Planet Rugby Forum

Mr. Very Popular wrote:Cronin didn’t take part in the captains run, being managed after a heavy squad session the day before, sounds a bit spinny to me.

boringperson12 wrote:I was surprised POM only has 50 caps, seems to have been about for ever.

Cronin not starting probably strengthens the team.

boringperson12 wrote:I was surprised POM only has 50 caps, seems to have been about for ever.

Willie Falloon wrote: Earls is 31.

CM11 wrote:

boringperson12 wrote:I was surprised POM only has 50 caps, seems to have been about for ever.

Cronin not starting probably strengthens the team.

Yes, yes, we know your views on Cronin.

paddyor wrote:

hermie wrote:Surprised McGrath gets rewarded with a start after his idiocy last weekend. Unless there are doubts about Healy's fitness, which would be even worse. Unfortunate also for Cronin to have to start with the slightly weaker scrummager. Any hint of a backward step and the mongs will be baying for blood.

Have to worry about that backrow. Conan is great either side of the ball but at the breakdown he doesn't offer much. Compound that with a 7 likely to be slow to the ruck and Hooper & Pocock might have a little bit more joy this time around. Luckless to be without the top 3 opensides in the country for such a big game. The trio will need to play out of their skin, although they're quality players so hopefully...

Ringrose is by far the biggest loss however. Don't see us winning this one without him and if we lose they might be left to wonder was it ultimately wise to start Murray and Kearney in all 3 Tests given that there have been so few opportunities to test the depth at 9 and 15.

The 2nd choice 15 got injured after 15 mins last week. THe week before it was Earls going off early(when Folau was killing us in the air). There hasn't really been a chance to try someone else at 15.

earl the beaver wrote:
That's not what actually happens is it though? look at HKL's post to Willie, DD's to me, god knows how many posts from the likes of Cammy, Nardol etc. pot shots at unionists/protestants happen all the time on here and are passed off as being wind ups etc.

RWC2015 wrote:If we win on Saturday Sexton has to be a shoo-in for wold player of the year, even if we lose to the ABs in Autumn?

paddyor wrote:

Tecumseh wrote:Sorry, couldn't stay with you. I'm saying he had an opportunity to try Carbery at 15 in this game, if he chose to. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that with all players fit and firing he is both our 10 and 15 cover in big games. Seems like Larmour or Conway or Dave Kearney* or one of Aki/Henshaw/Ringer is the likely choice at 23. I think if Aki starts the other centre gets the 23 shirt.

In such a scenario, if something were to happen to both our 10 and our 15 you would expect Carbery to move to 10 and have another player cover 15 in an emergency scenario.

*Not really, but there's always Ferg

Nah, he's 2nd choice 10. That's why he was encouraged to moved. Given Munster signed Haley(bought him out of his contract IIRC) and Ulster signed Addison(apparently Schmidt had something to do with it) when Zebo and Payne stopped being options I think you can take it that it's not an option Schmidt is considering at all. Unless Byrne improves massively over the coming season anyway.

I reckon for this tour Henshaw has trained exclusively as a centre(both 10 & 12) in defense and attack. I'd bet money on it.

Stockdale is first choice winger and I'd say that's all he's trained at too.

The 2nd choice 15 is Conway and he's missed most of the tour thru injury.

Diego wrote:I see England are still using "starters" and "finishers" for their team announcements. They deserve to be shit for that alone.

fishooks15 wrote:We haven't had a non Kiwi winner since 2011 so even if the AB's do win the championship again you'd have to think Sexton will be in with a shout just even to shake it up

Willie Falloon wrote:

fishooks15 wrote:We haven't had a non Kiwi winner since 2011 so even if the AB's do win the championship again you'd have to think Sexton will be in with a shout just even to shake it up

Stockdale has a good chance for a namination if he has a good game tomorrow and a decent Autumn.

Tecumseh wrote:

paddyor wrote:

Tecumseh wrote:Sorry, couldn't stay with you. I'm saying he had an opportunity to try Carbery at 15 in this game, if he chose to. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that with all players fit and firing he is both our 10 and 15 cover in big games. Seems like Larmour or Conway or Dave Kearney* or one of Aki/Henshaw/Ringer is the likely choice at 23. I think if Aki starts the other centre gets the 23 shirt.

In such a scenario, if something were to happen to both our 10 and our 15 you would expect Carbery to move to 10 and have another player cover 15 in an emergency scenario.

*Not really, but there's always Ferg

Nah, he's 2nd choice 10. That's why he was encouraged to moved. Given Munster signed Haley(bought him out of his contract IIRC) and Ulster signed Addison(apparently Schmidt had something to do with it) when Zebo and Payne stopped being options I think you can take it that it's not an option Schmidt is considering at all. Unless Byrne improves massively over the coming season anyway.

I reckon for this tour Henshaw has trained exclusively as a centre(both 10 & 12) in defense and attack. I'd bet money on it.

Stockdale is first choice winger and I'd say that's all he's trained at too.

The 2nd choice 15 is Conway and he's missed most of the tour thru injury.

You haven't really addressed anything I've said. You can't have all your second choice players on the bench, so there is a reasonable chance Carbery will cover both 10 & 15 from the bench.

Diego wrote:I see England are still using "starters" and "finishers" for their team announcements. They deserve to be shit for that alone.

Liathroidigloine wrote:

Willie Falloon wrote:

fishooks15 wrote:We haven't had a non Kiwi winner since 2011 so even if the AB's do win the championship again you'd have to think Sexton will be in with a shout just even to shake it up

Stockdale has a good chance for a namination if he has a good game tomorrow and a decent Autumn.

I know ye can be a bit one eyed but

Tecumseh wrote:

Diego wrote:I see England are still using "starters" and "finishers" for their team announcements. They deserve to be shit for that alone.

Cheika at it too

Liathroidigloine wrote:

Willie Falloon wrote:

fishooks15 wrote:We haven't had a non Kiwi winner since 2011 so even if the AB's do win the championship again you'd have to think Sexton will be in with a shout just even to shake it up

Stockdale has a good chance for a namination if he has a good game tomorrow and a decent Autumn.

I know ye can be a bit one eyed but

Liathroidigloine wrote:

Willie Falloon wrote:

fishooks15 wrote:We haven't had a non Kiwi winner since 2011 so even if the AB's do win the championship again you'd have to think Sexton will be in with a shout just even to shake it up

Stockdale has a good chance for a namination if he has a good game tomorrow and a decent Autumn.

I know ye can be a bit one eyed but

RWC2015 wrote:If we win on Saturday Sexton has to be a shoo-in for wold player of the year, even if we lose to the ABs in Autumn?

Banana Man wrote:

Tecumseh wrote:

paddyor wrote:

Tecumseh wrote:Sorry, couldn't stay with you. I'm saying he had an opportunity to try Carbery at 15 in this game, if he chose to. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that with all players fit and firing he is both our 10 and 15 cover in big games. Seems like Larmour or Conway or Dave Kearney* or one of Aki/Henshaw/Ringer is the likely choice at 23. I think if Aki starts the other centre gets the 23 shirt.

In such a scenario, if something were to happen to both our 10 and our 15 you would expect Carbery to move to 10 and have another player cover 15 in an emergency scenario.

*Not really, but there's always Ferg

Nah, he's 2nd choice 10. That's why he was encouraged to moved. Given Munster signed Haley(bought him out of his contract IIRC) and Ulster signed Addison(apparently Schmidt had something to do with it) when Zebo and Payne stopped being options I think you can take it that it's not an option Schmidt is considering at all. Unless Byrne improves massively over the coming season anyway.

I reckon for this tour Henshaw has trained exclusively as a centre(both 10 & 12) in defense and attack. I'd bet money on it.

Stockdale is first choice winger and I'd say that's all he's trained at too.

The 2nd choice 15 is Conway and he's missed most of the tour thru injury.

You haven't really addressed anything I've said. You can't have all your second choice players on the bench, so there is a reasonable chance Carbery will cover both 10 & 15 from the bench.

Carberry will of course provide an option for cover at 15 off bench - but it seems likely that the bench back spot is Conway or Larmour. Both of whom would probably be seen as being ahead of Carberry as 15 cover.

Schmidt is all about having cover for a specific position - hence Felix Jones being on bench a good bit few years back.

Armchair_Superstar wrote:

Liathroidigloine wrote:

Willie Falloon wrote:

fishooks15 wrote:We haven't had a non Kiwi winner since 2011 so even if the AB's do win the championship again you'd have to think Sexton will be in with a shout just even to shake it up

Stockdale has a good chance for a namination if he has a good game tomorrow and a decent Autumn.

I know ye can be a bit one eyed but

He has only gone and suggested that the Player of the Tournament in the Six Nations has a chance of being nominated if he continues playing well.

Where does he get his mad notions, he is hilarious!!!

Liathroidigloine wrote:

Willie Falloon wrote:

fishooks15 wrote:We haven't had a non Kiwi winner since 2011 so even if the AB's do win the championship again you'd have to think Sexton will be in with a shout just even to shake it up

Stockdale has a good chance for a namination if he has a good game tomorrow and a decent Autumn.

I know ye can be a bit one eyed but

Nolanator wrote:Excessive smileys aside, does the world player of the year award consider club form, or just international? I can never remember.

earl the beaver wrote:

Nolanator wrote:Excessive smileys aside, does the world player of the year award consider club form, or just international? I can never remember.

Just international performances.

Willie Falloon wrote:

Armchair_Superstar wrote:

Liathroidigloine wrote:

Willie Falloon wrote:

fishooks15 wrote:We haven't had a non Kiwi winner since 2011 so even if the AB's do win the championship again you'd have to think Sexton will be in with a shout just even to shake it up

Stockdale has a good chance for a namination if he has a good game tomorrow and a decent Autumn.

I know ye can be a bit one eyed but

He has only gone and suggested that the Player of the Tournament in the Six Nations has a chance of being nominated if he continues playing well.

Where does he get his mad notions, he is hilarious!!!

Nolanator wrote:Excessive smileys aside, does the world player of the year award consider club form, or just international? I can never remember.

boringperson12 wrote:Do they have a Young Player of the year? James Ryan and Stockdale would be certain for that nomination.

Banana Man wrote:

Nolanator wrote:Excessive smileys aside, does the world player of the year award consider club form, or just international? I can never remember.

Not sure - had a quick glance at previous nominations and it does seem to be international form.

There has never been two wingers nominated in same year from what I can see, and Rieko Ioane will surely be there or there abouts too and wingers don't really seem to get a nod in recent times. Shane Williams won it in 08 and Ioane + Julian Savea the only other wingers since then (Halfpenny and Le Roux as 15s)

It certainly isnt laughable to think he might get a shout but in truth if we are to have a strong autumn then Murray/Sexton will probably have been to the fore and prob would get nominations ahead of him.

Liathroidigloine wrote:

Willie Falloon wrote:

fishooks15 wrote:We haven't had a non Kiwi winner since 2011 so even if the AB's do win the championship again you'd have to think Sexton will be in with a shout just even to shake it up

Stockdale has a good chance for a namination if he has a good game tomorrow and a decent Autumn.

I know ye can be a bit one eyed but