Ireland v South Africa

[coonor]

I think Buckley should start against SA because he has definatly been on form for quite a while now. I think it's a tough decision between Healy and Court for tighthead (I'd loveto see ross play with buckley but can he or Buckley play loosehead well at international level?). I'd like to see Court start so that we have a stable scrum and therefore provide our imo more talented backs than SA with good ball. After 55-60 mins Healy to come on and as usual power his way through the defence and punch holes in the springbok line.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Buckley will never be a dominant scrummager but it is true to say that that aspect of his game has improved over the last 6 months. He's still under pressure more often than not but he tends not to be shunted too far backwards (unlike John Hayes). He won't face many tougher tests than South Africa so it's probably wise to see if he sinks or swims against the World Cup holders.

That's enough talking about the front row though. What I think is the most interesting call is who to pick at 6, 7 and 8. Heaslip and O'Brien are showing terrific form for Leinster, the Munster captaincy has added a string to Leamy's bow while Ferris is potentially world class and Wallace never takes a backward step (I'm discounting Muldoon from consideration). Declan Kidney has a tough decision to make. I'd go with Ferris at blindside, O'Brien at openside and Heaslip at 8. It would be extremely harsh on Wallace but I think Leamy's ability to play 6 or 8 equally well gives him the edge for a spot on the bench as an impact sub. I've said in the past that O'Brien is the second coming of Wallace and his time may have come.

A pack with that backrow and Healy and Buckley at prop (possibly Cronin at hooker too) is loaded with ball carriers who can attack around the fringes and thus free space for the outside backs.

 

[munstermuffin]

Snoop I agree O'Brien deserves shot but I find it hard to see Wallace been dropped from 7. And Leamy seems to be obvious selection for bench

 

[coonor]

Buckley will never be a dominant scrummager but it is true to say that that aspect of his game has improved over the last 6 months. He's still under pressure more often than not but he tends not to be shunted too far backwards (unlike John Hayes). He won't face many tougher tests than South Africa so it's probably wise to see if he sinks or swims against the World Cup holders.

That's enough talking about the front row though. What I think is the most interesting call is who to pick at 6, 7 and 8. Heaslip and O'Brien are showing terrific form for Leinster, the Munster captaincy has added a string to Leamy's bow while Ferris is potentially world class and Wallace never takes a backward step (I'm discounting Muldoon from consideration). Declan Kidney has a tough decision to make. I'd go with Ferris at blindside, O'Brien at openside and Heaslip at 8. It would be extremely harsh on Wallace but I think Leamy's ability to play 6 or 8 equally well gives him the edge for a spot on the bench as an impact sub. I've said in the past that O'Brien is the second coming of Wallace and his time may have come.

A pack with that backrow and Healy and Buckley at prop (possibly Cronin at hooker too) is loaded with ball carriers who can attack around the fringes and thus free space for the outside backs.

I agree with all of that. Wallace of course is a world class flanker but I definatly think O'brien will benefit more by starting this game and I think Leamy is really fired up and He needs to be given a chance on the bench to show what sort of impact player he is. Wallace would probably benefit from a little rest as he played a lot of games for us las season.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

What can't be discounted either is that Ireland are playing 4 games in 22 days. That's roughly similar to what they'll have to face during the World Cup. This November is a dry run of sorts for the New Zealand next September and October. I've no doubt that all 5 of the frontline backrowers will get at least 1 start and a bench appearance during the November tests. If O'Brien doesn't start the SA test, he'll still more than like see action against NZ, Samoa and Argentina

 

[munstermuffin]

I think Samoa will be like game in RDS last year and Argentina game will be where we break a few inexperienced guys in and mix that with se experience. The likes of O'Brien who need experience will get it in that game against a decent team.

Heard today also plan is ROG to start vs SA and Sexton vs NZ. Don't know how true it is but would be a typical Kidney call

 

[Dizzy]

Hold old is O'Gara by the way?.. He's been around for a long time hasn't he?

 

[Feicarsinn]

Hold old is O'Gara by the way?.. He's been around for a long time hasn't he?

33. He won't start with any luck though. I'd keep my on Sexton by the way if you haven't seen him before, he's a great, great 10.

 

[durbutter]

How ****** would we be if he gets injured again?! O'Gara never gets injured, but Sexy is out a fair bit, tis worrying.

 

[coonor]

I can see where Kidney is coming from by playing O'Gara becaue it's imprtant to keep him playing toplevel games. He is also on form and is even tackling quite well considering he is always targeted. O'Gara to play Argentina and Somoa Sexton to play New Zealand and South Africa

 

[munstermuffin]

O'Gara and Sexton will both get 1 big game each. ROG will get South Africa as Kidney feels this could be more a kicking game and well let Sexton have a crack at the All Blacks. I have a feeling if Stringer and Sexton get a go together it might be a blessing in disguise.

As said already it vital we keep O'Gara playing top-level games too as we have to keep both 10's with the feeling they're fighting for the spot to continue to bring the best out of them.

 

[TheBokke]

South Africa will have little preparation time for this game and there will be to many untested combinations. SA biggest weakness is the coaching staff who are clearly useless! Which international coaching team would have survived losing to two club sides and getting a spanking on every NH to date? Not to mention the abysmal Tri-Nations.

Ireland will win this comfortably by at least 15.

 

[munstermuffin]

Doubt we will win by 15 but do fancy us at home. Also I do think PDV is lucky to still be in a job but from the outside it seems like the South African Union are afraid of dismissing him for some reason. His player management is awful.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

A bunch of Springboks are playing the 30th in the Currie Cup final

Kankowski, du Plessis (x2), Beast, Hargreaves, Alberts, Lambie, Mvovo, Pietersen, Fourie, de Villiers, de Jongh, Aplon, Vermeulen and probably a bunch I forgot to mention are preparing for that match first

 

[Teh Mite]

The more time they spend with the clubs and away from P-Divvy, the better for them I guess. It'll only be less then a week which the Irish will be spending together before the test match too I'd imagine.

 

[munstermuffin]

Ireland assemble Monday so will have 2 weeks

 

[lynam1104]

Is FDP back for our sake i hope not though whats his face played very well in those lat few 3N games.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Is FDP back for our sake i hope not though whats his face played very well in those lat few 3N games.

No, du Preez is still in rehabilitation. Our biggest loss. Look at our success in 2007 and '09 and our failures in between; due to du Preez being there or not.

Other injuries: Jacque Fourie (with du Preez, essentially our 2 most influential backs), Andries Bekker, Heinrich Brussouw.

Withthose guys out we are forced to bring in newer guys and with the likes of Matfield and co being rested I fear we are going to be relying on too many new faces much in the same way we fielded a side with 11 changes in the final game against the B&I Lions. That said I am still excited to see the new blood coming through the ranks.

 

[profitius]

Doubt we will win by 15 but do fancy us at home. Also I do think PDV is lucky to still be in a job but from the outside it seems like the South African Union are afraid of dismissing him for some reason. His player management is awful.

Itz becauz he iz Black!

 

[profitius]

I think Ireland will win, just, but us Ireland fans are an optimistic bunch. We're always overrating our teams so who knows what score will be.