Ireland v Australia

[CiaranIrl]

That was a brutal game, which has taken its toll on the squad. We could be looking at something like:

McGrath, Best, Furlong
Ryan, Toner
O Mahony, O'Brien, Heaslip
Murray, Jackson
Payne, Ringrose
Earls, Trimble, O Halloran

Cronin, Healy, Bealham, Dillane, VDF, Marmion, Carbery, Gilroy/Marshall

Alternative would be Marshall, Ringrose in the center and Payne at fullback, but Marshall was awful against Canada.

[Oldschool]

That was a brutal game, which has taken its toll on the squad. We could be looking at something like:

McGrath, Best, Furlong
Ryan, Toner
O Mahony, O'Brien, Heaslip
Murray, Jackson
Payne, Ringrose
Earls, Trimble, O Halloran

Cronin, Healy, Bealham, Dillane, VDF, Marmion, Carbery, Gilroy/Marshall

Alternative would be Marshall, Ringrose in the center and Payne at fullback, but Marshall was awful against Canada.

Are we sure about who's not available yet?

[simonokeeffe]

I can see Henderson coming in for Ryan who drops out entirely (through no fault of his own)

One would imagine Sexton is out, Henshaw probably too, Stander probably not

Henshaw is the big one as there are no good options

[sunshiner1]

Alternative would be Marshall, Ringrose in the center and Payne at fullback, but Marshall was awful against Canada.

Payne did well at 12 but it's not his position. I'd be in favour of giving Marshall another chance with Payne at 15. Maybe have Earls or TOH on the bench.

[Peg Leg]

Mccloskey or Robb in with a shout for IC?

[simonokeeffe]

Mccloskey or Robb in with a shout for IC?

Joe parachuting somebody into the squad? not a chance

[Ruckedtobits]

We cannot take the field against Oz without JVdF. Anybody who understands backrow play and watched Fr v Aus, must see that. Josh was our best ball carrier by a country mile and will get better as Murray and Jackson learn to read his lines of running and Payne and Ringrose get used to where he emerges on the far side and they can support his breaks.

[Oldschool]

OZ scrum is better NZ so we might not get much change there.
MC likes his set piece to be solid.
Foley (as indeed was Barret) is the key.
How does Joe stop him.
VDF's pace would be very useful in this repect.
Poite is the ref I think I read somewhere.
Best didn't get much change out of the ref on Saturday, hopefully he has some Francais.
A few pleasantries - "ca va" etc "parlez avec le TMO s'll vous plait'.
Oh and "Merci beaucoup" might be useful as well.

[hugonaut]

Mccloskey or Robb in with a shout for IC?

I think if any No12 in the country was to be called up [which won't happen], it'd be Munster's Rory Scannell. He is playing great stuff at the moment – showing a lot of authority on the pitch, making good decisions, showing a very well rounded skill set and good physicality.

[Ruckedtobits]

OZ scrum is better NZ so we might not get much change there.
Oz lost all 10 Scrums in match against France last night, with 4 different Props
MC likes his set piece to be solid.
Oz line-out very respectable, but see above re Scrums. Kick-offs OK.
Foley (as indeed was Barret) is the key.
OZ scrum-halves are the key. Genia can be isolated. So can Phipps.
How does Joe stop him.
Ireland play the game at pace with ball n hand and play JVdF & SO'B.
VDF's pace would be very useful in this respect.
Absolutely agree.
Poite is the ref I think I read somewhere.
Thank goodness
Best didn't get much change out of the ref on Saturday, hopefully he has some Francais.
Jamie and Cian know him well and Poite loves scrum penalties
A few pleasantries - "ca va" etc "parlez avec le TMO s'll vous plait'.
See above
Oh and "Merci beaucoup" might be useful as well.

[wixfjord]

Don't think I'd like to see Payne at 12. It didn't really work yesterday imo. Has he every played at 12 for Ulster? Can't remember it.

I'd go for Payne 15, Ringrose 13 and Marshall (who'd be very lucky) at 12 personally, but can't see Joe shaking it up that much.

[Peg Leg]

Mccloskey or Robb in with a shout for IC?

I think if any No12 in the country was to be called up [which won't happen], it'd be Munster's Rory Scannell. He is playing great stuff at the moment – showing a lot of authority on the pitch, making good decisions, showing a very well rounded skill set and good physicality.

Yeah, bit of a brain fart there, I was only thinking of a crash ball center.

[Oldschool]

Mccloskey or Robb in with a shout for IC?

I think if any No12 in the country was to be called up [which won't happen], it'd be Munster's Rory Scannell. He is playing great stuff at the moment – showing a lot of authority on the pitch, making good decisions, showing a very well rounded skill set and good physicality.

Yeah, bit of a brain fart there, I was only thinking of a crash ball center.

Marshall looked bad in the Canada game but on reflection the probably no preparation for that gane.
I'd expect Marshall to be much better against OZ.
Joe wants Payne at 13 for the moment so O'Halloran is the likely 15 assuming RK and Zebo are out.
Earls hasn't been great this season but his experience should see him on the wing or bench if Joe decided to start Ringrise on the wing. Ringrose's performance on Saturday suggested he's more than capable.
The really long shot is Carberry 10 and Jackson 12 but unlikely.
On the scrums - didn't see the French game but I doubt our scrum would be as tough as France's.

[Dave Cahill]

RTP is five days length. Too early to say who will be available - we could have all, some or none of Stander, Kearney and Henshaw available depending on how they progress

[neiliog93]

I really like Luke Marshall, he was an outstanding underage player and did well in South Africa. But he was so poor against Canada I don't think I could countenance him starting against Australia. I would probably have to go 12.Ringrose 13.Payne which I accept is less than ideal, but Marshall was too poor and Earls is a rubbish centre. We'll assume Sexton and Henshaw are out and Kearney is a doubt:

9.Murray 10.Jackson 12.Ringrose 13.Payne 14.Zebo/Earls

11.Trimble 15.Kearney/Zebo

21.Marmion 22.Carberry 23.Earls/Gilroy

[simonokeeffe]

RTP is five days length. Too early to say who will be available - we could have all, some or none of Stander, Kearney and Henshaw available depending on how they progress

Kearney is a doubt too? Thatd be Marshall v TOH for a spot.

RTB is right about their set piece, lineout especially has been dodgy af all season

Not saying we go all blacks on it but Foley is easily would up/rattled; hold him down well after play etc

[Peg Leg]

RTP is five days length. Too early to say who will be available - we could have all, some or none of Stander, Kearney and Henshaw available depending on how they progress

Kearney is a doubt too? Thatd be Marshall v TOH for a spot.

RTB is right about their set piece, lineout especially has been dodgy af all season

Not saying we go all blacks on it but Foley is easily would up/rattled; hold him down well after play etc

"ice-man" Foley gets easily rattled?

[LeRouxIsPHat]

RTP is five days length. Too early to say who will be available - we could have all, some or none of Stander, Kearney and Henshaw available depending on how they progress

Given how Joe likes the team to train all week, I wonder if he'll just rule them out straight away?

[Oldschool]

RTP is five days length. Too early to say who will be available - we could have all, some or none of Stander, Kearney and Henshaw available depending on how they progress

Given how Joe likes the team to train all week, I wonder if he'll just rule them out straight away?

It's likely that Joe planned on this week being a recovery week and that a lot of the preparation for this game was done in the week before the Canada game.
If that is the case then any of the doubtfuls that pass muster will be in contention.

[erskinechilders]

Team I'd like to see :

15. Jared Payne
14. Andrew Trimble
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Luke Marshall
11. Simon Zebo
10. Joey Carbery
9. Conor Murray
8. Jamie Heaslip
7. Sean O'Brien
6. Peter O'Mahony
5. Devin Toner
4. Iain Henderson
3. Tadhg Furlong
2. Rory Best
1. Jack McGrath

16. Sean Cronin
17. Cian Healy
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Ultan Dillane
20. Josh van der Flier
21. Kieran Marmion
22. Paddy Jackson
23. Tiernan O'Halloran

Based on Sexton, Stander, Henshaw and Kearney all being ruled out!