Not sure if one has been started but heres the fixtures anyhoo, the last game will be some craic in a bar
Six Nations Fixtures 2012
Home Away Date Kick Off Venue T
France Italy Saturday 4th February 2012 14:30 Stade de France, Paris
Scotland England Saturday 4th February 2012 17:00 Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Ireland Wales Sunday 5th February 2012 15:00 Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Italy England Saturday 11th February 2012 16:00 Stadio Flaminio, Rome
France Ireland Saturday 11th February 2012 20:00 Stade de France, Paris Wales Scotland Sunday 12th February 2012 15:00 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Ireland Italy Saturday 25th February 2012 13:30 Aviva Stadium, Dublin B
England Wales Saturday 25th February 2012 16:00 Twickenham, Stadium, London
Scotland France Sunday 26th February 2012 15:00 Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Wales Italy Saturday 10th March 2012 14:30 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Ireland Scotland Saturday 10th March 2012 17:00 Aviva Stadium, Dublin
France England Sunday 11th March 2012 15:00 Stade de France, Paris
Italy Scotland Saturday 17th March 2012 12:30 Stadio Flaminio, Rome
Wales France Saturday 17th March 2012 14:45 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
England Ireland Saturday 17th March 2012 17:00 Twickenham, Stadium, London
What would be the chances of getting a ticket for the England game? Slim to none?
Quote from: Karl Kennedy on January 13, 2012, 10:34:56 PM
What would be the chances of getting a ticket for the England game? Slim to none?
400 quid on the guardian site
Whats the thoughts on the Ireland squad and team.
Would Kidney be radical enough to drop the likes of O Callaghan and Cullen and bring in Toner and Tuohy?
He couldnt possibly pick O Leary in the squad could he?
On the team the 1 to 8 picks itself if as most people think Ryan comes in for O Callaghan.
I personally would go for Murray and Sexton at HB.
Its 11 to 15 that will be interesting and difficult. Its likely that Kearney will be FB but it is centre and wing that is more difficult to call.
Bowe, Earls, Trimble and Fitzgerald would all be disappointed if they dont get a look in although it likely that Earls will go to 13.
There is a lack of options at 13. O Mallly isnt big enough or good enough (yet), same with Spence and McFadden is more a 12 than a 13. That leaves Earls and Cave. IMO Earls is a finisher, a class one at that but he is not centre, he doesnt have the brain, hands or defence to play the position. Cave is solid if unspectacular, has a great defence and is an all round better 13 than earls imo.
Then you have then even more problamatic position of 12. Darcy is clean done, Wallace is just back from injury and may not be good enough and McFadden isnt getting any game time at 12.
Id like to see the following backline for the wales game
Murray
Sexton
Fitzgerald
McFadden
Cave
Earls
Kearney
But Kidney is more likely to go with
Murray
Sexton
Trimble
Darcy
Earls
Bowe
Kearney
Which would u prefer???
i think 99% of us will agree on Murray/Sexton at HB
I will go for :-
11 - Fitzgerald
12 - McFadden
13 - Earls
14 - Bowe
15 - Kearney
Should be some match against Wales
Quote from: Hoof Hearted on January 14, 2012, 08:31:54 AM
i think 99% of us will agree on Murray/Sexton at HB
I will go for :-
11 - Fitzgerald
12 - McFadden
13 - Earls
14 - Bowe
15 - Kearney
Should be some match against Wales
Do you not think Trimble has done enough to make that back line
Earls is not and never will be a 13. Too many defensive flaws.
Quote from: Dinny Breen on January 14, 2012, 11:30:32 AM
Earls is not and never will be a 13. Too many defensive flaws.
Exactly but Deccie will pick him there.
Id have a few worries about that team. Even the most loyal Leinster fans would probably agree that Darcy doesnt offer enough these days. I would even prefer Paddy Wallace these days as he offers as good as defence and is a better playmaker. The days of Darcy making line brakes are well gone.
Cullen offers great leadership for Leinster but I think Ireland have enough leaders and players like Ryan, Tuohy and even Toner offer a lot more dynamism around the field.
Bowe at centre is an interesting one but he isnt playing there at the min and his form isnt what it was 18 months ago.
Id really like to see Cave given a go, particulary against teams like Scotland and Italy, lets seem if he is good enough, if he is great, if he isnt well at least thats another option ruled out.
This is my team for Wales
Healy
Best
Ross
Ryan
O Connell
Ferris
O Brien
Heaslip
Murray
Sexton
Fitzgerald
McFadden/Wallace
Cave
Earls
Kearny
Court
Cronin
Toner
Henry
Reddan
O Gara
Trimble
Quote from: Blue and White on January 14, 2012, 02:11:35 PM
Conor o'shea mentioned playing ferris with o'connell at lock, moving o'brien to blindside and playing a specialist openside such as Jennings or Domonic Ryan (Leinster) Surely would be worth a go. Any takers on my team? Agree? Disagree?
Bull. Jennings is not international class, has never been and that is why he has never made it. Moving Ferris to lock seems desperate. If we had 3 great locks would you play one at 6 just to "accommodate them".
On a side note, Kearney has not developed at all since the last Lions tour. His early promise has faded and now we have Girvan Dempsey mark II. IMO Murphy was criminally overlooked because he pursued a career in England and was our best FB over the past 15 years (seasonal missed tackle aside). Kearney is a sound defender, good kicker and, in a straight line, quick but if he played with Ulster/Munster in a poorer backline he would not be as highly lauded.
Healy Best Ross (Picks itself. As ever would prefer if we had more options at tighthead. History seems to be repeating itself)
POC Cullen (Both two good professionals in form. Ryan may be an sub, better than DOC)
Ferris Heaslip O'Brien
Murray Sexton (Good pairing. Good replacements waiting. Strong position for us)
McFadden Bowe (Off the wall here but i like what I see of McFadden. Strong, quick but importantly smart. Not especially inspirational or creative compared to BOD, but who is. Bowe played centre for Ospreys about 2 or 3 years ago and was excellent but he was in flying form at the time.)
Earls Kearney Fitzgerald. (Earls/Fitz both good tryscorers, talented quick individuals and Earls a good defender. Keanrey is what he is, the best of our current pick. Would have Bowe in place of Earls if the experiment at centre doesn't work out.)
Just out of interest, has Trimble played any rugby in the centre in recent years? I remember when he first came on the scene it was judged that he didn't have good enough hands for the centre at international level.
Quote from: Donnellys Hollow on January 14, 2012, 08:44:56 PM
Just out of interest, has Trimble played any rugby in the centre in recent years? I remember when he first came on the scene it was judged that he didn't have good enough hands for the centre at international level.
Can't give a definite answer but seems to be played primarily as a wing at Ulster for 2 seasons. He doesn't have good enough hands for centre and was a poor winger when moved there first at international level. Seems to have adapted well to it though.
For Ireland v England Would it be possible to get tickets through a rugby club or are you chatting a fortune on ebay or the like?
Healy Best Ross
Ryan POC
Ferris Heaslip O'Brien
Murray Sexton
Fitzgerald Bowe
McFadden O'Malley
Earls
I'd love to see O'Mahoney on the bench. Time to ditch Cullen on age grounds and probably DOC on the bench. Kidney will never pick a back line like the above but f*ck it, if not now after the WC, when?
Quote from: Donnellys Hollow on January 14, 2012, 08:44:56 PM
Just out of interest, has Trimble played any rugby in the centre in recent years? I remember when he first came on the scene it was judged that he didn't have good enough hands for the centre at international level.
Trimble has played no rugby at centre in last few yrs for that very reason, poor hands, one of reasons why earls should be there either.
Muppet o malley isn't even near ready for international rugby, the Welsh, french and even English would run over the top of him. Send him to the wolfhounds and let him bulk up for at least a year.
Quote from: muppet on January 14, 2012, 09:02:38 PM
Healy Best Ross
Ryan POC
Ferris Heaslip O'Brien
Murray Sexton
Fitzgerald Bowe
McFadden O'Malley
Earls
I'd love to see O'Mahoney on the bench. Time to ditch Cullen on age grounds and probably DOC on the bench. Kidney will never pick a back line like the above but f*ck it, if not now after the WC, when?
The other points are valid but a centre defence of McFadden, O'Malley and Earls just doesn't cut it. In a 7's mindset Earls might be a FB but at 6 nations its not. Only the french would pull a trick like that. McFadden is certainly ready but I doubt it with O'Malley.
Quote from: trileacman on January 14, 2012, 09:33:16 PM
Quote from: muppet on January 14, 2012, 09:02:38 PM
Healy Best Ross
Ryan POC
Ferris Heaslip O'Brien
Murray Sexton
Fitzgerald Bowe
McFadden O'Malley
Earls
I'd love to see O'Mahoney on the bench. Time to ditch Cullen on age grounds and probably DOC on the bench. Kidney will never pick a back line like the above but f*ck it, if not now after the WC, when?
The other points are valid but a centre defence of McFadden, O'Malley and Earls just doesn't cut it. In a 7's mindset Earls might be a FB but at 6 nations its not. Only the french would pull a trick like that. McFadden is certainly ready but I doubt it with O'Malley.
On another note, your signature will soon be out of date ;)
Quote from: Hoof Hearted on January 14, 2012, 10:21:39 PM
Quote from: trileacman on January 14, 2012, 09:33:16 PM
Quote from: muppet on January 14, 2012, 09:02:38 PM
Healy Best Ross
Ryan POC
Ferris Heaslip O'Brien
Murray Sexton
Fitzgerald Bowe
McFadden O'Malley
Earls
I'd love to see O'Mahoney on the bench. Time to ditch Cullen on age grounds and probably DOC on the bench. Kidney will never pick a back line like the above but f*ck it, if not now after the WC, when?
The other points are valid but a centre defence of McFadden, O'Malley and Earls just doesn't cut it. In a 7's mindset Earls might be a FB but at 6 nations its not. Only the french would pull a trick like that. McFadden is certainly ready but I doubt it with O'Malley.
On another note, your signature will soon be out of date ;)
Will soon be renewed. ;D