Ireland v. USA
Ireland: 15. G Murphy; 14. T Bowe, 13. B O'Driscoll, 12. G D'Arcy, 11. K Earls; 10. J Sexton, 9. C Murray.
1. T Court, 2. R Best, 3. M Ross, 4. D O'Callaghan, 5. P O'Connell, 6. S Ferris, 7. J Heaslip, 8. S Jennings.
Replacements: 16. J Flannery, 17. T Buckley, 18. D Ryan, 19. D Leamy, 20. E Reddan, 21. R O'Gara, 22. A Trimble
Folks should not think this is absolutely their best team but most of them will be in it.
Many would point out that Kearney will start in front of Murphy against Oz, but not too many who saw the old stager play for Leicester before his injury, and Kearney for Leinster before his, would disagree strongly. I see Kearney is not even named on the bench. His groin injury must be worst than reported. Surely he won't play against Oz "cold".
12. D'Arcy will probably play in all the big games just to keep the iconic midfield pairing of BOD and him together, but he could be ousted too if he stuffs up defensively against the USA as he has a bit this calendar year.
Winger Earls in in his right spot for later games though he could miss out to Trimble or McFadden - Bowe will be the other wing. Earls was seriously embarrassed in the trial against England playing 13. and not lining up on young M. Tuilagi properly. Sure BOD was having a rest, but McFadden was the logical choice to be his back up there in the squad which was already picked. McFadden is not named on the bench so he could be a designated dirt-tracker in NZ.
10. Sexton was the bright-eyed boy to make a difference in this RWC but he hasn't proved that he can manage a game like ROG can. He could be sitting on the bench against Oz if he doesn't shine in this game.
I didn't expect 9. Murray to get a starting game until they played Russia; so starting him before they play Oz is out of left field. His rise, due the freak accident of TOL at Munster and getting precedence over Stringer in that period - then being picked in the Ireland training squad, and eventually for the trials, and then the RWC squad is a well known fairy tale. Maybe there is another chapter. Watch this space.
1. Healey must still not be right to play and his eye socket injury worse that we thought. He will play in the big games, if fit. Aussie Tom Court starts in this game instead.
As often with many Ireland teams playing away the backrow positions are jumbled. 6. Jennings is in the right spot but won't be starting against Oz. 7. Heaslip is the regular Ireland 8 and 8. Jennings is the Leinster 7. Maybe they have typed the last two out of order, but you never know - it could all be a bit Irish.
I doesn't really matter because O'Brien will be starting so somewhere against Oz. He usually plays 6, sometimes at 8, but since Wallace was cruelly injured in the last trial game he may well play 7 against Oz but pack down at 6 in some attacking scrums to take advantage of his ball running. Look for SOB to be one of the stars of the tournament if his knee comes right - and it's a bit of a concern that he's not even named on the bench yet.
So - against Oz: 7. SOB, 8. Heaslip, but who at 6? Probably Ferris, though 8. Leamy can play there. It's also possible that if Kidney thinks Oz will have their giant 918 kgs pack again that he plays 6/lock D. Ryan instead of the loosies for tight work.
.
.
