Ireland v Australia

[Paradox]

I think Speight is going to be named in the team announced today, but it's a leap to suggest he demands selection right now.

I'm glad Cheika selected him as he's been the best Aussie winger in super rugby for 3 years now. Tomane was the best winger last 2 tests and was unlucky to be dropped. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) can kick the ball though so it's better balance in the back 3.

 

[tragic]

Cheiks needs to cut the man love for AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) and put him on the bench. He's not a winger. He's a 13, and Kuridrani is a better one.
And its about bloody time foley had some time off to practice his tackling.
Missed opportunity and there's not that many left to get it right before the big gig next year.

 

[Brumbieman]

In terms of player development, McMahon shouldn't be selected again.


Hasn't done anything wrong, but we know he cant play 6 in a backrow with Hooper and McCalman, so he's competing with Hodgson.

Hodgo is older and more grizzled, and as the new kid on the block, take a leaf out of Wayne Bennetts coaching manual: he would select/debut a player and then regardless of how they went, he'd not pick them again and watch closely.

The guys who step up in the gym, at training etc etc would later be picked again, but the one's who just kept going as they were before didn't.

Let's see how hungry he is.

 

[BDA]

Yeh I really like the team named, but I kinda feel like its time to give Cooper a shot. He was very effective against the Northern Hemisphere teams last year and has looked decent in his cameos off the bench. we arguably have more firepower than ever at 13,14,15 and if you want them to get the ball in their hands with space, Cooper's passing game is the best option. Last week the French defence suffocated our backline, the irish will probably try to do the same. Cooper allows us to play with width, spread the defensive line early in the game to hopefully create gaps as the game wears on.

Hope he gets a good go off the bench.

No Beale! that is all

 

[BDA]

In terms of player development, McMahon shouldn't be selected again.


Hasn't done anything wrong, but we know he cant play 6 in a backrow with Hooper and McCalman, so he's competing with Hodgson.
.

Agreed. I'm not sure he's a test 6 in his current form. Needs to add something to his game. Although with the right players he could be serviceable. A backrow of Pocock/McMahon/Palu could work ok

 

[Froggy]

I like the side, but would have Cooper over Foley. I still want to see how Cooper goes outside Phipps. It might take a few tests, but I think he'd love the extra time Phipps would give him.
If it were me I would leave out Ben A, Skelton & Beale, but don't think that's how it will play out.
One thing a few here might have to live with, Cheika is only going to select/not select Beale on whether he believes he's best for the team. He's made it very clear he doesn't care what's gone before, the ARU has made him available and he'll pick him if he wants (which, by the way, I wouldn't, but on form, not off field indiscretions).
One more thing, as good as it is to have the attacking flair of Speight, Foloua and Kuridrani, unless we can get much more sustained aggression and physicality out of our forwards it will all be to no avail.

 

[qwerty51]

Who's the ref for this?

 

[Braveheart81]

Who's the ref for this?

Glen Jackson.

Mike Fraser and Nigel Owens are the assistants.

Eric Gauzins is the TMO.

 

[qwerty51]

Thank god, that's the best ref possible for us.

Nigel on the sideline is interesting, there's a hell of a lot of rugby on and you'd think one of the top refs would be the main ref. Wonder if he's been 'dropped'.

 

[Paradox]

Thank god, that's the best ref possible for us.

Nigel on the sideline is interesting, there's a hell of a lot of rugby on and you'd think one of the top refs would be the main ref. Wonder if he's been 'dropped'.

I suspect there's been some criticism of nh sides being allowed to lay all over the ball

 

[Brumby Runner]

Thank god, that's the best ref possible for us.

Nigel on the sideline is interesting, there's a hell of a lot of rugby on and you'd think one of the top refs would be the main ref. Wonder if he's been 'dropped'.

Jackson is serviceable to good if it's not a closely run game. When it gets willing and the scores are close, he can make some howlers.

 

[KevinO]

Irish team being announced at 1am (2pm Local)

 

[A mutterer]

I understand the dump Alexander thoughts, but seriously Alexander would take Faulkner to the cleaners on both sides of the scrum any day of the week. Unless his still injured.. but then still I would back him over Faulkner..

Only because 'taking him to the cleaners' involves 90 degree turns. Or folds. Take your pick.

 

[Biffo]

i am concerned that the board's collective opinion (the GAGGED consensus?) seems to have far too many Tahs in what should be the team.

perhaps the time has come for the ARU to impose ceilings on the numbers of Tahs in the run-on 15, on the bench and in total?

 

[Marcelo]

i am concerned that the board's collective opinion (the GAGGED consensus?) seems to have far too many Tahs in what should be the team.

perhaps the time has come for the ARU to impose ceilings on the numbers of Tahs in the run-on 15, on the bench and in total?

NZRU has never imposed a ceiling for Crusaders players and they have always been the major contributors to the black jersey. So I don't see a reason why the ARU should impose a ceiling for Tahs players

 

[BDA]

i am concerned that the board's collective opinion (the GAGGED consensus?) seems to have far too many Tahs in what should be the team.

perhaps the time has come for the ARU to impose ceilings on the numbers of Tahs in the run-on 15, on the bench and in total?

No more than 14 tahs in the run on side.

 

[biggsy]

NZRU has never imposed a ceiling for Crusaders players and they have always been the major contributors to the black jersey. So I don't see a reason why the ARU should impose a ceiling for Tahs players

If only the tah players were any where near the high quality of crusaders playing in the national side there wouldnt be this issue.

 

[Forcefield]

Thank god, that's the best ref possible for us.

Wayne Barnes.

When was the last time the Wallabies lost when he was the ref?

 

[BabyBlueElephant]

Ireland team to play Australia:

15: R. Kearney
14: T. Bowe
13: R. Henshaw
12: G. D'Arcy
11: S. Zebo
10: J. Sexton
9: C. Murray
8: J. Heaslip
7: R. Ruddock
6: P. O'Mahony
5: P. O'Connell
4: D. Toner
3: M. Ross
2: R. Best
1: J. McGrath

Bench:

Cronin, Kilcoyne, Ah You, Foley, O'Donnell, Reddan, Madigan, Jones

 

[Bairdy]

Ireland by 30