I hope some members of the IRFU occasionally visit this site to realise the apathy of the average rugby Fan to all things to all things concerning the Irish rugby team occasioned by their decision to exile two of the best rugby players from Ulster evidenced by the large number of comments regarding the team selection and performance of the Irish team.
With regards to team selected to play the ABs the addition of JoB is not surprising considering Hansen departed early against the Scots and faced with an ageing AB pack McCarthy instead of Baird is not surprising fine player that Baird is he lacks the physical presence of McCarthy.
Within this carapace of skepticism there lives an optimist
McCarthy looks a player of huge potential. Baird is unlucky but I’d say it’s the right call. McCarthy could replace Henderson at TH lock, McCarthys a big man, althletic, and powerful. Well capable of some dirty hard carries in the tight, and causing issues at the breakdown. I think we definitely have a better front row, and generally a better pack / forward bench. Think in an arm wrestle McCarthy could match up favourably and add value.
Baird is quality, but McCarthyoffers a bit more grunt in the tight. The more we tie in NZ pack in the tight the better.
