Ireland v South Africa - 11 Nov 5:30

First topic message reminder :

Guinness Series 2017 - Ireland v South Africa
Aviva Stadium, Dublin,  
Sat 11 Nov 2017, 17:30
Ref: Ben O’Keefe (NZ)
Touch: Wayne Barnes and Ian Davies

Irelands toughest November series test match. A win is critical as it is more than likely the last time Ireland will face SA prior to a potential 1/4 final show down in Japan.

Who will win and other chat?

15. Rob Kearney (fans choice)
14. Andrew Conway
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray
1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best (captain)
3. Tadhg Furlong
4.  Iain Henderson
5. Devin Toner
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Sean O’Brien
8. CJ Stander

South Africa

15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Francois Louw, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6, Siya Kolisi, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth (captain), 3 Coenie Oosthuizen 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Tendai Mtawarira

Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi , 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Uzair Cassiem, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Francois Venter

I think Ruddock would need more senior International time under him before Joe would tell him to take up the Captain's role when the other 'Captains' left the field.

But there you go, none of us really know who took the role, and maybe it actually was Ruddock. Could have been.

Not that I care either really, in the sense that I think the Captaincy role is sometimes overrated. I mean I think the best functioning side is when there are a few 'Captains' on the side with one mind and one conviction and all it takes is a knowing nod between them to keep things cooking. But I was just curious, that's all.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Would it not have been Ruddock? He captained the summer tour and I feel that he may be the captain against Fiji this weekend.

I think he is a good candidate for the captaincy after Best - wasn't he the youngest captain we ever had when he was 20 or something? It seems to be a direct battle for the 6 shirt between himself and O'Mahony, and either of those two could be captain.

I don't think he was the youngest captain Ireland had - maybe he was a young cap - he was sent from the U20s to tour of Australia I think because there were a lot of injuries (and suspensions - Heaslip's knee slip on McCaw!).

I don't think the 6 jersey is between him and POM - if anything it will be between CJ Stander and him when Heaslip comes back. Otherwise POM will be kept because he is needed for the lineout and neither CJ or Ruddock have the same athleticism as POM.

Sin é wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Would it not have been Ruddock? He captained the summer tour and I feel that he may be the captain against Fiji this weekend.

I think he is a good candidate for the captaincy after Best - wasn't he the youngest captain we ever had when he was 20 or something? It seems to be a direct battle for the 6 shirt between himself and O'Mahony, and either of those two could be captain.

I don't think he was the youngest captain Ireland had - maybe he was a young cap - he was sent from the U20s to tour of Australia I think because there were a lot of injuries (and suspensions - Heaslip's knee slip on McCaw!).

I don't think the 6 jersey is between him and POM - if anything it will be between CJ Stander and him when Heaslip comes back. Otherwise POM will be kept because he is needed for the lineout and neither CJ or Ruddock have the same athleticism as POM.

No idea where I got that from then, Sin. Heaslip could be out for a while, if he comes back at all, so for the foreseeable future it is a direct battle between POM and Ruddock. Aside from that there aren't any other options really, unless you move CJ/Leavy/SOB to 6. There is SOBv2 for Connacht as a future option but he has had his fair share of injury woes already.

Sin é wrote: when Heaslip comes back.

..if Heaslip comes back - that has to be open to question now, as it has to be for Payne