Ireland Wolfhounds v England Saxons - 25/01/2013

[TRF_Olyy]

The Sportsground, Galway
19:45, 25/01/2013​

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Anyone know if this is being televised in Ireland? It doesn't appear to be on Sky.

 

[osullie6]

Anyone know if this is being televised in Ireland? It doesn't appear to be on Sky.

Yep. RTE 2.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Good stuff - I always like watching "A" side games as there's nothing to lose, and players are trying to prove themselves, so (weather permitting) it's always a good game of rugby.

 

[osullie6]

I wouldn't usually watch them but for once it seems like there's a few players named who have a genuine chance of making the Six Nations Squad, and it's a young, exciting looking Irish team so I'm planning on an evening in front of the TV for this one.

 

[coonor]

Michael Bent (Dublin University/Leinster/2)Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster/15)
Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster/3)
James Coughlan (Dolphin/Munster) *
Tom Court (Malone/Ulster/29)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster/23)
Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon/Ulster/2)
Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster/2)
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht) *
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) *
Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster/2)
David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster/2)
Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster) *
Paul Marshall (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) *
Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary's College/Leinster/5)
David McSharry (UCD/Connacht) *
Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) *
Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary's College/Leinster/1)
Mike Sherry (Garryowen/Munster) *
Lewis Stevenson (Malone/Ulster) *
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster/3)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster/49)
Damien Varley (Garryowen/Munster/2)
N.B. * Denotes uncapped player

My team from that would be:

1) Court
2) Sherry
3) Bent
4) Stevenson
5) Toner
6) Henderson
7) O'Donnell
8) Coughlan (Captain)
9) Marshall
10) Madigan
11) Fitzgerald
12) McSharry
13) Cave
14) Trimble
15) Henshaw

16) Varley
17) Kilcoyne
18) Fitzpatrick
19) Mclauglin
20) Ruddock
21) Boss
22) Jackson
23) Keatley

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

That looks a seriously good side.. I was impressed wth O'Donnell against Racing Metro, a think his strength and carrying could be key in the same way that O'Brien carrying is key for the 1st XV. The Saxons really better step up for this one, we'll need to be a lot better than some of last years performances..

 

[Peat]

England Saxons squad

Tom Biggs (Bath Rugby)
Kieran Brookes (Leicester Tigers)
Rob Buchanan (Harlequins)
Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers)
Elliot Daly (London Wasps)
Paul Doran Jones (Northampton Saints)
Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
Will Fraser (Saracens)
Joe Gray (Harlequins)
Jamie Gibson (London Irish)
George Lowe (Harlequins)
Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers)
Shaun Knight (Gloucester Rugby)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors)
George Robson (Harlequins)
Joe Simpson (London Wasps)
Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers)
Joel Tomkins (Saracens)
Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins)
Christian Wade (London Wasps)
Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby)

From that I'd pick

15. Abendanon 14. May 13. Lowe 12. Eastmond 11. Wade 10. Ford 9 Simpson; 1. Wood 2. Gray 3. Porno Dorm 4. Slater 5. Robson 6. Kruis 7. Fraser 8. Gibson
16. Buchanan 17. Mullan 18. Knight 19. Kitchener 20. Crane 21. Wigglesworth 22. JTH 23. Daly

You can more or less guarantee it won't happen that way mind... JTH really should be at 12 I guess, but I don't like him, and want all of May, Eastmond, Wade, Lowe and Daly to play a part, so... bleh.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

No arguments from me.
Though I think that Tomkins will start.

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[psychic duck]

England Saxons squad
Kieran Brookes (Leicester Tigers)

Brookes has not played a minute of Premiership/H Cup all season, and is currently loaned out to Doncaster who are bottom of the RFU Championship, yet gets in the England Saxons side.

Will be interesting to see how he goes, the England management must have seen something in him from a couple of years ago to select him. He's playing against the nation that wanted him to play for them as well.

 

[j'nuh]

Huh, there's a few guys missing eg Allen, Sharples, Vunipola? Are they training with England just in case of injuries?

From that list, I would go with what Peat said. (Although swap May and Wade's wings.)

 

[TRF_Olyy]

It is strange - select Thomas who has barely played at all in 18months and replace him with Brookes who is in the RFU. Brookes did look really good before his bad injury at the start of last season.

Edit: I know Vunipola is training with England, dunno about the other two. I don't think Sharples has, because Monye was called up.

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[monkeypigeon]

My team from that would be:

1) Court
2) Sherry
3) Bent
4) Stevenson
5) Toner
6) Henderson
7) O'Donnell
8) Coughlan (Captain)
9) Marshall
10) Madigan
11) Fitzgerald
12) McSharry
13) Cave
14) Trimble
15) Henshaw

16) Varley
17) Kilcoyne
18) Fitzpatrick
19) Mclauglin
20) Ruddock
21) Boss
22) Jackson
23) Keatley

Think I'd take Kilcoyne over Court, I'd like to see McLoughlin start in the second row (think he's a better bench option than Toner for the 6N). Maybe Ruddock for Coughlan...though in fairness I'm delighted for Coughlan anytime he wears a green jersey.

 

[j'nuh]

To be fair, taking Brookes makes more sense when you think about who is available. It's surprising how few potential options are starting/benching/getting some time in the Premiership. Bolded for those who are an option for England:

Quins - Johnston, Collier
Sarries - Stevens, Nieto, du Plessis
Tigs - Cole, Castro, Brookes
Wasps - Swainston, Taylor
Northampton - Mujati, PDJ,Mercey
Gloucester - Harden (injured), Knight
Exeter - Tui (qualifies soon), Mitchell
Bath - Wilson, Perenise, Palma-Newport
Worcester - Murray, Andress
Welsh - Ion, Tideswell
Irish - Aulika, Halavatau
Sale - Thomas, Cobilas

(Not a full list, just those who are either starting/benching at their club, or have decent potential, may have missed some.) Knight and PDJ were obvious choices. Because there's only 2 tightheads in the EPS, 3 are needed in the Saxons. Thomas was another obvious choice, but needed replacing after injury. With Mujati injured, taking Mercey and PDJ may not have been possible. Tideswell and du Plessis are a bit too old to be considered. It left a choice between Collier, Swainston, Palma-Newport and Brookes. I still don't get taking Brookes because he will finally get some time for Tigers now that Cole/Castro are out of the picture, but it kind of makes more sense when you think about it this way. It also highlights that we need more props to come through. At least we might see some new faces now that it's the 6N.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Cobilas is Moldovan, and is capped by them.
Ross Harrison has potential, imo.

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[Leonormous Boozer]

Good stuff - I always like watching "A" side games as there's nothing to lose, and players are trying to prove themselves, so (weather permitting) it's always a good game of rugby.

Ha, I don't think I've ever seen an 'a' match where it wasn't absolutely ******* rain. It must be something to do with the players being a bit depressed that they're not good enough to start that really brings the best out of the weather.

 

[j'nuh]

I know, the bolded ones = English, non-bolded eg Cobilas = foreign/retired.
And isn't Harrison a loosehead?

If I did a loosehead list, it would be a lot more impressive. We're lacking in tightheads, but seem more comfortable on the opposite side for no reason at all.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Ah, the bold didn't show up on my phone.
Also didn't realise it was a list of tightheads.

Ignore me!

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[Peat]

The Brookes thing - clearly they think he's got potential, I'd agree, I don't think its there yet, and feel Swainston can feel very hard done by.

 

[coonor]

Think I'd take Kilcoyne over Court, I'd like to see McLoughlin start in the second row (think he's a better bench option than Toner for the 6N). Maybe Ruddock for Coughlan...though in fairness I'm delighted for Coughlan anytime he wears a green jersey.

It was a tight call over Court and Kilcoyne, but I think its important to have a bit of experience in the pack. Also Court is fighting to regain the bench spot, I think he should be given this opportunity to confirm his position, while allowing Kilcoyne to come off the bench. I don't think McLaughlin has played enough at second row to consider him as an international option, I'd rather see Toner there. The only reason I'd give Coughlan the jersey, is he is an proper, out and out 8 and has leadership quality. Its no good just throwing young players with little experience into a match which has potential to be very disjointed.