Thornley:

IRELAND (possible v Italy): Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; David Kilcoyne, Seán Cronin, Tadhg Furlong; Quinn Roux, Ultan Dillane; Peter O’Mahony (capt), Seán O’Brien, Jordi Murphy.

Replacements: Rory Best, Jack McGrath, John Ryan, Iain Henderson, Josh van der Flier, John Cooney, Jack Carty, Andrew Conway.

Never gonna make it.

I thought Roux was solid at the weekend (never mind what Neil Frances thought about him before the match).

salmson wrote: Thought Henshaw was really poor to be honest. He seemed to be perpetually in the wrong place first half, but I think a lot of that was down to how well England played him, and also down to Earls' injury; I thought Henshaw continually over-covered on the right side (and that cost us for Daly's try) in the first half.

Some of the criticism was witless, particularly Matt Williams' "I've seen milk turn quicker" soundbite. Problem wasn't speed it was poor reads.

Regardless, I'd be hugely surprised if Joe doesn't pick exactly the same side, barring injury changes (Roux for Toner, Larmour for Earls, SOB for Stander).

From what I have heard, this was down to Earls injury in the first half, and therefore unable to cover his own wing, meaning Henshaw was forced to cover more space at the back

Think England scored 3 tries from kicks either directly or within a few phases off the top of my head? Henshaw isn't entirely to blame because it's the first time he's played full back since he was with us basically but definitely not a great showing. He probably still has the skillset for it but needs to be playing there more often.

Bundee was good, smashed Tuilagi and big Billy in tackles, you just don't see that happening. His carrying was strong too.

Thought Henshaw was really poor to be honest. He seemed to be perpetually in the wrong place first half, but I think a lot of that was down to how well England played him, and also down to Earls' injury; I thought Henshaw continually over-covered on the right side (and that cost us for Daly's try) in the first half.

Some of the criticism was witless, particularly Matt Williams' "I've seen milk turn quicker" soundbite. Problem wasn't speed it was poor reads.

Regardless, I'd be hugely surprised if Joe doesn't pick exactly the same side, barring injury changes (Roux for Toner, Larmour for Earls, SOB for Stander).

Thought Bundee was one of the stronger players, of either side, on the pitch this weekend. Can't get over the middling rating most of the papers are giving him. Roux did fine, nothing spectacular - like most of the forwards tbf - but fine.

I thought Robbie actually did ok at FB, given everything. Obviously it's a bit of a baptism of fire trying to slot into the role against an English team playing that well. He was definitely targeted, and held up ok (not great, not badly, but ok) against that.

Can't really see a clear Kearney sucessor there, tbh. Unless Robbie really fills into the role?

Great to see Bundee and Quinn in the 23 to face England. Caolin Blade can't have been too far away from debuting from the bench either, and hopefully he'll get a run out against either Scotland or Italy.

salmson wrote:

pinky wrote: Here's the danger:
Robbie plays a blinder at fullback and is retained there. Inevitably he must then switch to 15 for Leinster, leaving a hole in their midfield. Following lengthy analysis of the shape of said void using finely calibrated calipers on silhouettes projected on bar-room walls, the finest geometrists in the Royal Dublin Society will announce with great aplomb their expert conclusion that the shape concerned is a Bundeegon.

I'm pretty sure Bundee doesn't have a girlfriend in Dublin, so we should be safe enough.

:whistle: :whistle:

pinky wrote: Here's the danger:
Robbie plays a blinder at fullback and is retained there. Inevitably he must then switch to 15 for Leinster, leaving a hole in their midfield. Following lengthy analysis of the shape of said void using finely calibrated calipers on silhouettes projected on bar-room walls, the finest geometrists in the Royal Dublin Society will announce with great aplomb their expert conclusion that the shape concerned is a Bundeegon.

I'm pretty sure Bundee doesn't have a girlfriend in Dublin, so we should be safe enough.

Young Conor o brien looks ready to break through at 12. They also have frawley, tomane, Reid, o Laughlin and hackshaw coming through as u20 captain. I think Leinster will be fine at 12

Here's the danger:
Robbie plays a blinder at fullback and is retained there. Inevitably he must then switch to 15 for Leinster, leaving a hole in their midfield. Following lengthy analysis of the shape of said void using finely calibrated calipers on silhouettes projected on bar-room walls, the finest geometrists in the Royal Dublin Society will announce with great aplomb their expert conclusion that the shape concerned is a Bundeegon.

I think it's obvious that the Dublin media underestimate Joe's loyalty to proven players, particularly if said player happens to represent Connacht provincially. Bundee has been almost ever present since he made his debut for Ireland, and he hasn't put a foot wrong, diligently working the Joe system, despite his natural love of an offload. It was the exact same scenario when Murray was injured. Kieran had never failed Joe, but yet the media were convinced Luke McGrath was going to slot in there. I personally think Schmidt does a good job at balancing loyalty vs form. If someone is setting the world alight provincially, then they'll get a chance, but if it's a close run thing, then the tried/tested player will get the nod, especially in big games.

Having said that, I do wonder if Robbie still has it at full back. It looks like we won't have to wait long to find out!

I think you might have hit the nail on the head there Salmson. Some red faces in the Dublin meeja if Bundee actually starts at 12 on Saturday. Surprised to see Joe Schmidt considering starting Henshaw at 15 on Saturday before Larmour or Addison as alternatives to Kearney. It must be said though that 15 is probably the Athlone man's best position and he could provide cover at 12 and at 15 in the final World Cup squad.

Watched Leinster v Scarlets last weekend, and Kearney was an absolute liability, just back from injury and clearly not close to match fit. I'm sure he'll be back later in the championship.

On the other hand it might be Kearney plays, and the Dublin meeja (belatedly realising Henshaw hasn't a prayer of shifting Aki) want to characterise this as Henshaw missing out to Kearney, rather than as their having a Brexiteer-like inability to read which way the wind is blowing.

I see talk of Joe starting Robbie at full back, with Bundee at inside center. Very interesting. It's only speculation at this point obviously. I'm not sure how I'd feel about it - Robbie was excellent for us at full back, but I feel like he's morphed physically since then so I just don't know if he'd have the same aerial presence.

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/internati...st-england-1.3775279

I didn't read it, but I'd bet he managed to say it all without personally abusing anyone. And if he had, he would have been literate enough to put the @ in the right place.