Garry Ringrose is an incredible kicker. He should be kicking ahead of any of Burns, Carty and maybe Carbery if they're playing. Will never happen though, the 13 kicking? Sacrilege (apparently)

Regarding the lineout, while there were a few issues, it has improved massively in the short time POC has been involved, so I think the praise he's getting is fair. The scrum also looked rock solid in the first two games, so Fogarty can take the plaudits on that front.

When it comes to attack, Ireland are incredibly frustrating to watch. We gave them the benefit of the doubt after the Wales game because of the early red, but between the two games they have had a huge amount of possession and have done precious little with it. The try against the French was a complete fluke, and the one against Wales came from some great individual play from Robbie, coupled with some poor tackling from the opposition. I think the closing minutes of the France game summed the situation up well, between kicking the ball away, only to luckily get possession back, then going through phase after phase, and moving 20 metres backwards.

When it comes to defense, I think we're only alright, and the problems there have mostly been individual errors it seems. I did see Bernard Jackman highlighting some issues on against the head which were interesting - he spoke about a lack of organization, leading to mismatches, with our forwards left in positions where they can easily be exploited.

The calls from many pundits to give Jack a shot against Italy are all well and good, but Farrell has painted himself into a corner at this stage it seems. I'd like to see Jack get another shot, because he has actually done some great things in the Ireland jersey, but he seems to have suffered because he was the starting 10 the day we got beaten by Japan in the world cup, which is completely unfair. Having said that, I would worry a bit about his place kicking getting exposed. For that reason, I'd actually love to see Cooney and Jack start, with Cooney taking the kicks. Won't happen of course.

Agree with you @phatguerilla, a lot of Gra for Paulie!!! Just off hand, there was multiple times that Beirne was just turfed into the Air and penalised for making contact.
The set-piece has improved from last year (Not hard). Attack no so much
ATM, I think it is good that we do not have other players called up as there seams to be something wrong in the national setup. We are so stagnant and to me there is no enjoyment in watching the national team at the mo.
Hopefully that can change, but this panel they picked doesn't do it for me

thehoneybadger wrote: Invalid consumer key/secret in configuration

Team named. What is the logic in naming Craig Casey ahead of Marmion/McGrath/Cooney?

Clearly wasn't any real logic to it in the end as he was unused! Am I the only one surprised by the amount of positive praise there was for the set piece? I know it is in comparison to last year (which I can't remember but must have been horrendous). There was one lineout where porter lifted a jumper on his own (badly) and the try came from a failed lineout, and there was an attempt to recreate scotlands trick lineout but with henderson as the runner rather than henshaw who would have been more suitable?

Its really hard for me to not get really down on the team/performances so far this season, there's very very little to get excited about in this team. Feels like we're right back to the last days of Kidney.

the most positive spin I can put on it that it's an attempt to blood a young, exciting SH. I can see the sense in it taken on its own if it had been planned from day 1. Clear just a plan of circumstance.

Glad that Cooney has been called up - you've got to think that his ability to cover 9 and kick helps him.

Invalid consumer key/secret in configuration

Team named. What is the logic in naming Craig Casey ahead of Marmion/McGrath/Cooney? I hope I'm wrong but we could be in for a proper beating tomorrow. Burns and Lowe also very lucky to start. I won't even bother discussing Carty not being near the squad.

its a funny one because on the one hand he/I can't complain about the red, but if he isn't moving his left arm, ie, if its pinned to his side, probably not even a penalty - totally down to 'optics' imo. At the same time probably a silly idea to even try to clear out Beard(?) at that point?

Is Madigan injured/been in poor form? If it can't be Jack then I would prefer someone with his experience to be coming on rather than Burns, but even JGP and Byrne as a pair on the bench would be preferable to Burns imo. ABB basically, just never been impressed by him.

It's mad isn't it? JGP didn't look great out there. I though Sexton and Murray had solid games overall, actually. Problem is that when eventually they do get dropped there'll be no nailed on successor who will have started multiple games, come on at 60. It'll be starting from scratch. Mental. Not just if Jack is the man to get the nod (although he should be).

I do feel for POM, moment of sheer stupidity that was more the losing of the game than the final kick. Red totally deserved tho.

If only Ireland had a 10 whose touchfinders were always on the money. Somebody with crazy footballing skills.

O'Mahony... Well... Yep.

Agree with the above. I think Marms, Jack & Finley have been shafted. Finley playing some great rugby at THP.
Tom Daly has been playing very well of late too. Paul Boyle must be close (Along with Coombes from Munster)
Personally not happy with the makeup of the Irish squad. They have picked too many players out of form/coming back from Injury and more importantly relying on an injury prone 35yr old no.10 who will not be at the next World Cup .
Saying that our lads didn't do themselves any favours with our perfomances of late. All they can do is concentrate on provincial matters and hope for a late call up (CC)

You'd have to feel sorry for Finlay at the same time. He's been played out of position for Ireland.

I think Marmion and Carty can both feel hard done by. I also think that Heff is quite lucky...

At this stage there's a good few of our lads that must feel that they're never going to get a look in no matter how hard and well they play. I couldn't begrudge a single one of them for taking a cheque from French or English sides. Loyalty goes both ways, and when the national side ignores you in favour of much more pedestrian (or past it) players you'd have to think that makes a decision to stay a little bit harder.

(Same goes for John Cooney, btw. I'd be 100% fuming if I were an Ulster supporter. Sure, his run of form hasn't been stellar as of late but he has been cruelly overlooked again and again)

I'd be raging if I was Carty. Every criticism levelled at him he comes back and proves them wrong and he still gets snubbed. Without doubt the best performing 10 in Ireland right now, not even called into the squad.

I just hope we can hold on to him when he knows he's not going to get the recognition he deserves from Ireland.

Loose Head Healy Kilcoyne
Hooker Heffernan Herring Kelleher
Tight Head Furlong O'Toole Porter
Second Row Beirne Dillane Henderson Roux Ryan
Back Row Connors Doris O'Mahony Ruddock Stander van der Flier
Scrum Half Casey Gibson Park Murray
Fly Half Burns Byrne Sexton
Centre Aki Farrell Henshaw McClosky Ringrose
Back Three Conway Daly Earls Keenan Larmour Lowe

Congrats to Heff, Ultan, Quinn and Bundee.

Heart goes out to the lads that should've gotten the shout - Jack and KM especially.

Team for Nations Cup up now. Finlay, Ultan, Dave Heff, Quinn, Bundee, Marms part of the extended squad. Fair play to them all!!


Feel bad for Jack, but reckon it'll be a chance for him to show his class for us.