Ireland WC

First topic message reminder :

Bit early i know.
Will update squads etc once they are announced.
And add the fixtures when I get a spare 10 mins.

Will Addison has been called up to the training squad

So Gatland overdoes training.
Eddie kills his players and then screams at them to get back on their feet.
Schmidt runs camp Auschmidtz.

Maybe the players who don't like their coaches could deselect themselves quickly and let some other boys back in.

Incidentally, the Irish players are supposed to get on great with Farrell though.  Let's see how much they like him when he gets the Leader's whip in his hand and is the one ringing of texting them to tell them they haven't made the cut.

Yes it is time to go when the whispers of discontent start airing.  I assume he himself might now regret not sticking to his three year stints.  But then again, he was pretty much begged to hang on.

Anyway, here's to the World Cup win to soothe all discord

Well lets look at other squads.
NZ dropped Coles
England have left a host of experience at home ( Brown, Teo, Care, robshaw )
Wales have dropped the two most experienced props.
Scotland have left a few big names out Jones Straus big Grey.

We're not the only squad who has left out some players seen as nailed on, and in most cases it seems the players have been dropped for more mobile, faster game plan types.

Maybe all the coaches have same idea, a faster game in Japan?

carpet baboon wrote:Well lets look at other squads.
NZ dropped Coles Franks
England have left a host of experience at home ( Brown, Teo, Care, robshaw )
Wales have dropped the two most experienced props.
Scotland have left a few big names out Jones Straus big Grey.

We're not the only squad who has left out some players seen as nailed on, and in most cases it seems the players have been dropped for more mobile, faster game plan types.

Maybe all the coaches have same idea, a faster game in Japan?

I think that may have been news to Dane Coles.

I must admit some of the "big name" omissions have seemed to be very last minute and seem to have been based on the warm up games (though not all coaches left it to the last minute to drop experienced players).

Ninjarugby wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:

Ninjarugby wrote:Tough on Toner but I won't 2nd guess Schmidt's choice. In his tenure he has a better record than both England & Wales in the 6 nations, has beaten NZ twice and very nearly could have been 3 out of 4, has put Ireland in the position to take the number 1 ranking 3 times and from what I have seen in the past there is 0 chance that Ireland could have peaked in 2018 and carried that form through to the 6 Nations 2019 and onto Japan. So what if they got hammered in their warm up game against England. Does it really matter? What matters is if we can get to the 1/4 final with a strong fresh 23.
From what we lose in the line-out we may well gain in the scrum. Kleyn packing in behind Furlong could be a potent weapon. When the Irish scrum decimated the AB's one last year that was pretty good to watch.
I don't think Toner/Kleyn will make a big difference in the group stages but IF we get to the 1/4 final then the choice could be a master stroke. Only time will tell.
No coach will make 100% of the correct calls but I think Schmidt has earned my trust.
A series win away to Australia, a win away to SA, beating NZ without SOB & POM for the 1st time.
All of a sudden I'm reading he has lost the plot & is a bad couch.

Agree with you on all that well said.

He is definitely not a bad couch or coach but I do get the sense that Schmidt's departure is coming at a good time though. Word on the street is that the players don't really like him that much but they do respect him a lot. Maybe that's what it takes to be successful but it probably wouldn't last forever nor would his 24/7/365 focus.

I have heard that players don't really enjoy Ireland camps that much. Carton House is now called Auschmidtz amoungst some of the players.

EOS (I believe), had 16 players and wasn't much liked.
DC was a nice coach & did deliver a GS but got totally out thought in 2011 by Gatland
Schmidt has to be ruthless & I don't really care whether the players think he is too tough on them. I'm sure POC, BOD and countless players before them wish they went to the WC this prepared & with this good a squad.
Fitzgerald is bitter in my opinion as is M Williams. Pichot had a crack at World Rugby & the IRFU over Toners omission because only Argentina don't use the rules put in place.
I say get behind the squad & go for it. Chances are these days Toner might just get a chance but I'll back Kleyn to do a job and just maybe he'll shut some of the doubters up. I certainly hope so.

Again agree with you on all that. I also do like how Schmidt is ruthless and emotionless, we definitely needed it.

Fitzgerald is a similar pundit to how he was as a player, a bit all over the place. I wouldnt really put too much stock into what he says.

In Argentina its quite unlikely they will ever be able to attract project players from anywhere outside of maybe Uruguay because they have such a ship wreck of any economy which is only going to get worse due to massive projected inflation due to a likely return to a populist socialist government of Cristina Kirchner and her cronies. Its almost impossible to earn a good living there unless you have a contract that includes regular salary inflation adjustments.

Therefore, I can understand why Pichot

Collapse just got assassinated by an Argentinian hitman

Ah the fun there'll be at this world cup

maestegmafia wrote:Ireland World Cup squad:

Backs: Rob Kearney (Leinster), Jordan Larmour (Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster), Andrew Conway (Munster), Chris Farrell (Munster), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Bundee Aki (Connacht), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Joey Carbery (Munster), Jack Carty (Connacht), Conor Murray (Munster), Luke McGrath (Leinster)

Forwards: Cian Healy (Leinster), Dave Kilcoyne (Munster), Rory Best (Ulster, capt), Niall Scannell (Munster), Sean Cronin (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), John Ryan (Munster), James Ryan (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), CJ Stander (Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Rhys Ruddock (Leinster).

Front Row: Only 5 props is a mistake IMO. Four props are involved in every game and the starters are subbed because they are spent by the third quarter, having only one spare in the most replaced RWC position means the set piece will eventually suffer and the front row will be less effective in the loose.

Second Row: Toner is unlucky, but maybe Joe doesn't want a repeat of 2015. Once O'Connell was injured all hope was gone for the pack and Toner's prowess in the lineout is being hyped up to similar proportions. The four chosen are more interchangeable in their style of play.

Back Row: Ruddock genuinely covers the backrow positions and brings some on-field thinking and leadership too.

Half Backs: Including Carbery is a big mistake if he isn't going to be fit before the Quarter Finals. That leaves Carty to cover a creaking Sexton, a waning Murray and any injury to McGrath throughout the pool stages. Marmion (or Cooney) should have gone to relieve Murray, so it would only have been Sexton that needed special nursing through the first four games.

Centres: Having 3 who have played either position, should ensure defensive continuity. Henshaw hasn't looked fully fit for yonks and is undoubtedly the reason Aki and Farrell are in, but again would Joe not have been better picking fit players rather than ones who aren't right? Ringrose is maybe being lined up as a utility player who can also place kick or play wing.

Back Three: As expected Larmour covers Kearney and Conway the wings.

If recent form and injury are anything to go by there are just too many players who will need special handling through the pool stages: Healy, Murray, Sexton, Henshaw, Earls and Kearney (with Carbery not available). That's probably two or three too many so Toner and Addison might have been left out to lower the risk. Cooney should have been in for Carbery as he would have been useful as a 9/10 hybrid to ensure Sexton and Murray weren't over exposed in the group. Fit players put pressure on places and share the workload, while unfit players do the exact opposite.

I don't think Joe would drop Dev just to make a SF, they are going for broke with the selections they've made.

To me that is a positive, rather than just playing it safe.

I think they've sacrificed a bit of versatility for players who can actually have an impact but at the same time clearly they've been looking at each eventuality to cover injuries.

Scotland are looking pretty good so I think that is a 50:50 game.

I'd assume there is a modicum of science used to define 'fit' players hopping on a plane to a World Cup.

So maybe replacing the word fitness with form might explain the conundrums better.

At one point during the last game, I looked at Henderson (I think defending the tryline at the time) and he looked utterly spent and drained.... his companions to either side seemed to be trying to coax him on.  Now maybe I missed some hits he had been taking and perhaps he was just a little gassed from a specific period of intense play.  But it was frightening how spent he looked and it was by no means an exceptionally tough game.

He's on the plane.  I do think there is more science to this than just Joe looking players in the eye and guessing how able they are for the show to come.   It seems it has all been building to this point for many players; and a number of them still maybe a few weeks off intended peaks of fitness.  I'm sure it's all being calibrated though. I sure hope so!

Pete330v2 wrote:Collapse just got assassinated by an Argentinian hitman

Pete330v2 wrote:Collapse just got assassinated by an Argentinian hitman

Ha, I just hit send and thought Id amend it after but got called into a meeting.

SecretFly wrote:I'd assume there is a modicum of science used to define 'fit' players hopping on a plane to a World Cup.

So maybe replacing the word fitness with form might explain the conundrums better.

At one point during the last game, I looked at Henderson (I think defending the tryline at the time) and he looked utterly spent and drained.... his companions to either side seemed to be trying to coax him on.  Now maybe I missed some hits he had been taking and perhaps he was just a little gassed from a specific period of intense play.  But it was frightening how spent he looked and it was by no means an exceptionally tough game.

He's on the plane.  I do think there is more science to this than just Joe looking players in the eye and guessing how able they are for the show to come.   It seems it has all been building to this point for many players; and a number of them still maybe a few weeks off intended peaks of fitness.  I'm sure it's all being calibrated though.  I sure hope so!

He was Ireland's top tackler with 16 and joint top ball carrier along with Conan with 8 carries. This was also from playing tight head lock and playing his second game in a week after a weeks warm weather training.

I'd say he was tired alright but I'd say Joe was pretty pleased.

Oh he was more than tired, he was being held up.

Anyway good to hear the stats.  Them's why he's on the plane I reckon.

I'll guess the team for Wales will be something like the following

1. Healy
2. Best
3. Furlong
4. Kleyn
5. Ryan
6. Stander
7. VDF
8. Conan
9. Murray
10. Sexton
11. Larmour
12. Henshaw
13. Ringrose
14. Earls
15. Kearney

16. Scannell
17. Kilcoyne
18. Porter
19. Beirne
20. Ruddock
21. Carbery
22. McGrath
23. Stockdale

POM and Henderson rested or maybe on the bench.

It will be with a view of facing Scotland so will be revealing imo. If Scannell starts ahead of Best for instance or Conan starts with Stander on the bench.

Wouldn't surprise me to see Addison involved too if there's a doubt over some backs.

I think it will be interesting to see what we do at hooker, Best and Scannell both need game time but Cronin hasn't featured at all.

Agree Kleyn needs to start alongside Ryan, if Henderson is injured he needs to show he can call the line out.

I think we'll be very close to full strength bar those who've backed up the last 2 games.

rodders wrote:I think it will be interesting to see what we do at hooker, Best and Scannell both need game time but Cronin hasn't featured at all.

Agree Kleyn needs to start alongside Ryan, if Henderson is injured he needs to show he can call the line out.

I think we'll be very close to full strength bar those who've backed up the last 2 games.

Scannell has played 113 minutes, Best 82 and Cronin 26 in the three games thus far. Cronin should make his first start, with Best in reserve again.

Comparing 2019 to 2015

2019
Rory Best, 37
Niall Scannell, 27
Sean Cronin 33

Cian Healy, 32
Dave Kilcoyne, 31
Tadhg Furlong, 27
John Ryan, 31
Andrew Porter 23

James Ryan, 23
Iain Henderson, 27
Jean Kleyn, 26
Tadhg Beirne 27

Peter O’Mahony, 29
CJ Stander, 29
Jack Conan, 27
Josh van der Flier, 26
Rhys Ruddock 28

Conor Murray, 30
Luke McGrath 26

Johnny Sexton, 34
Joey Carbery, 24
Jack Carty 27

Bundee Aki, 29
Robbie Henshaw, 26
Garry Ringrose, 24
Chris Farrell 26

Stockdale, 23
Kearney, 33
Keith Earls, 31
Jordan Larmour, 22
Andrew Conway. 28

2015
Rory Best 33
Sean Cronin 29
Richardt Strauss 29

Tadhg Furlong 22
Cian Healy 27
Jack McGrath 25
Mike Ross 35
Nathan White 34

Iain Henderson 23
Paul O'Connell 35
Donnacha Ryan 31
Devin Toner 29

Jamie Heaslip 31
Chris Henry 30
Jordi Murphy 24
Sean O'Brien 28
Peter O'Mahony 26

Conor Murray 26
Eoin Reddan 34

Paddy Jackson 23
Ian Madigan 26
Jonathan Sexton 30

Darren Cave 28
Luke Fitzgerald 28
Robbie Henshaw 22
Jared Payne 29

Tommy Bowe 31
Keith Earls 27
Dave Kearney 26
Simon Zebo 25
Rob Kearney 29


The 2019 squad looks stronger. At first glance they look about the same but there's a few from the 2015 squad who have not or would not make it into the 2019 squad. Keep in mind the ages too. 35 year old Mike Ross wouldn't make the 2019 squad.

Interesting, I'd agree 2019 looks stronger with the exception maybe of the outside backs.

Average age is down from 28.5 to 26.5 and more depth in most positions.

Yeah Im not sure the first team is much better but overall dept is definitely better and the bench players are better prepared to take over too.

I feel quite positive again, the selections of the likes of Kleyn, Beirne, Farrell, McGrath, Ruddock show we aren't playing it safe, we are banking on being there in KO stages and plan on having plenty of fire power there at that stage of the tournament.

rodders wrote:I feel quite positive again, the selections of the likes of Kleyn, Beirne, Farrell, McGrath, Ruddock show we aren't playing it safe, we are banking on being there in KO stages and plan on having plenty of fire power there at that stage of the tournament.  

Haha, good to hear Rodders. All we have to do is get out of our group then play the game of our lives. Thats Ireland's RWC and I cant wait.

I'll try players missed from 2015

Paul O'Connell
Donnacha Ryan
Devin Toner (since he will theoretically miss the WC)
Jamie Heaslip

Those four just had enough/have enough to be auto picks for me in 2019 (obviously based on them being in Prime form)

I think I can understand where Joe is going in not taking Devon now. Toner is unfortunately kind of a cross roads between styles of rugby desired.  But those are the four from 2015 that I'd link to a quality team in 2019.

Next I'll think of a list of easy droppables from the 2019 list....

SecretFly wrote:I'll try players missed from 2015

Paul O'Connell
Donnacha Ryan
Devin Toner (since he will theoretically miss the WC)
Jamie Heaslip

Those four just had enough/have enough to be auto picks for me in 2019 (obviously based on them being in Prime form)

I think I can understand where Joe is going in not taking Devon now.  Toner is unfortunately kind of a cross roads between styles of rugby desired.  But those are the four from 2015 that I'd link to a quality team in 2019.

Next I'll think of a list of easy droppables from the 2019 list....

As great as POC was I think we have a good replacement in Ryan. I think Heaslip is a bigger loss. I see Stander as more of a six and Heaslip a great 8. I think we might miss a fully fit and on form Sean O'Brien too as our 7 stocks are now low too.

Sean O'Brien....ah for me, either too red-mist and gets needlessly injured early in a campaign.... or too red-mist and gets a yellow or red card. I can appreciate his qualities but too much of a loose cannon temperament for me personally to miss him.

I am finding this interesting, nobody is mentioning this over here, has there been a hullabaloo in Ireland ? It seems as though Schmidt is having to come out and defend his use of project players, surprised that nobody on here is talking about it, sorry if you have and I have missed it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/49568247

What are all the Irish members on here thought's on this ?

LordDowlais wrote:I am finding this interesting, nobody is mentioning this over here, has there been a hullabaloo in Ireland ? It seems as though Schmidt is having to come out and defend his use of project players, surprised that nobody on here is talking about it, sorry if you have and I have missed it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/49568247

What are all the Irish members on here thought's on this ?

I just think it a non story, a few people have expressed sympathy for Toner but I don't think there has been much made of it. I think there is a bit of pressure on Kleyn to justify his selection but if he can then that will be the end of it.

LordDowlais wrote:I am finding this interesting, nobody is mentioning this over here, has there been a hullabaloo in Ireland ? It seems as though Schmidt is having to come out and defend his use of project players, surprised that nobody on here is talking about it, sorry if you have and I have missed it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/49568247

What are all the Irish members on here thought's on this ?

I am obviously not Irish (well 7/8ths me is not) but Schmidt has bugger all to be defensive about. Gus Pichot has decided it is time to start shooting his mouth off at all and sundry.

Now this is a garbage article I am about to post, but Irish Fans could argue their team is plenty Irish enough:

https://www.ruck.co.uk/foreign-born-players-at-2019-rugby-world-cup-home-nations/

LordDowlais wrote:I am finding this interesting, nobody is mentioning this over here, has there been a hullabaloo in Ireland ? It seems as though Schmidt is having to come out and defend his use of project players, surprised that nobody on here is talking about it, sorry if you have and I have missed it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/49568247

What are all the Irish members on here thought's on this ?

It really is a non-story, project players IMO have to make a huge commitment to pulling on an international rugby shirt that's different from their country of origin. In that respect, if they are at the required standard they deserve selection every bit as much as a player that was born here. There's little point in forcing an Irish square peg into a round hole if there's a project round peg available...…...jees does that even make sense?

LondonTiger wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:I am finding this interesting, nobody is mentioning this over here, has there been a hullabaloo in Ireland ? It seems as though Schmidt is having to come out and defend his use of project players, surprised that nobody on here is talking about it, sorry if you have and I have missed it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/49568247

What are all the Irish members on here thought's on this ?

I am obviously not Irish (well 7/8ths me is not) but Schmidt has bugger all to be defensive about. Gus Pichot has decided it is time to start shooting his mouth off at all and sundry.

He really is quite angry recently.

Wales's list is a joke:-

Tomas Francis – England
Jake Ball – England
Ross Moriarty – England
Aaron Shingler – England
Jonathan Davies – England
Hadleigh Parkes – New Zealand
Hallam Amos -England
George North – England

Of all those, only Hadleigh Parkes and Tomas Francis are dubious. The rest have lived in Wales since they we babies.

LondonTiger wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:I am finding this interesting, nobody is mentioning this over here, has there been a hullabaloo in Ireland ? It seems as though Schmidt is having to come out and defend his use of project players, surprised that nobody on here is talking about it, sorry if you have and I have missed it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/49568247

What are all the Irish members on here thought's on this ?

I am obviously not Irish (well 7/8ths me is not) but Schmidt has bugger all to be defensive about. Gus Pichot has decided it is time to start shooting his mouth off at all and sundry.

Now this is a garbage article I am about to post, but Irish Fans could argue their team is plenty Irish enough:

https://www.ruck.co.uk/foreign-born-players-at-2019-rugby-world-cup-home-nations/

Can Scotland actually still call themselves Scotland based on that article

So I take it then this has not come from within Ireland ?

Pichot should stop moaning, or as somebody who is in charge, just do something about it.

Pete330v2 wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:I am finding this interesting, nobody is mentioning this over here, has there been a hullabaloo in Ireland ? It seems as though Schmidt is having to come out and defend his use of project players, surprised that nobody on here is talking about it, sorry if you have and I have missed it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/49568247

What are all the Irish members on here thought's on this ?

I am obviously not Irish (well 7/8ths me is not) but Schmidt has bugger all to be defensive about. Gus Pichot has decided it is time to start shooting his mouth off at all and sundry.

Now this is a garbage article I am about to post, but Irish Fans could argue their team is plenty Irish enough:

https://www.ruck.co.uk/foreign-born-players-at-2019-rugby-world-cup-home-nations/

Can Scotland actually still call themselves Scotland based on that article

Although 14 players do seem a lot, how many have lived in Scotland for most of their lives ? I know John Barclay has, don't know much about the history of the others though.

LordDowlais wrote:Wales's list is a joke:-

Tomas Francis – England
Jake Ball – England
Ross Moriarty – England
Aaron Shingler – England
Jonathan Davies – England
Hadleigh Parkes – New Zealand
Hallam Amos -England
George North – England

Of all those, only Hadleigh Parkes and Tomas Francis are dubious. The rest have lived in Wales since they we babies.

I agree with your sentiment (not sure Ball can count as lived in Wales since a baby though, and the Moriarty case is always interesting - most certainly Welsh but....... Anscombe would have been another slightly dodgy one).

Thing is though people slate all the countries for doing it and bring up facts without the full stories.

LordDowlais wrote:So I take it then this has not come from within Ireland ?

Pichot should stop moaning, or as somebody who is in charge, just do something about it.

Pichot's comments on who should be World Number 1 are more weird than his comments about Toner going to World Rugby rather than Joe for an explanation of why he wasn't picked.

Pichot has either had a few servings of bad mushrooms in recent weeks or he has been signed up by World Rugby to get a few big headlines for the sport in the run up to their Biggest Biz Event.

No publicity is bad publicity. Indeed, argumentative, contentious publicity is the best publicity of all...just ask Roy Keane

Yeah both Pichot and Hanson came accross a bit dim re their comments on the rankings

If Kleyn had been in the squad ahead of Beirne I doubt the project player question would have been raised anywhere near as much as it has been.

Its just been a big surprise to most that Toner has been dropped given how integral he's been to the Irish side over the last few years, so has attracted more attention

BamBam wrote:If Kleyn had been in the squad ahead of Beirne I doubt the project player question would have been raised anywhere near as much as it has been.

Its just been a big surprise to most that Toner has been dropped given how integral he's been to the Irish side over the last few years, so has attracted more attention

I think thats fair.

BamBam wrote:If Kleyn had been in the squad ahead of Beirne I doubt the project player question would have been raised anywhere near as much as it has been.

Its just been a big surprise to most that Toner has been dropped given how integral he's been to the Irish side over the last few years, so has attracted more attention

Still.  If Toner wants to know why he was dropped, I think he'd be better served asking the man he's been coached by for so long.  I'm sure they've already had those words and who knows, even before the first game in Japan, Kleyn might be back in Ireland with an injury and Toner might be speaking pidgin Japanese to the natives. It happens.

Yeah there is a good chance Toner will be drafted in alright. Like Schmidt said no fishing trips for the guys on standby.

Collapse2005 wrote:

BamBam wrote:If Kleyn had been in the squad ahead of Beirne I doubt the project player question would have been raised anywhere near as much as it has been.

Its just been a big surprise to most that Toner has been dropped given how integral he's been to the Irish side over the last few years, so has attracted more attention

I think thats fair.

Not so sure I've seen the same comments when it looked like Beirne was going to miss out at Kleyns expense.

We talk about Kleyn and the pressure being on him now to prove Joe's decision a good one. I think it's time Beirne upped the ante too.  We've had our time with players doing the 'unseen' stuff.  In the modern day you gotta be arrogant in a good way and really be visible and brash about the qualities you have.

Beirne has been playing a very quiet game of deference so far in the Irish shirt.  He needs to start taking ownership of some games and make sure he's the player people remember.  Step out of the shadows, lead an aggressive uncompromising charge.  We need at times to see that rage of white teeth (em, gumshields) sparkling in battle from the exertion and the passion, like POC often showed.  I think Beirne is most likely to be that player the rest draw energy from if he comes out of his shell somewhat.

Why isn't Beirne ahead of POM - could it be the gumshield exposure?

Good luck guys, hope you get through today with no major injuries.

The Great Aukster wrote:Why isn't Beirne ahead of POM - could it be the gumshield exposure?

My top scientists are on to it!

Well what a difference a few weeks can make. Maybe Schmidt and the team have got this right after all.

I think it is hard to judge how seriously Wales took those games, they don't have to hit the ground running the way we do but the progression week by week from Ireland has been really impressive.

It looks like starting XV for Scotland will be -

15 Kearney
14 Earls/Conway
13 Henshaw
12 Aki
11 Stockdale
10 Sexton
9 Murray
8 Stander
7 VDF
6 POM
5 Henderson
4 Ryan
3 Furlong
2 Best
1 Healy

Bench:- Kilcoyne, Cronin, Porter, Kleyn, Beirne, McGrath, Carty, Ringrose

You feeling better about it now? I really hope POM doesnt start the big games especially against the Boks or NZ. Ireland were some much more physical in the backrow without him on Saturday and Stander is a much better 6 than 8.

Even before the injury, Earls looked redundant out on the edge.  If he doesn't have space - and he didn't - then I'm not sure what his role is then because he has always looked too fragile in the tighter, more attritional gameplans.  Incidentally I'm not saying it was his fault that he looked so much excess baggage.  I think the wings were only used as decoys to make Wales think we were trying to get width on the game when really a tortoise could defend the intent so slow was the passing execution out to the edges.  Wales were always going to be comfortable on the wide but Earls just looks impotent and always vulnerable in a tactically tight game.
For me, it really is Conway as more abrasive and physical starter and Earls on in the second half if tired legs give us a little more room to work with

Earls has had a good year in my view and a good addition to the squad. I suspect that he might be covering the left wing in case Stockdale gets injured as there is no one else with experience playing there.

Dave Kilcoyne his tearing up trees at the moment!