<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (King D'arcy @ Jan 23 2010, 10:22 AM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (feicarsinn @ Jan 20 2010, 10:42 PM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MunsterMachine @ Jan 20 2010, 10:33 PM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (feicarsinn @ Jan 20 2010, 10:01 PM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Incorrect. If we lose Flannery, Hayes, Heaslip, Sexton or Kearney the team would be massively weakened We don't have a second tighhead, Cronin is unproven, no second no.8, ROG is cack and Kearney is far too good to be easily replaced.[/b]
Partially incorrect. Cronin is a very good player even if he is not proven at international level, Court can replace Hayes in most aspects apart from lifting, Leamy isn't far behind Heaslip and pushed him out of the starting team against Scotland last year, Sexton hasn't even secured his place ahead of O'Gara but agree with Kearney not being replaceable...
[/b][/quote]
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>
Cronin is a very good player even if he is not proven at international level[/b]
I'd agree, but Charlie Hodgeson is also a very good player.... for his club. The verdict is still out on Cronin till he puts a few decent performances in for Ireland. Remember he's replacing the man who was going to be the Lions no.2.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>
Court can replace Hayes in most aspects apart from lifting[/b]
Very debatable. If that were true he most likely would have gotten a hell of a lot more gametime before now. Won't ever be a starter in my opinion, that is if we can find someone to replace the Bull.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>
Leamy isn't far behind Heaslip and pushed him out of the starting team against Scotland last year[/b]
Heaslip is one of the top eightmen in the world. Leamy is not. Also he's injured.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>
Sexton hasn't even secured his place ahead of O'Gara[/b]
He is a far, far better player than O'Gara. Very few would argue with that. He can run, kick, pass and tackle, two of which O'Gara is useless at.
[/b][/quote]
I somewhat agree with you about Heaslip, in that he is one of the key members of our team and probably 1 of the most hard working effective number eights in the world. But if he were injured I'd be confident that David Wallace or 1 of our several quality blindsides could fill in at 8.
I'd be more worried if Sexton was injured because I have a really great feeling about him. He's really giving our team a look of quality about it. How we won a grand slam with a number 10 who can't tackle and who had no one threatening to replace him speaks volumes for the other players on the team.
Flannery is a big loss, to early to tell with Cronin. Fingers crossed is all I can say
[/b][/quote]
Agree that what is special about Sexton is he a better player when we playin running game and is is the better 10 to release players but if we playing a kicking and teritorial game then ROG is the better option (especially as his form has improved massively since the AI's)
Obviously if we loose and of first 15 we'd be weakened my point was though that we'd still be competitive and have chance of winning (unless we loose 5/6 players all at once)
My biggest concern would be the prop situation and Feicarsinn I don't really agree with alot about your bench but do agree Horan is not ready for 6Nations.
As for Wallace, I think Earls is having great season and is going to be an absolute gem for Ireland in future. But I think Wallace is capable of coming in at centre if required.
But do we fancy O'Brien to be on bench for Ireland if he isn't experienced enough and can't start for Leinster.
...
