I've a feeling Sexton has week off. Also I think it'd be madness playing Cullen and Toner as 1 is regaining fitness and other is on first cap. But agree I've feeling we will never see BOD at 12 and we just slow making necessary calls
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Ireland v Samoa
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isaac4leinster
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The unfortunate thing is that Samoa will never get the opportunity to pick their best 15, as the clubs make it near impossible for them to get decent training time as Samoa have no cloat with the IRB. If you could get the first 15 Samoa side playing and training as regularly as the major nations they could potentially be a top 6 team. Unfortunately Samoa provide so many club players who loved by the clubs as they will play for the club sooner than Samoa for financial reasons, and bolster sides when other international are away, that this will never happen. This is sad as samoa are arguably the most talented rugby athletes in the world.
Girvanfan is now isaac4leinster. ???????
isaac4leinster
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Ehh...no. Question Munstermuffin, was wondering what you make of Mick O'Driscoll?
I think there might be a few minor cosmetic differences from the team that got beat by Connacht... like a few Tuilangis... and the LI crowd... you know, minor details.
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isaac4leinster
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Peat, its was Samoa A versus Connacht A, it bears little relation to Saturday's match
Peat I know there will be big changes but I refuse to believe the gap as A TEAM is that big from a loss to a Connacht A team to beating Ireland in Aviva will be big turn around. I also stated reasons such as we have more time together etc (the Irish team have a camp every month)
On the question about Micko. I think he is an excellent personality and leader in a dressing room and an superb squad player at provincal level. A great man to fill in for the 2 lads but isn't international standard.
On the question about Micko. I think he is an excellent personality and leader in a dressing room and an superb squad player at provincal level. A great man to fill in for the 2 lads but isn't international standard.
havnt left a post in quiet some time but would like to comment on the series so far.
must admit, last week i was ****** Sean O Brien wasnt handed the start. While he isnt an outright poacher, he is the best replacement for Wallace and with that should come game time against the best.. i hope the heightened spin about his omssion last week wont affect his game this week and he goes on to have a stormer as he has done for Leinster this season. I also hope this isnt Kidney giving him a token run to please the public and we see Wallace (who i have nothing against only i believe his time is up) back in.
Delighted to see Fitzgearld in at 15. Have watched him closely with the last two seasons and can see him screaming to be involved. Imo He has not lived up to potential yet but this i believe is primarily down to playing 11. At 15 he can counter and can enter the line at will. he looks to be a stepper with a genuine brain for the game. I think either himself or earls are better for 15 than the overrated Kearney who hasnt played well in over 12 months. Trying not to sound too condescending, To me he is living off reputation and is currently hiding in the long grass, the odd try here or there is the exception. The advantage with Kearney was his catch and kick game, but is inability to beat any tackler means he is fast becomming obselete. Trimble probably deserves a run but wouldnt make my team on any day. My back three (with an eye to the future) would be 15. fitz 14.bowe 11. earls
Inside centre is becomming a slack area for us imo with the lack of genuine 12s in the country to challenge Darcy and Wallace. While Wallace plays clever kidney style rugby, he still isnt the answer and lacks something to make the jersey his. Darcy like Kearny is becomming obselete. his game is now too easy to read for opposing defenses and cannot remember him consistenly making line breaks this year. Maybe BOD could be looked at here. But who plays 13.. I dont think Earls is a good enough passer to play centre so McFadden, Cave anyone..
We are also short well in the front five. Happy to see Toner tried but will be surprised if he ever makes the cut. I remember when O Connell jumped onto the scene. This big aggressive foxy demon, tormenting lineouts and rucks. Thats the pre-requisite i feel and Toner doesnt strike me as that. O Callaghan is another hiding in the long grass and Bob Casey for the want of a better word has been robbed of an international call-up. what does O Callaghan or O Driscoll do that he could not.. O Conell and especially Flannery (our only viable hooker) are baly missed. Best is a holy show! Hopefully Cronin can stake some reasonable claim on the no. 2 shirt which has been owned by some of the finest hookers the world game has seen.
What is the deal with Ross, can anyone tell me.??.there has to be some reason he isnt making it? buckley can play but cant scrum or lift meaning you cannot start him. court is thrown into both positions, a jack of all trades but a master of none.. Why not give Ross a go?
Unhappy stringer is our best option at 9... At 32? this cannot be the way forward but the others are cat replacements, eg. Reddan last saturday. But he will have to do untill O Leary is back.. O Gara is back in the hot seat and rightly so. I was peed for Sexton but he must learn how to run a game. Granted its tough behind a beaten pack but i believe he has the talent and will be better for this.
With a look to the Samoa game, we must get the basics right. Treat them with respect by playing to hammer them, protect our own ball and steal what we can to get our back line moving. Go through the phases to break up play to suck their cover in and then our backs can invent. Its pointless trying to play against a standup defense with little or no ground work done. If we cannot muster a decent scrum and lineout, then we cannot be considered a respectable international force. If we lose or do not perform, God help us v the all blacks.
sorry for the long winded spin, but that makes up for 8 months of absense!!!!
must admit, last week i was ****** Sean O Brien wasnt handed the start. While he isnt an outright poacher, he is the best replacement for Wallace and with that should come game time against the best.. i hope the heightened spin about his omssion last week wont affect his game this week and he goes on to have a stormer as he has done for Leinster this season. I also hope this isnt Kidney giving him a token run to please the public and we see Wallace (who i have nothing against only i believe his time is up) back in.
Delighted to see Fitzgearld in at 15. Have watched him closely with the last two seasons and can see him screaming to be involved. Imo He has not lived up to potential yet but this i believe is primarily down to playing 11. At 15 he can counter and can enter the line at will. he looks to be a stepper with a genuine brain for the game. I think either himself or earls are better for 15 than the overrated Kearney who hasnt played well in over 12 months. Trying not to sound too condescending, To me he is living off reputation and is currently hiding in the long grass, the odd try here or there is the exception. The advantage with Kearney was his catch and kick game, but is inability to beat any tackler means he is fast becomming obselete. Trimble probably deserves a run but wouldnt make my team on any day. My back three (with an eye to the future) would be 15. fitz 14.bowe 11. earls
Inside centre is becomming a slack area for us imo with the lack of genuine 12s in the country to challenge Darcy and Wallace. While Wallace plays clever kidney style rugby, he still isnt the answer and lacks something to make the jersey his. Darcy like Kearny is becomming obselete. his game is now too easy to read for opposing defenses and cannot remember him consistenly making line breaks this year. Maybe BOD could be looked at here. But who plays 13.. I dont think Earls is a good enough passer to play centre so McFadden, Cave anyone..
We are also short well in the front five. Happy to see Toner tried but will be surprised if he ever makes the cut. I remember when O Connell jumped onto the scene. This big aggressive foxy demon, tormenting lineouts and rucks. Thats the pre-requisite i feel and Toner doesnt strike me as that. O Callaghan is another hiding in the long grass and Bob Casey for the want of a better word has been robbed of an international call-up. what does O Callaghan or O Driscoll do that he could not.. O Conell and especially Flannery (our only viable hooker) are baly missed. Best is a holy show! Hopefully Cronin can stake some reasonable claim on the no. 2 shirt which has been owned by some of the finest hookers the world game has seen.
What is the deal with Ross, can anyone tell me.??.there has to be some reason he isnt making it? buckley can play but cant scrum or lift meaning you cannot start him. court is thrown into both positions, a jack of all trades but a master of none.. Why not give Ross a go?
Unhappy stringer is our best option at 9... At 32? this cannot be the way forward but the others are cat replacements, eg. Reddan last saturday. But he will have to do untill O Leary is back.. O Gara is back in the hot seat and rightly so. I was peed for Sexton but he must learn how to run a game. Granted its tough behind a beaten pack but i believe he has the talent and will be better for this.
With a look to the Samoa game, we must get the basics right. Treat them with respect by playing to hammer them, protect our own ball and steal what we can to get our back line moving. Go through the phases to break up play to suck their cover in and then our backs can invent. Its pointless trying to play against a standup defense with little or no ground work done. If we cannot muster a decent scrum and lineout, then we cannot be considered a respectable international force. If we lose or do not perform, God help us v the all blacks.
sorry for the long winded spin, but that makes up for 8 months of absense!!!!
Enjoyed Reading the book 
.
But seriously you actually have made alot of points there I agree with. I disagree on comment Earls can't pass because I know he can.
On SOB I agree if he plays well against a lower nation it tells us nothing. I know Wallace has it in drawer to perform against SA and NZ so let's see can SOB it them games he should be playing.
Also Luke Fitz does need his talent involved more and not wasted on the wing. Should be our 12
. But seriously you actually have made alot of points there I agree with. I disagree on comment Earls can't pass because I know he can.
On SOB I agree if he plays well against a lower nation it tells us nothing. I know Wallace has it in drawer to perform against SA and NZ so let's see can SOB it them games he should be playing.
Also Luke Fitz does need his talent involved more and not wasted on the wing. Should be our 12
isaac4leinster
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I mentioned him on my rugby video site and I thought you might like to visit and see what you think.
HAHA.. thought it was a short story myself!!!
Can i reiterate that Munstermuffin, he probably can pass as i have seen him throw a few for munster but imho, not sure if he has the vision or inventivness of a top centre: regarding earls...Maybe you have seen other evidence! I just think like Fitz when he gets the ball in the back three theres an element of excitment and id love to see both on the pitch!
Not sure if Fitzgearld has the kicking game to play at centre, but sure darcy rarely kicks.. or if he has the physique..just looking forward to seeing him at 15, i think he could be lethal..
totally agree re. SOB.. the man was wronged v SA.. This guy is a wrecking ball in broken play but there are probably question marks over his ability to compete v mc caw/pocock.. but we'll never know if hes on the bench.. Going away from him and staying with the backrow: Muldoon is another who impresses me.. seems a real warrior and munster would do little wrong in signing the likes of him to replace the likes of Quinlan
Can i reiterate that Munstermuffin, he probably can pass as i have seen him throw a few for munster but imho, not sure if he has the vision or inventivness of a top centre: regarding earls...Maybe you have seen other evidence! I just think like Fitz when he gets the ball in the back three theres an element of excitment and id love to see both on the pitch!
Not sure if Fitzgearld has the kicking game to play at centre, but sure darcy rarely kicks.. or if he has the physique..just looking forward to seeing him at 15, i think he could be lethal..
totally agree re. SOB.. the man was wronged v SA.. This guy is a wrecking ball in broken play but there are probably question marks over his ability to compete v mc caw/pocock.. but we'll never know if hes on the bench.. Going away from him and staying with the backrow: Muldoon is another who impresses me.. seems a real warrior and munster would do little wrong in signing the likes of him to replace the likes of Quinlan
Muldoon is a good player but his heart is Connacht and we respect that.
On the Earls issues I have seen his vision and passing and it is good but only way he will get it to improve further is by playing games at this level.
On the Earls issues I have seen his vision and passing and it is good but only way he will get it to improve further is by playing games at this level.
isaac4leinster
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Earls is a great finisher, but you can tell by looking at him as he plays that he started off as a flanker. He has very little awarness of players around, he has one direction forward. He has a fair bit of gas and will finisher tries but his future at international level is on the wing.
Earls proved his class in u20 6nations few years ago as a 13 and if you see him as much as I do u can see he has all the skills but needs experience
I think Earls could be a great 13. Most young players always start by making runs and going forwards as time goes on he will mature and have a better understanding about how to use his team aswell as him self he just needs o take his time and get some more experience. Trimble needs to take his oppourtunity here. He is probably our most physical winger but he must shine to even be considered a better option than Bowe or Fitzgerald.
My bench (from the Irish squad) would be
16) Varley
17) Ross
18) D. Ryan
19) Ferris
20) Boss
21) Sexton
22) Earls
My bench (from the Irish squad) would be
16) Varley
17) Ross
18) D. Ryan
19) Ferris
20) Boss
21) Sexton
22) Earls
I've a feeling Sexton will be rested and I'd nearly expect Johne Murphy ahead of Earls. I've a suspicion they are possibly rehabbing keiths ankle further and getting him right for next week
Sam Owen
First XV
Thank you zac you are absolutely correct, you definately know Rugby from an international standpoint. Samoan Rugby players are all over the world, many of them star in the All Blacks. Actually Samoans have been in the All Blacks every year since the 1987 world cup before that it was Bryan Williams a great winger in his day.
Here are some Samoan Rugby players, please note that these are only players to have played for the All Blacks and doesnt include the high profile northren hemisphere (i.e Mapusua, the Tuilagis, Connachts Tauaso Ofisa and Fa'amausili and many more) playing Samoans and the southren hemisphere playing Samoans (which is too much to name both AUS, NZ and Samoa)...
- Olo Brown - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Frank Bunce - former rugby player for Manu Samoa & All Blacks
- Jerry Collins - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Michael Jones - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Rudi Wulf - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Chris Masoe - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Mils Muliaina - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Ma'a Nonu - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Rodney So'oialo - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Isaia Toeava - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Ofisa Junior Tonu'u former rugby player for Manu Samoa & All Blacks
- Va'aiga Tuigamala - former rugby player for Manu Samoa & All Blacks
- Tana Umaga - rugby player & former captain for the All Blacks
- Brian Williams - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Neemia Tialata - rugby player for the All Blacks
- John Schwalgar - rugby player for the All Blacks
- John Afoa - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Brad Mika - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Ross Filipo - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Jerome Kaino - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Mose Tuiali'i - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Kevin Senio - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Keven Mealamu - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Benson Stanley - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Victor Vito (rugby player) - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Jeremy Stanley - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Joe Stanley - rugby player for the All Blacks
- John Schuster - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Frank Solomon - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Dave Solomon - rugby player for the All Blacks
- William Birtwhistle - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Eroni Clarke - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Graeme Bachop - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Lelia Masaga - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Stephen Bachop former rugby player for Manu Samoa & All Blacks
- Alama Ieremia former rugby player for Manu Samoa & All Blacks
- Andrew Blowers - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Sosene Anesi - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Ben Atiga - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Casey Laulala - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Filo Tiatia - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Pat Lam former rugby player for Manu Samoa & All Blacks
- Keith Lowen - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Dylan Mika - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Sonny Bill Williams - rugby player for the All Blacks & former Kiwis rugby league player, boxer
- Josh Kronfeld - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Aaron Mauger - rugby player for the All Blacks
- Christian Cullen - rugby player for the All Blacks
Sheesh, take the Samoans out of the ABs and you're left with slim pickings!
lucky number 7
International
Jeepers thats a massive contingent....I knew the kiwis drew from the Islands but thats madness...I would never have thought Cullen was a samoan though :/
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