Gleeson Called Up

thecoolfreak · Post by **thecoolfreak** » February 27th, 2006, 5:26 pm

Five Leinster players - Reggie Corrigan, Keith Gleeson, Jamie Heaslip, Denis Hickie and Rob Kearney have been called up for Ireland training this week ahead of next week's RBS 6 Nations game against Scotland...

Twelve players have been called into the Ireland training camp for this week.

Forwards: Neil Best, Reggie Corrigan, Anthony Foley, Keith Gleeson, Jamie Heaslip, Matt McCullough, Bryan Young

Backs: Tommy Bowe, Denis Hickie, Rob Kearney, John Kelly and Barry Murphy

epaddy · Post by **epaddy** » February 27th, 2006, 5:32 pm

If only it made a difference

thecoolfreak · Post by **thecoolfreak** » February 27th, 2006, 5:34 pm

If only it made a difference

Maybe, EOS fas finally realised that Wallace is better at 8 and that we need a 7 who can link up with the backs

Flash Gordon · Post by **Flash Gordon** » February 27th, 2006, 5:34 pm

What???? No Fergus Slattery????

TrueBlue · Post by **TrueBlue** » February 27th, 2006, 8:30 pm

Maybe there is a sign of good things-Gleeson is now ahead of Jennings in the pecking order...EOS must be thinking about him....

...Jesus how we need him to balance out our backrow

Duff Paddy · Post by **Duff Paddy** » February 27th, 2006, 8:44 pm

The match against Scotland will be make or break for this backrow. I'm not going to read much into the Welsh match as they were just so poor. Scotland play a proper fast rucking game and if Wallace isn't up for it, he'll be shown up.

glic · Post by **glic** » February 28th, 2006, 1:05 pm

Duff Paddy wrote:The match against Scotland will be make or break for this backrow. I'm not going to read much into the Welsh match as they were just so poor. Scotland play a proper fast rucking game and if Wallace isn't up for it, he'll be shown up.

Was always confident of beating wales but since the first weekend when Scotland beat France I've been worried about our forwards ability to deal with that fast rucking game. I'll be pleasently surprised if they can generate quick ball.

jezzer · Post by **jezzer** » February 28th, 2006, 1:51 pm

Agree Glic on the rucking thing. Don't think our backrow ticks any of the required boxes (other than decent lineout options). Scotland play a la NZ with a lot of bodies at pace into the ruck and we didn't exactly cope with that in the autumn...

glic · Post by **glic** » February 28th, 2006, 2:39 pm

jezzer wrote:Agree Glic on the rucking thing. Don't think our backrow ticks any of the required boxes (other than decent lineout options). Scotland play a la NZ with a lot of bodies at pace into the ruck and we didn't exactly cope with that in the autumn...

yep there's something almost lethargic about how our forwards clean out the ruck.
The question is how do you counter the Scots type of game. They seem to be perfectly happy to let other teams have the ball and run at them (even their own coach couldn't believe the stats from the england game) Maybe it's time for a second half in Paris type of game plan

If the scottish forwards are all piling into the ruck there's bound to be room out wide. This looks like it could be the game where it could all come together for the backline (or should come together for the backline).
And who would be the perfect link player for this type of gameplan step forward................ Mr. Gleeson

thecoolfreak · Post by **thecoolfreak** » February 28th, 2006, 4:39 pm

And who would be the perfect link player for this type of gameplan step forward................ Mr. Gleeson

I hope thats what EOS is thinking by calling him up

Oscar · Post by **Oscar** » February 28th, 2006, 9:31 pm

I'm a bit worried that Gleeson may only be called up so that Wallace can go up against a groundhog in training and learn how to cope with it. I really think this is a game where we need to be going in with either Gleeson or O'Connor on the pitch. And preferably with the other on the bench, too, given that O'Driscoll or O'Callaghan can cover backrow if necessary.

Incidentally, might this be why O'Sullivan brought both O'Connor and O'Driscoll on for backrowers on Sunday?

TrueBlue · Post by **TrueBlue** » February 28th, 2006, 11:16 pm

I hope thats what EOS is thinking by calling him up

I doubt it...as opposed to my post above, its obvious he chose Gleeson above Jennings, due to the fact that there is no point in bringin over Jennings if he has no realistic chance of making the 22.

Scotland are superior form 6-10, which is worrying...We should target the centres as Henderson and Di Rollo are average at best, and D'arcy and BOd should take them easily enough. However, it depends on getting the quick ball that we need...and that is where 6,7 and 8 come in, and there are serious questions there...

thecoolfreak · Post by **thecoolfreak** » February 28th, 2006, 11:19 pm

If we get good quick ball we should spread to the wings straight away because Scotland are very week out wide and around the centres.

glic · Post by **glic** » March 1st, 2006, 9:18 am

thecoofreak wrote:I hope thats what EOS is thinking by calling him up

As much as I'd love to see Gleeson in the 22 I can't see eddie picking him

It's more likely that if EOS decides he needs a groundhog on the pitch that JOC will be given the nod.

TrueBlue · Post by **TrueBlue** » March 1st, 2006, 10:26 am

I think (unforetunately) you are right Glic, there isnt even a slim chance that Gleesoin will get into the 22 ahead of JOC..

...in terms of thhe fact that if we had quick ball, we could spread it wide...I dont see there wingers being very weak in comparison to their centres...Lamont and Paterson have been good this season, and Lamont's defense is very good...whereas Paterson's is so-so..

Scotland will play a tight game, so we'll have to counteract that..

jezzer · Post by **jezzer** » March 1st, 2006, 11:56 am

we play it up the middle with our 4 centres, Leamy, POC and Flan. They play it up the middle with 6-10, Lamont and Southwell. It's going to be a big mill in the middle of the park and the guys who clean out/avoid the breakdown the best will win it.

We will have the advantage out of touch, so i can see the ginger fecker reverting to familiar territory and putting it in the corners.

glic · Post by **glic** » March 2nd, 2006, 11:48 am

Gleeson has been named Leinster Player of the month for the second time this season.

Story here

CM · Post by CM » March 2nd, 2006, 12:25 pm

glic wrote:Gleeson has been named Leinster Player of the month for the second time this season.

Story here

Well it's more relevant award this time around at least. Deserves it too.

thecoolfreak · Post by **thecoolfreak** » March 6th, 2006, 10:04 am

He won't be in the team aginst Scotland. He hasn't been called up for training this week

http://www.irishrugby.ie/redirectToNews.jsp?page=72188

Fred Funk · Post by **Fred Funk** » March 7th, 2006, 10:00 am

thecoofreak wrote:He won't be in the team aginst Scotland. He hasn't been called up for training this week

http://www.irishrugby.ie/redirectToNews.jsp?page=72188

I can't believe he was called in last week, and now omitted.
How many Number 6's do we need?

If Scotland rob all the possession EOS will be shown up for tactical inefficiencies with plenty of alternative options (Gleeson and O’Connor)

It won’t be a fatal error, because the IRFU don’t want to get rid of him, especially a year before the world cup.

He is now too controlling, the backline with all their talent are playing worse than Carlow Under 11's