Wouldn't giving BOD the captaincy just through a technicality be even more disrespectful? BOD has been and is still an amazing player, but at the moment Heaslip is in a better position to captain the team now and into the near future.
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Ireland, 2013 Six Nations
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Had Martin Johnson decided that he wanted to play another season with England after the world cup, still being a guaranteed starter and a highly effective player, would he have been dropped as captain? No.
I'd say Kidney and O'Driscoll haven't liked each other since their days in Leinster and Kidneys using this opportunity as a chance to rub his nose in it.
monkeypigeon
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Had Martin Johnson been injured for the last six months and a new captain had been in place I would have thought it a bit sentimental to give him back the captaincy for the sake of five matches.
I disagree with 90% of what Kidney does but this Kidney is a coward rhetoric is a bit much. Frankly, if there was a decent outside centre available for Ireland besides BOD I'd be happy for Bod to take a place on the bench for the 6N so we can used to life without the great one.
Uh I don't agree - I'd rather give Heaslip some confidence, and give him more experience. Brian isn't the type of guy who would dwell on this sort of thing, and would probably suck it up and get on with it. Besides, he probably won't be around next 6N.
I don't think it's disrespectful either, BOD will be just as much of a leader on the pitch as before. Id also say its better to have a captain in the forwards than the backs.
Im happy for Heaslip - he's very consistent and probably has a better chance for the Lions XV than O'Driscoll. (Not that it has any bearing on this).
I agree Kidney is a complete jackass, but I think people are using any excuse to pick on him now. In my opinion, it's not going to effect Ireland in any shape or form.
I don't think it's disrespectful either, BOD will be just as much of a leader on the pitch as before. Id also say its better to have a captain in the forwards than the backs.
Im happy for Heaslip - he's very consistent and probably has a better chance for the Lions XV than O'Driscoll. (Not that it has any bearing on this).
I agree Kidney is a complete jackass, but I think people are using any excuse to pick on him now. In my opinion, it's not going to effect Ireland in any shape or form.
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Leamy was still pretty good there for a while. If you look back on this forum you can see people not even from Ireland calling him the best in the position.
Foley maybe?
Foley maybe?
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I feel I should weigh in on the issue at hand (being hands down the best Irish poster (come at me)). Was Kidney wrong to displace O'Driscoll as captain? Well, possibly not. It's his decision, and given O'Driscoll's injuries over the past season or two it makes sense to take it off him. If you can't rely on him to be fit and featuring regularly then he shouldn't be the go to guy.
Did he handle it well though? Not at all. Firstly, O'Driscoll is the most experienced and respected player in the Irish squad. The way to break the news to him is not through a squad announcement or a phone call. You have a meeting with him, explain the situation, and make it clear that he's still in his plans. Then, when you go to the media you don't be so bloody cryptic. There's no need to give an already hostile supporter base more reason to take a dislike to you.
So, not a bad call, but very poorly handled.
Did he handle it well though? Not at all. Firstly, O'Driscoll is the most experienced and respected player in the Irish squad. The way to break the news to him is not through a squad announcement or a phone call. You have a meeting with him, explain the situation, and make it clear that he's still in his plans. Then, when you go to the media you don't be so bloody cryptic. There's no need to give an already hostile supporter base more reason to take a dislike to you.
So, not a bad call, but very poorly handled.
Isn't it better for Heaslip's captaincy development to get the experience of captaining a team when he's got BOD to help sort out his backline and take some pressure off him? He will have a lot more work to do when BOD retires, so having this experience now is pretty vital. If Heaslip's captaincy is better for Ireland in the long-term, then it's the right call imo - no player is bigger than the team, not even BOD.
osullie6
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Another seven added to the training squad.
http://blogs.espnscrum.com/latest-news/archives/2013/01/munster_four_added_to_ireland.php
Is there really any point in bringing a group this big into the Ireland camp? I know that squad depth is important, but there are now five fly halves named.
Some of the lads named will probably never play for Ireland.
http://blogs.espnscrum.com/latest-news/archives/2013/01/munster_four_added_to_ireland.php
Is there really any point in bringing a group this big into the Ireland camp? I know that squad depth is important, but there are now five fly halves named.
Some of the lads named will probably never play for Ireland.
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How can people give out if he picks every fit decent player in Ireland?
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Haven't picked what I'd like to see as a starting 23 yet and now that the HEC group stages are over I'll give it a shot.
1. Healy
2. Best
3. Ross
4. Ryan
5. McCarthy
6. O'Brien
7. Henry
8. Heaslip
9. Reddan
10. Sexton
11. Zebo
12. D'Arcy
13. O'Driscoll
14. Gilroy
15. Kearney
16. Cronin
17. Kilcoyne
18. Bent
19. Tuohy
20. O'Mahony
21. Marshall
22. Madigan
23. Fitzgerald
Starting team and forwards subs should be close, backs subs will be completely different.
1. Healy
2. Best
3. Ross
4. Ryan
5. McCarthy
6. O'Brien
7. Henry
8. Heaslip
9. Reddan
10. Sexton
11. Zebo
12. D'Arcy
13. O'Driscoll
14. Gilroy
15. Kearney
16. Cronin
17. Kilcoyne
18. Bent
19. Tuohy
20. O'Mahony
21. Marshall
22. Madigan
23. Fitzgerald
Starting team and forwards subs should be close, backs subs will be completely different.
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Don't think it's been mentioned but Strauss is out.
Kilcoyne really impressed me on Sunday. In the same form as Marcus Horan. Think Ireland will be alright for props this season.
Tuohy is injured unfortunately.
I still stand by it that Cave has been playing really well and deserves some recognition amongst the Irish setup.
In terms of looseheads, yes. In terms of tightheads, no.
Its going to be a great battle between Court and Kilcoyne for the bench spot, Court just edges it for me at the moment but I would surprised if Kidney doesn't select Kilcoyne. Obviously Healy is well ahead of them two.
At tighthead, Ross is carrying a lot more than usual but in some ways hasn't been as dominant in the scrum (partly due to seconds). Other than him, Bent is untested and hadn't really met the potential he showed in Novemeber, and Fitzpatrick has had a really unfortunate season, to an extent where no one can grantee his form or fitness.
monkeypigeon
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irelandfan123
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Ireland training squad for Wales, no trimble came to a bit of a shock, otherwise good enough
