Wolfhounds v Saxons

[jimbobjoe]

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/33658.php

IRELAND WOLFHOUNDS Team & Replacements (v England Saxons, 'A' International Match, Irish Independent Park, Cork, Friday, January 30, kick-off 7.45pm):

15. Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster) (capt)
14. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
13. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
12. Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11. Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
10. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
9. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
2. Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
5. Mike McCarthy (Leinster)
6. Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
7. Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)
8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) *

Replacements:

16. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
17. Michael Bent (Leinster)
18. Nathan White (Galwegians/Connacht) *
19. Robbie Diack (Malone/Ulster)
20. Eoin McKeon (Corinthians/Connacht) *
21. Isaac Boss (Terenure/Leinster)
22. Noel Reid (Clontarf/Leinster)
23. Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster)

* Denotes uncapped player at Test level

[jimbobjoe]

Good team although I'd have Fitz at 13 with Earls on the wing. Looking forward to SOB showing Sam Burgess what real power is!

[paddyor]

Good team although I'd have Fitz at 13 with Earls on the wing. Looking forward to SOB showing Sam Burgess what real power is!

I guess we might get to see both of them.

[mtleinster]

Bit of a waste having Darcy playing this game. WH games should be to introduce players to the international set up, or in the case of Earls & Fitz reintroduce

[jimbobjoe]

Bit of a waste having Darcy playing this game. WH games should be to introduce players to the international set up, or in the case of Earls & Fitz reintroduce

Schmidt must have him in his plans for the 6N and wants to get him up to speed. I think it's a waste too, based on recent form he should be way down the pecking order anyway. I wonder would he be there if the Ulster centres were fit?

[offshorerules]

Delighted Sean's back. Now just have to wait for cian.

[Vamos los azules]

And the Saxons team named is:

15 Chris Pennell (Worcester Warriors)
14 Chris Ashton (Saracens)
13 Elliot Daly (Wasps)
12 Sam Burgess (Bath Rugby)
11 Marland Yarde (Harlequins)
10 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
9 Lee Dickson, captain (Northampton Saints)
1 Matt Mullan (Wasps)
2 Rob Webber (Bath Rugby)
3 Henry Thomas (Bath Rugby)
4 Matt Garvey (Bath Rugby)
5 James Gaskell (Wasps)
6 Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs)
7 Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby)
8 Thomas Waldrom (Exeter Chiefs)

Replacements

16 Luke Cowan Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
17 Alex Waller (Northampton Saints)
18 Jake Cooper-Woolley (Wasps)
19 Maro Itoje (Saracens)
20 Carl Fearns (Bath)
21 Joe Simpson (Wasps)
22 Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby)
23 Christian Wade (Wasps)

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Bit of a waste having Darcy playing this game. WH games should be to introduce players to the international set up, or in the case of Earls & Fitz reintroduce

Schmidt must have him in his plans for the 6N and wants to get him up to speed. I think it's a waste too, based on recent form he should be way down the pecking order anyway. I wonder would he be there if the Ulster centres were fit?

Agree but we're probably one injury away from him starting and he's barely played recently. I'd expect Madigan to be the 12 if needed once Sexton returns but still important for Darce to get a game just in case.

Surprised by some of the players who are playing, would hope that McGrath and Madigan are hooked by HT or very shortly after.

Not much bulk in the backs, can that Sean O'Brien lad carry?

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Hope the weather is good, this could be a cracking game. That's some bench that England have!

[Vamos los azules]

Hope the weather is good, this could be a cracking game. That's some bench that England have!

Seriously tempted to head down for it I must admit. We might be able to feel the earthquake up in Dublin if SOB and Sam Burgess collide mind you!

[RnR]

Is it on de telly?

[jimbobjoe]

Is it on de telly?

Sky sports 2 @ 19.30

Edit: it's also on RTE 2

[Peg Leg]

Too many targets for the Saxons in that team , ala dax pre 07

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Just thinking, it's a bit odd that Joe gave games to McGrath, Ross and Madigan to (presumably) improve match sharpness/play in a position they haven't seen much of recently, but not to Payne. Wonder if he's injured?

[johng]

Too many targets for the Saxons in that team , ala dax pre 07

That was hard to figure out, but I think I am starting to get a handle on your brain now......

You mean when Bod got lashed out of it in a WC warmup in Bayonne?

[Golf Man]

Darcy is a needs must selection - couldn't really play REid 12, who was really the only other option, as if he got injured you would end up with Madigan playing the full game, which presumably they don't want

I presume that Madigan is getting gametime at 10 - seems like a bit of risk to me - I reckon he will play v Italy no matter what so why risk him - maybe Keatley is in the running?

MCgrath is a bit similar - does he really need that sharpness - only 3 weeks since he played

Good point on Payne but I reckon he is a definite starter at 13 - we know that Schmidt goes more by the training ground than anything else

Earls/Fitz selection is interesting to say the least - Earls is the guy I'm nost interested in seeing tbh - good injury run free and Earsl nbback to his best with Schmidt coaching him - huge benefit to us

[Edna Kenny]

Richie Murphy said during the week that with Keatley they know where he's at and he has plenty of gametime under his belt. Id say Joe is giving Madigan a crack at proving he's good enough to start, if not it will be Keatley. Can't really wrap them in cotton wool anyway. Luke/Earls is interesting. Maybe Luke being given a shot of starting against Italy at 11. I'd say Joe will stick with Payne/Henshaw combo if he can.

[jimbobjoe]

Richie Murphy said during the week that with Keatley they know where he's at and he has plenty of gametime under his belt. Id say Joe is giving Madigan a crack at proving he's good enough to start, if not it will be Keatley. Can't really wrap them in cotton wool anyway. Luke/Earls is interesting. Maybe Luke being given a shot of starting against Italy at 11. I'd say Joe will stick with Payne/Henshaw combo if he can.

A lot of people have said this and I don't get it.. they only played one game together (vs SA) and Payne hasn't been playing since. Fitz has been playing a lot recently in centre, and performs better there than Payne does for Ulster. I think a Henshaw/Fitz 12/13 is the only way to go for the Italy game.

[johng]

Richie Murphy said during the week that with Keatley they know where he's at and he has plenty of gametime under his belt. Id say Joe is giving Madigan a crack at proving he's good enough to start, if not it will be Keatley. Can't really wrap them in cotton wool anyway. Luke/Earls is interesting. Maybe Luke being given a shot of starting against Italy at 11. I'd say Joe will stick with Payne/Henshaw combo if he can.

A lot of people have said this and I don't get it.. they only played one game together (vs SA) and Payne hasn't been playing since. Fitz has been playing a lot recently in centre, and performs better there than Payne does for Ulster. I think a Henshaw/Fitz 12/13 is the only way to go for the Italy game.

+ 1

[Peg Leg]

Too many targets for the Saxons in that team , ala dax pre 07

That was hard to figure out, but I think I am starting to get a handle on your brain now......

You mean when Bod got lashed out of it in a WC warmup in Bayonne?

Yes?