Ireland AI 2014

[profitius]

Jackson hasn't performed so he can't complain. Missing that conversion in front of the posts didn't do him any favours either. McCloskey should be there! He has been one of the stand out players so far. Darragh Leader makes the squad after some impressive performances.

He must have picked every available "project player".

 

[munstermuffin]

Disappointed there's no Casey although glad as he can get break too. Strauss hasn't done anything to deserve being in that squad. But the starting 2 spot will be interesting. I'm always a fan of Best and know he'd never let us down but Cronin is playing superbly.

 

[Big Ewis]

SOB is out for around 6 months I think, had to have shoulder surgergy again.

my bad, read ginger's post too fast. So those are all the injured players there, makes a lot more sense !

 

[munstermuffin]

Is Madigan in as a 12 more than 10 I wonder too. Can't Leader play 10 too? I know it wild thinking but way I see it - Henshaw unproven at 13 in this level but will be good enough.
Payne isn't even club level 13. Play 15 or don't play.
Olding performing well but has he got it for this level.
D'Arcy will do job but isn't same force as old.

Jackson hasn't been playing well but Keatley hasn't been tearing up trees either and his form was 10 times better last year when he was overlooked for a average form Jackson and non playing Madigan so I wonder is it fact Keatley can play 12 too was factor.

 

[munstermuffin]

Didn't even notice on first viewing but no Jackson either! Presumably injured?

hookers; Best, Cronin, Strauss
TH Props: Archer, Ah You, White, Ross
LH Props: McGrath, Cronin, Kilcoyne
Locks: Foley, McCarthy, O'Connell, Toner
Back-row: Diack, Henry, O'Mahony, Heaslip, Dom Ryan, Ruddock
SH: Murray, Reddan, Marmion
OH: Sexton, Madigan, Keatley
Centre: D'Arcy, Payne, Henshaw, Olding
Wing: Bowe, Gilroy, Zebo
FB: Kearney, Leader, Jones

Tommy O'Donnell back to bust some balls too.

 

[profitius]

According to Schmidt, it'll be between Henshaw and Payne for the 13 jersey and White is in line to start against the Boks if Ross doesn't make it.

I'd say he might go with Henshaws physicality vs the Boks and put Payne in against Oz.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Strauss, Ah You, White, Diack, Payne. Five project players in the Ireland squad which I can't say I'm overly happy about. That's not an attack on the players but on the bulls*** IRB regulations which allow the eligibility issue become abused.

 

[munstermuffin]

According to Schmidt, it'll be between Henshaw and Payne for the 13 jersey and White is in line to start against the Boks if Ross doesn't make it.

I'd say he might go with Henshaws physicality vs the Boks and put Payne in against Oz.

Henshaw worked hard and learnt well and is a good centre. Payne has done absolutely nothing only stall Ulster as a 13. He should be left fight for 15 or discarded. I think Cave is a better 13 even. And that's not knocking him as I think he's a world class 15.
I hated Nacewa playing wing for Leinster as he never played as class as when he was 15 but he was still awesome there. But point is he was alot better and the difference showed and that was just rotating in back 3.

 

[munstermuffin]

Strauss, Ah You, White, Diack, Payne. Five project players in the Ireland squad which I can't say I'm overly happy about. That's not an attack on the players but on the bulls*** IRB regulations which allow the eligibility issue become abused.

Have to say I slightly agree with you but at same time if rule is there teams will always use it.

 

[profitius]

Strauss, Ah You, White, Diack, Payne. Five project players in the Ireland squad which I can't say I'm overly happy about. That's not an attack on the players but on the bulls*** IRB regulations which allow the eligibility issue become abused.

There has to be some limit set by the IRFU otherwise it will start to have a negative effect IMO. Theres always a downside to taking the easy way out!

Henshaw worked hard and learnt well and is a good centre. Payne has done absolutely nothing only stall Ulster as a 13. He should be left fight for 15 or discarded. I think Cave is a better 13 even. And that's not knocking him as I think he's a world class 15.
I hated Nacewa playing wing for Leinster as he never played as class as when he was 15 but he was still awesome there. But point is he was alot better and the difference showed and that was just rotating in back 3.

Too early to say on Payne at 13. I'd give him more time to settle into the position.

 

[lucky number 7]

I'm worried gentlemen.

We've no world class players fit bar Sexton.
We're likely going to suffer a lack of penetration in attack and as a result struggle to string any meaningful go forward ball together.

Then again I believe if anyone can get the best out of a group of players it's King Joe.

 

[Groundhog]

I'm worried gentlemen.

We've no world class players fit bar Sexton.
We're likely going to suffer a lack of penetration in attack and as a result struggle to string any meaningful go forward ball together.

Then again I believe if anyone can get the best out of a group of players it's King Joe.

The prodigal son returns again. Have a kiss and some sandals.
I don't think being a tad shorthanded is an awful thing for these AI's. It will help to increase the pool of International quality players we have at our disposal before WC time. It might cause our results to suffer a bit, but I'm always in favour of using these oppurtunities for player development, and now we have no choice. Might be a bit of a problem if it persists into the 6 Nations (although we coped quite well with similarly few world class players last year with a rather bad fixture list, ie France and England away), as the 6 Nations isn't the place to build towards the World Cup.
I've gotta say though that beyond Sexton and SO'B I can't think of anyone else we have who would be considered world class in any case. I think Murray is certainly heading that way though.

 

[lucky number 7]

The prodigal son returns again. Have a kiss and some sandals.
I don't think being a tad shorthanded is an awful thing for these AI's. It will help to increase the pool of International quality players we have at our disposal before WC time. It might cause our results to suffer a bit, but I'm always in favour of using these oppurtunities for player development, and now we have no choice. Might be a bit of a problem if it persists into the 6 Nations (although we coped quite well with similarly few world class players last year with a rather bad fixture list, ie France and England away), as the 6 Nations isn't the place to build towards the World Cup.

This is also true.
I think it's a little bridge to far to consider going near winning a 6N with this pool of players however , but from a development point of view you've got it spot on.
Dissapointed not to see Copeland picked but he's not really been on form at all for Munster really , especially when you consider he won 3 Hcup MOTM in last years pool stages with the blues.

 

[TheSaffycen]

According to Schmidt, it'll be between Henshaw and Payne for the 13 jersey and White is in line to start against the Boks if Ross doesn't make it.

I'd say he might go with Henshaws physicality vs the Boks and put Payne in against Oz.

Henshaw might be needed against Oz after Kuridrani's recent performances.
I still stand by what I said that the Ireland have a lack of pace in the backline. If you add Zebo and Fitzgerald I think you would have got the grand slam, as you got around us many times but couldn't capitalise on it.

 

[Groundhog]

Henshaw might be needed against Oz after Kuridrani's recent performances.
I still stand by what I said that the Ireland have a lack of pace in the backline. If you add Zebo and Fitzgerald I think you would have got the grand slam, as you got around us many times but couldn't capitalise on it.

To some extent I think you're right about the pace thing, but under Schmidt last year, we played a gameplan that put emphasis on aerial dominance, and doing the basics exceedingly well in the backs. That's something the wings selected were great for. It must also be said that of our pace men, Fitzgerald was between injuries, Earls was injured and Zebo was displaying a fairly ****ty post Lions form and attitude which he has now got past.
I'd love to see Henshaw trialled in one of the bigger AI's for sure though.

 

[Peat]

The prodigal son returns again. Have a kiss and some sandals.
I don't think being a tad shorthanded is an awful thing for these AI's. It will help to increase the pool of International quality players we have at our disposal before WC time. It might cause our results to suffer a bit, but I'm always in favour of using these oppurtunities for player development, and now we have no choice. Might be a bit of a problem if it persists into the 6 Nations (although we coped quite well with similarly few world class players last year with a rather bad fixture list, ie France and England away), as the 6 Nations isn't the place to build towards the World Cup.
I've gotta say though that beyond Sexton and SO'B I can't think of anyone else we have who would be considered world class in any case. I think Murray is certainly heading that way though.

Healy you ***.

Also, probably Bowe and Murray.

You guys won the 6N last year. This year your fixture list is kinder. No reason you couldn't do it again. You've lost no one of import really. Just got to hope that your ridiculous injury rate doesn't keep going.

Also, I reckon Trimble's faster than Fitzgerald.

 

[big ginger 8]

Apparently there is still a chance that Ross will be out for S.A. and if he is we'll see White starting with probably Ah You on the bench. It's a situation I can just about live with but I'm sure the slagging will be merciless.

My current team for the boks.

1. McGrath
2. Best
3. Ross (if fit)/ White
4. Toner
5. O'Connell
6. Ruddock
7. Henry
8. Heaslip
9. Murray
10. Sexton
11. Zebo
12. D'arcy
13. Henshaw
14. Bowe
15. Kearney

16. Cronin
17. Cronin
18. White/Ah You
19. Foley
20. O'Mahony
21. Reddan (no Marmion yet let him start vs Georgia and sub vs Aus)
22. Madigan (although I am very tempted to have Olding here)
23. Gilroy

 

[lucky number 7]

Fitzgerald is the boy.
If he strings a few games together he's going to be a world beater.
He's the most talented Irish back Ireland have produced since BOD in my opinion. He glides past lads so effortlessly he's got the best step in the country and a decent set of hands.

If someone lobs him in centre on a whim someday soon I'd be very happy.

Pity he's made of ****ing glass though.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I agree Fitzgereald is our best and sexiest back but as stated he is Mr. Glass. Our one problem last year was that we couldn't create tries out of nothing like England did agains us and that is where a Zebo/Fitz/Bowe type player will come in handy as they only really add to DK's game, apart from Zeebs who may be a little weaker on D.

 

[profitius]

I'm worried gentlemen.

We've no world class players fit bar Sexton.
We're likely going to suffer a lack of penetration in attack and as a result struggle to string any meaningful go forward ball together.

Then again I believe if anyone can get the best out of a group of players it's King Joe.

Depends how you would define world class. Is it players who regularly stand out at international level or special players like McCaw, Carter and BOD? If the latter is the world class standard then theres not many of those around in any country.


In the backs theres Sexton, Murray, Bowe, Payne, Henshaw, Olding and Zebo. All good attacking players. Young Darragh Leader isn't too bad either if they'll use him. Rob Kearney, Jones and (34 year old) D'Arcy are the players who lack penetration.


What I'm wondering is will Schmidt do anything different this season. Will he play a more expansive game. Last years tactics saw plenty of box kicks and chasing from D Kearney (who played well IMO) and Trimble.