[2019 Six Nations] Ireland vs France (10/03/2019)

[FrenchFan]

I'm trying to remember the last time France defeated anyone other than Italy away from home in the 6N. It must be a while?

Can't remember. At the rate he's going Jacques is not going to get a single win away.

 

[munstermuffin]

I think Porter's poor form is a bit of a myth. He absolutely pulverized Toulouse off the bench in January, he hasn't hit those levels since but he's been far from poor. There have been mistakes here and there, but at the same time he was excellent against England and has been by and large decent for Leinster in the Pro14 since. Nothing amazing, but nothing poor except a collective scrum meltdown against Zebre (where if I remember right he was with Dooley and Bryan Byrne both of whom have been poor in the scrum this season.) And I don't see what Ryan brings, he's a better scrummager but nothing special at international level (a penalty conceded against Italy should be proof of that), and Porter is far, far superior around the park. Don't see the argument for Scannell over Cronin either, they were both poor against Italy. I'm surprised that people want Ruddock involved because he's been fairly average this season, even if we're not picking SOB I'd much prefer Murphy.

On Porter it was Cullen who highlighted he is off form. Ryan is better technically probably but Porter more effective around the pitch. A 50/50 call.
On SOB and Cronin the fact they were excluded from the camp last week is why it doesn't seem too good for them

 

[munstermuffin]

Ireland squad for France clash:

Forwards (21)

Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 115 caps (captain)

Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster) 4 caps

Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 12 caps

Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht) 13 caps

Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 31 caps

Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 86 caps

Iain Henderson (Queens University/Ulster) 43 caps

Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 7 caps

Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 27 caps

Jack McGrath (St Marys College/Leinster) 54 caps

Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Ulster) 27 caps

Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster) 55 caps

Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 55 caps (vice-captain)

Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 13 caps

Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht) 11 caps

Rhys Ruddock (Lansdowne/Leinster) 21 caps

James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 15 caps

John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 17 caps

Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) 12 caps

CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 29 caps

Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 16 caps



Backs (16)

Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 15 caps

Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster) 2 caps

Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Munster) 18 caps

Jack Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht) 1 cap

Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) 11 caps

John Cooney (Terenure College/Ulster) 7 caps

Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 75 caps

Chris Farrell (Young Munster/Munster) 5 caps

Tom Farrell (Coolmine/Connacht) 0 caps

Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 89 caps

Jordan Larmour (St Mary's College/Leinster) 11 caps

Kieran Marmion (Galwegians/Connacht) 24 caps

Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 70 caps

Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 18 caps

Jonathan Sexton (St Marys College/Leinster) 81 caps (vice-captain)

Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster) 17 caps

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Jaysus that's harsh on Cronin, wonder if he got up to any shenanigans in the past two weeks.

Four tens is interesting, I think it indicates that Schmidt wanted guys like Porter and Byrne who are familiar with the systems playing for their provinces rather than benching.

If I could pick Saturday's team it'd be:

Kearney, Earls, Ringrose, Aki, Stockdale, Sexton, Marmion, Conan, VdF, Beirne, Henderson, Ryan, Porter, Best, Healy

Scannell, Kilcoyne, Furlong, POM, SOB, Murray, Carbery/Byrne (depending on fitness) Larmour

I'd then bring in Munster's big three and Furlong for Cardiff as straight swaps. If we're serious about winning in Cardiff a bit of rotation is needed, the fast turnaround is a significant disadvantage.

 

[Scotty]

No games should be played sunday the day before super saturday. 6 day turn around can make a big difference.

 

[MikeTheNative]

Cronin did have a poor game but so did a lot of other Ireland players, to single him out is a bit unfair.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

No games should be played sunday the day before super saturday. 6 day turn around can make a big difference.

I think at the very least it should be organised so that the two teams with six day turnarounds are at home on the final day. The last time a six day turnaround resulted in a round 5 away win (Rome excl.) was France beating Wales in 2006... Whereas home wins are fairly common.

 

[Scotty]

I think at the very least it should be organised so that the two teams with six day turnarounds are at home on the final day. The last time a six day turnaround resulted in a round 5 away win (Rome excl.) was France beating Wales in 2006... Whereas home wins are fairly common.

Its about 14 day turn around between rounds 3 and 4. Have a friday game on round 4. Giving min 7 days turn around. Two teams has 8 days but thats less of a advantage than 6 days is a disadvantage imo

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Its about 14 day turn around between rounds 3 and 4. Have a friday game on round 4. Giving min 7 days turn around. Two teams has 8 days but thats less of a advantage than 6 days is a disadvantage imo

That'd be ideal yeah but convincing teams to have Friday tests can't be easy. I'm pretty sure only Wales and France have.

 

[Scotty]

That'd be ideal yeah but convincing teams to have Friday tests can't be easy. I'm pretty sure only Wales and France have.

Should just be a set thing that round 1 and 4 - fri/sat, 2 and 3 - sat/sun. 5 supersaturday. And then if that is the accepted set up, then the advantage of turn around could be used with home advantage to make create the fixture list.

 

[munstermuffin]

Jaysus that's harsh on Cronin, wonder if he got up to any shenanigans in the past two weeks.

Four tens is interesting, I think it indicates that Schmidt wanted guys like Porter and Byrne who are familiar with the systems playing for their provinces rather than benching.

If I could pick Saturday's team it'd be:

Kearney, Earls, Ringrose, Aki, Stockdale, Sexton, Marmion, Conan, VdF, Beirne, Henderson, Ryan, Porter, Best, Healy

Scannell, Kilcoyne, Furlong, POM, SOB, Murray, Carbery/Byrne (depending on fitness) Larmour

I'd then bring in Munster's big three and Furlong for Cardiff as straight swaps. If we're serious about winning in Cardiff a bit of rotation is needed, the fast turnaround is a significant disadvantage.

It was noted Byrne is only in as cover for Joey and if Joey is fit Ross will leave camp again.
On your changes. it is risky to treat French as a certainty just as we always seem to struggle a tad with them. Regardless of form.

Is Best up for 2 games in 6 days of this level still. Have heard rumours Herring will start 1 game.
Beirne will be interesting as he adds serious bulk and also now the option is there of starting him as 6 and selecting 2 backrows on bench etc.
Can't see Porter starting but wouldn't be upset if he did.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

It was noted Byrne is only in as cover for Joey and if Joey is fit Ross will leave camp again.
On your changes. it is risky to treat French as a certainty just as we always seem to struggle a tad with them. Regardless of form.

Is Best up for 2 games in 6 days of this level still. Have heard rumours Herring will start 1 game.
Beirne will be interesting as he adds serious bulk and also now the option is there of starting him as 6 and selecting 2 backrows on bench etc.
Can't see Porter starting but wouldn't be upset if he did.

I don't think that team is taking the French for granted though. With the exception of Conan, who is in great form, the other guys I brought have all performed in T1 internationals. More than enough power there to win.

If Best isn't going to start I'd bring Furlong in.

 

[munstermuffin]

I don't think that team is taking the French for granted though. With the exception of Conan, who is in great form, the other guys I brought have all performed in T1 internationals. More than enough power there to win.

If Best isn't going to start I'd bring Furlong in.

More so I can't see out of his strongest XV Schmidt dropping 5 or so.
Best will have to start as simply put it will have been a month.
Murray will play as will Sexton. Both are playing like AIL players and there will be hope to get them back on form.
Stander may play to just get back up to speed.
And I can't see how Porter will go from being called out on iffy form to starting despite not playing great in game for Leinster. (Equally John Ryan hasn't done enough either.)

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Cronin did have a poor game but so did a lot of other Ireland players, to single him out is a bit unfair.

Cronin was really poor at lineout in his previous crack at the jersey too after I'd labelled Best as being possibly too old to be starter in Japan. Terrible timing to have two bad games.

 

[Dai Perk]

I can see Ireland silencing all the doubters and doom-sayers from the last couple weeks with a crushing victory over the French... No way Bastareaud puts in effort two games in a row, right?

 

[Leinster Fan]

I can see Ireland silencing all the doubters and doom-sayers from the last couple weeks with a crushing victory over the French... No way Bastareaud puts in effort two games in a row, right?

You catch on quickly

Seriously though, I don't mind Bastareaud, but Ringrose should get loads of joy against him on Sunday. (Which means that Bastareaud will definitely score a hat-trick and Ringrose will go off injured after 5 minutes.)

 

[Dai Perk]

(Which means that Bastareaud will definitely score a hat-trick and Ringrose will go off injured after 5 minutes.)

Gotta love that optimism! lmao

 

[Leinster Fan]

It's VERY harsh on Cronin. What did he do that Scannell didn't? And Best has had countless terrible performances with nothing like this (and Cronin actually offers something in open play). He's clearly a far superior player to Herring. Seems like unfair scrapegoating. I'd rate Cronin as comfortably the best hooker in the country, I don't see why we should write him off after one poor game that any of the other options are equally capable of. He's playing the best rugby of his career, he was rightfully nominated for European Player of the year, and if you were picking a Leinster player of the season he'd be right up there. Seems very unfair.

 

[munstermuffin]

It's VERY harsh on Cronin. What did he do that Scannell didn't? And Best has had countless terrible performances with nothing like this (and Cronin actually offers something in open play). He's clearly a far superior player to Herring. Seems like unfair scrapegoating. I'd rate Cronin as comfortably the best hooker in the country, I don't see why we should write him off after one poor game that any of the other options are equally capable of. He's playing the best rugby of his career, he was rightfully nominated for European Player of the year, and if you were picking a Leinster player of the season he'd be right up there. Seems very unfair.

Statistics will show his darts at this level are alot worst but rumoirs are he is paying price for bust up with Schmidt over breach of discipline in summer tour to Aus and issues of disagreements with Easterby.

 

[Leinster Fan]

Statistics will show his darts at this level are alot worst but rumoirs are he is paying price for bust up with Schmidt over breach of discipline in summer tour to Aus and issues of disagreements with Easterby.

I'd say there's definitely an offield element, it makes no sense otherwise. I don't have the stats but his throwing for Leinster this year has been very good. It's not like the other options are great throwers either.

Anyway, from what we've got I'd like to see something like

Healy
Scannell (don't know of Best will be up to starting both sides of the 6-day turnaround, and it make sense to start Scannell anyway)
Furlong (wouldn't mind seeing Porter but we need)
Ryan
Henderson
Beirne
Vdf
Stander
Murray
Sexton (Carbery being injured makes this a certainty)
Stockdale
Aki (sigh)
Ringrose
Earls
Kearney

Best
Kilcoyne
Porter
Any 2 of POM, Conan and SOB
Cooney (wouldn't say no to Marmion either but given it's a fairly tight call we might as well go with the less experienced guy)
Byrne (it'll be Carty but Byrne is better imo)
Larmour