Well, It's A Start
06/02/08 08:14 Filed in: Sport
Eddie has named his starting line-up for the French
match, with three changes in personnel and two
positional switches from the side that started in
Croke Park last Saturday.
Andrew Trimble goes into the centre to take the place of Gordon D'Arcy, who fractured his wrist in last Saturday's game. Rob Kearney starts on the wing. Jamie Heaslip takes the No.8 shirt from Denis Leamy, who moves over to the blindside. The previous incumbent at 6, Simon Easterby, is on the bench. Bernard Jackman and Rory Best swap the No 2 and No 16 jerseys from last Saturday.
In the replacements, Shane Horgan comes back to the senior squad after his stint with the "A"s.
It's better than last week, but it should be borne in mind that one of those changes was brought about by injury. I still think that Easterby shouldn't even be in the squad, and his place on the bench would be put to better use by picking Alan Quinlan or Keith Gleeson in the replacements. Similarly, Shane Horgan isn't fully fit yet, and this would have been an opportunity to see if Tommy Bowe's recent run of good form for Ulster could come through when he's wearing a green shirt. His last appearance for Ireland wasn't a happy one, but there should be an opportunity for him to redeem himself, given the shocking performances by several more senior and regular internationals over the course of this season.
I didn't get to see the Scotland-France match, but by all accounts, Les Bleus look like a formidable outfit under their new coach. Given that we couldn't beat them under Laporte, probably the worst French coach in a generation, we have little hope of overcoming them under the nouvelle régime. Especially as the match is in Paris, where we have one just once since 1972.
There is an interesting parallel with the 2006 season here. Back then, Ireland struggled to overcome Italy in their opener at home. They went to Paris the next week, and got shat on from a great height for the first 50 minutes or so, conceding six tries. But then they decided to start playing as they knew they could, and ran in four unanswered converted tries and finishing 12 points behind the French.
It's good to see that O'Sullivan is prepared to make some changes for Saturday, but I don't think there is enough team spirit in the squad to do the business.
France with 20+ to spare.
Andrew Trimble goes into the centre to take the place of Gordon D'Arcy, who fractured his wrist in last Saturday's game. Rob Kearney starts on the wing. Jamie Heaslip takes the No.8 shirt from Denis Leamy, who moves over to the blindside. The previous incumbent at 6, Simon Easterby, is on the bench. Bernard Jackman and Rory Best swap the No 2 and No 16 jerseys from last Saturday.
In the replacements, Shane Horgan comes back to the senior squad after his stint with the "A"s.
It's better than last week, but it should be borne in mind that one of those changes was brought about by injury. I still think that Easterby shouldn't even be in the squad, and his place on the bench would be put to better use by picking Alan Quinlan or Keith Gleeson in the replacements. Similarly, Shane Horgan isn't fully fit yet, and this would have been an opportunity to see if Tommy Bowe's recent run of good form for Ulster could come through when he's wearing a green shirt. His last appearance for Ireland wasn't a happy one, but there should be an opportunity for him to redeem himself, given the shocking performances by several more senior and regular internationals over the course of this season.
I didn't get to see the Scotland-France match, but by all accounts, Les Bleus look like a formidable outfit under their new coach. Given that we couldn't beat them under Laporte, probably the worst French coach in a generation, we have little hope of overcoming them under the nouvelle régime. Especially as the match is in Paris, where we have one just once since 1972.
There is an interesting parallel with the 2006 season here. Back then, Ireland struggled to overcome Italy in their opener at home. They went to Paris the next week, and got shat on from a great height for the first 50 minutes or so, conceding six tries. But then they decided to start playing as they knew they could, and ran in four unanswered converted tries and finishing 12 points behind the French.
It's good to see that O'Sullivan is prepared to make some changes for Saturday, but I don't think there is enough team spirit in the squad to do the business.
France with 20+ to spare.