I can’t echo Bando’s sentiments enough
3 times is plenty enough Kev.
If this doesnt get you in the mood, I dont know what will
Where did you see this Anto?
Have no huge issue with this team for the US match but Trimble was out best back from what I saw (all bar English match) in the warm up games, best by a distance. Would be surprised if he wont start against Oz and their physical wing threat. Earls was stink from what I saw and heard he was as bad against England. Hardly deserved to make the squad on form but I guess his ‘X’ factor and versatility got him in.
Think if team is correct its a huge chance for Jennings to get 80 mins in. I think it is actually a possibility SOB wont start against Oz as lunatic as that may seem. We need to keep something in reserve and Ferris is too much of a risk off the bench if he breaks down. He may want to start Ferris to try to dominate the breakdown area (not in a 7 role but more in a destroyer of there ball, hitting our own rucks etc). Bring SOB off the bench on 50 mins then when Ox are tiring. Im no fan of Jennings but SOB doesnt convince as a 7 and not sure using all his enwergy in that position is best use of resources. We are overstacked at 6 though with Ryan covering the position as well, as does Leamy who is far more a 7 than an 8. This is the biggest call of the competition for me.
McFadden deserves to start at 12. Needs a game there but guess Darcy will be asked to prove his fitness.
T_E- Trimble doesnt play very much at all in the centre for Ulster, they have loads of better options there. His skills arent good enough and he is defnitely very much a wing at this stage although would think his first international caps were probably as a centre??
Murray would be an interesting call. Having seen him extensively at U20 level, AIL level and at Munster A and Munster level I have to say (pains me as a Munster fan), but I am not convinced he is good enough just yet. He has a bit about him alright and is a strong defender and kicks reasonably well. He hasnt been seen too often behind a beaten pack though and Im not sure on what we have seen him pushed to his limit, starting against Genia now would be a massive ask for him, if he starts against the US that would be a big indication it is in Kidneys mind though. Its a strange decision if they go with it because you should be playing the combinations together here at this stage.
Cant fucking wait.
Nailed on I think. Played in 03 and 00 and won by 84 and 102 respectively. They have picked a strong side with Carter and McCaw included. The Tonga 10 was playing for Clonakility in the AIL a few years ago. Says it all.
Other bets I like
To score try in 80 mins
McCaw- 13/10 (disclaimer here may only play a half to save from injury so beware)
Dagg Hat Trick 5/1
SB Williams Hat Trick 15/2
there is a separate thread set up for world cup betting lads
I’d certainly have Flannery in as well as Cullen at very least in the 22.hard to believe Trimble isnt starting. He hasn’t been considered as a centre in a long time. If earls and D’Arcy are being included we are picking some players seriously out of form. If Murray is going to figure now is the time to put him in with Sexton as opposed to throwing him in cold against Oz. I’d like to see Ferris at 7 and leave SO’B at 6.
Looking forward to it also. If nothing else hope rugby lads show same spirit as our footballers.
cheers db will move this.
Not sure if I have ever seen Ferris playing 7 Lar have you? Certainly wouldnt be opposed to trying it, he would make as good a hand of it as SOB Id guess, hes v tall alright though so not sure how he would get on with the ground work,.
Yeah he has played there few times for ulster.played there as recently as last season.I think kidney would have tried him there earlier only for injuries
I think the team is a mixture of the starting side and one or two experiments. I’d be astonished if Trimble doesn’t start against Australia. I think this is a chance for Earls to find some form and for Murphy and Bowe to prove they’re over their injuries. It’s not a big risk to take but I can’t see that being our first choice back three Dan.
D’Arcy is very lucky to be playing. He has been given countless* opportunities to play himself into form and hasn’t taken them. He’s gone on tours before when he’s been struggling for form and despite being trusted with starts he hasn’t delivered. I think it’s a big mistake not having a look at McFadden.
I’m hopeful about Murray but would have the same reservations as Dan. We remain short in that position (and probably jettisoned Stringer too quickly a few years back) but Murray has a lot of catching up to do to become a decent international scrum half.
For the back row I think we have to find a way to include O’Brien and Ferris. For all the talk about genuine opensides plenty of teams don’t have one and if we don’t have someone with enough class to play there we should go with our two best flankers.
- actually very countable but that sounds shit.
What TOP sides dont have one?
NZ- McCaw
Oz- Pokock
SA- Broussow
Fr-Dusatoir
France maybe tend to play similar to Ireland with a more versatile back row there. Not sure its the best option though. Problem is we just dont have one, and playing SOB there is tiring him in a position where it is questionable if he is more effective than Jennings in. And leaves us woefully short of an impact player on the bench. Its a tricky one but he has been (relatively) poor there any time Iv seen him. It does seem absolutely ludicrous to leave him out though I agree and I am merely speculating.
As your paragraph after the list implies I don’t think Dusatoir is an exclusive 7 in the way McCaw or Pocock are. He’s obviously an excellent flanker but he’s not really the same type of groundhog player that everyone craves. The best teams have a great 7 but we don’t have one so I’d prefer to play Ferris and O’Brien than to put Jennings in there. I don’t think we’re strong enough to consider leaving someone on the bench. If we feel O’Brien is being hampered by playing at 7 then I’d just switch Ferris.
Ireland team to face USA in Rugby World Cup Pool C on Sunday, 11 September at 7am (Irish time)
15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O’Driscoll, 12 Gordon D’Arcy, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Paul O’Connell, 4 Donncha O’Callaghan, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Tom Court
Replacements: 16 Jerry Flannery, 17 Tony Buckley, 18 Donnacha Ryan, 19 Denis Leamy, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 Ronan O’Gara, 22 Andrew Trimble
The rumoured team and bench was spot on so. Flannery for Best is my biggest gripe. Happy to see Murray, Murphy and Jennings get their chance, i’d have gone with them myself. I’m all for Jennings but he has to deliver. We need him to stop Pocock. Trimble can feel very unlucky, maybe he is been rested. Sexton has to pull the finger out now, he hasn’t been great, Darcy even more so, I’d have had McFadden on the bench if Darcy is having another disaster.
Good shout to get the team right Anto. 
Tonga should cover the handicap. NZ by around 40. NZ try first scoring play is 8/11, looks a good bet.
What a trio of fresh thoughts Totti, Anto and Chewy Louie have been.
Forgot to mention Best in my posts last night. There is no justification for having him ahead of Flannery as far as I’m concerned.