Ireland

bokbefok says...

This tour will be like lambs to the slaughter....

Posted 00:58 22nd May 2012

Carpelone says...

@ Marzie.

I hear what you say, but I am not convinced.

It should be easier to start a little bit far from the gainline at the beginning, then you can decide waht to do for the subsequent moves.

It seems also that he has leadership in Leinster changing room, the same can not be said when he plays fro Ireland.

I could be simply be that the level of Sexton is club rugby, thing which is doing brilliantly.

I would be pleased to see a super performance from Jonny against the All Blacks, though.

Congratulations again to all Leinster's fans, you should be proud of your boys.

Well done to Ulster too, they run a decent show for quite a while.

Posted 17:11 21st May 2012

BokAvenger says...

@blametheref: "Ireland have the ability to beat New Zealand in at least 1 test away from home and make a real match of the 2 others" HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaaa. Ireland will do well to come withing 50 points of the All Blacks at home in at least one test. Sorry chaps, but it's going to be an emerald bloodbath

Posted 12:44 21st May 2012

tha_mai says...

louis77 - cheers, picked those 10, saved me some searches - wasn't sure on others in case they were ineligible/ tied to another of the home unions. Don't see enough HC etc to pick a team - got to see semis and finals only, interesting to see who makes the final touring team.

Posted 11:25 21st May 2012

blametheref says...

O' Driscoll is sending a message out to Kidney with his comments...Ireland don't play in the same mould as Leinster and cannot utilize the Leinster strengths properly because quite simply the Irish coach is too negative and hasn't the coaching ability to use the talent at his disposal decisively and effectively...Sexton, for example, is played way deeper when he plays for Ireland and has to kick out of hand much more and play it in the Kidney manner of safety first. Also, Kidney has usually shackled Sexton with a scrum half who doesn't give him fast ball like he is used to at Leinster and we would see things like the crazy pairing of Munster's, Murray, starting with Sexton, while the quicker serving 9 and Sexton's Leinster team mate,Reddan, was on the bench ready to come on with O' Gara...sheer stubborness by Kidney is what that was about and the decision of a man who wants to prove the Leinster diaspora wrong, it seems! Kidney is an obstinate man when it comes to the Irish team and is too proud to acknowledge that other coaches, who he could call on, can do a better job with the players he has at his disposal. As a result, Ireland as a team are paying a huge price and even embarassment on the pitch. The ultimate responsibility lies with the IRFU who have continued to persist with a coach who any other team in the top 12 international sides in rugby would have sacked immediately after the World Cup...What happens if Kidney loses 3 tests in NZ? Answer: nothing...That is one of the reasons why we will lose 3 tests. But Ireland have the ability to beat New Zealand in at least 1 test away from home and make a real match of the 2 others, but sadly the barrier to doing this is not The All Blacks but the Irish coach

Posted 10:55 21st May 2012

Snowy1985 says...

There were 22 (23 when Strauss qualifies) that are eligible to play for Ireland in the starting teams. I think thats a good number out of 30?!

Posted 10:32 21st May 2012

ciaran1792 says...

Well only 3 players that's stared the Heineken cup for leinster are not Irish qualified yet with Richard Strauss will be becoming qualified in august so relay 2 players are not Irish qualified. Isa and brad are the two that aren't. Its all well and good asking sexton to deliver but the problem is in kidneys game plan he has him standing way way to deep effectively taking his best asset of attacking the gain line away it's not Sexton that has to deliver its kidney esp with the heat Joe Schmidt is applying. Kidney should have hired him as backs coach last year when he offered instead he didn't and now he could get the head coaching roll if kidney under preforms again we want titles kidney hasn't delivered since 09 time for a change me thinks.

Posted 10:29 21st May 2012

pierredelot1 says...

The thing that gives Ireland the confidence is having the name O'Driscoll in the back line. No O'Driscoll no Ireland, look at the last six nations. The next test is the Ospreys and if they play the way they did against Munster then Leinster will have to move up a gear. Ospreys have promised a lot for years but rarely delivered. This year could be different in fact I think they may just edge it. So Ireland may not go off with all the confidence expected. Certainly at International level their front row is shown not to be top class. If there is one thing New Zealand will do it will be to target any percieved weaknesses. If Ireland don't get any go forward in the set and maul it will be game over. Sexton is going to have to show his true colours too, it's step up to the mark time. D'Arcy may be looking at his swansong and a fairly short one at that. Pity really.

Posted 09:48 21st May 2012

Carpelone says...

Kidney's job should not be that difficult. You pick Leinster and substitute the foregneir players and the ones past (D'Arcy).

Do not know if it will be sufficient to scare New Zealand, but, at least, there will be an improvement from the recent poor 6N.

Still do not know why Sexton playing in blue is a total different player than whe he serves for Ireland

Posted 08:45 21st May 2012