Ireland 6N Squad

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Well now, I don't want to be ungenerous but there was a string of offsides 2 or 3 metres from Italy's line during the first 7 minutes and no card, no penalty try. I'd suggest that that was a tad inconsistent.

I thought it was bloody outrageous.

[SerjeantWildgoose]

In terms of trying to keep the slightest hint of competition in the game, I suspect that they were both the right calls; outrageous, but right.

Where on earth do Italy go from here?

[switchskier]

In terms of trying to keep the slightest hint of competition in the game, I suspect that they were both the right calls; outrageous, but right.

Where on earth do Italy go from here?

Two weeks of conditioning effort so that they can at least compete physically in Twickenham and keep things respectable. Short term realistic aims

[Eugene Wrayburn]

In terms of trying to keep the slightest hint of competition in the game, I suspect that they were both the right calls; outrageous, but right.

Where on earth do Italy go from here?

Stop kicking ball away quite so much - what worked for Scotland against us won't necessarily work for Italy and we were unlikely to be quite so profligate twice in a row.
Tighten up defence. Ok so at times they were unlucky against us but even a misfiring Welsh team breached their defence with regularity.
Work out how they are going to use their backs. At some point they've got to prioritise passing rather than just looking at running ability

[Eugene Wrayburn]

In terms of trying to keep the slightest hint of competition in the game, I suspect that they were both the right calls; outrageous, but right.

Where on earth do Italy go from here?

Two weeks of conditioning effort so that they can at least compete physically in Twickenham and keep things respectable. Short term realistic aims

There's bugger all they can do in conditioning work that will make a difference in 2 weeks and if you want to see what conditioning work instead of playing with a ball can do to a team have a look at Ireland in RWC 2007.

[kk67]

In terms of trying to keep the slightest hint of competition in the game, I suspect that they were both the right calls; outrageous, but right.

Where on earth do Italy go from here?

Two weeks of conditioning effort so that they can at least compete physically in Twickenham and keep things respectable. Short term realistic aims

There's bugger all they can do in conditioning work that will make a difference in 2 weeks and if you want to see what conditioning work instead of playing with a ball can do to a team have a look at Ireland in RWC 2007.

It's not easy to play without the ball. Ireland specialise in depriving teams of possession.
Italy's only b-plan is to go to the hands......unfortunately that's also their a-plan.

[hellovating]

For France

Forwards:

Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) (Captain), Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster), Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster), Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster), Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Cork Con/Munster), Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht), Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster), John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster), Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster), CJ Stander (Munster), Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), James Tracy (UCD/Leinster)

Backs:

Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Andrew Conway (Munster), Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster), Craig Gilroy (Bangor/Ulster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster), Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster), Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster), Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster), Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht), Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster), Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster), Tiernan O'Halloran (Buccaneers/Connacht), Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster), Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)

[hellovating]

VDF out, Leavy in
Dillian out, Roux in

[Spiffy]

VDF out, Leavy in
Dillian out, Roux in

That will mean a starting backrow of SOB/Heaslip/Stander with POM on the bench (just the man for France). Leavy's day will come, a very good flanker who seems able to play both 7 and 6.
Tough on Dillane - he has played well and if anything should have had more game time. Don't think he deserves to be dropped. Roux is bigger - that's about all you can say for him. In any case, I doubt that Schmidt will look beyond Toner/Ryan/Henderson (two starters + one bench) for lock at the moment.

[kk67]

VDF out, Leavy in
Dillian out, Roux in

That will mean a starting backrow of SOB/Heaslip/Stander .

Well. That looks reasonable.

[Spiffy]

VDF out, Leavy in
Dillian out, Roux in

That will mean a starting backrow of SOB/Heaslip/Stander .

Well. That looks reasonable.

It is. But POM will be chomping for a run off the bench and I hope he gets one against France. Always plays with a lot of aggression and is a great line out option, either as a target on own throw or disruptor on the opposition's. Also keep your eye on Dan Leavy as one for the not too distant future. He can play 7 or 6, with real dog, speed and is a beast at the breakdown. I think he could nail down a starting slot in a season or two. He's about 22 or so.
Ireland are well off for backrowers now. I'd like to see how a combination of POM/Stander (8)/Leavy would work at some stage. If Ireland were to go for a 6+2 split on the match day 23, they could have Henderson/POM/Leavy all on the bench against a big French pack, as well as a spare front row. Don't think Schmidt would risk that mind.

[francoisfou]

The good news for you Irish boys is that Vincent Clerc (who quite likes playing in Dublin) will not be on the plane this year!
Although few are expecting a French win, there's always a chance that the French may click and it could be on Saturday.

[SerjeantWildgoose]

You are the fecking life and soul of the party we've long missed on here!

I for one am glad to see that wee Vinty is no longer coming to torment us, but be assured he is still the thing of every nightmare.

Scotland by 3.

[francoisfou]

Yep. Fond memories of that last minute try at Croke!

Scotland by 4.

[BBD]

Scotland by Jove!

[kk67]

Je riens nein.

[SerjeantWildgoose]

Scotland by Jiminy!

[francoisfou]

Cricket

[francoisfou]

Yer opponents tomorrow:

France: Spedding; Nakaitaci, Lamerat, Fickou, Huget; Lopez, Serin; Baille, Guirado (c), Slimani, Vahaamahina, Maestri; Le Roux, Gourdon, Picamoles.

Replacements: Tolofua, Antonio, Ben Arous, Devedec, Ollivon, Machenaud, Chavancy, Camara.

Now that ain't a bad team. If King Louis plays as well as he did against England, you'll be in for a tough time. Gourdon on the flank is a goodun too.
Serin is a scrum half who's only going to get better. On a wing is Huget who can score tries from anywhere, although a Vincent Clerc he ain't (Serj breathes a sigh of relief!), but Huget has history of feigning foul play so I won't be too upset if he's flattened by one of yer ugly feckers.
Another one you can flatten is that Saffer Spedding who should be nowhere near the French team!
Having said that, your boys are quite good too and I expect them to win by at least 25!

[SerjeantWildgoose]

It pains me, I must say, to see so many imports in both of our sides.

Spedding is huge and looks pretty powerful going forward. Nakaitaci is huge and looks pretty powerful going forward. Huget has a name that is huge with a t on the end and was massively impressive last 6Ns so I am surprised that he is only getting his 1st start.

This is a unique fixture as it is the only one in the season when I will not be yelling for France.

[francoisfou]

For the French, I think there are only 3 "imports", Spedding, Nakaitaci (Fiji) and Atonio (not sure which Pacific Island) but this new "5 year plan" of Laporte's could bring the number down even lower. Yes, Spedding is a big fella and more often than not seeks to bulldoze his way through rather than pass to a team-mate who could be in a better position.
Serj, you must have some froggie blood from somewhere down the line!

[SerjeantWildgoose]

I have always found the French to be the most generous and friendly supporters at club and international level - outside of Munster and Ireland, of course (And even then I'd take the French over the Jacks and Billies).

[Stones of granite]

For the French, I think there are only 3 "imports", Spedding, Nakaitaci (Fiji) and Atonio (not sure which Pacific Island) but this new "5 year plan" of Laporte's could bring the number down even lower. Yes, Spedding is a big fella and more often than not seeks to bulldoze his way through rather than pass to a team-mate who could be in a better position.
Serj, you must have some froggie blood from somewhere down the line!

During the Napleonic wars, two French spies were shipwreck off the North East coast of England. They got separated by a combination of tide and wind, and one landed on the "beach" at Hartlepool. He met a grisly end, and was hung on a gibbet for the entertainment and general edification of the population. The other washed up further down the coast, Southeast of Redcar, where he was fed bananas before integrating with the general population, and the rest, as they say is history.

[SerjeantWildgoose]

He took a holiday in Scotland - and that explains Neds and anyone from Dundee.

[hellovating]

i was at that vinny clerc game at croker. i haven't forgiven him yet.