Cips been re-bailed until November which means he is available for the WC.

Is this just some “fishing expedition”? If he was over the limit charge him, if not drop it…

Edit: Didnt see the above but point stands

…in Wales, because it hasn’t been mentioned for a while. 😆

Slades no mug a_a. Tuilagi got no change from him whatsoever.
He’s certainly a more effective defender than eastmond or twelvetrees

It’s him or barritt!
To be fair he made a very good account of himself in the bar bars game.

I reckon there’s more to the burgess thing than meets the eye. Did the rfu make some promises to bring him from league I wonder.

What’s the story with North?

I suspect so. I also suspect that the “more..than meets the eye” in this case is simply money, sadly.

Likewise England and Mike Brown. Good to see it being taken seriously.

Haha not Toby. Like it.
I fancy ireland for the semis, losing to the ABs. They just don’t have the game to beat them. Shame as I reckon they’d give SA a damn good go.

Hmm, not sure. Samoa gave NZ a good game a few weeks ago (16 -25) by concentrating on the basics.

George North ampton scum?

If they have a solid game plan after the hoofing then, no problem. If it’s ‘hoof and let’s see what happens’ then problem. 😆

Samoa’s gameplan was very simple. Tackle the @#$& out of them, make them hurt. It almost worked.

Pigface, I assume you meant this;

Nice.

Didn’t even have the decency to nick a golf cart.

Ire 2nd XV, apart from Heaslip and Ross.

15. Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster) 11
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 57
13. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 39
12. Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 8
11. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 28
10. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) 9
9. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster) 60

8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) capt 72
7. Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) 8
6. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 9
5. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster) 28
4. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 17
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 49
2. Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster) 6
1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 17

Replacements
16. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 83
17. Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 12
18. Michael Bent (Dublin University/Leinster) 2
19. Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster) 9
20. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster) 16
21. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 3
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock/Leinster) 18
23. Simon Zebo (Cork Con/Munster) 15

decent look to that side.
Would add Jack McGrath to the list of 1st teamers, man in possession and his big rival’s recovering from neck surgery. so he’s guaranteed “31”, and 1st choice starter till something changes.
Same but opposite for Trimble, if that makes any sense. Player of the year a season ago then injured. In my eyes he just needs a bit of game time and prove his fitness and he’s in for sure. Fitz and Zebo did alright – another 6N championship 😉 , but neither really absolutely nailed down the start.
Of the rest, I’d say Henderson’s putting most pressure on a starting spot, be it 5 or 6.
The rest are mostly playing for squad spots, with most of that pack going to WC (Murphy, Henry and TOD battling for two places ?), and 3 of them backs most at risk – can’t see Cave, Earls and Mcfadden all making it but one might.

Interesting that Bent’s covering tighthead after playing more at loose lately – possible option for only taking 5 props but that’s a massive risk with Healy’s neck and every game needing 4 now. More likely that 6 will go, poss these 4 plus Healy and Marty Moore, with Bent just adding a bit of extra versatility.

Edit: Wales, Wales, Wales, Wales, Wales

Irish depth is in front row, back row and wings – there’ll be some good players left out in all those positions.
Second row is 4 good players – POC, Toner, Henderson, Ryan all good enough and likely to go IMO, but not too much after that – Tuohy’s got a chance but not if Ryan comes back to the form he had before injury.

Half backs is the big one – Murray and Sexton need wrapping in cotton wool. The rest are ok but not in the same bracket. That team of “abrasive” “welsh” “thugs” looks like it was picked with one intention only 😉 Glad they’re not gonna get the chance to spoil the party before it starts.

And centres is anyones’s guess – Joe’s first choice is obvious, but have fewer caps than any other pairing in world rugby. Back-up’s gonna be a mix of 3rd choice fly halves, converted wingers, and Darcy’s beard.

And FB is hardly “strength in depth” – Kearney and Felix Jones. If Jones was any good he’d have put a lot more Pressure on RK’s place by now, with his recent form.

Must admit you’ve got it right about that pack though. Should be the right blend of proven international quality, and players with points to prove, to make them strong enough to take it. Welsh backs could snatc enough points to make it interesting though, especially at home.

POSTED 2 DAYS AGO # REPORT-POST

This needs clearing up, it won’t happen.

Ireland are in pool D and NZ in pool C.
The top two from these 2 play each other in the QF’s. 1st v 2nd.
They then can’t meet until the final.
If, IF, Ireland’s plan was to work out in their favour, they beat France (and Italy) to top spot in D and get to play the runners up in C – likely Argentina. France get NZ.
Then they’d face a Semi against the winner of the group A 1st v group B 2nd match- England or Samoa on current world rankings.

And the NZ/France winner plays the winner of the group B 1st ( South Africa??) v group A 2nd (Australia??) QF match in the other Semi.

Basically- Ireland can’t meet NZ in the semi’s.
It’s either the quarters, avoiding them by topping the group above France, or the final.

For refference:

Yup

and if Wales come first, they would avoid South Africa until the final by which time SA would likely have met NZ

(assuming SA finish above Samoa and Scotland in group B)

It’s designed so you don’t play your groupmate again until the final if you were to both make it