Ireland v South Africa

[sexton4ireland]

Not sure solid for the most part cuts it at international level, it doesnt really in big heineken cup games. I think replacing BOD is a bridge to be crossed when we come to it. There are plenty of potential candidatesas as well as earls considering the cave/whitten battle at ulster as well as young spence coming through, mcfadden deputising brilliantly when called upon at leinster, but fitzgerald also potentially being looked at for thast position, as he tends to fill in the big games and then theyres the option of moving a star in and putting bowe 13 as hes often played with pomp for the spreys and freeing up an extra wing spot for say.... earls?

 

[munstermuffin]

Earls is capable of doing a job at centre and had no problem when at Twickenham and BOD went off.
He is a talented player and well fair enough if you think he is better on wing but to say he is out of his depht at 13 is nonsense. Toulon didn't actually find gaps vs Munster until Wilkinson came on and well he'd have found those gaps even against BOD but for majority of match it was that big centre running at Warwick

 

[Sam Owen]

I see this game as being one of the big games of the Autumn internationals. I look forward to this one.

 

[coonor]

I think Earls has to be at least tested this autumn at 13, this is one of the points of these friendlys, we need to work out our best option for a solid and sparky backline. I think it's great that every back in contention is really starting to show some good form. I think there was some holes in the munster defence but then again toulon have some strong runners. Earls needs experience and he will develop as a player but we need to consider all options and see which one is the best for the type of game we want to play. Sometimes the question isn't who is the best player but who is more suitable to the style of the play both we and the opponents want to play.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Earls is capable of doing a job at centre and had no problem when at Twickenham and BOD went off.

Watch the game again. Immediately after O'Driscoll went off, England had a lineout on the right hand side of the pitch around halfway. They shifted the ball left, exploited Earls' poor positioning and nearly scored in the corner.

Look, nobody is saying Earls is a bad player or a poor tackler. He's a decent tackler and is rarely if ever beaten one on one. What he isn't up to speed on is his defensive positioning at outside centre. He can be caught a couple of metres out of place creating a dog leg in defence which is often exploited. Improving this aspect will come with time but he's not there yet. A run of games at outside centre for Munster will help him no end. At the moment he's an able deputy to Brian O'Driscoll but he's doesn't have the Leinster player's all round game.

 

[munstermuffin]

I agree there is room for improvement. But he will gain that with matches at 13. But on English game to be fair most players would be bit distracted after moving spots.
But Earls is a natural 13 and give him time I guarantee he will ease the loss of BOD when the time is eventually right

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

But Earls is a natural 13 and give him time I guarantee he will ease the loss of BOD when the time is eventually right

I can't argue with that. Earls has the raw materials to become a special player.

 

[munstermuffin]

But snoop I see Earls day in day out and one thing I will say is he knows he isn't guaranteed to inherit it and has to work his butt off constantly to do deeds.
I think Earls and Luke Fitz have potential to be a world class partnership.
Luke Fitz is another who has all the attributes for a great centre and I'd put him at 12 because he is a physical presense

 

[Dizzy]

Well put it this way,.. when Ireland play New Zealand... I don't think they're going to put Earls up against us... I could almost bet my life that BOD will be named simply because he's better...

 

[gingergenius]

Should be a close one. Neither side have anything to be proud of in 2010. South Africa are far more talented on paper, but also more raw. There's a lot of new faces in that squad.

The only thing I'm predicting is that Ireland's scrum will go backwards.

 

[durbutter]

If Ross and Court start i would disagree. But that'll never happen.

 

[munstermuffin]

I agree BOD will start I was on about after World Cup.
Also how can people say Court and Ross should start. Healy is a decent player who I think is still developing and needs to be starting. And Buckley is in need of the experience and he is probably the in form prop out of them all

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Court and Ross are a stronger scrummaging pair than Healy and Buckley. I suspect that's why some as suggesting they start. I can see the logic behind it since SA will target Ireland's scrum but Healy and Buckley offer so much more in open play. It's a nice problem for Declan Kidney to have.

 

[lynam1104]

How bout stat Healy and Ross or Court and Buckley? Depending on witch ever side of the SA scrum is stronger.

 

[munstermuffin]

I agree Ross is stronger scrummager but the power of Buckley and what he can bring can't be ignored. I also think he the player more on form.

 

[durbutter]

I agree Ross is stronger scrummager but the power of Buckley and what he can bring can't be ignored. I also think he the player more on form.

There's not much between Ross and Buckley or Court and Healy. Its not that outlandish to suggest the better scrummagers should start mm. they're both on form. But Buckley will be first choice because Deco has shown so much faith in Buckley of the years he's not gonna drop him when he's playing well.

It might be argued that we need the ball carrying of Healy and Buckley, which is the strength of both. It prefer a stable or even offensive scrum. That release or great backrow and backs. IMO we loot the most threatening off first phase ball so why not play to our strengths and opt for a strong set piece

These days its not unusual to rotate the front row after 50-60 mins so its great to have potentially a brand new top quality FR on the bench.

Still its a nice problem to have.

 

[lynam1104]

We have been F'ed in the scrum for so long depending on two bad props so yea it is a nice problem. I also think this is the first time we have had depth in many position the only exception would have to be 13, we don't have definite back up yet in Erals but he can do and time in 13 for Munster can only do him good.

 

[munstermuffin]

13 we have BOD Earls Bowe Johne Murphy and Luke Fitz when he is drafted in. Sounds like depht to me

On Buckley though I just think his form on last tour and this season has him cemented for 3 jersey.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Ture, Buckley is a shoe in for the 3 shirt. Declan Kidney didn't invest so much time and effort into developing him only to give the shirt to Mike Ross based on 6 or 7 strong performances. The good news is that if Buckley goes backwards in the scrum, Mike Ross will do a much better job steadying the ship as a replacement than John Hayes.

Does anybody know if there'll be 22 or 23 man squads this November? If it's just 22 man squads, I suspect Tm Courts versatility will give him the substitute prop role ahead of Mike Ross

 

[munstermuffin]

In fairness to Buckley though his scrummaging has improved massively. Also I think Buckley has done nothing wrong to loose jersey but I wouldn't be surprised if John Hayes gets a start vs Springboks