Ireland 2014/15 season

First topic message reminder :

The season has just started and yet the autumn internationals are just around the corner. Time for a new Ireland thread.


This season in the Pro 12 the internationals look like they're coming back a few weeks earlier than usual. This should allow them to be more match sharpe when the november internationals against South Africa, Georgia and Australia come round.

Here are the fixtures during the season.

November 2014
Sat 8th Nov 14 17:30
GS Ireland  v   South Africa
AVIVA Stadium

Sun 16th Nov 14 14:30
GS Ireland  v   Georgia
AVIVA Stadium

Sat 22nd Nov 14 16:30
GS Ireland  v   Australia
AVIVA Stadium

February 2015
Sat 7th Feb 15 15:30
6N Italy  v   Ireland
Stadio Olimpico

Sat 14th Feb 15 17:00
6N Ireland  v   France
AVIVA Stadium

March 2015
Sun 1st Mar 15 15:00
6N Ireland  v   England
AVIVA Stadium

Sat 14th Mar 15 14:30
6N Wales  v   Ireland
Millennium Stadium

Sat 21st Mar 15 14:30
6N Scotland  v   Ireland
BT Murrayfield



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After the first weekend of the Pro 12 Stuart Olding was the stand out Irish player. Theres talk about himself and Payne being the Ireland centers but I'd love to see Olding and Henshaw. Henshaw returns for Conancht next weekend.
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Ireland Squad (Guinness Series 2014, South Africa, Georgia, Australia- Aviva Stadium)

Forwards (21)
Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster) 2
Rodney Ah You (Corinthians/Connacht) 1
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 77
James Cronin (Dolphin/Munster) 1
Sean Cronin (St Mary's College/Leinster) 35
Robbie Diack (Malone/Ulster) 1
Dave Foley (UL Bohemians/Munster) *
Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster) 16
Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster) 67
Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 10
Mike McCarthy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 15
Jack McGrath (St Mary's College/Leinster) 10
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) 94 CAPTAIN
Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) 4
Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 23
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 41
Rhys Ruddock (St Mary's College/Leinster) 3
Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster) *
Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster) 4
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 17
Nathan White (Galwegians/Connacht)*

Backs (16)
Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 54
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 79
Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster) 5
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht) 3
Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster) 6
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 55
Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster) 2
Darragh Leader (Galwegians/Connacht) *
Ian Madigan (Blackrock/Leinster) 10
Kieran Marmion (Galwegians/Connacht) 2
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 28
Stuart Olding (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 1
Jared Payne (Ulster) *
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster) 55
Johnny Sexton (Racing Metro) 45
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster) 8

*Denotes uncapped player

ME-109 wrote:

Submachine wrote:

ME-109 wrote:No beef given the injuries...btw Daverage is still injured so cant complain there...although Fanning is doing well in his place(at least he scores tries and doesnt fall over two metres from the line).

Jackson out is a surprise....would have liked to have seen Casey been given a closer look in camp or even Mccloskey.

Will be interesting how Easterby does as forwards coach.....not really convinced on that appointment..after Plumtree did such a good job.

Just in relation to Ruddock...dont think he is good enough to be honest. Got handed his ass on a plate last weekend....only for J'aime not worrying about his hair and tweets it could have been a different story.

So youre happy a player is injured? Nice.

The question was any complaints about the squad...the answer was in relation to Mr Average being injured so that I couldnt complain he was in the squad.....go find a mirror and start an argument with yourself please...

Thats what I thought you meant. You were quite clear. Classy.

Just means he has time to polish his 6 nations medal and Zeebs gets a chance to prove himself.

Couple of games ago people were complaining about Keatley being ahead of JJ. Now people are raving about him after having a good game against Leinster and a decent one against Sale. JJ IMO with a run of games would quickly surpass Keats.

Main thing I want from these games is Henshaw and Olding to show they are international quality (Darce is still playing well but I really hope he isn't seen as a starter for the WC). Also hope Joe some attacking flair to the back line as direct rugby won't be enough.

Submachine wrote:

ME-109 wrote:

Submachine wrote:

ME-109 wrote:No beef given the injuries...btw Daverage is still injured so cant complain there...although Fanning is doing well in his place(at least he scores tries and doesnt fall over two metres from the line).

Jackson out is a surprise....would have liked to have seen Casey been given a closer look in camp or even Mccloskey.

Will be interesting how Easterby does as forwards coach.....not really convinced on that appointment..after Plumtree did such a good job.

Just in relation to Ruddock...dont think he is good enough to be honest. Got handed his ass on a plate last weekend....only for J'aime not worrying about his hair and tweets it could have been a different story.

So youre happy a player is injured? Nice.

The question was any complaints about the squad...the answer was in relation to Mr Average being injured so that I couldnt complain he was in the squad.....go find a mirror and start an argument with yourself please...

Thats what I thought you meant. You were quite clear. Classy.

No mirrors then?

gleesonisgod wrote:Couple of games ago people were complaining about Keatley being ahead of JJ. Now people are raving about him after having a good game against Leinster and a decent one against Sale. JJ IMO with a run of games would quickly surpass Keats.

Main thing I want from these games is Henshaw and Olding to show they are international quality (Darce is still playing well but I really hope he isn't seen as a starter for the WC). Also hope Joe some attacking flair to the back line as direct rugby won't be enough.

Henshaw and Olding are international quality alright. Just hope they won;t be overawed by the occasion like some young players can be. Henshaw can make the odd handling error. Both those players and Payne offer Ireland more attacking threat than we've seen for a few years. BOD and D'Arcy peaked around 2006 - 2011. Its only a matter of time before McCloskey joins the squad. I think D'Arcy is only there as experience now. So in the 6 nations or world cup you could have Payne, Henhaw, Olding and McCloskey as centers. After all the years of lacking centers theres now 4 quality players, 3 being early 20s.

I'd be very happy with either of Darcy-Henshaw or Olding-Henshaw.

Again, that front 5 I think is going to see us lose against SA and quite possibly against Oz too.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:I'd be very happy with either of Darcy-Henshaw or Olding-Henshaw.

Again, that front 5 I think is going to see us lose against SA and quite possibly against Oz too.

Theres only Healy missing from the first choice front five and McGrath is not a bad replacement. You have to work with what you have. Even with Healy we would not be able to beat them up so Joe will have to be a bit clever. I think he'll have something up his sleeve.

Submachine wrote:

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:I'd be very happy with either of Darcy-Henshaw or Olding-Henshaw.

Again, that front 5 I think is going to see us lose against SA and quite possibly against Oz too.

Theres only Healy missing from the first choice front five and McGrath is not a bad replacement. You have to work with what you have. Even with Healy we would not be able to beat them up so Joe will have to be a bit clever. I think he'll have something up his sleeve.

Yeah it's in the subs where the drop in quality and experience will hit us I think.I'm optimistic still but if we were closer to full strength I'd expect 3 wins,now I think 2 is acceptable although I don't want to see any performances like against Oz last year.That kind of hammering at home isn't good enough.

Some people might even think the subs were better than the incumbents...

At least Cian Healy isnt going stir crazy with his injury and is keeping busy......

Conway has been called up to the squad which is great news. Bad news is James Cronin has to see a specialist about an ankle injury.

Good news about Conway, he's been one of the star wingers so far in all the provinces, a lot of very good line breaks at the weekend. Still can't work out why his try last weekend v Saracens was disallowed. Hope he gets at least a bench slot v Aus or SA. Pity about Cronin, our props seem to be dropping like flies.

Fanning called up as well, a big strong lad and has done well for Leinster so far this season.

Hope Payne's performance for Ulster at the weekend puts paid to the idea that he can take the 13 shirt - he's never going to be at the level defensively to be an international 13 and we're going to need Henshaw and his bulk and skills against SA and Aus.

Bit of competition at 15 couldnt hurt either.

Well deserved call up for Conway. He looks a different player this season and starting to play to his potential.
Gilroy is in a similar boat, went off the boil and was error prone for a while but looks to be back to his best now.
I'm sure that Conway, Gilroy and Zebo were on the same Ireland U20 team 2 or 3 years ago.

Bowe and Olding doubts now due to concussion.

It's great to hear about Conway getting the call, he's been a new man this season Fanning too.

Unfortunately the Schmidt experiment with Payne will continue and personally I think he'll be a different player with the Irish setup around him, whether that's in a positive way is to be seen.

Injuries continuing to mount up.

Out
Healy
Moore
J Cronin
Henderson
Tuohy
Jordi Murphy
SOB
Donnacha Ryan
Dave Kearney
Earls
Trimble
Fitzgerald
McFadden


Doubts for the SA match
Bowe
Olding
Ross
R Kearney
D'Arcy

profitius wrote:Injuries continuing to mount up.

Out
Healy
Moore
J Cronin
Henderson
Tuohy
Jordi Murphy
SOB
Donnacha Ryan
Dave Kearney
Earls
Trimble
Fitzgerald
McFadden


Doubts for the SA match
Bowe
Olding
Ross
R Kearney
D'Arcy

Who's next in line after Ross, Archer or White?

We can still put out a tasty back line though if there are no more injuries. I'd argue that if those doubts turn into outs then the form 12,13,15, and wing could start, and it could work out in our favour.

Also if Madigan and Sexton start, surely Maddog takes kicking duties?

We've plenty of young cubs to call up on thankfully and if Chilli is injured maybe Windy Payne will have to play in his rightful position at fullback.

brennomac wrote:Good news about Conway, he's been one of the star wingers so far in all the provinces, a lot of very good line breaks at the weekend.  Still can't work out why his try last weekend v Saracens was disallowed.  Hope he gets at least a bench slot v Aus or SA.  Pity about Cronin, our props seem to be dropping like flies.

Fanning called up as well, a big strong lad and has done well for Leinster so far this season.

Hope Payne's performance for Ulster at the weekend puts paid to the idea that he can take the 13 shirt - he's never going to be at the level defensively to be an international 13 and we're going to need Henshaw and his bulk and skills against SA and Aus.

And now Nathan White is out for 16 weeks - not looking like a pretty front row picture v the boks and thosemonster georgians

They're dropping like flies. :s Deccie Fitz should get a call up now.

Ross, McGrath, Kilcoyne and Archer will be fit. Nothing much to worry about

profitius wrote:They're dropping like flies. :s  Deccie Fitz should get a call up now.

I'm looking forward to being happy for him on his call-up and disappointed for him because of the slight injury which will prevent him from actually getting on the pitch. One thing I hope is that if he is called up he actually still gets to play for Ulster on Saturday because the only game he's started for us this season he got sent of after 10 minutes. He wouldn't have been considered in the first place due to lack of game time, doesn't make sense for him not to play.

There is still some doubt over Mike Ross isn't there? I'm concerned because like a lot of tight heads I feel he is a guy who needs to have had a run of games under his belt to get his fitness to where it needs to be. And if he's unfit or out of form the drop off in quality between him and any of our other 3s is quite stark.

Jeez, we might be down to our 4th choice Tighthead. What is going on here?

No interest in the AI's this year? Anyhow...Sexton looking doubtful for the SA game....

Looks like Darcy/Henshaw for centre pairing...Gordon gets to be pushed around in his wheelchair instead of having to look after BOD for a change...

Zebo to start at Outhalf if Sexton is injured....

Sexton will start I'd say. Last Irish OH to beat SA so hopefully he can steer us to victory again.

Darcy will more than likely be doing the babysitting.

Zebo's D is too flaky for SA.

Ah sure pity Daverage isn't around. Just to see him lose a foot race with The Beast...not sure if that is better then getting run down by a lock...probably not

It is a pity alright. Kearney is a really good player.

GunsGerms wrote:It is a pity alright. Kearney is a really good player at not scoring or doing anything remotely close to the job description of a winger.

Fixed that for you

He has one less try for Ireland than Zebo and has played one less game. Neither are particularly potent for Ireland.

I think that we're all missing the most substantive issue here:

Will D'Arcy shave off that ridiculous ferrets nest stapled to his face?

how has zebo been doing... I always thought he had that little bit extra... was always impressed with his skill set.

If that guy was available for the boks... he'd play IMO.

He plays too much like a winger for the Irish coach....apparently

ME-109 wrote:He plays too much like a whinger for the Irish coach....apparently

You're not wrong.

ME-109 wrote:He plays too much like a winger for the Irish coach....apparently

yeah I hate that... try scoring little speedy gonzales' the lot of them.

But can they ruck!!!!! Can they jump in the lineout, can they scrum???

Once he has developed into a top class prop he might get a game

All he needs to do is tighten up his defense, improve his attitude, be a little less selfish and be more of a team player. Not a lot to ask of an international player. He is still young anyway.

ME-109 wrote:Once he has developed into a top class prop he might get a game

One rule for Mike Ross, one rule for Simon Zebo!!




PS - I actually think I'm being a little unfair! I think Ross is half decent but to be honest bar Healy he's the only Irish prop I know!

Jack McGrath and Martin Moore are probably back up for Healy and Ross and both featured a lot in the 6 nations and both are pretty solid.

Some other props on the fringes:
Stephen Archer
Rodney Ah You
James Cronin
Dave Kilcoyne

GunsGerms wrote:Sexton will start I'd say. Last Irish OH to beat SA so hopefully he can steer us to victory again.

Darcy will more than likely be doing the babysitting.

Zebo's D is too flaky for SA.

Too flaky against the Boks

Thats a good one then.

Last time I think it was Keith Earls who was babysitting D'Arcy.

Zebo will start,he was injured for the start of the 6N and the incumbents played well enough to keep their places.That's the only reason he didn't get a shot but he took his chance in the summer and I've no doubt he'll get plenty more caps from Schmidt.

That won't stop our resident pair of grumpy Munster fans Tweedledum and Tweedledim giving out about Schmidt but they'll just have to watch while gritting their teeth as we win trophies and play to the best of our abilities.It's a foreign concept for them to see an Irish team that knows what they are doing and they'll put it down to some sort of voodoo magic as it couldn't possibly be a result of getting rid of an incompetent coach and hiring a world class one.

ASLS, I see you are all trying to rewrite history now. Zebo was injured for the start of the 6Ns, was he?

Zebo played HCUP rugby on 11 January v Gloucester and 19th Jan v Edinburgh.

Kidney won a Grand Slam & Churchill Cup in his first year as international coach (as well as IRB Coach of the Year).

Schmidt won the Championship. Come back with your taunts when Schmidt has bettered that (which he can't because he won't get another opportunity to win a GS in his first season as Ireland coach). !

Against the Head was really good last night. Great feature on Grenoble

Sin e you're being a wee bit childish with that last comment. We can try and compare achievements all day. It's like superman vs batman. Different strokes for different folks and the kind of coach you need changes regularly as the team changes and the needs of the team change.

Thats why I think Toulouse have gone stale under Guy Noves. Fresh voices are needed. Remember when the All Blacks coaches all swapped jobs?

Sin é wrote:ASLS, I see you are all trying to rewrite history now. Zebo was injured for the start of the 6Ns, was he?

Zebo played HCUP rugby on 11 January v Gloucester and 19th Jan v Edinburgh.

Kidney won a Grand Slam & Churchill Cup in his first year as international coach (as well as IRB Coach of the Year).

Schmidt won the Championship. Come back with your taunts when Schmidt has bettered that (which he can't because he won't get another opportunity to win a GS in his first season as Ireland coach). !

Lol grasping at straws,no wonder you rate Kidney so highly you've blanked out all the harm he did to the team in his subsequent seasons.Will you give Schmidt credit when he wins another chmapionship and makes the semi-finlas (at least) of the WC?

Tell you what you can compare Schmidt unfavourably to Kidney when Ireland under Schmidt have lost to Scotland 3 times,lost to Italy or got nilled by NZ.Only one of these 3 things has to happen and I will regard criticism of Schmidt as very fair.All 3 happened under Kidney,I can bet you another thing,when Schmidt leaves Ireland he'll get another job in top class coaching.

Notch wrote:Against the Head was really good last night. Great feature on Grenoble

Sin e you're being a wee bit childish replying to ASLS's extremely childish comment* with that last comment. We can try and compare achievements all day. It's like superman vs batman. Different strokes for different folks and the kind of coach you need changes regularly as the team changes and the needs of the team change.

Thats why I think Toulouse have gone stale under Guy Noves. Fresh voices are needed. Remember when the All Blacks coaches all swapped jobs?

Fixed that.

ASLS wrote:That won't stop our resident pair of grumpy Munster fans Tweedledum and Tweedledim giving out about Schmidt but they'll just have to watch while gritting their teeth as we win trophies and play to the best of our abilities.It's a foreign concept for them to see an Irish team that knows what they are doing and they'll put it down to some sort of voodoo magic as it couldn't possibly be a result of getting rid of an incompetent coach and hiring a world class one.

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

Sin é wrote:ASLS, I see you are all trying to rewrite history now. Zebo was injured for the start of the 6Ns, was he?

Zebo played HCUP rugby on 11 January v Gloucester and 19th Jan v Edinburgh.

Kidney won a Grand Slam & Churchill Cup in his first year as international coach (as well as IRB Coach of the Year).

Schmidt won the Championship. Come back with your taunts when Schmidt has bettered that (which he can't because he won't get another opportunity to win a GS in his first season as Ireland coach). !

Lol grasping at straws,no wonder you rate Kidney so highly you've blanked out all the harm he did to the team in his subsequent seasons.Will you give Schmidt credit when he wins another chmapionship and makes the semi-finlas (at least) of the WC?

Tell you what you can compare Schmidt unfavourably to Kidney when Ireland under Schmidt have lost to Scotland 3 times,lost to Italy or got nilled by NZ.Only one of these 3 things has to happen and I will regard criticism of Schmidt as very fair.All 3 happened under Kidney,I can bet you another thing,when Schmidt leaves Ireland he'll get another job in top class coaching.

I'm making the point that you got your facts wrong about Schmidt. Kidney had a better first season as an international coach than Schmidt. That is a fact.

I would not be too sure Schmidt getting a top job. Jake White won a world cup and he hasn't managed to get a top class coaching job since.

As for Zebo, he was indeed injured before the Six Nations and missed some time training with Ireland. He was left with Munster to work on rehab. The same thing has happened to Paddy Jackson this season. He's "fit" but he's coming out of an injury so he's been left with his province.

Interesting to see Paddy Jackson has moved to 12 with Humphreys off the bench twice in the last two games. Didn't Schmidt say part of the reason he would struggle to bench ahead of Madigan was Madigan could cover centre?

You get the sense there is a sort of long term plan unfolding behind the scenes here.

Notch wrote:Against the Head was really good last night. Great feature on Grenoble

It was a good programme. Great to see Stephen Ferris in such good spirits. The analysis of SA was interesting especially the part as to  what Matfield brings to the table. Its going to be a tough day in the office for Ireland's No. 2 (whoever that is). I'm sure Paul O'Connell is relishing going up against him.

It will be interesting to see if Toner starts - his height advantage is nullified againsts the BOKs as he is so difficult to get up in the air and Ireland's lineout will need to be on top form with regard to defensive lineouts.

Notch wrote:As for Zebo, he was indeed injured before the Six Nations and missed some time training with Ireland. He was left with Munster to work on rehab. The same thing has happened to Paddy Jackson this season. He's "fit" but he's coming out of an injury so he's been left with his province.

Interesting to see Paddy Jackson has moved to 12 with Humphreys off the bench twice in the last two games. Didn't Schmidt say part of the reason he would struggle to bench ahead of Madigan was Madigan could cover centre?

You get the sense there is a sort of long term plan unfolding behind the scenes here.

I see the rewriting of history is working.

Between 11 January 2014 & 1 March 2014, Zebo played 6 games for Munster and scored 5 tries. How is that working on rehab?

Sin é wrote:
I'm making the point that you got your facts wrong about Schmidt. Kidney had a better first season as an international coach than Schmidt. That is a fact.

I would not be too sure Schmidt getting a top job. Jake White won a world cup and he hasn't managed to get a top class coaching job since.

Well let me just make the point that I never posted any "facts" about Kidney,merely an opinion so your entire point is based on a figment of your imagination.

Kidney was a decent coach for a while but when the laws changed after 2009 he couldn't figure out how to adjust and he became increasingly incompetent as other coaches came up with new things that worked while he floundered about.In my opinion he had the best ever group of Irish players available to him and before his last season had pretty decent luck with injuries,he wasted all that potential and I fully expect Schmidt to have surpassed all his achievements in just 2 seasons in charge and he has been unlucky with injuries and has a weaker team (although in fairness a stronger squad,Kidney never had the depth available to him that Schmidt can call on).