Magners League best tries mix - Round 2

ahem...1st!

Who's that Connacht 11? He was all over the park!

Great to see the Magners providing good entertainment.

And how vital is Rush for Cardiff? haha

Cheers

Connacht's 11 is fionn carr, was on the periphery of the leinster team for a while. Was top try scorer on the magners last year. He's class and should, in my opinion, be getting a run out with the international team. Although the competition from earls,trimble, fitzgerald and bowe is pretty intense

Fionn Carr Juggernaut, he should be on the irish squad in my opinion. He is a flier with a great work rate.

Tom

@ Juggernauter, it's written in the write-up..

Nice finish by him.

Connacht n.11 is Fionn Carr, looks like he had a great game, lets hope he can keep it up.I think they're starting to be more lenient on possible forward passes to keep the flow going?

p.s. anyone else feel like they'd like to do a nice blindside closeline on the stupid fXXker who posted "ahem..1st!"?

Uh now he wasn't tim visser was...

Well, Fionn Carr might have a shot at fullback once Geordan Murphy retires (though Murphy's one of those players you'd wish would never retire...). He seems to be equally comfortable at fullback as at wing (as long as he's allowed to play as an attacking fullback).

i think tim visser's is the best.



also because gaelic for line is liney. :) LOL

Nice scores - no11. Fionn Carr who everyone seems to be talking about has real pace...Liked the lamont/godman kick and fcatch that was special too.

Carr and Visser are quality players

Cardiff Pinks :)

wait so ospreys have tommy bowe AND shane williams?

Carr is great at club level, but just lacks the Physicality for international rugby. Seen him play for Ireland A a few times, pace to burn but has very suspect defence. He's not in the same class as Bowe, Fitzgerald, Earls or Trimble, it'll be intersting to see who gets the wing spot if they're all fit come the autumn internationals,

Bowe has the 14 jersey nailed down so it's a toss up between the other 3, Unless Fitzgerald or Earls switch to fullback, with kearney being not anywhere near the player we saw on the lions tour :( Wouldnt mind seeing this backline

15. Fitzgerald
14. Trimble
13. Bowe
12. BOD(obviously still wearing 13 lol)
11. Earls
10. Toss up between Sexton or O'Gara depending what kind of game they want to play
9. O'Leary

Bench

Boss (Looking good for leinster so far)
O'Gara/ Sexton
Kearney

Frontrow will be interesting

Finally give buckley a chance at 3 with the world cup looming or stick with Big John
Persevere with Healy at loosehead as Horan is a shadow of the player he was.
Flannery is the no.2 without a doubt if he stays fit and doesnt get a another silly ban lol Cronin as back up as even as an Ulster fan Rory Best is now awful!

2nd row is always going to be the munster pair.

And the backrow if fit is always Ferris, Wallace and Heaslip with Leamy on the bench

Very impressed by Connacht's last try on these highlights.

Re: "p.s. anyone else feel like they'd like to do a nice blindside closeline on the stupid fXXker who posted "ahem..1st!"?"

--> YES. ha

Does Ireland have any promising aspects to replace DOC and/or POC as locks? Just wondering.

Also, even though both Earls and Fitzgerald are viable options for fullback, I'm not sure Kidney would start anyone other than Kearney and Murphy for the time being. Maybe he'd go with Fitzy/Earls over Murphy though I guess...

And as long as Paddy Wallace and/or D'Arcy are fit, I don't think Bowe would get stuck in there at center. But I haven't watched Leinster this season yet - is D'Arcy in or out?

Ireland backline - Gotta be

Kearney
Bowe
BOD
Earls
Fitz
ROG/Sex depending on gameplan
O'Leary


I'D rather have Kearney at back than anyone else - you won't cough up needless knock ons from high kicks with him in charge their.

at both chibble and big bucks:
not bad,but a cuple of big flaws in your respective teams.
1)@ chibble:fitzgerald cannot play fullback,as we saw in leinster v warriors.if he's going to play anywhere other than wing,its centre.despite kearney being a shadow of the player on the lions tour,he still gobbles up the high ball,which is priority 1 for any international fullback.

2)@bigbucks:earls is way too small for inside centre.i know we see gits there for Aus,but he has plenty of guile and wit,and knows how to handle himself unlike earls,who only has pace giong for him.

my team(and its not perfect either)would be:

15 Kearney(if only for high ball)
14 Bowe(world class)
13 BOD(for obvious reasons)
12 Darce(in great form this year)
11 Earls(every team needs a finisher)
10 Sexton(if he can get his kicking right)
9 O'Leary(not much competition)

feel free to comment.i did ;)

Earls has played inside/outside center quite a few times before, and he's done a pretty good job of it. In fact, I first thought he was being groomed to be a center instead of a wing? He's no Nonu, but who is?

I'd be inclined to start with D'Arcy as long as he hasn't gone the Januarie route and eaten a small child - in which case, yeah, stick Earls in there...before Bowe anyways. Bowe and Fitzgerald on the wing gives good options, especially since both can come infield and not just lurk out there waiting for the ball.

And if Kearney plays as an attacking fullback, that's a pretty solid attacking backline. As for O'Gara or Sexton, I'd like ROG to get up past 1000 international points before calling quits, but that's pretty much my only protest since Sexton has shown he can take ROG's spot if need be (neither is a 100% dependable kicker...it's usually a roll of the dice for what sort of day they'll have).

Here's to hoping this year is Ireland's year for beating the AB's!! (it won't be...)

Oh, and since Samoa is playing Connacht already, why not stick Fionn Carr in there for the Ireland v Samoa match as well - give him a shot at international cap without the pressure of a big-name game and it gives the other guys a rest before NZ. Just my two cents.

a very good mix of quality tries

i dont like cardiff playing in pink though, thats Stade Francais trademark, so stop copying !!!!

and since everyone's having a go, here's my irish backline

15 _ murphy, he's been playing great for the tigers over the past year and a half

14_ bowe, great player and great form

13_ BOD, obvious reasons, plus he's IRREMPLACABLE (it just sounds great in french ^^)

12_ D'arcy, great form, great player, and the absolute perfect match for BOD

11_ Fitzgerald

10_ROG or Sexton, it really just depends on the game plan

9_O'leary

backline bench
kearney - ROG/sexton (wichever isnt playing) - isaac boos(he's a great impact player)

I agree Visser aand Carr will be battling it out for top Magners scorer again this year! Thought Visser's try was the best simply because of the pace he took the ball at, timed the run to perfection.

All of Carr's tries were great too though, as was Nacewa's. Thought there was a forward pass in the build up to the Ospreys try, but nothing new there, just add that to their own personal bank of "Things we get away with" and to the Welsh one in general after seeing Brews spear tackle go unpunished by both the ref, Welsh touch judges and welsh disc panel! What a disgrace!


Oh, and from a Scotland supporter, PLEASE don't let Carr in the Ireland team, we have enough to cope with already when we play you! haha!

@miner: ya earls has done a decent job at outside centre,but im pretty sure he's never played inside centre,which is a big difference.his position really is wing though,he's got pace to burn and is a great finisher

I know people talk a lot about the king of attacking rugby being played in the SH as being a different level to the NH but that compilation showed rugby as good as anything being played in SH right now. Very impressed by the magners league at the moment

Carr, Earls and Fitzgerald are all great attacking players but they are also all pretty small (in overall build especially)

Has Ian Humpheries dropped out of contention altogether?

Think Leamy may emerge as a darkhorse for the Ireland backrow as the RWC emerges.

Could it work with Leamy, Ferris and Heaslip in the Backrow?

Oh, my bad Greiffel. Just went to the video without reading!

Keep un the good work!

@ Mise

You are forgetting about a real juggernaut in the back row there, buddy...

David Wallace!

A monster of a player.

"Luxi said...

i dont like cardiff playing in pink though, thats Stade Francais trademark, so stop copying !!!!"

Cardiff's pink is a symbol of their support of a breast cancer charity not fashion :P

Chibble said...

Frontrow will be interesting

Finally give buckley a chance at 3 with the world cup looming or stick with Big John
Persevere with Healy at loosehead as Horan is a shadow of the player he was.

Big John hasn't a chance; heres the Tight heads for the world cup; Mike Ross and Tony Buckley; come the Leinster v Munster at Aviva in October your gonna see the best Tight Head Ireland has to offer in the scrum and i reckon its Ross. He demolished Cardiffs pink scrum and sent it back top Cardiff with its tail between its legs and he is way more mobile than last season.

I honestly cant see how you can think that John Hayes is going anywhere near a pitch in NZ next year with those options. You must be from Munster;

Back Row will be Heaslip O BRien Wallace Ferris ...so many to choose from

Lock Forwards; DOC is fit again Ed O Donaghue has been doing really well for Leinster; Leo Cullen;

Ireland seem to have been enriched this season with choices for the team; This season should be all about trying them out and perfecting the right ones including the centres; we should not just rely on BOD; Kidney should not be afraid to try others at 13; make things a bit more unpredictable.

Without meaning to bee too cheeky as I think BOD is an awesome player...who would be the shoe in for his position if he gets injured/hangs up his boots?

Interested to hear all thoughts?

well for the moment keaith earls is the best replacement i think.

but there is alot of young players coming through that will be fighting for it after the world cup.

Tim Visser what a legend! scores tries for fun!

That's the thing though. The past year or two, Ireland's had its pick of wingers put their hands up. Same with the backrow. I think they've got the second row and the centers to worry about, but that can probably wait until after the WC, as anonymous said. Though, they're not nearly as blessed in "depth" of great players as NZ or SA...but who is...

@Juggernauter
Its not that I'm forgetting about him, I'm just thinking about the best options.

Ireland has incredible backrow options, its the one place where Ireland has x2 top class performers for each position.

Wallace is a great 'dinker', (steppy and dynamic running) and that suits the new game. But, he's 33 (I think) and smallish (for a backrow)

Leamy and Ferris are animals. Also their injuries were _perfectly_ timed to have them in peak condition by RWC 2011.

However, I'm asking - can they both fit into the backrow (presuming that Heaslip is the only actual shoe in?)And should they?

@kenny-interesting point there.tbh i hadn't even considered Ross for tight head,but as you sais,he is the best scrummager available,which ireland really need.

i don't think leamy would fit in as a seven,just wouldn't suit him.has to be wallace for WC 2011.it is an issue that will have to be adressed after the WC though.not many upcoming no. sevens in ireland(and sean o brien is not a seven)

finally,ireland's future at 13 is by far and away luke fitzgerald.the position suits him perfectly:great ball skills,great defense,but imo not enough sheer pace for an international wing.earls position is,and always will be,on the wing

oh,and Fionn Carr has to be given a chance in the irish set-up after his try tonight v Warriors.Connacht for life!

15.kearnage
14.bowe
13.driscoll
12.fitzgerald
11.carr
10.sexton
9.oleary

this would be a serious attacking unit. realistically tho carr wont get his game and fitzgerald will be playing wing

I forgot completely about Murphy at 15, I'd opt for him he's just as reliable under the high ball than Kearney and he'sa better broken field runner.

@Kenny Nope Ulster man lol Big John will be there, if he goes before the world cup Ireland will need to start their lineout from scratch, It's hard to replace a man who can throw POC up by himself! nobody seems to realise how important he is until he's not there. I cant really comment on Ross as I havent seen him very much but what I have seen he's not very mobile, just a big block of a man to lock down the scrum, Anyone know much about the connacht props? Court should make it to the RWC purely as he's comfortable either side of the scrum so he's a good man to have on the bench.

2nds Ed O'Donoghue looked out of his depth on the couple of games he played on the summer tour, Tuohy stepped up well but have to see how he goes in his second season, Big Ryan Caldwell was looking good last night, he was on the fringes a few years ago but seemed to drop down the pecking order, probably down to his indiscipline but going on last night he's cut that out, Yohann Muller seems to be doing a great job in the ulster pack.
Realistically Kidney wont look beyond DOC, POC, Big Mick and Cullen. Is it just me or is POC fading a lot? I hope he proves me wrong but I think niggly injuries seem to be building up on him, Toward the end of last season munster looked better with DOC and Big Mick together and their scrum was a lot more solid with that pairing, think it's been commented on before but is the scrum a weakness in POC's game?

Ferris, Heaslip and wallace have their jerseys nailed unless they all take a sudden dip in form or injury, Showed in the 6nations how important Ferris is when Kidney wanted on him to be fit to name the starting team. Heaslip is obviously important and there isnt an obvious replace for Wallace.

Irish backrow is those 3, Leamy or O'Brien on the bench.

After that it's a toss up of who's playing well!

Shane Jennings
Rhys Ruddock
Niall Ronan
Chris Henry

When they're fit again:
Kevin mclaughlin
John Muldoon
Maybe even David Pollock? heard rumours he may have to quit though.
Any Munster backrower as Kidney is always going to lean towards his boys? lol

We can speculate all we want but I cant see Kidney being to experimental with the full test team getting this close to the world cup. But the A team should be interesting :)

@Mise Hunphreys isnt even starting for Ulster so doubt he has much of shout for Ireland, Niall O'connor has been keeping him out, How has Ian Keatley been going?

Paul O'Connell is not a bad scrummager. All this absolute bullshit about him not scrummaging well. On the Lions tour the srcum was excellent with him there(after Vickery left). The scrum for Munster and Ireland has always been shaky, it's not him though, it's John Hayes and Marcus Horan being bad at scrummaging.

And the only reason people say Mick O'Driscoll is a good scrummager is because against Northampton in the quarter-final the scrum was very good. But that was a fluke. The scrum (with M O'D) was then destroyed against Biarritz in the semi, and has not improved at all without O'Connell. And since O'Driscoll is just tall and completely untalented, he's not really a proper option for Ireland.

@kearney for tests
thought you were talkin a lot of sense there until you said mick odriscoll was just tall and untalented.
sure,he's not in the same league as POC,but he's a real leader,great at set pieces,and his workrate is second to none.give the guy a break

@Kearney for tests:
not so sure about POC in the scrum. And I don't think that MOD is the answer/issue either.

Munster scrum often holds up as well if not better when POC is out:
Remember the Northampton moment on the munster try line last season, when POC is put into the bin, quinlan (I think) came into lock and Dougie joined the scrum on the wing?

Complete reversal of the scrum situation - munster won it against the head, having lost the previous 3.

Unfortunately for Munster, that's not the first time POC has left and the scrum has done well.

Kearney has been awful for a long time now, including yesterday, what makes him stand out is his amazing ability in the air but he's a terrible counter attacker and offers nothing going forward, he rarely beats defenders and is just too slow for a back 3 player.

Now with the new rules at the breakdown with the rise of the counter attack and the end of ping pong I think Kearneys days are numbered.

This is what the Irish backline should look like in light of the new rules imo.

15 Fitzgerald
12 Bowe
13 Earls
12 BOD
11 Trimble/Carr
10 Sexton
9 Boss(all our scrumies are equally terrible and you could throw any of them in there really).

People who want to persist with Hayes with the new breakdown and offside rules are either blinded by Nostalgia, are bias or know nothing about rugby.

Thanks RD for the magners league clips

Wallace is a beast, down stairs too I bet!