Ireland in the November tests

[Gavin]

Maybe Stringer getting back in the Ireland squad is a possibility?

 

[Feicarsinn]

Maybe Stringer getting back in the Ireland squad is a possibility?

NO!

 

[durbutter]

Why not? twould be nice to have Sexton with quick ball, he could really allow the backline to cut loose.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

1. Court
2. Cronin
3. Buckley
4. Ryan?
5. O'Callaghan
6. Ferris
7. O'Brien
8. Heaslip
9. Reddan
10. Sexton
11. Fitzgerald/Trimble/Carr
12. D'Arcy
13. BOD
14. Bowe
15. Kearney

 

[Peat]

Have you seen Trimble for Ireland. He played OK in tests last summer but other than that he never performs. But I'll admit I not a fan of Trimble however he is a totally different player and does perform excellent but never brings this form to Irish camp

Only this summer, although he must have been doing alright to get his try record!

I'll be honest, I was slightly disappointed in Trimble's form in the summer although I still thought he did a good job and established he belonged there; in fairness, its always difficult when the forwards platform gets pulverised. As happened a bit too often. For me, Earls and Bowe have to be Ireland's starting wing pair atm when everyone's fit, but Trimble deserves his shout.

The player who really disappointed me was Henry - granted, I thought he was too tired, his head wasn't right and never should have gone, but he's definitley better than that. He's looked stronger this season and is back to form and I think he could well play a part this year.

As for Irish scrum-halfs... laughing at Ireland's inability to produce a decent scrum-half is a favourite game of mine. Stringer's a good player, but would never have got as many caps in any other nation.

That said, I think he could go well with Stringer, and anyone who thinks Stringer won't go to the World Cup is setting themselves up for sore disappointment. Three scrum-halfs will go and I bet Stringer will be the third.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Not Fitzgerald, Peat?
I much prefer his playing style (especially at wing) to Earls

 

[Peat]

I think Earls is just a better player (although maybe not a better wing) and, crucially for me, he's faster. A lot faster. The current Irish backline is very one-paced with no out and out flier unless you pick one of Earls, Trimble or Carr. Or Jones, but he's not fit. At the moment, I feel a defence against the Irish can bunch secure in the knowledge they'll haul down anyone running clear. Earls stops that, and is the best player out of the three I mentioned.

 

[GalwayCanuck5]

Right here is my team for South Africa,

1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best
3. Tony Buckley
4. Donnacha O'Callaghan
5. Mick O'Driscoll/Leo Cullen
6. Stephen Ferris
7. David Wallace
8. Jamie Heaslip
9. Eoin Reddan
10. Johnny Sexton
11. Keith Earls
12. Gordon D'Arcy
13. Brian O'Driscoll
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Luke Fitzgerald

Bench

16. Sean Cronin
17. Tom Court
18. Leo Cullen/ Mick O'Driscoll
19. Sean O'Brien
20. Tomas O'Leary
21. Ronan O'Gara
22. Rob Kearney

 

[munstermuffin]

My team at moment and well with just small thinking and thinking how D. Kidney would.

1. Healy
2. Best
3. Buckley
4. Donnacha O'Callaghan
5. Micko/Leo Cullen
6. Denis Leamy
7. David Wallace
8. Jamie Heaslip
9. T. O'Leary/ Peter Stringer
10. Sexton
11. Keith Earls
12. Gordan D'Arcy
13. BOD
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Kearney

16. Cronin/Varley
17. Court
18. Leo/Micko
19. Ferris/O'Brien/Jennings
20. Reddan
21. ROG
22. Luke Fitz

Points on Kidney.
- At hooker I think Flannery will be in 22 if fit
- Personally I'd like to see a BOD/Earls centre partnership
- I'd like to see Leamy be rewarded for form but if Kidney picks Ferris at 6 I'll put my life on Leamy being in the 22 at least
- Think he will leave Luke on bench as he is versatile but also he wont rush him back into the team when he doesn't have to
- He will pick TOL at 9 if fit but can you imagine if Sexton got the service from Stringer. It'd buy our backs an extra 2/3 yards and well we do have lethal backs that can pounce on that and capitalize
- Also Kearney deserves 15 shirt because he is back on his game and again like Leamy deserves to be rewarded.
- On the bench I think the prop back-up is a hard one to call

 

[King_D'Arcy]

I dunno.. as long as Ferris is fit I wouldn't put anyone else near that 6 jersey. I know Leamy's on form but Ferris is one of the best blindsides around.

 

[Jockstap]

Irish team I'd like to see

15 Kearney
14 Bowe
13 Earls
12 BOD
11 Fitzgerald
10 Sexton
9 Reddan
8 Heaslip
7 O'Brien
6 Ferris
5 Cullen
4 DOC
3 Buckley
2 Cronin
1 Healy

16 Varley
17 Court
18 Ross
19 Toner
20 Leamy
21 O'Leary
22 O'Gara
23 D'Arcy/Trimble/Carr

 

[Feicarsinn]

Ditto that D'arce.

1) Healy
2) Cronin
3) Ross
4) O'Callaghan
5) Cullen
6) Ferris
7) Wallace
8) Heaslip
9) Reddan
10) Sexton
11) Fitzgerald
12) D'arcy
13) O'Driscoll
14) Bowe
15) Kearney

16) Ross
17) Best
18) Court
19) Tuohy
20) O'Brien
21) O'Leary
22) O'Gara
23) Earls

 

[Jockstap]

Do none of you feel that Toner deserves a shout, I've been keeping an eye on him for the HC games and I thought he did brilliantly considering his lack of experience and the quality of his opposition(Nallet,Borthwick etc). Did anybody see in the Racing game where he cleared out Nallet and Chabal at the same time, literally picked both of them up in each arm and carried them away. I think he is Ireland's future at lock.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Do none of you feel that Toner deserves a shout, I've been keeping an eye on him for the HC games and I thought he did brilliantly considering his lack of experience and the quality of his opposition(Nallet,Borthwick etc). Did anybody see in the Racing game where he cleared out Nallet and Chabal at the same time, literally picked both of them up in each arm and carried them away. I think he is Ireland's future at lock.

Ah c'mon!

 

[Jockstap]

Former England Captain against a young upstart, fine he's crap, but Nallet isn't too bad.

 

[durbutter]

I think he merits inclusion more than a barely fit Cullen...........

 

[munstermuffin]

Well lads how can Micko be overlooked for 22 and well Cullen barely fit now but will be ready for AIs and Cullen a guy who unlike Toner (no disrespect to him) will step up to the plate and be a physical presence

 

[Feicarsinn]

Mick O'Driscoll is the last man I'd want in the Ireland setup. He played well against Toulon sure, but he's getting old and he's pretty immobile. He's a real retrograde step, ya know? I'd take Tuohy, Cullen, Toner and Ryan over him. O'Driscoll has never been good enough for international rugby imo. Seriously, could you see a team with him in it beating the All Blacks or the Springboks? Might as well give someone with a future in the green jersey a shot, Toner or Tuohy preferably.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Mick O'Driscoll is the last man I'd want in the Ireland setup. He played well against Toulon sure, but he's getting old and he's pretty immobile. He's a real retrograde step, ya know? I'd take Tuohy, Cullen, Toner and Ryan over him. O'Driscoll has never been good enough for international rugby imo. Seriously, could you see a team with him in it beating the All Blacks or the Springboks? Might as well give someone with a future in the green jersey a shot, Toner or Tuohy preferably.

Yeah that's what I was thinking as well... I was very confused why so many people had Cullen/O'Driscoll at 4. I would definitely take Cullen over MOD any day. I know he's just back from injury but so is Sexton and Sexton is playing rather well...

EDIT: when I said "he's just back from injury" I was of course referring to Leo Cullen, not Mick O'Driscoll.

 

[durbutter]

I think Kidney should pick a younger player and start him at 5. We know how good Cullen is, why rush him back fo a meaningless game. Toner? One of the Ulster boys? Maybe give Ryan another chance? Any other ideas?