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Experienced Ireland XV generates mixed reaction
Ahead of what many people on social media are calling Ireland’s biggest rugby match in history, Joe Schmidt has named the most experienced side he has at his disposal for Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final versus the All Blacks.
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Of the 15 that will take the field in Tokyo, 12 were members of the starting side that beat the All Blacks last November in Dublin. Iain Henderson was also on the bench that day.
The Ulsterman replaces Devin Toner, Conor Murray starts at scrum-half instead of Kieran Marmion and Robbie Henshaw fills in for the banned Bundee Aki. Other than that, this is the team that were victorious over Steve Hansen’s side the last time they met.
Schmidt’s selection, though, has received a mixed reaction from fans on Twitter. On the one hand, some think this is the strongest side the head coach can put out – and the one they were expecting.
Experience goes a long way, particularly against a side as dominant as the All Blacks. Having players that know what it is like to beat them could be pivotal to victory on Saturday.
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However, there are those that feel some experienced players are not the form players in their position. Peter O’Mahony and Rob Kearney have been singled out by many fans as the two players that are perhaps relying on their reputation at the moment.
With Rhys Ruddock proving his worth so far in the back row this World Cup, as well as Jordan Larmour and Andrew Conway showing great form in the back three, Schmidt has been lambasted for depending on the older players in his squad.
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Ireland name a strong team for Saturday. #IRLvsNZL #RugbyWorldCup #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/4559bmzvi3
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 17, 2019
But Schmidt would be overlooking over 150 caps-worth of experience by excluding the British and Irish Lions duo, O’Mahony and Kearney. While they may not be playing at their best currently, there are pros and cons in selecting their less experienced alternatives.
This is a situation where there would have been as much – if not more – indignation among fans had the likes of Kearney or O’Mahony been dropped. Schmidt has simply turned to experience in this situation and Ireland will hope it pays off. This is what has been said:
Absolutely zero surprises. Obviously a pretty strong side, probably the only two who'd make it better would be Leavy and Aki. Hopefully Henshaw's shaken off the rust. https://t.co/gZE8XYlYXE
— Thomas Moroney (@tmoroney4697) October 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/kev21h/status/1184757579567775744?s=20
Experience trumping form for the Irish..no Conway and Lamour
. Kearney a proven entity in the air,
Stockdale and Earls are quality too.It's gonna be a Humdinger!! https://t.co/PF8uYlmWR5
— The Cerebal Assasin (@SportTheTiger) October 17, 2019
Same old players, same old game plan. Prepare for 60 mins of tucking it under the jumper before NZ score a few late tries to win by 20 points
— Blah Blah Blue ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@BlaBlaBluester) October 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/RoweBuzzer/status/1184727280079310849?s=20
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Seems a bit dull and disappointing. Players who have put their hands up overlooked for the same old.
— Riley Cullum (@aceofspies64) October 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/stephennolan17/status/1184732404222746625?s=20
A few of these lads owe Joe a massive performance after selection. On form so far you'd question Best, POM, Kearney, Henderson and Earls inclusions but lets hope Joe & Co have got this one right and the real Ireland show up on Saturday https://t.co/Od5fj3b8H8
— James Irwin (@OfficialBigJim) October 17, 2019
No surprises there
Putting our strongest 15 out, with plenty of impact from the benchBring on the ABs!#COYBIG #NZLvIRL https://t.co/alPd6lXzwG
— BlahBlahBlah (@ronanmcmanus) October 17, 2019
Despite winning two of their last three encounters, Ireland enter this match with the All Blacks as underdogs as a number of players have dropped their standards since November.
It would be unfair to accuse only O’Mahony and Kearney of that, as even Johnny Sexton, the 2018 World Rugby player of the year, has not been at his best. But they have already proven that they can beat the All Blacks and their coach is aware of that.
WATCH: A naked bungee, Brian O’Driscoll getting laid out in Bayonne and carrying Will Genia down the pitch… Stephen Ferris reveals all in episode three of RugbyPass Rugby World Cup Memories series
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Big empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to comments