Ireland's World Cup chances

[munstermuffin]

Yea but one off performances don't do justice and Wilson wasn't standout that day against Leamy who was only back after long injury and Leamy will get better too as he still recovering from latest injury last year.
Ashton scored but it was Foden who was the danger man and I'm not saying Ashton is poor or that time is against him but if English media hype him up too much it could kill him.

 

[Teh Mite]

I hear a lot of excuses with no substance there.

Let's put it this way - Richard Hill was [strike]probably[/strike] the best backrow player in the history of the game, but he just got on with it. He was never "noticed" and never "stood out". James Haskell however gets talked about much more, scores many more tries then Hill did and is "the stand-out". Haskell isn't fit to lace Hills boots.

I won't go quite so far to say Wilson is as good as Hill was, but...

 

[Peat]

I hear a lot of excuses with no substance there.

Let's put it this way - Richard Hill was [strike]probably[/strike] the best backrow player in the history of the game, but he just got on with it. He was never "noticed" and never "stood out". James Haskell however gets talked about much more, scores many more tries then Hill did and is "the stand-out". Haskell isn't fit to lace Hills boots.

I won't go quite so far to say Wilson is as good as Hill was, but...

Excellent post. There's a reason Wilson has had so few games off for Saints and Mallinder is no fool.

Also, pointing out (tongue in cheek) that Ashton scores all of Northampton's tries so no one else can isn't hype; its the simple reflection of 78 tries in 81 games.

 

[munstermuffin]

I'm not saying Ashton is poor just he isn't as good yet as he is been made out to be but he is young too and on the likes of Richard Hill etc. Yes he was a great player but he was judged on the International stage and if Wilson was that good etc he would at least make an IRFU training squad of 40.
Now I know Bob Casey is another but his age counts more against him but he was drafted in to a camp last year and Deccie will use players from abroad if needed

 

[Peat]

Just like you'd think Mike Ross and Jamie Hagan would make training squads in front of a 37 year old and you'd think the leading Irish try scorer in the Magners over the last 2 and a half seasons would make training squads?

 

[munstermuffin]

Well with the John Hayes issue I will agree with you although Mike Ross did make squads. On Fionn Carr, he isn't on fire at moment and while I agree he deserves a shot I think the fact he plays in 2nd tier of Europe and alot of his game time is against teams that send weakened teams to play Connacht in ML counts against him but that isn't saying he can't do it against top class opposition just he isn't getting the level required

 

[Peat]

Sure, you can find reasons for both, just like you can find reasons for Wilson not being there - but it is fair to say Kidney makes some interesting decisions at times, and definitley has his players he likes and players he doesn't like.

Which is why I'm not going to read too much into Wilson not making any training squads recently as a sign of his quality as all sorts of players do and don't. I'm going to go by what I see of him for Northampton. Where he's quality.

 

[MunsterMan]

I rate Wilson highly, I don't think he gets the credit he deserves, he is an excellent number 8. At the same time I think Leamy is capable of performances he isn't, performances where he makes you cringe with the impact of every carry and and every tackle like the rout of Perpignan away last year. (he would promptly get injured after a MoM display of course ) Leamy is ridiculously injury prone though, I'd say both of his shoulders and one of his knees have been surgically reconstructed by now?!?

I'd pick New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England and France to win the World Cup before Ireland. I do believe the squad is capable of beating anybody when they all click, that just has never happened yet :/ :L

 

[munstermuffin]

I'm not saying Wilson is a bad player and Peat as you say there could be reasons but I simply think Wilson isn't as good an option as Heaslip and Leamy.
And I guess we could both keep finding reasons but well it matter of opinion at end of it and while I disagree with yours I respect it

 

[Peat]

I'm not saying Wilson is a bad player and Peat as you say there could be reasons but I simply think Wilson isn't as good an option as Heaslip and Leamy.
And I guess we could both keep finding reasons but well it matter of opinion at end of it and while I disagree with yours I respect it

As good as Heaslip? No. As good as Leamy? Probably not, although a hell of a lot fitter!

As good as Henry or Muldoon - or Rhys Ruddock come to that... that there I think is the crux of Wilson's complaint. Where he is onto something. That's my point.

 

[munstermuffin]

I think Leamy is extremely fit and would argue that with stats.
On point of Wilson and you saying he is possibly Irelands 3rd choice 8 well it's debatable but I agree when you that far down ladder then the IRFU won't pay Northampton to use him unless necessary

 

[Peat]

Replace the word 'fitter' with 'less injury prone'. If you still have stats to argue against that fair enough, but I was under the impression he'd spent a lot of time on the touchlines recently.

 

[munstermuffin]

He is fit now and in great shape but can't argue Denis has had a rough time withinjury the past 3/4 seasons