Ireland World Cup Squad (17-14 split) Backs

[simonokeeffe]

SH: Murray, Reddan, Boss
OH: Sexton, Madigan
Centre: Henshaw, Payne, Darcy
Wings: Luke, Bowe, Trimble, Earls
Fullback: Kearney, Jones

SH seems fairly settled, Boss stolen ahead of Marmion, Murray 3rd choice outhalf
OH Jackson in better form but Madigan makes it as semi utility back for matchday squads, and goal kicking
Centre third centre pick a toss up, fit Olding may have made it, Marshall out of picture so to me its Darcy v Cave
Wings Luke, Bowe, Trimble seems first 3 picks, earls covers 13 too and at push 15
Fullback RK a given, Jones as specialist 15 cover and Joe favourite

Zebo unluckily misses out, scores 17 tries while playing for Munster

[All Blacks nil]

SH: Murray, Reddan, Boss
OH: Sexton, Madigan
Centre: Henshaw, Payne, Darcy
Wings: Luke, Bowe, Trimble, Earls
Fullback: Kearney, Jones

SH seems fairly settled, Boss stolen ahead of Marmion, Murray 3rd choice outhalf
OH Jackson in better form but Madigan makes it as semi utility back for matchday squads, and goal kicking
Centre third centre pick a toss up, fit Olding may have made it, Marshall out of picture so to me its Darcy v Cave
Wings Luke, Bowe, Trimble seems first 3 picks, earls covers 13 too and at push 15
Fullback RK a given, Jones as specialist 15 cover and Joe favourite

Zebo unluckily misses out, scores 17 tries while playing for Munster

Gilroy is on fire at the moment and may come into the equation.
I only saw the last quarter of tonight's game, but Gilroy looked sharp.
Luke didn't cover himself in glory in the last 20 but in fairness Ulster were on completely on top bar the "three goals in" gane at the end.

[simonokeeffe]

SH: Murray, Reddan, Boss
OH: Sexton, Madigan
Centre: Henshaw, Payne, Darcy
Wings: Luke, Bowe, Trimble, Earls
Fullback: Kearney, Jones

SH seems fairly settled, Boss stolen ahead of Marmion, Murray 3rd choice outhalf
OH Jackson in better form but Madigan makes it as semi utility back for matchday squads, and goal kicking
Centre third centre pick a toss up, fit Olding may have made it, Marshall out of picture so to me its Darcy v Cave
Wings Luke, Bowe, Trimble seems first 3 picks, earls covers 13 too and at push 15
Fullback RK a given, Jones as specialist 15 cover and Joe favourite

Zebo unluckily misses out, scores 17 tries while playing for Munster

Gilroy is on fire at the moment and may come into the equation.
I only saw the last quarter of tonight's game, but Gilroy looked sharp.
Luke didn't cover himself in glory in the last 20 but in fairness Ulster were on completely on top bar the "three goals in" gane at the end.

Gilroy is a prolific scorer but he defends like a drain; not Joes type of player
Luke had a shocker, 2 bad ones and he might play Zebo on to plane
Be interesting if Madigan gets some gametime at 10 now (that it doesnt matter)

[Dave Cahill]

SH: Murray, Reddan, Boss
OH: Sexton, Madigan
Centre: Henshaw, Payne, Darcy
Wings: Luke, Bowe, Trimble, Earls
Fullback: Kearney, Jones

SH seems fairly settled, Boss stolen ahead of Marmion, Murray 3rd choice outhalf
OH Jackson in better form but Madigan makes it as semi utility back for matchday squads, and goal kicking
Centre third centre pick a toss up, fit Olding may have made it, Marshall out of picture so to me its Darcy v Cave
Wings Luke, Bowe, Trimble seems first 3 picks, earls covers 13 too and at push 15
Fullback RK a given, Jones as specialist 15 cover and Joe favourite

Zebo unluckily misses out, scores 17 tries while playing for Munster

Jackson will be the second choice outhalf, Madigan, if he goes, will go in place of a third specialist centre. The Wingers will be Bowe, Luke, Trimble and one from, in order of Joes previous preference, McFadden, Kearney Minor, Earls

[Dave Cahill]

That assumes of course that the extra player permitted this time around is a forward. I wonder what the rate of attrition for fowards versus backs in world cups is (excluding NZ outhalfs of course!)

[munster#1]

SH: Murray, Reddan, Boss
OH: Sexton, Madigan
Centre: Henshaw, Payne, Darcy
Wings: Luke, Bowe, Trimble, Earls
Fullback: Kearney, Jones

SH seems fairly settled, Boss stolen ahead of Marmion, Murray 3rd choice outhalf
OH Jackson in better form but Madigan makes it as semi utility back for matchday squads, and goal kicking
Centre third centre pick a toss up, fit Olding may have made it, Marshall out of picture so to me its Darcy v Cave
Wings Luke, Bowe, Trimble seems first 3 picks, earls covers 13 too and at push 15
Fullback RK a given, Jones as specialist 15 cover and Joe favourite

Zebo unluckily misses out, scores 17 tries while playing for Munster

I can see both trimble and Fitz making the squad. Trimble hasn't played enough rugby this season, while others have been playing very well.
Fitz, Imo he is playing himself out of the squad, he had a horror show against ulster, and the lack of playoff rugby will hinder his selection Imo.

Since been dropped by Joe, zebo had been scoring tries for fun, he has more natural ability than any other irish player, he will travel.

The wingers will be bowe, zebo and earls with Jones playing at least one match there.

I would love to be able to agree with you on Darcy, and I hope he does play well enough to get selected, I just can't see it happening if Madigan is selected.

[simonokeeffe]

Joe has said he doesnt see Madigan as an international 12 (starter) so someone has to go who can start 12, so Darcy or Cave for that (with Olding injured)

Dont think McFadden or DK have the form or gametime to move up pecking order, but Earls can cover 13

If Jackson does go it kicks Felix Jones off the bench and the plane as theyll need someone who can cover centre on the bench

Trimble was POTY last season and will probably get chance in warm ups to play himself on to the plane

[olaf the fat]

Murray, Reddan, Boss
Sexton with Jackson/Keatley
Henshaw, Payne along with Madigan(out half cover)
Bowe, Trimble or Gilroy, Earls, Zebo.
Kearney and Jones.
There is alot of "cross cover" there.

Boss and Reddan have not been up to international standard this season but ahead of every one else.
Jackson or Keatley - depends on how they go in the Pro12 final
If Trimble does not find form then its Gilroy.

Sexton, whilst being or best player, is covered to an extent by the options available. I am not sure if Murray is.

Madigan gets in by being ok at 12, but is the real cover for Johnny. Boss and Reddan because there is nobody else. Kearney on current form is lucky to be ahead of Jones, and blessed by the fact that Payne and Henshaw are already moved.

The Munster and Ulster players have real games left in the season to prove themselves. Leinster players, well you reap what you sow.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I'm a huge fan of Gilroy but I think that technically he must be one of the worst players in world rugby and just can't see Joe being a fan. I don't think he started playing until relatively late on and I think it shows in the way he tackles, handles and kicks. Now I don't think that makes him any less effective, just a gut feeling that Joe won't like what he sees. He constantly tackles with his head on the wrong side, has the ball in an awkward position going into contact, and hooks his kicks to touch.

Just have a feeling that Joe would be driven mad asking him to correct those things.

[simonokeeffe]

I'm a huge fan of Gilroy but I think that technically he must be one of the worst players in world rugby and just can't see Joe being a fan. I don't think he started playing until relatively late on and I think it shows in the way he tackles, handles and kicks. Now I don't think that makes him any less effective, just a gut feeling that Joe won't like what he sees. He constantly tackles with his head on the wrong side, has the ball in an awkward position going into contact, and hooks his kicks to touch.

Just have a feeling that Joe would be driven mad asking him to correct those things.

Gilroy is to Joe Schmidt what Jared Payne is to George Hook

I reckon Jackso and Madigan will get a start each at 10 in warm ups

[WarPoodle]

SH: Murray, Reddan, Boss
OH: Sexton, Madigan
Centre: Henshaw, Payne, Darcy
Wings: Luke, Bowe, Trimble, Earls
Fullback: Kearney, Jones

SH seems fairly settled, Boss stolen ahead of Marmion, Murray 3rd choice outhalf
OH Jackson in better form but Madigan makes it as semi utility back for matchday squads, and goal kicking
Centre third centre pick a toss up, fit Olding may have made it, Marshall out of picture so to me its Darcy v Cave
Wings Luke, Bowe, Trimble seems first 3 picks, earls covers 13 too and at push 15
Fullback RK a given, Jones as specialist 15 cover and Joe favourite

Zebo unluckily misses out, scores 17 tries while playing for Munster

I can see both trimble and Fitz making the squad. Trimble hasn't played enough rugby this season, while others have been playing very well.
Fitz, Imo he is playing himself out of the squad, he had a horror show against ulster, and the lack of playoff rugby will hinder his selection Imo.

Since been dropped by Joe, zebo had been scoring tries for fun, he has more natural ability than any other irish player, he will travel.

The wingers will be bowe, zebo and earls with Jones playing at least one match there.

I would love to be able to agree with you on Darcy, and I hope he does play well enough to get selected, I just can't see it happening if Madigan is selected.

I doubt play-off rugby is going to have too much of a say at all really. Fact is that Fitz played better in his one game than Zebo had done all tournament (6 Nations). Another fact is that we're playing 4 warm-up games. And those warm-up games will go further in deciding who goes than the play-off's which are occurring 5 months before the tournament begins.

My tuppence worth -

SH - Murray, Redden, Marmion
OH - Sexton / Jackson
Centre - Henshaw / Payne / Madigan
Wings - Bowe / Fitz / Zebo / McFadden (maybe Earls / Trimble instead, but will depend how the warm-ups go)
FB - Kearney / Jones

McFadden punches way above his weight in defence, and is a favourite with Joe and Kiss. Same with Trimble.. not the fastest winger, but hits very hard and does the basics well. I think that goes further in his eyes than the pace of Earls or Zebo.

We also need someone to start challenging Kearney. He needs to be kept on his toes... as does Bowe.

[simonokeeffe]

problem with McFadden is he doesnt offer much in attack IMO
Trimble has same work rate but has same gas and is bigger/stronger so offers much more in attack

[Golf Man]

What I expect

SH: Murray/Reddan/Boss
OH: Sexton/Jackson/Madigan
Centres: Henshaw/Payne
Wingers: Bowe/Trimble/Fitz/Zebo
Full Backs: Kearney/Jones

Personally
- I'd go with Marmion over Boss but I understand the rationale (Boss essentially backs up the Murray style, with Marmion backing up Reddan)
- I don't see a place for Darcy at all and there shouldn't be => with 7/8 players covering 5 starting positions and 1 bench spot, the inflexible players need to be definite starters (like Kearney)
- I wouldn't bring Jones, much as I'm a fan - but its hard to see Schmidt not bringing him at this stage
-I'd love to see Earls given a proper shot at it in the warm up games, but reckon his lack of time in the camp might go against him => think he would be a huge asset to the squad and is bang in form at the moment

Wing will be the most tightly fought spot - to suggest that Fitz is playing himself out the squad is rubbish, as is to suggest that he was better than Zebo in his one 6N game (context and all that and Zebo v England).

[fourthirtythree]

problem with McFadden is he doesnt offer much in attack IMO
Trimble has same work rate but has same gas and is bigger/stronger so offers much more in attack

McFadden's real shot at a WC squad place was if he covered multiple positions. If he still was seen as covering 12, 13, 14, and as a frontline goalkicker he would be great around the squad but as he exclusively plays wing now I don't see a real role for him.

[johng]

problem with McFadden is he doesnt offer much in attack IMO
Trimble has same work rate but has same gas and is bigger/stronger so offers much more in attack

McFadden's real shot at a WC squad place was if he covered multiple positions. If he still was seen as covering 12, 13, 14, and as a frontline goalkicker he would be great around the squad but as he exclusively plays wing now I don't see a real role for him.

Plus. Fitz and Earls cover these positions. Perhaps only one of those will go too.

[fourthirtythree]

Yeah, I feel real regret at the thought of either Fitz or Earls not making the squad. But it's the most likely scenario.

[simonokeeffe]

problem with McFadden is he doesnt offer much in attack IMO
Trimble has same work rate but has same gas and is bigger/stronger so offers much more in attack

McFadden's real shot at a WC squad place was if he covered multiple positions. If he still was seen as covering 12, 13, 14, and as a frontline goalkicker he would be great around the squad but as he exclusively plays wing now I don't see a real role for him.

Plus. Fitz and Earls cover these positions. Perhaps only one of those will go too.

Aye
Dont think McFadden has the distribution that Joe likes (at this level) from centre

might be some clues in team to play BaBas

[Golf Man]

back 3 is almost impossible to call

- there will be 6 players there, allowing for only 2 out and out centres (Henshaw & Payne, supplemented by Madigan)

- I think at the moment only Bowe and Kearney are guaranteed - ie they could play like drains in the warm up and will still get selected. After that its 4 from about 9 with the front 4 at the moment probably

Fitz/Jones/Trimble & Zebo - leaving Earls, McFadden, Kearney Jr and Gilroy missing out

but it does seem to be that Schmidt picks his players for a sequence of matches and sticks with them so its not inconceievable that the likes of ones could be dropped despite having been in all the squads up to date.

I hate the idea of Earls not making the squad though - would leave a bit of a bad taste - I would have him at the top of the 8 that I mentioned - not necessarily starting mind.
Bearing that in mind for the Baba's its difficult to get anything out of those games - but we definitely need to look at the centre options (Hanshaw and Payne are our definite starters, absolutely can't see that changing, but who do we put in if injury strikes or v minnows). We know that Fitz is available so he should probable primed to start 13. If Earls is available and is chosen there, it probably increases his chances of getting into the squad. Also anyone who is on the cusp -= ie the 10 guys fighting for the last 3/4 spots and are abbvailable - let them all play

[LeRouxIsPHat]

There's a lot of talk about Jackson/Madigan at the moment and I was just thinking, I wouldn't be against making Sexton the back up 12 as opposed to Madigan, and then having Paddy at ten. The more I think about it, the more I could actually see it as a pretty effective Plan B as opposed to simply being used if Henshaw is injured. Totally understand why people would be reluctant to move Johnny but there's something about it that I could really see clicking and it just looks better to me than having Madigan at 12. It would mean we could get away with not picking another out and out 12 (I don't really count Mads as one) apart from Henshaw too.

I think yesterday was the best I've seen Payne play at 13. Said it for ages that he didn't look comfortable at 13 and was really surprised at how he did so well for Ireland, but he even improved hugely from the 6N and really looked the part. Whilst I thought he had an excellent 6N I thought he looked a bit robotic, thats not a criticism as such, but yesterday he just looked like a natural centre reading the game really well and getting really involved. His defence and his carrying are much much better than I thought, delighted to be wrong.

[simonokeeffe]

There's a lot of talk about Jackson/Madigan at the moment and I was just thinking, I wouldn't be against making Sexton the back up 12 as opposed to Madigan, and then having Paddy at ten. The more I think about it, the more I could actually see it as a pretty effective Plan B as opposed to simply being used if Henshaw is injured. Totally understand why people would be reluctant to move Johnny but there's something about it that I could really see clicking and it just looks better to me than having Madigan at 12. It would mean we could get away with not picking another out and out 12 (I don't really count Mads as one) apart from Henshaw too.

I think yesterday was the best I've seen Payne play at 13. Said it for ages that he didn't look comfortable at 13 and was really surprised at how he did so well for Ireland, but he even improved hugely from the 6N and really looked the part. Whilst I thought he had an excellent 6N I thought he looked a bit robotic, thats not a criticism as such, but yesterday he just looked like a natural centre reading the game really well and getting really involved. His defence and his carrying are much much better than I thought, delighted to be wrong.

who starts at 12 for the Romania match then? going by fixtures thats the one where we'll play 2nd XV 9 (Canada-Romania-Italy-France)
Fitzgerald only name that would spring to mind for me