Ireland RWC 11 Thread

[munstermuffin]

On SOB at 7 - No it's been clear to see at Leinster he can be a good 7 but SOB is worldclass when at 6 and can be silenced easily at 7.

On Training Squad - This squad is a bit mediocre in my opinion. Lets not forget we (the provinces) get these players back a few times too to work with them. These are only for 3 camps the squad is in use. I'm surprised Muldoon was left out more so than Shane Horgan too as in fairness Deccie never seemed interested in Horgan but has a liking for Muldoon, I would've maybe had him ahead of McCarthy.

 

[Feicarsinn]

On SOB at 7 - No it's been clear to see at Leinster he can be a good 7 but SOB is worldclass when at 6 and can be silenced easily at 7.

On Training Squad - This squad is a bit mediocre in my opinion. Lets not forget we (the provinces) get these players back a few times too to work with them. These are only for 3 camps the squad is in use. I'm surprised Muldoon was left out more so than Shane Horgan too as in fairness Deccie never seemed interested in Horgan but has a liking for Muldoon, I would've maybe had him ahead of McCarthy.

Oh I don't know about that. He was fairly impressive at seven against Leicester and Toulouse.

 

[munstermuffin]

Oh I don't know about that. He was fairly impressive at seven against Leicester and Toulouse.

Disagree he was good at 7 BUT (as well as in the Final too) he is a way better 6 and more influencial on games from 6.
He is a fine 7 but Sean O'brien's influence only is used to it's max when he operates from 6.

 

[munstermuffin]

Don't know how to edit as it seems to have vanished off screen,
But SOB is a good 7 and if we picked him there he would be good but we wouldn't be getting full value off him.
If I remember he played the majority of Leicester game at 7 and was OK at best. But in SF and Final he really did his damage when Jennings was introduced and he moved to 6.

 

[irelandfan123]

thats even if ferris hits the world cup scene

 

[IRFU]

thats even if ferris hits the world cup scene

He's in court tomorrow so we'll see how it turns out.

 

[munstermuffin]

Ferris it seems will have off the field problems if this case drags on. As for SOB he is in top form at 6 so even if Ferris is fit it shouldn't be an automatic start as he has to earn jersey back. Wallace and SOB are the 2 that finished on form and on top of their games

 

[coonor]

I would quite like to see SOB at 8 again. Heaslip has already nailed down the 8 jersey at the moment and he is one of our best players but if he gets injured I would like to see our best option to replace him. SOB played 8 against Italy and won MOTM but I would like to see how he plays now that he has more experience. It will be a great competition for backrow places and I would probably take Jennings, Heaslip, SOB, Wallace, Ferris and Donnacha Ryan as our second/back rower.

 

[lucky number 7]

Just shows the work the man gets through in about 4 matches or so

 

[irelandfan123]

well still got a few warn up matches to test ferris out , I think he'll do grand , I have utter confidence he will start.
I'd like to see heaslip at 7 , he's a really good rucker , that leaves room for ferris and o'brien (only a quick thought , probably won't work , just think it would be interesting to see )

 

[lynam1104]

well still got a few warn up matches to test ferris out , I think he'll do grand , I have utter confidence he will start.
I'd like to see heaslip at 7 , he's a really good rucker , that leaves room for ferris and o'brien (only a quick thought , probably won't work , just think it would be interesting to see )

Heslip is an 8. If you want Ferris and SOB together you play SOB a 7 and Ferris at 6. It's great place to be in terms of backrow and there's still more coming through.

 

[superprop]

No O'Brien at 7 please having either him or Ferris coming iff the bench will be brilliant against tired legs.

 

[lynam1104]

The same if we had Wallace coming off the bench against tired legs. The options we have for backrow are immense probable the most depth/quality in the NH and maybe the world.

 

[superprop]

Definatley I just feel since SO'B has to work as a linkman at 7 he doesn't carry enough.

 

[lynam1104]

He's better at 6 for sure but the can do equally well at y IMO. Last season when Jennings was banned he really shined at 7, but having said that i think you may be right if the back row was 6. Ferris 7. SOB 8. Heslip we would need another ball carrier.

 

[Logorrhea]

This is brilliant stuff.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I should start

 

[molloyjh]

I think the 6 and 8 slots pick themselves to be honest. For as much as I like Fez he hasn't been playing and SOB is the in-form player in the Northern Hemisphere. He has to start at 6. Heaslip at 8 and then either Wally or Jenno at 7. Wally is a third ball carrier (and in supreme form right now) but Jennos ability at the breakdown and as a link player this season has been outstanding. I reckon both could be utilised throughout the campaign effectively. For the big games Fez would be lucky to get into the match-day 22 I think. That's no reflection on anything other than his lack of game time and the ridiculous number of options available to us in the back row.

 

[coonor]

Ferris will need to work hard to get into the team but every time I think about him, I think of how good he was before he got injured. He was our best player in the AI and scored 2 tries one against the all blacks. He was brilliant for Ulster and his height could be an asset in the back row. I actually think he is more physical than SOB and this is why I think he could be killer off the bench but I would not deny him a spot ahead of either Wallace if he can play his way into the first team.

 

[nato]

Although he is getting old I would like to see Wallace starting ahead of Stephen ferris.