Jamie Heaslip

[Lurgan Lad]

To me the first characteristic of a great number 8 is providing go forward ball, he needs to be one of the best carriers in the forwards, I just don't think Heaslip does that. O'Brien does and that is why I wouldn't have Heaslip starting, plus having O'Brien at 8 allows us to play our 3 best on form back rows. No doubt he does a lot of things well, I just don't think he has enough bulk any more.

[Bellyups]

Heaslip hasn't had a really good game for ireland for a few years. The best option would be obrien at number 8 to give that physicality and gain vital metres with Henry at open side. It's crazy that Ireland overlook a guy who is at the top of his game and an out and out open side. Since Wallace we havent had that option. Ferris Obrien and Henry would be a dream back row combination but another 2 Ulster players in the side wont happen (unless another few are dropped to make way for them). Not that I'm cynical.

[Snipe Watson]

I don't think O'Brien is the ball carrying machine he was either.
Wonder am I getting too used to wtching Nick knock them down like skittles?

[Neil F]

Snipe, how often is O'Brien in a position to carry the ball, though? Like - this is the major issue of Kidney's backrow selections, to my mind. To get any semblance of balance out of it, it also has the effect of neutralising the most pertinent aspects of the individuals' games. O'Brien put in 23 tackles and was involved in a hell of a lot of rucks, so he was always close to the action. The flipside is that when he gets the ball, he's in tight areas, not the open-spaces in which his ballcarrying would be most dangerous. I think it would be unreasonable to expect O'Brien to carry like he did when he was an unknown, of course; opposition know he carries well and target that. But that aspect of his game isn't helped by his deployment by Kidney. He's far too close to the melee to make the surges we know him for. That said, he still carried well in the tight, for my mind.

[bazzaj]

7 isnt a position where you tend to ball carry from.
It is more of a linking role in open play.
To understand this and SOBs role watch the Leinster victory over the Saints in the HEC cup final.
SOB was 7 in the first half and 6 in the second when Jennings replaced McLaughlin.
The difference was obvious.

[AndyB]

SOB wouldn't make a good No 8. He never passes or off loads. Too many times the ball dies with him when he gets tackled like when he tried to run over the top of Halfpenny and ended up conceding a pen.

[bazzaj]

When he burst on the scene he seemed to do ok from 8.
MOM in his debut against Italy away and you may recall he tore us apart at Ravenhill a few years back from that position.

[Neil F]

SOB wouldn't make a good No 8. He never passes or off loads. Too many times the ball dies with him when he gets tackled like when he tried to run over the top of Halfpenny and ended up conceding a pen.

Sure, Andy; if he's not a 7 and he's not an 8, that must make him a 6. But we can't consider him there because then he might take the shirt that O'Mahony is only keeping warm for Ferris and we can't have that, so he MUST be an 8 because Heaslip is pure dead tom kite and is only in the team because of his central contract or something...

[tommyblue]

He could do with a breather - and that's being kind

[Russ]

Hasn't caught a ball yet

[shamalicious]

Will DK take off an under performing captain?

[Russ]

Will DK take off an under performing captain?

No. It's a wet day. We need a knock on specialist on the pitch.

I get it now

Heaslip is there to knock it on

Fat Ross go down in a scrum

Fat Deccie to come on

Fat Deccie gets blame for scrum getting torn apart

Ulster's fault!

Al Jazeera's coverage is very good, Matt Stevens (I think - fat SAFFA who used to prop for Ingurland) on O'Gara coming on, after Geordan Murphy said the game was made for him, "his kicking isn't very good anymore though"

[Wee Woman]

Will DK take off an under performing captain?

Sadly no chance, the Captaincy brings the untouchable status with it.

He has been shocking though.

[Russ]

SOB is now taking all ball off kick offs, and covering where an 8 should be covering in defence and on kicks

WTF is Heaslip now doing?

[Russ]

SOB is now taking all ball off kick offs, and covering where an 8 should be covering in defence and on kicks

WTF is Heaslip now doing?

The "unseen" work.

Mmore than Radge then!