It's a good idea, I'm a bit surprised it hasn't been done a lot more.
Rugby World Cup 2015
- Thread starter Rosco
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It's a good idea, I'm a bit surprised it hasn't been done a lot more.
IRELAND XV –R Kearney; Bowe, Payne, Henshaw, D Kearney; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best, Ross; Toner, O’Connell; O’Mahony, O’Brien, Heaslip.
I'm a little disappointed to see Payne in there, I think he limits us. Henderson has been arguably our best player thus far so I can only think Schmidt has big plans for him to shake up the game off the bench - and/or Toners extra length in the line out is felt to be necessary.
I'm a little disappointed to see Payne in there, I think he limits us. Henderson has been arguably our best player thus far so I can only think Schmidt has big plans for him to shake up the game off the bench - and/or Toners extra length in the line out is felt to be necessary.
Henderson's absence is madness. As you say, he's been our best player (and I don't think it's just arguable, it's plain as day). As for Payne, I'm not his biggest fan, but I think he does have an impact. Certainly our back line was completely stagnant against Italy and I'd like to see if he perks things up.
Edit: seems we won't see if he perks things up.
Re Henderson, I'm not going to claim Schmidt shares my view but I've been looking at it the following way
I think a pack always needs 4 good ball carriers in it. (my other absolute basics of a pack are props who can scrummage, three good line-out jumpers and hookers who can throw consistently) they might seem obvious, because they are but you'd be surprised how many teams don't have them. (Australia are deficient in a couple of respects so despite their performance against England I can't back them for the whole thing.
In the starting pack - Healy and the back row are your four good carriers. Healy won't play more than an hour, and his replacement can't carry well. Henry, Henderson and Strauss will all come off the bench - Henderson and Strauss are excellent carriers. And will easily make up for the loss of probably O'Brien and Healy.
That's the only way I can explain it, and the reality is changes in the pack always happen. I think if the thinking is along those lines it s the best way to spread the talent over 80 mins.
I think a pack always needs 4 good ball carriers in it. (my other absolute basics of a pack are props who can scrummage, three good line-out jumpers and hookers who can throw consistently) they might seem obvious, because they are but you'd be surprised how many teams don't have them. (Australia are deficient in a couple of respects so despite their performance against England I can't back them for the whole thing.
In the starting pack - Healy and the back row are your four good carriers. Healy won't play more than an hour, and his replacement can't carry well. Henry, Henderson and Strauss will all come off the bench - Henderson and Strauss are excellent carriers. And will easily make up for the loss of probably O'Brien and Healy.
That's the only way I can explain it, and the reality is changes in the pack always happen. I think if the thinking is along those lines it s the best way to spread the talent over 80 mins.
It just seems odd benching one of the only forwards who has both carried well as well as being excellent in defence, and a lineout option too! Doesn't compute for me.
Hmmmm, been thinking that myself. Can't see them being so sloppy against the big guns surely?
It seems I've seen the ABs make more knock ons in this group stage than in every time I've seen them previously! Still winning well bit they look vulnerable. Which is something you never normally say about them.
Maybe they're getting nervous. Having never won it outside their own back yard, they know they're approaching the testing point again.
Not very confident - should be a cracking match.
Ballsy performance, the French were billed as the fittest and most powerful French squad but we wore them down and overcame them, and they didn't breach our line. I've never been a Michalak fan, his missed kicks and tackles were a boon to us.
I wasn't the slightest bit concerned about Madigan coming on, he's a ridiculously confident player.
Don't know how you pick a man of the match. The pack were exceptional, disrupted the French at every breakdown and set piece.
I wasn't the slightest bit concerned about Madigan coming on, he's a ridiculously confident player.
Don't know how you pick a man of the match. The pack were exceptional, disrupted the French at every breakdown and set piece.
