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Ireland World Cup 2019 Thread aka "Quarter Final 4"

I think POM could pick up the tackling if required, offensive rucks and carrying on the other hand need to be picked by others though. There's no reason not to be able to fit him in in my opinion but Best and Stander have to go for it to happen and even then I don't think it's the best option.

I like the idea of Henderson VdF and Conan but I don't think Joe would go for Hendy at 6. I think Beirne brings the same problem as POM in not being the strongest carrier.
 
I think POM could pick up the tackling if required, offensive rucks and carrying on the other hand need to be picked by others though. There's no reason not to be able to fit him in in my opinion but Best and Stander have to go for it to happen and even then I don't think it's the best option.

I like the idea of Henderson VdF and Conan but I don't think Joe would go for Hendy at 6. I think Beirne brings the same problem as POM in not being the strongest carrier.

Think it's unfair to compare Beirne and PO'M as carriers. Beirne actually does it first of all and you're underrating that aspect of him generally. He's probably not a fantastic carrier in close (at international level) but he has good feet and can be dangerous in midfield, although part of that comes from his offloading ability making defenders wary which is something Ireland don't put as much emphasis on.
 
In fairness he has actually played excellent there in the past when required when moving across in games as well as the start there. So definitely worth trying especially when it is becoming very likely he is 2nd choice 7 behind VdF I feel. And well who else is a 7 of that standard. It seems Rudock (a player I like) is simply a filler in and not rated high enough at this level to be a satarter in this team, Jordi is not a 7 of this level, Tommy O'Donnell is the more natural 7 of all and not up to this level.

But reading from it all I'd guess Ruddock and Jordi are fighting for a bag carrier spot,
Conan has a big shot as does Scannell and I feel Beirne will go as a 5th lock/option at 6 with POM a live option at 7.
That's fair enough, depending on the opposition I'm okay with POM playing 7 if Josh goes down, the rest of the pack will have to pick up some slack in some areas which is a problem if Best is still there as they're already compensating for him but if he's gone it could work. He's not a real 7 though at the end of the day. Jordi's versatility would be super useful in Japan and I think he should go because of that, I like Ruddock but I would agree there's a case that he isn't good enough, and the exact same about TOD.

On the rumoured team for this weekend big chance for Scannell and Conan in particular, if they go well I'd say they'll start against Scotland, and rightly so. Addison as well has a chance to play himself onto the plane.
 
That's fair enough, depending on the opposition I'm okay with POM playing 7 if Josh goes down, the rest of the pack will have to pick up some slack in some areas which is a problem if Best is still there as they're already compensating for him but if he's gone it could work. He's not a real 7 though at the end of the day. Jordi's versatility would be super useful in Japan and I think he should go because of that, I like Ruddock but I would agree there's a case that he isn't good enough, and the exact same about TOD.

On the rumored team for this weekend big chance for Scannell and Conan in particular, if they go well I'd say they'll start against Scotland, and rightly so. Addison as well has a chance to play himself onto the plane.
Addison I think will be too big a risk. His injuries are being kept superbly out of the media but he is playing with fire is the rumour. Simply as he may never get another chance to be at a RWC.
 
Based on the looks of it: 17/14 Split

Props (5) Healy, Kilcoyne, Porter, Furlong, Ryan
Hooker (3) Best, Cronin, Scannell
Lock (4) Kleyn, Henderson, Toner, Ryan
Backrow (5) Beirne, O'Mahony, Conan, Van Der Flier, Stander

Scrum Half (2) Murray, Marmion
Out Half (3) Sexton, Carbery, Carty/Byrne
Centre (4) Farrell, Aki, Ringrose, Henshaw
Back 3 (5) R Kearney, Earls, Stockdale, Larmour, Conway/Addison

So Jordi Murphy and Will Addison are the 2 left to try break in to the squad I feel.
 
Based on the looks of it: 17/14 Split

Props (5) Healy, Kilcoyne, Porter, Furlong, Ryan
Hooker (3) Best, Cronin, Scannell
Lock (4) Kleyn, Henderson, Toner, Ryan
Backrow (5) Beirne, O'Mahony, Conan, Van Der Flier, Stander

Scrum Half (2) Murray, Marmion
Out Half (3) Sexton, Carbery, Carty/Byrne
Centre (4) Farrell, Aki, Ringrose, Henshaw
Back 3 (5) R Kearney, Earls, Stockdale, Larmour, Conway/Addison

So Jordi Murphy and Will Addison are the 2 left to try break in to the squad I feel.
I'd swap Jordi for Kleyn but otherwise that seems exactly right. If Addison plays his way in ahead of Conway as well I'd ditch Aki and take three 9s but can't see that happening.
 
I'd swap Jordi for Kleyn but otherwise that seems exactly right. If Addison plays his way in ahead of Conway as well I'd ditch Aki and take three 9s but can't see that happening.
Just basing it on the facts that well Kinsella has put out there along with what is on show. Beirne has played most of his rugby at 6 this summer so that says it all. Jordi for Kleyn will not happen. Add in Kleyn is a typical Joe type player.

Addison is to much of an injury risk to depend on as a centre I feel at the current state. I feel if he goes it will be exclusively as a back 3 player. And there is no need for 3 9s. To be honest Luke McGrath doesn't deserve it and only reason for 3 9s is if Cooney travelled.
 
One big surprise inclusion doing the rounds.

I won’t say it here because I don’t know how true it is and my Best rumour the other way was completely wrong.
 
https://www.the42.ie/ireland-possible-world-cup-squad-2019-4791964-Sep2019/

Definitely one of two surprises there. The headline one obviously being the biggest. Schmidt has been accused of being too loyal at times, but to his credit he is not. Can't say I think McGrath did enough to beat out Marmion or indeed that Kleyn is up to scratch but that's based on limited evidence. Two squad regulars culled there. Glad Beirne will travel.
 
Chris Farrell very unlucky too but last Saturday didn't really go his way and that may be the fine margins.
Don't think Luke McGrath deserves a spot but well I'm sure many will disagree and I said it a while back on Toner being cut. This is not news to guys in camp but now it means Rory Best throw is really under even bigger pressure.
 
Supposed forward selections appear to be with one eye on SA. Marmion was limping off on Saturday, wonder if the knock was worse than expected? I like McGrath and think he's good value ahead of Cooney but Marmion should be ahead of him at the moment. I like the options Addison brings ahead of Farrell, more versatile and bring a better contrast to Henshaw and Aki.
 
While Ireland still have a strong squad it feels similar to what happened with England when EJ finally dropped some experienced players. Most fans had been saying it for a while and could see it that it needed to happen. However, it seems like Schmidt's only just realised this, which means that he won't have a chance to give the newer players coming in more experience and also the players selected seem to divide opinion too. As an example, almost everyone wanted one of the Curry brothers (I still want both) in the squad, however I don't see that with Schmidt's selections if this is the squad. I feel Ireland with a dip in form of some of the more experienced players and then new unproven players coming through may struggle in the latter stages. It just feels like they've mistimed their preparation or as others said, peaked too early again.
 
Yeah I like that, it forces a change in styles which Schmidt has managed to implement very effectively at the cost of 2-4 bad games in the past. The replacements for the old guard are all very experienced guys who've been in the squad for at least a year with the exception of Kleyn.

McGrath over Marmion is odd, I'd been calling for it for a while but doing it now seems like the wrong time.

Kleyn for Toner is a strange one too but Toner suits particular game plans very well so if there's a stylistic change coming it makes sense.
 
Actually thinking about it a bit more, you don't win tournaments by being cautious. Yeah it might not be the right choice or he should have made some changes sooner, but I guess at least he's being ambitious and brave.
 
Yeah I like that, it forces a change in styles which Schmidt has managed to implement very effectively at the cost of 2-4 bad games in the past. The replacements for the old guard are all very experienced guys who've been in the squad for at least a year with the exception of Kleyn.

McGrath over Marmion is odd, I'd been calling for it for a while but doing it now seems like the wrong time.

Kleyn for Toner is a strange one too but Toner suits particular game plans very well so if there's a stylistic change coming it makes sense.

Wonder if Sat sealed Toners fate, he was noticeably useless in open play when he came on but then again muff called this weeks ago.
 
I've not seen much of Kleyn but Toner is really not up to international rugby in any regard other than the lineout - I don't think you can carry the dead weight on the hope that the lineout functions.

Of course that does put a lot more pressure on the, admittedly, very shaky Iineout, however improves the pack in all other regards.
 
Shocked by Toner, but hopefully a Ryan/Henderson combo can carry the lineout. Seeing a lot of people disagreeing with Addison being left out. I don't know what I'm missing but he hasn't impressed me so far. Thought he looked pretty average against Wales. Happy Conway is going though, tends to impress.
 

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