Warm up games

[cashead]

The rarest of things an Irish team that may actually play rugby this weekend

Addison to star and bolt in

What the blazes does Schmidt do with the squad if that happens? Drop Larmour?

Find someone that is compatible and programmable with his style of play. Obviously what Larmour brings, or at least aspects of it, fit his style, but it also appears that Schmidt overly relies on certain players - and with good reason, I suppose. Ireland fell apart in the 6 Nations against England when they had to go without Kearney, who is freakishly good at the sweeper role at the back.

[Spiffy]

The rarest of things an Irish team that may actually play rugby this weekend

Addison to star and bolt in

What the blazes does Schmidt do with the squad if that happens? Drop Larmour?

Find someone that is compatible and programmable with his style of play. Obviously what Larmour brings, or at least aspects of it, fit his style, but it also appears that Schmidt overly relies on certain players - and with good reason, I suppose. Ireland fell apart in the 6 Nations against England when they had to go without Kearney, who is freakishly good at the sweeper role at the back.

You are too kind to Kearney, Cash. He was good in 2009. He is well past it and could hardly sweep the kitchen floor now- he is freakishly good at being useless. Ireland's implosion against England in the 6N had nothing to do with the absence of Kearney, though Henshaw ( a surprising and poor choice at FB) was plodding and poor. They were just bullied all over the pitch. Better fullbacks in Ireland are not getting a look in under Schmidt. Kearney can still field the high ball, but can't tackle, offers nothing in attack and has lost his gas and big left boot. Along with many Ireland supporters, I see him as only a liability in the RWC.

[SerjeantWildgoose]

What the blazes does Schmidt do with the squad if that happens? Drop Larmour?

Find someone that is compatible and programmable with his style of play. Obviously what Larmour brings, or at least aspects of it, fit his style, but it also appears that Schmidt overly relies on certain players - and with good reason, I suppose. Ireland fell apart in the 6 Nations against England when they had to go without Kearney, who is freakishly good at the sweeper role at the back.

You are too kind to Kearney, Cash. He was good in 2009. He is well past it and could hardly sweep the kitchen floor now- he is freakishly good at being useless. Ireland's implosion against England in the 6N had nothing to do with the absence of Kearney, though Henshaw ( a surprising and poor choice at FB) was plodding and poor. They were just bullied all over the pitch. Better fullbacks in Ireland are not getting a look in under Schmidt. Kearney can still field the high ball, but can't tackle, offers nothing in attack and has lost his gas and big left boot. Along with many Ireland supporters, I see him as only a liability in the RWC.

Normal service has been resumed. You're talking bollocks, Bro. Was it your sister Kearney shagged on that balcony?

[Digby]

Kearney from the outside wasn't offering much in attack because he wasn't being asked to. Now suddenly Schmidt has the team playing more, though their passing against England was far too deep and the dummy runners a waste of time, but still, they were passing more, they were using multiphase that wasn't just one out, they were offloading, they were not box kicking as much. I'm sort of stuck between trusting Schmidt to vastly improve the accuracy on the attacking plays they made, and wondering if the result against NZ kept them with Joe's limited gameplay so long it's now too late to see real progress before the 6N

And I do wonder how he makes up the RWC squad, take away that England game and the squad might have been very different, but can he ignore that game? And then what if players like Addison do well this weekend when they surely weren't part of the plan, and then..., dear god I've just seen the team, POM at 7, that's... interesting, I suppose you now have many, many lineout options, but POM at 7 if it must be done seems a much better fit for the old more limited gameplay, not moving the ball wider at times.

No idea what's going on now then with all those locks and a blindside at 7 with a seeming and perhaps fleeting new intent to actually play some rugby.

[paddy no 11]

Gwan Addison, kearney has been phoning it in for too long

Addison fills 23 jersey perfect he will travel

[Spiffy]

Find someone that is compatible and programmable with his style of play. Obviously what Larmour brings, or at least aspects of it, fit his style, but it also appears that Schmidt overly relies on certain players - and with good reason, I suppose. Ireland fell apart in the 6 Nations against England when they had to go without Kearney, who is freakishly good at the sweeper role at the back.

You are too kind to Kearney, Cash. He was good in 2009. He is well past it and could hardly sweep the kitchen floor now- he is freakishly good at being useless. Ireland's implosion against England in the 6N had nothing to do with the absence of Kearney, though Henshaw ( a surprising and poor choice at FB) was plodding and poor. They were just bullied all over the pitch. Better fullbacks in Ireland are not getting a look in under Schmidt. Kearney can still field the high ball, but can't tackle, offers nothing in attack and has lost his gas and big left boot. Along with many Ireland supporters, I see him as only a liability in the RWC.

Normal service has been resumed. You're talking bollocks, Bro. Was it your sister Kearney shagged on that balcony?

No - it was my moose.

[Mellsblue]

Liking your no10. Looks like he’s come straight from the 80’s without setting foot in a gym.

[SerjeantWildgoose]

Close enough; he’s from Athlone. There’s bits of Westmeath that never left the 1880s and who needs the gym when ye’re after spending 14 hours a day digging turf and shovelling horse shyte.

[Spiffy]

Close enough; he’s from Athlone. There’s bits of Westmeath that never left the 1880s and who needs the gym when ye’re after spending 14 hours a day digging turf and shovelling horse shyte.

Spot on - we should be sending the Ireland squad off with shovels to train there, never mind poncing about in sunny Portugal with the feet up, gorging on sardines and vino verde for a couple of weeks. Fat lot a good that did them (sepecially that Kearney chap.)

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Well that was better, for a bit. I'm almost inclined to believe that we are building to be at our best at the business end of the RWC.

For me Addison has to go to Japan. Carty has to go the Japan. Kilcoyne has earned his place. I'm not too bothered whether it's Aki or Farrell who partners Henshaw and Ringrose. Is Earls definitely good enough to go without any games? Back 3 of Conway, Larmour, Stockdale Kearney Addison seems reasonable. Could leave Kearney for Earls and if one of those 5 were staying then it would be him.

[Spiffy]

Well that was better, for a bit. I'm almost inclined to believe that we are building to be at our best at the business end of the RWC.

For me Addison has to go to Japan. Carty has to go the Japan. Kilcoyne has earned his place. I'm not too bothered whether it's Aki or Farrell who partners Henshaw and Ringrose. Is Earls definitely good enough to go without any games? Back 3 of Conway, Larmour, Stockdale Kearney Addison seems reasonable. Could leave Kearney for Earls and if one of those 5 were staying then it would be him.

Yes. Earls has had a fantastic season. Ireland's most consistent performer, still fast, a try poacher, a rugby brain and a powerful defender for a little guy. One of the first men on the team sheet. An automatic selection if fit.

[paddy no 11]

Line out issues not going away

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Really good performance and we look to be in better form than any time since the last NZ win. We go into the RWC ranked number one with key players looking good. I'll absolutely take that.