Ireland's Guinness Series Squad

[Feicarsinn]

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.

Note that in my post I actually said that I'm quite fond of Zebo. I think he's got the potential to be the most potent wing in the country and have advocated the same back line as you earlier in the thread. A full back he ain't however.

With regard to Morris, I'd rather have a player who's played full back in the Heineken Cup than someone with zero experience in that position line out against South Africa.

 

[Peat]

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.

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

This.

 

[Jockstap]

Ok considering injuries here's what I'd go with

15 Felix Jones
14 Tommy Bowe
13 Darren Cave
12 Gordon D'Arcy
11 Simon Zebo
10 Jonathan Sexton
9 Eoin Reddan
8 Jamie Heaslip
7 Chris Henry
6 Peter O'Mahony
5 Iain Henderson
4 Donncha Ryan
3 Mike Ross
2 Richardt Strauss
1 Tom Court

16 Sean Cronin
17 David Kilcoyne
18 Donnacha O'Callaghan
19 Er, Shane Jennings
20 Conor Murray
21 Paddy Jackson
22 Andrew Trimble

We is gonna get boned.

 

[Peat]

If none of you have seen, strong rumours put the Ireland team something like this

Zebo; Bowe, Earls, Darcy, Trimble; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Strauss, Ross, POC, Ryan, POM, Henry, Heaslip. Henderson, Bent and Kilcoyne on the bench.

 

[Conal]

If none of you have seen, strong rumours put the Ireland team something like this

Zebo; Bowe, Earls, Darcy, Trimble; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Strauss, Ross, POC, Ryan, POM, Henry, Heaslip. Henderson, Bent and Kilcoyne on the bench.

id have reddan , earls at full back and cave on the pitch.
but should be fine have to support them anyways!

 

[Jockstap]

If none of you have seen, strong rumours put the Ireland team something like this

Zebo; Bowe, Earls, Darcy, Trimble; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Strauss, Ross, POC, Ryan, POM, Henry, Heaslip. Henderson, Bent and Kilcoyne on the bench.

Source? I'd be happy enough with that team all things considered. Zebo at fb is an interesting choice, could either be a revelation or well you know.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Front row is good, second row is good, back row is a bit meh, half backs are fine (our 10 in particular is fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnneeee), centres are grand, particularly as both seem to be playing, wings are grand, full back is odd.

 

[Jockstap]

Is that a tinge of red I see in young hendo's hair, could he be the second coming. Teach you I will young padawan.

 

[Feicarsinn]

See that look? It's "Who's this moron? I'm better than this gombeen. Feckin' spoofer, trying to tell me what to do. Lions captain me arse."


The future is now Paulie.

 

[Jockstap]

His winkie is feckin massive!!

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

O'Connell & Healy should be fit for the game. Thank ****.

 

[coonor]

O'Connell & Healy should be fit for the game. Thank ****.

Good news!

Healy will be pivotal in this match. Alot of the carrying work will fall on him and Strauss. Ross has been pretty good this season, and has carried alot aswell. The front row will be where the game is won and lost!

 

[Peat]

Source? I'd be happy enough with that team all things considered. Zebo at fb is an interesting choice, could either be a revelation or well you know.

Trusted sources on planet rugby and MF, apparently.

Is that a tinge of red I see in young hendo's hair, could he be the second coming. Teach you I will young padawan.

He's the new Willie John McBride - or to put in shortened form, the NWJMB

 

[Feicarsinn]

I'm very happy that we're investing in Henderson now. I fully believe that he, JJ Hanrahan, Luke McGrath and thingy at tighthead from the 20's will all be vital parts of the Irish set up come 2015. It's excellent that we have such great potential emerging in 4 positions that we desperately need filled over the next 2 seasons or so.

 

[Irishflanker]

O'Connell is now out for the SA game, his back seems to be playing up: http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/oconnell-ruled-out-of-south-africa-game-573363.html

 

[irelandfan123]

O'Connell is now out for the SA game, his back seems to be playing up: http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/oconnell-ruled-out-of-south-africa-game-573363.html

well **** me and call me ***ty winkle

 

[big ginger 8]

I'm very happy that we're investing in Henderson now. I fully believe that he, JJ Hanrahan, Luke McGrath and thingy at tighthead from the 20's will all be vital parts of the Irish set up come 2015. It's excellent that we have such great potential emerging in 4 positions that we desperately need filled over the next 2 seasons or so.

Tadgh Furlong.

O'Connell is now out for the SA game, his back seems to be playing up: http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/oconnell-ruled-out-of-south-africa-game-573363.html

Ah **** it that takes away a lot of optimism. Presumably it'll be Tuohy Ryan which was good enough against N.Z. still big loss.

Sexton, Ryan or Heaslip to captain? I'd pick Heaslip thrives on the responsibility.

 

[Feicarsinn]

DOC is the form second row in the country. Given our current injuries woes in the pack I'd be temped to give him the start. Late in the day yes, but is there anything to be said for Ryan at 6 with DOC and Tuohy in the second row? Suppose neither of those two are front jumpers, but with Heaslip and Ryan you have 4 reasonable line out options.

 

[big ginger 8]

DOC is the form second row in the country. Given our current injuries woes in the pack I'd be temped to give him the start. Late in the day yes, but is there anything to be said for Ryan at 6 with DOC and Tuohy in the second row? Suppose neither of those two are front jumpers, but with Heaslip and Ryan you have 4 reasonable line out options.

Do you mean both are front jumpers? I had though about it but I wouldn't if we played a lineout option at 6 I'd want it to be Henderson. Probably would still go for 6. PO'M 7. Henry 8. Heaslip

 

[Jockstap]

Just throw Henderson in ffs, Eben Etzebeth is only 4 fookin months older than him and only gives away 1kg in bulk, arrgh. Ryan to call the lineout and Hendo to pack down on the tightside and provide some power in the engine room. Ok I know I'm getting ahead of myself in the fact that he's never even played a pro12 game at lock for Ulster but that hasn't stopped Kidney throwing Zebo in at fb. Granted we haven't actually seen the team yet so Zebo at starting fb could be bs, hmm, I'm going to stop typing now.