Wales v Ireland, 02/02/13

[Feicarsinn]

Okay Trimble isn't that great tbh, but Tom Court? Why, have you not been watching any Ulster games this year?

Have you watched any Leinster or Munster games this year? Healy is streets ahead of anyone in Europe at the moment, while Kilcoyne is playing very well and has youth on his side.

 

[nohandsruck]

Have you watched any Leinster or Munster games this year? Healy is streets ahead of anyone in Europe at the moment, while Kilcoyne is playing very well and has youth on his side.

I agree. Actually Healy is probably the best loosehead prop in europe. not only in scrum play, but also in open play.

 

[Groundhog]

Okay Trimble isn't that great tbh, but Tom Court? Why, have you not been watching any Ulster games this year?

Have you been watching Munster, Kilcoyne has been absolutely outstanding for Munster this year, really deserving his hype. He's been effective in the scream, and outstanding as a ball carrier. You just need to compare how much he's improved from last year. He's bulked up a lot recently and he has the potential to be great. I will agree Court has been great for Ulster this year, but I think Kilcoyne is a better prospect.

 

[coonor]

Have you watched any Leinster or Munster games this year? Healy is streets ahead of anyone in Europe at the moment, while Kilcoyne is playing very well and has youth on his side.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that Healy should be dropped but the argument for Court on the bench is certainly valid. Court is in the form of his life, and has good experience. He is a strong scrummager and adds that bit of grunt at the breakdown. Kilcoyne is by no means a pushover and certainly looks to be a good prospect, but I don't think he's at the level of Court currently (particularly with the way Court is playing).

I would have started Court ahead of Kilcoyne on the bench. Although Killer adds some great carrying power, Court will really add some balance to the pack and gives us an option that contrasts Healy.

 

[Groundhog]

I don't think anyone is suggesting that Healy should be dropped but the argument for Court on the bench is certainly valid. Court is in the form of his life, and has good experience. He is a strong scrummager and adds that bit of grunt at the breakdown. Kilcoyne is by no means a pushover and certainly looks to be a good prospect, but I don't think he's at the level of Court currently (particularly with the way Court is playing).

I would have started Court ahead of Kilcoyne on the bench. Although Killer adds some great carrying power, Court will really add some balance to the pack and gives us an option that contrasts Healy.

Well we'll have to agree to disagree about Court being ahead of Kilcoyne, I think he's worth a shot, and at thne very least will be outstanding in the near future. I disagree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it, although it is the internet so I'm obliged to gracelessly call you a d*ck

 

[coonor]

Well we'll have to agree to disagree about Court being ahead of Kilcoyne, I think he's worth a shot, and at thne very least will be outstanding in the near future. I disagree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it, although it is the internet so I'm obliged to gracelessly call you a d*ck

To be fair, it's a great position to be in. We have some really good loosehead option.... Why can't we have that much depth at tighthead!

 

[Groundhog]

To be fair, it's a great position to be in. We have some really good loosehead option.... Why can't we have that much depth at tighthead!

Yeah I agree, some competition will do them good. Yeah we have three very good looseheads, and we're stuck for tight heads to be honest.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

I'm not talking about Court over Healy, I thought that was obvious. I haven't seen a great deal of Kilcoyne but from what I know about Court is he's playing very well and could certainly hold up international level.

"Court? **** off?" - That would be implying he's completely ****, which he really isn't and I have no idea where you'd get that from.

Edit: You don't have to get so defensive, I never actually said Court is better than Kilcoyne, just replying to the fact of how ridiculously bad he was making Court sound.

 

[Groundhog]

I'm not talking about Court over Healy, I thought that was obvious. I haven't seen a great deal of Kilcoyne but from what I know about Court is he's playing very well and could certainly hold up international level. "Court? **** off?" - That would be implying he's completely ****, which he really isn't and I have no idea where you'd get that from.Edit: You don't have to get so defensive, I never actually said Court is better than Kilcoyne, just replying to the fact of how ridiculously bad he was making Court sound.

Not defensive, stating an opinion. As for Court being "completely ****", I've said about three times I recognise he's playing very well. Sorry if I gave the wrong impression, but I feel Kilcoynes selection is totally justified and he deserves his spot on the team.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

My prediction for the match is, despite the fact he's playing brilliant, O'Driscoll will be shipped off at 65mins for Earls with the score 23-18 to Ireland and at about the 71 minute mark Davies flattens Earls and puts Halfpenny in through a 2 on 1 on Kearney. This of course will merit Earls to get the start for the next game.

As for the Kilcoyne vs Court argument, both seem to be on a par but Kilcoyne is younger so give him the experience, however if Court was a Munster man and Kilcoyne Ulster I'd say Deco would have picked differently, as shown by the O'Mahoney Henry decision.

 

[Groundhog]

My prediction for the match is, despite the fact he's playing brilliant, O'Driscoll will be shipped off at 65mins for Earls with the score 23-18 to Ireland and at about the 71 minute mark Davies flattens Earls and puts Halfpenny in through a 2 on 1 on Kearney. This of course will merit Earls to get the start for the next game.As for the Kilcoyne vs Court argument, both seem to be on a par but Kilcoyne is younger so give him the experience, however if Court was a Munster man and Kilcoyne Ulster I'd say Deco would have picked differently, as shown by the O'Mahoney Henry decision.

Right if this actually happens, I will allow you to kick me up the arse and video it. If BOD gets his 80 you have to publicly announce your man love for Kidney and write him a love letter pointing out how you find his slimy grin sexy.

 

[Thingimubob]

My prediction for the match is, despite the fact he's playing brilliant, O'Driscoll will be shipped off at 65mins for Earls with the score 23-18 to Ireland and at about the 71 minute mark Davies flattens Earls and puts Halfpenny in through a 2 on 1 on Kearney. This of course will merit Earls to get the start for the next game.

As for the Kilcoyne vs Court argument, both seem to be on a par but Kilcoyne is younger so give him the experience, however if Court was a Munster man and Kilcoyne Ulster I'd say Deco would have picked differently, as shown by the O'Mahoney Henry decision.

I agree with the first part being possible, but are you implying that Jon Davies is actually capable of giving a scoring pass to Halfpenny in a 2 on 1 situation?! You're forgetting the huge **** up he made of the one vs Samoa, and again in the 1st summer test vs Australia. He just can't seem to find Halfpenny in those fairly simple situations!

 

[Peat]

Stepping back from it a moment, you can't say Kilcoyne is a bad call in and of himself. He's a young(ish) lad playing well who might develop into something very good indeed. Better than Court? A more powerful ball carrier maybe, but not yet there in the scrum. Interestingly, all three of Court, Kilcoyne and Healy have had recent experience of scrummaging against a good front row with Bent at TH and Toner as one of the second rows; it's about as close to a neutral benchmark to measure them by as you can get. I saw Healy try it, and was overjoyed at the advantage Ulster took of it. I didn't see Kilcoyne do it but heard nothing but bad. Court actually won a few penalties off of his opposite man. You shouldn't push it too far, it's a single example, but Court did win it. But I don't need to go on about that, we all know what Court brings there. Court vs Kilcoyne comes down to preference - experience or build for the future, set piece or loose play...

... or which one is from Munster. Cmac knocks the nail on the head there, that wasn't a fair fight for the jersey and we all know it. Court's been in as good domestic form as Kilcoyne at the very least, he's the better scrummager, he's the guy who's used to working with Deccie Fitz, you've already got a ball carrying front rower on the bench in Cronin, and you're playing the single most formidable scrum in the world. Plus he got more joy with the Wolfhounds scrummaging. If that doesn't make it at least a 50-50, I know nothing about rugby. But there we go.

As for Trimble, a myth has taken hold. Trimble's last major tournament for Ireland was the Six Nations last year in which he scored two good tries and was probably one of Ireland's best defenders in the backline, particularly when you consider some of the missed tackles served up by his fellows. Nothing amazing, but solid international play, and about as good as any Irish back did. He had a good tournament but no one seems to remember that. Trimble's reward for that, incidentally, was to be dropped for the first game against NZ, picked again for the second, promptly dropped again. Back in for South Africa... dropped again! That shouldn't obscure the memory of a good spell of international rugby, and such a vote of faith from the coach might help explain why Trimble doesn't look terribly at ease in a green jersey at the moment. The fact is, his international record is as good as most of the fit wingers, and his domestic form comfortably on a par with Zebo's and way ahead of everyone else's. He also has the useful distinction of being the only Irish winger anywhere near the Welsh behemoths in terms of physicality.

But there we go.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Team as expected for Wales:

FORWARDS: Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Andrew Coombs, Ian Evans, Aaron Shingler, Sam Warburton C, Toby Faletau

WALES BACKS: Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North, Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Richard Hibbard, Ryan Jones, Eli Walker (all Ospreys), Lou Reed (Blues) and Liam Williams (Scarlets) were unavailable for selection due to injury.

WALES: Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North; Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Andrew Coombs, Ian Evans, Aaron Shingler, Sam Warburton (C), Toby Faletau.
REPLACEMENTS: Ken Owens, Paul James, Craig Mitchell, Olly Kohn, Justin Tipuric, Lloyd Williams, James Hook, Scott Williams.

 

[Thingimubob]

Bench: Ken Owens, Paul James, Craig Mitchell, Olly Kohn, Justin Tipuric, Lloyd Williams, James Hook, Scott Williams

Ah looks like the Western Fail was spot on then... Typical Howley picking a fairly unimaginative team, going with what he knows. It's not a bad team, fairly solid, though I'd have started Paul James, Tipuric and probably Kohn too. Gonna guess that Hibbard has been definitely ruled out since he's nowhere to be seen?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Olly Kohn!
Wales for the Grandslam

 

[lynam1104]

Still a massively powerful and good back line it just dosen't strike the fear into me that it did last year. Packs are very even also cannot wait for this game it just seems so close going to very tense Saturday afternoon.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Still a massively powerful and good back line it just dosen't strike the fear into me that it did last year. Packs are very even also cannot wait for this game it just seems so close going to very tense Saturday afternoon.

It'll strike the fear of god into you when Earls makes his onto the field at the 60 minute mark

I think its a v. good Wales side; perhaps a shame we couldn't see, say, Eli Walker on the wing in place of Cuthbert, that Hibbard isn't being rewarded for his form, James isn't given the deserved starting spot.

EDIT: I know hibbard and Walker were injured

 

[psychic duck]

Richard Hibbard, Ryan Jones, Eli Walker (all Ospreys), Lou Reed (Blues) and Liam Williams (Scarlets) were unavailable for selection due to injury.

WALES: Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North; Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Andrew Coombs, Ian Evans, Aaron Shingler, Sam Warburton (C), Toby Faletau.
REPLACEMENTS: Ken Owens, Paul James, Craig Mitchell, Olly Kohn, Justin Tipuric, Lloyd Williams, James Hook, Scott Williams.

Disappointed that the coaches still refuse to select Tipuric in the starting XV alongside Warburton.

I would have also selected Paul James for this match, as well as Ken Owens who has now overtaken Rees at the Scarlets, and also started Kohn or Shingler as a lock ahead of the remarkably average Coombs who I have no idea how he has worked his way into the starting XV despite not even being the best lock at the Dragons.