Ireland 2022/2023 - moving on

First topic message reminder :

The IRFU have been taking care of business whilst the national team have been taking the plaudits for their successful NZ tour series.  

A week after the 3rd test, Leinster announced their new IRFU-approved CEO to take over from the long-serving and very successful Mick Dawson.  As the wags put it, they searched Google and came up with their man - Shane Nolan -  a Google executive who happens to be a longtime Leinster fan with a strong remit to build up the commercial side of the business including delivering the revamped RDS stadium and a lot more corporate backing.  

Only a couple of days later, up popped the new CEO of the IRFU, Kevin Potts, to say they’d already sat down with Andy Farrell before he headed off to NZ and agreed a two-year extension to his contract with options to extend further if certain performance markers were met.  Presumably that includes not just winning a RWC quarterfinal for the first time…

Farrell is being given the resources and budget to develop the best squad possible including a stronger input into provincial selections and development of all of his likely RWC squad players.  

One gets the impression that IRFU supremo Kevin Potts is going for broke at his first attempt in securing greater success in the RWC than his long-term predecessor, Phillip Browne, ever achieved.  

The Autumn Internationals and Emerging Ireland tour to SA provided an opportunity to develop a wider core of players outside Farrell’s 20-23 already selected cohort of players.  

O’Toole, Loughman, Baird, McCarthy, Timoney, Carbery, Coombes, Casey, Larmour, Hume, Stockdale, Baloucoune, Frawley need greater club and country time this coming season, with possibly some being played out of their regular starting positions for province.  

With the Six Nations coming up, and squad named for the first 1-2 games, a number of players have dropped back, and only 1 uncapped player made it through - Jamie Osborne, who might get an opportunity from the bench during one of the games.

All in all, it continues to be an interesting season in the run-up to the RWC.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Strong SA side, has Kolbe played much at full back? Looks a bit risky.

Not for South Africa

Was looking forward to this and then I've just seen the 2 kits chosen...

It's going to be difficult to tell who from who it seems.

Ireland A squad for Friday named:

Ireland A: Lowry; J O'Brien; Osborne, Hume; Stockdale; Frawley, Casey; Loughman, Heffernan, O'Toole; McCarthy, Thornbury; Prendergast, Timoney, Coombes.

Replacements: Barron, Kilcoyne, Moore, Molony, Deegan, Blade, Crowley, Nash.

Not a bad group of players for a reserve team with plenty of talent throughout. Casey being named as captain is odd as he's quite hard to find

No 7&1/2 wrote:Was looking forward to this and then I've just seen the 2 kits chosen...

It's going to be difficult to tell who from who it seems.

Would have been better if Ireland just used their home green jersey.

Pete330v2 wrote:Ireland A squad for Friday named:

Ireland A: Lowry; J O'Brien; Osborne, Hume; Stockdale; Frawley, Casey; Loughman, Heffernan, O'Toole; McCarthy, Thornbury; Prendergast, Timoney, Coombes.

Replacements: Barron, Kilcoyne, Moore, Molony, Deegan, Blade, Crowley, Nash.

Not a bad group of players for a reserve team with plenty of talent throughout. Casey being named as captain is odd as he's quite hard to find

Thought Stockdale might sneak into the Ireland team v SA but I wonder does this mean Balacoune will instead, maybe McCloskey too? Decent enough side anyway.

Collapse2005 wrote:

Pete330v2 wrote:Ireland A squad for Friday named:

Ireland A: Lowry; J O'Brien; Osborne, Hume; Stockdale; Frawley, Casey; Loughman, Heffernan, O'Toole; McCarthy, Thornbury; Prendergast, Timoney, Coombes.

Replacements: Barron, Kilcoyne, Moore, Molony, Deegan, Blade, Crowley, Nash.

Not a bad group of players for a reserve team with plenty of talent throughout. Casey being named as captain is odd as he's quite hard to find

Thought Stockdale might sneak into the Ireland team v SA but I wonder does this mean Balacoune will instead, maybe McCloskey too? Decent enough side anyway.

Stockdale probably still has a bit to prove after being out for so long but he's definately impressed for Ulster so far this season. Baloucoune has to start, he's just a class act in attack or defence but McCloskey will likely be assigned to the bench if anything. I'd have preferred to see him and Hume played together as the unit they are but needs must and Hume gets a run out at 12 against NZ so it's all good.

Ireland team to play South Africa: Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Peter O'Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris; Conor Murray, Johnny Sexton, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose, Robert Baloucoune, Hugo Keenan

Pretty much as expected.

Replacements: Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch), Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf), Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers), Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena), Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere), Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster), Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor).

Fixture of the weekend and rooting for the NH.
Based on team selections, Ireland will win only if that reserve pack outperform and counter the somewhat frightening reverse bomb squad that will enter the fray at some point. The 6/2 split shows SA intent and the irish open side is going to get outnumbered at the ruck unless there is a specific Ireland counter tactic.
Result is too close to call.

The continued, misplaced, faith in Murray and Carbery is a cause for concern.

Otherwise two decent enough sides

geoff999rugby wrote:The continued, misplaced, faith in Murray and Carbery is a cause for concern.

Otherwise two decent enough sides

Who else have you got? I'll be honest Im surprised to see Murray start ahead of JGP.

Is Ross Byrne considered no good at international level?

Think we'll struggle with Murray starting. I'm sure the plan is for JGP to increase the tempo in the last 30 but we'll have a tiring and/or mismatched front 5 by that stage.

Well it seems universally understood that SAs front 5 and their reserves are much better than ours and that will likely be the difference but Im not that convinced. Are they significantly better than France’s front 5? Im not sure and Ireland have dealt with them reasonably well. I also dont recall SAs front 5 destroying anyones scrum in the rugby championship nor the Wales series.

Henshaw out injured. McCloskey promoted to start. O'Brien to the bench. I think if Hume was more match fit they may have promoted him to the bench instead.

Maine man wrote:Henshaw out injured. McCloskey promoted to start. O'Brien to the bench. I think if Hume was more match fit they may have promoted him to the bench instead.

I'd much rather if they'd have a look at the McCloskey/Hume dynamic which is IMO on parr with the Ringshaw partnership all be it of a different brand. Even if they'd been partnered in tonight's A game I think Faz would learn more about what they offer.
However I am really chuffed for big Stu, he, just like Henshaw, never fails to impress.

Yeah could be the making of McCloskey

Anyway of wat hung the Ireland A game in the UK?

Craig Casey has been terrible today, Frawley too.

carpet baboon wrote:Anyway of wat hung the Ireland A game in the UK?

Yeah, youtube.

https://youtu.be/iuja4Gto9T0

You might need a vpn to get an Irish ip address.

Ta, it's working okay in sunny Kent.

Shame I've put it on just as the ABs score, again.

Worst performance from an Ireland team in a while

Pete330v2 wrote:

Maine man wrote:Henshaw out injured. McCloskey promoted to start. O'Brien to the bench. I think if Hume was more match fit they may have promoted him to the bench instead.

I'd much rather if they'd have a look at the McCloskey/Hume dynamic which is IMO on parr with the Ringshaw partnership all be it of a different brand. Even if they'd been partnered in tonight's A game I think Faz would learn more about what they offer.
However I am really chuffed for big Stu, he, just like Henshaw, never fails to impress.

Hume has been dreadful tonight, which pains me to say as I'm a big fan of his. The "Ringshaw" partnership will only be broken through injury for the foreseeable.

Hes not the only one who has been poor. They all have. They wouldnt even be good enough to win the Ko Samui cup.

Collapse2005 wrote:Hes not the only one who has been poor. They all have. They wouldnt even be good enough to win the Ko Samui cup.

Osbourne has been good imo. Maybe Loughman too.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

Pete330v2 wrote:

Maine man wrote:Henshaw out injured. McCloskey promoted to start. O'Brien to the bench. I think if Hume was more match fit they may have promoted him to the bench instead.

I'd much rather if they'd have a look at the McCloskey/Hume dynamic which is IMO on parr with the Ringshaw partnership all be it of a different brand. Even if they'd been partnered in tonight's A game I think Faz would learn more about what they offer.
However I am really chuffed for big Stu, he, just like Henshaw, never fails to impress.

Hume has been dreadful tonight, which pains me to say as I'm a big fan of his. The "Ringshaw" partnership will only be broken through injury for the foreseeable.

He was not dreadful at all, took a lot of punishment both legal and illegal. He's not a 12 and the service they were all receiving was bloody awful. Casey was dire. The pack was non existent and the decision making was comical at times.

Calvin Nash was effin awesome though

Pete330v2 wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

Pete330v2 wrote:

Maine man wrote:Henshaw out injured. McCloskey promoted to start. O'Brien to the bench. I think if Hume was more match fit they may have promoted him to the bench instead.

I'd much rather if they'd have a look at the McCloskey/Hume dynamic which is IMO on parr with the Ringshaw partnership all be it of a different brand. Even if they'd been partnered in tonight's A game I think Faz would learn more about what they offer.
However I am really chuffed for big Stu, he, just like Henshaw, never fails to impress.

Hume has been dreadful tonight, which pains me to say as I'm a big fan of his. The "Ringshaw" partnership will only be broken through injury for the foreseeable.

He was not dreadful at all, took a lot of punishment both legal and illegal. He's not a 12 and the service they were all receiving was bloody awful. Casey was dire. The pack was non existent and the decision making was comical at times.

Calvin Nash was effin awesome though

He was poor, turned inside out at the start of the second half, but you're right he's playing out of position. He has enough credit in the bank anyway. Casey and Coombes were major disappointments. Crowley and Deegan looked good when they came on and great to see Marty Moore get on, he really could get to the world cup even just for his scrummaging.

Haven’t watched the game yet but that score line ain’t pretty. Ireland have a great top tier of players but what’s underneath? A lot of teams are probably similar. In NZ we have a lot of average to above-average fringe ABs but a pretty average national team, by recent historical standards anyway. By recent I mean ‘not this coaching regime’.

ebop wrote:Haven’t watched the game yet but that score line ain’t pretty. Ireland have a great top tier of players but what’s underneath? A lot of teams are probably similar. In NZ we have a lot of average to above-average fringe ABs but a pretty average national team, by recent historical standards anyway. By recent I mean ‘not this coaching regime’.

Shaun Stevenson looked untouchable again. I think he might be a better winger than Caleb Clark. Good game from TJ and McKenzie too. Some very good players.

Disapointing Oli Jager didnt get his big moment due to injury.

Predictions for the Autumn international predictor game have been extended until 1pm today. Good luck!

https://www.606v2.com/t70868-autumn-internationals-predictor

I’ve just been to the bookies and bet £50 that the team in green will win!

Thought Ireland put that scrum down quickly. Will be interesting to see this sa put in.

Look like a yellow. Kolbe.

Slightly surprised SA aren't going for the corner to eat into the yellow card more than anything.

Truly awful kick as well.

Early signs that South Africa are too powerful for Ireland.

Corner surely.

Swimming up the side there at the maul. Ireland v lucky.

Looks a try there.

Hmm no. Could have been a pen there too actually for holding before he got to the ball.

Why's the ref dragging play all the way back when SA could have a lineout about 10 metres away?

Can you imagine if SA ever appoint an attack coach how good they could be.

This is a case of what I think are the two best packs right now cancelling each other out.

Can't believe how unlucky mckloskey is. Was having a good game

Referee is going to decide this match, 50/50 calls only going one way

This isn’t a world champion’s performance. Mullered on the scrum. Getting pushed about in rolling mauls. Forward passes. Aimless kicking.

Rassie may not formally be the coach anymore but he’ll be raging at this

Well Ireland have put them under lots of pressure

Dismal yawn-fest from South Africa again, they only started to play with 15 minutes left.

Duty281 wrote:Dismal yawn-fest from South Africa again, they only started to play with 15 minutes left.

Didnt take long for the retarded "style of play" comment - yawn

Congrats to Ireland.

Poor display by the Boks on a number of fronts.

No creativity in attack. One dimensional, no shifting the contact point, poortactical kicking, poor goal kicking. Same old problems as always.

Need better coaches.You would expect them to win these matches.

Old Man wrote:Congrats to Ireland.

Poor display by the Boks on a number of fronts.

No creativity in attack. One dimensional, no shifting the contact point, poortactical kicking, poor goal kicking. Same old problems as always.

Need better coaches.You would expect them to win these matches.

And the same old Poopie, things never change, Frak this place