Ireland vs England

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Jesus. Kidney continues to reward mediocrity with that selection.

Lots of positives for Leinster though. Fitzgerald and McFadden have an extra week to be re-programmed from the dross that Ireland are serving up and Cullen will be well rested after his 10 minutes across five caps in two months.

 

[Peat]

Its going to be really embarassing if we don't beat that.

 

[dangandan]

are we not picking guys due to guys like D'Arcy having been centrally contracted to the IRFU whereas guys like McFadden have not?

 

[Logorrhea]

are we not picking guys due to guys like D'Arcy having been centrally contracted to the IRFU whereas guys like McFadden have not?

I dont think Darcy has had a central contract for a year now. There is no official sources for this kind of information, no list of centrally contracted players, but thats been pretty common knowledge for the past year.

 

[dangandan]

i see. it was just a wild guess as i know nothing of this sort of thing. i'm just baffled by some of the selections being made recently.

 

[Logorrhea]

Dont try to make sense of the selections, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth;

 

[dangandan]

my kitchen's full of them! i guess the truth will always elude me

 

[monkeypigeon]

Can't beat some stats (because as you all know, stats are never deceptive).

Ulster in the Magners League

Player Games/Tries

Andre Trimble 9/2
Paddy Wallace 11/2
Craig Gilroy 7/7.

 

[munstermuffin]

In fairness I don't think you can compare Wallace to other 2 but Trimble why are you back

 

[monkeypigeon]

In fairness I don't think you can compare Wallace to other 2 but Trimble why are you back

Any chance to have a go at Paddy Wallace...I shall take it!

 

[Peat]

Your stats are off. Mincer's only scored 1 try. And Trimble's look a fair sight better if you include his Heineken tries.

Intrigued to see how many tries Earls and Fitzgerald have this season.

edit: Keith Earls has 3 in 11 (HC + ML combined), Luke Fitzgerald has a massive 0 in 10!

Conclusion: Andrew Trimble and Craig Gilroy should be Ireland's starting wing pair. Tommy Bowe at full-back. Fitzgerald is evidently **** and should never be picked again.

 

[monkeypigeon]

Your stats are off. Mincer's only scored 1 try. And Trimble's look a fair sight better if you include his Heineken tries.

Intrigued to see how many tries Earls and Fitzgerald have this season.

edit: Keith Earls has 3 in 11 (HC + ML combined), Luke Fitzgerald has a massive 0 in 10!

Conclusion: Andrew Trimble and Craig Gilroy should be Ireland's starting wing pair. Tommy Bowe at full-back. Fitzgerald is evidently **** and should never be picked again.

Right feen, Got Paddy's try count from the Ulster Rugby website and I picked only Magners league for the very purpose of making Trimble seem worse than he is. Christ, Fitzy has been fairly woeful. Not surprised by the Earls stat really, hard to get going when you have Mafi inside you...sweet jebus.

Edit: Can't diagree with your conclusions though...

 

[Peat]

I think you've been misled by the fact that in one match Paddy got a conversion and a penalty, he's had two five pointers but only one try.

 

[Peat]

I forgot McFadden! 5 in 18. Been playing to a high standard all season across the backline. Genuine ability. Looked good in international appearances.

So what do you say to that Mr. Kidney:

"He can hold the tackle bags"

I never thought I'd say this, but this 6 Nations has made me incredibly thankful for Johnson.

 

[munstermuffin]

Trimble has been around for a long time and has never looked good nor interested in the jersey. I don't mind giving Gilroy a chance but may I add that Magners League can be deceiving too ie if I had 10 tries playing Italian and weak welsh sides and you had4 playing strong Leinster and Munster teams does that mean I better. No. And as stated Earls doesn't get as much ball on wing but there plenty of factors you must consider apart from tries scored. If it were based on that Fionn Carr would have slot cemented

 

[WetAndCold]

Tindall's been ruled out.....which means: we get a new person on the bench! Yayy! (as long as it's not Armitage who wasn't very good imo) Banahan will be starting, but he might be swapped at the 60min mark. Does anyone know who'll be filling out the bench?

 

[Peat]

I do not understand you on Trimble. I just don't. No, he's not been wonderful recently, but absolutely zero of the Irish backs have been wonderful recently. Considering the pack in front of them, the choice of scrum-halves and Kidney's inability to adjust to the new ruleset, its hardly surprising, but there it is. He's been useful, he hasn't let Ireland down and he certainly doesn't look uncommitted. I mean, I know I'm not going to win this argument because its opinions and thats how it goes, but I feel the need to say it all again.

And if not him, who? Fitzgerald has been **** poor. Kearney injured, Geordan Murphy injured. Chuck Gavin Duffy in straight from injury? Johne Murphy? Chuck in Craig Gilroy already? Fergus McFadden is the only other genuine possibility and tbh he should be in the 22 - but so should Trimble.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Guess we'll find out tomorrow

From the EPS it's between: Armitage and Strettle (neither ideal)
From the Saxons you've got: Abendanon, Goode, Monye and Simpson-Daniel (JS-D would get my vote)

That's if Johnson is going for Wing/FB cover - if he wants someone to cover centre then there's Clarke, Barritt, Twelvetrees, Tuilagi, Waldouck, Hipkiss


Realistically it's going to be either Strettle or Armitage, probably more likely to the Armitage

 

[Peat]

Tindall's been ruled out.....which means: we get a new person on the bench! Yayy! (as long as it's not Armitage who wasn't very good imo) Banahan will be starting, but he might be swapped at the 60min mark. Does anyone know who'll be filling out the bench?

Nought's been said about this, you'd presume someone from the Saxons... I'd like Allen... I can see it being Armitage...

Big test. For all the carping (and I'm guilty as any here) he's been generally decent enough at 13. Big chance for him here.

edit: Olyy, should be a centre - none of the starting back 3 really cover centre, Banahan can cover back 3. Unless we go for centre/wing.

 

[WetAndCold]

Yeh , it'll probs be Armatige, shame though, would have liked to have seen some 'new blood'