After what happened yesterday in New Zealand, these lads donât need an excuse but have one now. Theyâll bring home the bacon for the nation.
New Zealandâs most prominent muslim player Sonny Bill Williams in tears there earlier.
Exactly my point theyâll unite here and walk this home. everyone else be looking at them with their mouths open.
Bit of soul searching for Coach Schmidt ahead of the World Cup. By the time Japan comes around in about six months time, eight of yesterdayâs starting team in Cardiff will be over 30, well over 30 in a few cases - Rory Best 37, Jonny Sexton 34, Rob Kearney 33, Keith Earls 32, Cian Healy 32, Sean OâBrien 32, Conor Murray 30, Peter OâMahony 30.
OâBrien may have played his last game in an Irish shirt. Genuine worries over Sexton, Best and Kearney at this stage too. Schmidt was far too slow yâday in using his bench.
Yes OâBrien finished. Need an upgrade on Stander at 8 as well. Heâs too one tracked. Leavy will come back into back row so that will improve things. Murray and Sexton need to recover form or else be dropped. Henshaw back in for Bundee. Best likely to still start due to lack of any alternative. Kearney is still a solid if now unspectacular option at full back if fit.
Sexton was decent last week. Not a great Championship for him, more so on the temperament front.
Murray was rotton all tournament. Likely just a blip. Poor decision not to give Marmion a good go.
OâBrien will be certainly worried. If he doesnât get into the Leinster squad in two weekâs time for the quarter final that will be compounded. I still think he has a few good games left in the tank and is a difference maker we need, but you canât be carrying anyone.
Itâs very difficult to know with Kearney as he has had some shocking games before and come back. Heâll be in the 30 come what may.
If anybody played their way out of the team yesterday, it was Healy.
Simon Zeboâs blacklisting is beginning to come home to roost.
I donât understand why Joey Carbery hasnât been tried at full back, or even Andrew Conway.
The positions where Ireland have the biggest problems are full back, blind side back row, and hooker.
They had problems with pretty much every position yesterday but in most cases players should be able to play their way back into form - or there are better players available in the position.
Ireland might be better off giving youth its fling in the problem positions. Wales did so in 2011 and reaped the rewards.
A strongest Ireland XV for the World Cup could look something like:
15 Carbery
14 Larmour
13 Ringrose
12 Henshaw
11 Stockdale
10 Sexton
9 Murray
1 McGrath
2 Scannell
3 Furlong
4 Ryan
5 Henderson
6 OâMahony
7 van der Flier
8 Leavy
Now that weâve thrown everyone off the scent, the smart money is on Ireland?
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Is Schmidt gone?
Aki doesnât look like heâd get dropped if he lost a leg.
Not sure why youâd drop the form winger for a player who has done nothing yet really. I think Conway deserves a chance at FB.
Youâve dropped players playing well, kept players out of form the same as Schmidt has persisted, and selected players in positions they have no record playing in.
After the World Cup.
Please donât hate me for it. As e-coach I must do what I think is morally right for my Ireland e-team.
Declan Kidney had to do the same to Fergus McFadden. In fact every coach Fergus McFadden has ever had has had to do it to him.
I believe with every fibre of my being in these amazing guys.
Thatâs what people said to Trevor Francis when he picked Paul Warhurst at centre-forward.
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Youâve convinced me.
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Dan Leavy is OUT.
Huge loss. World class player and officer class.