Ireland, 2013 Six Nations

[mulldog]

IRELAND, 2013 Six Nations

​

Fixtures:

Sat 2nd Feb, 13:30 – Wales v Ireland, Millennium Stadium
Sun 10th Feb, 15:00 – Ireland v England, AVIVA Stadium
Sun 24th Feb, 14:00 – Scotland v Ireland, Murrayfield
Sat 9th Mar, 17:00 – Ireland v France, AVIVA Stadium
Sat 16th Mar, 15:30 – Italy v Ireland, Olympic Stadium​

 

[mulldog]

Possible squad largely based on Kidneys selection policies plus the addition of a few form players

Hookers
Mike Sherry (Munster)
Richardt Strauss (Leinster)
Rory Best (Ulster)

Props
Cian Healy (Leinster)
Dave Kilcoyne (Munster)
Tom Court (Ulster)
Micheal Bent (Leinster)
Mike Ross (Leinster)

Locks
Mike McCarthy (Connacht)
Dan Tuohy (Ulster)
Donnacha O'Callaghan (Munster)
Donnacha Ryan (Munster)

Back Row
Chris Henry (Ulster)
Ian Henderson (Ulster)
Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)
Peter O'Mahony (Munster)
Sean O'Brien (Leinster)
Stephen Ferris (Ulster)

Scrum Halfs
Conor Murray (Munster)
Eoin Reddan (Leinster)
Paul Marshall (Ulster)

Out Halfs
Jonathan Sexton (Leinster)
Ronan O'Gara (Munster)

Centres
Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster)
Darren Cave (Ulster)
Gordon D'arcy (Leinster)
Paddy Wallace (Ulster)

Wings
Andrew Trimble (Ulster)
Craig Gilroy (Ulster)
Fergus McFadden (Leinster)
Keith Earls (Munster)
Simon Zebo (Munster)

Full Back
Rob Kearney (Leinster)

Province Breakdown:
Connacht (1)
Leinster (12)
Munster (9)
Ulster (11)

 

[Big Ewis]

Hmmm...looks rough throughout for Ireland this year. Even matches like Murrayfield and Rome could turn out to be tricky, and their only two matches at home are against the two favorites...
But I just watched that IRE ARG November test again last night, and though Argentina obviously looked lethargic, it is to be maintained regardless that Ireland can seriously attack and threaten that 22 and try line for an entire 80min.
They'll really miss Bowe...but I'm looking forward to seeing that youngster Gilroy a little more though !!

God speed fellas !

 

[dullonien]

Will Ferris be back in time to see some match time this 6 nations?

I really hope that Kidney doesn't pick O'Gara in his squad, he's well and truly past it now. Not sure about having Paddy Wallace in the squad either, good player for Ulster, but I've always found him lacking at international level.

After today's performance Fitzgerald may be in line for a recall as well.

Big match first up for Ireland, just as it is for Wales. Whoever wins that match might be able to build a little momentum and do well. This is especially true in Ireland's case, with both England and France at home.

 

[Draggs]

O'Driscoll was limping near the end of the match, will have to standby for news.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

Ferris is back at the start of February. He posted on Facebook.
I agree, I really hope O'Gara isn't in the squad, but we all know he will be. I'd much rather have Madigan /Keatley / Jackson.
In that squad move Zebo to 15 and Fitzgerald back to the wings. Paddy Wallace won't be in the squad.
Don't care if people think I'm being biased, but Paul Marshall should be starting 9. He brings so much more than Murray and Reddan - his delivery is much quicker and flatter, he's so quick off the line and brilliant at exploiting gaps.

Tom Court has really improved his scrum, and there's no reason he shouldn't be in the squad.

Yoe, I don't know what you're talking about. Going by the AI's, Ireland should demolish Wales, however we all know this wont happen. But we have a great chance to beat them while they aren't performing - and I'm sure players, like Ferris, will want a huge game after last year. Scotland and Italy shouldn't be a tricky fixture, physical no doubt, but I would expect 2 wins.
France are my favorites, however last year we drew and the year before we outscored you 3 tries to 1. Tight game, either team could win it.
England have improved a lot, there was Irish domination over the English for a while but it's becoming much tighter. I think we will win this though.
Im very confident we can win 4 out of 5 games - Will Greenwood has us as favorites too.

 

[jcahill1]

Ah but you forget one thing: if Ireland are ever expected to do well we will, naturally, underperform horribly.

 

[mulldog]

Don't care if people think I'm being biased, but Paul Marshall should be starting 9. He brings so much more than Murray and Reddan - his delivery is much quicker and flatter, he's so quick off the line and brilliant at exploiting gaps.

Ulster's unwillingness to play Pienaar at 10, isn't doing the man any favours. Kidney being the conservative man he is would rather stick with Murray or Reddan. I don't know if I would throw him in into the starting XV against Wales, its a pity he didn't get a run out against the South Africans or Argentina - that would have been the time to test him out. In saying this I still think he would be an excellent player to have on the bench, he's got great pace and go forward to his game.

 

[big ginger 8]

My squad:

Props: Healy, Kilcoyne, Ross, Bent, Court

Fairly straightforward if Fitzpatrick gets good game time he could come in.

Hookers: Cronin, Strauss, Best

No particular order btw, set in stone will only change if there's an injury.

Secondrows: Ryan, McCarthy, O'Callaghan, Henderson

Not sure what Tuohy's injury status is. Looks like Henderson will be getting a lot of game time here for the next while.

Backrows: Ferris, O'Brien, Heaslip, O'Mahony, Henry

Hopefully Ferris come back strong and none of them get injuries. Maybe we'll see are first choice backrow at heir best.

Scrumhalves: Reddan, Murray, Marmion

I'll probably change my mind sometime soon. I honestly don't think Murray is anywhere near as bad as some make out and is having a stormer today. While I really do like Marshall I'm not entirely sure if I'd trust him at international level.

Outhalves: Sexton, Jackson

No R'OG please would still probably let Sexton play the full match for most of them

Centres: D'arcy, O'Driscoll, McFadden, Cave

It's amazing how everyone loves to criticise D'arcy yet no on has really been talking about how he's been playing really well the last while.

Backthree: Fitzgerald, Gilroy, Kearney, Zebo, Earls

Looking really exciting pity Bowe won't be there.

 

[Peat]

A few thoughts

Secondrows: Ryan, McCarthy, O'Callaghan, Henderson

Not sure what Tuohy's injury status is. Looks like Henderson will be getting a lot of game time here for the next while.

Believe Tuohy will be back soon enough. Even if he isn't, I really, really f***ing hope we stop playing Henderson there as the kid is not a lock. Not yet. Take this from someone who routinely switches between flanker and the row and who watches him week-in, week-out, he does not have the strength and fitness to shove a scrum around and then have a decent impact in the loose. He's a fantastic six, but a very average lock. I'd far rather we started McComb ahead of him there and I don't believe Ireland should be looking at him as a senior international yet in that position.

Take Lewis Stevenson instead. He's got a decent amount of athleticism for a big lad, and he is very big, and he's been on fire this season. He deserves a go.

Backrows: Ferris, O'Brien, Heaslip, O'Mahony, Henry

Hopefully Ferris come back strong and none of them get injuries. Maybe we'll see are first choice backrow at heir best.

Henderson's name here plz. Slightly crazy the number of good players who'll be left out.

Scrumhalves: Reddan, Murray, Marmion

I'll probably change my mind sometime soon. I honestly don't think Murray is anywhere near as bad as some make out and is having a stormer today. While I really do like Marshall I'm not entirely sure if I'd trust him at international level.

Word.

Outhalves: Sexton, Jackson

No R'OG please would still probably let Sexton play the full match for most of them

Would rather not see Jackson play full internationals just yet - he's still learning senior rugby really. And I'm not just saying that so we don't have to play NOC, I'd love Jackson to get a rake of Ireland caps but to my mind he could use a bit more time. Keatley and Madigan both been impressive as well.

Also, reckon McSharry should be in the reckoning for centre at least, and maybe O'Halloran and Henshaw for the back three. Will be interesting to see if they use Henshaw for the U20s, him and Farrell would have been a pain train at that level if available - maybe the JWC. And speaking of the pain train, that's what Trimble has been for Ulster - he'll be in the squad, and rightly so. Know you're no big fan, and its your squad not your guess, but a player on a central contract in his form is in the squad at very least.

 

[big ginger 8]

A few thoughts



Believe Tuohy will be back soon enough. Even if he isn't, I really, really f***ing hope we stop playing Henderson there as the kid is not a lock. Not yet. Take this from someone who routinely switches between flanker and the row and who watches him week-in, week-out, he does not have the strength and fitness to shove a scrum around and then have a decent impact in the loose. He's a fantastic six, but a very average lock. I'd far rather we started McComb ahead of him there and I don't believe Ireland should be looking at him as a senior international yet in that position.

Take Lewis Stevenson instead. He's got a decent amount of athleticism for a big lad, and he is very big, and he's been on fire this season. He deserves a go.



Henderson's name here plz. Slightly crazy the number of good players who'll be left out.



Word.



Would rather not see Jackson play full internationals just yet - he's still learning senior rugby really. And I'm not just saying that so we don't have to play NOC, I'd love Jackson to get a rake of Ireland caps but to my mind he could use a bit more time. Keatley and Madigan both been impressive as well.

Also, reckon McSharry should be in the reckoning for centre at least, and maybe O'Halloran and Henshaw for the back three. Will be interesting to see if they use Henshaw for the U20s, him and Farrell would have been a pain train at that level if available - maybe the JWC. And speaking of the pain train, that's what Trimble has been for Ulster - he'll be in the squad, and rightly so. Know you're no big fan, and its your squad not your guess, but a player on a central contract in his form is in the squad at very least.

I have Henderson as fourth choice lock. Not even in the 23 as one. Of course he's there as backrow cover too. I believe he will eventually be a lock even if maybe not just yet and needs to be developed there. As much as makes sense of course he should be played in a match if needed. In my head i see him being a mich better version of McCarthy a player I really rate.

As I said I'd play Sexton as much and as long as possible. The reason I wouldn't bring Madigan is so he could get gametime. I prefer to pick starters as much as possible would I guess still maybe bring Keatley.

The three Connacht guys you mention are players I do have a lot of time for. But I'd rather they got gametime rather than stand around holding tackle bags.

I actually somehow forgot about Trimble of course he's be in there.

I look at 6 nations squad as keeping a fairly small squad thats as strong as possible. Its not something to ne used for getting a look at guys in training its picking players who are really fighting for a place and the necessary injury cover in some positions. Its about winning the summer an AI's can be used for development.

 

[Peat]

Your first and last paragraph are pretty contradictory imo - Henderson at lock is a development choice, not a fighting for a place choice. Not even close.

I disagree fairly strongly with developing Henderson as a lock anyway. Previously I thought it made the most sense, but having seen him play both at senior level, I've completely changed my mind.

 

[big ginger 8]

Your first and last paragraph are pretty contradictory imo - Henderson at lock is a development choice, not a fighting for a place choice. Not even close.

I disagree fairly strongly with developing Henderson as a lock anyway. Previously I thought it made the most sense, but having seen him play both at senior level, I've completely changed my mind.

I know it seems like that. If Tuohy is back I'd have him in and Henderson I'm not simply naming him there for development but also IMO a lack of options. I'm sure you'd suggest Stevenson again but obviously we rate Henderson differently at lock though I agree he's better at 6 at the moment.

 

[Big Ewis]

Yoe, I don't know what you're talking about. Going by the AI's, Ireland should demolish Wales, however we all know this wont happen. But we have a great chance to beat them while they aren't performing - and I'm sure players, like Ferris, will want a huge game after last year. Scotland and Italy shouldn't be a tricky fixture, physical no doubt, but I would expect 2 wins.
France are my favorites, however last year we drew and the year before we outscored you 3 tries to 1. Tight game, either team could win it.
England have improved a lot, there was Irish domination over the English for a while but it's becoming much tighter. I think we will win this though.
Im very confident we can win 4 out of 5 games - Will Greenwood has us as favorites too.

wow !! That is one confident Irishman right there !!...
To clarify: you still lost that match in '11, at home too. However many tries to however many. Props for the 3 to 1 though. And last year we underperformed the whole tournament, forget tying with Ireland at home, we never should've lost to THAT England team in Paris; on paper there's no way this should've happened. They're much improved now, but last year ??...

This France team, we've shown at least in November, is quite different. We may under-perform again, who knows ffs; but Ireland as FAVORITES ?...
I like Ireland a lot this year, they're fast, they run, they've injected good youth into the squad...they can srs attack.

But don't be surprised, and I don't mean for this to happen, but keep your hopes on the down-low coz I can easily see France, England and Wales finishing top 3 in which ever order with a Welsh resurgence, and Ireland falling to 4th...
I must say in all honesty, though being pro-Ireland generally, I rate them but I would be slightly, even quite a bit surprised if they won the tournament...
I must say I think they look a lot better this year than last...

 

[big ginger 8]

He's not saying we're favorites he's saying Will Greenwood an English man says we're favorites.

 

[Big Ewis]

^ mmm, yes.
Whoever says it, I wouldn't bet my money on it, as much as I support Ireland...

And btw, just checked the Ireland schedule again, and this isn't my heart speaking but a cerebral conclusion:

Loss in Wales
Win VS England
Win in Scotland
Loss VS France
Win in Italy

I'd put money on that happening, so I'd imagine Ireland would win 3...I don't think they can beat both England and France, but then again you're hosting both so...possibly 4 wins I predict if they manage to beat France, very conceivable...

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Scrumhalves: Reddan, Murray, Marmion

I'll probably change my mind sometime soon. I honestly don't think Murray is anywhere near as bad as some make out and is having a stormer today. While I really do like Marshall I'm not entirely sure if I'd trust him at international level.

You probably knew I'd bite on this.
But honestly how could you say you wouldn't trust Marshall yet you would Marmion?
Marshall is a much cooler player and rarely gets flustered, he gives good quick ball and is an added danger around the fringes. I think he's exactly what Ireland need coming off the bench at about 60 mins for Reddan to lighten up the back line for the last 20 mins.

Also I reckon Ireland have a half decent chance this year. (Hopefully the old belief of if Ulster have a strong team Ireland will have one too comes true) I think we'll beat Wales when they don't have Gatland and the majority of their big players playing pretty rubbis, I think they'll beat England after being embarrassed last year. France - Ireland could be a grand slam decider.

(Please note: I'm still in that hopeful stage as an Ireland supporter where we forget just how bad Kidney is.)

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

^ mmm, yes.
Whoever says it, I wouldn't bet my money on it, as much as I support Ireland...

And btw, just checked the Ireland schedule again, and this isn't my heart speaking but a cerebral conclusion:

Loss in Wales
Win VS England
Win in Scotland
Loss VS France
Win in Italy

I'd put money on that happening, so I'd imagine Ireland would win 3...I don't think they can beat both England and France, but then again you're hosting both so...possibly 4 wins I predict if they manage to beat France, very conceivable...

Loss in Wales? We won't be favorites of course for that match, but we have a damned good opportunity. I forgot they won't have Gatland which is even better for us - they aren't performing either so I see no excuse to lose.
I know France are playing a lot better, but going from the past we have a very good chance of winning - that match in '11, we had an extremely high penalty count and the majority of players have worked and cut that out of their game.

Im actually more worried about England than France. I know you don't like people saying the French don't perform away, but it is clear sometimes playing away they don't seem to give 100%.

I love how you say I'm a 'very confident Irish man', but you yourself admit it is conceivable that Ireland can get 4 wins. Fictional I even said France are my favorites which you failed to pick up on.

 

[Big Ewis]

Confident but more importantly extremely defensive !!
I said right after "I don't care who says what", I was criticizing the plausibility in theory of Ireland winning the 6N, regardless of who said it.

Given the recent history of the 6N, France ought to win and England lose in Ireland...but it's 2013, its own logistics, anatomy etc...we'll just have to see.

The French don't perform away ? There are some examples of that but also a bunch more that prove it wrong...but it's not a remark I'd particularly make. France has trouble in Twickenham of all away places, that's undeniable yes. But generally "France don't perform away" I'd say is a false concept...not any less than any other team in the world. In fact thinking about it just now we've had some of the most impressive victories on the road...but that's not the subject here.


Oh and my 2 cents (and a half) on the opener in Cardiff is that it's still Wales, they look fine on paper still, and it's the very first match they play as an int'l side after those 7 straight losses. It's also their first match of the tournament, so I think they'll really have THAAAAT much to prove, especially at home...
So I'd imagine a tight match, very intense, with a narrow home win...
Also: all those guys who were so young during the '11 RWC, and then the '12 6N, and then the 3 tests in Aussieland...etc...who have just lost 4 at home - may still be young but so much less naive. They've had the waaaay up with the GS and the wayyy downs of the Rugby World. So I think this past 2012 year has been the ultimate maturing process for this young Welsh team.

 

[Howzy]

ive heard ferris is due back next month