S
shazbooger
Guest
Well were just a few weeks away from the WC and after a series of mickey mouse matches EO'S has picked his squad and judging by the team picked for Bayonne, we will be looking at the usual suspects come our opening game.
As for our chances? I reckon if we peak at the right time we are capable of topping the group. Playing two group games before the French match should help, but as has been pointed out a few times, we haven't beaten France in about 6 years. History is definitely against us and to be honest I haven't seen anything that would make me blindly optimistic of us peaking or getting a result. I think were buggered here.
That leaves us with the crunch match against the Argies. How this one is going to go I haven't a clue. Form points to Argentina but to be honest, at that stage of the competition the pressure is so immense, that most of it will come down to how the team handles the pressure. Both teams will have to win it and its usually a mistake, a decision by an official, or a player that could turn the result. Argentina have some fantastic talent, a big powerful pack and a useful backline. I'd question their strength in depth and their ability to win the really really tight games. I think that's where Ireland would have the upper hand. Who wins though? Haven't the foggiest.
Expected First Choice Pack:
1. Hayes. People say he's weak in the scrum and he's ineffective in the loose. The scrummaging may have been an issue years ago, but he's propped against some of the worlds best and while he doesn't dominate, he holds his own. Adding to this he's hugely powerful at mall time, a one man lifting machine in the lineout, and a monster in the pillar position. One of the first names down on the team sheet.
2. Best. Impressive season last year should put him in the first team. Not as mobile as flannery but a stronger scrummager. Simple as that really, more powerful but not as dynamic. His lineout throw is as steady as you would want.
3. Horan. An extra loose forward in open play, but schneaky enough to hold his own in the tight.
4. O'Connell. A monster of Irish Rugby. On his day he is simply untouchable and is more then capable (with assistance from Hayes) of destroying the oppositions lineout. The key thing being on his day. While on an average day he's as good as the rest, lately we've been hoping to see him hit top form but were still waiting.
5. O'Callaghan. More mobile then O'Connell but hasn't the physical presence. O'Kelly, on his day is a stronger player (in my opinion), but he's too inconsistent.
6. Easterby. Good lineout option. Not quite a ground hog in the traditional sense but somehow (and I haven't a clue how) he slows down possession. His position has been the one to come under threat most frequently but on last years performances, that talk has stopped.
7. Wallace. Not a true open side, but the best ball carrying forward in the team. Extremely quick and difficult to put down. Can comfortably play at 6.
8. Leamy. Physical, abrasive and comfortable with ball in hand. Powerful enough to break the gain line and give the rest of the pack go forward ball.
The Munster Factor. Its worth noting, that 6 of these players are from the Munster team. These guys have lived in each others pockets for the last 6+ years, and gone to war with each other, season after season against the big European packs. No other team in the world can put this kind of continuity together on the pitch. A lot of you may look at the pack individually and think its weak, but you need to consider the provincial side of it. They are used to traveling around Europe together and winning. All in all, this pack is far greater then the sum of its parts.
Subs
Neil Best. Barely controlled manic aggression. Has been fairly quiet in his past three outings though. A real impact substitute, I'm always happy to see him come off the bench.
Stephen Ferris. A year or two too early in my opinion. Extremely physical but not a proven international player at any position. I'd be surprised to see him get much game time, but
Jerry Flannery. An extra loose forward around the park. Great ball carrier and solid lineout. Not as strong a scrummager but only out of the side due to Best's consistent form. Another excellent impact player.
Malcolm O'Kelly. Irelands most capped player. Hugely talented, excellent in the lineout and a powerful player in the tight. A little too inconsistent of late but on his day, he can match most opposition. I actually expect him to push for a starting slot and he may just get it.
Alan Quinlan. Utility Lock / Blind side flanker. He's a favourite of EO'S and another of the Munster contingent. A popular player in the squad, experienced and a good big game player. Was delighted to see him get the nod ahead of M O'Driscoll. Would be happy to see him come off the bench in a tight game.
Frankie Sheahan. Wont get much game time. Clear number three behind Flannery and Best. Experienced but a little flaky at lineout time.
Bryan Young / Simon Best. I haven't a clue to be honest. Haven't seen enough of them in tough competitive circumstances due to the dominance of Hayes and Horan. Not renowned for their play in the loose, or the tight. Anyone want to add something in here?
Backs (14):
Expected First Choice Backline:
Peter Stringer. Physically small, no ability to break, accurate and quick distribution. Stringers entire game is about no-nonsense distribution. He simply gets to the base and fires a bullet straight to O'Gara. No steps (Boss), and no waiting around to marshal the pack (Reddan). The extra time this pass gives the Irish backline is why he is consistently in the side. Love him or loath him, he does the basics well.
Ronan O'Gara. Best kicking game (out of hand) in rugby and his distribution out of either hand is excellent. Limited running ability and suspect defensively. RO'G simply doesn't have many off days. He's solid, dependable, and always does the basics right.
Gordon D'Arcy. Sorry Aussies but this guy is the best 12 in the world. While he has no kicking game his ability to break the gain line time and time again against pretty much anyone is pure gold. A solid defense, and with such a low centre of gravity, he's an extra loose forward in the middle of the park. Over the past two years he has, in the eyes of most Irish fans, overshadowed O'Driscoll as Irelands most valuable player.
Brian O'Driscoll. Even on a bad day I still think he's the best centre in the world. Excellent kicking game, quick, elusive, but powerful in defense, and always worth a turn-over or two in a game.
Denis Hickie. Irelands record try-scorer. Due to retire at the end of the WC (way to early if you ask me). He's an odd one in my mind. You ask most non-Irish fans and they probably don't rate him too highly yet he knows how to score tries. Great left boot, and defensively sound. Lost his place after a bad injury a year or so again, but came back with some barn storming games and is a shoe in for the wing.
Shane Horgan. A centre come Wing. 6ft 4, quick enough and defensively strong. Not the best winger in the world but good hands, an eye for the try line. The GAA background makes him a big weapon under a cross field kick.
Girvan Dempsey. I'm putting Dempsey in mainly because I think EO'S will go for him at the start. Where Geordan Murphy offers the flair, Dempsey is Mr Reliable. Excellent under a high ball, good kicking out of hand, and a good tackler. Used to the Leinster combinations in the backs so finishes off his fair share of tries.
Subs
Isaac Boss. Drives me nuts. More powerful then Stringer, and offers a break option, but his distribution is just too slow. I'm more then happy to have the Scrum Half get it to the backs then try and snipe every now and then.
Brian Carney. Still not sure about Carney as he's so new to the game. Its obvious he enjoys the physicality of the game, but there are still question marks around his ability to retain possession in the tackle, his basic defense and his ability under a high ball. Not that he has made any mistakes but he hasn't been put under much pressure.
Gavin Duffy. No idea where this guy came from. Well I kmnow where he came from, but an international? After a year on the bench with Harlequins? Played 15 and 12 in the Argentinean tour and came out of the experience with a lot of good reviews. Will be sitting at the back of the queue for game time, but a good utility player to have in the squad.
Geordan Murphy. Oozes class but can be a liability in defense. Falls off too many tackles. That is Murphy's problem, and the reason he is not holding the 15 shirt. Does all the basics very very well but simply makes too many mistakes when under pressure. Personally I'd like to see him start for his offensive capabilities alone, but I don't think EO'S will take the chance.
Eoin Reddan. Hasn't been given a chance really. Seems stuck behind Boss and Stringer though he is the form scrum half from the GP. So many people seem to think he is the best all round 9 of the lot of em. EO'S doesn't seem to agree. Only chance he has had was behind a pack playing a dominant Argentinean pack, and providing ball at a snails pace.
Andrew Trimble. Runs strong and straight. Pace enough to find himself on the end of some nice moves. A good option for the wing, or centre. Should get plenty of game time, either as a starter in place of Horgan or an impact sub. Great possibility for the future.
Paddy Wallace. Spent the past 4 years or so playing inside centre for Ulster and it shows. Good footballer, has all the skills you would ask for, but not enough game time at 10. Huge questions to be asked and while I'm not saying he wont deliver, I'd prefer O'Gara to stay fit so we don't have to find out.
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As for our chances? I reckon if we peak at the right time we are capable of topping the group. Playing two group games before the French match should help, but as has been pointed out a few times, we haven't beaten France in about 6 years. History is definitely against us and to be honest I haven't seen anything that would make me blindly optimistic of us peaking or getting a result. I think were buggered here.
That leaves us with the crunch match against the Argies. How this one is going to go I haven't a clue. Form points to Argentina but to be honest, at that stage of the competition the pressure is so immense, that most of it will come down to how the team handles the pressure. Both teams will have to win it and its usually a mistake, a decision by an official, or a player that could turn the result. Argentina have some fantastic talent, a big powerful pack and a useful backline. I'd question their strength in depth and their ability to win the really really tight games. I think that's where Ireland would have the upper hand. Who wins though? Haven't the foggiest.
Expected First Choice Pack:
1. Hayes. People say he's weak in the scrum and he's ineffective in the loose. The scrummaging may have been an issue years ago, but he's propped against some of the worlds best and while he doesn't dominate, he holds his own. Adding to this he's hugely powerful at mall time, a one man lifting machine in the lineout, and a monster in the pillar position. One of the first names down on the team sheet.
2. Best. Impressive season last year should put him in the first team. Not as mobile as flannery but a stronger scrummager. Simple as that really, more powerful but not as dynamic. His lineout throw is as steady as you would want.
3. Horan. An extra loose forward in open play, but schneaky enough to hold his own in the tight.
4. O'Connell. A monster of Irish Rugby. On his day he is simply untouchable and is more then capable (with assistance from Hayes) of destroying the oppositions lineout. The key thing being on his day. While on an average day he's as good as the rest, lately we've been hoping to see him hit top form but were still waiting.
5. O'Callaghan. More mobile then O'Connell but hasn't the physical presence. O'Kelly, on his day is a stronger player (in my opinion), but he's too inconsistent.
6. Easterby. Good lineout option. Not quite a ground hog in the traditional sense but somehow (and I haven't a clue how) he slows down possession. His position has been the one to come under threat most frequently but on last years performances, that talk has stopped.
7. Wallace. Not a true open side, but the best ball carrying forward in the team. Extremely quick and difficult to put down. Can comfortably play at 6.
8. Leamy. Physical, abrasive and comfortable with ball in hand. Powerful enough to break the gain line and give the rest of the pack go forward ball.
The Munster Factor. Its worth noting, that 6 of these players are from the Munster team. These guys have lived in each others pockets for the last 6+ years, and gone to war with each other, season after season against the big European packs. No other team in the world can put this kind of continuity together on the pitch. A lot of you may look at the pack individually and think its weak, but you need to consider the provincial side of it. They are used to traveling around Europe together and winning. All in all, this pack is far greater then the sum of its parts.
Subs
Neil Best. Barely controlled manic aggression. Has been fairly quiet in his past three outings though. A real impact substitute, I'm always happy to see him come off the bench.
Stephen Ferris. A year or two too early in my opinion. Extremely physical but not a proven international player at any position. I'd be surprised to see him get much game time, but
Jerry Flannery. An extra loose forward around the park. Great ball carrier and solid lineout. Not as strong a scrummager but only out of the side due to Best's consistent form. Another excellent impact player.
Malcolm O'Kelly. Irelands most capped player. Hugely talented, excellent in the lineout and a powerful player in the tight. A little too inconsistent of late but on his day, he can match most opposition. I actually expect him to push for a starting slot and he may just get it.
Alan Quinlan. Utility Lock / Blind side flanker. He's a favourite of EO'S and another of the Munster contingent. A popular player in the squad, experienced and a good big game player. Was delighted to see him get the nod ahead of M O'Driscoll. Would be happy to see him come off the bench in a tight game.
Frankie Sheahan. Wont get much game time. Clear number three behind Flannery and Best. Experienced but a little flaky at lineout time.
Bryan Young / Simon Best. I haven't a clue to be honest. Haven't seen enough of them in tough competitive circumstances due to the dominance of Hayes and Horan. Not renowned for their play in the loose, or the tight. Anyone want to add something in here?
Backs (14):
Expected First Choice Backline:
Peter Stringer. Physically small, no ability to break, accurate and quick distribution. Stringers entire game is about no-nonsense distribution. He simply gets to the base and fires a bullet straight to O'Gara. No steps (Boss), and no waiting around to marshal the pack (Reddan). The extra time this pass gives the Irish backline is why he is consistently in the side. Love him or loath him, he does the basics well.
Ronan O'Gara. Best kicking game (out of hand) in rugby and his distribution out of either hand is excellent. Limited running ability and suspect defensively. RO'G simply doesn't have many off days. He's solid, dependable, and always does the basics right.
Gordon D'Arcy. Sorry Aussies but this guy is the best 12 in the world. While he has no kicking game his ability to break the gain line time and time again against pretty much anyone is pure gold. A solid defense, and with such a low centre of gravity, he's an extra loose forward in the middle of the park. Over the past two years he has, in the eyes of most Irish fans, overshadowed O'Driscoll as Irelands most valuable player.
Brian O'Driscoll. Even on a bad day I still think he's the best centre in the world. Excellent kicking game, quick, elusive, but powerful in defense, and always worth a turn-over or two in a game.
Denis Hickie. Irelands record try-scorer. Due to retire at the end of the WC (way to early if you ask me). He's an odd one in my mind. You ask most non-Irish fans and they probably don't rate him too highly yet he knows how to score tries. Great left boot, and defensively sound. Lost his place after a bad injury a year or so again, but came back with some barn storming games and is a shoe in for the wing.
Shane Horgan. A centre come Wing. 6ft 4, quick enough and defensively strong. Not the best winger in the world but good hands, an eye for the try line. The GAA background makes him a big weapon under a cross field kick.
Girvan Dempsey. I'm putting Dempsey in mainly because I think EO'S will go for him at the start. Where Geordan Murphy offers the flair, Dempsey is Mr Reliable. Excellent under a high ball, good kicking out of hand, and a good tackler. Used to the Leinster combinations in the backs so finishes off his fair share of tries.
Subs
Isaac Boss. Drives me nuts. More powerful then Stringer, and offers a break option, but his distribution is just too slow. I'm more then happy to have the Scrum Half get it to the backs then try and snipe every now and then.
Brian Carney. Still not sure about Carney as he's so new to the game. Its obvious he enjoys the physicality of the game, but there are still question marks around his ability to retain possession in the tackle, his basic defense and his ability under a high ball. Not that he has made any mistakes but he hasn't been put under much pressure.
Gavin Duffy. No idea where this guy came from. Well I kmnow where he came from, but an international? After a year on the bench with Harlequins? Played 15 and 12 in the Argentinean tour and came out of the experience with a lot of good reviews. Will be sitting at the back of the queue for game time, but a good utility player to have in the squad.
Geordan Murphy. Oozes class but can be a liability in defense. Falls off too many tackles. That is Murphy's problem, and the reason he is not holding the 15 shirt. Does all the basics very very well but simply makes too many mistakes when under pressure. Personally I'd like to see him start for his offensive capabilities alone, but I don't think EO'S will take the chance.
Eoin Reddan. Hasn't been given a chance really. Seems stuck behind Boss and Stringer though he is the form scrum half from the GP. So many people seem to think he is the best all round 9 of the lot of em. EO'S doesn't seem to agree. Only chance he has had was behind a pack playing a dominant Argentinean pack, and providing ball at a snails pace.
Andrew Trimble. Runs strong and straight. Pace enough to find himself on the end of some nice moves. A good option for the wing, or centre. Should get plenty of game time, either as a starter in place of Horgan or an impact sub. Great possibility for the future.
Paddy Wallace. Spent the past 4 years or so playing inside centre for Ulster and it shows. Good footballer, has all the skills you would ask for, but not enough game time at 10. Huge questions to be asked and while I'm not saying he wont deliver, I'd prefer O'Gara to stay fit so we don't have to find out.
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