im surprised that doc is in ahead of ryan myself especially since ,imo, when all fit at munster he is behind ryan there. Ryan prob suffering for his versatility but shudnt be an issue at this stage. Pom has played really well in hec for munster at both 6 and 7 so i suppose u can see what is thinking here even if u dont agree with him.

The centre one is interesting in that i always thought, reading between the lines, that it was a straight forward choice between mcfadden and darcy for 12 and earls and bowe for 13. I think he wanted trimble in on wing which is why earls got 13. He obviously went for experience at 12. It is bad imo forearls that he was selected there as it now appears he is behind trimble for wing position atm.
Back row is a worry in that all three like carrying and didnt apply themselves to the breakdown last time out which contributed in no small way to the wc loss. They showed against aus that they can do it so hopefully thats the attitude they bring with them on sunday.
No surpise its sexton. Its his time now so hopefully he will push on.

Ryan should consider himself unlucky. Only other surprise is Earls ahead of McF.

So first squad is announced, completely unsuprised that DO'C plays (one decent game is enough for Deccie) and that the only bolter is a another Munster man...

Wouldn't personally put Earls ahead of McFadden (or O'Malley for that matter) at centre either but hey ho..

They need to get on and beat the Taffs, we're ony missing BO'D injury wise (Wally would not be forst choice even if fit) is so nothing less is acceptable...

IrelandvWales wrote: Ire v Wal - Kearney, Bowe, Earls, D'Arcy, Trimble, Sexton, Murray, Healy, Best, Ross, DO'C, PO'C, Ferris, O'Brien, Heaslip

Replacements: Sean Cronin; Tom Court, Donnacha Ryan, Peter O’Mahony, Eoin Reddan, Ronan O'Gara, Fergus McFadden

It will take a complete French collapse for Ireland to win in Paris. Always a possibility, but highly unlikely. So that's one loss for sure. As second rate as England, Wales, and Scotland are ATM Ireland will still have to work for any victory against the three and I suspect they will fall short on at least one account. Italy in Dublin should produce a cricket score, but I'm sure Ireland will have none of that and win by less than 10. They'll finish 3-2 and end up third on points difference.

Leighton wrote: No Harinordu'quy?

My Biarritz born friend will not be amused.

on the bench
16- Dimitri SZARZEWSKI – Stade Français Paris
17- Jean-Baptiste POUX – Stade Toulousain
18- Yoan MAESTRI – Stade Toulousain
19- Imanol HARINORDOQUY – Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque
20- Morgan PARRA – AS Clermont Auvergne
21- Lionel BEAUXIS – Stade Toulousain
22- Maxime MERMOZ – USA Perpignan Roussillon

No Harinordu'quy?

My Biarritz born friend will not be amused.

toulouse vs ---- france vs italy
connacht
15 Medard;

---

15medard
14 Matanavou,--- 14clerc
13 Fritz,

---

13Rougerie
12 David,

---

12Fofana
11 Clerc;

---

11Malzieu
10 McAllister, - 10Trinh-Duc
9 Burgess

---

9Yachvili
1 Steenkamp,---- 1 Debaty
2 Servat,

---

2servat
3 Johnston; ---- 3Mas
4 Maestri,

---

4pape
5 Albacete; ---- 5nallet
6 Boulihou, ---- 6Dusautoir
7 Picamoles, --- 7Bonnaire
8 Dusautoir ---- 8Picamoles

5 from the french team played connacht away for toulouse,
3 others on the bench

Leighton wrote:
Wales was an interesting one but given Gatty's injury problems it should be in the bag.

Don't know about that, the Wales fixture is a random number generator of a game if ever there were one. In 2008 with a deadmanwalking coach and Wales on their way to a grand slam we were the width of a ball from beating them, and they needed a dodgy try to beat us last year even though we were at times all over the shop. Against that in 2009 when we didn't lose a match all year they could and should have beaten us.

Only (possible) good indicator based on the last game might be if Deccie picks (or has to pick due to injury) O'Gara, then Wales run with that bizarre blitz-with-a-yawning-gap-for-ROG-to-run-into-because-of-course-they-know-he's-35-and-couldn't-run-when-he was-25-anyway defence, and we lose.

Wins over Italy and Scotland, usual Valentines Day massacre in Paris and Twickenham will depend more on whether Lancaster's new charges bed in over the previous games (it's not looking like Kidney will change much from his WC side that rates the choke-tackle higher than a skip pass)

Wales was an interesting one but given Gatty's injury problems it should be in the bag.

I'm finding it hard to care.

That'll probably change once the games kick off, but after our HEC adventure and with three provinces in the quarter finals right now the least inspiring team in Ireland is the national side.

The win against Australia in NZ was incredible and then they followed it up with an awful performance against a very good Welsh side how bossed them all over the pitch. That last match still annoys me, especially as it was such a grudge match.

We'll finish 4th/5th with two wins: home to Italy and away to England.

I'd stick my money on Ireland beating France on points. We are due a touch of luck after the past few years, and the world cup.

I'm thinking the same. France very tough. But should win other 4.

france should win it.

given wales injury problems and englands problems 4 out of 5 is achievable with the triple crown the bonus. winning in paris is a long shot.

How do people think we will do?

Which country worries you?