Ireland RWC 11 Thread

[munstermuffin]

I think regardless of who's called IF we lost both ROG and Sexton we'd be screwed.

 

[Teh Mite]

i think regardless of who's called if we lost [strike]both rog and[/strike] sexton we'd be screwed. :d

ftfy

 

[staph.glorious]

Ireland Coaches Extend Contract With IRFU

"The Irish Rugby Football Union are pleased to announce that Ireland head coach Declan Kidney and his assistant coaches Gert Smal, Les Kiss and Mark Tainton have all agreed new contract extensions.

The current Ireland coaching team has been contracted up to the conclusion of the Rugby World Cup in October, but the decision of all four coaches to commit to Ireland will see them remain with the squad until the conclusion of 2012/2013 season.

The only member of the current coaching staff that will not be continuing to work with the team after the World Cup is Alan Gaffney."

(Source: IRFU)

 

[lynam1104]

At least they didn't give him 4 years like they did to EOS. Although I think we need to replace Kiddney it might make sense to keep him for another year let the other coaches in contention show the IRFU why they should be coaching.

 

[staph.glorious]

At least they didn't give him 4 years like they did to EOS. Although I think we need to replace Kiddney it might make sense to keep him for another year let the other coaches in contention show the IRFU why they should be coaching.

It's a good decision. There's further time to assess Kidney's direction, while there's no obvious candidates to succeed him before the World Cup kicks off, as you point out.

I think the real news here is Gaffney will definitely be out of the picture. His initial appointment was a head-scratcher, as in Leinster he contributed to a side only beating out Connacht for tries scored in a Mangers League season.* He has not contributed hugely in the national set-up. There ought to be better backs coaches available.


* Best not to quote me on that, but it did hold true for a significant part of the '09/'10 season, I believe.

 

[profitius]

It's a good decision. There's further time to assess Kidney's direction, while there's no obvious candidates to succeed him before the World Cup kicks off, as you point out.

I think the real news here is Gaffney will definitely be out of the picture. His initial appointment was a head-scratcher, as in Leinster he contributed to a side only beating out Connacht for tries scored in a Mangers League season.* He has not contributed hugely in the national set-up. There ought to be better backs coaches available.


* Best not to quote me on that, but it did hold true for a significant part of the '09/'10 season, I believe.[/QUOTE

I think they could do with a new backs coach although they did show promise in patches during the 6 nations.

 

[seanoc]

Mistake putting Keith Earls at full back. He's more comfortable at wing or centre. Also Flannery and Wally should start.

 

[staph.glorious]

Mistake putting Keith Earls at full back. He's more comfortable at wing or centre. Also Flannery and Wally should start.

Unless you're arguing with yourself, you can befriend the quote buttons.

Flannery is not going to walk back into this side, that's for sure. If available, his experience should be enough to earn him a squad place over Varley.

All things going well in the warm-up, Earls will only be seen as fullback cover. You can't say he didn't look half-bad in his last appearance there, though. Currently has the strongest claim to the 15 jersey based on performance.

I agree with you on David Wallace; he owns that openside slot.

 

[munstermuffin]

Staph I think Fla (If match fit) will walk straight back in as the other hookers all have massive faults, I'd also put Sherry ahead of Varley if I was the coach.

As for the backrow - We have to learn from previous World Cup and be smart we have alot of talent here so lets use our reserves as often as we can and mix and match when possible to keep lads on their toes and fresh. Wallace especially needs to be used smartly as the man is 35.

Earls I've said before and will say again is best at wing and well he did do superb at 15 against England but he wasn't really tested under the high ball

 

[staph.glorious]

Staph I think Fla (If match fit) will walk straight back in as the other hookers all have massive faults, I'd also put Sherry ahead of Varley if I was the coach.

As for the backrow - We have to learn from previous World Cup and be smart we have alot of talent here so lets use our reserves as often as we can and mix and match when possible to keep lads on their toes and fresh. Wallace especially needs to be used smartly as the man is 35.

Earls I've said before and will say again is best at wing and well he did do superb at 15 against England but he wasn't really tested under the high ball

Flannery has his own flaws. His throwing was nigh-on perfect at his peak, but that was closer to RWC 2007. His discipline came under the spotlight prior to his most recent injury. I find Best to be an terrific operator in the tight exchanges, and has an immense workload. He never really got his darts right, though. He also has his own issues of staying composed, and if you watch him with Ulster as skipper it acts as a double-edged sword. But I'd be upset to see Fla' walk right off the hospital trolley into the front row. As for Sherry, I like him enough to give him another good go at Munster!

I agree with you on rotating the backrow, as there lies considerable riches in the context of this Irish squad. I guess I'm preempting the cries for O'Brien's automatic placement in the first XV. He does hold the blindside spot, but should Ferris come back storming like he did circa 2010, I reckon all money on the line, all fit and firing, SOB places on the bench. That's too many ifs to bear in mind, though.

And again, I'm with you on Earls suiting the wing, although he doesn't get there currently with Trimble and Bowe. One would hope a specialist fullback such as Kearney will settle back in during the warm-up fixtures. If it came to it, Earls would be a handsome replacement.

'Course, there's plenty of matchtime ahead still. Flannery, Ferris and especially Kearney will all get considerable tests. Scrumhalf is still up in the air, and I don't think it's beyond Kidney to trial Murray this August. Earls could fly back into a wing berth. I'd be happy to see the bones of Ireland's last XV (Aviva Stadium, March 2011) start out the Guinness Series, before the necessary changes apply.

Incidentally, are you getting to any of the matches?

 

[munstermuffin]

Will be attending the English one.

I agree Fla has poor discipline but just think he is the best of our hookers (if fit and ready) by a decent distance.
As for Earls I'd consider him ahead of Trimble as I'd consider Luke Fitz ahead of Trimble too. People say Earls had a great last game for Ireland in 15 shirt but we also have to remember his last game against Leinster in the 11 shirt was superb too.

 

[coonor]

Flannery has his own flaws. His throwing was nigh-on perfect at his peak, but that was closer to RWC 2007. His discipline came under the spotlight prior to his most recent injury. I find Best to be an terrific operator in the tight exchanges, and has an immense workload. He never really got his darts right, though. He also has his own issues of staying composed, and if you watch him with Ulster as skipper it acts as a double-edged sword. But I'd be upset to see Fla' walk right off the hospital trolley into the front row. As for Sherry, I like him enough to give him another good go at Munster!

I agree with you on rotating the backrow, as there lies considerable riches in the context of this Irish squad. I guess I'm preempting the cries for O'Brien's automatic placement in the first XV. He does hold the blindside spot, but should Ferris come back storming like he did circa 2010, I reckon all money on the line, all fit and firing, SOB places on the bench. That's too many ifs to bear in mind, though.

And again, I'm with you on Earls suiting the wing, although he doesn't get there currently with Trimble and Bowe. One would hope a specialist fullback such as Kearney will settle back in during the warm-up fixtures. If it came to it, Earls would be a handsome replacement.

'Course, there's plenty of matchtime ahead still. Flannery, Ferris and especially Kearney will all get considerable tests. Scrumhalf is still up in the air, and I don't think it's beyond Kidney to trial Murray this August. Earls could fly back into a wing berth. I'd be happy to see the bones of Ireland's last XV (Aviva Stadium, March 2011) start out the Guinness Series, before the necessary changes apply.

Incidentally, are you getting to any of the matches?

I would be quite disheartened if Flannery walks back into the team. How do we know what his game and form is like. How do we even know that his throwing is still good. I would give him 2 or three games to prove himself and if he does then I see no problem with playing him in the world cup but he needs to be watched closely throughout the tournament and Kidney must show that the hooker position is still a battle.

Earls is a winger and he needs to make sure that he shows commitment to one position while also showing he can do jobs in other positions. He is our on form winger and a real try scorer. I think his spurs of individual brilliance will be very useful in the world cup.

On tickets, I was going to buy some for the match against England but decided not to as I didn't think it would be worth the money for the 4 flights and accommodation as the match is going to be full on test and the stadium may not even be full. I don't know exactly what ticket sales have been like for the warm up matches but from what I have heard they have not been too good.

 

[staph.glorious]

As for Earls I'd consider him ahead of Trimble...People say Earls had a great last game for Ireland in 15 shirt but we also have to remember his last game against Leinster in the 11 shirt was superb too.

He is our on form winger and a real try scorer. I think his spurs of individual brilliance will be very useful in the world cup.

Not taking a'thing away from Earls, but his form must be seen to translate to Test level before he's shoe-horned into the first XV. Trimble also has his performances this season to boast at Ulster, and rightly wore the 11 jersey against England. He has been an impressive winger. That said, I don't doubt Earls will try and reset the bar.

I'd consider Luke Fitz ahead of Trimble too.

Don't be saying things you can't take back, now! :lol:

As a Leinster season ticket holder, I've a horror reel of all his mistakes, in all facets of his game, imprinted on my young delicate mind. I think Fitzgerland's potential still remains in the corridors of Blackrock College. Meanwhile, Trimble deals in performances, and has shown a commendable improvement in his defense.

I don't know exactly what ticket sales have been like for the warm up matches but from what I have heard they have not been too good.

Last I saw, neither was a sell-out, but the English match was down to cheap corner seats. I don't see why it won't sell-out. I've an option to travel to the French match. Oh, and Connacht in the UCD Bowl, as it's only a hop-and-a-skip away.

Guernsey, eh? Ah, I'd forgive you some absenteeism, I guess...

 

[munstermuffin]

Staph you contradict yourself because you say Earls has to prove it on the test scene. He was argubally Irelands best back for 6 Nations in some peoples eyes and if not then only Bowe was ahead of him. And well has been in the starting XV on a very regular basis.
Earls and Luke Fitz are Lions and while I agree that what happens in the past is irrelevant it just shows that both are excellent players.

Lets not forget trimble has had alot of chances in green and played well in 2/3 games. And you say it all about translating form to Test level well i'd argue that is a fair point but it is most relevant to Trimble as he cant seem to do that.
As for him playing against England - Let's not forget he only got the jersey because Keith had to move to 15 (and was Irelands best back that day).
Luke Fitz was only dropped because his form went down because he was thrown in at 15 and things didn't go his way but he is a very capable winger and his last 2/3 games in the season for Leinster showed he is a winger.

 

[coonor]

Last I saw, neither was a sell-out, but the English match was down to cheap corner seats. I don't see why it won't sell-out. I've an option to travel to the French match. Oh, and Connacht in the UCD Bowl, as it's only a hop-and-a-skip away.

Guernsey, eh? Ah, I'd forgive you some absenteeism, I guess...

The trouble I have to go to to get tickets, flights and accommodation considering there are no direct flights to Ireland from Guernsey and having to try and do this without taking much time off work and school isn't easy

I now plan to go to the Leinster v Munster match but I was going to go to the England match however I would only be just back from holiday

 

[staph.glorious]

Staph you contradict yourself because you say Earls has to prove it on the test scene. He was argubally Irelands best back for 6 Nations in some peoples eyes and if not then only Bowe was ahead of him. And well has been in the starting XV on a very regular basis.
Earls and Luke Fitz are Lions and while I agree that what happens in the past is irrelevant it just shows that both are excellent players.

Lets not forget trimble has had alot of chances in green and played well in 2/3 games. And you say it all about translating form to Test level well i'd argue that is a fair point but it is most relevant to Trimble as he cant seem to do that.
As for him playing against England - Let's not forget he only got the jersey because Keith had to move to 15 (and was Irelands best back that day).
Luke Fitz was only dropped because his form went down because he was thrown in at 15 and things didn't go his way but he is a very capable winger and his last 2/3 games in the season for Leinster showed he is a winger.

I got that completely wrong, no excuses. You're right, Earls played very well. I'd had him as my stand-out, as do you. Cheers for taking me up on it!

Was Fitzgerald even dropped for the final game? I thought it was a somewhat injury-enforced decision. Whether or not it was the positional change at Leinster from Day 1 of last season, he has been poor to terrible wherever he has appeared, and I have not seen enough improvement from him. Although I do agree that his best position is as a winger. In fact, you could nearly mark him now as a specialist winger. But he has not been a good winger this season, even at its climax, and his positioning has been dog-awful. And in that way does he pale to Trimble, who has played one position to a very good standard all year. On every other point you raise, Trimble and Fitzgerald are an equal. (I don't feel the latter's tenure as a B&I Lion bears any significance, unlike those seasoned veterans who played years of Tests for their country before reaching a pinnacle in the much-admired red jersey). You sell Trimble short for Ireland as much as you hike up Fitzgerald's value. It's a close-run contest, for sure, but Trimble eases it now with a season's worth of strong performances.

 

[munstermuffin]

Well as I said Fitz had a poor season last year and was awful. But he has only had 1 bad spell in green at 15. Trimble has had alot of chances on the wing. I also agree the Lions issue doesn't have a bearing on this and agree they are on a equal level but I wasn't hiking up Fitz just pointing out that his "bad patch" in an Ireland jersey came when he was at 15 not on the wing and well he was dropped for that English game.

 

[irelandfan123]

Gareth Steenson for Exeter is a good fly-half , from Ulster aswell I would test him out in the future before England gets him.
He can also kick goals and is a decent playmaker.
The lack of international game time and the fact that he doesnt play for an Irish team, is the only reason I could think of that Kidney doesnt pick him but he should look into it.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Gareth Steenson for Exeter is a good fly-half , from Ulster aswell I would test him out in the future before England gets him.
He can also kick goals and is a decent playmaker.
The lack of international game time and the fact that he doesnt play for an Irish team, is the only reason I could think of that Kidney doesnt pick him but he should look into it.

They can have him as far as I'm concerned. He's not as good as any of the current top 4 Irish outhalf contenders so if England need him for some reason they can have him. He's very limited in attack and is a poor tackler. Not a Heineken Cup standard player, let alone fit for the international stage.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Nah, you're alright, you can keep him
Older than Flood with none of the experience, much better players coming up from age-grade etc.



iHumph for Ireland, I say