Mr. Schmidt's Wild Ride - Ireland 2015 6 Nations

[munstermuffin]

Henderson is a hell of an impact player to come into the second row, Paulie's successor imo.

While I agree. Any Ulster fan I meet seems to think he's a 6 and is being forced in to 2nd row by IRFU. that if it were left alone he would only be a 6.

 

[Conal]

While I agree. Any Ulster fan I meet seems to think he's a 6 and is being forced in to 2nd row by IRFU. that if it were left alone he would only be a 6.

i think he is a great at both but if he is POC's successor he needs to specialize

certainly he had more chances at 6 for ulster as since he hit the senior squad our 2nd row has been decent enough. while we lost ferris at 6.

he is flashier at 6 and is less noticeable in the row,

but only because the row's job in general is less flashy id love to see him become the engine room in the row for ulster and ireland

 

[The Jones Boy]

Assuming fitness...

McGrath for Healy, drop from the best LH in the world but not a huge one by any means.
Strauss or Cronin for Best, Strauss almost as consistent, Cronin offers more in the loose less at the breakdown.
Ross for Moore or vice vearsa, exactly the same tbh.
Second row takes a bit of a hit.
Murphy for PO'M or SO'B, similar to the LH spot.
Reddan for Murray, same again.
Madigan for Sexton, impact sub good off the bench, if Sexton gets injured we take a hit.
And we have plenty of depth in the outside backs.

We couldn't survive an injury to our halfbacks but apart from that we're ok.

Nice assessment.
We can now sit back and watch the drama unfold over the next 6-7 weeks, good luck.

 

[munstermuffin]

i think he is a great at both but if he is POC's successor he needs to specialize

certainly he had more chances at 6 for ulster as since he hit the senior squad our 2nd row has been decent enough. while we lost ferris at 6.

he is flashier at 6 and is less noticeable in the row,

but only because the row's job in general is less flashy id love to see him become the engine room in the row for ulster and ireland

Don't get me wrong I rate him high just that's the assessment I get from a lot of Ulster fans that want him left at 6. I think he can be definitely a star in either position.

 

[big ginger 8]

Don't get me wrong I rate him high just that's the assessment I get from a lot of Ulster fans that want him left at 6. I think he can be definitely a star in either position.

I think one of the big reasons so many Ulsterfans are adamant that he's a 6 can be found by looking at their backrow otherwise.

 

[Peat]

I think one of the big reasons so many Ulsterfans are adamant that he's a 6 can be found by looking at their backrow otherwise.

It's one of them. The other reason is that when he broke through he was just flat-out better in the back row.

I don't think that's true now that he's physically matured and no longer finds his explosive energy being so sapped by the donkey work. I reckon he's about 3%-5% better in the back row these days, and in the case of a player like Henderson, that still ends up as an international player. It doesn't seem to bother him playing blindside one week and lock the next week either, and I think Ireland will continue to use that sort of versatility from him until POC retires at least, so hopefully they won't object to us playing him at blindside - they can play him at 13 for all I care as long as he plays blindside for us.

I'm slowly settling to the idea that long term he's a lock. You won't see as many outrageous breaks from him there - but then you don't see as many since teams worked out who he was, what he could do, and hurled themselves at his ankles at every opportunity - but he is Ireland's best chance to get a lock with the athleticism and all pitch presence of Retallick/Whitelock. Ireland aren't short of talented locks, but I don't think they can turn that down.

 

[ruggabee]

When is the team named?

 

[big ginger 8]

When is the team named?

Presumably Thursday at noon.

 

[ruggabee]

Presumably Thursday at noon.

Cheers, very eager to see what midfield Joe goes with.

 

[munstermuffin]

Not from source but just rumours on net the team is
Kearney
Bowe
Henshaw
Payne
Zebo
Madigan
Murray
Heaslip
Murphy
POM
POC
Toner
Moore
Best
McGrath

Nothing regards bench but just have seen this on few sites

 

[Jockstap]

Not from source but just rumours on net the team is
Kearney
Bowe
Henshaw
Payne
Zebo
Madigan
Murray
Heaslip
Murphy
POM
POC
Toner
Moore
Best
McGrath

Nothing regards bench but just have seen this on few sites

Payne at 12, was this from the Times muff?

 

[munstermuffin]

Payne at 12, was this from the Times muff?

Sorry just threw it down. Think Payne was 13. Henshaw at 12

 

[munstermuffin]

Just to add dilemma ha my source has told me Keatley is at 10 and Heaslip is very doubtful and even if passed fit Schmidt is cautious as he hasn't trained with contact.
Jordi Murphy will be at 8 if he's out not POM.
Luke Fitz and Henshaw trained a lot together too which may indicate Luke will be on bench.

 

[bw245]

We've dropped to 4th in the rankings and England have gone up to third. Again putting more of the focus and attention on England, which I think Joe will want.