Ginger Prince for Ireland

[BaggyTrousers]

Looks like the GP is a shoo-in for the 10 shirt in the AI's as someone has busted Sexton's bake.

I recall young Keith Croissant having a busted gub in an interpro & if memory serves his jaw was wired up for 3 months.

Maybe they have a stronger super-glue these days.

[Neil F]

As much as I'm looking forward to the thought of Jackson taking the most of the opportunity, I'm surely not alone in thinking that this is close to being a disaster for Ireland. The midfield is already likely to see significant enough change and variation with that big O'Driscoll-shaped hole to fill and I'm not sure the summer selections in Argentina have revealed much to anyone about who is going to fill that shirt. Sexton and D'Arcy are likely to figure strongly in World Cup planning and Sexton not being available can only add one more unknown to the expected performance of that midfield. If Sexton is out for the Autumn, I think that's a bad time for Ireland to lose him.

[BaggyTrousers]

Maybe so Neil, I just report the news, not make it.

Not such bad news in my opinion, GP will do well & it's no harm him getting more exposure. Doubtless in a long season the break might actually be good for Sexton in the long run with the RWC fast approaching. Then if Sexton proves brittle again, at least The Ginger Price will have further experience behind him.

[Russ]

10. JACKSON
12. OLDING
13. CAVE

Southern Medya would be in meltdown

Easterby Out

[rorybestsbigbaldnoggin]

10. JACKSON
12. OLDING
13. CAVE

Southern Medya would be in meltdown

Easterby Out

Healy-Best-Ross
POC-Toner
SOB-Henry-Heaslip
Murray
Jackson
DK-Olding-Cave-Trimble
Payne

Now THAT would cause meltdown. Especially for the turnips 2 players out of 15 . . .

[bazzaj]

Worried about PJs back problem.
I hope that gets sorted first and foremost and he is fully fit and ready to play for Ulster before any hopes for him internationally.
I dont want him to get pressured into rushing to get back before he has properly recovered but the temptation to do that following the news about Sexton would be hard to resist for any young prospect.

[loosehead1984]

Good to see the end of the silly season and to be getting back to some rugby again

Neil... I agree with you but this will be an excellent opportunity for PJ to get a few games in a row for Ireland.

However, it should be interesting in the AIs as Joe will spread it around a bit for sure, so he may not play that much.

[MattMo]

10. JACKSON
12. OLDING
13. CAVE

Southern Medya would be in meltdown

Easterby Out

Healy-Best-Ross
POC-Toner
SOB-Henry-Heaslip
Murray
Jackson
DK-Olding-Cave-Trimble
Payne

Now THAT would cause meltdown. Especially for the turnips 2 players out of 15 . . .

It's probably a fair assessment of where they are at though

[Russ]

10. JACKSON
12. OLDING
13. CAVE

Southern Medya would be in meltdown

Easterby Out

Healy-Best-Ross
POC-Toner
SOB-Henry-Heaslip
Murray
Jackson
DK-Olding-Cave-Trimble
Payne

Now THAT would cause meltdown. Especially for the turnips 2 players out of 15 . . .

It's probably a fair assessment of where they are at though

Do you not know they got to the semi of Europe!

[Snipe Watson]

10. JACKSON
12. OLDING
13. CAVE

Southern Medya would be in meltdown

Easterby Out

Healy-Best-Ross
POC-Toner
SOB-Henry-Heaslip
Murray
Jackson
DK-Olding-Cave-Trimble
Payne

Now THAT would cause meltdown. Especially for the turnips 2 players out of 15 . . .

It's probably a fair assessment of where they are at though

Do you not know they got to the semi of Europe!

Fat Ross will be very lucky to keep his spot.

[ruckover]

He's struggling to keep his spot at Leinster let alone Ireland.

[Shan]

I can see both sides of this. You don't want to lose Sexton because the midfield is already in a weakened position but on the other hand you want Jackson to gain valuable international gametime.

[Shan]

Healy-Best-Ross
POC-Toner
SOB-Henry-Heaslip
Murray
Jackson
DK-Olding-Cave-Trimble
Payne

Now THAT would cause meltdown. Especially for the turnips 2 players out of 15 . . .

Causing meltdown should be the last thing on our minds. Selecting the best Ireland team is the only show in town. This team is not the best quite clearly.

If help is needed getting started with that I will just give one name- Rob Kearney.

[rumncoke]

A back line

Could read

10 Jackson
11 Trimble
12 Marshall
13 Cave/
14 Bowe
15 Payne

subs Olding and Gilroy

now that would have a meltdown of Babbling and MF

To be honest i can't see happening

10 Sexton (if fit )
11 Trimble
12 Madigan
13 Cave
14 Earls
15 Kearney

subs Jackson, Marshall/Bowe/ Gilroy Mc Fadden( take one from 4 ) and Payne

Madigan gets a nod as a starter because I think he might be Schmit's type of player and he might want to see how he copes ( a hard aggressive determined line breaker )

Olding would be the better ball player but does that fit in with how Schmit wants his 12 to play and Marshall may not quite match my description of Madigan and when trying to is prone to injury .

Plus coaches pick players they know and have confidence in which inclines the bench in McFaddens favour

Payne makes the bench because at the moment ireland lack experienced cover at full back

[Ampersand]

Payne makes the bench because at the moment ireland lack experienced cover at full back

Maybe, but do Ireland want to finish matches with 14 men?