Ireland 6 Nations 2018

[jimbobjoe]

Less than a month out from the opener vs France in Paris. Ireland's depth is looking good and hopefully we'll see a bit of rotation over the first three games (Fra/Ita/Wal). Scotland and England are the last 2 games and likely the deciders.

The first choice team halfway picks itself with the rows & halfbacks cemented in place. Backrow a tricky selection and we could see SOB anywhere across the three. FWIW I'd go for 6 SOB, 7 Leavy, 8 CJ with POM/VDF/Conan battling for the 20 shirt.

Loosehead - Nothing to see here - Healy & McGrath first choices with Kilcoyne deputising if necessary
Hooker - Best first choice and captain - second choice is up fro grabs though. I'd like to see Cronin get back in.
Tighthead - Furlong first choice - Ryan, Porter and Bealham fighting for backup role.
Second row - Toner and Henderson in poll position. Roux/Dillane/Ryan to backup? Treadwell and Wycherley not in the mix yet.
Blindside - POM/SOB most likely but could see CJ shifted out if Conan gets nod at 8
Openside - SOB/Leavy/VDF
No 8 - CJ probably favourite to get this even though his form isn't great. Conan definite option vs Italy and maybe Wales.
Scrumhalf - Murray. Would like to see Cooney given a run 2nd choice is likely to be McGrath or Marmion.
Outhalf - Sexton. I think Keatley will be backup given Carbery not playing since Fiji in Nov. Don't think Joe will throw in Byrne.
Centres - Henshaw is certain but who partners is questionable. I think Schmidt will go for Aki as Ringrose not quite back to form yet. Chris Farrell might get a run out and Ringrose could play his way back in with time.
Wings - Stockdale and Earls look to be first choice. Larmour, Sweetnam or any of Joe's old guard of Trimble/Bowe/Ferg could come in at any time.
Fullback - Rob K the reliable elder statesman but I don't think anyone would object to seeing Larmour or Carbery (if fit) come in at any stage. Based on previous selections I don't think we'll see TOH.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I don't think there'll be much debate around the 23, realistically the potential changes people would make on the bench aren't likely to happen.

One thing I would like to see is fewer specialists being picked. What I mean by that is that we have guys covering multiple positions with an eye to the world cup, instead of the safe Felix Jones type selection we've had in the past. I don't expect him to be involved in the first couple of games but one simple example would be Joey covering 15 if he's also the back up ten. I've no idea how bad Ringrose's injury is, but for argument's sake if we say he was out of the French game, then I think I'd prefer someone like Stockdale covering 13 rather than have Chris Farrell on the bench.

We have a great chance of winning this tournament and I'm not suggesting we experiment as such, but just a couple of tweaks here and there could mean we're better prepared for an injury crisis in Japan.

[simonokeeffe]

SOB will awaken from cryosleep to play 7. On history alone cant see him being picked anywhere else

Interesting calls to me are

19: sub second rows playing poorly except Ryan who is injured a lot
22
Back 3/23: weve 3 electric 11s who are suspect in defence, one of whom will be shoehorned in at 14

[paddyor]

SOB will awaken from cryosleep to play 7. On history alone cant see him being picked anywhere else

Interesting calls to me are

19: sub second rows playing poorly except Ryan who is injured a lot
22
Back 3/23: weve 3 electric 11s who are suspect in defence, one of whom will be shoehorned in at 14

I think Conway is bailed on for 23 with nails! Covers wing and FB, did very well in the AIs and has been in good form since.

[neiliog93]

Dillane has been good the last couple of games after a fallow period, don't think the 19 jersey is up for debate really. Treadwell got another minor injury and based on his performances isn't really at Six Nations level yet (clearly being groomed for the future in a position where Ireland lack depth, given he's just turned 22).

[simonokeeffe]

Dillane has been good the last couple of games after a fallow period, don't think the 19 jersey is up for debate really. Treadwell got another minor injury and based on his performances isn't really at Six Nations level yet (clearly being groomed for the future in a position where Ireland lack depth, given he's just turned 22).

Ryans match fitness is what makes 19 interesting for me. If he proves it hes in

[paddyor]

the42 reporting SOB has had a hip op.

[simonokeeffe]

the42 reporting SOB has had a hip op.

JVDF to start, Murphy to bench

[johng]

Cronin back in and Larmer the harmer the only uncapped player in Joe's squad tomorrow

[blockhead]

Joey set to be included too. Feck, will we have anyone left to play in blue

[neiliog93]

Possible Squad of 35:

LP: C.Healy, J.McGrath, Kilcoyne
HK: Best, S.Cronin, N.Scannell
TP: Furlong, John Ryan (even after being dropped at Munster), Porter
SR: Toner, Henderson, Dillane, James Ryan, Treadwell
BR: O'Mahony, Leavy, van der Flier, Jordi Murphy, Conan, Stander

SH: Murray, Marmion, L.McGrath
OH: Sexton, Keatley, Carbery
CE: Aki, McCloskey, Henshaw, C.Farrell
WI: Earls, Conway, Stockdale
FB: R.Kearney, Larmour

John Ryan looks the most vulnerable, Archer, Bealham and Bent are arguably all in better form. I would include Ross Byrne but don't think Joe will. Cooney has a shot at taking Marmion's place.

[neiliog93]

^^ 16 from Leinster in that sample.

[johng]

Isn't scannell out sick?

[hugonaut]

Possible Squad of 35:

LP: C.Healy, J.McGrath, Kilcoyne
HK: Best, S.Cronin, N.Scannell
TP: Furlong, John Ryan (even after being dropped at Munster), Porter
SR: Toner, Henderson, Dillane, James Ryan, Treadwell
BR: O'Mahony, Leavy, van der Flier, Jordi Murphy, Conan, Stander

SH: Murray, Marmion, L.McGrath
OH: Sexton, Keatley, Carbery
CE: Aki, McCloskey, Henshaw, C.Farrell
WI: Earls, Conway, Stockdale
FB: R.Kearney, Larmour

John Ryan looks the most vulnerable, Archer, Bealham and Bent are arguably all in better form. I would include Ross Byrne but don't think Joe will. Cooney has a shot at taking Marmion's place.

Marmion is vulnerable, as far as I'm concerned. He was excellent against England last season, but that's 10 months ago now. To be fair, I haven't seen an awful lot of him this season but Connacht have had a significant number of iffy results in the league and are playing in a Mickey Mouse European competition. Cooney has been a star in Ulster – their player of the season, as far as I'm concerned.

I think Bealham should get the nod at tighthead as well. John Ryan is not hitting the same standards that he reached last season, and losing his place to Archer is as much about his own loss of form as Archer's rise in form. Without being obnoxious about it, I struggle to see Archer as an international ... he's having a decent season, but its not the sort of year that's making anybody in other provinces stand up and say that he's shooting the lights out.

[simonokeeffe]

I'd possibly give Porter a game or two on the bench but am ok with Ryan.
If theres a big scrum on our line and a penalty could lose a championship hes the one you want locking it out.
And the plan is for our no18 to only play 5 or 10 minuted anyway (based on options)

Bit surprised there isnt another back 3 player

[Ruckedtobits]

I'm with Hugo on the Archer / Ryan debate. IMO, Ryan has excelled for Ireland when required but I can't see (and I've looked) what Archer is supposed to bring to the party. He's not as good a scrummager, or carrier, or tackler, from the evidence available to me. He may be a stronger lifter or mauler but that's very difficult to access.

[fourthirtythree]

I'd be very surprised if Schmidt tolerated Archer's discipline. He has a persistent problem with lazy running, offsides, in from the sides, illegal maul sacking etc. He got away with a few of them recently that I saw (quite outrageously!) but at international level I can't see it happening.

Rumour was that illness was sapping Ryan but I'd imagine he would still be ahead at international level due to the above about Archer.

[Ruckedtobits]

Really interested to see how our Squad will stack up against the "Depth Chart" compiled as at 1st December 2017.

Ireland XV Depth Chart - 1st Dec 2017

First XV ............ 2nd XV.......... 3rd XV.............. 4th XV..........

15. R. Kearney.......... A. Conway.......... T O'Halloran.......... D Leader
14. K Earls.......... D Sweetnam.......... J Larmour.......... F McFadden
13. R Henshaw.......... C Farrell.......... L Marshall.......... R O'Loughlin
12. B Aki.......... S McCloskey.......... R Scannell.......... N Reid
11. J Stockdale.......... A Byrne.......... B Daly.......... D Kearney
10. J Sexton.......... J Carbery.......... I Keatley .......... R Byrne
9. C Murray.......... K Marmion.......... L McGrath.......... J Cooney
8. CJ Stander.......... J Conan.......... J O'Donoghue.......... M Deegan
7. S O'Brien.......... J V der Flyer.......... Jordi Murphy.......... T O'Donnell
6. P O'Mahony.......... R Ruddock.......... D Leavy.......... Sean O'Brien II
5. D Toner.......... James Ryan.......... K Treadwell.......... U Dillane
4. I Henderson.......... T Beirne.......... Q Roux.......... B Holland
3. T Furlong.......... John Ryan.......... A Porter.......... M Bent
2. R Best.......... N Scannell .......... S Cronin.......... R Herring
1. C Healy.......... J McGrath .......... D Kilcoyne .......... D Buckley

Climbers
At this point IMO, the players who may have advanced up the rankings in the interim (6 weeks) include:

McFadden
Larmour
Keatley
Cooney
Cronin

Fallers

Those who may have slipped out of contention for a Squad place, including for injury, might be:

Marshall
A Byrne
McCloskey
Ruddock
Treadwell

I really hope that Tadgh Beirne is included for however long Scarlets have to release him into the clutches of JS. Whether he actually gets selected during this 6 N is not the point. But getting him into the Irish national system is vital.

[jimbobjoe]

Looks unlikely for Beirne to be included. Article in the42.ie saying he hasn't had anycontact from Joe.

http://www.the42.ie/tadhg-beirne-hoping ... 8-Jan2018/

[R-Dog]

Really interested to see how our Squad will stack up against the "Depth Chart" compiled as at 1st December 2017.

Ireland XV Depth Chart - 1st Dec 2017

First XV ............ 2nd XV.......... 3rd XV.............. 4th XV..........

15. R. Kearney.......... A. Conway.......... T O'Halloran.......... D Leader
14. K Earls.......... D Sweetnam.......... J Larmour.......... F McFadden
13. R Henshaw.......... C Farrell.......... L Marshall.......... R O'Loughlin
12. B Aki.......... S McCloskey.......... R Scannell.......... N Reid
11. J Stockdale.......... A Byrne.......... B Daly.......... D Kearney
10. J Sexton.......... J Carbery.......... I Keatley .......... R Byrne
9. C Murray.......... K Marmion.......... L McGrath.......... J Cooney
8. CJ Stander.......... J Conan.......... J O'Donoghue.......... M Deegan
7. S O'Brien.......... J V der Flyer.......... Jordi Murphy.......... T O'Donnell
6. P O'Mahony.......... R Ruddock.......... D Leavy.......... Sean O'Brien II
5. D Toner.......... James Ryan.......... K Treadwell.......... U Dillane
4. I Henderson.......... T Beirne.......... Q Roux.......... B Holland
3. T Furlong.......... John Ryan.......... A Porter.......... M Bent
2. R Best.......... N Scannell .......... S Cronin.......... R Herring
1. C Healy.......... J McGrath .......... D Kilcoyne .......... D Buckley

Climbers
At this point IMO, the players who may have advanced up the rankings in the interim (6 weeks) include:

McFadden
Larmour
Keatley
Cooney
Cronin

Fallers

Those who may have slipped out of contention for a Squad place, including for injury, might be:

Marshall
A Byrne
McCloskey
Ruddock
Treadwell

I really hope that Tadgh Beirne is included for however long Scarlets have to release him into the clutches of JS. Whether he actually gets selected during this 6 N is not the point. But getting him into the Irish national system is vital.

just looking at the dept in the backs. There is quite a drop from the firsts down. Could really do with Zebo (and Ringrose)