Ireland v Argentina

[Conal]

whats the state of fitzgeralds injury?

 

[munstermuffin]

Good post feic would agree with most of it but the scrummaging as you say is extra important these days and as you said that has to be our priority.

 

[coonor]

I agree. Ireland need a solid set piece because they are mainly a first phase attacking team. We have seen that Ireland have a good attacking threat and Defencinve unit and we score tries even though we have the minority of Possesion. Imagine what we could do with a solid set peice and alot of possesion. A stable set piece will give or backs so much space and we have seen that with ball in hand we can cut any defence apart.

 

[munstermuffin]

If Varley was given a go I think he is probably our best all around hooker. Ross is probably our best scrummager and Healy if tested with Varley and Ross I think might be ok as our front row with Court and Buckley on bench but Buckley and Healy to never be put together so if Ross got injured rotate both or use Court at TH

 

[MunsterMan]

Good post!

Ross put in a huge scrummaging display against the Ospreys didn't he? The messiah he is not. I'm liking the Healy and Buckley experiment, if DK can turn them into solid international scrummagers we could have the best frontrow in the world.

I'm very much in the Varley camp. His throwing is very good, not as good as Fla but better than all the rest, and he is at just about everything else than Jerry.

Court was excellent against NZ, a good option to have all the same

 

[durbutter]

I'd like to just post something a bit negative.

We have possibly 2 world class tight forwards. POC and Fla.

Cullen is also excellent.

Outside of that our best options are average on the world stage.

 

[munstermuffin]

No darbutter we have players that have excellent attributes and what we have to do is get the mix correct.

And lads just saying i know POC and Fla are worldclass on form but they haven't played in so long (putting in a decent run of games) and that is going to effect them. Seeing Paulie training it is clear he is a good bit off what he is capable of

 

[coonor]

I'd like to just post something a bit negative.

We have possibly 2 world class tight forwards. POC and Fla.

Cullen is also excellent.

Outside of that our best options are average on the world stage.

DOC is world class when on form (all lions are in my opion)

Cronin have potential to be world class

Healy is only 23 and has a churchill cup, Heineken cup and 13 caps (including wins against South Africa, England and Wales)

I agree with Muffin we need the correct combination depending on what team and style were playing. The problem this November was that we had injuries/bannings in the front five and we either had to pick unexperienced young players or old and declining ones. At the end of the day its about how someone perform on the day. We just have to pick the players with the potential and the ones most likely to play well. We need the players that will add most to the team. I'm sure once Kidney has selected his main front five they will grow fit into place.

 

[MunsterMan]

Might sound weird from a Munster fan but I find Flannery is overrated. He is the best thrower in the world, his other attributed aren't great. Playing as part of a dominant pack he can be devastating in the loose but when you are playing against someone like Leinster and your pack is taking a beating and you see him carrying the ball you say to yourself oh **** this could be a turnover. When Varley, Best or Cronin take it into contact you rarely fear a turnover.

Kidney will pick Fla as soon as he is available all the same, he is an excellent player, phenomenal depth in the position in Ireland which is nice

 

[munstermuffin]

Agreed with MunsterMan. While I think Jerry is a superb player I feel Varley is a better all round player. Lads I'd also say as crazy as this sounds, Rory Best has been around a long time but is poor at lineout, he reminds me of Bernard Jackman and simply Jackman never made it at international level because of his throwing.

Also people can say DOC is poor etc but if people actually study games and see his work off the ball then I'm sure the view would be different.

 

[coonor]

I think DOC is a great player. He plays a very tactical game. This autumn he was expected to take a lead in the pack and by doing this I think he let his personal play slip. Hopefully when O'Connell returns he can consetrate on his own game. Im my opinion POC and DOC are the second best lock partnership in the world after Matfield and Botha. We also have options in the second row with Toner, Ryan, Cullen, Touhy and if needed MOD. At hooker Best provides a good scrum and some experience, Cronin is one of the most dynamic hookers i've ever seen, Varley has a good throw and is a great at rucking and Flannery rarely ever misses a throw and connects well with POC and DOC. For me the tight five is all about retaining the ball so I would pick Varley with Cronin on the bench but it depends on how Flannery does on his return.

 

[Wally]

Argentina seem to have gone backwards since the world cup. Why?