RBS 6 Nations - Ireland vs Scotland - 10/03/2012, 17:00

[Feicarsinn]

Aviva Stadium, Dublin (10/03/2012 - 17:00)

Ref: Chris Pollock​

 

[big ginger 8]

Despite Scotland looking a lot stronger last week we need to rest people.

I'd go for:

1. Healy
2. Cronin
3. Court (Scotland have been poor in the scrum so far and Ross has played full 80 in the last 3)
4. Tuohy
5. Ryan
6. Ferris
7. O'Mahony
8. O'Brien
9. Reddan
10. O'Gara
11. Fitzgerald
12. McFadden
13. Earls
14. Trimble
15. Kearney

16. Best
17. Wilkinson
18. O'Connell
19. Heaslip
20. Marshall (presuming Murray's injured)
21. Sexton
22. Jones

Won't happen and probably a stupid team to pick with us needing the ranking points but it won't happen anyway it'll probably be same again without Murray. I wouldn't be completely surprised to see the RO'G Sexton axis or Bowe at 13 but I'm doubtful.

 

[killer08]

would like to see mcfadden at 12 for once, but we should prepare ourselves for the call up of TOL if murray is injured

 

[monkeypigeon]

Despite Scotland looking a lot stronger last week we need to rest people.

I'd go for:

1. Healy
2. Cronin
3. Court (Scotland have been poor in the scrum so far and Ross has played full 80 in the last 3)
4. Tuohy
5. Ryan
6. Ferris
7. O'Mahony
8. O'Brien
9. Reddan
10. O'Gara
11. Fitzgerald
12. McFadden
13. Earls
14. Trimble
15. Kearney

16. Best
17. Wilkinson
18. O'Connell
19. Heaslip
20. Marshall (presuming Murray's injured)
21. Sexton
22. Jones

Won't happen and probably a stupid team to pick with us needing the ranking points but it won't happen anyway it'll probably be same again without Murray. I wouldn't be completely surprised to see the RO'G Sexton axis or Bowe at 13 but I'm doubtful.

I forgot that the draw away from home against France will give us approx +1 ranking points. That pushes ahead of Argentina and withing touching distance of England.

would like to see mcfadden at 12 for once, but we should prepare ourselves for the call up of TOL if murray is injured

Umhmmm, especially considering D'Arcy can't be relied onto to pass a ball without dropping it. If Deccie was watching the Munster vs Dragons match on Friday he won't go near Box-kick O'Leary. At about 50 minutes I was considering making a compilation video to send to Perpiginan to show them the player they had signed...there was enough there in the 80 minutes to make a 2 minute video.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

The team will be the same as today's but with Reddan starting and Boss on the bench.

 

[Feicarsinn]

I wouldn't have any complaints with Boss coming in really. At the moment he's simply a better version of Murray. Now if Kidney actually has a game plan he wants to stick to he'd start with Boss, but I doubt that'll be the case. Either way, we'll probably have a better 9 this week, albeit for less than ideal reasons.

 

[Big Ewis]

This'll be interesting. Both teams have looked great vs France last two times out...
Scotland looked amazing on attack, very creative, very quick. And Ireland ...well I mean, you've seen it. A defence from Hell !
Good luck to both....(specially Ireland...)

 

[killer08]

ahhh crap, POC is out for rest of 6 nations with a knee injury and so is conor murray but they have called up TOL as cover...........
why couldnt it have been DOC...
who will captain now? either best, heaslip and sexton i think

 

[psychic duck]

Kidney is doing bad things to this Ireland team, seriously I watch Sexton for Leinster and he looks the best fly half in the 6N but then for Ireland he has disappointed compared to his Leinster form so far, and I blame Kidney

do you think Kidney will drop O'Callaghan before he gets to 100 caps? (currently at 83), or D'Arcy before he gets to 100 (currently at 66)

the Ireland team which should play in my opinion, Leinster are the best team in Europe at the minute and the team should reflect that

15. Kearney
14. Bowe
13. O'Malley (O'Driscoll when not injured, and just forget Earls at 13 even Munster are quitting that idea)
12. McFadden (not D'Arcy)
11. Earls/Trimble/Fitzgerald/Zebo (doesn't matter all good wingers)
10. Sexton
9. Reddan (not Murray, even when fit)
1. Healy
2. Best
3. Ross
4. Ryan
5. O'Connell
6. Ferris
7. O'Brien
8. Heaslip

16. Cronin
17. Court
18. Tuohy
19. O'Mahony
20. Boss (not Murray, even when fit)
21. O'Gara
22. Earls/Trimble/Fitzgerald/Zebo (doesn't matter all good wingers)

 

[Robert Prosser]

How do you feel you will cope with the loss of O'Connell and Murray, Thomas O'Leary and Mike McCarthy have been called up as replacements, will these play or just used as cover?

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

How do you feel you will cope with the loss of O'Connell and Murray, Thomas O'Leary and Mike McCarthy have been called up as replacements, will these play or just used as cover?

Two completely pointless players to bring in. Why does Kidney refuse to bring in young talented players in need of International experience, These two matches are perfect chances to do it as the Championship is gone. He should have picked Toner or Nagal for 2nd Row who might actually feature in the Ireland side for the future. And Paul Marshall should have been called in for scrum half, apart from Murray he's Irelands only current 9 who will make the World Cup in 2015 and personally think he's showing better potential than Conor Murray(Obviously) and O'Leary has already proven he's not up to International standard anymore.

What the team for Scotland should have been.

1. Healy
2. Best
3. Ross (Off around 55 minutes)
4. Ryan
5. Tuohy
6. Ferris
7. O'Mahony
8. O'Brien (Heaslip needs a dropping)
9. Marshall
10. Sexton
11. Earls (Trimble hasn't impressed and Earls is more effective as a winger)
12. McFadden
13. O'Malley
14. Bowe
15. Kearney

That could very realistically be a 2015 World Cup team.

 

[monkeypigeon]

Jaysus, you'd swear Murray had a stinker in this match too. Three bad passes i counted and none of the dreadfull kicking, slow ball (mostly) or daft decision making this time round. Not saying he was brilliant in this match, but the slamming he's getting after this match is a bit much...

 

[killer08]

yh think someone else should start ahead of trimble, great for ulster but never did anything WRONG for ireland just didnt do anything amazing or enough to keep out fitz or earls(when he moves back to the wing)

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Jaysus, you'd swear Murray had a stinker in this match too. Three bad passes i counted and none of the dreadfull kicking, slow ball (mostly) or daft decision making this time round. Not saying he was brilliant in this match, but the slamming he's getting after this match is a bit much...

I never said Murray was bad the obviously was more because I love wee Paul a wee bit too much.

 

[irelandfan123]

Hope its a good match, its the first international match for me and I can't be arsed to travel from the north coast to Dublin for a loss
Ahh well Hope Best is captain, man for the future even if he is oldish (in rugby years)

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Hope its a good match, its the first international match for me and I can't be arsed to travel from the north coast to Dublin for a loss
Ahh well Hope Best is captain, man for the future even if he is oldish (in rugby years)

Best should definitely be captain, there's no other option.

 

[munstermuffin]

Best is captain for these reasons:
- Guaranteed his place
- Is the next in line of Kidney's 4 leaders (BOD -> POC -> Best -> ROG)
- Has great experience and does a fine job with Ulster as captain

Marshall was never going to get call up as he is still finding his way in to 1st team at Ulster but surprised Tuohy has been overlooked for McCarthy.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Best is captain for these reasons:
- Guaranteed his place
- Is the next in line of Kidney's 4 leaders (BOD -> POC -> Best -> ROG)
- Has great experience and does a fine job with Ulster as captain

Marshall was never going to get call up as he is still finding his way in to 1st team at Ulster but surprised Tuohy has been overlooked for McCarthy.

Oh I had it in my mind that he was already in the squad.

 

[psychic duck]

Two completely pointless players to bring in. Why does Kidney refuse to bring in young talented players in need of International experience, These two matches are perfect chances to do it as the Championship is gone. He should have picked Toner or Nagal for 2nd Row who might actually feature in the Ireland side for the future. And Paul Marshall should have been called in for scrum half, apart from Murray he's Irelands only current 9 who will make the World Cup in 2015 and personally think he's showing better potential than Conor Murray(Obviously) and O'Leary has already proven he's not up to International standard anymore.

What the team for Scotland should have been.

1. Healy
2. Best
3. Ross (Off around 55 minutes)
4. Ryan
5. Tuohy
6. Ferris
7. O'Mahony
8. O'Brien (Heaslip needs a dropping)
9. Marshall
10. Sexton
11. Earls (Trimble hasn't impressed and Earls is more effective as a winger)
12. McFadden
13. O'Malley
14. Bowe
15. Kearney

That could very realistically be a 2015 World Cup team.

not with Kidney in charge it isn't

this will probably be more like his side

1. Healy
2. Flannery (returning as first choice after his 99th season ending injury)
3. Ross
4. O'Callaghan (by that time on 150 caps)
5. O'Connell
6. Ferris
7. O'Brien
8. Heaslip (Leamy on bench)
9. Murray (coach's pet)
10. Sexton (only to be dropped after a couple of games for O'Gara for the 99th time)
11. Trimble
12. D'Arcy (no matter what)
13. Earls (O'Malley just recently given debut in World Cup warm up match)
14. Bowe
15. Kearney

 

[munstermuffin]

not with Kidney in charge it isn't

this will probably be more like his side

1. Healy
2. Flannery (returning as first choice after his 99th season ending injury)
3. Ross
4. O'Callaghan (by that time on 150 caps)
5. O'Connell
6. Ferris
7. O'Brien
8. Heaslip (Leamy on bench)
9. Murray (coach's pet)
10. Sexton (only to be dropped after a couple of games for O'Gara for the 99th time)
11. Trimble
12. D'Arcy (no matter what)
13. Earls (O'Malley just recently given debut in World Cup warm up match)
14. Bowe
15. Kearney

Ha if you knew the truth behind all that I don't think you'd say Murray is Kidney's pet. More the opposite

And well I presume by your team selections that you really don't see Kidney's favourites and not.
It was Smal who pushed for Leamy to get an Irish contract and Kidney was reluctant. So I think he'd be considered overtaken by O'Mahony.
And well Sexton was only dropped by Kidney when it became last resort and restored him quickly so that point is pretty invalid too.
Earls was fine at 13 in Paris so think he deserves his spot and can't argue Kidney picking him there in the absense of BOD.
O'Callaghan call is probably influence by contract issues and if it a tight call an Irish contract will always win (although Donnacha Ryans new contract is Irish and will be announced in next few weeks)
Trimble has not been at his very best and cold be dropped but shouldn't as he hasn't been given much ball to impress.
D'arcy has been poor in past but this 6 Nations has been fine and his defensive effort very underrated, alternative is McFadden who didn't look great against Wales
Also if you had stats when both are fully fit Kidney has picked Best more than Fla and if both were 100% fit Fla is deemed the better player at time so at least if we use "slags" get them right