Ireland v South Africa

[munstermuffin]

Think we confident because:
- We are on form and well exclude Paul O'Connell and well maybe Fla and T. O'Leary we are at full strength and well SA are missing their fair share
- We are on good form while 2010 wont be a year for Springboks to write home about
- Ireland are at home and have a decent record recently vs South Africa

But it must be noted and remembered we are on a bit of a loosing streak ourselves so have to be some biy cautious and also Keith Earls passed a fitness test and will be on bench.

 

[profitius]

I don't know much about many of those SA players but I'm confident Ireland will win not just because of the teams selected but mainly because of the preparation for the match.

From an Irish point of view the danger will be the scrums and lineout. POC is a massive loss but the scrums have improved this season. I think Healy could be the weak link in the scrum though. Physically, the Irish pack should be fine. Healy, Buckley, Ferris, Wallace and Heaslip are all very good ball carriers with Cronin on the bench also.

The Irish backline all know each other well so the least we should expect is them making no mistakes. Gert Smal will have alot of inside knowledge on the Saffa players

 

[lynam1104]

Too bad that POC not there so he can translate the lineout calls...

 

[munstermuffin]

Lads I know POC is a loss but stats will show Munsters scrum functions at it's best when Micko plays there. I think it simply because he a bulkier player. Paulie is a big loss for our lineouts but I think DOC has grown so much in past 6 months and become more vocal and a leader.

I fancy us by 8-10 points

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I think Healy could be the weak link in the scrum though.

Healy has been an excellent scrummager this season. While it wouldn't be the strongest aspect of his game, nobody has gotten the better of him so far. What concerns me slightly about Healy is whether or not he's able to play 80 minutes. Leinster rotate him and Heinke van der Merwe and get both to put in huge shifts for 40-50 minutes per game. Basically the Leinster coach gets him to empty the tank in a short period. Ireland don't have that luxury.

 

[munstermuffin]

Have no fear of Healy or Mushy. They won't destroy SA scrum but will hold their own and oh the thoughts of Mushy and The Beast colliding in open play.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Have no fear of Healy or Mushy. They won't destroy SA scrum but will hold their own and oh the thoughts of Mushy and The Beast colliding in open play.

Beast is going to get demolished :lol:

 

[durbutter]

I dont see where all this confidence is coming from! We've the measure of their backs, but we'll be up against it in the forwards and set piece. As with all matches, the forwards will decide who wins this. I dont see where Ireland has the edge in the forwards so i'm very worried.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

It would be nice to see 3 Sharks up front, 2 Bull-locks, 3 Sharks at the back of the scrum and 2 Bulls as the half-combination. Can you imagine that hehe.

But seriously... I would go for Alberts, Stegman and Kankowski at the back of the scrum. Alberts has played an amazing season as did Kankowski, who has waited long enough for Spies to get replaced. With Stegman there is nothing to discuss. He should play.

The backline is what worries me. Aplon as fullback, Basson and Mvovo on the wing and Lambie next to Jacobs (Jacobs for the experience) as the centres. Hougaard has deserved his place as a scumhalf in the last 2 Tri Nations-matches. Morne Steyn should pick up his kicking because that is where he lacks lately (like in the Currie Cup semi final)

 

[Seaton]

Jean de Villiers passed a fitness test this morning, so he will definitely start, with Lambie on the bench

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Jean de Villiers passed a fitness test this morning, so he will definitely start, with Lambie on the bench

Brilliant. O'Driscoll made de Villiers his ***** every time they played.

 

[munstermuffin]

Ezequiel would Burger be deserving of a spot if fit. In fairness he isn't the same player he used to be

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Burger just showed me last Saturday he will never be the world class player he was expected to be. Wrong decision-taking time and time again. Why that guy is the WP-captain, I don't know.

 

[Sker]

Was hoping Lambie would start... Ah well.

 

[munstermuffin]

Burger once was a very good player but I think since just before Lions test he has been in constant decline and is living on reputation as opposed to performance.

 

[coonor]

The scrum will be Irelands weak point but its better than it was when ireland won last year. The lineout is abit uncertain at the moment as long as we can win our ball i'm happy. we have the physicallity and avery good ball carrying pack but we need to get the back on the ball as much as possible. I think Ireland really have the upper hand on the SA back lets get the ball out and be confidence in our attack. I think South Africa's best way of winning this is by cutting the link between the Irish forwards and backs and keeping the game tight. I would expect SA to kick the ball for territory and thats probably their best option since their backs our quite unprepared and out of form

 

[Sker]

Burger once was a very good player but I think since just before Lions test he has been in constant decline and is living on reputation as opposed to performance.

Very good, I agree completely. He was great in the world cup, then he became steadily worse as the years went on.

Just a pity we don't have Heinrich Brussouw, that man is brilliant.

I'm afraid that this will not go well, a new centre pairing with Zane Kirchner at 13 is bad enough... But you have to remember who is coaching our backline.. ******** Muir (one of THE worst coaches in my opinion)

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

The lineout is abit uncertain at the moment as long as we can win our ball i'm happy.

You're absolutely right. Rory Best was once an excellent lineout thrower but over the last couple of years he's regressed hugely in this regard. Perhaps it's injury related. Damien Varley and Sean Cronin aren't exactly wonderful in this area either but they're a damn sight better than the Ulsterman. What Best brings to the table are leadership, solid scrummaging and a decent workrate in the tight. By contrast Varley and Cronin are showponies- both very good players but their strengths lie in open play. I suspect Declan Kidney is preparing for a dog fight hence Best gets the call at 2.

 

[munstermuffin]

Snoop I disagree with that and I not saying this because he is from Munster but Varley has been excellent with darts all season except L. Irish game where he was not only player at fault. I honestly believe in terms of form Varley and Cronin are ahead of Best. Now I not saying that Best finished or that just his form hasn't been as good as Varley and well I haven't seen Connacht too much but when I have this season Cronin has done well. I think they should be 2 hookers in squad.

 

[coonor]

Since its the first match of the series and we have relatively unexperienced props I think playing Best will help to lead the front row and as far as i'm concerned cronin deserves his place on the bench.