RugbyRebels

From the Irish Times:

Ireland: Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray; Jack McGrath, Rob Herring, John Ryan; Iain Henderson, James Ryan; Peter O’Mahony (capt), Jordi Murphy, CJ Stander.

Australia: Israel Folau; Marika Koroibete, Samu Kerevi, Kurtley Beale,Dane Haylett-Petty; Bernard Foley, Will Genia; Scott Sio, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Sekope Kepu; Izack Rodda, Adam Coleman; David Pocock, Michael Hooper (Capt), Caleb Timu.

Replacements: Tolu Latu, Allan Alaalatoa, Taniela Tupou, Rob Simmons, Lukhan Tui, Pete Samu, Nick Phipps, Reece Hodge.

Clearly the IT is so confident of an Irish win that they don't see any need to list a bench; we'll just see them off with the starting XV.

I'm not so confident that the front row is the right choice to win the first test. Big start - perhaps his biggest - for ROG.

The Independent is not so confident.

Ireland Replacements: Sean Cronin; Cian Healy; Tadhg Furlong; Quinn Roux; Jack Conan; Kieran Marmion; Johnny Sexton; Jordan Larmour

I hope you give them a good hiding.

ROG being thrown in the deep end
It will be interesting to see how he deals with it

Judging by the video that is doing the rounds, I wonder if Kearney will have the energy for a game on Saturday.

he'll be absolutely pixelated

Ireland A? Is that what you call them as soon as Sexton isn’t starting?

Not so much just Sexton as Furlong with Ringrose, Leavy and Beirne missing altogether. Stick those 5 on and I'd back us to beat anyone. Also, I'd be putting Cooney on the bench.

I think that our starting XV is beatable and hope that they don't get into trouble to the extent that the bench can't dig them out of it. Lose the first test and the series could slip away.

SerjeantWildgoose wrote:Not so much just Sexton as Furlong with Ringrose, Leavy and Beirne missing altogether. Stick those 5 on and I'd back us to beat anyone. Also, I'd be putting Cooney on the bench.

I think that our starting XV is beatable and hope that they don't get into trouble to the extent that the bench can't dig them out of it. Lose the first test and the series could slip away.

For once, I am in agreement with a Tornipstani. This first test is crucial and Joe should be playing his absolute best XV to get one up on the convicts and nail the psychological advantage. Those you mention should be starting. Sexton is a game changer. Without Leavy, the backrow could get their arses handed to them by Hooper and Pocock at the breakdown. If it all starts to look tits-up, I hope Schmidtferbrains will spring the bench sooner rather than later. The convicts will want to play this as loose as Hong Kong hoor on a Friday night, while the Micks will try to keep it tight as a nun's nasty. If we do not dominate up front we could be done for. I see a case for Cooney, but Marmion has delivered in the past and will be OK.

Spiffy wrote:

SerjeantWildgoose wrote:Not so much just Sexton as Furlong with Ringrose, Leavy and Beirne missing altogether. Stick those 5 on and I'd back us to beat anyone. Also, I'd be putting Cooney on the bench.

I think that our starting XV is beatable and hope that they don't get into trouble to the extent that the bench can't dig them out of it. Lose the first test and the series could slip away.

For once, I am in agreement with a Tornipstani. This first test is crucial and Joe should be playing his absolute best XV to get one up on the convicts and nail the psychological advantage. Those you mention should be starting. Sexton is a game changer. Without Leavy, the backrow could get their arses handed to them by Hooper and Pocock at the breakdown. If it all starts to look tits-up, I hope Schmidtferbrains will spring the bench sooner rather than later. The convicts will want to play this as loose as Hong Kong hoor on a Friday night, while the Micks will try to keep it tight as a nun's nasty. If we do not dominate up front we could be done for. I see a case for Cooney, but Marmion has delivered in the past and will be OK.

Spiff, I couldn't have put it better meself. Think I'll nominate you for the Nobel Litchratcher prize.