Ireland vs Romania, 27 September

IRELAND v ROMANIA
27 September 2015
KO: 16:45 BST
Wembley Stadium, London
Live on ITV1 (United Kingdom) and TV3 (Republic of Ireland)

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant Referee 1; Romain Poite (France)
Assistant Referee 2; Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

Teams

IRELAND



15. Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)
14. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
13. Jared Payne (Ulster)
12. Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
9. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster)

1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2. Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
3. Nathan White (Connacht)
4. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
6. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
7. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) captain

Replacements;

16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17. Jack McGrath (St Mary's College/Leinster)
18. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)
19. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster)
20. Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
22. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon)
23. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)

ROMANIA



15. Catalin Fercu
14. Adrian Apostol
13. Paula Kinikinilau
12. Csaba Gal
11. Ionut Botezatu
10. Michael Wiringi
9. Valentin Calafeteanu

1. Andrei Ursache
2. Andrei Radoi
3. Paulica Ion
4. Valentin Poparlan
5. Ovidiu Tonita
6. Viorel Lucaci
7. Mihai Macovei (c)
8. Daniel Carpo

Replacements

16. Mihaita Lazar
17. Otar Turashvili
18. Alexandru Tarus
19. Johannes van Heerden
20.Stelian Burcea
21. Florin Surugiu
22. Florin Ionita
23. Florin Vlaicu

Head to Head

Played; 8
Ireland Won; 8
Romania Won; 0
Draws; 0

Last 5 Meetings

Ireland 43 - 12 Romania
26th November 2005
Lansdowne Road, Dublin

Ireland 45 - 17 Romania
11th October 2003
Rugby World Cup 2003, Pool A, Match 3
Central Coast Stadium, Gosford

Ireland 39 - 8 Romania
7th September 2002
Thomond Park, Limerick

Romania 3 - 37 Ireland
2nd June 2001
Bucharest

Ireland 44 - 14 Romania
15th October 1999
Rugby World Cup 1999, Pool E, Match 27
Lansdowne Road, Dublin

What are your thoughts? Entirely new starting XV? Maybe Henderson getting a run out at 6?

My starting XV

Healy
Struass
Furlong
Ryan
Toner
POM
Henry
Murphy
Madigan (to get gametime at scrumhalf)
PJ
Zebo
Henshaw (if fit, hopefully)
Cave
Earls
R Kearney (needs more games, maybe 40 -50 mins)

Meant to say POM for captain to have someone with exerpience of doing the job

Like that team BMCR! I'd maybe say Reddan to start and have Madigan sometime there after half time. Will be cheering on from the stands at this one!

Healy
Strauss
White
Toner
Henderson
POM(c)
Henry
Murphy
Reddan
Jackson
Zebo
Cave
Henshaw
Bowe
Kearney

Ross, Cronin, McGrath, Ryan, Heaslip, Murray, Madigan, Fitzgerald

Any o e been to Wembley before? Recommendations for a decent pub before the game?

Just started making this thread before I realised that Romania have a whole other game to play before us, on Wednesday against France. But I wasn't going to let that stop me. The schedule is tough on the minnows, its really not fair, and we will have the advantage of playing against a team recovering from a huge battle with the physical specimens of France. Of course, Romania have some physical specimens of their own and while our front row did nothing to exert themselves against the Canadians they will be in for a tougher test.

Schmidt has suggested Ireland will rotate for this game. It seems likely that some players like Darren Cave, Paddy Jackson and Richardt Strauss might get their only involvements of the tournament in this match, barring injuries of course. Elsewhere Ireland are hopeful Robbie Henshaw will be fit for this one, and it would be nice to see if Bowe can play himself into some form.

Lastly, we have the notorious Shaun Veldsman as our TMO. Expect a promising attack to be interrupted for the TMO to review a minor infraction at a ruck that occurred a few minutes ago at least 2 or 3 times.

Hi Notch. I had started a thread earlier but yours looks better so i thought i would copy and paste what i had written.

What are your thoughts? Entirely new starting XV? Maybe Henderson getting a run out at 6?

My starting XV

Healy
Struass
Furlong
Ryan
Toner
POM
Henry
Murphy
Madigan (to get gametime at scrumhalf)
PJ
Zebo
Henshaw (if fit, hopefully)
Cave
Earls
R Kearney (needs more games, maybe 40 -50 mins)

To be honest i forgot about Bowe when i originally osted so put him in instead of Earls. Earls to cover backline

I'm really sorry man, I can't believe I missed your thread!

An honest mistake. I will merge the posts from yours onto this one. against

No problem. It was my first and didn't really know how to add stuff in so much better to use yours.

Anyone know of Henshaw's current prognosis?

Ok, I just merged them but I edited it so that the one with all the pictures and stuff is the first post and deleted mine- I copied and pasted your first post into your second post... done. The magic of being a mod

George Carlin wrote:Anyone know of Henshaw's current prognosis?

He was expected to be fit, so I imagine he'll either have recovered enough to play or he'll be pretty much recovered enough but they'll decide not to risk him and keep him back. Or something else different to what I just said.

For this one I would like to see;

1. McGrath
2. Strauss
3. Ross
4. Toner
5. Ryan
6. Henderson
7. Henry
8. Heaslip (c)
9. Reddan
10. Jackson
11. Zebo
12. Henshaw
13. Cave
14. Bowe
15. Kearney

16. Best 17. Healy 18. Furlong 19. Murphy 20. O'Mahony 21. Murray 22. Madigan 23. Fitzgerald

I know Madigan to start at 9 may seem odd but i would rather him start to see how he goes. The Romanians will be out on their feet at the end of the game having played Wednesday and we may learn nothing if he came on at that stage. I think he needs a run out at some stage. If Murray gets a niggle you wouldn't want to have to replace him in the squad and Reddan won't last 80 minutes.

Couldn't decide who to put a 6 and 8. WOuld like Henderson to get a run there but went for POM instead to be captain and give Heaslip a rest. Also e is coming off a great game, let him be in that mindset going in the Italy game. DOn't want him to have an average game and bring the confidence down

ho ho...POM never has an average game.

I meant Henderson not pom . Sorry for not being clear

Dont think Henderson has them either..so far this year anyhow.

Long may it continue.

Maybe so but he is only a young lad. Confidence is everything.

1. Healy (50 min)
2. Strauss
3. White
4. Toner
5. Ryan
6. Murphy
7. Henry
8. Heaslip (50min)
9.Redden
10. Jackson
11. Earls/Fitz
12. Cave/Henshaw
13. Cave/Henshaw (Henshaw 55min)
14. Bowe
15. Zebo

16. Cronin
17. Furlong
18. Ross
19. Henderson
20. SOB
21. POM
22. Madigan
23. Earls/Fitz

Going for a 6/2 split so that it allows us to take off all of our back row, I think it will be quite a forward oriented match. Also, it gives most of our key starters a full week off to prepare for the Italy game. Best, POC, Murray, Sexton, Payne, Kearney x 2. The team out there should do enough to beat a tired Romania side.

the-goon wrote:1. Healy (50 min)
2. Strauss
3. White
4. Toner
5. Ryan
6. Murphy
7. Henry
8. Heaslip (50min)
9.Redden
10. Jackson
11. Earls/Fitz
12. Cave/Henshaw
13. Cave/Henshaw (Henshaw 55min)
14. Bowe
15. Zebo

16. Cronin
17. Furlong
18. Ross
19. Henderson
20. SOB
21. POM
22. Madigan
23. Earls/Fitz

Going for a 6/2 split so that it allows us to take off all of our back row, I think it will be quite a forward oriented match. Also, it gives most of our key starters a full week off to prepare for the Italy game. Best, POC, Murray, Sexton, Payne, Kearney x 2. The team out there should do enough to beat a tired Romania side.

Good team although I cannot shake the idea that Madigan should swap with Reddan for this game, just to get a sniff of what it's like back at the scrummie coal face again.

I see no problem in giving Madigan 25min from the bench at scrum half. i wouldn't want to start him a) it is sooo unlikely he will ever need to start at 9 b) if he does need to play there, it will be from the bench; and we need to mitigate any chance of a "Bergamasco" happening to us.

Madigan is a 'last resort' 9 so if there isn't an emergency don't break the glass. There is literally nothing to be served by giving him any time unless there is no other option.

Far better to give Reddan a start as a genuine contender to Murray, although Madigan could be the cover for 9 on the bench. I wasn't a fan of bringing Jackson at all because this is the only game he could start in and that stops Madigan getting more confidence in the position and experience of actually running a game. If Jackson starts we will know that Joe only rates Madigan as a bench flyhalf.

Notch wrote:

George Carlin wrote:Anyone know of Henshaw's current prognosis?

He was expected to be fit, so I imagine he'll either have recovered enough to play or he'll be pretty much recovered enough but they'll decide not to risk him and keep him back. Or something else different to what I just said.

For this one I would like to see;

1. McGrath
2. Strauss
3. Ross
4. Toner
5. Ryan
6. Henderson
7. Henry
8. Heaslip (c)
9. Reddan
10. Jackson
11. Zebo
12. Henshaw
13. Cave
14. Bowe
15. Kearney

16. Best 17. Healy 18. Furlong 19. Murphy 20. O'Mahony 21. Murray 22. Madigan 23. Fitzgerald

I like the Triple H back row.
The romanians take pride in their pack and scrum so that tight-5 look like they should do the job. I agree hold Healy on the bench and give him another 25-35 minutes off the bench to build up the match fitness (and not be stuck in the early encounters against famed scrummagers with a recently recovered shoulder).

Also think that backline is bang on the money. Plenty rotation, rest and player exposure. Ticks plenty of boxes.

Given that for all important games we'll be starting with Murray at 9 with Reddan on the bench, I reckon it's worth a shot to start Madigan at 9 in this one with Jackson outside him. Reddan on the bench. Make it a 6/2 split on the bench.

Would go with:

Healy - Strauss - Ross
Ryan - Toner
Henderson - Murphy - Henry
Madigan - Jackson
Fitzgerald - Henshaw - Cave - Bowe
Zebo

Cronin - McGrath - Furlong - O'Mahony - O'Brien - Heaslip - Reddan - D.Kearney

ME-109 wrote:ho ho...POM never has an average game.

That's a bit harsh as he's not fully fit - I'm sure he'll be back to his average best again soon.

Murray and Jackson should be the call. Everyone knows what Reddan will bring if needed to step into Murray's shoes. He doesn't need anymore testing. We could all write his techniques and style backwards at this point.

But it would be nice to see what would happen if Sexton did the dirty on us all and got injured big time.

This isn't a friendly. Let's see how a real genuine alternative cog might work. We have little time left for toying.

rodders wrote:

ME-109 wrote:ho ho...POM never has an average game.

That's a bit harsh as he's not fully fit - I'm sure he'll be back to his average best again soon.

God Rodders your turning into a wannabe Leinster supporter...

ME-109 wrote:

rodders wrote:

ME-109 wrote:ho ho...POM never has an average game.

That's a bit harsh as he's not fully fit - I'm sure he'll be back to his average best again soon.

God Rodders your turning into a wannabe Leinster supporter...

The next best thing to a Leinster supporter, is a wannabe Leinster supporter.

Mickado wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

rodders wrote:

ME-109 wrote:ho ho...POM never has an average game.

That's a bit harsh as he's not fully fit - I'm sure he'll be back to his average best again soon.

God Rodders your turning into a wannabe Leinster supporter...

The next best thing to a Leinster supporter, is a wannabe Leinster supporter.

Well I'm guessing if you were a Leinster supporter you'd wannabe supporting someone else at the minute

Correct. I'm now Supporting Joe's Leinster A.

rodders wrote:

Mickado wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

rodders wrote:

ME-109 wrote:ho ho...POM never has an average game.

That's a bit harsh as he's not fully fit - I'm sure he'll be back to his average best again soon.

God Rodders your turning into a wannabe Leinster supporter...

The next best thing to a Leinster supporter, is a wannabe Leinster supporter.

Well I'm guessing if you were a Leinster supporter you'd wannabe supporting someone else at the minute

Didn't you get the memo

Good analysis of the Romanian scrum;

http://www.the42.ie/romania-scrum-analysis-2349414-Sep2015/?utm_source=shortlink

It could go one of two ways. Either we get a pretty rough ride or they get whistled off the park.

Exploding the myth 'POC is not afraid of anything!'

I was laughing at that pic when I saw it first because Bowe has his Boyzone face on again.....

That's the fastest Tommy has gone for a long time.

Notch wrote:Good analysis of the Romanian scrum;

http://www.the42.ie/romania-scrum-analysis-2349414-Sep2015/?utm_source=shortlink

It could go one of two ways. Either we get a pretty rough ride or they get whistled off the park.

I love that kind of analysis as I always miss these things during a match. I'd be hoping this has been brought to the attention of the officials in charge on sunday. Who is in charge by the way?

Our old friend craig Joubert

Zebo s face says it all. "Please don't let this ride be in a straight line"

Irish team named

15. Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)
14. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
13. Jared Payne (Ulster)
12. Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
9. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster)


1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2. Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
3. Nathan White (Connacht)
4. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
6. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
7. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) captain

Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17. Jack McGrath (St Mary's College/Leinster)
18. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)
19. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster)
20. Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
22. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon)
23. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)

Assuming the full bench is used, all 31 players will have had some game time in the first 2 games.

Great to see Healy back.

Er notch henshaw?

Good team. POC and Murray to be left on the bench if at all possible.

Madigan to get 15-20 at the end at half back with Paddy.

Any news on Henshaw?

carpet baboon wrote:Er notch henshaw?

Not selected, trained fully today but wasn't fit for sessions earlier in the week. Is fit and available.

Notch wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:Er notch henshaw?

Not selected, trained fully today but wasn't fit for sessions earlier in the week. Is fit and available.

Good news. Thank he will start against Italy ?

Pete330v2 wrote:Irish team named

15. Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)
14. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
13. Jared Payne (Ulster)
12. Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
9. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster)


1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2. Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
3. Nathan White (Connacht)
4. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
6. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
7. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) captain

Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17. Jack McGrath (St Mary's College/Leinster)
18. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)
19. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster)
20. Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
22. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon)
23. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)

Most of the guys who need game time.
Time is running out for Bowe to show that he deserved to be picked at all.
POC there to take over captaincy, or he would probably have been rested.
Jackson should have started the game.

The front row holds most interest for me. Hoping White has a great game, and Healy shows a return to fitness and form.

carpet baboon wrote:Good news. Thank he will start against Italy ?

Definitely.

Love this quote from Romanian prop Paulica Ion; "We’re not a thinking team so will make sure to bring the physicality when we play on Sunday". Pretty much sums it up! Ireland are a thinking team, so we'll try and expose some weaknesses they have.

Romania have rested their talismanic loose head Mihai Lazar. He's a huge part of their scrum.

2 questions. Any of you good folk going to Wembley on Sunday?
And are there any decent refreshment establishments in the vicinity? Never been to the football stronghold before, so would like some pointers if you could be so kind

There is a really interesting rotation pattern here and can see the plan coming together leading in from the warm-ups.

Interesting Henderson and POM are left out which suggests they'll both start against Italy but possibly Henderson dropping to the bench against France.

Fitz (or less likely Cave) looks likely to start alongside Henshaw against Italy as can't see Payne starting all 4 games.

There is obviously a mix of getting guys game time but keeping players fresh for the last 2 groups games and KO games..