Now I know a few of you will bemoan the fact Flannery got the nod ahead of Best but he has been playing rather well lately.Also I think this proves that Kidney had no input to team selection otherwise all 8 Munster forwards would have been picked
Seriously though pretty exciting backline with Fitzgerald and Kearney along with Bowe and of course BOD.Horgan in his correct position if back to his best(otherwise his correct position would have been in the Royal County with his feet up).Just hope we can get them useful ball.It will be interesting to see how we hold up defensively as well.BOD could certainly have a busy day.
It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.
Ultimately, I think Flannery deserved the nod for this game. His form in the Heineken Cup has been superb and it's hard to argue with his selection. At least common sense prevailed and Jackman was kept away from the 22. All in all, I think this is the best team Ireland have at the moment. Quinlan deserves it on form, as does Kearney. I'd have been more tempted to go with Murphy on the bench because he could change the game better than Dempsey and I'd have given Boss the nod, simply because Stringer looks like he's finished as a first choice at Munster. Boss hasn't had a good season and really wouldn't merit it on form but I thought this would have been a good opportunity to move on from Stringer. All in all, that's the starting XV I'd have gone with, although I'd probably have had O'Kelly, Jennings, Boss and Murphy on the bench. It's an exciting backline, however, although I share your defensive worry - Fitzgerald showed up well in defence against the Baabaas but didn't look confident when big guys ran straight at him. I'd imagine a lot of backrows running down the channels towards Fitzgerald in the open scuffles.
Quinny has a thigh problem wont be playing, leamy in with jennings coming on to the bench....
Afew things, what are strings and dempsey doing on the bench. surely murphy and TOL should be there...
Is anyone else worried by the serious lack of pace now in the irish backline?
downsouthdukin wrote:Quinny has a thigh problem wont be playing, leamy in with jennings coming on to the bench....
Afew things, what are strings and dempsey doing on the bench. surely murphy and TOL should be there...
Is anyone else worried by the serious lack of pace now in the irish backline?
TOL is in Canada with the A Team along with Sexton. However, they should be the bench warmers for Reddan and OGara in the Autumn internationals or 6 Nations
I agree with you that Murphy should be on the bench - he arrived on the same plane as BOD and Reddan
downsouthdukin wrote: surely murphy and TOL should be there...
Is anyone else worried by the serious lack of pace now in the irish backline?
Is Murphy even there yet ?
Backline is as fast as we have so what would you suggest ?
True Rooster, surely the major pace issues lie with Shaggy and ROG who are both incumbent! Unless downsouthdukin was using a veiled George Hook-esque reference to Tommy Bowe!
Jackie Brown wrote:Radical selection by the new coaches....................................
A radical change in attitude/direction would do for me. Add some Munster attitude to the performance against the Barbarians and it'll be a step in the right direction.
I thought it was daft initially not to bring sexton with the main squad - but actually it's completely sensible they want sexton and TOL to get decent gametime instead of sitting on the bench.. decent selection, flannery definitely deserves to start on his recent form, and i prefer leamy at 6.
[The Artist Formerly Known as Caolan]
On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero - Tyler Durden
what a paranoid lot yous boyos are, kearney, bowe and shaggy must be the slowest back 3 in test rugby.
rooster, i was making the point is anyone worried by the lack of pace in the backline i wasnt offering solutions or asking for any just wanted to hear other peoples opinions..
hickie is a big loss
think its correct to have sexton at the churchill as hes better off getting game time rather then doing a paddy wallace. however cant see how TOL could keep strings out all season and not get his place on the test team
they want sexton and TOL to get decent gametime instead of sitting on the bench.. decent selection, flannery definitely deserves to start on his recent form, and i prefer leamy at 6.