CJ Stander silences the doubters

[simonokeeffe]

Henderson will go into second row - where he is needed most and where Schmidt has played him most - id love to see himself and Diollane given a start v SA - wont happen unless there are injurues though

You sure? not many players if any are going to start tests 3 weekends in a row, especially if they played a world cup and possibly also a league final

[Ruckedtobits]

Line-out options cut to shreds and scrum drops about 40kg and puts front-rows under pressure - don't think so

[Oldschoolsocks]

Jamie had a reasonable tournament, nothing more.
All right v Wales , inconspicuous v France, poor v England, good against Italy and excellent v Scotland.
Both Falateau and Billy V easily won their battles on the day although as I've said elsewhere Heaslip was used as an auxiliary wing v England and was not given the opportunity to impose himself on the game.

With regard to Stander, he did indeed silence the doubters some of whom labelled him a flat track PRO12 bully, playing against Italian, Welsh and Scottish opposition!!! He proved himself more than capable at this level. He is not just a one trick pony though and both Joe and Axel could do worse than remember that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=botCDr52vKY
Just like SOB before him surely he would be more effective in softer traffic. Murray's try v Wales, was almost made by Stander's presence alone. Tupuric looks for Stander and Murray sneaked in. I would love to se him receive a little ball further out.

Meh...

[hugonaut]

Both Falateau and Billy V easily won their battles on the day ...

Faletau 'easily won' the individual battle with Heaslip?

Heaslip: 15 carries for 43m; 18 tackles made/1 missed
Faletau: 15 carries for 22m; 19 tackles made/0 missed
[source: http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/playerstats ... gue=254969 ]

Just the facts.

[All Blacks nil]

Both Falateau and Billy V easily won their battles on the day ...

Faletau 'easily won' the individual battle with Heaslip?

Heaslip: 15 carries for 43m; 18 tackles made/1 missed
Faletau: 15 carries for 22m; 19 tackles made/0 missed
[source: http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/playerstats ... gue=254969 ]

Just the facts.

Watch the game.

[hugonaut]

Both Falateau and Billy V easily won their battles on the day ...

Faletau 'easily won' the individual battle with Heaslip?

Heaslip: 15 carries for 43m; 18 tackles made/1 missed
Faletau: 15 carries for 22m; 19 tackles made/0 missed
[source: http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/playerstats ... gue=254969 ]

Just the facts.

Watch the game.

Yawn. I was at it and watched a recording of the broadcast. If you think that Faletau massively outplayed Heaslip, you don't understand rugby.

[wixfjord]

One of the things I think CJ does need to improve on is handling. Twice in Wales game and once in French game he knocked on in opposition 22 without a huge amount of pressure on.
It's something that SOB suffered from when he first came on the scene. Ireland could do worse than look at Vunipola and how he's brought in a passing element to his game this year that keeps opposition guessing.
Having backrows that can offload and pass as well as carry would bring another weapon to our arsenal. Heaslip started doing it in the Scotland and Italy games, hopefully that will continue.

[Oldschoolsocks]

how the fuvk has an obvious windup thread like this made it past one page of posts?

[paddyor]

how the fuvk has an obvious windup thread like this made it past one page of posts?

Heaslip. He's catnip to Munster fans. Stander is from a long line of Munster players destined to replace Heaslip. Ultimately he's failed again but they're going with the narrative that Standers presense meant Heaslip had his best 6N in a long time. Whereas really it was a fairly vintage Heaslip 6N. Aside from one game where he couldn't raise his game above those around him he was good to brilliant.

[simonokeeffe]

In fairness Faletau played in red

[All Blacks nil]

how the fuvk has an obvious windup thread like this made it past one page of posts?

Heaslip. He's catnip to Munster fans. Stander is from a long line of Munster players destined to replace Heaslip. Ultimately he's failed again but they're going with the narrative that Standers presense meant Heaslip had his best 6N in a long time. Whereas really it was a fairly vintage Heaslip 6N. Aside from one game where he couldn't raise his game above those around him he was good to brilliant.

Was that the French or the English match?

Personally didn't think he was good to brilliant in either. In which one of those was he good to brilliant so that I know at which height the bar is set to acclaim a players performance as a vintage 6N performance.

He was good to brilliant v Italy and Scotland and probably in that order, fair to middling v Wales, poor to fair v France and poor V England. Not quite vintage in my book.

[Oldschool]

how the fuvk has an obvious windup thread like this made it past one page of posts?

Because CJ Stander failed to silence his Munster WUM buddies

[munster#1]

how the fuvk has an obvious windup thread like this made it past one page of posts?

Heaslip. He's catnip to Munster fans. Stander is from a long line of Munster players destined to replace Heaslip. Ultimately he's failed again but they're going with the narrative that Standers presense meant Heaslip had his best 6N in a long time. Whereas really it was a fairly vintage Heaslip 6N. Aside from one game where he couldn't raise his game above those around him he was good to brilliant.

If you read many the comments about heaslip improving as a result of having stander beside him, you will find out that it's mostly Leinster fans that have that opinion.

There is no doubting that Heaslip upped his game, and as a result he may well have secured his position for the foreseeable future, and if he continues in this vein of form, the ultimately Ireland are the winners.
Heaslip at his best can be close to world class, and right now he is getting close to his best.