Ireland have made only one change to the squad that started the England game for this Saturdays match against Wales.
It’s not really much of a surprise that Kidney has decided to ease Ulsterman Andrew Trimble out of the squad to make way for the returning Rob Kearney as the Ireland supremo appears to have little regard for the northern Province these days.
What is surprising is that he also appears to have little regard for any sort of development as, even in this fairly meaningless match, Ireland continue to select the oldest side in international rugby.
Ireland: G Murphy, Bowe, B O’Driscoll, D’Arcy, Earls; Sexton, O’Leary; Healy, R Best, Hayes, O’Callaghan, O’Connell, Ferris, D Wallace, Heaslip. Replacements: Kearney, O’Gara, Buckley, Cullen, Jennings, Cronin, Reddan.
Ulster’s players, young and old, didn’t do themselves any favours with their piss poor performance against Scarlets at the weekend and with Munster losing and Leinster not looking overly impressive against a scatty Cardiff side could indicate that Kidney has a degree of justification sticking with his chosen few all the way through to the New Zealand finals but, surprise, surprise, I would tend to disagree.
This weekend’s fixtures showed that Ireland’s second string lack a fair degree of experience and, that all important, nous and, in my opinion, there would be no better experience for most of them than a bit of time in the international side. A few will falter, but most will come through and this can only be for the good of Ireland and the Provinces.
Having won the Grand Slam last season and a sprinkling of Triple Crowns in the seasons before, Ireland are only treading water in their development. While there may be a degree of comfort and security in maintaining a good standard with proven players, the real world class sides tend to take a few more risks with their playing personnel.
Wales: Byrne, Halfpenny, Hook, Roberts, S Williams, S Jones, R Rees, James, M Rees, A Jones, B Davies, Charteris, Thomas, M Williams (capt), Delve. Replacements: Bennett, Gill, Gough, Warburton, Peel, Bishop, Shanklin.
As far as the match goes, it’s a fairly lightweight Welsh pack and Ireland should win this match up front, which would be a bit of a novelty this season. However if Byrne, Halfpenny and Shane Williams all hit their straps on Saturday I would be a little concerned about Bowe being able to cover for Murphy and Earls. A lot could depend on how fit, match or otherwise, Kearney is. If only we had someone like Andrew Trimble to bring off the bench!
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Once a Turnip head always a Turnip head. Wee Decky the gnome from Turnipstan continues with his anyone but Ulster selection. This is the oldest Irish team ever selected does he think they will all be about in 18 months time for the world cup? Do the words Namibia and Georgia mean nothing to him? The biggest Irish rugby embarrassments in living memory. The only thing we need now is for the IRFU to offer him a new contract before the word cup and his transformation into Eddy O’Sullivan will be complete. Going by the gnomes selections Willie John McBride and Mike Gibson have a better chance of selection than the current Ulster team.
RR your rants are becoming tediously predictable – in fact I could probably have written it for you. WHO in the current Ulster side – given their recent performances – warrants a place in the Irish team? Trimble had a mare against the Scarlets. Paddy Wallace and Tom Court might just have crept on to the replacements bench. I think it’s pretty impressive that Kidney stuck with Geordan Murphy and Sexton. At least Ian jnr got the North Antrim nomination so that should keep you happy!
In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king but not johnny king cos he’s much more objective.
Dear” Hockey Boy” and Dergman
I have cast my net and caught a couple of tiddlers!
Irelands weaker positions as I see it are at 1,3,7,9,10,11 and 12. If Wee Decky won’t try Ulster players or anyone else in any of these positions how will he know if the player can step up to the mark. If Court , Wallace and Trimble had been shown the same one eyed loyalty the gnome has shown to others they would all be starting on Saturday. Boss in his limited appearances for Ireland , one six nations, has already made more breaks and scored more trys than O’Leary and still can’t get past big nose.
Keep up the replies as Dewi has me on a retainer to stimulate discussion!
PS JK I am a Thatcherite by inclination and a member of the Monster Raving Luney Party.
Yeeee ooo Raging is in full flow. I have to agree with him though – with possibly the 10 slot being sorted with Sexton.
France have shown that you have to experiment with the up and coming players to give them time to step up to the mark at international level – it has taken them 2 seasons to try out the ‘full’ squad of players tried by Lievremont & co in the past few seasons, and have obviously got together a squad of players that they know can perform at this level. I still think France have issues especially as he likes the 9/10 to be interchangable and 15 (Poitrenaud) is hardly what you would call consistant. Ireland seem to be either depending on the current squad to go to the 2011 world cup or to develop a squad in the 2010 autumn series / 2011 6 nations, which in my view is just a tad too late.
Well said Junty. Simples.
Well said Dergman.
Are you considering Cardiff?
Now you’re all just ganging up….