You have to go "heavy" when you have Hines, Cudmore in the second row... those boys back a punch.
Will be a great game to watch
Oh I dunno about that. Could be a real slog fest.
I've thought a bit more about this. Our pack has the physical matching of any in Europe, especially considering that Domingo is out. Considering that Healy has a week's rest under his belt I suppose the loss of HVDM is slightly less damaging to us than his loss is to them. Having Bent on the bench is a plus too.
None of our front 10 should give an inch. We should keep it tight and try to power through them with O'Brien, Cronin, Healy & Heaslip. Sexton and Goodman should form a very solid defensive 10-12 channel, whatever the latter's weaknesses in attack. D'arcy is a better 13 than 12 any day and had a good outing against Argentina and Zebre.
I'd love to have either of the Kearneys at my disposal, but Nacewa and McFadden have both proven themselves to be of international quality. It's a huge day for Madigan at full back and he should be hoping that his wings, Nacewa in particular, will lend him a hand under the high ball.
Our back row should look to put Parra under huge pressure. McLaughlin, O'Brien and Heaslip are all fantastic tacklers and very physically imposing. If we can stop him getting quick ball to their back line we can perhaps negate some of their clear superiority there.
With Strauss, Jennings and Reddan to come on one would expect we'll try to up the tempo in the last 20. Huge games will be required from Devin Toner when he comes on (I can't see Browne and Cullen lasting the 80 considering how attritional it's going to be) and Conway must deliver. If we're more than 7 behind with 15 left we should go with Madigan at 10, Sexton at 12 and throw the kitchen sink at them in terms of running. Hopefully it wont come to that though.
We're massive underdogs here, make no mistake. Our pack is marginally better, but their back line is a class apart. A bonus point would be great, a win would be unspeakably good.
