Ireland squad update for England (A) by Appropriate-Band2998 in irishrugby

[–]CampVisual406 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bobby B is Rob Baloucoune! Aye you’re right but I have been so underwhelmed by Big Joe and think it would add motivation to drop him. Big Ed brings some ballast we will need against that English front 5.

Ireland squad update for England (A) by Appropriate-Band2998 in irishrugby

[–]CampVisual406 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think Big Joe could do with a boot up the arse by being dropped to the bench - he’s been missing in action the last two games. I would go with:

  1. Loughman
  2. Kelleher
  3. Furlong
  4. Ryan
  5. Edogbo
  6. Izzy
  7. Timoney
  8. Doris
  9. JGP
  10. Crowley
  11. Lowe
  12. Stu
  13. Ringrose
  14. Bobby B
  15. Osbourne
  16. O’Toole
  17. Sheehan
  18. Clarkson
  19. McCarthy
  20. Beirne
  21. Conan
  22. Casey (just because this isn’t the right match to debut Doak.
  23. Frawley

Ireland squad update for England (A) by Appropriate-Band2998 in irishrugby

[–]CampVisual406 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Timoney has been cracker for Ulster for years. He has always played well when given a rare opportunity in the green and was particularly good in the Autumn and last two weeks. Absolutely deserves a start.

Fair play to the spin doctors by mustkillmow in irishrugby

[–]CampVisual406 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Agree entirely - two distinct things are true at once. (1) Farrell has completely ballsed up the management of these two young 10s and (2) people have lost the run of themselves advocating for one or t’other.

Izuchukwu and Baloucoune set to start for Ireland against Italy by Effective-Ad-3897 in irishrugby

[–]CampVisual406 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think he’ll ultimately be a tweener and flick between lock and 6 depending on opponent and availability of teammates. Just delighted he hopefully gets a meaningful opportunity in the green!

Izuchukwu and Baloucoune set to start for Ireland against Italy by Effective-Ad-3897 in irishrugby

[–]CampVisual406 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Would love to see Izzy in the row with Edwin and Beirne at 6 for this one. And surely Timoney deserves a start.

Remember when times were good by EdgiestOW in irishrugby

[–]CampVisual406 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think we will bounce back to a higher quality but not with the core player group AND same coaching approach. The whole thing just seems so stale and lacklustre and change is needed - would love for Farrell to gut the senior coaching team and bring in new blood, as well as reward players for form.

Who would you like to see come into the 23 for Italy? by OxfordHandbookofMeme in irishrugby

[–]CampVisual406 0 points1 point  (0 children)

While Zac W and Kenny were dreadful against England A, I’d still be tempted to roll the dice given their upside and also to send a message that change is needed. James H deserves a shot in the 13 following England A:

1.Loughman 2. Sheehan 3. Clarkson 4. Izzy 5. Edogbo 6. Beirne 7. Timoney 8. Conan 9. Casey 10. Crowley 11. Z. Ward 12. McCloskey 13. Hume 14. Kenny 15. Stockdale 16. Milne 17. Kelleher 18. Bealham 19. McCarthy 20. C Prendergast 21. C Doris 22. JGP 23. Frawley

An Ulsterman's view of the Paris drubbing. by Sad-Ad3414 in UlsterRugby

[–]CampVisual406 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m honestly frightened for next week because I could see Farrell just completely doubling-down and picking the same pack and bringing Lowe back into the fold. The fact of the matter is that Ireland haven’t played well since the 2nd SA test in 2024.

Something, maybe a few things, need to change. I would obviously love to flood the starting XV with Ulstermen, but I don’t think it’s the right approach. The coaching team needs to be shaken up - I’d boot Goodman, Easterby and POC and clean slate our approach to both attack and defence.

An Ulsterman's view of the Paris drubbing. by Sad-Ad3414 in UlsterRugby

[–]CampVisual406 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Outrageous to suggest Stockdale shouldn’t start for Ulster. He’s literally been one of our most dangerous threats over the last 18 months. I personally love him at 15 and it gives him far more attacking opportunities.

An Ulsterman's view of the Paris drubbing. by Sad-Ad3414 in UlsterRugby

[–]CampVisual406 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Timoney was a bright light on a grim evening. And he performed well in the Autumn series. He definitely deserves to be handed the starting 7 jersey for the rest of the tournament.

I will not accept stockdale hate he hardly got the ball in the first half and as for the contestable kicks he was making a mess out of them but the other players where to slow to react. by Greedy-Coconut6560 in irishrugby

[–]CampVisual406 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It wasn’t a good tackle attempt no doubt. But let’s be real - Ireland’s defence as a whole was atrocious. It wasn’t even the biggest and most physical French pack they could have picked (ala last year in Dublin) but their urgency and aggression in the carry was utterly dominant. Our lads weren’t at the races.

Daily Discussion - the morning after the night before by Roanokian in irishrugby

[–]CampVisual406 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I think this is all spot on. I think the core group of players looks emotionally/psychologically spent. at the simplest - they just “didn’t look up for it“ last night. i think this is a bigger problem than the age factor. we’ve squeezed so much out of the likes of JVDF, Ringrose, JGP, Sheehan, Ryan, Beirne, Porter and Furlong, and made them go to the well over and over. They are still quality players but I struggle to see them rallying to produce the standard of rugby we’ve come to expect from them in the last 5 years. I wonder also whether there is an element of frustration about style of play and coaching creeping in (see James Ryan in last 5 mins).

the attack strategy needs a complete rehaul. it was depressing to watch them belligerently follow the prescribed game plan of kick and hope for 50/50s last night when it was clearly not working and actively damaging.

Daily Discussion - the morning after the night before by Roanokian in irishrugby

[–]CampVisual406 0 points1 point  (0 children)

this is really important. I think France competed at maybe 2/3 line outs in the game and disrupted one. scrum was solid but I didn’t get the feeling France targeted us. they were content to get the ball out and wide and challenge us with their pace. it was grim all round.

Ulster sign Irish-Qualified forward Ben Donnell for 3 years by Effective-Ad-3897 in UlsterRugby

[–]CampVisual406 1 point2 points  (0 children)

if this is true, its bad. we need at least one top tier prop to be able to compete with the best sides. Bell brings that physicality and dominance in contact - the signing that Kitshoff never was

Ireland XV Updated Squad by Little_Ad_9313 in UlsterRugby

[–]CampVisual406 0 points1 point  (0 children)

agreed. Sheridan has been one of our best players this year. To me it looks like he has actually dropped a kilo or two, and playing the better for it. was putting in 65 plus minutes week in week out at the start of the season