Ireland 6N Squad

[Digby]

Which really is more important to Schmidt, exposing some youngsters to a final 6N game, or trying to lock up a position as a tier 1 seed going into the 2019 RWC?

Which doesn't mean that some of those youngsters mayn't also be part of what would be the strongest team, but I can see why a selector mayn't rush to seek new blood at this point in time.

[BBD]

A very fair and reasonable point, I barely recognised it around here

That said, picture the scene, its 10 minutes to go, its been nip and tuck all game, theres 6 points in it, Keith Earls has had the game of his life but is now limping badly because of his heroism in stopping two English backs with one tackle. As he goes reluctantly from the field, still pointing and gesticulating, encouraging and directing his team mates, who is that warming up on the touchline? ready to save the day with his silky skills and magic hands.......is it the balletic Gilroy? a man known to have avoided body contact in a crowded phone box! no!, is it Sweetnam, a player whos kicking will get you into position and who has the evasive feet to take you over the line? no! is it Byrne, whose raw pace leaves scorch marks upon the turf? no.........its Ferg, a man to whom brick walls represent a challenge for their mobility and whose idea of an offload is when he drops a kebab after a night out

[hugh_woatmeigh]

As an outsider i think Gilroy is fantastic. What gives?

[BBD]

Joe knows Ferg from his Leinster days and seems to rate him. I don't think he is a bad player, he's solid I just don't think he is offering anything new or different. I think the 3 mentioned above are all offering something that could turn a game and will trouble the opposition when they run at them. For me, Ferg just doesn't offer that kind of unpredictableness

[hellovating]

bit of a kick in the teeth for some really good young wingers. won't matter, payne will be back in the 23 somewhere, probably at 13.

serious overhaul needed at the end of this tournament, starting in japan. serj will laugh smugly but might be time to look for a new hooker and skipper too.

mcgrath, scannell/cronin/herring/tracy, furlong
henderson, dillane
o'mahony (c), stander, van der flier
murray, jackson
zebo, henshaw, ringrose, earls
payne

kilcoyne, scannell/cronin/herring/tracy, ryan, toner, leavy, mcgrath, carberry, byrne/sweetnam

that's a 23 that would excite me

[hellovating]

As an outsider i think Gilroy is fantastic. What gives?

much better with ball in hand than without. the perception is he is a poor defender. it's a little unfair i think.

[Spiffy]

As an outsider i think Gilroy is fantastic. What gives?

much better with ball in hand than without. the perception is he is a poor defender. it's a little unfair i think.

Would agree, though defence is the weakest part of his game. I thought it was a bit unfair of Schmidt to replace him with Bowe after the Italy match. Gilroy looked great about three seasons ago but has somehow missed the boat. At the moment I'd say that Sweetnam and Byrne are closing on him fast (and may be there already); Adeolukun, probably the fastest man in Ireland, should come into future consideration; and Jacob Stockdale is looking very promising at Ulster. Never mind the good form of O'Loughlin, O'Mahony, Conway.

[hellovating]

the rumours are same again. payne in for bowe on the bench

[Spiffy]

the rumours are same again. payne in for bowe on the bench

Payne in at 15; Marmion for injured Murray; Hendo to start/Toner bench; Andrew Conway bench.
But still SOB at 7 and no start for POM.

Marmion to play a blinder!

[Vengeful Glutton]

Good luck to Marmion. Glad to see Payne back. Hope he can get through the game unscathed.

England to win comfortably.

[BBD]

POM you ligind

[Spiffy]

POM you ligind

He has been waiting for his chance and took it (like his lineout nicks) with both hands.
Payne shows once and for all that he's in a different league to Kearney.
Marmion/McGrath do their job at SH.
Good to see Conway and Leavy get a run too.

[SerjeantWildgoose]

Ringrose had a sublime game today; there can be no going back to Payne at 13. Once he overcame a couple of early wobbles under the high ball, Payne showed his real value and that is as an attacking full back. So time for Rob to be retired.

Can there also now be any doubt that our strongest back row is POM, SOB and CJ? Buttered fingers aside, all three utterly dominated their English counterparts today. Time for Jaimie to be given his carriage clock, too.

Sexton was utterly dogged today; I'd have taken him for MOTM.

Great to see first caps for Dan and Andy and a first 6Ns for Luke.

It is easy to be disappointed with this 6Ns, but a second place finish, a clean record at home, a record win against the whipping boys and some new talent blooded, it hasn't been too bad. And we finish tonight sitting 4th in the World rankings. Is that the first time we'll go into the draw as a top seed?

Now, what's the damage to Connor and Keith? Sure we have visitor in a fortnight!

[mcshinnertheligind]

My head hurts

[SerjeantWildgoose]

Hangovers are for the weak of spirit; they shall inherit feck all!

[BBD]

Blessed are the lineout stealers

[Mellsblue]

It's taken 14 hours to get to this point but well played, you feckers.

[Mikey Brown]

Yep. Well done. You've done England a favour long term but also go fuck yourselves, from the Scottish half of me.

[BBD]

Mike brown knocking on at the end was a delicious moment

[SerjeantWildgoose]

Delicious! It was better than 10 pints of Guinness, a stack of Boxty and a threesome with Halle Berry and Faith Hill.

[mcshinnertheligind]

How good was pom

[SerjeantWildgoose]

Throw in another couple of pints of Guinness, a pound of Clonakilty black pud and Clare Goose - all live on the Late Late Show, with Ryan telling me he's never seen a fat aul knacker the like of me and The Saw Doctors singing N17 in support.

[morepork]

Ringrose is impressive. Straight at it with a nose for space.

[BBD]

How good was pom

It's like POC and Quinny made a pact with the divil and had a secret love child

[BBD]

Ringrose is impressive. Straight at it with a nose for space.

If he can stay injury free he is going to be immense

Sadly I think he likes the contact, just like sexton, and that's going to be his ultimate undoing