We need some revenge for the cheating antics the last time we were in Cardiff.

Welsh didn’t cheat us but we’ve been screwed by referees on 2 of last 3 occasions we’ve played them. Referee should have spotted ball swap in Cardiff but can’t blame the Welsh for having a go. Last year was also a joke but what else would you expect from Mr Barnes?

Mathew Rees would have well known that he wasn’t entitled to take a quick throw in. A schoolboy hooker would know that you can’t take a quick throw in if someone has touched the ball. A ball boy handed him the ball so it was a clear case of cheating. The fact that the referee and touch judge didn’t see it was disgraceful.

Matthew Rees is also a top class hooker who took a chance and it paid off. It’s no different to killing the ball to prevent a try. If caught, take it on the chin. If not, you’re a hero.

Yeah Rees , did the right thing , nothing is illegal if your not caught but the officials on the other hand cost us two games with sheer incompetence

I played Rugby for 20 years (as a hooker but no where near this level) and I don’t remember playing with that kind of ethos Tensing.

Chris Henry has been outstanding this season!! Form 7 in the country.

Agreed although dont see the point of Ogara on the bench, any of the other three young guys would be better, it isn’t a must that sexton has up come off at any stage anyway…….. Particularly for last 30 seconds to give Ogara another silly cap! Give the young guys some experience for god sakes. This six nations will be a big test for zebo….. Can he beat a good defence and can he defend himself?

Ireland 3 pts down 15 minutes to go – I know who I’d put in at 10 !! OGara ! Positional kicking best in the world – go for the corner and hey presto !!!!

Yawn, surely we have more to us than that!

What do you mean more? What’s wrong with getting territory in the opportunity opposition 22!?!? Or would you like zebo and the boys to run tries from the halfway line!? TBH Zebo probably could do that but I can’t for the life of me understand how you can look down on playing territory ESPECIALLY with the power of Healy and SoB to drive over the line…

Cheers. All fixed now.

And…the oppo won’t take their eyes off him which will create space for someone else….

Have to agree 100%. He’s like a new man in the tackle and would give Kearney a run for his money under the high ball. Big powerful boot on him as well. It would b interesting for Munster if he moved to FB and developed into a McFadden-esque player with kicking duties

I actually think he will end up at FB for Ireland and Munster. Has all the attributes it seems. If we give up on the Earls is a centre experiment Earls on wing and Zebo at FB is,well, salivating if u ask me!!!

I don’t mean to be harsh but I’d suggest the main reason only two ulster players were picked is probably because Afoa, Pienaar, Muller, Payne, Diack and Williams can’t play for Ireland

Jaysus I agree with ya!

If kidney could have picked ferris he may have.
He’d also pick peineear in a heartbeat, mullar would be in infront of McCarthy, Williams might have made the bench as would Payne and affoa would start infront of Ross.

I’m proper freaked out now

I hate rats

Marshall can’t get a look in at nine. Murray’s our young-project physical nine, but Marshall has an excellent pass but isn’t consider in place of Reddan. Doesn’t blood Jackson, one of our future 10s even though (much as and all as he is a total lij) ROG is turning 36 and won’t be playing much longer. I’m guessing even if Luke Marshall weren’t injured he wouldn’t have been selected. Cave is a natural 13. I don’t. Seems they were hard done by.

Boo!

On fairness … I think Darcy has been playing fantastic of late …. Nothin flash but real quality which is what you want from a 12 …. granted he had some dodgy games last year :-/

*in* fairness

Europe’s form 7, stop, he’s playing really well and is a real openside but best in Europe? That very difficult to prove and it depends on who you watch. He does add balance but what it does say is ferris is not going to make it this year otherwise O’Brien would be at 7 if he was expected back into the team.

Didn’t say ‘best in Europe’ but most ‘in form’, which he is, as an out and out 7.
He’s been immense for Ulster all season, and we could do with his ground skills against the Welsh backrow. As I say, POM playing well too but Henry would be my horse for this course.

My sentiments Gerry. If the two wings get going we could do very well in this tournament. Both have a daring and ambitious style of play and are proven in the Heinekin cup. I just hope they can cope with the bulk of the Welsh wingers. Tough call for DK on the POM and Henry selection but someone was going to lose out. Henry will get his chance before the tournament is out.

POM is a better option because of his lineout ability. Welsh usually have a big backrow so hard to have SOB and CH in the backrow – hence the choice was DOB or CH. Think obrien is better.

@ James clarke. Conor Murray is in great form at present.

Leinster don’t even start Redden in most away games, always start with the more physical Boss, Redden will come on around the 60min mark when the game opens up, like O’Gara will more then likely come on with 10 minutes to go if Ireland are leading to kick the corners, besides the brain fart against Metro, Murrays having a good year, can’t see what the fuss is about

did reddan and sexton get through to the quarters in h cup no they did not

No Ian keatley did.

Think Murray is streets ahead of reddan and has a great chance of being Lions scrummie but I think SOB will have his work cut out angst Tiporic ( assuming he is picked) – he will dominate Warburton if that’s the way Wales go
Leinster for life – before the assumptions

Go back to sleep mr Oshea, if you think Murrary will make the lions and Sean o Brien won’t maybe you are still dreaming

I didn’t say SOB wouldn’t make the lions– too many rock concerts ???
We’ll see about Murray in due course

Chris you need to go back to bed and wake up talking sense! Murray has every chance of making Lions and SoB will definitely be there

You mustn’t have read my comments properly– have a coffee and start again
Murray will go on the lions is what I said and SOB will also — I was referring to Saturdays game and DOB’s battle at 7 — if Warburton is picked that is good news for Ireland coz SOB is better than he – if Tipuric is picked SOB will struggle – Tipuric is probably the best 7 in Europe atm(my opinion of course) — only Dusatoir is better

It great fun having to reiterate comments on here coz lads aren’t awake– don’t let the picture cloud your judgement– I didn’t

“SOB’s battle”

If sexton is a shoe in and ends up going then I can completely see Murray getting a shout. (assuming the 6n goes well). Already gelled half back combo!

Re 1) above, Sexton was blooded in a Hcup semi final against Munster with ROG in his ear and look how he fared! If you don’t give the young guys a chance and continue to pick old fellas you’ll never find out when the young guys are able to do it. Time for change and for people to get used to it, you won’t know til you try!

And Jackson crumbled in the HC last year….. The first game of the 6n and a game against Wales is not the place when u have a steady option…

say what now?? lol

Yes thankfully.

Ya good idea, swap a two time Heineken cup winning flyhalf, winner of grand slam and one of the best fly halfs ever to grace the game for a guy who is having trouble getting his game provincially (admittedly though not his own fault)?

How far over the hill should we wait before replacing him.

How far over the hill should we wait before replacing him.

He has been replaced, Sexton is starting, if age is predominant factor, what are O Driscoll and Darcy doing on the pitch? He IS a better player than Madigan still! Get over it lads and stop trying to Leinsterise the team!

That two time Heineken cup winner is also having a hard time getting his game provincially. There was no upset in the Munster fans when you needed 4 tries against metro & he got banned. He has been an incredible servant, but a kicking outhalf who is weak defensively is not what you need on the bench.

I think maybe for the first two games have O Gara but we have to think of the World Cup. We really need to start working on developing replacement outhalfs and props for the next two years. If that is to our detriment in the Six Nations then so be it.

Diarmuid take your blinkers off. O’gara is not the future, Madigan or Jackson are and one of them should be a replacement instead. This squad could have a great 6 nations if we get the win in Cardiff- last game in Italy over Paddy’s weekend the script is written!

Brian, O Gara is still one of the best kickers in the world, Madigan is not, he is a fly half, kicking first!

Richard, how did you feel about O Driscoll losing the captaincy as a matter of interest?

For once I find myself agreeing with Diarmaid. Tactically, it makes sense to have ROG on the bench. If needs be, Rog can pin the Welsh back with his kicking out of the hand. Sexton can also go to 12 if midfield is getting overrun. Madigan won’t give you a calm head and lacks the tactical awareness at test level. ROG on the bench gives you more options.

If Sexton got injured after 5 mins, i know i’d rather have RoG on the bench than untested players. Anyway, he’s only keeping the bench warm for JJ Hanrahan, the real future
.

TheHeathen,

I hear that a lot – ‘think about the world cup’. We are not France. We are not New Zealand. We’re not even England in terms of World Cup pedigree.

I say fook the World Cup. I want to do well in the 6n. It’s my favourite time of the year, and I enjoy it much more than the world cup which produces one or two (at most) interesting fixtures for Ireland. The 6nations is a competition we can win, and I say play whoever is best suited.

Now, I don’t know that O’Gara is best suited for the bench. He was definitely needed when Sexton was learning at this level, but now that Sexton is accomplished in his own right, there should be an understudy.

However, in general, I wouldn’t be benching youngsters for the sake of maybe getting to a world cup semi-final. World cup performance is less determined by individuals and the previous 3 years, and more determined by the cohesiveness of the group and the preparation in the months running up to it. That’s how you get an in-form Irish team imploding (2007), and an out of sorts French team getting on in spite of their manager and nearly winning the thing (2011).

We don’t have 30 top class players, and we won’t conjure them up either through the magic of game time. I agree plenty of players miss their chance for Ireland due to stalwarts, but we don’t have the luxury of dropping experienced players just because they need replacing afterwards.

Fair comment. Personally I would love to do really well at this World Cup as its right in our back garden. Sick of being disappointed and every time it comes around the complete anti-climax. I think it would show how small the gap can be between Ireland and the Southern Hemisphere if we do well. A great perfromance in the World Cup would do wonders for the thousands of Irish everywhere, far more than the six nations. Also I’m a greedy bast$rd and would love the craic as it’s only a short hop over there.

what a stupid comment..

coward shane!

@Brian
Its horses for courses. Munster needed tries against metro and Keatley is a far more threatening out-half in attack, making him a better choice for that match, but ROG is still the #1 tactical outside half in Ireland (and one of the best in Europe) when it comes to controlling the plays in a tight and cagey match.

Nothing to do with age, sexton is better than rog, darcy and odriscoll are the best centre we have.
As for rog on the bench I disagree, sexton is not injury prone so more than likely a subduction would be tactical, if you want to close downs game rog is the man if your chasing a try well any of the other 3 options is a better choice.
If section was ruled out of a game I’d start rog bout it makes little sense to have him on the bench

@Chris
“if you want to close downs game rog is the man” but you don’t see the point in having him on the bench?

Diarmuid twice hinekien cup winner? You’ll find ian Madigan has two winner medals sitting at home. Sure even john Cooney has one.

Fair point if you want to close down a game rog is the man providing you dont believe sexton can close out a game.
Problem is if you need to chase one he’s not.

@Chris. Tony Buckley has at least 1 HC medal. What’s your point?? lol
Speaking of Buckley, he’s on the move to Wasps(I think) I hear. Imagine if they though him to scrummage!!!!!!

@Chris That’s just silly, you know very well what I was eluding to, Ian Madigan didn’t start every game for both those victories nor was he remotely instrumental, stop acting silly!

Fair enough but you started it counting hineken cups.
Point is sexton in not injury prone and is perfectly capable of closing out a game if we are in front.
In the recent past we trail Wales in the last quarter and need to chase the game, that’s not rog’s strong point.
Madigan is a out and out try scorer and keatley creates out of nothing. If we are 5 or 6 behind I’d rather one of them.
If sexton was ruled out of the game i’d start rog.

Last five minutes of a match, trailing by 2 points, needing a penalty slotted from the sidelines or a drop goal struck through the middle of the posts there is no one I would prefer on that pitch than O Gara.

Probably a pre written piece for time sake. Changes made at last second when team announced. Think its fairly standard practice. Remember something similar happening to Thornley a good while back…

Can’t let that one go. That’s a perception from previous seasons. DOC has been rejuvenated under Penney and is without doubt having his best season in many a year….

Was never really a fan of doc but he’s playing better this year so for once there’s no doubting he’s there on merit

I don’t mind people having provincial bias…its natural. But it annoys me when they ignore the evidence. If I can accept DArcy (who had been muck for Ireland) deserves his place then surely others can see that DOC is well worth his spot on the bench. He is a lion captain after all… :-)

Bent was the one destroyed, what game were you watching??

Kilcoyne was probably the best player in that scrum!

Yeah Eamonn Im confused too. Kilcoyne was taken off at halftime as he had done enough to get his bench spot (or for Tom Court to do enough to get it off him). Bent was mullered and a loosehead cannot do more than gain parity if the TH is not locking the scrum.

Zebo?? You mean the most inform winger (left side) in this country with Gilroy on the other??

Take off the provincial blinkers mate.. this is about Ireland now!

Ah ,Id say Eamon would have “Twink” start at hooker as long she wasnt from munster!

Oh dear me Eamonn— Kilcoyne Court and Healy are all outstanding loosehead props – outstanding

Bent!!!!!! — I am impressed with the management that they have picked Fitzpatrick , was afraid they would do a “Buckley” with Bent. Kudos to Kidney & Smal

Cian id like your opinion on this, I think earls insisting on playing centre has cost him his place on the wing.
I consider him to be the best winger / finisher we have. He is not a centre and thus his form merets a place on the bench but I’d he stuck to the wing he’d be starting.

@Chris. I agree 100%. As you know I’m a Munster man through and through. Earls is not a centre. Never will b IMO. What he is is a lethal winger. I genuinely believe had he stayed there we still wouldn’t know who Gilroy is. I think it will b to his detriment Ireland wise.

You should probably check the facts b4 such comments. Kilcoyne was a bright light in an otherwise disappointing night

As a Leinster man when playing v munster I love seeing earls in the centre as I don’t think he’s that difficult to defend against as you really dont have to worry about the pass ( it’s not goin to happen) so bod just picks him off.
Now when he’s on the wing I sh1t myself.
From an Ireland point of view I’d love to see him on the Wong instead of Gilroy

Can’t disagree Chris. I kinda feel for Earlsie. He wants to b a centre and might yet become an adequate one. But the hunt for the great ones successor has stepped up in pace and I believe the IRFU believe Keith is the most likely. What needs to happen is for one of Ulster or Connachts young fellas to step up and grab the jersey like Gilroy has. Then for the IRFU to take the pressure off Munster to play earls at centre. He may want to b a centre but if that weren’t an option I’m sure he’d settle back onto the wing….

It’s a no brainer with such pace outside a 13 needs to find the pass when it’s on and earls doesn’t have that vision or instinct.
I’d bet my life on it if you asked Keith if he’d rather sit on the bench and cover 12/13 or start in the wing he’d be wearing the 11 jersey right now just incase kidney changed his mind.
I’d still pick him and Bowe at 11 and 14

I think McFadden suffers from Earls versatility. He can after tall cover EVERY backs position bar SH!!

I think McFadden loses out cos of Earls versatility. He can cover every back bar SH after all!