Who would you play at 13?

offshorerules · Post by **offshorerules** » February 27th, 2015, 10:14 am

Yep you're killing it now.

jezzer · Post by **jezzer** » February 27th, 2015, 8:48 pm

Ringrose

Oldschoolsocks · Post by **Oldschoolsocks** » February 28th, 2015, 12:11 am

Ok, is it now a rule that every outside centre has to have gone to Blackrock College ?!

neiliog93 · Post by **neiliog93** » March 1st, 2015, 9:12 pm

Payne was better today, but I still think Luke might come in for the RWC, if Joe can find enoigh game time in warm-up games for him and Henshaw to mould as a partnership.

simonokeeffe · Post by **simonokeeffe** » March 1st, 2015, 11:00 pm

neiliog93 wrote:Payne was better today, but I still think Luke might come in for the RWC, if Joe can find enoigh game time in warm-up games for him and Henshaw to mould as a partnership.

more likely Earls if there is a change, Luke has said Joe sees him as a winger this week

suisse · Post by **suisse** » March 2nd, 2015, 3:07 am

neiliog93 wrote:Payne was better today, but I still think Luke might come in for the RWC, if Joe can find enoigh game time in warm-up games for him and Henshaw to mould as a partnership.

that was just his 4th (?) game at centre for Ireland? I think people are too hasty to write him off. He'll play 13 at the RWC. He's doing fine and imho he'll get a lot better. Our 9-13 looks really good. I wouldn't change that.

johng · Post by **johng** » March 2nd, 2015, 11:05 am

Having come from a situation where you had the most experienced centre combo in the world and we were wondering how long they could continue, we are now looking at an extremely inexperienced one (at test level, and as a combination).

IMHO there is massive headroom on their potential as a combo and with Sexton. Considering that was their 4th game and 3rd with Sexto. Just imagine where they will be (from an attacking pov) even by the later stages of the WC

Golf Man · Post by **Golf Man** » March 2nd, 2015, 11:38 am

suisse wrote:
neiliog93 wrote:Payne was better today, but I still think Luke might come in for the RWC, if Joe can find enoigh game time in warm-up games for him and Henshaw to mould as a partnership.
that was just his 4th (?) game at centre for Ireland? I think people are too hasty to write him off. He'll play 13 at the RWC. He's doing fine and imho he'll get a lot better. Our 9-13 looks really good. I wouldn't change that.

Can't see Fitz or Earls for that matter making their way past him. He hasn't sparkled but none of the backs have - he has done everything asked of him and been very solid. I wouldn't underestimate his ability in marshalling the defence either - Henshaw is getting huge credit for his defence but he can't do that is Payne isn't performing along side him - I would imagine he wopuld be better at this than Earls or Fitzgerald. Given that they are now getting an extended run together its hard to see the partnership being broken and starting a new one

I would have Earls or Fitz ahead of Jones as a bench option

There will be some hiugh profile casualties in the WC squad selection. Its either a 17:14 or 18:13 split - if he goes with 6 props then it has to be 18:13. Assuming he picks 6 half backs (Madigan obviously covers 12 as well) then there are only 7 spots for the outside backs - Henshaw, Payne, Bowe and Kearney are nailed on. 3 from Zebo, Trimble, Jones, Earls, Fitzgerald, Gilroy, D Kearney and McFadden. Zebo is in possession of the shirt, Trimble was our Player of eth year last year (and really suits the gameplan) Jones is currently in the 23 and very much in favour. Very conceivable that both Earls and Fitzgerald won't make the squad

Peg Leg · Post by **Peg Leg** » March 2nd, 2015, 12:07 pm

I don't think he'll go with the 6 props, we're only next door. He could go with 5 with "the dynamic" [copyright owned by Sean Cronin] Michael Bent being the 5th.
You'd expect us to be looking to vary the back play a bit so at least one of Earls/Fitz makes the cut.

LeRouxIsPHat · Post by **LeRouxIsPHat** » March 2nd, 2015, 12:15 pm

Have to say I was totally wrong about Payne as a 13. He's been far more physical and better defensively than I could ever have imagined. I questioned his defence for Ulster but he's been solid as a rock and strong in contact on both sides of the ball. When people talk about who they'd like in the centre, and the team in general, they have to remember that the players don't necessarily play their own game. This time last year lots of people wanted Zebo in, or were excited about Bowe coming back in, but now they're in and we've barely seen them with ball in hand. I think it'd be the same with Earls, Fitzegerald etc.

One thing I'd like to see Payne do more is to cover the backfield when Kearney goes forward. I know that's really tricky for a 13 but it happened once on yesterday and I think it would give us another dimension from the back.

Golf Man · Post by **Golf Man** » March 2nd, 2015, 12:54 pm

Peg Leg wrote:I don't think he'll go with the 6 props, we're only next door. He could go with 5 with "the dynamic" [copyright owned by Sean Cronin] Michael Bent being the 5th.
You'd expect us to be looking to vary the back play a bit so at least one of Earls/Fitz makes the cut.

Hard to know with Schmidt - would have thought he would go with 6 myself - think it would suit the preparation well and given our pack is so central to the whole gameplan even more so. Also think he would plan for a specialist to come in in an emergency (ie player injured in warm up or whatever. Probably won't decide until after the 4 warm ups - presume there will be a very extened squad for them and then cut to suit after that

That said the selection of Jones on eth bench does suggest that he isn't as set in stone as it may seem. My thinking on that is that Jones is just better with eth system than Fitz and Earls are at this point, and in fairness he has been good lately

Either way its 8 outside backs at best - I'd go with Henshaw, Payne, Bowe, Zebo,Kearney, Trimble, Earls & Fitzgerald myself. That gives

12: Henshaw, Madiagn
13: Payne, Henshaw, Earls, Fitz, Bowe
11/14: Bowe, Zebo, Trimble, Earls, Fitz
15: Kearney, Zebo, Payne

Can't rule out the possibility of another 12 (Marshall or Olding probably) as we are maybe a bit tight there (esp with Madigan covering 10 also)
Jo

simonokeeffe · Post by **simonokeeffe** » March 2nd, 2015, 6:19 pm

if Trimble gets back into starting team then Jones could miss out on the squad altogether for RWC and/or if Trimble even makes the bench
Fitzgerald arguably 3rd choice 12 in a travelling party

competiton for backrow spots will be feral too

Ruddock, Henry, Murphy, TOD going for 2 spots

Fireworks · Post by **Fireworks** » March 2nd, 2015, 8:53 pm

Peg Leg wrote:I don't think he'll go with the 6 props, we're only next door. He could go with 5 with "the dynamic" [copyright owned by Sean Cronin] Michael Bent being the 5th.
You'd expect us to be looking to vary the back play a bit so at least one of Earls/Fitz makes the cut.

DO not want to take this discussion on an unnecessary detour BUT BENT. What have you been smoking and can I have some. I would be shocked if Bent got within the proverbial asses roar of the training pitch whatever about the squad. Anyway we need them to leave us a prop or two as I am not sure you can start a game with uncontested scrums.

Babbling 'brook

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