Schmidt's Leinster bias

Seems to be working so far

Could be many reasons behind Jordi's inclusion;
* Horses for courses; he brings more physicality than O'Donnell, always key vs England
* Rotation, give Jordi a taste of being part match day squad, he deserves it
* Who know's maybe Heaslip is carrying a niggle, Jordi more natural replacement at 8 that TOD

As regards Zebo on the bench, he doesn't offer the versatility of covering 12 and 13 that McFadden does.

Get up them steps

We are in a great position and Schmidt does deserve a lot of credit, but I still think against England when the game was in the melting pot in those last 20 mins I would have thought O'Donnell instead of the then uncapped Murphy and Zebo's pace could have made a bigger impact.

2 Munster players in the 23 and you are seething

not seething - just think we could have a better impact from the bench for crunch games - if we win next weekend I'll be celebrating as much as anyone.

what kind of impact do you think Zebo  (rather than McFadden) would have had off the bench if BOD or Dorce went down injured in the first 5 minutes vs Eng?

Very hard to split Jordi and TOD.  Other than of course Jordi can play in 3 positions,  TOD only provides cover for one.

we'll agree to differ though Zebo is more versatile than you give him credit for - has a good clearing left boot too. Roll on next weekend where hopefully we'll get the win and give BOD a grand send off.

Can Zebo cover for 12/13?

Up.

Bowe, Fitzgerald and Zebo all need to be tried at centre. Cave and Henshaw also need game time. Surely we'll be able to draw two competent players from these. Trimble seems to have found his metier on the wing and doesn't have the hands for centre. Similar comments apply with Earls. Professional career of Luke Marshall looks up in the air at this point. No one would have said D'Arcy would have gone on to have the career he had there in 04'. hopefully we'll see this play out in the summer.

Zebo's defence is suspect on the wing no chance at centre.  Bowe is a world class winger can't see him being tried elsewhere.  Fitzgerald..I just can't see it, not a decision maker.

Jared Paye is the man, when he arrived at Ulster was originally thought of as a 13 afaik.  Henshaw a possibility also as is McFadden, who ever lets us down..

Forgot them Ozy!! McFadden is very worthy and solid as a player but I'm not just sure he has the scope of Fitzgerald who has a very high skill level, good feet as well, would remind me a bit of  a young D'Arcy. Pal of mine told me that Fitzgerald was very close to going to Munster but was talked out of it by Brian O'Driscoll. Pity as you'd think it is a run of games he needs so we can see what's under the bonnet.

I've left out the most obvious one in Payne as you point out, but he won't have much time to stake a claim before the World Cup.

Always thought Bowe would get a run at 13 once BOD finished. He would give us a change of pace there that we'd really need without the wiliness of O'Driscoll and D'Arcy.

Haven't seen too much of Henshaw but Schmidt is supposed to like him, Cave is another solid citizen in the mould of McFadden, but you'd just sense it would have happened by now if it was going to, even accounting for injuries.

Zebo has always looked more a  full-back to me where he could use flair and timing to pick lines. He also has the kicking game, but Kearney is going nowhere. Having watched him live he is dodgy on the turn and I wonder might he benefit from having everything in front of him at centre? the kid is a natural whatever he does and he'd nearly make a go of it ,most places.

Apologies for the long windedness.

Left out Madigan too who should also be an option at 12 given his attributes. Ireland haven't done bruising centres for a long while.

Am not a fan of Fitzgerald, Neill.  For all his huge natural talent and pace, the end result is typically him slipping and falling over OR somehow making the wrong decision, i.e. forcing the pass when its not on etc.  Also has had the yips, so short on confidence, injuries haven't helped in this regard.  Defence has never been seen as his strength either.  Wants to play 13...not for me.

Bowe would make a great 13, but he is already a world class 14, so why mess with that?  We have great options on the wing, but he is our only world class winger.

McFadden doesn't have the scope of Fitzgerald, but he is a superb decision maker, almost always does the right thing. Underrated imo.

Haven't seen enough of Cave or Henshaw, some people rate Olding the other Ulster centre.

yeah, Madigan is an interesting shout at 12, almost a 2nd five eight.  More space for him at 13, but a huge ask defensively.

Olding got a very good mention in the paper this morning, seems as likely as his buddy now as they must be really worried about those head shots he is taking the amount of coverage they are getting.

Funny one re Bowe, I seem to have it in my head that Trimble and Kearney may retain for a while... can't really explain why but my whole response seems to have been predicated on it!!

My true take on Fitzgerald would be that I don't know, but the esteem he is held in by his coaches and peers seems pretty clear.

Would love to see Madigan and Sexton at 12 & 10. Madican can tackle, pass and is very elusive. No reason why it shouldn't work. There was a rumour there that Leinster might try and bring Sexton back with Gopparth going the other way. Gopparth is an attractive proposition for a French side in World Cup year. If Sexton came back, you'd nearly be sure they would try the two of them together for Leinster, at the least to see what options are when D'Arcy finishes.

The one thing we can say is that all of these young(ish)lads need to take a step forward, whereas McFadden has already attained a solid level of form as an international centre/wing. He could hold them all off thinking on it.

Players spend most time with their provinces . Rather than the national team . If a province cant turn a player into a centre where needed or through choice , whats the chances that the national coaches can ? Outside of Bod and D'arcy there really aren't any of the provinces with good consistent centres qualified for Ireland . Various players , some mentioned above in despatches have had occasional good games at centre , but consistently ?

Of recent years , Bods main asset has been his footballing brain rather than his once electric acceleration . Ireland have the capacity to produce good ball against most sides in the world , I would like to see a cutting edge at centre again attacking wise , but not sure where or if it exists . Along with the footballing nous that the position demands .

You have an awful lot to say (none of it even remotely perceptive or interesting) on a sport that you are too yellow to let your children or grandchildren play.  Why the interest anyway if it is too dangerous?  Stick to the GAA please.

Cant resist any opportunity to be negative Ozy .  Why dont you stop your incessant posting and carping .  You are like a shrill old woman .  Maybe you are .

Ref too dangerous , I played rugby when young until I discovered better sports , which statistically are also less dangerous for injuries . That these sports encompassed GAA must stick in your craw . Which shows every post . Any so called Irish person who hates the GAA is beyond the pale . So confine yourself to posting where your erstwhile admired superior nation followers ply their keyboard trade .

Great.  Comment on these better sports and stop boring us on something you know sfa about!

ozy i think you can know about certain  sports without playing them!?!jose at chelsea never played and he has a fair handle on soccer!!..it seems to me kelly makes very good and salient points.

He is the laughing stock of the rugby forum, Kavvie, not that it seems to deter him.

He has  an anti rugby agenda that shines through as well.  Wouldn't be surprised if he would like to return to the days of The Ban.

...at least then the poor children would be safe, and free from foreign influences.

Unlike you being anti GAA Ozy , I am not anti rugby .  Many posts attest to that . My only objection to rugby is the scale and severity of injuries associated with it  , not the game itself .  But nobody in the upper echelons of rugby administration is doing anything to stop the drift towards increased physicality .  Last weeks 6 Nations matches had a lot of players with blood showing  , no other game /sport I watched last weekend had anything similar .

Maybe your TV set needs adjusting if you cant see that  Ozy .

Now you are allergic to fackin blood; what are you a vegetarian?  Man up for god's sakes.

Head in the sand Ozy , address the issue , stop trying to be clever .  Rugby injuries are a big problem , face up to it  , and stop trying to score points .

I no more want to talk rugby with you than you want to talk GAA with me.  The differece being, you won't find me bleating on about the hand pass rule.

Tens of thousands of kids are playing rugby every weekend in rural Ireland, the growth is incredible. Winning internatinal events will ensure further growth.

The Ban didn't stop us and your scaremongering won't stop us either.

Do yourself a favour, head down and hang with the Block headed Ulster Unionsists at Ravenhill and see if they think its too dangerous for their kids to play.

I watched Cheltenham all last week with increasing horror at the injuries to jockeys,I am genuinely worried about a sport I love.

I watched the rugby and found the same sense of dread when Sexton was knocked out.

I don't have the solutions but its not unreasonable of Kelly to question it.

I worked in a dangerous occupation most of my life,this was reflected in your earnings but is it fair to ask young men to risk life and limb,the authorities have a duty to protect their players.

Injuries and player safety are being monitored all the time, Borneo.  Concusssion tests are being modified and taken more seriously and rightly so.

The scrum is safer than ever before because of the new regulations.  You can't even push in the scrum in underage rugby these days.

It is a physical, demanding, sport which asks questions of your character.  We wouldn't want it any other way.

I accept that,it does stand to reason that the authorities want to minimise injury without ruining the fabric of the game.

They should allow you like in American Football bring on a kicker solely for shots at goal,it would suit Ireland and keep Ronan OGaras career going for another decade.

nah, we've had enough of his morose whingeing to last a lifetime.

Did you ever tog out yourself and what position would you have played?

Afraid not,although there was a mill I used sometimes work at in the Cistercian college Roscrea and Rugby seemed to be their game of choice.

There is some kind of inverted snobbery against Rugby because it used be played by professional people but what does that matter,the fact is we appear fairly good at it,have a long tradition and in fairness to the IRFU they built some impressive stadiums in the past,stadiums that the soccer men are laying unfair claims to.

Ozy , on a previous thread , I asked you if you ever played rugby , and at what level .  You did not reply or respond .  As you are asking wildman a similar question , is it fair to ask you to respond now to me ?

I only ascended to the blue of Leinster, Kelly, most male family members wore the green of Ireland.

I don't like to bring it up.  You on the other hand, manage to shoehorn your inter-county exploits into most annecdotes.

Well done then , Ozy . Glad I outed you . Never hide your light under a bushel .

Wildman , share you worries about jockey injuries , hope we dont finish up like USA and Australia , where the NH sport has virtually died .

The difference between NH jockeys and rugby is that no one is actively encouraging participation in NH circles , no recruitment drive . 

Rugby gets plenty of media exposure , no problem with that particularly given our good provincial and national results over the years .  Rugby is character forming , so is GAA , so is soccer , so is cycling , so is judo , foil fencing  , or any other sport you care to mention .  Stating that one sport is character forming and implying that others aren't ( as ) is an old journalistic trick which cuts no ice here .

All sports are positive for young people. Rugby provides a unique character forming experience because of the physical courage required in a team format.  Some liken it to going to war and the camaraderie that builds. Unbreakable bonds are formed between men who send time in the trenches and go over the top together.

It also gives young men respect for authority that many other sports don't.

It is not by accident that some of the finest seats of learning in the country see it as a cornerstone to the experience they offer.

I only ascended to the blue of Leinster, Kelly, most male family members wore the green of Ireland.

LOL...comedy gold

didnt know leinster had a wheelchair rugby team d ozy...

Dickie, would love to stay and chat, must dash as I have an impending tee time.

course you have......tea with the nurse when she does her 3pm clean up....

Got your blinkers on again Ozy . Rugby is not unique among sports . It used to be almost unique in that it afforded the opportunity for boys and men of all shapes and sizes to participate in a healthy sport . Thus came Jack Kyle and the like , half backs then were 10 or 11 stone wringing wet .  Nowadays they wouldn't ( or shouldn't) be allowed on the field . Sexton is 6 foot 2 allegedly , and 14 stone plus . Had to leave the field last week , what would have happened to him if he was 5 inches shorter and 3 stone lighter ?

You miss the point, Kelly.  It's akin to a war zone in that requires special courage. That's why its not for some. i.e yourself.

Dont think my courage is at question , Ozy . Keep throwing mud at other peoples opinions , and try to bully people with a legitimate point of view . I'll take you on any time  , and I dont have blinkers on , unlike you .

Vincent Browne has a piece on Rugby today,naturally the old intolerant liberal disapproves.

His article should increase the interest in Rugby in this country.

Vincent Browne was a media mogul in a position of enormous power during the seventies eighties and nineties,he got some dubious financial help from Garret Fitzgerald,his paper took the champagne socialist line,in favour of all the ride on causes.