Ireland Team for ABs

[Peg Leg]

We're gonna attack their scrum. Of every aspect of the game, it is the one area we are significantly better than the ABs

We have the front row and the front row depth to do it. Milk a few scrum penalties, get a few 3 pointers. Maybe a kick or 2 to the corner. Keep morale up

I think Tracy will be involved and possibly Herring in the extended squad for scrum strength.

Sadly I don't see room for Cronin. Which pains me to say.

All the fatties on the pitch for the scrum dominance will play into the hands of the NZ MO I.e. seeking out the mismatch and the soft shoulder.

[Gearzbox2]

We're gonna attack their scrum. Of every aspect of the game, it is the one area we are significantly better than the ABs

We have the front row and the front row depth to do it. Milk a few scrum penalties, get a few 3 pointers. Maybe a kick or 2 to the corner. Keep morale up

I think Tracy will be involved and possibly Herring in the extended squad for scrum strength.

Sadly I don't see room for Cronin. Which pains me to say.

Think you dreaming with that prediction about Tracy and Herring
Cronin is and has been one of Ireland's best impact players off the bench in recent years along with Ultan Dilanne
Cronins scrummaging lately has been top class against strong French teams and a Munster scrum going very well
I will admit Tracy's scrummin has been good too

[LeRouxIsPHat]

It went under the radar a bit but thought Tracy did well on Sunday, bodes well if he can perform like that in a big game in France.

[cormac]

New Zealand are 21 point favourites with the bookies. Ireland 10/1 to win outright.

[arsebiscuits1]

We're gonna attack their scrum. Of every aspect of the game, it is the one area we are significantly better than the ABs

We have the front row and the front row depth to do it. Milk a few scrum penalties, get a few 3 pointers. Maybe a kick or 2 to the corner. Keep morale up

I think Tracy will be involved and possibly Herring in the extended squad for scrum strength.

Sadly I don't see room for Cronin. Which pains me to say.

Think you dreaming with that prediction about Tracy and Herring
Cronin is and has been one of Ireland's best impact players off the bench in recent years along with Ultan Dilanne
Cronins scrummaging lately has been top class against strong French teams and a Munster scrum going very well
I will admit Tracy's scrummin has been good too

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/38355.php#.WBDTnC0rKUl

Looks like I was half right

[FLIP]

No Mike Ross?

[Dave Cahill]

No Mike Ross is risky, but at some point S Club Juniors have to step up

[FLIP]

No Mike Ross is risky, but at some point S Club Juniors have to step up

But there ain't no party like an S Club Party.

Seriously though, having Furlong to start is all well and good but the other options for tighthead aren't there yet.

[simonokeeffe]

we have to start planning for 2019 at some point (also big F Us to the wild geese) which explains Ross, Bowe
congrats to Holland for really forcing his way in there

Best, Cronin, Tracy
McGrath, Healy
Furlong, Ryan, Bealham
Toner, Henderson*, Dillane, Ryan, Holland
POM, Murphy
JVDF, SOB
Heaslip, Stander

Murray, Marmion, McGrath
Sexton, Jackson, Carberry
Henshaw, Ringrose, Marshall
Earls**, Trimble, Zebo, Gilroy
Payne, RK

*injured ** suspended for 1st match

Notable ommisions:
Injured/unproven fitness- Strauss, Roux?, Ruddock, Olding, DK, Healy
Faces not fitting- Herring, Killer, Moore, Ross, Reidy, TOD, Madigan, Bowe, Adeolokun, TOH

[munster#1]

Very surprised that TOD was over looked, he has always performed for Ireland, and has been in good form of late, is this a punishment for getting married during the SA tour?

Tracy making the squad is a very strange choice, he is nowhere near that level yet, barely at pro 12 level.

Some other strange calls, but not as surprising as the two above.

Looking at the squad, I'm not sure we will see Ireland finally beat the all blacks, but can't wait to watch the matches.

[wprathead]

Rob over Tiernan?
lol

[Slowcentre]

Very surprised that TOD was over looked, he has always performed for Ireland, and has been in good form of late, is this a punishment for getting married during the SA tour?

Tracy making the squad is a very strange choice, he is nowhere near that level yet, barely at pro 12 level.

Some other strange calls, but not as surprising as the two above.

Looking at the squad, I'm not sure we will see Ireland finally beat the all blacks, but can't wait to watch the matches.

ToD not getting picked is punishment for not being as good as the players ahead of him,that's not a slight he's a very good player but he's in a position where we have a huge amount of talent and he's also limited by not really playing any other position than 7.

Your comment about Tracy is ridiculous,I'm surprised he's been called up this early too but it was only a matter of time.

[simonokeeffe]

Rob over Tiernan?
lol

TOH not struggling with injury?
If he is fit yeah its not a form call

[wprathead]

Rob over Tiernan?
lol

TOH not struggling with injury?
If he is fit yeah its not a form call

Tiernan is fit
He'll be rearing on Saturday

[simonokeeffe]

Rob over Tiernan?
lol

TOH not struggling with injury?
If he is fit yeah its not a form call

Tiernan is fit
He'll be rearing on Saturday

Lamestream media lying to us again

[Oldschoolsocks]

Sigh..

Looks like tiernan going and getting himself taken out of it in SA and almost being crippling in the process has dropped him down the pecking order.


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[neiliog93]

Very surprised that TOD was over looked, he has always performed for Ireland, and has been in good form of late, is this a punishment for getting married during the SA tour?

Tracy making the squad is a very strange choice, he is nowhere near that level yet, barely at pro 12 level.

Some other strange calls, but not as surprising as the two above.

Looking at the squad, I'm not sure we will see Ireland finally beat the all blacks, but can't wait to watch the matches.

Tracy isn't that surprising. A converted prop, he's big and physical and at 26 has grown into his role more and more lately. Has performed very well off the bench for Leinster, including agains the enormous Montpellier pack. Good scrummager, never messes up a line-out, and a big guy for an Irish hooker in the loose. Herring is a 'no mistakes' type of player and that has value, but he's not the best athlete. I would say Scannell was ahead of Herring, and will admit it would be a tight call between Tracy and Scannell for me. Scannell is the first Munster hooker to look like a worthy successor to Flannery in a while, loved him at u-20 level and looks much better than guys who were a bit overhypes like Varley, Casey and Sherry (the latter being so injury prone too).

[Ruckedtobits]

we have to start planning for 2019 at some point (also big F Us to the wild geese) which explains Ross, Bowe
congrats to Holland for really forcing his way in there

Best, Cronin, Tracy
McGrath, Healy
Furlong, Ryan, Bealham
Toner, Henderson*, Dillane, Ryan, Holland
POM, Murphy
JVDF, SOB
Heaslip, Stander

Murray, Marmion, McGrath
Sexton, Jackson, Carberry
Henshaw, Ringrose, Marshall
Earls**, Trimble, Zebo, Gilroy
Payne, RK

*injured ** suspended for 1st match

Notable ommisions:
Injured/unproven fitness- Strauss, Roux?, Ruddock, Olding, DK, Healy
Faces not fitting- Herring, Killer, Moore, Ross, Reidy, TOD, Madigan, Bowe, Adeolokun, TOH

Bit harsh on categorisations of why some were left out. I'm hoping that TO'H, Bowe, fit into first category. I would put Rossy into a separate category and phrase it kindly, possibly "has done his bit". Totally accept that Madigan, Moore and possibly Killer fit the bill for second category, and hope that "unproven fitness / form" covers TO'D, Reidy & Herring. Would hope that Roux and Olding also fall within this revised definition. However, am surprised by omission of TO'H and Adeolokun, both of whom warrant selection for 6 months of delivery where it counts, in positions where we need depth.

Wouldn't have either of them in match-day Squad for Chicago but would start both against Canada in preparation for 6 N

[matt]

Based on recent performances omission of O'Donnell & Ross major talking points. O'Donnell would have provided options/backup to Van Der Flier, and at tight head while Furlong & Ryan have been doing well Ross would have done well in one of the games at least if selected.

With Earls out no depth at wing and Julien Savea should get a load of trys in the 2 games (at least 3), far too fast and strong for anything we have and very soon will be all time New Zealand top try scorer at 26 years old.

Hope Rob Kearney not near the team as his best days are well past & now relies on good kicking/catching to compensate for poor defence & lack of pace. O'Halloran should have been in the squad ahead of him.

[neiliog93]

Based on recent performances omission of O'Donnell & Ross major talking points. O'Donnell would have provided options/backup to Van Der Flier, and at tight head while Furlong & Ryan have been doing well Ross would have done well in one of the games at least if selected.

With Earls out no depth at wing and Julien Savea should get a load of trys in the 2 games (at least 3), far too fast and strong for anything we have and very soon will be all time New Zealand top try scorer at 26 years old.

Hope Rob Kearney not near the team as his best days are well past & now relies on good kicking/catching to compensate for poor defence & lack of pace. O'Halloran should have been in the squad ahead of him.

Beg to differ. I'd much rather have Trimble or even Zebo defending against Savea than Earls. Earls tackles with tenacity but he unfortunately for him he is small and has been used as a speedbump by the likes of Hosea Gear before.