Heineken Cup 2013/14

[mxyzptlk]

I think his career is in the balance, but to be honest I don't know the ins and outs of the situation.I do know that he doesn't really do any contact training because of the issues with his knee however I believe that this latest injury is his ankle.

The ins and outs, so far as I'm aware, is that he hasn't played since November, won't play for the first four months of the season, and then I guess has two more months to prove himself fit. But he did turn down an offer from Japan, so it looks like he's trying to get himself back in a green jersey.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/23061494

 

[sudrugby]

Not Heineken Cup news, but doesn't deserve its own thread so I thought I'd put it in here:

John Plumtree named Ireland forwards coach

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/23514680

Smart move made by Joe Schmidt!

 

[KevinO]

Brief points on Irish sides.

Leinster:

Eoin O'Malley forced to retire due to injury. Eoin was tipped as BOD long term replacement for both Leinster and Ireland

Munster:

Keith Earls back in full training

Peter O'Mahony named Munster captain, O'Mahony replace's the retired Doug Howlett as captain.

Munster signed Stormers winger Gerhard van den Heever

Ulster:
Tommy bowe ruled out for 6 to 8 weeks, seems the miracle fix for the Lions tour was only a temp job.

 

[JSRF10]

Just on Tommy Bowe, he is scheduled to be back by the first week of October which is when he would have been available anyway due to the Player Management Protocols. Lets just hope there are no ill effects on his health this season.

 

[boyo]

Is Bowe's injury to the same spot as before (knee, I think)?

 

[JSRF10]

Is Bowe's injury to the same spot as before (knee, I think)?

He broke his wrist on the Lions tour and got it patched up so he could play in the tests, this injury is just from the wear and tear of playing without letting his wrist fully heal

 

[boyo]

He broke his wrist on the Lions tour and got it patched up so he could play in the tests, this injury is just from the wear and tear of playing without letting his wrist fully heal

Thanks.

 

[mxyzptlk]

He broke his wrist on the Lions tour and got it patched up so he could play in the tests, this injury is just from the wear and tear of playing without letting his wrist fully heal

He needs to keep wearing that hurling glove.

 

[the plastic paddy]

No reason why both Munster and Leinster should not reach 14 points by this stage of the tournament.

Agree about POC and Murray. think Earls is looking at a move to 13 and with the signing of Van den Heever from the Stormers he might just get that move.

It is not a move to 13, when he was fit he was first choice 13 for Munster ahead of Laulala. Staying fit is the Earls problem but hopefully after a really good break he will get a good run without injury.

McFadden looked like he was being lined up as Leinsters long term 12 around the end of 2011/start of 2012, then injury struck the Leinster back line and he was required on the wing. A similar thing happened last year as well, if Leinster can keep their outside backs injury free I think we'll see Ferg move into 12 where his hard running and solid defence would be better utilized especially alongside Madigan who'll flourish will a hard running 12 getting over the gain line which is something D'Arcy hasn't done in a long time. If McFadden is kept on the wing I'd love Leinster go for Stuart Olding from Ulster (assuming Luke Marshall is still top dog in their battle to replace Paddy Wallace) as D'Arcys replacement the potential of him and Madigan playing together in a few years is very exciting.

As for Earls Munsters best performances last season came when they had a centre pairing of Downey and Lua-Lua. I'd keep that intact, or else have Hurley at 12, and let Zebo, Earls and Conway/Van den Heever be the back 3. They'd be frightening off turnover ball, who'd be 15 between Earls and Zebo is a tough one but the Irish 15 jersey is up for grabs whoever gets it with Kearneys injury/form issues of late.

On another note just read Nothampton have signed Ryan Lamb as their 10 for next season, despite some good acquisitions any side with him as their 10 should be beatable. Although its a long way out if Ross can cope with Corbiserio I'd back Leinster to beat them home and away.

The best performances by Munster last season were with Earls at 13. The best performances at 13 for Ireland since 2012 have been from Earls. The big question is whether Earls (fitness permitting) and showing the form he did at 13 against Argentina and in the 2012 six nations will be selected ahead of BOD. Can't see Schmidt dropping BOD which is why I wish he had stuck with his plan and retired at the end of the Lions tour.

Here are some stats,

Six Nations 2012 Tries with Earls primarily at 13: 13 (highest in 6N)
Six Nations 2012Tries scored by backs: 10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Six Nations 2013 Tries with BOD primarily at 13: 5 (joint lowest in 6N)
Six Nations 2013 Tries scored by backs: 3

Six Nations games. Try. Try Assist. Kick/Pass/Run. Metres
Run. Clean
Breaks. Defenders
Beaten. Offloads. Tackles
Made/
Missed. Turned
Over. Penalties
Given.
BOD 2013 1. 1. 10/21/22. 23. 0. 2. 1. 33/4. 2. 2.
BOD 2009 4. 0. 8/14/26. 152. 3. 6. 3. 53/5. 3. 2.
Earls2012* 3. 1. 9/12/32. 268. 6. 9. 3. 39/4. 5. 0.

* Earls played 4 games.

 

[the plastic paddy]

Sorry that table takes some deciphering but couldn't get it to fit.

 

[JSRF10]

I've stalked the debate around those stats on Munster Fans over the past few weeks, they do make interesting reading. BOD is undoubtedly on the wane but I think our best option to replace qualifies this time next year, and I'd probably prefer Tommy Bowe ahead of Earls at 13 he is more of a physical threat and a better footballer.

The main reason I'd have Earls anywhere in the back 3 is that he is Irelands most dangerous broken field runner when he is on form, at 15 or 11 he'll get the most space to work in and should get a fair bit of turnover ball to work with. On that once note a back line of Murray, Sexton, Zebo, Olding, Payne, Bowe, Earls could be electric in 2014/15 and I'd love to see what Schmidt does with it.

 

[the plastic paddy]

I don't think we will see Bowe this side of christmas, they were talking about 12 weeks, if we see him at all. I have a horrible feeling that his wrist is a complete fucking mess after they bodged it together on the Lions tour.

 

[KevinO]

I don't think we will see Bowe this side of christmas, they were talking about 12 weeks, if we see him at all. I have a horrible feeling that his wrist is a complete fucking mess after they bodged it together on the Lions tour.

Agree that it will be a little while, don't think it's going to be another Ferris story though. At least it being a bone and not a tissue injury it should be easier to heal correctly.

Explains why he said he was not meant to be out after the second test when I ran into him. No proof as he wouldn't take pics but did meet O'Brien catching up with his dad.

 

[the plastic paddy]

Agree that it will be a little while, don't think it's going to be another Ferris story though. At least it being a bone and not a tissue injury it should be easier to heal correctly.

Explains why he said he was not meant to be out after the second test when I ran into him. No proof as he wouldn't take pics but did meet O'Brien catching up with his dad.

Unfortunately my understanding is that it is ligament damage, KevinO. Hopefully it is not a Ferris job but it is quite hard to play rugby with only one working hand. Edit Nacewa was forced to retire with an arm injury.

 

[the plastic paddy]

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rug...-s-arrival-to-link-up-with-leinster-1.1502928

Zane Kirchner might not be with Leinster until five days before they play the hairsprays. Thought this paragraph was of particular interest:

“You mentioned Brendan Macken, Fergus McFadden has played there a lot and Luke Fitzgerald back fit is probably a guy who could do that job for us as well. There is enough bodies to do it. Eoin leaves us short of a body but I think we have enough midfielders to cover it but moving Fergus or Luke leaves us short somewhere else so it is something we are looking to rectify in the short term.”

That reads like a signing to me.

 

[the plastic paddy]

I thought this might be of interest to the Irish posters, much better reasoning than you will ever see from me,

http://redscarerugby.com/2013/08/23/theres-something-about-keith/

 

[KevinO]

I thought this might be of interest to the Irish posters, much better reasoning than you will ever see from me,

http://redscarerugby.com/2013/08/23/theres-something-about-keith/

I am a big fan of both Earls and BOD, but BOD is old and lost that pace to beat players and find the gap. Most of his try recently have been right place at the right time rather than making it happen.

Will be interesting to see the form this season, hope Earls avoids injury and is scoring a try a game.

 

[Bardon]

I thought this might be of interest to the Irish posters, much better reasoning than you will ever see from me,

http://redscarerugby.com/2013/08/23/theres-something-about-keith/

It's an interesting argument. The important thing for Earls is to stay fit for an extended period. I'd place him along side Fitzgerald as someone who has yet to consistently fill their potential due to injuries.

I hope Schmidt picks on form and starts with a blank team sheet. No one should have their name on the team sheet before their form this year has been assessed and reassessed.

So I hope whoever end up in the 13 shirt is there on the basis of their form and not their name. The same goes for every place in the squad.

Hopefully with the November tests guys who deserve it will get a chance to stake their claim for shirts. But they then need to back that up with club form in the run up to the 6Ns.

How the various Irish 13s go in this years HEC should be pretty interesting. Personally I believe that Ireland have more depth in our backline than we've had in a very long time. But that hasn't been reflected in Ireland squads in recent years.

HEC might be a step down from Test level but it's the best test someone can have until they're handed that green shirt.

Really looking forward to this years HEC because there are so many teams who think they have a chance to win. Some of the biggest clubs in European rugby are going to miss out and the knock out stages and that's one of the things I love about the HEC.

We could be at the beginning of a period of domination by the mega rich French teams. How the teams from the other countries respond to that challenge is going to be really interesting.

 

[KevinO]

I hope Schmidt picks on form and starts with a blank team sheet. No one should have their name on the team sheet before their form this year has been assessed and reassessed.

So I hope whoever end up in the 13 shirt is there on the basis of their form and not their name. The same goes for every place in the squad.

We could be at the beginning of a period of domination by the mega rich French teams. How the teams from the other countries respond to that challenge is going to be really interesting.

Hope your right on the first point, players should and need to be picked on form to start preparing a squad that is going to compete at the next World Cup.

Regarding the French teams, I don't think they will really ever have a complete period of domination. Players who are all there to enhance there pockets will never have their hearts in the right place.

I love Munster, but do believe that the love for the club and fans is why they have been so successful. Some of our squads really should not have achieved such feats.

 

[KevinO]

Just had a look at the Setanta sports guide for round 1 of the Rabo Pro12. Not surprised to see no live games. Channel really is not worth the money when they are showing re runs instead of live sports.

My dream is a Fox Sports rugby channel that just gets the rights to all the comps and shows the games live. Would pay for it if I had to as Rugby is on all year round and their is enough content to get subscribers.