Serendipitous Injuries.

I was saying same about POC yesterday. It didn't get as bad a reception as I thought it might.

prob need both though if were gonna have any hope of winning it..

The injury to Peter OMahony is a disaster however.

Henderson is a much more dynamic player in the loose, which means POC is not such a great loss in that aspect of the game.  He is a better lineout operator though (very shrewd at reading tells and knowing when and where to jump defensively on opposition ball) and one would imagine, a better scrummager.

With POM out, I imagine that Henderson would have started in the back row next week with POC and Toner in the second row.

Sexton is a vastly superior kicker under pressure than Madigan.  It's not even close.

POM had a fine game yesterday but is replaceable.  Henry is a more natural 7 than SOB, and SOB reverting to 6, frees him up to carry a lot more.  I imagine Jordi Murphy will come onto the bench, an underrated player who does everythng extremely well (that's asssuming Henderson stays in the second row).

Just realised SOB wont be playing...in all likeliehood

Perhaps:

4. Ryan
5. Toner
6. Henderson
7. Henry
8. Heaslip

Or Henderson in second row and Murphy at 6.

POMs loss is magnified by SOB's probable citing.

Madigan a very average player who people keep saying is creative. I have never seen the guy create space for someone else. Instead he seems to take the ball on himself continuously. I accept he is a very good place kicker but an extremely average kicker in general play and headless to boot. Though he was adequate yesterday and a lot of ye praise is way over the top.
Irelands best back row is O'Brien Henry and Heaslip.

Willy ,I thought when Heslip was asked by the reporter post match if he was delighted we had avoided the All Blacks , he would have said No ,  but I bet THEY won't be happy...

Forgetting about injuries next week is going to be difficult. It is near impossible to reach those levels of performance a week later especially considering the emotional high the team would have been on! You saw how Australia struggled to replicate it at the weekend.

Think South Africa is the bet of the year -8 against Wales who will be punch drunk after the last few weeks.  Think d boks will put 20+ on them.

I was thinking along those lines myself , Keith Woods spoke this morning about been sore for a week after a game ,after the war yesterday I'd say we are in danger ...