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RAILWAY1 wrote:Why is the default position of some posters on this site always replace Earls when there is a problem in the backline. Since his underage days with Thomond RFC everyone down here knew Kieth isnt a centre but he is an excellent wing and a decent fullback for cover if needed.
He delivers in attack and defence unlike some other high profile players who only do one or the other. For the record I think Joe should start Cooney instead of Murray against France and regardless of who understudies Johnny Sexton they should get at least 15 minutes to get proper game time
Oldschool wrote:RAILWAY1 wrote:Why is the default position of some posters on this site always replace Earls when there is a problem in the backline. Since his underage days with Thomond RFC everyone down here knew Kieth isnt a centre but he is an excellent wing and a decent fullback for cover if needed.
He delivers in attack and defence unlike some other high profile players who only do one or the other. For the record I think Joe should start Cooney instead of Murray against France and regardless of who understudies Johnny Sexton they should get at least 15 minutes to get proper game time
It's similar to default position taken by some regarding RK at FB. If you can find an answer to that, then you might an answer to your query regarding Earls.
LeRouxIsPHat wrote:I think it would be really thick to bring Leavy back in. We've looked underpowered in general and SOB's lack of fitness was very evident, so the solution is to bring in someone who won't be sharp at all? I've already said that we've missed him hugely and if he'd proved himself in the last couple of Leinster games then I'd be putting him back in the squad, but not now.
Great that Stander looks to be back. As much as I like Conan, I can't see him making the World Cup squad and want as many of the first choice team as possible to play and work us back into form. I didn't care about that for the last two games, but think it's really important for the next couple of weeks.
CiaranIrl wrote:On the underpowered front, it'll never happen, but I'd love to see Beirne start at 6. O'Mahony has been good (despite him being struck by some of the same error rate and malaise that is affecting the whole team) but a more powerful 6 could radically change our game. Have O'Mahony & O'Brien on the bench for 60th minute.
hugonaut wrote:CiaranIrl wrote:On the underpowered front, it'll never happen, but I'd love to see Beirne start at 6. O'Mahony has been good (despite him being struck by some of the same error rate and malaise that is affecting the whole team) but a more powerful 6 could radically change our game. Have O'Mahony & O'Brien on the bench for 60th minute.
Absolutely agree. Going up against France I'd like to see the following pack:
1. Healy
2. Best
3. Furlong
4. Ryan
5. Henderson
6. Beirne
7. O'Mahony
8. Stander/Conan [fitness dependent]
It gets lots of size into the team, lots of big men to go toe-to-toe with the French and not lose the f*cking collisions for the first time this tournament. Four lineout options in Ryan, Henderson, Beirne and O'Mahony, and a lot of powerful ball carriers in every row. O'Mahony's ball carrying is absolutely useless, but he's great in the air, good at the breakdown and an intelligent player; he played No7 in the last of the Australia tests and did a good job. He's also actually in form, so it'd be unfair to drop him.
I'm boring at this stage, but to my mind SOB is a gold standard No20 but not capable of being the player he was as a starter. Playing Beirne at No6 allows you to pick two backrows on the bench if you want to [O'Brien and Leavy/van der Flier?], or you could reward Dillane for his good performance against the Italians.
hugonaut wrote:CiaranIrl wrote:On the underpowered front, it'll never happen, but I'd love to see Beirne start at 6. O'Mahony has been good (despite him being struck by some of the same error rate and malaise that is affecting the whole team) but a more powerful 6 could radically change our game. Have O'Mahony & O'Brien on the bench for 60th minute.
Absolutely agree. Going up against France I'd like to see the following pack:
1. Healy
2. Best
3. Furlong
4. Ryan
5. Henderson
6. Beirne
7. O'Mahony
8. Stander/Conan [fitness dependent]
It gets lots of size into the team, lots of big men to go toe-to-toe with the French and not lose the f*cking collisions for the first time this tournament. Four lineout options in Ryan, Henderson, Beirne and O'Mahony, and a lot of powerful ball carriers in every row. O'Mahony's ball carrying is absolutely useless, but he's great in the air, good at the breakdown and an intelligent player; he played No7 in the last of the Australia tests and did a good job. He's also actually in form, so it'd be unfair to drop him.
I'm boring at this stage, but to my mind SOB is a gold standard No20 but not capable of being the player he was as a starter. Playing Beirne at No6 allows you to pick two backrows on the bench if you want to [O'Brien and Leavy/van der Flier?], or you could reward Dillane for his good performance against the Italians.
sunshiner1 wrote:Hopefully we can show Murray the bench and tell him to sit there.
Dave Cahill wrote:sunshiner1 wrote:Hopefully we can show Murray the bench and tell him to sit there.
You think that in what is effectively Irelands RWC preseason its a good idea for the coach to bench his badly in need of gametime starting scrumhalf?
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