Ireland squad v South Africa

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Ch-ch-changes?

Our sub props were noticeably below par. Looks like we'll have to wheel out Jack McGrath again, poor fecker. Mike Ross to the bench with Furlong keeping his place.
Rory obviously starts. I'd rather have Cronin on the bench.
Toner and... Roux might have been part of the scrum success so it's tempting to stick with him but I'd want Dillane back to the bench.
Same back row. they went really well until they ran out of steam but Stander to come back on the bench. Might even have to start him if henderson or Heaslip are done.
Same half backs. they must both be knackered but there's no alternative.
Massively disappointed in Stuart Olding. Didn't see a positive influence from him all game. I expect to see Luke Marshall back next week, partnering henxhaw if he's fit.
If Trimble can manage another then he plays again. Same for Payne. Gilroy made no impact. Pick TOH or Healy or Earls.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Is next week played at altitude?

I still fancy us to win if so

Great performance, we just ran out of juice, fair play to South Africa for coming back, but they were dreadful in the first half

Back at sea level in Port Elizabeth. I think we can pinch it.

[hellovating]

gotta go with what we think our strongest XV is

mcgrath
best
furlong
toner
henderson
stander
ruddock
heaslip
murray
jackson
earls
marshall
henshaw
trimble
payne

would be my side... bench... cronin, kilcoyne, ross, dillane, murphy, marmion, madigan, olding/gilroy

[Spiffy]

gotta go with what we think our strongest XV is

mcgrath
best
furlong
toner
henderson
stander
ruddock
heaslip
murray
jackson
earls
marshall
henshaw
trimble
payne

would be my side... bench... cronin, kilcoyne, ross, dillane, murphy, marmion, madigan, olding/gilroy

Henshaw is out, so there will be a midfield rejuggle. Maybe a Payne/Marshall pairing, though I'd like to see Payne remain at FB.
Kilcoyne does not look international class at prop. Bealham, who can play both sides, might be a better bet for the bench.
Disappointed that O'Halloran has not got a run yet, but he is not that likely to get one in the final test.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

gotta go with what we think our strongest XV is

mcgrath
best
furlong
toner
henderson
stander
ruddock
heaslip
murray
jackson
earls
marshall
henshaw
trimble
payne

would be my side... bench... cronin, kilcoyne, ross, dillane, murphy, marmion, madigan, olding/gilroy

Wouldn't quibble with that. I just wonder how much Roux had to do with the excellent scrummaging performance. if nothing then I'd happily start Dillane or move Henderson back to lock and start CJ.

[Lizard]

You've got to throw everything at this one. It's a rare achievement at stake. In fact it's only 20 years since the All Blacks first managed a series win in SA.

[hellovating]

Henshaw is out, so there will be a midfield rejuggle. Maybe a Payne/Marshall pairing, though I'd like to see Payne remain at FB.
Kilcoyne does not look international class at prop. Bealham, who can play both sides, might be a better bet for the bench.
Disappointed that O'Halloran has not got a run yet, but he is not that likely to get one in the final test.

i'd leave payne where he is too. olding and marshall or marshall and earls.

[Spiffy]

Just heard that McFadden is being flown out. Now we are really up Schmidt creek, withou a paddle, in a barbed wire canoe.

[hellovating]

What's your take on what's going on at Munster? Axel out of his depth or you just don't have the players?

i'll start up a Munster thread before the start of the new season, Eug.

[Spiffy]

Both Henshaw and Payne out for the third test? Things looking a tad ominous.

[BBD]

What's your take on what's going on at Munster? Axel out of his depth or you just don't have the players?

i'll start up a Munster thread before the start of the new season, Eug.

I'll start up a Munster thread before I concede that Earls is second to Healy

[hellovating]

looking like payne will not be selected due to injury......nuts.

[hellovating]

15. Willie le Roux
14. Ruan Combrinck
13. Lionel Mapoe
12. Damian de Allende
11. JP Pietersen
10. Elton Jantjies
9. Faf de Klerk

1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Adriaan Strauss (captain)
3. Frans Malherbe
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Pieter-Steph du Toit
6. Francois Louw
7. Siya Kolisi
8. Warren Whiteley

Replacements:

16. Bongi Mbonambi
17. Steven Kitshoff
18. Julian Redelinghuys
19. Franco Mostert
20. Jaco Kriel
21. Rudy Paige
22. Morné Steyn
23. Lwazi Mvovo

[hellovating]

Eoin Reddan will retire from rugby after Saturday's test.

Limerick's finest.....

[hellovating]

What's your take on what's going on at Munster? Axel out of his depth or you just don't have the players?

i'll start up a Munster thread before the start of the new season, Eug.

I'll start up a Munster thread before I concede that Earls is second to Healy

did someone suggest that?

[SerjeantWildgoose]

Eoin Reddan will retire from rugby after Saturday's test.

Limerick's finest.....

I wouldn't go so far as to call him Limerick's finest, now Hellov. There's a bloke called O'Connell used to hang around the place and The Claw might rip your ears off for suggesting that Limerick's finest anything played anywhere other than the front row.

Eoin is up there as one of the most enjoyable things to come out of the city; A Mairead Buike to POC's Cranberries and Clohessy's Rubber Bandits, if you will.

[hellovating]

i was going to suggest patrickswell's finest... but then conor would be upset.


one of....

[hellovating]

15. Tiernan O'Halloran (Buccaneers/Connacht)
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
13. Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
12. Stuart Olding (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) (capt)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
6. CJ Stander (Munster)
7. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)

Replacements:

16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)
18. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)
19. Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht)
20. Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
21. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster)
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
23. Matt Healy (Connacht)*

[hellovating]

2 short of an injured 15

healy, other, moore
mccarthy, touhy
o'mahony, o'brien, van der flier
other, sexton
kearney, henshaw, payne, bowe
kearney/zebo

[Eugene Wrayburn]

15. Tiernan O'Halloran (Buccaneers/Connacht)
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
13. Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
12. Stuart Olding (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) (capt)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
6. CJ Stander (Munster)
7. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)

Replacements:

16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)
18. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)
19. Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht)
20. Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
21. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster)
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
23. Matt Healy (Connacht)*

All things considered that's not a bad team. I doubt it's a team to win a series in the republic though.

[Spiffy]

15. Tiernan O'Halloran (Buccaneers/Connacht)
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
13. Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
12. Stuart Olding (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) (capt)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
6. CJ Stander (Munster)
7. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)

Replacements:

16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)
18. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)
19. Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht)
20. Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
21. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster)
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
23. Matt Healy (Connacht)*

All things considered that's not a bad team. I doubt it's a team to win a series in the republic though.

Agree. Ireland's best chance is to go for an open game, do not kick away possession and try to avoid an arm wrestle up front. That Bok team is still not settled or experienced and could be ratteled by a couple of quick scores. I hope Joe gives the benchers, especially Duillane/Ruddock/Furlong, more than 20 mins. Strange to see Marmion dropped for Reddan. He has had no chance to show his stuff apart from a few moments in the last test.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Poor TOH. Not only has he had to go off injured, but someone will have to inform him that he's got a shoulder above his neck.

[I R Geech]

Jackson is letting the Saffers get away with all sorts. Knock ons, offsides, looks to be bottling the calls.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Jackson is letting the Saffers get away with all sorts. Knock ons, offsides, looks to be bottling the calls.

Only has eyes for one team. It's been pretty one sided all game and that TMO decision on the tackle in the air has made me fucking furious.

[Mellsblue]

Jackson is letting the Saffers get away with all sorts. Knock ons, offsides, looks to be bottling the calls.

Only has eyes for one team. It's been pretty one sided all game and that TMO decision on the tackle in the air has made me fucking furious.

Yep, this pet project had to stop. His decision making at the breakdown and scrum is utterly clueless.