Ireland V Canada, 19/9/15

[simonokeeffe]

It's very likely Joe will pick his first choice 23 for this one and then rest them against Romania.
One exception to that might be Madigan to start at 9 and perhaps Healy to start if available or else Furlong but McGrath to get 40 mins off the bench.
I think Jack McGrath is now our first choice LH.
The second string will surely play in the Romania game.
Players needing game time will get decent bemch time if not selected to start.

definitely

you play second string against Canada you either then play them against Romania too and leave 1st team undercooked for Italy or you play 1st team against Romania and start them for 4 world cup matches on successive weekends, 5 if we make a semi

[CiaranIrl]

Healy, Best, Ross, POC, Henderson, POM, SOB, Heaslip;
Murray, Sexton, Fitzgerald, Henshaw, Payne, Kearney, Kearney

Team Peter O'Reilly is predicting in the ST.

[hugonaut]

Healy, Best, Ross, POC, Henderson, POM, SOB, Heaslip;
Murray, Sexton, Fitzgerald, Henshaw, Kearney, Kearney

Team Peter O'Reilly is predicting in the ST.

I'd say we'll start a second centre.

[CiaranIrl]

Healy, Best, Ross, POC, Henderson, POM, SOB, Heaslip;
Murray, Sexton, Fitzgerald, Henshaw, Kearney, Kearney

Team Peter O'Reilly is predicting in the ST.

I'd say we'll start a second centre.

Add Payne to that so.

[Fireworks]

It's very likely Joe will pick his first choice 23 for this one and then rest them against Romania.
One exception to that might be Madigan to start at 9 and perhaps Healy to start if available or else Furlong but McGrath to get 40 mins off the bench.
I think Jack McGrath is now our first choice LH.
The second string will surely play in the Romania game.
Players needing game time will get decent bemch time if not selected to start.

definitely

you play second string against Canada you either then play them against Romania too and leave 1st team undercooked for Italy or you play 1st team against Romania and start them for 4 world cup matches on successive weekends, 5 if we make a semi

I would agree except that some guys may need more game time so I could easily see a mixed bag in both games. Would not be surprised to see Ross on against both but pulled off at 60 or earlier. Would think that where first choice guys are selected they would be pulled off once the game is won and they have hit the targets set for them.

[simonokeeffe]

healy fully fit according to presser today

[Halpenc2]

Return ferry and 4 plus match tickets to this weekends Match in Cardiff. We can't go but really want to let this to a good home. It cost me €1230 but at this stage it will go cheap. Details on http://www.donedeal.ie/view/10379721

[Fireworks]

When is the team going to be announced.

[simonokeeffe]

Down the Blindside podcast predicting Luke and Dave on the wings, Henderson starting at lock with Ryan on bench, cant see all that myself

[Fireworks]

Down the Blindside podcast predicting Luke and Dave on the wings, Henderson starting at lock with Ryan on bench, cant see all that myself

Would not be the worst. Still mixing players around to get the form 23 ready for the bigger days. Everyone needs game time to get sharp.

[simonokeeffe]

Down the Blindside podcast predicting Luke and Dave on the wings, Henderson starting at lock with Ryan on bench, cant see all that myself

Would not be the worst. Still mixing players around to get the form 23 ready for the bigger days. Everyone needs game time to get sharp.

Not saying it would be a bad selection, just an unlikley one (based on Joe)

RK Earls Payne Henshaw DK Sexton Murray

Zebo Bowe Cave Madigan Luke Jackson Reddan

my guess for the backlines for first 2 games, Toner to start with Henderson on bench against Canadia

[Benji]

Bowe and Healy have to start both need gametime.
I'd rest Murray after the concussion and Rob after his knee injury.

[simonokeeffe]

McGurk, Hook and Pope are doing live punditry in D2 nightclub for the Canada game if anyone wants to know where not to go to watch it

[rooster]

Reports say Henshaw injured so Fitzgerald starts at 12

[CiaranIrl]

Reports say Henshaw injured so Fitzgerald starts at 12

Odd that it wouldn't be Cave.

[Dublinner]

McGurk, Hook and Pope are doing live punditry in D2 nightclub for the Canada game if anyone wants to know where not to go to watch it

Id rather iron me sack!!

[All Blacks nil]

Reports say Henshaw injured so Fitzgerald starts at 12

Incredible if true
Has Luke ever played inside centre?
Best prepared Irish team ever.......

Why bring Darren Cave?

A lot of comment regarding the schedule being kind to us.

Yes, we don't have to peak until October, but after that we have (hopefully) 5 test matches one after the other. We've seen how attritional a 7 week 6 Nations can be, even with 2 rest weekends.

[FLIP]

Reports say Henshaw injured so Fitzgerald starts at 12

Has Luke ever played inside centre?

Yes, several times. In Leinsters first HC winning year he often played at 12 and did well there.

[All Blacks nil]

Reports say Henshaw injured so Fitzgerald starts at 12

Has Luke ever played inside centre?

Yes, several times. In Leinsters first HC winning year he often played at 12 and did well there.

Phew that's okay so.
2008/09 - 7 seasons ago, anything since.
Personally, I think he is better suited to inside centre as he will have no trouble finding contact and he is defensively solid.

Would I play him there?, yes,
Would I play him there in a World Cup opening match after neglecting to try him there in any of the four warm-up matches despite having ample opportunity considering he had not played there since 2009? No

[wixfjord]

Didn't Luke play at 12 for Leinster during the last WC also?
Seem to remember him playing 12 against the ABs at some stage also?

Don't remember him playing there for Leinster since, though in Schmidt's current system 12/13 are basically interchangeable as distribution isn't a major requirement from either player.

Might be to do with Fitz's defensive capabilities and kick/chase ability.

Still a very strange one if it's true, but I reckon Henshaw is just carrying a knock, looked grand getting on plane yesterday.