Ireland 15 Vs. France

**BrayUnknowns** · 07/02/2007, 12:06 PM

Backs
G Dempsey (Leinster); S Horgan (Leinster), AN Other, G D`Arcy (Leinster), D Hickie (Leinster); R O`Gara (Munster), AN Other;

Forwards
M Horan (Munster), R Best (Ulster), J Hayes (Munster), D O`Callaghan (Munster), P O`Connell (Munster), S Easterby (Llanelli Scarlets), D Wallace (Munster), D Leamy (Munster).

Replacements: J Flannery (Munster), S Best (Ulster), N Best (Ulster) or J Heaslip (Leinster), M O`Driscoll (Munster), I Boss (Ulster) or E Reddan (Wasps), P Wallace (Ulster), G Murphy (Leicester) or A Trimble (Ulster).

Really thought Flannery would be back in ahead of best at hooker

**finlma** · 07/02/2007, 2:42 PM

Delighted that Horgan is back in and if O'Driscoll is out we still have a chance with Horgan at centre.

Flannery mustn't be 100% match fit cause Best did nothing to merit his place on the team.

**paul_oshea** · 07/02/2007, 3:35 PM

finlma feck off, you have got a ticket for croker we dont want to hear from ye

**BrayUnknowns** · 07/02/2007, 4:00 PM

In fairness to Best he did say he couldn't hear the line outs calls, but his delivery was shocking

**OneRedArmy** · 07/02/2007, 8:06 PM

Originally Posted by BrayUnknowns

In fairness to Best he did say he couldn't hear the line outs calls, but his delivery was shocking

We won 12 lineouts out of 14 and he scored a try.

Also, don't underestimate the hookers role in a good scrum. And our scrum is noticeably better with Best in it.

Don't get me wrong, Flannery offers much, much more in the loose and I would always pick him ahead of Best, but that doesn't mean Best performed poorly.

I'm glad Horgan is back but really hope BOD is fit as I really don't like Horgan in the centre. Put bluntly, he doesn't have the rugby brain to choose the correct option a lot of the time and is much happier running in a straight line as a finisher on the wing.

**shakermaker1982** · 08/02/2007, 9:23 AM

we need BOD but having big Shane will be a big lift to the team as well.

**swano** · 08/02/2007, 9:55 AM

I'd prefer Flannery to Best although Best had a decent game last week. Flannery won't weaken the scrum. He improved Munsters struggling scrum when he came on against Leicester.

**Jofspring** · 08/02/2007, 11:08 AM

was hoping flannery would be in and geordan murphy aswell.

**pete** · 08/02/2007, 11:50 AM

Good to see Horgan back & hopefully on the wing. D'arcy a big plus too & more important that O'Driscoll on general play. Leamy would be a huge loss & Stringer important as unproven replacement.

French have made changes but does not look like weakening their side.

**finlma** · 08/02/2007, 3:30 PM

Originally Posted by pete

... be a huge loss & Stringer important as unproven replacement.

I wouldn't say Isaac Boss is unproven. He's played plenty of Super 12 and Heineken Cup and he also played on the winning team against Australia in the Autumn. I'd pick him ahead of Stringer fit or not.

**OneRedArmy** · 08/02/2007, 4:24 PM

Originally Posted by finlma

I wouldn't say Isaac Boss is unproven. He's played plenty of Super 12 and Heineken Cup and he also played on the winning team against Australia in the Autumn. I'd pick him ahead of Stringer fit or not.

Agree, at this stage Stringer is very much proven, ie there are strengths to his game (tackling, speed of pass) and weaknesses (box-kicking, physicality at the breakdown, lack of variety). Two different players that offer different options, but Stringer certainly infuriates me more with his pondering at the back of rucks leading him to getting dragged in too often. To his credit he breaks a bit more these days (ie greater than zero) but Boss is much better at keeping the back row honest which creates space for the backline to exploit. On the other hand Boss doesn't have Stringers quality of pass.

**pete** · 08/02/2007, 4:36 PM

Originally Posted by finlma

I wouldn't say Isaac Boss is unproven. He's played plenty of Super 12 and Heineken Cup and he also played on the winning team against Australia in the Autumn. I'd pick him ahead of Stringer fit or not.

He is unproven in big international match although he may have potential. I did not think Boss played that well in the Australian game.

**finlma** · 08/02/2007, 4:45 PM

Originally Posted by pete

He is unproven in big international match although he may have potential. I did not think Boss played that well in the Australian game.

You must have watched the game with your eyes closed Pete. That was one of the best ever performances by an Irish team - Boss made some great breaks and supplied good ball to the backs. You can't get much bigger than playing against Oz in my opinion. I think its time to look beyond Stringer - Wales, England, Scotland and France have far superior scrum halves than us.

**joeSoap** · 09/02/2007, 12:17 PM

O'Driscoll, Stringer out...advantage Les Bleus.

**OneRedArmy** · 09/02/2007, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

O'Driscoll, Stringer out...advantage Les Bleus.

Don't think Boss replacing Stringer will have much effect for reasons outlined above.

BOD is obviously another matter entirely. Really need big games from Horgan and Murphy. Still not convinced by Horgan in the centre, never really impressed me for Ireland in that position but hopefully his experience will tell and he will make the right decisions and try and play a continuity game.

If he adopts an old-style crash ball approach and takes it to ground repeatedly we are doomed.

**paul_oshea** · 09/02/2007, 1:09 PM

he is great at releasing now though i.e. offloading in the tackle, and sucking in a couple of players, therefore giving darcy the room to make breaks.

its murphy i would be more worried about especially tackling. we cant afford to have any missed tackles, o'driscoll was class at that.

we should still be ok

**beautifulrock** · 09/02/2007, 1:18 PM

A pity about BOD but in reality I could not see how a hamstring injury can clear up in 7 days. A further reaction if he had to play on aturday could have ruled him out for the rest of the 6 nations. Not a bad day when you can bring Boss and Murphy off the bench and still have Trimble available to cover both the wing and centre.

**pete** · 09/02/2007, 3:52 PM

I think Ireland will have to ensure no more than 20 different players start the 6 Nations games to ensure chance at the Championship.

Given the injuries its not bad that Leamy & Horgan in while O'Driscoll & Stringer out.

Leamy is a big plus as France have very strong back row.