Ireland's Guinness Series Squad

[Feicarsinn]

I reckon way things are going that D'Arcy is getting the captaincy

Ah yes, Gordon 'Has never captained either Ireland or Leinster' would be the obvious choice.

Seriously though, I'd imagine that if Paulie doesn't make it through the captaincy will fall to one of DOC, Heaslip or Sexton. DOC by virtue of being one of the most experienced players in the squad and having captained the Lions, Heaslip by being essentially undroppable and having a perfect record when captaining Lienster (undefeated in 18 games or something), and Sexton by virtue of being boss.

 

[Feicarsinn]

So, where do we stand? The back row is fecked with Ferris and O'Brien out, O'Driscoll leaves a big gap at centre, Healy could be a huge loss in the front row, O'Connell mightn't be back and Best is obviously a loss. Worst case scenario that's 6 best players gone. ****. Well, I guess we'll have to soldier on in any case. Here's what I'd put out if we were missing all of the above:

Earls, Bowe, Cave, D'arcy, Zebo, Sexton, Reddan, Heaslip, Henry, O'Mahony, Ryan, Tuohy, Ross, Strauss, Court
Subs: Kilcoyne, Cronin, Bent, Henderson, McLaughlin, Marshall, Jackson, McFadden.

Here's what I imagine Kidney will pick:

Bowe, McFadden, Earls, D'arcy, Zebo, Sexton, Murray, Heaslip, O'Mahony, McLaughlin, Ryan, O'Callaghan, Ross, Strauss, Court
Subs: Kilcoyne, Cronin, Bent, Tuohy, Henry, Reddan, O'Gara, Trimble

To be fair they're much of a muchness, although I cringe at having Tommy at full back and Earls at centre.

 

[lucky number 7]

So excuse my french but in other words....we are ****ed.

That would be one of the weakest Irish sides I've seen in years and with the fact that the caliber of our back row has indeed pardon the pun "carried" our offence in recent years.

I'm incredibly ****ed off about this.. Hopefully Cave and Henderson get a craic of the whip ..because if they don't get one now then It could be a long time before that feckwanker Kidney feels pressured into doing it again..

Bring back Seanie plez xoxoxox

 

[Feicarsinn]

Oh, I forgot you can include Luke & Rob Kearney on the old injured list too. A team like Ireland can't afford to be without 8 starters, especially not ones of the calibre of these guys. 2 Lions captains, the last two ERC players of the year, a touring Lions 6, a capped Lions winger, the probable Lions loosehead and hooker. Shocking potential injury list really.

 

[coonor]

It almost coming to a point where international teams can never field they're strongest team. Depth is becoming the most important asset in international rugby.

Our problem is that our key players our injured. BOD is not only captain but also the natural leader of the team, Kearney is by far our best fullback and probably the best 15 in Europe (we can't afford to lose players on such good form), SOB and Ferris are our only to players that can compare to he physicality of SA, O'Connell is our natural pack leader and the centre of the engine room and Best is on the form of his life and although we can cover him, he has become a real dog in our pack.

 

[Feicarsinn]

It almost coming to a point where international teams can never field they're strongest team. Depth is becoming the most important asset in international rugby.

Our problem is that our key players our injured. BOD is not only captain but also the natural leader of the team, Kearney is by far our best fullback and probably the best 15 in Europe (we can't afford to lose players on such good form), SOB and Ferris are our only to players that can compare to he physicality of SA, O'Connell is our natural pack leader and the centre of the engine room and Best is on the form of his life and although we can cover him, he has become a real dog in our pack.

Let's not overdo it eh? We all know that Ferris, O'Driscoll and O'Connell are extremely injury prone. Same goes for Fitzgerald, while SOB is getting a problem he's needed looked at for a while sorted. The fact that a number of other key injuries happened to coincide with these events is unfortunate, but it doesn't necessarily mean that international rugby is getting too physical, as your post would seem to imply.

Fact is that we were very lucky on the injury front for an awful long time. Over the last 2 years or so we've been more unfortunate, although part of that must be down to the fact that some of our key players are getting on a bit. What it does raise into question is the benefits of the player welfare system. Personally I think players would be in better shape for having more regular game time as opposed to the stop-start nature of the average Irish international's season. A short intense season would be better than the protracted messy one we deal with now. If the IRFU were serious about player welfare they would dispense with end of year tests and allow the players a proper summer rest, which would be far more beneficial than playing once every two week as opposed to once every week.

Tom O'Leary did an interview that is kind of relevant to this a while back. Essentially he said that he hasn't felt as physically fit in years because he hasn't been getting consistent game time even as Munster number 1.

Link: http://thescore.thejournal.ie/tomas-oleary-london-irish-620965-Oct2012/

 

[big ginger 8]

One of my friends is Mick Kearney's nephew he was saying that according to Mick it's looking like:

- Court at loosehead. Kilcoyne and Bent on the bench.
- RO'G on the bench as expected Jackson and Marshall will start against Fiji.
- Earls at 13.
- Now the one that really annoys me Zebo at fullback.

We may as well forfeit now. One good sign is Henderson has really impressed in training and could actually end up being involved.

 

[Tony Manx]

RO'G on the bench.

You are joking?

 

[Feicarsinn]

One of my friends is Mick Kearney's nephew he was saying that according to Mick it's looking like:

- Court at loosehead. Kilcoyne and Bent on the bench.
- RO'G on the bench as expected Jackson and Marshall will start against Fiji.
- Earls at 13.
- Now the one that really annoys me Zebo at fullback.

We may as well forfeit now. One good sign is Henderson has really impressed in training and could actually end up being involved.

Baffling. I was about to say that I was going to give Kidney a free ticket this time round considering what is at his disposal, but this really takes the biscuit. Has Zebo every played full back? I can't remember it happening, and certainly not at any level higher than Celtic League. Meanwhile Niall Morris continues to start there in the Heineken Cup, Dave Kearney, a recognised fullback who he's capped before, will be playing there today for Leinster, and he's got Keith Earls in the squad who's proven himself to look pretty nifty at full back. Instead he's trying a defensively and aerially suspect winger there against the two sides in the world most likely to kick high ball at him. I actually quite like Zebo, but Kidders is doing him no favours if this is true.

Seriously how is this:

15) Zebo
13) Earls

better than this:

15) Earls
13) Cave










Oh hang on, 2 Munster boys in there. Makes sense now

 

[jcahill1]

When is SOB back? Thought he was back at some point in November?

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

When is SOB back? Thought he was back at some point in November?

I thought it wasn't until December

 

[Peat]

Shades of Johnson and Monye if that Zebo rumour's true...

 

[Conal]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rug...ck-as-jackson-gets-surprise-call-3277648.html

SIMON ZEBO has emerged as a contender to fill the Ireland full-back vacancy left by Rob Kearney 's back surgery.

the horror
OH GOD THE HORROR

 

[coonor]

Let's not overdo it eh? We all know that Ferris, O'Driscoll and O'Connell are extremely injury prone. Same goes for Fitzgerald, while SOB is getting a problem he's needed looked at for a while sorted. The fact that a number of other key injuries happened to coincide with these events is unfortunate, but it doesn't necessarily mean that international rugby is getting too physical, as your post would seem to imply.

Fact is that we were very lucky on the injury front for an awful long time. Over the last 2 years or so we've been more unfortunate, although part of that must be down to the fact that some of our key players are getting on a bit. What it does raise into question is the benefits of the player welfare system. Personally I think players would be in better shape for having more regular game time as opposed to the stop-start nature of the average Irish international's season. A short intense season would be better than the protracted messy one we deal with now. If the IRFU were serious about player welfare they would dispense with end of year tests and allow the players a proper summer rest, which would be far more beneficial than playing once every two week as opposed to once every week.

Tom O'Leary did an interview that is kind of relevant to this a while back. Essentially he said that he hasn't felt as physically fit in years because he hasn't been getting consistent game time even as Munster number 1.

Link: http://thescore.thejournal.ie/tomas-oleary-london-irish-620965-Oct2012/

I certainly don't think that's over doing it. It's a modern problem in the game. When was the last time Ireland could field their first choice team? For that matter, how often does any international team get to feild their best team?

Anyway back to the Ireland squad,

Kidney needs to pay more attention to combinations, it's far better to have Cave at 13 and Earls at 15, then Earls at 13 and Zebo at 15.

I may have been inclined to play Bowe at 15, Zebo at 11 and Earls at 13. Either way Zebo should not be at fullback.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I don't get the hate for Simon Zebo on this website. He has his faults, most notably his awareness of supporting players but he's got all the tools to be an excellent fullback. Think about it:

Good fielder of the ball: check
Good tackler: check
Excellent counter attacker: check
Strong support lines: check
Terrific boot: check

My preference would be for Keith Earls to be named at 15 with Darren Cave in the centre but I won't complain if Kidney chooses Simon Zebo at the back. Talk of picking Niall Morris is wide of the mark in my opinion. He's flaky at fullback but is an okay winger. Think of him as another Johne Murphy. My starting backline would be:

Earls, Bowe, Cave, D'arcy, Zebo, Sexton, Reddan

Rather than criticize the inept coach for flirting with starting Simon Zebo at fullback, I'll instead choose to criticize him for calling up Stephen Archer to the squad. Even Tony Buckle, John Andress and Ronan Loughney are preferable options.

 

[big ginger 8]

Because IMO he's not at all a good tackler or counter attacker. I hope he proves me wrong but I doubt it.

Of course Archer is a stupid decision but at least he won't play.

 

[coonor]

It seems like people have forgotten about Trimble, he's had a great start to the season. We're pretty stocked up on wingers and we have players with the skills for fullback. Unfortunately none of them are fully proven at this level.

 

[killer08]

and now ferris is gone, I wouldnt have released an injury prone player,

 

[Conal]

I don't get the hate for Simon Zebo on this website. He has his faults, most notably his awareness of supporting players but he's got all the tools to be an excellent fullback. Think about it:

Good fielder of the ball: check
Good tackler: check
Excellent counter attacker: check
Strong support lines: check
Terrific boot: check

correct me if im wrong but has he ever started a pro match at full back? he may have all the qualities to be a full back.
but to start a international game in a position im pretty sure he has never started in for munster seems daft.

at least bowe and earls have played there before, id think it should go to earls
but i stand to be proven wrong,

It seems like people have forgotten about Trimble, he's had a great start to the season. We're pretty stocked up on wingers and we have players with the skills for fullback. Unfortunately none of them are fully proven at this level.

trimble can offer steady wing cover, but i wouldnt consider him at full back, he is known as stone-hands by some

 

[irelandfan123]

Well D'Arcy has been doing interviews and press conferences so I think thats an early sign he is doing more than another player public relations wise. Thats why i think he will be captian, he is 32 and with ROG on the bench he is the most capped and experienced player