Spring Tour:New Zealand vs Ireland - 1st Test. (09/06/2012, 08:35 GMT)

[munstermuffin]

Tony Buckley was unstoppable that day

But Snoop if that is the team then I'd worry but at same time approve because it's simple.
Zebo, Earls at 13, McFadden, Fitzpatrick, Tuohy and O'Mahony along with whoever is on bench and is fringe can look good in a strong team like Leinster or even Munster and Ulster in Rabo or HEC but this is what we need throw these lads in at deep end and let them sink or swim.
I'd rather test these guys in 3 games and be hammered 50+ points in each game and learn than have heroic losses with same old heads and then come an injury crisis we be clueless

 

[psychic duck]

Tony Buckley was unstoppable that day

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/x-AGIbW7A40" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>.

 

[coonor]

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/x-AGIbW7A40" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>.

MM, did you make this video?

 

[munstermuffin]

No but Gert Smal once said he could be the best TH prop in the world The class is their it's just putting pieces of jigsaw together and it will happen
Could be the answer to our problem at 12

 

[psychic duck]

No but Gert Smal once said he could be the best TH prop in the world The class is their it's just putting pieces of jigsaw together and it will happen
Could be the answer to our problem at 12

HE MAY be approaching his 30th birthday and struggling to get game time for his province, but Tony Buckley can be one of the world's best prop forwards, according to Ireland forwards coach Gert Smal.Opinions on the Munster giant vary as wildly as some of his performances but after Buckley's powerful 20 minutes of action at Twickenham, Smal is confident he now has a viable replacement for John Hayes.

Perhaps typically for a former Springbok, it's Buckley's size and destructive ability that endear him to the forwards coach but it's a shot in the arm for a player often written off as an international.

"I like his size," Smal said. "He gives you a lot of height in the line outs, he gives you a lot of weight in the scrums. We still work a lot on technique at the moment. He looks really calm off the field and sometimes calm when he plays, but he's got a kind of trip switch where he can just climb into opposition and counter ruck three or four guys off the ball and that's what you need in that position.

"Also the other asset he has is that he has a fair amount of handling skills as well. Into contact and off-load, not maybe in conventional ways, but maybe a back flip or so, but he keeps two or three guys busy. I think he has a lot of potential."

Potential is usually something reserved for the under-20s, but with the dearth of quality props in Irish rugby, and question marks over Hayes' ability to perform for 80 minutes after 100 caps, Smal says that Buckley can step up.

"I'm very confident," he said. "If you look at the game last week when he came on and the things that he did. He cleared one ball, the block at the lineout when Tommy Bowe scored his try. It's not obstruction but it's part of the game. The ball right at the end that he turned over – it was a huge impact that he made right at the end.

"In terms of making it as a player I have a lot of confidence in him. I think he can be one of the best tight heads in the world.

"I think he can take over from John. He's been the second prop behind him all the time but I think he is at the stage now where I think he can start kicking on. A year ago I was quite worried about the prop situation, but after this year I think we've got something, not just in him but also a little bit more depth in other players also."

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/kfkfeycwqlql/rss2/

 

[SomeOke]

All Blacks: Israel Dagg, Zac Guildford, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Julian Savea, Dan Carter, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), Victor Vito, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock
Reserves: Hika Elliot, Ben Franks, Ali Williams, Adam Thomson, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Ben Smith

Damn. This looks to be a very very dangerous side.
Weepu doesn't make much sense but he's just about the only selection that doesn't.

Great to see A Smith get a run, he has some serious potential, same goes for Retallick and Savea. Also nice to see SBW playing for the AB's in the position he should be playing and I'm a huge fan of Guildford.

I'll definitely enjoy the match . It's worrying how good NZ look at the moment .

 

[Feicarsinn]

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/kfkfeycwqlql/rss2/[/FONT][/COLOR]

You're right, that IS exactly what munstermuffin said!

 

[osullie6]

Lots of rumours online that this is the Ireland team:
Kearney, McFadden, Earls, O'Driscoll, Zebo, Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best, Fitzpatrick/Ross, Tuohy, Ryan, O'Brien, O'Mahony, Heaslip.

We'll see. I'll be very surprised if Kidney selects that team.

I don't think surprised would be a sufficient description of my disbelief if this is the team.

But, while I wouldn't agree with all (or even a lot) of the tight calls I'd be willing to stand by it as a selection, as at least it shows an element of progressiveness and seems to be rewarding players who have shown form.

But, I'll believe it when I see it.

Actually, when is the team announced?

 

[Feicarsinn]

I like the look of that pack. Drico at 12 could be quite good, although I'd prefer to have Cave at 13 and Earls instead of Zebo.

 

[munstermuffin]

You're right, that IS exactly what munstermuffin said!

You saying I a journo
I on to you

 

[Feicarsinn]

You saying I a journo
I on to you

There it is folks, munstermuffin has guaranteed himself his TRFie with this one post.

 

[munstermuffin]

There it is folks, munstermuffin has guaranteed himself his TRFie with this one post.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/x-AGIbW7A40" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>.

If those are the best highlights for him, well... Yeah, it just reinforces my point

 

[munstermuffin]

He said put on more men,
We said there are no more men

 

[irelandfan123]

Odd question but if Zebo gets his first cap will he be the first non-white to ever be capped for Ireland?

 

[munstermuffin]

Odd question but if Zebo gets his first cap will he be the first non-white to ever be capped for Ireland?

Hey he is white, just got a tan in the costa de Cobh.
But on serious note I'd consider him same skin tone as Mike Mullins who played for Ireland.

 

[irelandfan123]

My bad I always reckoned he was of a different ethnic origin, I'm really quite dark for a white guy and have a year long tan, but his is much more prominent. I just assumed and you know what happens when you assume

EDIT: Ignore my last edit, I'm very tired

 

[munstermuffin]

Oh no Zebo is from well 5o% foreign. His father was a sprinter who almost represented France in Olympics only to rupture his knee but is from Martinique.

 

[profitius]

Hey he is white, just got a tan in the costa de Cobh.
But on serious note I'd consider him same skin tone as Mike Mullins who played for Ireland.

How about Andy Ward?

Zebo would be the first Negro to play for Ireland.

 

[DariusLovehall]

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/x-AGIbW7A40" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>.

Really? is that it? - A tackle, a couple runs, a drive to the line and a couple passes - that qualifies as greatness?