing for 3 places where as there are 5 centres to cover 2 places!

[Notch]

McCloskey not included AT ALL, behind Cave, D'Arcy and Reid? I wouldn't have any of those guys ahead of him for Ulster but time was against him. I am certain he will breakthrough after the RWC...

...but with that squad we can definitely add centre to the list of positions we are fecked if there is an injury because after Henshaw and Payne that is a weak looking selection. The lack of game time for Luke Marshall and the injury to Stuart Olding could badly derail our backs if either Henshaw or Payne are unavailable.

Also surprised not to see Archer in the forwards, although other than that it's exactly what I would have picked.

[Notch]

If Henshaw gets injured I think I would prefer McFadden to move in to 12 from the wing tbh.

[Notch]

Our overall depth is better than 2007 and probably 2011 but I am seriously worried we are one injury away from a lack of quality being exposed at 3, 9, 10, 12 and 13.

[Don Alfonso]

Sin, I cut and pasted from another forum. However there are four hookers, so don't read too much into it. I'm sure Earls will get a chance to set the world alight at 13.

Notch, I'd rather see Cave start in Henshaw's absence.

[Sin é]

Sin, I cut and pasted from another forum.  However there are four hookers, so don't read too much into it.  I'm sure Earls will get a chance to set the world alight at 13, 11, 12, 14 or 15.

Notch, I'd rather see Cave start in Henshaw's absence.

Fixed that for you!

[Don Alfonso]

Ha ha fair enough!

[ME-109]

All I can say is Michael effing Bent....

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