Italy v Ireland

[munstermuffin]

I'm happy with team. I think with exception of 9 where Stringer probably should be I think it good. People may say 2 and 4 are bad calls but if DOC plays like he did when he came on against LI then he will be fine. If Best can get darts correct and perform in scrum then I'll accept him but let's hope we get win

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Ireland starting XV to play Italy

15. L Fitzgerald (Leinster)
14. F McFadden (Leinster)
13. B O'Driscoll (Leinster, captain)
12. G D'Arcy (Leinster)
11. K Earls (Munster)
10. J Sexton (Leinster)
9. T O'Leary (Munster)
8. S O'Brien (Leinster)
7. D Wallace (Munster)
6. D Leamy (Munster)
5. P O'Connell (Munster)
4. D O'Callaghan (Munster)
3. M Ross (Leinster)
2. R Best (Ulster)
1. C Healy (Leinster)

 

[King_D'Arcy]

C'mon [Strike]Leinster[/Strike] Ireland!!

 

[Logorrhea]

if DOC plays like he did when he came on against LI then he will be fine.

But what if he plays like he has been for the whole season apart from when he was dropped? Seriously, that selection is laughable. O'Leary shouldnt be anywhere near the Munster starting 15, never mind the Irish one (horses for courses me balls).

This myth of Leamy as a class 6 is two years old now. I'm just not buying it anymore.

Fitz needs more games. If you were considering him at 15, he should have played there for the Wolfhounds. Why prick around with Duffy if you have no intention of picking him.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Seriously, that selection is laughable.

You're reaching for reasons to dislike Kidney's selection.

I wouldn't have O'Leary in either but no scrum half is putting his hand up for selection. Munster and Leinster both rotate their scrumhalves- who's to say the Ireland coach won't do so too.

Who would you pick instead of Leamy? Jennings has had multiple chances and has never taken them, Ruddock isn't established at Leinster, McLaughlin is coming back from injury, Ryan is too raw, Ronan is ****, Coughlan is average, Henry is a squad player and Faloon is a 7.

Maybe Duffy was given a chance to stake his claim in the A game and didn't take the opportunity. Fitzgerald isn't showing great form but he's going to the World Cup as emergency 3rd string fullback. Duffy isn't. Kidney made the right call.

For what it's worth, I would have picked Cronin at hooker, Cullen instead of O'Callaghan and Stringer at scrum half with Boss benching.

 

[munstermuffin]

Snoop if those 3 changes were done I'd have no complaints and agree 100% with that post. Except maybe TOL point as I think he simply lacks confidence and form at moment and that why he struggles to get into munster team lately.

I think too Logorrhea you have to realize that Kidney is down to minimum.
At least Ross is rewarded for a good season as is McFadden

 

[Peat]

I heard Duffy did well in the A game... I'd have had him ahead of Wallace, Cronin ahead of Best and thats about it.

edit: And O'Leary out for a scrum-half whose game isn't in the shitter.

 

[lucky number 7]

For what it's worth, I would have picked Cronin at hooker, Cullen instead of O'Callaghan and Stringer at scrum half with Boss benching.

Thats the only three changes I would make but they seem to be Fairly obvious choices.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Has the bench been announced yet?
Will be interesting to see if Cullen is completely overlooked again, and who's in the 22 shirt

 

[munstermuffin]

Cullen on bench.
Cronin, Court, Cullen, Jennings, Reddan, ROG, Wallace

 

[Logorrhea]

Bench was selected. Cullen is there.

You're reaching for reasons to dislike Kidney's selection.

DOC, TOL, Best, and Leamy are all conservative selections over players in better form.

--> TOL isnt even Munster first choice.
--> The bench is simply weird with P Wallace included instead of back 3 cover.
--> Fitzgerald is a massive risk given his recent form.

You talk about Jennings been given opportunities. When exactly? And if thats the case why doesnt the same arguement apply to Leamy? or Buckley? He hasnt looked a decent backrow forward since he ****** up his shoulder yet he gets chance after chance. Why not give Dominic Ryan a shot, or Faloon. At least we may learn something.

I have every reason to dislike the selection. Its a poor selection. Just because we expected him to make this selection, doesnt make it OK. This is exactly the selection that EOS would have made, for the same reasons.

 

[munstermuffin]

Loggorhea you seem to forget Jennings has had chances in past but also he is not a 6. Domnic Ryan isn't experienced enough and given the circumstances it was to risky. Fallon also a 7.

As for Buckley - He isn't in 22
T.O'L is a fair argument and Wallace actually offers more options than Duffy

 

[Logorrhea]

Loggorhea you seem to forget Jennings has had chances in past but also he is not a 6.

I'm not saying Jennings should be an Irish shoe-in. I'm saying at this moment he is a far better option in the backrow then Leamy (as is Dom Ryan). Look at how Leinsters backrow has been performing of late (without Heaslip), and look at how Munsters has been performing. Explain to me the 2-1 split in Munster favour? It defies logic.

As for the 6. He doesnt have to be. Wallace plays 6, Jennings plays 7. Simples.

Domnic Ryan isn't experienced enough and given the circumstances it was to risky

People said the same about O'Brien in the AIs. If he Dominic Ryan was Australian he's be capped by now. If he was a Munster player he'd have to wait until he was 26 to be considered worth the risk in their magners league side. Dom Ryan has looked the business in pretty much every game so far.

As for Buckley - He isn't in 22

Through injury. He'll be back. You all know he'll be back. Hes only 29 hes got at least about 8 years of loyal service to give.

Wallace actually offers more options than Duffy

But they are options that arent required. O'Gara covers 10, McFadden covers 12,13 and 11. Who covers 15? Why do we need more cover for 10 and 12?

 

[Feicarsinn]

The good - Ross, Fergus, Seanie in. Excellent. No Hayes or Buckley is pretty good too.

The bad - DOC ahead of Leo, Best ahead of Cronin, Leamy ahead of Jenno. All very suspect.

The feckin' ridiculous - Tom O'Leary is shite. I'm offended by his selection.

The team as a whole: meh. Passable selection.

EDIT: Considering we have an off form fullback and an uncapped centre cum winger in the back three, surely someone like Gavin Duffy should have gotten the nod over Paddy Wallace?

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

If he Dominic Ryan was Australian he's be capped by now. If he was a Munster player he'd have to wait until he was 26 to be considered worth the risk in their magners league side. Dom Ryan has looked the business in pretty much every game so far.

Like the bit about Munster's selection policy 'cos it's true!

Do you mean Ireland don't promote players quickly enough by your "if Dominic Ryan was Australian he'd be capped by now" statement? If so, I disagree. Rhys Ruddock was capped at 19 and now just a couple of months after his 20th birthday, he's in the 6 Nations squad. Nevin Spence and Dominic Ryan have made a rapid transition to Ireland A level despite each being 20. Luke Fitzgerald and Keith Earls were used frequently by Kidney when they were 21. Cian Healy established himself as Ireland's loosehead weeks after he turned 22. When Jonny Sexton was rotting in the AIL for St Mary's, the Ireland coach picked him in his 6 Nations squad 2 years ago. Kidney will promote young players or off the radar players if they're good enough.

Wallace, Earls and D'arcy can all cover 15. All are going to the World Cup. Duffy won't so why pick the Connacht player?

Looking at the positives, it's great to see Mike Ross given his chance. At 31 he's hardly one for the future but if he holds up the Ireland scrum for the next yeat to 18 months, he'll have done a great job. That's all I ask. Time for Jamie Hagan then.

Fergus McFadden is on fire. I'm glad the coach has decided to pick him instead of going for the safe option of Duffy at fullback and Fitzgerald on the wing.

Sean O'Brien at 8 is a good call. He deserves his place at 8 in Heaslip's absence but I'd still like to see him given a couple of runs at 7 before the World Cup.

 

[Logorrhea]

Tom O'Leary is shite. I'm offended by his selection.

That sums up perfectly how I feel about that one too. Thanks for that.

Do you mean Ireland don't promote players quickly enough by your "if Dominic Ryan was Australian he'd be capped by now" statement?

Nahhh not really. I just used it to refute any suggestions that hes too young, or isnt ready, which is thrown out too readily by some.

I'm calming down a bit. By tomorrow I'll be able to discuss it with some degree of detachment.

 

[durbutter]

I REALLY hope the likes of SOB Ross McFadden don't have a bad day. Because then some people will have the stupid "erra they had their chance" BS. We should remember that the Italians always make us look shite, and cut slack accordingly.

Maybe even cut slack for the likes of Leamy and Wally.

Not DOC. Whatever about TOL(who's form is hard to gauge seeing as he's only back), DOC has been awful for Munster for a while now....

 

[coonor]

My changes would be:

Cronin in for Best
Cullen in for O'Callaghan
Stringer in for O'leary
Maybe Duffy in for Wallace

First of all Ross has been picked which is great as most people thought Buckley would play every match but at least he rewarded Ireland's on form tighthead. Great to see McFadden in as he has been inform and completes a young and energetic back three (that does not seem very conservative). O'Brien is on form and has been rewarded aswell. Although SOME of his selections are questionable they are may very well be justified. Best is in to add some experience to an untested front row and he should help in the scrum. DOC is in to try and recapture the partnership between himself and POC they will add to the lineout and provide some security in the pack. Leamy has in my opinion been one of Munster's most solid players this and in a position that is not his best. After coming back from a long term injury he has captained his team to a big lead at the top of the Magners League and his bulk will counter the Italians. TOL is the most craziest decision however O'Leary's pace and stength could cause the Italians trouble and his defence should help us defend around the fringes and in the forwards, Where Italy poses a threat. Although I would have Stringer starting and TOL on the Bench I think the game suits O'leary. Wallace is on the bench because he can cover fly half, Centre and fullback and can kick at goal if needed. He is also getting game time at Heineken Cup level rugby.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

How does O'Leary go from not even being in the main squad to the starting 9 in a week?
Stringer must've **** on Kidneys Range Rover bonnet or something

 

[Peat]

Mincer's played 15 once in the last two years or so to the best of my understanding. Which makes him one more game than D'Arcy to my understanding. I'm guessing D'Arcy's being used to cover wing which I just don't see him as being able to do these days. Based on World Cup, fine... ish. It is going to look silly if Fitzgerald has a mare/is injured in the first three minutes. Given that Fitzgerald has been poo recently... as has Kearney... and Geordan Murphy keeps getting injured... I can even see Gavin Duffy at the World Cup anyway!

No, really. I'm not just saying this to wind you up.

And with a pair of good hookers, throwing in the guy who's just recovered from a painful rib injury to get beaten up by the Italians seems a little harsh on both of them.