France V Ireland 6Ns 2016

[nelly the elephant]

OK..... who's injured and out of next Saturday............... any unforced changes expected?

[Ze Stade Fan]

Picamoles... We lost speed, might and a game direction... Ooooooh pooooooor France !

[simonokeeffe]

OK..... who's injured and out of next Saturday............... any unforced changes expected?

Earls seems to be the only likely one, with RK expected back in, probably SOB too
Youd imagine Ruddock keeps place on bench and TOD drops out altogether
Zebo probably 11 ahead of DK, probably

I'd be very surprised if if Healy and Ross werent given a game or two in league before coming back in, though Healy a possibility for the bench, Ross will start or not be involved at all

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Earls' concussion was very worrying. Really looked like nothing.

It's a pity the officials didn't see it, not just for his safety but because it would have given us a scrum instead of being turned over.

[neiliog93]

1.McGrath 2.Best 3.Ross

4.Toner 5.Mike Mac

6.Stander 7.SOB 8.Heaslip

9.Murray 10.Sexton 12.Henshaw 13.Payne 14.Trimble

11.Zebo 15.R.Kearney

16.S.Cronin
17.Healy/J.Cronin
18.Furlong/White
19.Donnacha Ryan
20.Ruddock/TOD
21.Marmion
22.Madigan
23.D.Kearney

[Twist]

Picamoles being out is a huge loss for France

[Cianostays]

I'd imagine that Healy will be given gametime with Leinster before being brought back into the fold. With the way White went, Ross may be rushed back with White missing out. I'd say that Joe will bring in DK for Earls with Zebo on the bench covering RK. If fit SO'B has to be involved which means a very cruel decision to drop one of TO'D or Ruddock when both went very well on Sunday.

1-15: McGrath, Best, Ross, Mike Mac, Dev, CJ, SO'B, Heaslip, Murray, Sexton, DK, Henshaw, Payne, Trimble, RK
16-23: Sean Cronin, James Cronin, Furlong, Ryan, TO'D, Marmion, Madigan, Zebo

[simonokeeffe]

Am still muttering to myself over McCarthy and Toner switching sides (from club positions) in the scrum, can anyone explain that to me?

was the logic we'll demolish Lee and hope White gets parity?

really hope we revert to orthodoxy for Paris

[Oldschoolsocks]

Am still muttering to myself over McCarthy and Toner switching sides (from club positions) in the scrum, can anyone explain that to me?

was the logic we'll demolish Lee and hope White gets parity?

really hope we revert to orthodoxy for Paris

Yeah, that had me flummoxed, my theory is that McCarthy is nursing an injury or not fully fit, so wasn't put in on the RHS of the engine room for the heavier nudge.

[leinsterforever]

Am still muttering to myself over McCarthy and Toner switching sides (from club positions) in the scrum, can anyone explain that to me?

was the logic we'll demolish Lee and hope White gets parity?

really hope we revert to orthodoxy for Paris

Nathan White 1.88m tall, Jack McGrath 1.85m tall, so Toner doesn't have to get as low if he's pushing behind the tighthead?

[Dave Cahill]

Perhaps Devin is being looked at on the TH side long term

[simonokeeffe]

Perhaps Devin is being looked at on the TH side long term

Jeepers thats a stretch, no pun intended

6n is about the here and now

Th lock long term is probably get some HGH from Payton Manning's wife and pass it on to Molony or Dillane

[leinsterforever]

Perhaps Devin is being looked at on the TH side long term

So the scrums don't take as much out of Henderson?

[Dave Cahill]

Perhaps Devin is being looked at on the TH side long term

Jeepers thats a stretch, no pun intended

6n is about the here and now

Th lock long term is probably get some HGH from Payton Manning's wife and pass it on to Molony or Dillane

Perhaps, but Devin has been spending a lot of time on the TH side this season for one reason or another. Perhaps JS was just doing it for one match because of the opposition or perhaps, post-POC, thats where he sees him playing for Ireland. Where did he scrum down against Argentina, does anyone remember?

[neiliog93]

Ok I guess Ross and Healy training with Leinster indicates they won't be in action for Ireland? Or at least suggests it.

[Dave Cahill]

Ok I guess Ross and Healy training with Leinster indicates they won't be in action for Ireland? Or at least suggests it.

Most likely. However, if Ireland weren't training today (which I don't think they were) then guys who have been out for a while training with Leinster wouldn't mean anything per se either way.

[paddyor]

Perhaps Devin is being looked at on the TH side long term

Jeepers thats a stretch, no pun intended

6n is about the here and now

Th lock long term is probably get some HGH from Payton Manning's wife and pass it on to Molony or Dillane

Perhaps, but Devin has been spending a lot of time on the TH side this season for one reason or another. Perhaps JS was just doing it for one match because of the opposition or perhaps, post-POC, thats where he sees him playing for Ireland. Where did he scrum down against Argentina, does anyone remember?

I thought it was Henderson on the TH side vs Argentina. He came off after 65 minutes and looked completely spent and I figured it was pushing on that side.

The idea of having a "tractor" in the second row as Bernard Jackman called it (think he was talking about Damian Brown or Mike Mac and the Top14) is relatively new in Ireland. So not exactly much evidence to suggest one way or the other whether you can convert (well there probably is but you'd need an encylopedic knowledge of 2nd rows to see it). I think he's proven he make an can impact in the scrum, so mostly it's to do with coping with the added pressure and the extra technique I'd think. Would cement his place in the Ireland team as a set piece specialist for a while to come if he could do it IMO. OTOH if he's asking that question of Toner and he can't do it, maybe Schmidt will take a chance on someone like Dillane who's unproven at TH lock in scrum.

[simonokeeffe]

Marmion on bench for Connacht so must assume Reddan on bench for Paris

was Reddan carrying a knock or something before Wales game?

[OTT]

France: 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Maxime Mermoz, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Virimi Vakatawa, 10 Jules Plisson, 9 Sébastien Bezy, 8 Damien Chouly, 7 Yacouba Camara, 6 Wenceslas Lauret 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Alexandre Flanquart, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Guilhem Guirado (c), 1 Jefferson Poirot.
Replacements: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Rabah Slimani, 18 Eddy Ben Arous, 19 Paul Jedrasiak, Louann Goujon, 21 Maxime Machenaud, 22 Jean-Marc Doussain Doussain, 23 Hugo Bonneval

[johng]

We'll eat that