7 more players to cut...who will steady eddie chop for the RWC?

[cantankerous bastard]

I'm getting well psyched for the RWC now, been reading good build up analysis on rugby.ie...

Anyway 7 more players will be goners from the squad by Sunday, who do ya reckon from the 37 below will be cut?

Personally I would like to see Carney and Geordan Murphy make it, I think Carney is a wild card who could do damage and Murphy, while I may forever hold a chip on my shoulder for his Ibanez cock up, keeps showing his potential at leicester - he is a good back up IMO.

I've read on a few places about the scrum half debate flaring up again , i still have the pecking order as stringer, reddan, boss - though I'm not sure if Reddan will be given that nod ahead of boss which annoys me. I would assume he'll take all 3 anyway.

I think there is a few more on the verge of cut in the forward list below than the backs.

What ye reckon?

Forwards:
Neil Best,
Rory Best,
Simon Best,
Leo Cullen,
Simon Easterby,
Stephen Ferris,
Jerry Flannery,
Keith Gleeson,
John Hayes,
Jamie Heaslip,
Trevor Hogan,
Marcus Horan,
Bernard Jackman,
Denis Leamy,
Donncha O'Callaghan,
Paul O'Connell,
Mick O'Driscoll,
Malcolm O'Kelly,
Alan Quinlan,
Frankie Sheahan,
David Wallace,
Bryan Young

Backs:
Isaac Boss,
Tommy Bowe,
Brian Carney,
Gordon D'Arcy,
Girvan Dempsey,
Gavin Duffy,
Shane Horgan,
Denis Hickie,
Geordan Murphy,
Brian O'Driscoll,
Ronan O'Gara,
Eoin Reddan,
Peter Stringer,
Andrew Trimble,
Paddy Wallace

[scrumpy]

Its hard to see who they will cut. I agree the backs look to maybe lose only about two. I wonder will Carney make it into the squad? In the forwards well I'd love to see Alan Quinlan get some game time as much down to his injury while scoring a try in the last world cup as anything else. I think front row forwards will be at a premium, overall i'm glad i'm not the guy telling fellas they didnt make it

[guyincognito]

The following are definitely out:

Leo Cullen,
Keith Gleeson,
Bernard Jackman,
Jamie Heaslip,
Trevor Hogan,

In the forwards the only real question is does he bring Quinlan or Mick O’Driscoll. Please God Eddie will see the light and leave O’Driscoll at home.

In the back it is two from Murphy, Carney and Bowe and I would say that Bowe is staying at home.

[Sound]

True dat.

Mick O' Driscoll souldn't be anywhere near the reckoning.

[Doh doh Yelly]

The following are definitely out:

Leo Cullen,
Keith Gleeson,
Bernard Jackman,
Jamie Heaslip,
Trevor Hogan,

In the forwards the only real question is does he bring Quinlan or Mick O’Driscoll. Please God Eddie will see the light and leave O’Driscoll at home.

In the back it is two from Murphy, Carney and Bowe and I would say that Bowe is staying at home.

Spot on. He's a grand work horse (and a nice lineout opperator) but just not international standard.
Murphy has never played a good game for Ireland, and he's had enough chances, although Bowe is equally as infuriating, what with his cutting back inside everytime he gets the ball on the wing.

Anyone see the history of the World Cup on TV3 last night. Ireland were pretty much absent from the thing (bar 1 match in 1991) and I got a creeping feeling that it'll be the same this year. Hope I get it wrong though.
France are my tip: last time there was a world cup in France they won that!

[cantankerous bastard]

Anyone see the history of the World Cup on TV3 last night. Ireland were pretty much absent from the thing (bar 1 match in 1991) and I got a creeping feeling that it'll be the same this year. Hope I get it wrong though.
France are my tip: last time there was a world cup in France they won that!

I'm shitting bricks a bit I must admit. Its mainly because this time I KNOW that we have the players to really do something, like beat France in the group, and if we do that we could be in for a helluva campaign.

But on the flipside, even though the team has more confidence now, the way we crumbled in the 6 nations was fucking gutting and that mental virus of "oh shit we're Irish we can't win anything" seems to still not have been banished entirely from this team and it is really possible that if we don't hit the ground running both the argies and france could do us in.

Its definitely gonna be the most exciting pool of the tournament anyway!

[raZor]

Forwards:
Leo Cullen,
Stephen Ferris,
Keith Gleeson,
Trevor Hogan,
Bernard Jackman,
Mick O'Driscoll,
Alan Quinlan,

Gleeson, Jackman and O'Driscoll definitley gone, Cullen will stay before Hogan and it's close between Ferris and Heaslip
Backs:

Tommy Bowe,
Gavin Duffy,
Geordan Murphy,

Duffy is probably the most improved of the lot, Murphy could be in for a shock and Bowe is def. out

[Sound]

Saw DOC, MOD, Stringer and Flannery in a restaurant in Dublin there Wednesday night. They're strong looking fuckers at the best of times but they looked ready to pull up trees. The backroom staff have mentioned that most of the team have been setting PB's in the wights room and in sprint tests.

[cantankerous bastard]

Saw DOC, MOD, Stringer and Flannery in a restaurant in Dublin there Wednesday night. They're strong looking fuckers at the best of times but they looked ready to pull up trees. The backroom staff have mentioned that most of the team have been setting PB's in the wights room and in sprint tests.
I was thinking bout this after reading this article on the spala training camp.

For all the hullabaloo about the kiwis specialised training or whatever it is this spala thing sounds pretty impressive:

http://www.rugby.ie/news/story/?jp=KFEYGBAUOJ&s=examiner

I don't think I've ever anticipated a RWC so much...come on ye fucks!

[Doh doh Yelly]

I'm shitting bricks a bit I must admit. Its mainly because this time I KNOW that we have the players to really do something, like beat France in the group, and if we do that we could be in for a helluva campaign.

But on the flipside, even though the team has more confidence now, the way we crumbled in the 6 nations was fucking gutting and that mental virus of "oh shit we're Irish we can't win anything" seems to still not have been banished entirely from this team and it is really possible that if we don't hit the ground running both the argies and france could do us in.

Its definitely gonna be the most exciting pool of the tournament anyway!

Its weird the way the national team stil have that attitude, isn't it? You never get that impression when Munster are playing.

[Doh doh Yelly]

Saw DOC, MOD, Stringer and Flannery in a restaurant in Dublin there Wednesday night. They're strong looking fuckers at the best of times but they looked ready to pull up trees. The backroom staff have mentioned that most of the team have been setting PB's in the wights room and in sprint tests.

Hopefully a good sign!
Although, we could be the strongest man in the world, but if you can't catch a ball you're no use.

Don't shoot me for saying this, but I hope England do well out of this RWC. The overall pool of teams is too small for a big team like them to crash out.
Not too well, obviously...

[guyincognito]

I don’t really think that this Irish team has the “We’re Irish, we can’t win” attitude. With so many Munster players in the squad they can’t have that attitude. I also don’t think that BOD has ever had that sort of attitude and if the captain believes in the team they way he does then I think that confidence spreads to the rest of the squad.

[cantankerous bastard]

Its weird the way the national team stil have that attitude, isn't it? You never get that impression when Munster are playing.
Its those leinster langballs!

I've never seen such a bunch of panickers and chokers. They should have put wasps to bed in the heineken cup, they totally threw that game away.

Munster believe they can win when they have absolutely no right to, leinster just don't have that same belief. The Irish team kinda seems to flip flop between those two in mentality depending on form.

[cantankerous bastard]

I also don’t think that BOD has ever had that sort of attitude and if the captain believes in the team they way he does then I think that confidence spreads to the rest of the squad.

Thats true but when he is missing, aside from the loss of skill, there is a huge void in belief in the backline.

Showed it against France and Leinster were the same without him in the HC.

[mirps]

CB, I don't think Murphy is continuing to show his potential. He's well passed that stage, the guy is just pure class. It would be one crazy decision to leave him out of the squad. I'd have him starting ahead of Dempsey or Hickie if it was my choice, but there ya go.

Someone ruled out Heaslip as well, don't know about that.

Of the places up for grabs, I'd have Carney and Murphy going, leaving out Bowe, and, in the pack, I'd go for Quinlan and Heaslip ahead of Ferris. Ferris must be shit hot in training for O'Sullivan to have so much respect for him, he's hardly proven.

[mirps]

Hopefully a good sign!
Although, we could be the strongest man in the world, but if you can't catch a ball you're no use.

Don't shoot me for saying this, but I hope England do well out of this RWC. The overall pool of teams is too small for a big team like them to crash out.
Not too well, obviously...

Fuck, I hope not, especially after the tactics they've resorted to. Wouldn't like to be on the wing for England these days. I can see them doing ok though....

[Doh doh Yelly]

CB, I don't think Murphy is continuing to show his potential. He's well passed that stage, the guy is just pure class. It would be one crazy decision to leave him out of the squad. I'd have him starting ahead of Dempsey or Hickie if it was my choice, but there ya go.

Murphy does stuff on the pitch that is just unreal, inspired. But he'll turn around and cancel it out with some basic mistake. And at full back, that leads to tries. he did it two years in a row against France. You need stability to win tournaments, like the RWC.
Although I was always puzzled why Ireland didn't use Murphy like Leicester do: full back in attck and wing in defence.

[mirps]

Murphy does stuff on the pitch that is just unreal, inspired. But he'll turn around and cancel it out with some basic mistake. And at full back, that leads to tries. he did it two years in a row against France. You need stability to win tournaments, like the RWC.
Although I was always puzzled why Ireland didn't use Murphy like Leicester do: full back in attck and wing in defence.

See I'd think the good outweighs the bad (which I don't think is that bad) with him. I mean, Joe Rococoko can't tackle for shit either...

Suppose I just like watching him play, at least you feel a bit of excitement when he gets on the ball. The swerve on the other hand...

[guyincognito]

Thats true but when he is missing, aside from the loss of skill, there is a huge void in belief in the backline.

Showed it against France and Leinster were the same without him in the HC.


You are right there. He is such an important player for both Leinster and Ireland. I really don't think that Duffy or Trimble are going to do very well if BOD or D'Arcy get injured and if Shaggy is moved into the centre then we may as well just come home. I feel that BOD has developed into a great captain and leader on the pitch.

Murphy will go and he will probably be in the 22 man squad for the important match’s. There is no way that I would have him in the starting 15 at the moment. Dempsey was excellent last season and you know what you are going to get from him. He may not be as good as Murphy going forward but his defending more than makes up for that

[Sound]

Cocopops isn't a full-back and he's a darn sight better than Murphy will ever be. I've always liked Murphy but the last few years have shown that Eddie was right and the Barstoolers were wrong.

[POL]

I'd like to see Carney throw the ball around a bit more and play the game how it should be played

[HappyMonday83]

Bowe has had plenty of chances to prove himself, and to my mind isn't up to the standard. I'd bring both murphy and carney for their ability to change games. If Ireland are to win the WC we need to be able bring on players who can take a game by the scruff of the neck. murphy has the ability to create a try with a flick of his wrists, the only problem is that this applys to both us and the oppisition. carney is still a bit of an unknown but he has the pace and power to be a real handful if brought on late in a game.

[mirps]

Cocopops isn't a full-back and he's a darn sight better than Murphy will ever be. I've always liked Murphy but the last few years have shown that Eddie was right and the Barstoolers were wrong.

Ya but Murphy seems to be getting vilified for his defence. I think he makes up for it in attack, like Rococoko...

[Sound]

Bowe has had plenty of chances to prove himself, and to my mind isn't up to the standard. I'd bring both murphy and carney for their ability to change games. If Ireland are to win the WC we need to be able bring on players who can take a game by the scruff of the neck. murphy has the ability to create a try with a flick of his wrists, the only problem is that this applys to both us and the oppisition. carney is still a bit of an unknown but he has the pace and power to be a real handful if brought on late in a game.

Nail. Head.

A strike runners job is to finish and Bowe's is poor. I was at the Italy game where he made a total balls of a two-on-one. Now that was a few years ago and he's done nothing to improve the situation since then. You dont get many chances at test level and his conversion rate of those chances isn't good enough.

[Sound]

Ya but Murphy seems to be getting vilified for his defence. I think he makes up for it in attack, like Rococoko...

If Joe lets someone by him there's a last line of defence to get through in Muliaina. Murphy is supposed to be the last line yet he's now a bigger turnstyle than ROG. I'd have him in the squad but his defence is just too porous for full-back IMO. If he were on the wing then I'd overlook it but he's not going to get in ahead of Horgan and Hickey.

[cantankerous bastard]

Bowe has had plenty of chances to prove himself, and to my mind isn't up to the standard. I'd bring both murphy and carney for their ability to change games. If Ireland are to win the WC we need to be able bring on players who can take a game by the scruff of the neck. murphy has the ability to create a try with a flick of his wrists, the only problem is that this applys to both us and the oppisition. carney is still a bit of an unknown but he has the pace and power to be a real handful if brought on late in a game.
Yeah I agree.

To be honest I think its quite exciting, and possibly a first for us in finally having some depth, that we could have guys like carney and murphy coming on late on that could really catch teams unawares and give us a different edge in a tight contest.

[HappyMonday83]

Yeah I agree.

To be honest I think its quite exciting, and possibly a first for us in finally having some depth, that we could have guys like carney and murphy coming on late on that could really catch teams unawares and give us a different edge in a tight contest.

The build up is like waiting for christmas, another couple of weeks and it's ON.

[cantankerous bastard]

The build up is like waiting for christmas, another couple of weeks and it's ON.
My tickets to Ireland V France arrived the other day...I havent been anticipating something this much since my Amiga when I was 8..

[POL]

I'd like to see Ireland develop a more expansive game, get the back line moving

[guyincognito]

Yeah I agree.

To be honest I think its quite exciting, and possibly a first for us in finally having some depth, that we could have guys like carney and murphy coming on late on that could really catch teams unawares and give us a different edge in a tight contest.

The problem there is that I can not see the two of them being on the bench for the big games. Neither of them may even make the bench (I would say that Murphy will).

Am I right in thinking that if teams are level on points at the end of the group stage then it comes down to points difference. If this is the case then we are really going to have to go for it in our first two match’s and the other two teams will be in a better position as they will have an idea of what exactly they have to do against the weaker teams.

[cantankerous bastard]

The problem there is that I can not see the two of them being on the bench for the big games. Neither of them may even make the bench (I would say that Murphy will).

Am I right in thinking that if teams are level on points at the end of the group stage then it comes down to points difference. If this is the case then we are really going to have to go for it in our first two match’s and the other two teams will be in a better position as they will have an idea of what exactly they have to do against the weaker teams.
Meh, much of a muchness, we get the advantage of playing them fresh as our first two games.

The schedule hurts us later on as we get 2 piss easy games, then 2 vicious ones, then god knows what all the way to the end.

But there's only so much you can say, I mean you could say we will be sharper for having more competitive games behind us or that other teams will be fresher for easy groups.

One can overanalyse there things.

[HappyMonday83]

My tickets to Ireland V France arrived the other day...I havent been anticipating something this much since my Amiga when I was 8..

Bastard. I've been playing with the idea of going to france while it's on. I'd imagine you'd come across and Ireland v namibia ticket handy enough.

[Doh doh Yelly]

Wonder if we'll get any star young players making a name for themselves, like Lomu in '95? Any suggestions?

[mirps]

Wonder if we'll get any star young players making a name for themselves, like Lomu in '95? Any suggestions?

In most teams all their players are established... Maybe that Frans Steyn guy from SA or Tait if he gets a bit of run...

Nothing would compare to Lomu though...

[POL]

In most teams all their players are established... Maybe that Frans Steyn guy from SA or Tait if he gets a bit of run...

Nothing would compare to Lomu though...
You obviously never saw Willie John McBride in hin prime

[cantankerous bastard]

You obviously never saw Willie John McBride in hin prime
You're not having much luck with the fishing today are you? You'll need to raise your game if you're to have an impact in the world cup.

[HappyMonday83]

You're not having much luck with the fishing today are you? You'll need to raise your game if you're to have an impact in the world cup.

Indeed, he's lacking physicality at the breakdown. An aul week or two in spala should see him ready for the WC.

[POL]

Indeed, he's lacking physicality at the breakdown. An aul week or two in spala should see him ready for the WC.
The forwards aren't releasing the ball, finding it hard to break the game line, might be time for a few diagonal runs at pace to try and create a two on one

[cantankerous bastard]

The forwards aren't releasing the ball, finding it hard to break the game line, might be time for a few diagonal runs at pace to try and create a two on one
Is this your way of implying that you are a lame duck without lamps in support?

[POL]

Is this your way of implying that you are a lame duck without lamps in support?great hands from the big man

[EDDIEB]

The forwards aren't releasing the ball, finding it hard to break the game line, might be time for a few diagonal runs at pace to try and create a two on one

Very weak as expected but surely "gain line" ?

[POL]

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b296/toddy0011/Malta/image0062.jpg

Rog, Poc and Doc "easing down" after a "tough" training session

[Sound]

NSFW you stupid cunt.