Alpha Bro -
The biggest and most important part here is I completely and totally disagree that the change to a new style of play is working. I think Ireland have been 95pc toilet at ball in hand attacking rugby since the start of last year and since changing their style last summer to try and play more ball in hand attacking rugby, the results have followed to the same toilet. I don't think the players Schmidt are trusting are capable of carrying it out and failure is going to continue until Ireland change game plan or change players.
So everything I say is in the belief that, since Schmidt doesn't seem to want to change the plan, he must change the players. If they bring flaws, so be it; the players there have bigger flaws.
Maybe I'll end up looking stupid on this one, but I don't see how you play a style of rugby with a lot of ball-in-hand up-tempo rugby without a mobile tight five and an incisive back line, and be successful. The tight five has certainly proven itself as lacking the mobility; the back line is more of a matter of opinion, but guys like Trimble, R Kearney, Payne at 13, McFadden... yeah.
Anyway, onto the other points.
- Coulda played Henshaw/Earls. Or Henshaw/McFadden. Madigan/Henshaw. There's always an option. Throw Luke Marshall back in, he's been around the international block before. I stand by my point that McCloskey's handling is textbook how not to filter in youngsters properly and destroys your claim that it is happening. So too does the treatment of Furlong and Cronin.
- McCloskey's about as intelligent a carrying 12 as you'll see actually (he's been getting worse for time spent in Ireland camp though) and I'd seriously question the idea he's less intelligent than some of the players about in that team.
- You so weren't genuine WC contenders before injury. You destroyed that notion long before in the warm-ups and group stages. And I say that as someone who was made to look very foolish in conversations with friends over how long I kept backing Schmidt to make it work.
- If you don't have the quality of players to suit Gilroy, stop trying to play ball in hand rugby and go back to all kick-chase, all the time.
- Italy at home should not be a risk, unless the players are really inept (in which case, what were some of them doing playing England away), or the coach turns gold to crap. Which I don't think he does.
Final note - it's pretty obvious the IRFU puts giant pressure on its coaches to be short-termist and, as such, Schmidt out makes no sense, as you'll merely replace him with a less talented man who'll go through the same pressure. I want Schmidt out, simply because I want a coach who'll pick more Ulster players* and make contract renewals easier, but from Ireland's perspective, they probably have the right man... in the wrong organisation.
But right now he's making the wrong decisions.
*After upcoming Summer tour with the smell of a graveyard if you please though.
The game is going places, ironically we nown need to kick more effectively. We had some great linebreaks in the England game and it's just working on the next phase after the break that's needed to turn this into a potent team. We're missing Luke Fitz hugely though, I don't think we have a wing as intelligent and quick as he is.
Those three centre partnerships are worse than McCloskey/Henshaw, McCloskey knew he was injury cover and probably knew a big game was needed to keep his spot and he didn't provide one, he's got a taste for international rugby and knows where he needs to improve, it's not going to knock his confidence and he'll be a better player for it, I don't see a negative here.
I disagree, something was building that world cup but we lost five of our very best player. No one was going to beat that NZ side but a place in the final was up for grabs.
That's a pretty narrow view, you can play ball in hand rugby without flashing the ball wide all the time, something Ireland don't do well. Ireland can be very dangerous in the centres, and break through the 12-13 channel more than most sides do, it's a style of play that needs more accuracy and impetus to what is been shown right now but the potential is there and it requires as many strong ball carriers as possible.
I agree about the IRFU, they're a ridiculous union that make the same mistakes over and over but I doubt things would be much different if Joe had free reign.
I think it'll be clearer what he's doing come the Summer tour and EOYT, This six nations or South Africa will be Payne's last hurrah, VDF will be no. 20 with a fit backrow, Dillane will probably be no. 19 going forward. Stander will be the starting 8 soon enough.
A team of McGrath, Best, Ross, Toner, Henderson, POM, SOB, Stander, Murray, Sexton, Earls, Henshaw, Ringrose (or McCloskey/Henshaw), Fitzgerald, Kearney
Cronin, ????, Moore, Dilland, VDF, McGrath, Jackson/Madigan, Zebo Is in the works for the next 12 months and that's a formidable side with seriou potential for growth.
This six nations has been a bit **** but in terms result but there are positives there that people aren't seeing.
I'm happy for Bealham to get a cap but it should be at tighthead. Denis Buckley has been the form loosehead in Ireland for the last few years but his teammte, who plays tighthead, is going to get capped at loosehead for Ireland. Nevermind that James Cronin was already in the squad a few weeks ago.
Just another bizarre decision from Schmidt.
Zebo is playing at fullback but plays at wing for Munster.
Henshaw plays fullback or 13 for Connacht but Schmidt has him at 12.
Payne has played mostly at fullback for Ulster (his best position) but schmidt has him at 13.
Stander plays mostly 8 for Munster but Schmidt has him at 6.
McFadden is a Leinster reserve but makes it onto the Ireland bench. Even Leinster diehards don't know what to make of that.
Strauss has been Leinsters 3rd best hooker this season but made the bench twice this 6 nations.
Cian healy is woefully off form due to being half crocked but still made the bench. Not surprisingly he had to withdraw due to injury.
Ian Madigan is not playing at all well but gets on the bench ahead of Paddy Jackson, who has been in great form this season.
In the world cup
Earls was playing 13 where he rarely plays for Munster because he is a winger. Cave, a natural 13, was in the squad but wasn't used.
Jordi Murphy was starting world cup matches. He is currently at best Leinsters 7th choice backrow.
I wonder has the man lost the plot? It looks like he is becoming more and more desperate for a result by going back to his comfort blanket players.
Buckley's too small, he's not going to be an international. Schmidt didn't trust Cronin, maybe he thinks Bealham will be better we'll see.
Zebo played in Munster's only good European game at fullback this year and played well, he's an option for the future, a better selection than the soon to be retiring aged Payne.
Henshaw has been a very good 12, still the best in the country, and is in a settled and sound midfield.
Heaslip is a better 8 than Stander, Stander has done well at 6, criticising that is ridiculous.
McFadden is still a proven international, he's been to a world cup and has plenty of caps, he'll do his job if needed.
Strauss has been Leinster's most consistent hooker by far this year, Treacy has had one or two stand-out games and Cronin has been iffy.
Healy played well in the two weeks leading to his selection, most people agreed he deserved his bench spot.
We need 12 cover
Cave was a bad selection and shouldn't have been brought, Earls is still the better 13 option marginally.
Murphy was on form in the World Cup, he's lost it but he's coming back, 7th choice is a huge exaggeration, he's our 2nd choice 6 after Ruddock.
This is a ridiculous response to a few bad results, we need to cop ourselves on a bit, it's a clear example of when the bandwagon nature of Irish sports media goes sour.
He's not lost the plot whatsoever, he is desperate for a result though, he really needs it and he'll get it.
