Ireland. BOD will miss at least the 1st two games of the Summer tests. Darcy & Ferris wont make it.

Is fitness set to be an issue for the Irish team in the 2011 RWC?

Paul McNaughton, Irish team manager said today: "Brian O'Driscoll has a neck injury but he is doing 80% of what we were hoping he would be doing. We are not really worried about him at this stage but he probably won't partake in the first couple of games."

He also said, "Obviously (Stephen) Ferris and (Gordon) D'Arcy are the most serious of the injuries. They are the two guys who are higher on the injury list though we are still hopeful. They are making progress and we are still hopeful that they will win the race to get on the plane to New Zealand".

In addition there have been long term injuries to Tomas O'Leary, Rob Kearney, Jerry Flannery and Geordan Murphy, while Ronan O'Gara and Shane Jennings have both picked up knocks in recent weeks.

Ireland have announced they will be working with the provinces to help get guys up to speed and see more of players that they would like to:

"The provinces have some pre-season games as well so a guy might play for 60 minutes for Ireland on one Saturday and he might be asked to play for his province in a pre-season friendly the following Saturday."

He also pointed out that Ireland have only got five games (including one against Connacht), which adds up to 400 minutes, and a we have got a squad of about forty. 30 have to go to New Zealand. "Getting the maths right", was said to be important for the Irish coaching team.

Will fitness be an issue in this RWC?

So- Wallace and McFadden in the centres together for the first game then?

Maybe a backline of:

10 Sexton
11 Trimble
12 Wallace
13 Earls
14 Bowe
15 Kearney

22 McFadden

Ah so the Leinster v Rebels game may be used for this purpose. Jennings may play in that. Same goes for the other provinces friendlies. Fla & Ferris could use that game time - at a lower level. Smert cooperation. This is where the IRFU control of the Provinces really kicks in.



Our 1st RWC game is v the USA. So... no disrespect - that will be a good warm-up for Oz, for the players on the edge of match-fitness. As to the Summer Tests, I can see Deccie give the fit fringe players a lot of game time spread over them. As well as players like Kearney and Murphy coming back into the squad. IF we dont get any more injuries (pray) - I cant see it being a major problem. Players like BOD dont need much time to get up to speed, He's proved that one so many times. So they should rest him. Use Jones, Earls, Mcfadden, Wallace, Kearney.



Cant wait to see the 22 for the weekend. Thursday?

red_stag wrote:Maybe a backline of:

10 Sexton
11 Trimble
12 Wallace
13 Earls
14 Bowe
15 Kearney

22 McFadden

Yep. Id go for that. TOL at 9? Id also have Murphy on the bench.

Looks good Stag! I agree and would have a team of;

1 Healy
2 Flannery
3 Ross
4 Ryan
5 O'Connell (c)
6 O'Brien
7 Wallace
8 Leamy
9 O'Leary
10 Sexton
11 Trimble
12 Wallace
13 Earls
14 Bowe
15 Kearney

16 Best 17 Court 18 Cullen 19 Heaslip 20 Reddan 21 McFadden 22 Murphy/Jones

Noticed that Darren Cave and Chris Henry have both joined the squad at Carton House (twitter). That makes sense now, given injuries to Jennings and the centres.

Jennings injury is with the arm-fracture healing, not a new one. I saw him running around with Leinster training at Tallaght. Wonder how it is though? And how fit is De Fla for this one? I wished they'd give us more info on the IRFU site. Holding their cards close to their chests. As it always is with Deccie.

Maybe its a good thing.

Ah, I think they've given plenty of info out to be honest. You don't want to put some much info into the public domain the Scots can predict our exact starting team at this stage.

Les Kiss said Flannery and O'Leary were looking good for gametime on the ruggamatrix podcast recently.

Good. Having those 2 back would be a major bonus.

Must check that site. Fanks.

Good news about the Fla,the man is superb. Fitness is going to be key to our chances. Plus,we already have an excuse at the ready just in case.

If we have a fit Fla, Best and Cronin. A fit O'Leary, Kearney and Murphy. A fit Jennings and 1F - all on the Plane, our chances at the RWC would shoot up a few notches.

Notch wrote:Looks good Stag! I agree and would have a team of;

1 Healy
2 Flannery
3 Ross
4 Ryan
5 O'Connell (c)
6 O'Brien
7 Wallace
8 Leamy
9 O'Leary
10 Sexton
11 Trimble
12 Wallace
13 Earls
14 Bowe
15 Kearney

16 Best 17 Court 18 Cullen 19 Heaslip 20 Reddan 21 McFadden 22 Murphy/Jones

Noticed that Darren Cave and Chris Henry have both joined the squad at Carton House (twitter). That makes sense now, given injuries to Jennings and the centres.

I agree with that team, although would have Buckley at 3 and Conor Murray at 20. Apparently the Leinster guys are a bit behind others in terms of pre season just because of the high intensity games they had at the end of the season so think to use less of them is good.

Didn't realise 1F was such a doubt anymore, thought we were a bit more certain on him.
Didn't expect BOD to miss 2 games either but that isn't too bad.
If Darcy doesn't make either of the French games will he realistically be in the 30 man squad?

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:If Darcy doesn't make either of the French games will he realistically be in the 30 man squad?

It really depends on how the players who play 12 in the warm-ups perform. If they do well, I'd like to see them retained. If they do poorly, we may have to gamble on D'Arcy.

Yeah guess so. Hope we don't have to cos realistically he will not be 100% fit, the independent was saying he wouldn't be back/shouldn't be back til New Year!!!

Is Muldoon injured??

Can someone give me a rational guess (oxymoran) as to whether 1F will make it or not?

Great to see Cave called up to the squad. Is Rog that far off fitness after his calf strain? I thought he was up to speed now, think Id prefer him to start in between TOL and Wallace. But would be happy to see that team - especially Earls and Wallace together. That would be very interesting.

Id imagine any opinion you do get on here on Ferris's fitness would be just that Pete... a guess. But fingers crossed.

I thought he would b somewhat sorted for this warm up but obviously needs time, hope he gets at least 2 warm ups in.

Paul McNaughton;

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2011/0801/1224301709837.html

“Gordon and Stephen face a race against time but are making progress. If there is a likelihood of guys not playing before the World Cup then it’s those two. We’re hopeful that they may be ready for game time, maybe in match three or four of the summer series.

“It’s a preference that they have some game time before they go, but we’ll never say never on anybody. A player could be just a week away from full fitness but it would be dangerous to play him in a game. We always have that option. It’s our preference that everyone will get some game time.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/aug/01/brian-odriscoll-injured?CMP=twt_gu

Brian O'Driscoll will miss at least the first two matches of Ireland's four‑Test schedule this month because of a neck/shoulder injury which has restricted his ability to train.

He would probably have been rested on Saturday against Scotland in any case given his involvement in the Magners League final in May – Declan Kidney will delay the return of most of those from that game until the France Test a week later – but the injury will be a cause for concern, despite Ireland's manager, Paul McNaughton, playing it down.

Feagh McHugh wrote:Great to see Cave called up to the squad. Is Rog that far off fitness after his calf strain? I thought he was up to speed now, think Id prefer him to start in between TOL and Wallace. But would be happy to see that team - especially Earls and Wallace together. That would be very interesting.

Wallace and earls could be brilliant together if the team is set up to play to their strengths as opposed to just replacing darcy and bod. If wallace is allowed to play as a second playmaker, instead of trying to be a bosh merchant, then earls could really exploit any gaps that wallace could put him through.

Pete; I'd be reluctant to include darcy in the 30man squad if he is doesn't feature in the second france game and play well. In the past he has been slow to get back to his best form after injury and I'm not sure we can take the risk if he isn't fit until the england match.

BOD probably has a nothing injury with regards to his neck. Its the fact its A) BOD and B) We cant afford another injury scare with him after 2007 thats keeping him out.

valjester wrote:Wallace and earls could be brilliant together if the team is set up to play to their strengths as opposed to just replacing darcy and bod. If wallace is allowed to play as a second playmaker, instead of trying to be a bosh merchant, then earls could really exploit any gaps that wallace could put him through.

Well thats what we have to do now. We have to give the replacements license to play their natural game.

If D'Arcy doesn't play any part in the 4 warmups then he can't go. Also Wallace and Earls could be awesome

Notch wrote:

valjester wrote:Wallace and earls could be brilliant together if the team is set up to play to their strengths as opposed to just replacing darcy and bod. If wallace is allowed to play as a second playmaker, instead of trying to be a bosh merchant, then earls could really exploit any gaps that wallace could put him through.

Well thats what we have to do now. We have to give the replacements license to play their natural game.

Yeah but the problem in the autumn was that wallace was trying to play darcy's game instead of his own. I like earls in the centre a lot and I think he could go really well with a player like wallace. If wallace plays anything close to how he has played in the sh the last few times, then he has to be ahead of darcy against australia for me, he would make our backs more dangerous.

Yeah, thats a coaching issue. Gaffney I will be glad to see the back of.

Given geoffs article about Ferris being all but ready (and his info is usually spot on) its strange that he seems to be not near ready for the warm ups as yet. I wonder if this is the management keeping their cards to their chest.

Also just shows in how high regard Darren Cave and Chris Henry are held. I know that neither will go to the RWC (more than likely) but Spence i thought would have been called up before Cave

I'm glad they've called up Cave over Spence, even if it is just to be 'Scotland' in training for a week before going back to Ulster. For all I rate Spence, Cave has a wider skillset and more experience.

I'm sure there are loads of players who have just been called up this week to represent the opposition. Niall O'Connor is in there as well. Doesn't mean anything.

Notch wrote:I'm glad they've called up Cave over Spence, even if it is just to be 'Scotland' in training for a week before going back to Ulster. For all I rate Spence, Cave has a wider skillset and more experience.

. I think Cave will be a very good S Lamont/J Ansbro during your training. In fact, does he have a Scottish granny?

Don't get excited if he does, he already has 2 full Ireland caps and 8 Ireland A caps!

You already poached Tommy Seymour from Ulster, isn't that enough?

There are a lot of players in there that aren't in the original squad, my mate was on 'work placement' and got to play with them and in the pics you can see Devin Toner and another group of academy players.

Looked through his pics again, there was a training game on, I could see a backline of

Boss/TOL
Sexton
Fitzgerald
Wallace
McFadden
Trimble
Kearney

forwards I saw on that same team were

Ryan, Leamy, Cullen, Cronin, Court


The other team I could see in orange seemed to be a seconds team of sorts with the likes of Murray, Jones, Toner, Henry, Muldoon, MOD, Fla,

That's going to be very 'interesting' if that team is selected for Scotland

Very interesting. Definite second string. Who would even Captain out of that lot? Cullen?

Maybe that will be the team for Scotland and a strong team for the away match versus France. Its a delicate balance.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/odriscoll-set-to-miss-first-two-warmup-games-as-injury-worries-mount-2836892.html



As far as BOD is concerned, is this necessarily a bad thing - pre the WC? You cant stop that guy playing every game, so this may be a blessing in disguise. I would have rested BOD for the 1st few games anyway. One does not really need to read between the lines anymore. Darcy won't make it. Neither will Ferris. There is no way Kidney will take injured/unprepared players to a RWC and hope they will come good. Far too much of a gamble and Deccie does not gamble - ever.



So, best use McFadden and Earls in the centre vs Scotland and give them max gametime in the Summer tests. Use them with Paddy Wallace as backup. See how they click. They will be Ireland's centre-pairing way into the future anyway. So start with them vs Scotland. Use the SOB,Jennings, Heaslip HC-winning backrow, in at least one of the big games vs England and/or France at home. Or both. We all know what Wally can do, but Ireland has never seen the best backrow unit in the NH used. Yet.



Good news is, De Fla, TOL, Kearney, Murphy and Jennings are fast getting there. We need their experience and leadership to make this RWC one to remember - for all the right reasons. We should preserve Ross in aspec. He gets injured - its over for us. Not being melodramatic here - its true. Give him half-games in 2 or 3 of the matches. It will give Court the time to really gel with Healy. Use Buckley also - from the bench (God forbid but he's the best of a bad lot) No way should Hayes or Horan travel. Unless we want the Aussies to fall over laughing.



Thoughts?

Who says Kidney will see D'Arcy and Ferris as gambles?

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:
Boss/TOL
Sexton
Fitzgerald
Wallace
McFadden
Trimble
Kearney

Thats an interesting looking backline. I just wish Kidney had experimented a bit more with the combinations over the last 12 months rather than sticking with D'arcy and O'Driscoll for 99% of every meaningful game. It's left us pretty unprepared in the event that either or both are unfit, like now.

MBTGOG wrote:Who says Kidney will see D'Arcy and Ferris as gambles?

Paul McNaughton. The Team manager. If they cant play in the Summer Tests, they wont travel.

I'd love to know where the ferris doom and gloom is coming from, I though he was ticking along quite nicely.

Gibson wrote:

MBTGOG wrote:Who says Kidney will see D'Arcy and Ferris as gambles?

Paul McNaughton. The Team manager. If they cant play in the Summer Tests, they wont travel.

Actually what he said was :""If there is a likelihood of guys not playing before the World Cup then it's those two," said McNaughton. "It's a preference that they have some game time before they go, but we'll never say never on anybody."

Which suggests to me that they may take these guys even if they don't play in August. I suppose it depends on how you chose to interpret his comments.

"Fellow Lions Ferris and D'Arcy are battling knee and ankle injuries respectively and, while optimistic about their progress, McNaughton said their participation in August is in doubt."



Optimistic is like saying "The managers job is safe" in soccer. Why even say it at this stage? My interpretation is that they are getting us ready for it.

Same ferris post as stand I genuinely thought fez was out of the woods. Disappointing. Is the team announced today or later in the week.

I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Ferris go even if he doesn't get any game time.

Yes but the comment refers to their participation in August, not in the WC. It says nowhere in that article that they won't be going to the WC.

Ok, its an opinon-based forum. My opinion is - they won't travel.

MBTGOG wrote:I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Ferris go even if he doesn't get any game time.

MBTGOG, you are not really serious are you?

Gibson wrote:Ok, its an opinon-based forum. My opinion, is that they won't travel.

No your opinion was that Haughtan suggested they won't travel, which he hasn't, at least not in the article you've cited.

Personally speaking I don't think we can risk either if they don't participate in at least one warm up game. Ferris will be a big loss but we've some good players who can step in and D'arcy hasn't exactly been on fire this season so him being out mightened weaken us at all.

There's still over a month to go so I wouldn't write anyone off yet.

Not jumping the gun Rodders, but its just the fact that he is saying this in August. A month in which we play 5 games in preparation. A month before the RWC starts. Not good.

Gibson wrote:

MBTGOG wrote:I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Ferris go even if he doesn't get any game time.

MBTGOG, you are not really serious are you?

Yup, serious.

As I mentionend elsewhere Ferris is doing full contact training.

As an aside Darren Cave has joined the squad

IGNORE

Feagh McHugh wrote:Id imagine any opinion you do get on here on Ferris's fitness would be just that Pete... a guess. But fingers crossed.

Not from me - he is doing full contact training

It's good to see Cave get a bit of recognition. His form towards the end of the season was excellent and it shows he's still on the Ireland radar even if he's very unlikely to be a serious consideration for the WC squad.