He can be a liability in defence. Positionally good, reads are good but falls off tackle/tackles with arm
There was a kiwi on Reddit who compiled footage of earls defensive cockups
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Earls is playing better than ever. Heāll be the finest if he plays. The all blacks are the worst NZ team to ever go to a world cup.
Oh I didnāt think you were actually being serious. I wasnāt trying to do OāBrien down, I just donāt think heās lightning paced. Youāre talking about replacing Hansen who doesnāt rely on pace anyway, so I donāt think pace is a concern in selecting his replacement, I really donāt think thereās much between the three of them on that front.
Thatās just anti Leinster bias mate, you canāt say anything positive about a non-leinster player unless you also acknowledge that Leinster are the greatest of all time, apparently.
Here you go @glasagusban. Lionel is a though and through rugby man and i was a regular at the rds for about 4 months in 2007/8. Surely youāll bow to our greater knowledge.
If a kiwi off on Reddit and a man who went to a few matches fifteen year ago - putting him in the top echelon of most knowledgeable leinster rubby supporters - both said it, then who am I to argue.
Donāt mind engaging with him. To borrow the words of the great Tom Ryan @Juhniallio wouldnāt know if a rugby ball was pumped or stuffed.
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Nodding my head in agreement with the kiwi off reddit
I know more about the rubby than most rubby supporters.
Fair play to you keeping it to yourawlf
To be honest I am surprised one of Henshaw or Earls wasnāt sent home for Healy. I think heād make a big difference off the bench vs. the All Blacks.
Whilst it is positive both can play it is an injury that you canāt really rely on to not flare up (player adrenaline etc).
Hard to know who would you drop out of the two. On the one hand Henshawās injury profile isnāt great (neither is Earls) but on the other Henshaw has more upside as an onfield performer.
Perhaps a sign that Ryan may still go home.
Thatās just tearing up the reasoning for your breakdown in squad selection altogether.
Not really. We are at the quarter finals stage. We need to pick the best players available.
Rumour is Ryan is back in Dublin for a small procedure and it is hoped he will be back for a semi final if we got there.
I get keeping him around, particularly with that kind or injury although we have decent second row stocks.
Iād personally be wary of either Henshaw or Earls this weekend with those kinds of injuries.
Imo earls was brought more for what he adds off the pitch and around the squad during the week. Iād be shocked if he got game time.
They had Conway in over the summer who has barely rugby in two years.
They clearly donāt really rate any of our back options. Imo itāll be jimmy o Brien and possibly ringrose before earls.
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Iād be more comfortable with an injury time decision of a 36 year old Earls vs. anyone other than the All Blacks.
That would be an awful move for morale. It would be wrong in every way imho.
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By the sounds of it, Lowe will be fine anyway so that reduces the problem.
Second row sub then between Baird and McCarthy. Iād say it would prob be Baird as more flexibility across positions and itās not like NZ have a SA type massive pack.
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Guys, itās the #teamofus. 4 proud provinces please this week.