With the exception of Felix Jones and Tomás O'Leary this is our first choice team. Evidently DK is giving Felix Jones an oppertunity to prove himself against top class opposition while also giving the worlds biggest journeyman O'Leary, yet another chance. Just hope Sexton does not get injured by one of O'Leary's hospital passes. Also i think this is a full on kick in the teeth to Reddan. But we know that O'Leary is a favourite of DK so not unexpected.
Still! All in all im quite happy that we are finally fielding a full strength side. Now we will see where exactly we are. Some rustiness is likely but also from the French so considering that we will be more or less equally rusty....
I'm gona say Ireland By 7!!! Oh yes! this is the first time i have said we will win. 3rd time unlucky perhaps
TEAM AND ARTICLE
"In total, there are 10 changes to the team which lost against the French last Saturday in Bordeaux.
There are six changes in the backline, one of which is positional. Felix Jones will make his first start for Ireland at full-back and Keith Earls moves from the centre to left wing.
With Earls moving into the back three, Gordon D'Arcy comes into the midfield alongside captain Brian O'Driscoll, who will both be making their debuts for the season.
Jonathan Sexton will start at No 10 and he will be partnered at half back by Tomas O'Leary.
Paul O'Connell and Jamie Heaslip come into the starting team after being second half replacements last weekend and Sean O'Brien moves to No 6.
Ireland team to play France at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, 20 August at 5.00pm:
15 Felix Jones, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Tomás O'Leary
1 Cian Healy, 2 Rory Best, 3 Mike Ross, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan,
5 Paul O'Connell, 6 Sean O'Brien, 7 David Wallace, 8 Jamie Heaslip
Replacements:
16 Jerry Flannery, 17 Tom Court, 18 Mike McCarthy, 19 Stephen Ferris, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 - Ronan O'Gara, 22 Luke Fitzgerald
Coach Declan Kidney has also named the Select XV to face Connacht at the Donnybrook Stadium on Thursday. Several players who were involved in last weekend's game against France will get another chance to impress.
Leo Cullen will captain the side and will be partnered in the second row by Mick O'Driscoll, with Tony Buckley, Sean Cronin, John Hayes completing the front five.
Shane Jennings will have his first outing of August after returning from a broken arm alongside Kevin McLaughlin and Denis Leamy in the back row.
Isaac Boss and Paddy Wallace will make up the half back partnership with Fergus McFadden, Johne Murphy and Geordan Murphy in the back three."
FRANCE TEAM:
Cedric Heymans; Maxime Medard, Aurelien Rougerie, Fabrice Estebanez, Alexis Palisson; David Skrela, Morgan Parra; Julien Bonnaire, Louis Picamoles, Fulgence Ouedraogo; Lionel Nallet (capt), Pascal Pape; Nicolas Mas, Dimitri Szarzewski, Jean-Baptiste Poux.
Replacements: Guilhem Guirado, Fabien Barcella, Julien Pierre, Raphael Lakafia, Dimitri Yachvili, Francois Trinh-Duc, Vincent Clerc, Luc Ducalcon."
Ireland Team... 10 changes.
posted on 19/8/11
Gecko
was thinking about this statement by you
"On paper I'd say the Irish are weaker on the whole, apart from their backrow."
so a break down.
15 france
14 ireland... tommy bowe best wing in europe
13 ireland BOD best OC to ever step on a rugby pitch
12 France
11 50/50 France by a nose... Medard is sheer class!
10 Ireland by a nose
9 France, para is a wonderful SH
8 Ireland back row is a no brainer.
7 Ireland
6 Ireland
5 Ireland POC had a great second half last week.
4 Ireland DOC and POC complement each other.
SCRUM: We should gain parity but on paper they are individually better JUST...
3 France - Mas is along with Jones in wales as one of the best in the world BUT Ross knows Mas and has fronted up every time thay have met without difficulty in the past
2 France if Szarzewski is back to form???
1 France. Healy is good but not at the level of ross or even his opposite number.
SO gecko i have it on paper.....
Ireland 8 and France 7 with a couple of 50/50's
posted on 19/8/11
My bad Bowe is out Trimble is in on the right wing. (14)
posted on 19/8/11
Ding, I'm not going to argue with your man for man assessments, but I was looking at combinations and units and how those individuals would work together (crucially I see the French backline as much more potent, and although Ireland are strong 4-8, I think they'll have an uphill battle).
I think the French front row is stronger; second rows Ireland should have the nudge - though dont expect the French pairing to be completely dominated(!); backrow Ireland look to be close to world class - maybe less so now Wallace is out; and then half backs and the outside backs, for me, France are much more threatening.
I think your backrow would need a huge game (complimented by DOC and POC) to starve the French of any decent possession.
I reckon it should be a great game to watch. I'll have to see if I can convince the missus to stay in the pub for the second game. If not I'll sneak it onto the telly at home
posted on 19/8/11
Gecko
all good points mate. cant argue... but i have faith. certainly i dont believe BOD is gona allow the french through the middle and where we had ROG last week we have Sexton this week, a much bigger and more defence capable player.
I'll drink you your misses and hope she lets ya watch it haha ....... you deserve to see some good rugby..... Oh yes i just said that
posted on 19/8/11
Have a good weekend boys I wish you the best Ding - cos next week I wont be
For what its worth after last weeks debacle heres my forcasts
Ireland by 10 (28 -18)
Argentina by 2 its a long shot (16-18)
NZ by 9 (22 - 31) NZ have a few out
Scotland by 3 (18-15) Tossed a coin
Japan by 11 (28-17)
Good luck and have a good weekend
posted on 19/8/11
Haha, cheers Ding.
If I have to plump for scores:
France by 5, 17-22
I hope Wales can win, and will keep the Argentinians at a distance on the scoreboard. Maybe ending 8-10 points ahead. It's a strong Argentinian side but the fringe players for Wales desperately need to impress and theres enough experience across the park. Or they could flail miserably like against the Fijans...
Springboks to edge it - they desperately need the win and its very much a second string for the ABs. Less than a try in it.
Scotland I think can throw off the shackles - 27-14
posted on 21/8/11
Lydneyian you're terrible at making predictions
Nice to see Ireland lose again, what happened to everyone saying they'll beat Australia and make it to the final?
posted on 21/8/11
I know - I did ok in the first few weeks of the tri nations and WC warm ups - but the last 2 weeks Ive just fallen apart - I felt sure Ireland would finally beat those crazy cheese eating surrender monkeys - and after backing SA last week thought it was inevitable that NZ wouls beat them - as for the Wales game - just wishful thinking I guess
posted on 21/8/11
Ye Lydneyian u were off the mark a bit this week. Anywho.. how bad were we mate? So bad i dont know where to start. i will leave it alone for the weekend and have a good moan about it 2moro. 2007 all over again...
Saw wales won well enough. noting special but that was the best Argentina side they can produce and wales were never really under any pressure. Looking like they are building momentum nicely.
Jerichoholic
Go and find any article or comment here that says we would make the final, beating OZ in the process. Go and find it please and provide some proof behind your WUM... And considering you have only joined this forum today im thinking your gona have a lot of reading before you realise your talking out of ur backside.
posted on 22/8/11
Dingbat
2 Things
Firstly I blame you for giving me false hope on the Ireland prediction
Secondly - NO WAY am I going to comment on the Ireland performance in the week before we are playing them - even my bravado will not allow me to walk that path
Argentina disappointed though - Im hoping they are similar against us in the groups - Im more confident now
Wales are in danger of becoming legends in their own lunchtimes going into this world cup imo - they need to beware