Ireland team to play Wales in the RWC 2011 quarter-final at Westpac Stadium, Saturday 8 October, 6am (Irish time):
15. Rob Kearney
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Brian O'Driscoll
12. Gordon D'Arcy
11. Keith Earls
10. Ronan O'Gara
9. Conor Murray
1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best
3. Mike Ross
4. Donncha O'Callaghan
5. Paul O'Connell
6. Stephen Ferris
7. Sean O'Brien
8. Jamie Heaslip
16. Sean Cronin
17. Tom Court
18. Donnacha Ryan
19. Denis Leamy
20. Eoin Reddan
21. Jonathan Sexton.
22. Andrew Trimble
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Couple of surprises here main one is RORY BEST! While still uncertain he is back training and scrum practice! he looked for all the world like his competition was over and the media and indeed reports from the team were that he was at the least gona miss the wales game so i guess the question is... will he be able for 60 mins? 50 even? hoe so. hes been playing great so far.
ROG has usurped Sexton and i guess thats justified. This will be such a tight game that solid goal kicking is gona be the difference between winning and losing. Tho it puts more pressure on the back row regarding defensive duties as they will be mindful of assisting ROG in the tackle area.
Another surprise is the perpetual bench spot for Trimble. Look i like Earls and that lad scored 2 tries last week so he deserves a spot but Trimble has been in great form. i don't think there is a more hungry player in the ireland camp, he really wants it, and his defence is outstanding which in my opinion we will need against the one and only George North... who is simply awesome!
However i think there is method in the DK mindset. Trimble is so hungry that when he is brought on as a sub he really is the very definition of an impact player. Brought on at say 60 mins he will create chances no doubt about it and his size and bulk against a tired defence at that stage will be crucial.
If you look at the situation backwards i don't believe that Earls has the same impact from the bench, so all things considered its the best call... maybe... Thoughts?
Our back row is the best in the competition but now we face a real threat in the welsh captain! a real out and out 7. he s gona make life difficult. O'Brian will be lining up to smash him out of each and every ruck. Could be a difficult day for Warburton too as he has got to know that every time his head is in the ruck and hes digging for a ball that ferris and o'brian are gona be coming like express trains to smash him. Thats a scary thought but i dont think it will bother him. Until it happens then it will bother him alot.
Ireland team to play wales.
posted on 5/10/11
I'v decided. I think we will win...............................Hopefully!
More experience, North and Falateau hopefully not being able to handle the big occasion (no evidence for this, purely hopeful), Roberts has never really had a good game against us, the experience RO'G will have over Priestland, our lineout (if best starts), and Ferris and SO'B. For these reasons I think we will win.
These are my thoughts. Do what you want with them.
posted on 5/10/11
Have to agree with you leeds, its down to the back row of ireland and the backline of wales, if we snuff out their quick ball they will really struggle thats where Warburton is key for them, hes gona have a very large target on his back and o'brian and ferris are gona be looking to hit it.
posted on 5/10/11
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posted on 5/10/11
your back row is not the best cmon... tho right now i would certainly say your backline is. Actually i had forgotten about this fitness thing with wales, spot on actually. wales do seem to be super fit. still having 80 minuet legs topped by an inexperienced brain = early plane ride
seriously tho, its so close im going for my team by 3... but i doubt that any of the teams are going to win by 9 cmon man be serious.
posted on 5/10/11
I reckon our back row is one of the best. they may not be the best but they will not be intimidated by anyone and can match the best. 80 minute legs and inexperienced brain, or 80 minute legs and fresh approach full of confidence and a massive hunger to win...! hmm!
the only reason i say by 9 is because i think it will be very close through out but late on i think we will be just ahead and feel our fitness will tell and you might be stretched trying to score a try and i can see us scoring a final try to end your hopes.
just my opinion but agree that it will be super close. however i think if our forwards win their battle and get the backs good ball we could win well.
if you were selecting a 15 from both countries, with no bias(or as little as possible) what would it be?
posted on 5/10/11
TO be fair Hook this one is on a knife edge. their are so many ways this could go which is part of what makes it so exciting!
Looking at wales its hard to know where, what, who or how to target them. What i mean isthey are really solid across the park.
Italy last week set out their stall in public. they were gona mince us in the scrum. thats what they told everyone who would listen. But that came to nothing in the end
OZ thought they were gona run in a bonus point victory against us.... But that came to nothing due to their massive arrogance coupled with alot of inexperience and then they met our back row and our front row who took them to the cleaners.
Wales tho are a different animal. they look solid in every aspect of the game so i think the game plan will be simple. Our guys are gona go out and do the same thing they did against OZ. Their going to deny wales ball. It will be down to your experienced guys to keep the heads cool. Keep the younger lads inline and focused, if you stray from that path your going the way OZ did. But you have warburton and while the less knowledgeable can bang on about George North, its warburton who is providing that fast breakdown ball for the backs. if we take him out of the game..... i believe thats where it will change. and lets not forget were not known as a bad defensive team mate. in fact its probably our most consistent aspect that we are excellent in this area.
The other factor is as you mentioned "confidence and a massive hunger" well i dont think there is any lack of that in the irish setup. after all they went out and gave the Tri nations champions a lesson in sheer intensity and hunger.
posted on 5/10/11
evening all
I reckon whoever wins this QF will beat the English (can't see France beating England) in the SF and make the final!
Looking forward to the game
posted on 6/10/11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIxe5ooQtqI
I'm way to pumped for this game. It's still 2 days away. And Andorra tomorrow night. Great weekend for Irish sport.
posted on 6/10/11
'I'm way to pumped for this game. It's still 2 days away. And Andorra tomorrow night. Great weekend for Irish sport'
I'm more worried about Andora.