Ireland: 2014 Six Nations

[Jaguares]

What about the new Ireland Kit? IRFU finished its contract with Puma, anyone know what brand is going to wear the team?

 

[munstermuffin]

What about the new Ireland Kit? IRFU finished its contract with Puma, anyone know what brand is going to wear the team?

It's still Puma until after the summer tour as far as I know. Canterbury will probably take over from November.

 

[Jaguares]

It's still Puma until after the summer tour as far as I know. Canterbury will probably take over from November.

It's confirmed that Canterbury will be the new IRFU's brand? Or are they just rumors?

 

[munstermuffin]

It's confirmed that Canterbury will be the new IRFU's brand? Or are they just rumors?

Not official but supposedly the deal is agreed

 

[Jaguares]

Not official but supposedly the deal is agreed

It's logical, Canterbury first lost Australia, then lost South Africa and Scotland. Now the only Canterbury's team in Tier 1 is England, so it's logical that they want to return to IRFU considering that remain unmarked. But other brands may use this situation to have a team of Tier 1, such as: BLK or ISC.

Cheers

 

[munstermuffin]

It's logical, Canterbury first lost Australia, then lost South Africa and Scotland. Now the only Canterbury's team in Tier 1 is England, so it's logical that they want to return to IRFU considering that remain unmarked. But other brands may use this situation to have a team of Tier 1, such as: BLK or ISC.

Cheers

Man you've lost me

 

[collace]

The Wolfhounds team has been named to face the Saxons on Saturday.

15: Felix Jones (Munster)
14: Fergus McFadden (Leinster)
13: Robbie Henshaw (Connacht)
12: Darren Cave (Ulster)
11: Craig Gilroy (Ulster)
10: Ian Madigan (Leinster)
9: Isaac Boss (Leinster)

1: David Kilcoyne (Munster)
2: Rob Herring (Ulster)
3: Martin Moore (Leinster)
4: Iain Henderson (Ulster)
5: Dan Tuohy (Ulster)
6: Rhys Ruddock (Leinster capt)
7: Tommy O'Donnell (Munster)
8: Robin Copeland (Cardiff Blues).

Replacements: Richardt Strauss (Leinster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), Stephen Archer (Munster), Robbie Diack (Ulster), Jordi Murphy (Leinster), Kieran Marmion (Connacht), Ian Keatley (Munster), Simon Zebo (Munster)


Really like the look of that team on the whole - definately a bit of flair about it but power up front as well. Couple of points:

- Boss at SH - surely should have been Marmion?
- With Madigan starting at OH you would have thought that this means Jackson is the starting replacement - unless Madigan plays out of his skin.
- Feel a bit sorry for Cave. Probably the most natural 13 about and the one chance he gets to impress he is out of position. Hopefully he does himself justice.
- No Trimble? Do we think this means that he is in line for the main squad or is he totally out in the cold? Trimble is as solid as they come, it would be disappointing if that was the case.

 

[munstermuffin]

Ireland squad for first 2 games named and on phone so can't link.
But as said in Wolfhounds thread Schmidt doing what was expected. Naming 17 Leinster players. Zebo dropped out of squad completely yet McFadden in is a very poor call but well I think Leinster fans slammed Kidney in his time with Ireland for being totally loyal to some Munster guys. It's looking like Joe is doing exact same and if Ireland don't produce it is possible that Irish rugby will again be in a struggle for a few years.
Hopefully the next coach in time will be someone with no association to any province

 

[psychic duck]

Ireland squad for first 2 games named and on phone so can't link.
But as said in Wolfhounds thread Schmidt doing what was expected. Naming 17 Leinster players. Zebo dropped out of squad completely yet McFadden in is a very poor call but well I think Leinster fans slammed Kidney in his time with Ireland for being totally loyal to some Munster guys. It's looking like Joe is doing exact same and if Ireland don't produce it is possible that Irish rugby will again be in a struggle for a few years.
Hopefully the next coach in time will be someone with no association to any province

You knew what you were getting when you appointed him. Difference is though, Kidney favoured the Munster way during the period Leinster were playing some outstanding rugby in Europe which we didn't see so consistently in green.

 

[osullie6]

The biggest calls seem to be Gilroy and Zebo out. I'm surprised that Felix Jones made the cut, his form hasn't been particularly good. I'd probably have kept Zebo in ahead of him.

I'm willing to give Trimble the benefit of the doubt, I'm not sure if he'll make the matchday squads, but he's definitely the most physical of the wingers in the squad and sometimes that's what's needed.

I'd agree with the McFadden call being questionable, especially as he didn't impress against the Saxons.

I suspect Schmidt is going to rotate a lot through the tournament, which is something that we're not used to as Irish fans. It'll be interesting to see how that goes.

Edit: While there might be an element of Leinster favouritism in some of the selections, it's nice to see that Ulster players are making up a fairly sizable portion of the squad. That definitely hasn't been true in the past.

 

[Feicarsinn]

McFadden's a better bench option, particularly when you have 2 centres in their 30's. Munster toys will remain thrown out of the pram in spite of that though. It's not the coach's fault that it's not 2007 any more boys.

 

[collace]

From a biased Ulster point of view - it's a pleasant surprise to have retained the core of the Ulster players in that squad, especially Trimble. He's as solid as they come and, particularly against the likes of Wales, that's what is needed. Great under the high ball, great in defence and a solid ball carrier. I would love to see him get a fair crack of the whip.

Elsewhere I'm not surprised to see Gilroy let go, his form hasn't been great this season while Zebo needs more games. Good to see Tuohy retained and I would tip Henderson for a spot on the bench come Sunday. Again, pleasantly surprised to see Cave retained, he does a lot of unnoticed work allowing the others around him to shine (bit like Jackson in that regard).

Most of the backline picks itself with the debate between Marshall/D'Arcy. Fitzgerald will get the nod on one wing with the likihood that Kearney will get the other (I would pick Trimble). Up front pretty much picks itself - Toner will probably get the nod in the second row but I'm still unconvinced by him as international quality. Henry will get the 7 shirt.

 

[Peat]

There is a whiff of a double standard in that Gilroy and Zebo did not make the initial squad due to lack of gametime while McFadden did. Was McFadden notably better in the Wolfhounds game? No, although it was Zebo who got up, stood pillar at that last ruck, then wandered off to line up Freddie Burns for his howler of the season moment. It appears as though he may be willing to overlook issues of match fitness in Leinster players which he won't in other players. May. Maybe McFadden's injury allowed him to keep fit more so than other players. Maybe Schmidt is unhappy with the way Zebo is doing some of his basics and wants him to brush up on them. We don't know.

edit: Given all I've heard about Fitzgerald as a potential heir to BOD, I'd have thought the McFadden as centre cover argument a little lacking in legs.

What we do know is the situation in Irish rugby is such that it is a very natural reaction to suspect bias. It adds extra pressure on Schmidt to perform.

The squad

Best, Cronin
Healy, McGrath, Ross, Moore

POC, Toner, McCarthy, Tuohy, Henderson
Heaslip, Henry, POM, TOD, Copeland, Ruddock, Murphy

Murray, Reddan
Sexton, Jackson

BOD, D'Arcy, Marshall, Cave, Henshaw

Fitzgerald, McFadden, Kearney D, Trimble
Kearney R, Jones

Forgotten whether Madigan made it.

 

[munstermuffin]

McFadden's a better bench option, particularly when you have 2 centres in their 30's. Munster toys will remain thrown out of the pram in spite of that though. It's not the coach's fault that it's not 2007 any more boys.

My point is what has McFadden done to be bench option?
He was poor last Saturday his only showing in few months.
Henshaw can cover more than him especially as McFadden has shown in past he's not up to it in centre as international stage.
Regards Munster Felix has been playing average at best but is in.
My point is everyone moaned about 2007 boys or whatever you want to call it but exact same thing is happening now.

Like off top of head
Ross is lucky there's lack of options
McFadden call is very bad and sends wrong signal
Gilroy and Zebo had done more
Credit where it's due Jordi Murphy TOD and Ruddock as well as Copeland deservingly are in.

Like as I said it's not at lack of Munster (although a team in HEC QF and should've won 6games in it) to have only 5 players is bad.

There is 18 players from Leinster in that squad and if Schmidt act to plan there will be 8/9 Leinster forwards in 23 along with 7/8 Backs. Do you think Leinster are performing that well to have what will be a minimum of 15 in squad of 23. Add in Sexton as a Schmidt man to make it 16?

Team I'd expect

Healy Best Ross
Toner POC
POM Heaslip Henry
Murray Sexton
D'Arcy BOD
DK RK LF

Cronin
McGrath
Moore
McCarthy
Ruddock/Murphy/TOD
Reddan
Madigan/Jackson
McFadden

10 Leinster starters
2 Munster
2 Ulster
1 Racing

Bench:
Possibly all Leinster

Right or Wrong - Cave Jones Tuohy Trimble maybe and Henshaw I think are there to carry water bottles and tackle bags

 

[Peat]

Gilroy hasn't done more and McFadden had a decent enough match.

 

[Big Ewis]

A preview of Ireland:
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3820_9135892,00.html

 

[munstermuffin]

Gilroy hasn't done more and McFadden had a decent enough match.

Gilroy was solid in Welford Road and against Montpellier. Like I'm not making this a Zebo vs McFadden vs Gilroy but a simple treat all guys the same.
Zebo and Gilroy were deemed to not have played enough then how can you bring McFadden in.

Versatility - Zebo in better form and can cover FB with Henshaw also versatile to cover 11,13,14,15.
Because he knows Schmidts game - How can others learn if they're not invited to camps or involved? Zebo was in better form and look if it was he didn't know systems then why not have him there but not play him? Everyone agrees Luke Fitz deserves 11 jersey.
Form - Again if it was form McFadden has none besides a poor to average at best low intensive game last weekend. Certainly wasn't a performance worthy of shooting up the ranks.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

The only reason I can see any one of Trimble, Kearney or McFadden getting picked ahead of him is match fitness. Obviously we don't have the data that Schmidt has but what I would say is that at 80% fitness I'd take McFadden over Zebo due to their differing styles of play. McFadden is a more solid, make your hits break the gainline sort player whereas Zebo drifts in and out of games and in my opinion he needs to be at top fitness to make a positive impact in international rugby whereas McFadden doesn't.

 

[munstermuffin]

The only reason I can see any one of Trimble, Kearney or McFadden getting picked ahead of him is match fitness. Obviously we don't have the data that Schmidt has but what I would say is that at 80% fitness I'd take McFadden over Zebo due to their differing styles of play. McFadden is a more solid, make your hits break the gainline sort player whereas Zebo drifts in and out of games and in my opinion he needs to be at top fitness to make a positive impact in international rugby whereas McFadden doesn't.

Not being a Munster bias here but if that's the style he wants Johne Murphy is the form winger in Ireland for that style and has being on fire this season. Not saying Johne should be picked but if that is what Schmidt is looking for why not reward form.
How can McFadden be match fit? He also has no form so again where is logic in picking him.
As I said a lot of tight calls went Leinsters way and some admittedly can be easily argued for or against but this is a disgrace and as I said it sends a poor message to the others.

 

[irelandfan123]

You know it was only a few years ago (maybe 7 so not that long ago) when trimble was considered O'Driscoll replacement, anyone reckon Schmidt would see it that way and stick trimble on the bench to cover 13 opposed to mcfadden to cover twelve