Geordan out - Who-T-F in?

[Isaac4leinster]

FROM RTE:
Ireland rugby coach Declan Kidney could be without Geordan Murphy for the early stages of the RBS 6 Nations championship.

The Leicester captain was stretchered off after 71 minutes of Saturday's English Premiership match against Northampton and it is now believed that he has suffered a dislocated ankle.

'He's gone over on his ankle and we'll assess it over the next couple of days,' said Leicester boss Richard Cockerill in the wake of his side's victory over Northampton, but the prognosis does not appear to be promising.

Rob Kearney has already been ruled out of the opening games of the Six Nations with a knee injury, leaving Kidney without his two first choice full backs and opening the door for Luke Fitzgerald.


Watching 6 One there just now and said Geordan Murphy is out of 6 Nations. Hate to say but I just don't like Fitz at fullback at all. What other options?

Jonny Murphy? or god forbid, Denis Hurley?

[Bosco]

Jeremy Manning

[CRAZYDAVE]

Knowing Deccie & his blinkers, Earls is probably his prime candidate to assume the position.

[Isaac4leinster]

Really don't think throwing Fitz in there would do him any favours, someone needs to tell him that playing at full back has come and gone for him.

Earls would be badly exposed at 15, though maybe that would be a wakeup call regarding what he's capable of, ie wing at international level. I'd actually prefer to see Jonny Murphy in there over Fitz.

[Mackman15]

Gavin Duffy.

[gowest]

duffy out to

[sally]

Wouldnt mind Earls at 15 - could be make or break. Wouldnt mind trying Fitz there either for the same sort of reason. If either works out you have a top quality attacker at fullback for the next 6 years. I dont think Rob is cut out for the current version of fb play and Geordie is getting on so maybe a good time to have a look at the future?

Wouldnt go near Johne Murphy. Slow with dodge defence.

[Logorrhea]

An opportunity for someone. Will Force Kidney to select someone different and that can only be a good thing.

[CiaranIrl]

I'd go for Bowe at 15, Horgan at 14 and Fitzgerald at 11, assuming Luke regains a bit of form. McFadden, Earls or Trimble at 11 alternatively.

[munster#1]

Jeremy Manning

would like to see that, he is a very nice guy who was very unfortunate with injuries. supposed to have played a blinder at full back at the weekend and is in good form all season.
i am not saying he should play there or that i believe that he is the best option, just that i would like to see the lad do well for himself.

imo ireland are in trouble. fitz is in poor form, earls has shown he is not a full back, the game has past kearney out and as has been said already, murphy is pushing on. this should have been jones's time to step in, but sadly for him he has failed to stay fit

[ronk]

Jeremy Manning

would like to see that, he is a very nice guy who was very unfortunate with injuries. supposed to have played a blinder at full back at the weekend and is in good form all season.
i am not saying he should play there or that i believe that he is the best option, just that i would like to see the lad do well for himself.

imo ireland are in trouble. fitz is in poor form, earls has shown he is not a full back, the game has past kearney out and as has been said already, murphy is pushing on. this should have been jones's time to step in, but sadly for him he has failed to stay fit

He's not eligible for Ireland anymore, AFAIK. The residency rules expire if you don't play while you're over there. On the plus side he's signed a two year contract extension with Newcastle so he's doing okay, he'll end up qualifying for England at that point though.

[FrankBurke]

I first saw Tommy Bowe play when he turned out for an Ireland U-21(?) team at full back and he was the outstanding player on the pitch.

So its Bowe at full back and on the wings perm any two from Fitzgerald, Horgan, McFadden, Trimble, Earls, Murphy or Hurley.

Pity Jones is injured.

[ceemec]

I wouldn't mind seeing Bowe at 15 at all. He has played there at HEC level and done quite well. Could be used as a strike runner still from deep and it would be an opportunity to give the form winger in the country a deserved recall at 14. The more I think of it, the more sense it makes (the less likely it is).

[munster#1]

Jeremy Manning

would like to see that, he is a very nice guy who was very unfortunate with injuries. supposed to have played a blinder at full back at the weekend and is in good form all season.
i am not saying he should play there or that i believe that he is the best option, just that i would like to see the lad do well for himself.

imo ireland are in trouble. fitz is in poor form, earls has shown he is not a full back, the game has past kearney out and as has been said already, murphy is pushing on. this should have been jones's time to step in, but sadly for him he has failed to stay fit

He's not eligible for Ireland anymore, AFAIK. The residency rules expire if you don't play while you're over there. On the plus side he's signed a two year contract extension with Newcastle so he's doing okay, he'll end up qualifying for England at that point though.

i think you are wrong on that 1, can you show me so proof?

[Cianostays]

If it were a must win game, I'd probably go with Duffy who's a reliable player and is the most experienced fit full back we have. However we've got to do a little experimenting in the 6 nations imo so I'd like to see Bowe tried at 15. See if he's up to it at international level.

[sarah_lennon]

experimenting

You know that Deccie is the coach right?

[Logorrhea]

I'd go with Fitz if he can get a game or two under his belt with Earls on the left wing.

He is nowhere near a complete fullback but he is willing to back himself and run the damned ball back more often then not. All the others are still too fond of kicking it.

[Cianostays]

experimenting

You know that Deccie is the coach right?

That, alas, is why I had to throw in an "imo" because we've been made painfully aware of DK's consevative nature but, every now and again (Ferris against NZ in '08 and Johnny against SA in '09 AI's), he can pleasantly surprise us. Okay, they were'nt experimental really but they were selections that many on here did not expect him to make.

Here's hoping

[ruck]

Fitzgerald would be my choice. He's no international winger imo.

[Skinfull]

Bowe at 15 is the obvious and "safest" choice. I like Luuuuuuuke at 15 but he's been without game time for a while. Will he get much between now and then?