[2014 EOYT] Ireland vs Georgia

[lynam1104]

2:30

Great makes it at an actually watchable time on a sunday for me. Why is it on a sunday in the first place anyone know?

 

[big ginger 8]

Great makes it at an actually watchable time on a sunday for me. Why is it on a sunday in the first place anyone know?

TV companies most likely.

 

[Jaguares]

got my tickets
lets be having them lads!

be interesting to see what experiments happen this week

It's assumed that tickets for this game are cheaper, right? :lol:

 

[munstermuffin]

My source has said. Dave Foley will play. Diack and TOD will start and D'Arcy and Henshaw in the centre. And Marmion has trained with Madigan at half back.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

My source has said. Dave Foley will play. Diack and TOD will start and D'Arcy and Henshaw in the centre. And Marmion has trained with Madigan at half back.

Any idea about Olding? Would be very disappointed not to see him on the bench.

 

[munstermuffin]

Any idea about Olding? Would be very disappointed not to see him on the bench.

Didn't hear any other options and what I was told was the way they were training. I presume Olding would bench if anything. Deserves a crack at 12 but I'm presuming Schmidt wants to see 2 lads in centre although that may change.

 

[munstermuffin]

Murray Kinsella reckons this will be team.

1. Kilcoyne
2. Strauss
3. Ross
4. Foley
5. McCarthy
6. Ruddock
7. O'Donnell
8. Heaslip
9. Reddan
10. Madigan
11. Zebo
12. D'Arcy
13. Cave
14. Gilroy
15. Jones

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

Cave isn't even in the squad is he?

& what's the point in playing Ross? I like that back row though, nice balance.

 

[big ginger 8]

Cave isn't even in the squad is he?

& what's the point in playing Ross? I like that back row though, nice balance.

Cave's been with the squad this week at least.

The reasoning would probably is to give him as much gametime as possible after a month out. Also none of our other fit tightheads are probably good enough to give us a proper platform for us against Georgia.

 

[munstermuffin]

Yeah. Cave, Conway, Copeland and another person joined squad this week.
I'd have hoped Heaslip was rested to test Copeland or someone else as hes our only option at moment.

 

[psychic duck]

Cave's been with the squad this week at least.

The reasoning would probably is to give him as much gametime as possible after a month out. Also none of our other fit tightheads are probably good enough to give us a proper platform for us against Georgia.

I wouldn't read too much into that. Georgia's supposed scrum dominance is a bit of a myth. Lots of people say they have a big scrum, but far far fewer could actually name a match that wasn't against the likes USA or Canada where it really caused a serious problem. Watch when it faced better scrummaging sides at the 2011 World Cup, or against Argentina last year, it did nothing and was hardly the threat it's made out to be. I'd say it's a competent scrum that could hold up well against most, rather than some dominant weapon.

 

[turmeric2015]

Hey lads, I'm not familiar with many of these names, but does your Fly Half, likely Madigan, kick goals?

Looking to select my fantasy team for the week.

Cheers in advance!

 

[Jockstap]

Hey lads, I'm not familiar with many of these names, but does your Fly Half, likely Madigan, kick goals?

Looking to select my fantasy team for the week.

Cheers in advance!

He's an excellent goal kicker, his percentage in the Pro12 at the min is 89. Probably better than Sexton in that department.

 

[turmeric2015]

He's an excellent goal kicker, his percentage in the Pro12 at the min is 89. Probably better than Sexton in that department.

cheers. When's the team due to be announced?

 

[big ginger 8]

I wouldn't read too much into that. Georgia's supposed scrum dominance is a bit of a myth. Lots of people say they have a big scrum, but far far fewer could actually name a match that wasn't against the likes USA or Canada where it really caused a serious problem. Watch when it faced better scrummaging sides at the 2011 World Cup, or against Argentina last year, it did nothing and was hardly the threat it's made out to be. I'd say it's a competent scrum that could hold up well against most, rather than some dominant weapon.

Well it is a bit of the Georgian reputation but it's also that after Ross our fit tightheads are at best 4th choice.

 

[big ginger 8]

15. Felix Jones
14. Craig Gilroy
13. Darren Cave
12. Gordon D'Arcy
11. Simon Zebo
10. Ian Madigan
9. Eoin Reddan (captain)
1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Richardt Strauss
3. Mike Ross
4. Dave Foley
5. Mike McCarthy
6. Dominic Ryan
7. Tommy O'Donnell
8. Robbie Diack
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, Rodney Ah You, Devin Toner, Robin Copeland, Kieran Marmion, Ian Keatley, Stuart Olding.

Diack at 8 says something...

Of course like many I'd have liked to see Marmion start but there's clearly something Schmidt doesn't think is up to scratch and I trust him.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Reddan captain, well deserved, he's been a great servant to Irish rugby and his contribution has been underrated.

 

[TheSaffycen]

With that backline I would say that Ireland will put 45+ on Georgia. Not an amazing prediction but with the pace on the wings and the creativity in the half backs georgia should be out on their feet by the 60 minute mark.

 

[big ginger 8]

Only 4 players with over 20 caps in the 23.

8 of the starting team have less than 10.

Foley and Ryan bot making there debuts at the ages of 26 and 24 respectively.

 

[Jockstap]

Only 4 players with over 20 caps in the 23.

8 of the starting team have less than 10.

Foley and Ryan bot making there debuts at the ages of 26 and 24 respectively.

The problem with our players is it usually takes them this long to bulk up to a sufficient level to play international rugby. Even now Foley is relatively lightweight at only 108 kg. It's a pity because he has all the other attributes required to be an excellent lock.