posted Oct 20, 2008

Me thinks that Jonny O'Connor is a better openside than Jennings & that he should captain the A team.

Back row for Ireland must be:

6)Quinlan
7)Wallace
8)Heaslip

with Jonny O'Connor on the bench !!!!!!

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posted Oct 20, 2008

Jennings SHOULD make the Irish Team but with Kidney at the helm that is unlikely. For Ireland any combo of Wallace, Quinlan, Heaslip, Jennings or Leamy would be more than good enough.
But Wallace and Quinlan only have 1 or 2 seasons left in them MAX. Kidney should give Jennings a run for the Nov test games and see how he fares. Most of the Munster lads will be resting themselves anyway for there clash with AB's!

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posted Oct 20, 2008

Any Munster player in the Irish squad will not be released for the AB game.

Jennings has had two decent games after two bad ones where he was eclipsed by O'Connor as well as the Munster lads. In addition he has been poor when playing for Ireland.

Wallace still has the next WC in him and Quinlan is in top form.

Dont start the Kidney rubbish its got nothing to do with that just form and the better players.

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posted Oct 20, 2008

I guess we will have to wait and see... He has'nt picked a team yet.

Ireland playing the AB's on Saturday the 15th. Munster are playing them on the Wednesday the 18th. Rumour has it that a lot of the top string Munster players will be rested for the Ireland game, which would be very wrong. I hope that you are right Deaglan and they dont rest them.

Jennings proved himself as a cabable back rower all of last season and picked up runner up player of the year in the english premiership for Leicester the season previous. O'Connor is not good enough despite recent form. Wallace is what 31? playing at the next WC at 34!! I dont think so! For now I would agree that Wallace, Quinlan and Heaslip would be the best back-row for Ireland but for the future Jennings should be given a chance in the green jersey for the Nov tests. If he messes it up then so be it.

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posted Oct 20, 2008

Yeah Deaglan,
Really hope that is true re Kidney's selections. I believe it is and will be. Then Jennings place on the Irish 1st XV, on present form - is safe. Those 2 games were in the HC. The others were against shoite opposition in the ML.Spot the difference? He loves the big games.

I swear to ya mo chara, I watched (nay - stalked ) him on the sidelines in their warm-up. He was in a different zone to the rest of em on Saturday - before, during and even after the game. Saw it in his eyes. Then, he went out and played like that. Far and away the best and most effective player on the pitch. It was WASP's FFS!! Haskell, Rees & Worsley. And he was instrumental in destroying them at the breakdown - along with Elvis. It's where 5 of our 6 tries came from.

P.S. Now that Leo is out for 6 - 8 weeks - who will Captain Leinster? Whitaker or Jennings? . Phase two of Gibsons cunning insight - could be in operation against Castres home and away.

Toner is also proving to be a more than able replacement for Cullen - who has not been up to scratch, so far, this season. Hate to say this but it could be a blessing in disguise. Get well soon Leo. You are our Captain. But maybe the enforced rest will see you come back stronger.

My heart goes out to Gordon Darcy this week. 3rd and probably final operation on his arm. It is not knitting properly and they have grafted some bone from his hip (I think). I pray they got it right this time. Come on Gordon, believe and heal! Hope BOD's is not too serious either. Can't legislate for this... You need a lot of luck to win this thing. As well as everything else.

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posted Oct 20, 2008

Gibson - he is nearly there but not quite. Needs to be more consistent and even if the games were against ML teams he got hockeyed in both.

One thing I will say is that when the "Tim nice but Dim" interviewer from SKY started asking him stupid questions after the game I thought he was going to pop him one or tell him to eff off. Was hilarious

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posted Oct 20, 2008

Rumour has it that a lot of the top string Munster players will be rested for the Ireland game, which would be very wrong.

Well that's a load of nonsense anyway. Ireland will pick their best team as the ranking points are massive in relation to the seedings for the next world cup.

Also O'Connor not being good enough is not true. He is a quality open side who struggled with form & injury for a while but who now is back to his best. He destroyed Jennings in the Sportsground & is playing consistently well. His hands have improved massively & he is a thorn in the side of the opposition.

Jennings for me has to perform consistently at the highest level on a consistent basis. Remember Wallace outplayed him massively in the RDS only a couple of weeks ago.

Jennings to captain the A team for me

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posted Oct 20, 2008

I stand corrected. See attached link:
http://www.rugbyheaven.co.nz/4710808a26681.html

It was a rumour I heard and I got carried away with it! apologies for the munster bashing.

It is kind of silly to arrange the games so close to one another though. I would like to see the ABs having a hard time. Dougie will give them a go.

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posted Oct 20, 2008

C'mon Leinster....individual form is starting to come together.....Kearney, Fitzgerald, Dempsey, Felipe, Heaslip were all outstanding....Sexton, Toner, Healy, Keane, Fogarty,O'Brien starting to come through. Big Mal, Cullen, Jennings, Jackman, Wright, BOD, Horgan, Whitaker all showing their experience....Rocky & CJ starting to blend in.....Nacewa and Darcy to come back.... Looking VERY interesting! Spare a thought for Blaney, McCormack, Hogan, Keogh etc who can't get into the squad....

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posted Oct 22, 2008

Dead right Vickery should never start for England again - just blocking Matt Steven's development and in the way for younger props

More worrying for england is the anonymity of Rees Haskell and Cipriani

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