RWC 2019 Draw

[Experimental]

Good draw for us, if I was English, French or Argentinian I'd be worried

[CiaranIrl]

So what are people's thoughts on the team for Saturday?

1. Healy vs McGrath: I think Healy will get the nod
2. Best
3. Furlong
4. Henderson
5. Toner
6. O'Mahony (could be Ruddock or Stander)
7. O'Brien
8. Stander (or Conan if Stander starts at 6)
9. Murray
10. Sexton
11. Earls
12. Aki
13. Henshaw
14. Stockdale, but could be someone else
15. Kearney

[neiliog93]

I like most of that team and agree with Healy being ahead of J.McGrath, but I'd start Conan ahead of Stander, with Stander on the bench (Leavy didn't look fully fit vs Glasgow). I agree with the centres, especially Henshaw moving to 13.

However, I'd have Carbery ahead of Rob at fullback.

1.Healy 2.Best 3.Furlong

4.Toner 5.Henderson

6.POM 8.Conan 7.SOB

9.Murray 10.Sexton 12.Aki 13.Henshaw 14.Stockdale

11.Earls 15.Carbery

16.Tracy/Herring (not too enthused about either..)
17.J.McGrath
18.John Ryan
19.Dillane
20.Stander
21.Marmion
22.McCloskey (Carbery covering 10, just don't trust Keatley at this level and Stu offers good impact)
23.Sweetnam

[neiliog93]

(Although this is probably the wrong thread, feel free to admonish us and move the discussion elsewhere).

[Ruckedtobits]

I like most of that team and agree with Healy being ahead of J.McGrath, but I'd start Conan ahead of Stander, with Stander on the bench (Leavy didn't look fully fit vs Glasgow). I agree with the centres, especially Henshaw moving to 13.

However, I'd have Carbery ahead of Rob at fullback.

1.Healy 2.Best 3.Furlong

4.Toner 5.Henderson

6.POM 8.Conan 7.SOB

9.Murray 10.Sexton 12.Aki 13.Henshaw 14.Stockdale

11.Earls 15.Carbery

16.Tracy/Herring (not too enthused about either..)
17.J.McGrath
18.John Ryan
19.Dillane
20.Stander
21.Marmion
22.McCloskey (Carbery covering 10, just don't trust Keatley at this level and Stu offers good impact)
23.Sweetnam

Think he must start McGrath and Stander against huge Saffa pack and introduce Healy, Ryan, Ruddock and Treacy on 65 mins. Carbery must be selected at 15 or on the bench. Their half-backs don't kick accurately enough to rain bombs on our full-back, but Kearney will be 15. No point having him in the Squad otherwise.

[CiaranIrl]

(Although this is probably the wrong thread, feel free to admonish us and move the discussion elsewhere).

I totally posted under the wrong thread, sorry mods! Probably needs its own thread at this stage.

[brotheroffrank]

No worries Ciaran, at least you didn’t start a debate on the question of who is the best leinster scrum half. .....

[El Diablo]

Samoa are an effing shambles these days on and off the pitch

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samoa_nat ... rent_squad

locks are moslty NPC, outhalves are Aussie club rugby
even in traditional positions of strength theyve a lot of guys playing RFU championship/ProD2

http://www.the42.ie/samoa-rugby-bankrup ... 1-Nov2017/

[simonokeeffe]

Samoa are an effing shambles these days on and off the pitch

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samoa_nat ... rent_squad

locks are moslty NPC, outhalves are Aussie club rugby
even in traditional positions of strength theyve a lot of guys playing RFU championship/ProD2

http://www.the42.ie/samoa-rugby-bankrup ... 1-Nov2017/

Gotta love a chairman who asks for donations whilst complaining about past criticisms.
The fact their RFU chairman is the PM is a big alarm bell and I think world rugby objected to it in the past. At the very least players complained about the union being run/used for political gain

http://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/13 ... es-dan-leo

http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/585971 ... -Schwalger

[Dexter]

This tweet made me laugh... (including the embedded tweet)
https://twitter.com/HarpinOnRugby/statu ... 6424514560

[FLIP]

If anyone wants to go on the ballot for all the Ireland matches entries begin tomorrow.

[brotheroffrank]

Romania have qualified as Europe 1 in our group. ....

[Dave Cahill]

Romania have qualified as Europe 1 in our group as a result of Belgium beating Spain in a game refereed by a Romanian team of officials. ....

Fixed that for you

The Spanish are not happy.

[brotheroffrank]

Thanks for that !

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-roma ... SKBN1F71W7

Reuters will have more to write about. ...

[Ruckedtobits]

So that's Romania and the winner of Spain v Tonga playoff. We're getting closer.

[FLIP]

So that's Romania and the winner of Spain v Tonga playoff. We're getting closer.

Not quite. It's the winner of (Spain v Portugal) v Tonga.

[cormac]

It's Samoa, not Tonga. Tonga have already qualified.

[brotheroffrank]

Reuters missed out on the story

Dave Cahill knows the story....

Wales missed out on beating England due to poor Officiating, so they run the story in sympathy with the Spanish.....
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... d-14429325

[Oldschool]

Before this match Spain were ranked 19 and Belgium were ranked 25.
The points gap was 8 approx.
Would be interesting to know what the head to heads for the two teams are like in recent years.
Not to mention current form.

[cormac]

Before this match Spain were ranked 19 and Belgium were ranked 25.
The points gap was 8 approx.
Would be interesting to know what the head to heads for the two teams are like in recent years.
Not to mention current form.

Spain beat them 30-0 in their last match against each other despite picking up a red card. Spain had lost one of their seven matches, Belgium had won one of their last seven.