Ireland RWC 11 Thread

[munstermuffin]

Lads the reality is Stephen Ferris hasn't played consistently in 2 years and even at World Cup he has to be monitored carefully

 

[coonor]

Lads the reality is Stephen Ferris hasn't played consistently in 2 years and even at World Cup he has to be monitored carefully

Neither has Flannery or Kearney and they are still very much in contention for a place.

 

[munstermuffin]

True but with Flannery it's exact same except we need Flannery to throw ball as all our other hookers seem to ignore that. For me I'd have Jones ahead of Kearney. But my main point is Ferris has a very serious knee injury that means even when he is fully fit he still needs constant attention.

 

[irelandfan123]

Ferris has played more than both flannery and kearney , not to mention ferris was playing well every time he has played this year , had 2 blinders during the autumn internationals , i thik if everything goes well in court he should at least be in the starting 22

 

[IRFU]

Ferris has played more than both flannery and kearney , not to mention ferris was playing well every time he has played this year , had 2 blinders during the autumn internationals , i thik if everything goes well in court he should at least be in the starting 22

Just to update anyone who didn't know; Stephen Ferris has pleaded not guilty to two charges, and his brother Dave pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm. However the trial will take place towards the end of December, and so long as he makes the squad, Ferris should be heading to New Zealand.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13862540

 

[irelandfan123]

Squad Ferris should be heading to New Zealand

Woooooo one more ulster player in the ireland !!!!

 

[RedRoseDave]

I think we (England) have a great 45 there and will have an even better 30 once the weaker players are chipped away.
Being an English man and a follower of rugby since the early 1990's Im saddened at how our international team looks more like a club team then an international team.
We have 13 players that grew up dreaming of playing rugby for their home countrys and then due to not being good enough or migration then end up in England and then all of a sudden it was their dream as young boys to play for England??? Give me a break.

Although these guys are good, they will never risk their neck for their team as its just a job to them. No matter what they say its not their country or homeland so they dont have that pride for England like Johnny had or Johnson had. They will do enough to keep their place and get paid.

All the while we have amazing talent coming through (look at our u20s) and yet only a small percentage will make the international squad because there is no room for them to develop as players as all the spots are taken by guys who flew in 3 years ago and are now eligable to play.

Its killing English rugby! This is the reason we dont play with the passion like we did in 2003 and before!​

 

[superprop]

I think we (England) have a great 45 there and will have an even better 30 once the weaker players are chipped away.
Being an English man and a follower of rugby since the early 1990's Im saddened at how our international team looks more like a club team then an international team.
We have 13 players that grew up dreaming of playing rugby for their home countrys and then due to not being good enough or migration then end up in England and then all of a sudden it was their dream as young boys to play for England??? Give me a break.

Although these guys are good, they will never risk their neck for their team as its just a job to them. No matter what they say its not their country or homeland so they dont have that pride for England like Johnny had or Johnson had. They will do enough to keep their place and get paid.

All the while we have amazing talent coming through (look at our u20s) and yet only a small percentage will make the international squad because there is no room for them to develop as players as all the spots are taken by guys who flew in 3 years ago and are now eligable to play.

Its killing English rugby! This is the reason we dont play with the passion like we did in 2003 and before!​

Why did you post this on the Ireland thread? Also how can you chip away the week links in the 30 man squad? You still need to bring centres.

 

[munstermuffin]

I agree the English Barbarians squad looks good

 

[RedRoseDave]

I think if Ireland can beat Oz and finish top of their group...then they can make the final.
But if they dont then they probably wont make it past the quarter finals.

 

[molloyjh]

Ferris has played more than both flannery and kearney , not to mention ferris was playing well every time he has played this year , had 2 blinders during the autumn internationals , i thik if everything goes well in court he should at least be in the starting 22

You're right, Fez has played well when he has been on. But in the match-day 22 you only have space for 4 back-rows. My logic would be:

6 SOB - easy pick given the season he has had. The outstanding player in European club rugby this year and did pretty well in his first 6 Nations campaign too.

7 Wallace - again his form this season has been excellent and that game he had against England was inspiring. Could rotate with Jenno depending on game-plan

8 Heaslip - don't need to say anything there really

19 Jenno - I think the bench option is the only one truly up for debate. In the above 3 we have 3 strong ball carriers, but no real traditional dogged open-side. Jenno brings something different to our back-row that our other options (below) don't bring. If we use our bench properly we should be looking at impact players, not just simple replacements.

The other options in the back row are:

Fez - class act and incredibly tough to leave out of any 15, let alone 22. However he is the same type of player as Wally and SOB, both of whom are on form and have plenty of gametime. Including him in the squad, while not a bad idea, IMO isn't utilising the bench as much as possible.

McLaughlin - there's an argument for his inclusion given his versatility of playing second row and back row, and he does add another line-out option at 6. But with POC and Cullen already in the squad I don't see that as a weak spot. I think Fez and Jenno both offer more to the back row than Kev.

Leamy - Mr 6 Points himself. Has plenty of experience, but like Kev I reckon both Jenno and Fez are far better options.

 

[RedRoseDave]

Will Ireland even make it out of the group stages? Who knows.

 

[Peat]

Get your best players onto the pitch, then worries about who does what.

Steven Ferris is one of Ireland's three best back-rows. He performed at least as well in the AIs than SOB did in the 6Ns in my opinion, and achieved this despite playing in a worse pack.

He's a better line out option than O'Brien and Wally. He's quicker providing his knee hasn't wrecked that.

What's more, he's far more destructive in the tackle than either or, for that matter, anyone else in the Ireland squad save maybe Cian Healy. He's more likely to clear a ruck single handed than any other Ireland player. And slow ruck ball was a problem for Ireland in the 6N

If Ferris is fit and firing, he's a no-brain pick. Ireland can't afford to drop him as they've no one else who can do what he can.

 

[durbutter]

You're right, Fez has played well when he has been on. But in the match-day 22 you only have space for 4 back-rows. My logic would be:

6 SOB - easy pick given the season he has had. The outstanding player in European club rugby this year and did pretty well in his first 6 Nations campaign too.

7 Wallace - again his form this season has been excellent and that game he had against England was inspiring. Could rotate with Jenno depending on game-plan

8 Heaslip - don't need to say anything there really

19 Jenno - I think the bench option is the only one truly up for debate. In the above 3 we have 3 strong ball carriers, but no real traditional dogged open-side. Jenno brings something different to our back-row that our other options (below) don't bring. If we use our bench properly we should be looking at impact players, not just simple replacements.

The other options in the back row are:

Fez - class act and incredibly tough to leave out of any 15, let alone 22. However he is the same type of player as Wally and SOB, both of whom are on form and have plenty of gametime. Including him in the squad, while not a bad idea, IMO isn't utilising the bench as much as possible.

McLaughlin - there's an argument for his inclusion given his versatility of playing second row and back row, and he does add another line-out option at 6. But with POC and Cullen already in the squad I don't see that as a weak spot. I think Fez and Jenno both offer more to the back row than Kev.

Leamy - Mr 6 Points himself. Has plenty of experience, but like Kev I reckon both Jenno and Fez are far better options.

Just to add a healthy dose of realsim to what your saying, I imagine outside of the 4 big guns, one if not two of Jennings, Glock, Leamy won't travel. Given Declans previous choices, and they way the training squad looks I imagine it'll be a straight fight between Jennings and Leamy (which is no contest given the form of both) and Glock and Donn Ryan (very close call, both in top form but I imagine the fact that Ryan has been a very frequent matchday player since Deco started will give him the edge).

I think it would be mad not to have a fit Ferris in the matchday squad. But with so many games in a short space rotation will have to happen and its nice to see the options are there.

p.s. Dissappointed Touhy isn't in with a shout of going. Would be a far better foil to POC or Cullen than DOC on current form.

 

[OnTheBall]

Ferris badly needs the game time come August, but it would be madness for O'Brien not to start. He has been in great form all season and Ferris needs to prove himself again in the warm ups. No player should walk straight back into a team.
If Ireland have all fully fit back row players at the World Cup, I wouldnt want to see Leamy anywhere near the 22. At the same time, I think Jennings is well worth a bench spot.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Does anyone know where abouts the Connacht game features in the warmups?
If it's first then try Ferris in the that one, then from there start planning around that depending how he performs - if it's last then it wouldn't leave you much time if they're lacking a bit of match fitness (but would give the injured players more time to heal before the match I suppose)

 

[OnTheBall]

Does anyone know where abouts the Connacht game features in the warmups?
If it's first then try Ferris in the that one, then from there start planning around that depending how he performs - if it's last then it wouldn't leave you much time if they're lacking a bit of match fitness (but would give the injured players more time to heal before the match I suppose)

It's the day before one of the games against England or France. After Scotland and France away afaik.

 

[munstermuffin]

O'Gara confident he will make it back for RWC - But we must get a 3rd 10 some gametime to be on safe side.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2011/0714/ogarar_injury.html

 

[big ginger 8]

Humphries is capable of magic, so maybe him.

Next would be Keatley he is solid enough.

Only thing is Deccie would probably pick Paddy Wallace.

 

[staph.glorious]

Only thing is Deccie would probably pick Paddy Wallace.

Paddy Wallace should already be in the RWC Squad as a second-choice centre and near-requisite flyhalf cover (though a very definite third-choice).

I thought it strange that Humphreys was not selected for the 43-man squad, as he would be the obvious back-up choice should disaster strike pre- or mid-tournament.