O'Gara out of the World Cup?

This could be terrible news for Ireland! http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2011/0714/ogarar_injury.html Ian Humphreys pack your bags!

Thom - according to the Indo he should still be going - don't panic!

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/calf-injury-leaves-ogara-playing-catchup-for-world-cup-2821183.html

yeah he is a doubt for the warm ups, it just means that the warm ups will be big for iHumphs and wallace i'd say, they should get some time at 10, with sexton looked after cause all we need is both of them out

Imagine this happened in 2007. At least we have backup now

Where does it say he will miss warm ups?

I'm gonna say... if O'Gara doesn't make it, they should look to the future and take Keatley. You know, Wallace and Sexton will be in the matchday squads anyway as our 10s if he isn't there. So Keatley will be holding tackle bags and learning from the experience, you know? Humphreys is older; his chance at being an Ireland regular is probably gone,

And, you see, we really need Humphreys at Ulster. We've got to keep hold of him to make the best possible start. We need to get to the head of the pack while everyone else is missing players, not be the victim of World Cup

If we suffer in that period, a home semi-final could be out of reach by October.

Notch wrote:And, you see, we really need Humphreys at Ulster. We've got to keep hold of him to make the best possible start.

Tough poo poo. This is part and parcel of being a big team - losing key players to the internatioal team

Notch wrote:I'm gonna say... if O'Gara doesn't make it, they should look to the future and take Keatley. You know, Wallace and Sexton will be in the matchday squads anyway as our 10s if he isn't there. So Keatley will be holding tackle bags and learning from the experience, you know? Humphreys is older; his chance at being an Ireland regular is probably gone,

And, you see, we really need Humphreys at Ulster. We've got to keep hold of him to make the best possible start. We need to get to the head of the pack while everyone else is missing players, not be the victim of World Cup

If we suffer in that period, a home semi-final could be out of reach by October.

This is irrelevant to Ireland's World Cup and shouldn't be considered when thinking of whether to bring Humphreys or Keatley.

Where does it say ROG will not be fit for the World Cup anyway?

I know it's irrelevant, I just care more about the Pro12 this season.

Obviously I want Ireland to do well, but we're not losing a first choice player if O'Gara doesn't go and the cover is good.

red_stag wrote:

Notch wrote:And, you see, we really need Humphreys at Ulster. We've got to keep hold of him to make the best possible start.

Tough poo poo. This is part and parcel of being a big team - losing key players to the internatioal team

Where's the handbag smiley when you need it?

Notch-

We have to take the best players available whoever theya re and to hell with the Pro12. This is the RWC.

thought he tore his calf

i presume thats a few weeks off, and then he would not be near fit for the warm ups.

He's a major part of our game plan theys days so id hope he will be wrapped in cotton wool aswell

Yeah, I agree but I'd jut be really disappointed if we did lose Humphreys.

After all, he's going to go out there not get on the pitch and come home with 1 or 2 caps and no prospect of future caps. He won't get gametime.

If we needed a player to go out and get significant game time I'd feel completely differently, but if O'Gara misses the World Cup all Humphreys will be doing is living in a Hotel for a few weeks and holding tackle bags.

Give me the choice between a player playing for Ulster or a player playing for Ireland and I'll say I want the guy to play for Ireland.

He won't be playing, just there in case something happens to Sexton.

Notch wrote:
He won't be playing, just there in case something happens to Sexton.

Thats what his country needs him for.

Well he tore it on July 1st so I reckon he should be ok.

A 1 degree tear is the best and a 3 degree is the worst and he had a 1.5

Well if something does happen to Sexton and/or Wallace at least we will have th best guy possible out there, couldn't be more worth it.

i'm sure iHumph would choose to hold the tackle bags and get to go to a world cup rather then play pro 12

red_stag wrote:

Notch wrote:
He won't be playing, just there in case something happens to Sexton.

Thats what his country needs him for.

My country may need him, but nowhere near as much as my province needs him. I know how I feel about this. I'd want him to get as much exposure and gametime as possible, I'd support him 100%.

Honestly I don't think it's that bad on ROG, he should be fine in another week or two I think, touch wood.

pete don't be so boring we have nothing to talk about these days, we could get an afternoon out of this speculation

I think we should call up gareth steenson from exeter

I think I should get called up, I'm really good.

Ok, aparently his leg is holding on by a thread! He may never walk again but there is an outside chance he could make the RWC.

It's a scare for me alright. The best thing for everybody is if O'Gara is fit for the World Cup.

As I said on the other thread Notch (much better to discuss here) I'm astounded that your initial reaction was "oh no we lose Humpheys for the Magners League" rather than worreid about how Ireland would do.

red_stag wrote:As I said on the other thread Notch (much better to discuss here) I'm astounded that your initial reaction was "oh no we lose Humpheys for the Magners League" rather than worreid about how Ireland would do.

+1

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:

red_stag wrote:As I said on the other thread Notch (much better to discuss here) I'm astounded that your initial reaction was "oh no we lose Humpheys for the Magners League" rather than worreid about how Ireland would do.

+1

As I just said on the other thread;

The World Cup is great, but the difference between getting up to watch a game in the SH on TV and actually going to see the real thing in the flesh is immeasurable

No way I put my province before my country as a matter of principle, I just know which tournament I'm going to be more emotionally invested in come the start of next season. I know which one I spend more time thinking about and the one I'm looking forward to the most. It's the one I'll be attending. Truth is, when you go to a game- you get more invested in the thing. You care more about what happens.

That's not saying I won't be emotionally invested in how Ireland do. I will be hugely. But it would take O'Gara to remain injured, and either Wallace or Sexton to be injured before Humphreys even makes the 22.

If I was going to New Zealand to watch the World Cup, it would be a rather different set of priorities.

All this reflects is my own gut reaction. If we go to the RWC with Humphreys, Sexton and Wallace I think we're ok. O'Gara would be a loss, but not a catastrophic loss.

Humphreys would be a catastrophic loss for Ulster.

Strange way of thinking Notch I gotta say. Fair enough I guess

Notch's reaction makes sense to me. Ulster would be losing their first choice OH, Ireland would be bringing him for tacklebag duties.

If he was brought in and suddenly promoted to 1st choice OH I'm sure the reaction would be different.

Doesn't sound like much to me to be honest. If he does miss it, which I doubt Humphreys won't be a bad replacement as a bench option.

greybeard wrote:Notch's reaction makes sense to me. Ulster would be losing their first choice OH, Ireland would be bringing him for tacklebag duties.

If he was brought in and suddenly promoted to 1st choice OH I'm sure the reaction would be different.

Thankyou!

It's not like he has a shot at starting. I'd never begrudge him the opportunity either. You know, it's possible to want a player to do really well for your country and be worried about the effect of his absence for your province at the same time.

It is possible of course Notch but I think you're taking the PRO12 far too seriously. I don't think it is going to harm your season too much if McKinney or Jackson start off the season.

It's the competition I really want Ulster to win this year Munsty. Feel we have a massive task in the HC and if we do get through we'll probably be away. Tough ask.

If we can get off to really good start during the RWC... we can push for a playoff spot.

Of course, every time a door closes a window opens. Jackson and McKinney stand to learn a lot even if they are so obviously not ready.

How do you know they are not ready? It will be the easiest stage of the season where they will get the best chance to move into the starting line up.

I know you'll say it's a personal opinion but Irish rugby is built towards the World Cup and the provinces take a back seat. Way to the back.

MBTGOG wrote: I know you'll say it's a personal opinion but Irish rugby is built towards the World Cup and the provinces take a back seat. Way to the back.

+1

I just felt watching them in the U20s World Cup, that they were not ready. Neither of them delivered and whilst they'll have a much better pack in front of them, this is a step up.

Munsty, I haven't said I would be against the selection of Humphreys. It's the smart thing to do.

I've said I would be disappointed to lose him. I'm not making a comment on what the priorities of Irish Rugby would be. I'm just saying we'll miss Humph.

My first post on this thread was a bit silly. Although there is a kernel of a good argument in there re. building for the future, Humphreys has more big game experience and is playing better.

I think McKinney can do the business at this level. His game is more suited to senior rugby right now.

The more i think of it the better leinster will be at the start with berquist at out half and with isa in the backs aswell, we should be in a good position

Our team looks pretty good

van der merve
strauss
hagan

sykes
toner

mclaughlin
ryan
rudduck

boss
berquist

kearney
mcfadden??????
omalley
carr
isa


To me thats a great team to start off

Sure it doesnt matter anyway Notch. O'Gara will be fit for the start of the world cup so Humphs will be doing his stuff for Ulster. Win win for all parties!

SirJohnnyEnglish wrote:Sure it doesnt matter anyway Notch. O'Gara will be fit for the start of the world cup so Humphs will be doing his stuff for Ulster. Win win for all parties!

Hope so

The experienced head of O'Gara is a big asset to us off the bench.

D24tress wrote:The more i think of it the better leinster will be at the start with berquist at out half and with isa in the backs aswell, we should be in a good position

Our team looks pretty good

van der merve
strauss
hagan

sykes
toner

mclaughlin
ryan
rudduck

boss
berquist

kearney
mcfadden??????
omalley
carr
isa


To me thats a great team to start off

I agree! Realistically if McFadden isn't there Fitzgerald will be too.

bench
McGrath, JHW, O'Donoghue, Berne, Willis, Madigan, Conway

Also have Macken and McGrath in there too! And Du Toit if really necessary

Willis who retired?

I'm sure Cooney will be ahead of du Toit.

Willis retired, but has accepted an offer to join Leinster as short term cover during the RWC iirc.

Never heard of Cooney I must admit, who is he?

Cooney was the startıng U20 scrum half last year and sıgned a senıor contract for thıs season.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:

MBTGOG wrote: I know you'll say it's a personal opinion but Irish rugby is built towards the World Cup and the provinces take a back seat. Way to the back.

+1

+1

Feck that's bad news. For me Hump would be a better option than the bouncer. Undoubted provincial bias coming through there, but by gosh from an ulster perspective it will be in our best interests if someone cuts the telephone lines outside his house.

Haha can you imagine!?

Rog should be ok lads (touches wood again)

red_stag wrote:

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:

MBTGOG wrote: I know you'll say it's a personal opinion but Irish rugby is built towards the World Cup and the provinces take a back seat. Way to the back.

+1

+1

Again, I'm not sure how I've disputed that. I've just said I would be disappointed to lose him.

I've made no posts concerning the re-organisation of Irish Rugby.

D24tress wrote:i'm sure iHumph would choose to hold the tackle bags and get to go to a world cup rather then play pro 12

As long as they only expect him to hold the tackle bags and not actually tackle them I'm sure he would....