Ireland vs France - 20/08/2011 - RWC Warm Up

[coonor]

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/newsroom/8298.php

Jennings comes into the side in place of David Wallace, who picked up a slight hamstring strain during the week and has been stood down from the team as a precaution. It is expected that Wallace will be available for selection for next week's game against England.

 

[DonBilly]

Looking forward to watch Poux playing tomorrow (prop). He had a stunning performance last saturday, he completely destroyed his opposite prop in scrummaging. I knew he was a good Top 14 prop, but he proved he can played at test level.

Well didn't he already show that at the previous RWC?

 

[Conal]

Well didn't he already show that at the previous RWC?

i was under the impression poux had been around for a while???

 

[Aout]

According to Wikipedia he had 24 selections with France. But he was never a first choice for Lievremont.

Also I've watched the game once again yesterday, and I wonder what would have happened if Mermoz didn't get injured. Basically we had 30mn of superb rugby, till Trinh Duc moved to the center because of Maxime Mermoz injury. I really wonder if we would have been able to play 80 minutes of this rugby. It was a pleasure for the eyes.

 

[Aout]

Well didn't he already show that at the previous RWC?

That was long time ago !

 

[ZeFrenchy]

He has 29 caps, though only 12 starts. His first cap was in 2001 and was the first choice tighthead in RWC 2003 after De Villier's injury, and then played most of his games from the bench. I don't really rate him, I'd rather have Marconnet.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Raphael Lakafia has had to pull out of the match with a hamstring injury,
He's replaced by Thierry Dusautoir

 

[big ginger 8]

According to Wikipedia he had 24 selections with France. But he was never a first choice for Lievremont.

Also I've watched the game once again yesterday, and I wonder what would have happened if Mermoz didn't get injured. Basically we had 30mn of superb rugby, till Trinh Duc moved to the center because of Maxime Mermoz injury. I really wonder if we would have been able to play 80 minutes of this rugby. It was a pleasure for the eyes.

Widely excepted that only once in a blue moon (usually W.C. semi's) do France manage to keep a good (or bad) performance for 80 minutes.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Great to see Jenno in there. It's been said a lot, but we could do with bringing a proper 7 with us to New Zealand. Considering that O'Brien and Heaslip can cover 8 well enough and Wallace can play anywhere across the back row, I'd probably have him on the bench against Australia (barring Stephen Ferris actually being fit for once).

That said, Jennings has never shone massively on the international stage. Hopefully with the two other Leinster boys along side him he can show his worth. They make up the best club backrow in Europe, hopefully they can transfer that level of understanding to this weekend's game.

 

[jh95leinster]

It is great to see Jennings starting. I think we should bring him to nz because he's a different type of player to any of the other back rows.

 

[coonor]

Great opportunity for Jenno and although I would never wish an injury upon anyone, in this case however it gives Jenno one last chance to really impress and earn the WC place that he deserves.

 

[big ginger 8]

Cullen has said Kidney's been doing the rounds suggesting the majority of players know their faith.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Rumoured squad on LF.com:

Backs (14):
FB: F. Jones; R. Kearney
W: T. Bowe; L. Fitzgerald; A. Trimble
C: G. D'Arcy; K. Earls; B'ODriscoll; P. Wallace
OH: R. O'Gara; J. Sexton
SH: C. Murray; T. O'Leary; E. Reddan

Forwards (16):
P: T. Buckley; J. Hayes; C. Healy; M. Ross
H: R. Best; S. Cronin; J. Flannery
L: L. Cullen; D. O'Callaghan; P. O'Connell
BR: S. Ferris*; J. Heaslip; D. Leamy; S. O'Brien; Donncha Ryan; D. Wallace*

*Will be replaced by S. Jennings if failing to recover from injury

Don't know if it's true or not but going with Buckle and Hayes ahead of Court seems unlikely.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Based on Tony Buckley's failures at both loosehead and tighthead over recent weeks the idea of him travelling ahead of Tom \COurt is a bit farcical.

I've probably made it clear enough over the past few weeks, but I think Kev McLaughlin's treatment at the hands of the Irish management has been shoddy at best. Whereas Donnacha Ryan got starts against both France and Scotland, Locky has had to settle for a dirt tracker game against Connacht and 20 minutes against the Scots. Hardly fair for two players who are supposed to shooting out for one position.

The same could probably be said for Jamie Hagan and Dan Tuohy. Their claims would be a bit less established imo.

 

[big ginger 8]

Watching Hagan yesterday it's a farce that he's not at least in the squad.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I too dislike Buckle as a player. If I'm to play devil's advocate, I can understand why he might go to New Zealand. He's not going to start against Oz or Italy because he can't scrummage but his effectiveness around the field could make him a solid option, or at least better option, than Tom Court against the USA and Russia. Court's versatility is the only reason he should go because he's not a good scrummager at tighthead and he's anonymous around the field. For what it's worth, the four props who should go to New Zealand in my opinion are Healy, Ross, Hagan and Horan. I dislike Horan but he's playing pretty well.

McLaughlin won't go because he's not good enough. I think he'll be usurped by Ruddock and possibly Ryan for Leinster this season. He's a decent backrow who can cover second row rather than a decent second row who can cover backrow like Donnacha Ryan. Ireland need a second row who can play backrow in an emergency.

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

30 players to be selected on 32 pretending after 1 month of preparation. If you consider that the choice as great chances to be made in the front row, and that many of the questions won't have their answer in this match (e.g Servat will be fit enough next month without international test), don't expect this team to play 100% today, moreover as some position (centers) don't have strong spares...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

POC needs to stop shaving his hair to the skin - he looks like one of the zombies/creatures from I Am Legend
Especially with his ginger/see-thru eyebrowns/eyelashes

 

[Feicarsinn]

There must be someone out there who can tackle our Seanie. Actually, maybe not.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Good finish from Cian-o there. Looking good all around the park at the minute.