Irish World Cup fullback (HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION)

As subtley mentioned in the title, this is an article on a hypothetical situation.

The big "if" that I am going to go and make an assumption over is that Felix Jones will be selected among the 30 players to go to the World Cup. Some will say this is a step too far for him and he isn't ready and some will say he should be a defenite starter, I'm somewhere between the two but think he should travel as he is our only fullback who is playing, let alone playing well.

He has pace, defence, creativity, a good tactical brain and an above average boot. Experience is the one thing he lacks but I expect he will start at least 2 games during the summer series. He is the only player option in terms of form as he is the only Irish fullback playing 15 week in week out. He has been playing well even when at times Munster have not. he has a great record with the u20's (grand slam and Churchill cup) and has some HCup experience. Also it was kidney who brought him to Munster and thus obviously rates him somewhat.

If you don't think he will go vote accordingly.

There will be 5 outside back places in the 30 man squad. Bowe and Earls will both travel then 3 from McFadden, Fitzgerald, [b]Kearney, Trimble,Jones and Murphy.

At least one fullback will travel and possibly 2 so the competition for places roughly divides as McFadden, Fitzgerald and trimble for one possibly 2 spots and Murphy, Jones and kearney for an other and possibly 2.

This HYPOTHETICAL situation assumes that kidney wants some fullback cover for JONES either in the form of Earls, Kearney or Murphy.

EARLS: I think will be our starting winger for the majority of the games (fighting it out with Trimble possibly). If Murphy or Kearney our not selected he is guarenteed to be in the match day 23 as he will be the only recognised fullback cover. He doesn't have much recent experience in this position although has played at 15 for Munster, Ireland and the Lions to varying success. Seems good in attack especially with the space 15 affords but appears fragile in defense due to his positioning and fielding. Is very quick, a good tackler with an excellent boot and counterattacking abilities. Has been in good form this season primarily on the wing.

KEARNEY: Has been out of action for nearly 9 months. He has been out of form since the Lions tour in 09. The new rules favouring attacking play and keeping the ball in hand do not suit Kearney's seige gun boot and outstanding aerial abilities, he is also very fast. He is however weak defensively, is the worst counterattacking back 3 player in the 43 man squad, runs into multiple tackles, does not pass often or offload often. He is going to play in S.Africa for some time to regain some match fitness and form. He never evolved as a player when the game rules changed and he must do this. If Ireland are looking for a rock at the back he's the guy, especially on a wet day but in terms of attacking and creativity he is a poor option.

MURPHY: Seems to me to be the polar opposite of Kearney. He has however been injured for a similar term but he was on form at the time and a guarenteed starter at Leicester which can't be said for Kearney at Leinster. He is a leader also which is a boost. Can be defensively weak in the tackle, but has become much more solid in recent times. Creative and a good footballer, his fielding and kicking skills are not as good as Kearney's but are well above average, on top of that though he counters well, links well and joins the line well.

I think it would be unwise to not bring a second specialist fullback as if Jones or Earls were injured we'd be relying on Bowe who while still a good option I'd prefer to see on the wing or in the centre if necessary. Kearney creates a contrast where you could choose between two very different fullback depending on the opposition but then again his faults are deep and have been there for some time. Murphy brings experience, creativity a little bit of unpredictability (good and bad thing) and also leadership.

Obviously we need to see how all of our options do over the next few months but as of now I would choose Murphy.

WHAT DO YOU THINK AND WHY???

If Jones plays well in the Warm up then I'd be happy for him, Earls and Bowe to cover 15. I can't see either Murphy or Kearney being 100% fit for this WC.

IMO we need either Kearney or Murphy. Right now I'd like to see either one of them with Jones. Keith Earls is the third backup at 15.

I think Stag is right there. earls may not be comfortable enough at 15 to be the second in line. Although roddersm you make a good point that neither may be good/fit/ready enough. I think the IRFu are really pushing kearney with this whole sending him to SA thing.

Stag Earls put in the best performance from an Irish fullback since 2009 against England. I'd have him ahead of Kearney and Murphy even if both were fit. Murphy's defence is far too suspect and Kearney has not played well in 2 seasons.

Pete,

Very good breakdown on all 3 players.
Earls for me will be on the wing with the option of slotting him into FB if required.
I hope the 2 FB Deccie chooses to take are Murphy and Jones.

Kearney is by far the worst defender of the 3 and tackling is the weakest part of his game.
Very overrated in my books.

Murphy and Jones for me please.

I think it's impossible to answer this question before we see the warm up matches. Neither Kearney or Murphy have played for months and Kearney hasn't played well since 2009. It really depends how both fare (if they're even fit) in those matches. Provisionally I'd pick Jones and Murphy based on the fact Jones played really well at the end of the season and Murphy was playing well before he got injured. My opinion and choice (as would Deccie's I'd imagine) could easily change during the warm up matches though.

roddersm wrote:Stag Earls put in the best performance from an Irish fullback since 2009 against England. I'd have him ahead of Kearney and Murphy even if both were fit. Murphy's defence is far too suspect and Kearney has not played well in 2 seasons.

Yikes would have to disagree there I must say. Murphy's defence was suspect but realistically he misses far fewer tackles tham Kearney does and he brings so many other strong attributes to the table.

Yes we will need to see how all the players are for sure but I think Jones deserves the most game time over the 5 summer games more than the others.

kearney going to the world cup is a fear of mine I must say it jsut gives me a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.

kearney vs Murphy
ratings in my opinion

High ball: 10/7.5
Kicking: 9/8
Defence: 5.5/6.5
Joining the line: 6/8.5
Countering: 6/8
Leadership: 6/8

Versatility: fullback and wing/fullback, wing, has slotted in at 10 but never worn the jersey.

Kearney does bring something that other outside backs don't however.

My back 3 players would be:
Bowe
Earls
Jones
Murphy
McFadden/Trimble

I can't agree that Murphy's defence is better than Kearney's, in fact O'Gara's defence is better than Murphy's!

kearney just doesn't offer enough with the ball in hand though.

Jones is better than both. My back 3 would be:

Bowe
Trimble
Earls
Jones
McFadden

Murphy's defence being worse than ROG's kinda negates the statement of Murphy's defence being worse than kearney's I'm afraid.

Murphy's defence isn't that bad

Is there any reason why Murphy isn't being sent to a Southern franchise I wonder?? It would annoy me greatly if the IRFU had already made up their mind on kearney because he's centrally contracted.

No. No. No. No. No. No.

You don't want Geordan. Kearney is much better.

Not that I've any hidden agenda...

Haha. Maybe you could do me a favour there Portnoy. We in Ireland don't watch the premiership too often so don't see Geordan too much, what I've done above with ratings between him and Kearney, can I have your take on Murphy's ratings please good sir?

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Is there any reason why Murphy isn't being sent to a Southern franchise I wonder?? It would annoy me greatly if the IRFU had already made up their mind on kearney because he's centrally contracted.

Not sure Kearney is going to the SH. He will be in Trinity College tomorrow evening to meet the cyclists on the Paul Derbyshire fund raiser.

Leicester would have to agree to send Geordan there - it wouldn't be just a case of the IRFU deciding he should go.

Sin é wrote:

Leicester would have to agree to send Geordan there - it wouldn't be just a case of the IRFU deciding he should go.

That would be the day that hell froze over

I can't see two specialist full backs going as there just aren't enough numbers for such a luxury. Why would it be necessary when there are two ready made short term replacements in Earls and Bowe?
Again as with other positions a major injury can get a replacement.

For me it's a straight shoot out between Kearney and Jones. Kearney was lauded in NZ and SA as being world class, and you don't get those accolades if you can't attack. Like so many other from the Lions tour RK came back jaded and unable to scale those heights again especially being hampered by injury. Kidney knows he has the ability though and will give him every opportunity to demonstrate it.

Jones is a totally unproven entity against Test opposition, despite what he has done at junior and A level. He also has had an injury ravaged season with precious little gametime but what he has shown in the ML has been good. He would have to fit in with a Leinster dominated backline that he has never played with before and precious little time to learn. As I've said elsewhere it would be a very big call by Kidney to take a first choice starter who has never been capped in tournament play.

IMO Kidney will take Kearney if he's fit, with Jones on reserve if he's not. Geordan has had his day and even if he were fit , I doubt he would make the plane.

Aukster- a very good post with very sound reason. But in terms of numbers depends if we take a 16/14 split or a 17/13 split. With the former we could afford to bring two specialist fullbacks.

3 scrum-halves, 2 outhalves, 3 centres, 4 wingers, 2 fullbacks

If one of the centres is Wallace we have cover at 10, Earls covers 13.

I just can't decide whether Kidney should bring another specialist fullback (probably Felix Jones) or another centre (probably Fergus McFadden). Six back three players is rather a lot. I believe that's what we took last time though, although Brian Carney may as well have not bothered.

He might decide he needs five props or maybe an extra backrow, which would mean he would probably need to be more conservative if he just takes 13 backs.

The Great Aukster wrote:I can't see two specialist full backs going as there just aren't enough numbers for such a luxury. Why would it be necessary when there are two ready made short term replacements in Earls and Bowe?
Again as with other positions a major injury can get a replacement.

For me it's a straight shoot out between Kearney and Jones. Kearney was lauded in NZ and SA as being world class, and you don't get those accolades if you can't attack. Like so many other from the Lions tour RK came back jaded and unable to scale those heights again especially being hampered by injury. Kidney knows he has the ability though and will give him every opportunity to demonstrate it.

Jones is a totally unproven entity against Test opposition, despite what he has done at junior and A level. He also has had an injury ravaged season with precious little gametime but what he has shown in the ML has been good. He would have to fit in with a Leinster dominated backline that he has never played with before and precious little time to learn. As I've said elsewhere it would be a very big call by Kidney to take a first choice starter who has never been capped in tournament play.

IMO Kidney will take Kearney if he's fit, with Jones on reserve if he's not. Geordan has had his day and even if he were fit , I doubt he would make the plane.

1. If our fullback were to be injured I'm not sure how much I would like Earls to be at fullback from the off especially if we were playing a team like South Africa who kick and chase a lot.

2. In the six nations Kidney decided he'd rather play Paddy Wallace at 15 rather than Bowe. That's a reason to bring another fullback.

3. It's just my opinion but I don't think Kearney is a good attacker and hasn't been for quite some time. He is fast and strong as an attacker but not creative or even agile.

4. Jones is unproven granted. But he has played with a lot of the Leinster boys before in u20's, in Leinster when he played there and will be now in camp, although I do except it's not the same as in games. Personally I think Jones should go.

5. I don't think Geordan has "had his day" if anything he has got better with age. Again just my opinion.

Notch-
Which split do you think he will go for? If 17/13 I think he will bring another lock/backrow not another prop