Ireland Squad 2018/2019

[Amiga500]

Amiga that team sounds all well and good but it would be 100% at the cost of lineout.

If you stick Beirne to 6, then you cannot be losing the lineout.

Leavy is injured but while that yeam may not get dominated in the tackle it is at a sacrifice of set piece. And that isn't jyst on POM but Toner too. Like in that team there is no real lineout man.

Henderson runs the Ulster lineout.
James Ryan is excellent.

If you've Beirne at 6, then you've three guys that play at 2nd row. That cannot weaken our lineout, but you *might* lose a bit attacking their lineout as none of them can get up as quick as POM.

 

[Amiga500]

I suppose this goes back to one thing that continually stands out - POMs tackle stats in comparison to the rest of the back row. He seems to almost fill very specialised roles within the game, and can be largely absent in others - and I mean that in comparison to the rest of the back rows on the pitch.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I'd be reluctant to drop POM unless SOB can add one or two things to the 8 position. POM has been a key performer in all of our big wins since Heaslip retired, Stander is one dimensional in comparison and POM picks up a lot of the roles Heaslip used to fill, he's fairly vital to the balance of the backrow.

I could see Leavy and SOB having enough between them to cover the roles across the park which would allow Ruddock or Beirne come in at 6 but it needs to be proven first and I don't think there'll be enough opportunities before the world cup due to lack of games and injuries.

It also opens up the possibility of Schmidt losing a match with no Munster backrowers, there'd be pandemonium!

 

[Amiga500]

True, we'd be trying to operate with a severe ligind deficiency.

Dunno if Niall Scannell would have sufficient ligind status to make it a viable forward unit. We might have to start killer just to make ends meet.


(Beirne is a blow in so obviously has very little he can add to this.)

 

[munstermuffin]

I suppose this goes back to one thing that continually stands out - POMs tackle stats in comparison to the rest of the back row. He seems to almost fill very specialised roles within the game, and can be largely absent in others - and I mean that in comparison to the rest of the back rows on the pitch.

As was stated before POM stats are low as he played the groundhog guy of not making the tackle but trying to be 1st man in over. That was always his role.

On Beirne at 6. That is a different POV as I was basing it on backrow you said of SOB Leavy and Stander.
I also don't think Henderson a great lineout caller and James Ryan is superb but not a lineout specialist

 

[Amiga500]

As was stated before POM stats are low as he played the groundhog guy of not making the tackle but trying to be 1st man in over. That was always his role.

Well then given that Garces was nullifying any breakdown contest at the weekend, did he not have the game smarts to realise it and then stay out of the breakdown and seek to double up on the next tackle?

Unfortunately whichever way you cut it, it doesn't look good.

 

[munstermuffin]

Well then given that Garces was nullifying any breakdown contest at the weekend, did he not have the game smarts to realise it and then stay out of the breakdown and seek to double up on the next tackle?

Unfortunately whichever way you cut it, it doesn't look good.

True but it has worked all along. If we made calls based on just Saturday there would be huge changes.

 

[corny]

Change the full back, get Seanie in and get everyone riled up about the lack of bite they showed against England. Simple.

No seriously, i wouldn't be making any knee jerk reactions. O'Mahony is well capable of ******* over Vunipola and co when he has his game face on. VDF the same. We're not underpowered. We just weren't in the ideal head space on the day and that can happen sometimes.

I think the bigger issue highlighted on Saturday was just how badly we were tactically exposed by England. They ganged up around the ruck knowing we're fond of multiple phases close in. This allowed them to gang rape our carriers. When we inevitably lost the gainline they knew the box kick was our go to. Sexton either cross kicks or Garryowens. He doesn't look to find grass anymore because thats giving away possession and not contesting it. Then when Murray was forced to kick they blocked our chasers and secured possession. Rinse and repeat. Thats a complete shutdown of our game. We normally control (or strongly contest at least) all these entry points into the game but England took them all away from us. The key point is we just didn't respond or vary it in any way shape or form. No grubbers. No Sexton stepping back to kick long. No going wide early. We need to show more flexibility because you can be certain other coaches took note of what England achieved. The drew a blueprint of how our game can be used against us and we were too inflexible to do anything about it.

 

[munstermuffin]

Just notice Pete doing alot of media. Is that a sign he may captain team Saturday and Rory may be 16 or rested.

Agree with @corny that it is mental prep that has to be addressed

 

[munstermuffin]

Just to note from my Munster emails. Andrew Conway getting rehab back with us in UL so won't be on Scotland. Billy Holland is training with Ireland now too.

 

[Leinster Fan]

Just to note from my Munster emails. Andrew Conway getting rehab back with us in UL so won't be on Scotland. Billy Holland is training with Ireland now too.

We're perilously short on locks at this point. Like I'd respect Holland as a good club player but that's the equivalent of Noel Reid getting called up. (Who's been brilliant this season, I'd be disappointed of he left but I'd understand the reasons why.)

With Conway out Stockdale-Kearney-Larmour with Addison on the bench looks like the best bet.

 

[munstermuffin]

We're perilously short on locks at this point. Like I'd respect Holland as a good club player but that's the equivalent of Noel Reid getting called up. (Who's been brilliant this season, I'd be disappointed of he left but I'd understand the reasons why.)

With Conway out Stockdale-Kearney-Larmour with Addison on the bench looks like the best bet.

Rumours Ringrose is in trouble with hamstring may see Addison be 13. Earls will be fits so back to the tried and trusted maybe.
Billy will be perfect if required. Will be comfortable bossing the lineout if required and well he'd only be benching of selected. There is only Roux, Ryan and Dillane ahead if Toner is out

 

[Leinster Fan]

Rumours Ringrose is in trouble with hamstring may see Addison be 13. Earls will be fits so back to the tried and trusted maybe.
Billy will be perfect if required. Will be comfortable bossing the lineout if required and well he'd only be benching of selected. There is only Roux, Ryan and Dillane ahead if Toner is out

I'd much prefer Chris Farrell if Ringrose is out.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I was thinking there this morning, we've built up a tendency to start international windows poorly over the past few seasons.
2019 6n - Loss to England, looked blu t in attack.
2018 Guinness Series - Unconvincing win over Argentina, looked blunt in attack (Second game but the first proper test considering the sides named in Chicago)
2018 Summer tests - Loss to Australia, blunt in attack, no tries.
2018 6n - Scraped past France, blunt, no tries.
2017 Guinness Series - Hammered SA
2017 6n - Loss in Murray field, blunt in attack

2016 was different but so was a lot of what we were doing then. Three of our four losses since 2017 come in the first game in a test window. Will RWC warm up games take care of that? Is it something to worry about considering there's a two week gap between the Japan game and the QF? Or is it pure coincidence?

I'd much prefer Chris Farrell if Ringrose is out.

Has Farrell played much recently? I wouldn't be too fond of the idea of bringing another fella lacking minutes.

 

[big ginger 8]

Ringrose and Toner confirmed out and Earls trained today.

It's not so long ago we were talking about our depth at lock.

I presume Roux will be in he's the only lineout caller with experience in the squad.

At 13 will be interesting does Henshaw go there or do we stick with him at 15 and put Farrell in.

 

[munstermuffin]

Ringrose and Toner confirmed out and Earls trained today.

It's not so long ago we were talking about our depth at lock.

I presume Roux will be in he's the only lineout caller with experience in the squad.

At 13 will be interesting does Henshaw go there or do we stick with him at 15 and put Farrell in.

Billy Holland was added to squad for that reason.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Lose the one guy who matched up to his opposite number at the weekend... Sounds about right for the week.

Good opportunity to lump Henshaw out of 15 without the possibility of denting his confidence, not that I think that's an issue with him.

Healy, Best, Furlong, Roux, Ryan, POM, VdF, SOB, Murray, Sexton, Stockdale, Aki, Henshaw, Earls, Kearney
Cronin, McGrath/Kilcoyne, Porter, Dillane, Murphy, Cooney, Carbery, Larmour

That'd be my guess although Schmidt has thrown a few curveballs in the past year or two.

 

[big ginger 8]

Billy Holland was added to squad for that reason.

It is very unlikely Holland will be starting. I meant to say experience in the squad with the Irish lineouts. Holland hasn't been in the last few squads and it would be ridiculous to expect him to learn them to the level needed in a week. Roux has called the lineout for Ireland as recently as this Autumn.

 

[Amiga500]

That'd be my guess although Schmidt has thrown a few curveballs in the past year or two.

I'd kinda hope not. We know Aki and Henshaw doesn't work all that well. I'd rather see Chris Farrell or Addison dropped into 13. Maybe even reverse it so Henshaw is 12 and Aki 13 (Tom Farrell is 12 at Connacht isn't he?).

 

[munstermuffin]

It is very unlikely Holland will be starting. I meant to say experience in the squad with the Irish lineouts. Holland hasn't been in the last few squads and it would be ridiculous to expect him to learn them to the level needed in a week. Roux has called the lineout for Ireland as recently as this Autumn.

Yes unlikely Billy will start. He has been in few camps unofficially. Either way I think POM will call the lineout.