Your Team during the RWC

First topic message reminder :

Man oh man oh man.

This lack of rugby is killing me already. Elaborate and extravagant speculation is going to drive me up the wall. Still, til it does...

There's been a lot of chat about what teams will be hit the hardest by losing international players to the RWC, and how some should make hay while the sun shines with close to full strength teams. So, out of interest, what do you expect your first choice 22 to be during the RWC? I realise that we will all have new players starting, and it's hard to predict who will deliver and who will gel quickly, but why let that distract from endless supposition?

Assuming we will be missing Best, Court, Afoa, Ferris, Pienaar, Wallace, Trimble, and Danielli, my Ulster 22:

15) D'Arcy (Payne after mid September/start of October)
14) Spence
13) Cave
12) Marshall
11) Gilroy
10) Humphreys
9) Marshall
1) McAllister
2) Kyriacou
3) Fitzpatrick
4) Muller
5) Tuohy
6) Henry
7) Faloon
8) Wannenburg

16) Black
17) Brady
18) Barker
19) Diack
20) Porter
21) Jackson
22) Gaston (D'Arcy when Payne arrives)

That's my best guess. Whitten's greater experience could see him start at inside centre, with Luke Marshall on the bench, especially as Marshall is currrently being tried at fullback in the U20s squad. Stevenson may dislodge Barker. I would expect Black to pull ahead of Cronin. Brady may start ahead of Kyriacou - I'd like to see Andy given a decent run.

That backline has a healthy dose of talent, but we really did get rid of a number of good to decent to passable back-up players (Seymour, McCrea, Smith, McIlwane). I hope that doesn't come back to bite us on the behind.

All in all, not too shabby - our second and back rows I am very happy with. Still have a pleasing mix of experience and talent. Only 2 NIQ in the team, so lots of experience for local lads, which should help come the business end of the season. What would be ideal is if we could play Munster and Leinster between Payne's arrival and the end of the RWC.

How do other people's projected teams look?

He may do, but with Rory Lamont fit, CP certain to go and AR always having a thing for Southwell, I wouldn't be surprised to see him lose out. He's a good player though.

The other close calls are Denton (our form number 8 ) and Blair (for experience). But I think AR will take a risk on Beattie's full recovery at 8, and I think Laidlaw's ability to slot in as an emergency 10 may see him taken ahead of Blair (and he deserves to go ahead of Blair as a 9 in any case).

I think Edinburgh will go well during the WC period. I think Glasgow will struggle badly, and I'm not sure I can even name their likely XV off the top of my head.

MBTGOG wrote:Yeah but Stag, considering the amount of players they'll be losing, that is still very strong.

Yes when you take all of that into account but my point was just that theres a fairly big drop off in class due to call ups. I suppose other ML teams will be in same boat.

I hope Schmidt goes with Madigan ahead of Berquist. I know we've signed him specifically for the WC, but I hope we don't play him. Doesn't feel right.

I think McKinely is the better player at this stage so I hope he gets plenty of gametime.

Stag, if our weakness (after a LOT of international call ups ) is our bench, then I think we’re doing alright.

AlynDavies wrote:The Ospreys - Worse case scenario


16 Hanno Dirksen - Centre / Wing / Full Back *Possible call up to USA team for WC

thought he was committing to Wales?

Mickado wrote:I think McKinely is the better player at this stage so I hope he gets plenty of gametime.

Stag, if our weakness (after a LOT of international call ups ) is our bench, then I think we’re doing alright.

Your doing very well Mick. But I worry will such a team gel together quick enough.

True. I don’t know if Sykes and Berquist will be available for preseason or will they be involved in the Currie cup / NPC.

Hopefully they start preseason with the rest of the lads.

Actually, I left Fionn Carr out of that team – Carr, McFadden, O’Malley, Horgan, Nacewa is a pretty good set of outside backs!

red_stag wrote:Your doing very well Mick. But I worry will such a team gel together quick enough.

Probably not, but as most teams will be in the same boat they might not need to. The real teams to worry about at the start of the season are the likes of Dragons who should have a relatively stable squad.

But with the top of the table missing many players we might see some exciting "pick me!" rugby. And some games played purely on skill and not on well honed game plans.

Mickado wrote:True. I don’t know if Sykes and Berquist will be available for preseason or will they be involved in the Currie cup / NPC.

Hopefully they start preseason with the rest of the lads.

Actually, I left Fionn Carr out of that team – Carr, McFadden, O’Malley, Horgan, Nacewa is a pretty good set of outside backs!

That team will be fairly close. There is a chance that Toner, McLaughlin and McFadden will be at the edge of the travelling squad depending on anybody getting a knock.

Leinster always start poorly due to resting the central contracts and next season will be no different.

If McFadden is called up, there will be an interesting call for Schmidt in the back line. I know there is a youngster for 12 though the name escapes me, but to have some experience in midfield, Shaggy might be asked to do an encore of his former role;

Boss - Berquist
Horgan - O'Malley
Carr - Nacewa - D Kearney

I'd be happy with that back line, Boss-Horgan-Nacewa giving experience and direction, O'Malley-Carr-Kearney pace and elusive running. Haven't seen much of Berquist but by all accounts, a back up to Dan Carter has plenty of time to practice and watch a master at work.

Browne to step in if Toner is called up to the Irish squad. If McLaughlin gets the call, we'd need someone from the academy to step in.

Our front row will be solid at the set piece (Strauss and VDM are 1st team and Hagan will want to prove his credentials to his new team). Backrow has some class players in Ryan-Ruddock-possibly McL but they can be over enthusiastic at times and give away penalties. Second row is a weak point but maybe Sykes can be the Leinster's version of Muller!

MBTGOG wrote:Wales606,

I thought that Fish had moved up to first choice at full back by the end of last season?

I hope so, but it was a bit unclear - Czechaj started the last few games.

I would like Dai to put Fish in at the deep end and let him learn next season - we need someone who can cut the line from fullback without Blair (who I assume wont recover :/)

thebandwagonsociety wrote: Second row is a weak point but maybe Sykes can be the Leinster's version of Muller!

Didn't they play together at the Sharks?

I think that young center you’re talking about is Eamonn Sheridan? Or maybe Brendan Macken.

Mickado wrote:

thebandwagonsociety wrote: Second row is a weak point but maybe Sykes can be the Leinster's version of Muller!

Didn't they play together at the Sharks?

I think that young center you’re talking about is Eamonn Sheridan? Or maybe Brendan Macken.

I remember both Sheridan and Macken were quite handy players when they got their chance during the season just gone, but I can't differentiate between the two of them. I still think O'Malley with one of those 2 guys would be a bad move as it leaves our experienced heads around the edges of the backline shouting in which could lead to confusion.

Here's my stab at the Glasgow team (horrible):

1.Grant 2.Hall 3.Cusack 4.Ryder 5.Harley 6.Pitman 7.Fusaro 8.Wilson 9.Gregor 10.Weir 11.DTH 12.Dunbar 13.Nathan 14.Seymour 15.Horne

16.Welsh 17.MacCarthur 18.? 19.Forrester 20.Pyrgos 21.Wight 22.Hogg

Due to Thomson's injury, Hall will probably go to the WC, so they may need an extra hooker from somewhere. Also very short at lock.

At least I can formulate a side without using either Murchie or Dewey!

That was a brave move trying to do Glasgow!

Half backs seem ok...... that's pretty much all you can say about that team.

When Harley is bumped into the 2nd row you know you are in dire straights.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Here's my stab at the Glasgow team (horrible):

1.Grant 2.Hall 3.Cusack 4.Ryder 5.Harley 6.Pitman 7.Fusaro 8.Wilson 9.Gregor 10.Weir 11.DTH 12.Dunbar 13.Nathan 14.Seymour 15.Horne

16.Welsh 17.MacCarthur 18.? 19.Forrester 20.Pyrgos 21.Wight 22.Hogg

Due to Thomson's injury, Hall will probably go to the WC, so they may need an extra hooker from somewhere. Also very short at lock.

At least I can formulate a side without using either Murchie or Dewey!

Not a bad effort, may struggle though, Pitman is opne to watch IMO though, needs a bit of gametime but is a very talented rugby player with ball in hand.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:That was a brave move trying to do Glasgow!

Half backs seem ok...... that's pretty much all you can say about that team.

When Harley is bumped into the 2nd row you know you are in dire straights.

Hasn't he really only been playing blindside on a regular basis this season tho and lock more often previously?

fEs,

DTH will be going to the World Cup with Canada.

MBTGOG - how right you are.

Will probably need young Hogg to play wing in that case, then stick big Rob Dewey on the bench. More likely though I suspect Murchie will play 13 and Nathan will move to the wing.

As for Harley, he does actually have a background at lock. I agree he's a better blindside, but given Glasgow's problems covering lock, he's the least of their problems.

I think Edinburgh will have a strong year next year. Glasgow will only really compete once their internationals get back, and even then assuming fatigue doesn't knock them out.

Quick thought that hit me during work. How will provincial teams deal with the loss of their internationals during the world cup. Being a Leisnter suppoter I obviously thought of Leisnter and thought of all the names that probably wouldn't be on the team sheet. O'Driscoll, O'Brien, Healy, Ross, Cullen, Sexton all gone to name a few.

World cup ends October 23rd and the league begins early September.

I put a wee team together and my outlook got a little brighter
*-denotes a player who may be at the World cup

1.Van Der Merwe
2.Strauss/Harris-Wright
3.Hagan/McGrath
4.Toner/Browne
5.Skyes
6.McLaughlin*
7.Jennings*/Ryan
8.Ruddock
9.Boss*
10.Berquists
11.Fitzgerald*/Carr
12.McFadden*
13.O'Malley/Macken
14.Horgan*/D Kearney
15.Nacewa/R Kearney*/Conway

I have to say I think it's a pretty good team all things considered.
Scrumhalf could be an issue.
I think it's safe to say one of Horgan/McFadden/Fitzgerald/Kearney will be at the world cup at least.

World cup ends October 23rd and the league begins early September. I can see us doing very well in the opening stages.

How do you think your team will do?

Sykes?

Cheers as long as, knew it was something like that. Much obliged.

His name is Steven Sykes. Decent lock.

I can't see Boss traveling to the RWC to be honest with you, I also don't think McFadden will go. I think you'll have McLaughlin and Jennings in the backrow and Horgan in the back three. Fitzgerald and Kearney will go.

Ulster will have

1. Paddy McAllister
2. Andi Kyriacou
3. Declan Fitzpatrick
4. Johann Muller (c)
5. Dan Tuohy
6. Pedrie Wannenburg
7. Willie Faloon
8. Robbie Diack
9. Paul Marshall
10. Ian Humphreys
11. Craig Gilroy
12. Luke Marshall
13. Nevin Spence
14. Conor Gaston
15. Jared Payne

Nigel Brady, Niall Annett, Callum Black, Jerry Cronin, Lewis Stevenson, Tim Barker, Neil McComb, Chris Henry, Mike McComish, Ian Porter, Paddy Jackson, Ian Whitten, Darren Cave, Chris Cochrane, Adam D'Arcy

Squad of about 30 players from September onwards with a few Academy lads in there. Jared Payne only arrives in September I think.

I think we'll pick up some points in this period as well. Eight good players to come back, but I'd love to get the Italian teams early- or Glasgow etc.

That's a strong Ulster team for sure.

I hope Kearney doesn't go not for Leinster's sake but for Ireland's but that's not the issue.

I think I'd like to play the tougher teams during that period. Teams who'd be without a lot of players due to the RWC but who wouldn't have the same depth as Leinster.

I'd like to play Munster, Cardiff and Ospreys cos I think we'd have a great chance of recording good wins.

More posters' estimated teams:
https://www.606v2.com/t6504-your-team-during-the-rwc

I feel a 'merge' coming on.

Ah rudey poo. Didn't see the other article now I just feel silly

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Ah rudey poo. Didn't see the other article now I just feel silly

No worries. Will merge it in a sec.

Cheers buddy.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Cheers buddy.

I'd much rather be merging dups than telling off WUMs

And the other article was old enough to no longer be on the 1st page of rugby articles, so don't blame yourself for missing it

Hey. It's a great question.

Stag-

I think it's pretty strong too. If Jennings doesn't go which is a possibility too we can get Toner out of the second row and put McLaughlin in. Swap Ryan from 7 to 6. Fitzgerald may not travel either.

There is also speedy gonzalez Fionn Carr. :run2: