three weeks away now…Murphy, Flannery and Kearney all injured, D’Arcy cried off today but don’t know how serious it is…
Anyone care to make a few predictions…England and France at home, the others away…
My team v Italy
Earls
Bowe-O’Driscoll-D’Arcy-Fitz
Sexton-O’Leary
Ferris-Heaslip-O’Brien
O’Connell-O’Callaghan
Court-Varley-Ross
Subs:
Cronin
Buckley
Cronin
Cullen
Leamy
Stringer
O’Gara
Mcfadden
Although I don’t expect that team to play, especially the front row
Hard to see Earls starting at FB. Would imagine Fitz will get nod there ahead of him. Id have McFadden ahead of Earls for the other wing spot, or McFadden at 12 instead of Darcy and Earls on wing if Darcy isnt fit. Cue Larryduff outrage 
Reddan will probably keep partnership with Sexton.
That pack could start, depends on how Munster go tomorrow Id guess. Never thought Id say it but you could make a case for the Leinster backrow, Jennings hard done by enough not to be mentioned, and I was never a fan of his.
If I was picking it
Fitz
Bowe McFadden
Darcy BOD
Reddan Sexton
Court Cronin Ross
POC DOC
SOB Heaslip Ferris
I wouldn’t have Jennings near the team to be honest. He’s good enough for Leinster but he’s not international class.
A backrow of O’Brien, Heaslip, Ferris is pretty special though. All sound defensively, all big ball carriers, all have good hands.
My scrum halves would be Stringer then O’Leary but I reckon Stringer will be third choice.
I suppose today will determine alot of where Stringer is. Reddan has improved alot in recent times, but i don’t believe, like Jennings, he will ever be International class. I’d have Boss as 3rd choice International actually, with Stringer 1 & Tomas 2, depending on opposition.
That Backrow is almost South African like in potential, would love to see it. Ferris was looking back to a bit of form yesterday, although i didn’t see all the game.
I’d go with Cronin over Varley too, and i’d certainly be having Ross on the squad (i never thought i’d see the day :o ). I’d go with Court and Healy, with Ross coming in. Court’s adaptability must be used as well.
On form to right now, Cullen has to be ahead of Donnacha, but they rarely change pairings. I really expect to see Paul O’ Connell back to his very best in the next few months. What i’d do for a Nathan Hines type player for Ireland. This is my team i’d like to see right at this moment.
Luke Fitz
Bowe - Bo’D - McFadden - Earls
Sexton - Stringer
S O’B - Heaslip - Ferris
Po’C - Cullen
Healy - Cronin - Court
2 Munster! :o
Just the way it is i suppose.
Ferris is gonna have to be a bit smarter about how he plays the game.
His all out style is very entertaining to watch but his career will be ruined by injury if he keeps playing like a human battering ram.
Gerry Thornley and Linehan and numerous others have been saying this for a while. But i’m not sure about it. Plenty player’s around the world played like that for 10,11 years in his position.
Fitz
Bowe
BOD
D’arcy
Trimble
Sexton
Stringer
Heaslip
Ferris
O’Brien
POC
Tuohy
Court
Cronin
Healy
Would you really not like to see Mac Fadden Lar? I know D’Arcy was lauded in the Nov. Series, but i thought he wasn’t that great bar 30-40 mins against NZ.
I have changed my mind on Earls as well, and agree Trimble should be there. I like the look of Touhy and he is developing nicely, but i’d have Cullen in there for now. I think DO’C needs a break, he’s lost that appetite. No shame really, he’s been going ridiculously hard for 11-12 years.
Fitzgerald isn’t up to it at Full back yet. Would be seriously worried about him there. Is there any realistic options there at the moment apart from Earls?
I thought O’Callaghan was really poor at the weekend and never learned the discipline that you’d expect from a top player. I’d move him off the team now and Cullen or Tuohy would be well capable of playing instead of him.
It was terrible lack of discipline, but it had the sign of a man who’s had enough. I think some of the Munster lads are trying too hard at this stage.
Yeah it was characteristic in a way which has always been a negative in his career but you’d imagine there were elements of frustration in there. His form isn’t good enough to justify his selection though.
Micko deserved to start on form. Not that it would have made any difference, but he deserved to start.
Tactics were a shambles.
I think Kidney really starts need to start rewarding players for their international form more. I wanted Wallace to start against Argentina but D’arcy was very good and deserves to keep his place imo. McFadden perhaps for the 22 all right. Think Spence is a real player but too soon for him given other options and Kidneys conservatism/
Trimble has played consistently better than Earls for a long time now. Would like to see Tuohy feature as he has great potential and brings an awful lot to the plate but I wouldn’t argue if Cullen was selected. DO’C shouldn’t be in 22 imo.
To be fair, PO’C is only going to be there on rep, nothing else. But i have a feeling he is going to be really good again in 6N.
I would go with Cullen for a start, with a view to involving Touhy. DO’C will be back, he’s just never really been under that much pressure for a place and is in bad need of some rest.
I personally think Earls is being ruined in Munster, and the sooner he gets some schooling the better. He doesn’t really know his position and its clear he’s being told to go for it every time, which is ridiculous.
bowe and play mcfadden on the wing
Agree 100% on Earls and have been saying it on here since he broke thorugh. No appreciation of the requirements to play at centre and does not have the skills either IMHO . Reputation built on pace and the fact that he was a decent centre in teams below the top level. He should concentrate on the back three for the time being at least. Shouldn’t even be in 22 for 6N. Shocking indictment of Munster that Earls has not trained on. Best back to come through in the pro era and he is going backwards by the week. With all respect to Jason Holland, who I was a huge fan of as a player, he has played in two backlines in Ireland, Munster and as player coach with Midleton. Both would have been noted for nothing but pragmatic gameplan, unfortuntely he has added nothing to Munsters play and I think the likes of Earls & Mafi are two good examples of this
As I said here a while back Id have McFadden ahead of him, in fact Id have McFadden ahead of Darcy too. Wev seen what Darcy can do, Id like to see how McF would step up.
Agree on all that. Holland isn’t a coach at all Dan, he was the video guy and got promoted, simple as that.
McGhan has made poor decision after poor decision. I don’t think having Foley, Galway etc involved is doing them any good either. There is no new ideas and i get the feeling those lads are blowing smoke up peoples hole. Foley should have gone to Connacht or somewhere first.
I think Munster have just become their own worst enemies now and 10-12 of the other top clubs in europe have passed them out in approach, attitude, discipline and most importantly integration of young players, over seas players and different styles of play. It seems there is this belligerent stand off between Munster and the ref’s as well, and that is just retarded, no other way to describe it.
I just remembered that Tom McGuirk suggested over the weekend that Kidney should play ROG at outhalf and Sexton at FB cos he played there in school :blink: :huh: :lol:
Duffy an outside bet for full back
But think he’ll go with Bowe or Fitz
If it was me I’d pick:
Bowe
Fitz
BO’D
McFadden
Trimble
Sexton
Stringer
Healy
Cronin
Ross
Cullen
PO’C
Ferris
SO’B
Heaslip