Backup Hooker for 6 Nations

[simonokeeffe]

Cronin out for 10 weeks raises the question

[Oldschool]

I see we have a least four Munster visitors to our blue shores.
A bit unfair to CJ tbh.

[dropkick]

I presume Tracy and Scannell will be the next 2 after Best. Question is in what order. There's still a few games to go.

Good to see some hookers emerge this season. Good timing because Best isn't getting any younger. Dave Heffernan might also be an option down the line.

[Golf Man]

Big step up for either of them tbh

Tracey is probably a more like for like replacement for Cronin - Scannell more like Best as a player

Could well be Strauss though, although hopefully not

Tracey has an advanatge of playing with Toner- I'd be more inclined to go with the safe option in the event that Best goes down early

[All Blacks nil]

Big step up for either of them tbh

Tracey is probably a more like for like replacement for Cronin - Scannell more like Best as a player

Could well be Strauss though, although hopefully not

Tracey has an advanatge of playing with Toner- I'd be more inclined to go with the safe option in the event that Best goes down early

Who should?
Scannell
Who will?
Tracey

[OTT]

No Duncan Casey option?

http://forum.leinsterfans.com/viewtopic ... ey#p613055


Okay well in that case I would go with Scannell at this point in time.

[All Blacks nil]

No Duncan Casey option?

http://forum.leinsterfans.com/viewtopic ... ey#p613055


Okay well in that case I would go with Scannell at this point in time.

Injured

[fourthirtythree]

Tracey had a pretty poor time at the lineout weekend before last so you would have thought Scannell was ahead. Scannel had a poor time at lineout and scrum last weekend whereas Tracey was part of a dominant scrum and excellent lineout. Strauss has improved from his poor form (suggesting that it may be form rather than permanent).

It's really not like there is a clear cut number 3 hooker in Ireland at all. I don't see any one of them being a "should" play. None of them goes beyond "could" play but you wouldn't want them to start.

[Oldschool]

Big step up for either of them tbh

Tracey is probably a more like for like replacement for Cronin - Scannell more like Best as a player

Could well be Strauss though, although hopefully not

Tracey has an advanatge of playing with Toner- I'd be more inclined to go with the safe option in the event that Best goes down early

Who should?
Scannell
Who will?
Tracey

Either would be more than capable.
Scannell for me has the edge.
But your suggestion that Joe will pick a player based on provincial bias is pure bull.
Joe is the Ireland coach, pure and simple.
He doesn't operate the way EOS or Kidney did.
The fact that you think he would be biased only gives weight to the impression that EOS and Kidney were biased towards Munster players.

[Golf Man]

Tracey had a pretty poor time at the lineout weekend before last so you would have thought Scannell was ahead. Scannel had a poor time at lineout and scrum last weekend whereas Tracey was part of a dominant scrum and excellent lineout. Strauss has improved from his poor form (suggesting that it may be form rather than permanent).

It's really not like there is a clear cut number 3 hooker in Ireland at all. I don't see any one of them being a "should" play. None of them goes beyond "could" play but you wouldn't want them to start.

Not sure where you are getting Scannell had a poor time at the lineout at the weekend - think Munster were 10/11 in lineouts and Kilcoyne conceded one penalty in the scrum, think that was it. He wasn't as stand out as he was v Racing (his throwing there was Flannery esque - think every throw went to back or middle), but they threw primarily to 2 at the weekend, obviously part of a gameplan to keep it tight

I don't think there is an arguement that Scannell is a safer bet for lineout and scrum - there is an argument that Tracey is a better impact sub. Might depend on the other selections - I don't think Henderson is nailed on to start at this point in time - if you have Healy, Bealham, Henderson and possibly POM on the bench do you go with a safer option at hooker backup - whereas if you have Henderson starting and say Ryan on the bench you might be inclined to go with Tracey

[All Blacks nil]

Big step up for either of them tbh

Tracey is probably a more like for like replacement for Cronin - Scannell more like Best as a player

Could well be Strauss though, although hopefully not

Tracey has an advanatge of playing with Toner- I'd be more inclined to go with the safe option in the event that Best goes down early

Who should?
Scannell
Who will?
Tracey

Either would be more than capable.
Scannell for me has the edge.
But your suggestion that Joe will pick a player based on provincial bias is pure bull.
Joe is the Ireland coach, pure and simple.
He doesn't operate the way EOS or Kidney did.
The fact that you think he would be biased only gives weight to the impression that EOS and Kidney were biased towards Munster players.

A little precious Oldschool. I never mentioned a provincial bias.
Tracey has been in Joe's national camp more than Scannell and going by previous history and that is a obvious advantage to Tracey.
Hopefully both Scannell and Tracey will be in front of Strauss at the very least.

[simonokeeffe]

Big step up for either of them tbh

Tracey is probably a more like for like replacement for Cronin - Scannell more like Best as a player

Could well be Strauss though, although hopefully not

Tracey has an advanatge of playing with Toner- I'd be more inclined to go with the safe option in the event that Best goes down early

Who should?
Scannell
Who will?
Tracey

Have to agree myself

[neiliog93]

Scannell any day of the week. I like Tracy but Scannell was outstanding at u-20 level and has really hit some form of late.

[Ruckedtobits]

Scannel beside either McGrath or Healy will not weaken scrum at all. Treacy a more dynamic defender and ball carrier but more vulnerable thrower. Time in Camp is significant but so is homework and I suspect Scannell will have been briefed by POM about its importance for Joe's team.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Definitely Scannell for me but reckon it'll be Tracy. It's exciting to see these guys coming through but if Best gets injured then things won't seem so good. Big gap in terms of experience without Cronin there and with Strauss probably not in the mix.

[Dave Cahill]

No one has voted for Rob Herring - I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss his chances.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I thought he was injured?

Edit: Also hasn't been in great form this season anyway.

[cormac]

Where's the Sean O'Brien option?

[Dave Cahill]

I thought he was injured?

Edit: Also hasn't been in great form this season anyway.

He may well be - I was convinced he came on as a rep on Sunday but he didn't so it's entirely likely that after watching so much sport at the weekend I was hallucinating

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Maybe it was a red Herring?