Oh dear! I’ve been reading some of my old posts over the last few days, while I fiddled about with the site, and I thought that I’d been a bit critical of the Ireland set up off late.
After all I don’t want to come across on the new site as a bitter and twisted Nordie so I thought that it would be a prudent move if I tried to be a bit more positive about the whole Ireland thing, it is the most successful Ireland side in history!
Unfortunately my new found positive outlook lasted right up to the latest announcement of the team for the game against New Zealand when I found those little demons of mistrust marching back into my thoughts with all the gusto of a flute band leading a Twelfth parade.
The problem is not so much who Decky picks per say, but rather the aging profile of the team and what appears to be complete disregard off, a lack of trust in, and failure to develop, Ireland’s youngsters.
Comparing the squads for Saturday morning’s game give some interesting figures. I did a similar thing a while back and I’m sad to say things haven’t changed much.
New Zealand’s squad contains two players aged 30 and over, Ireland’s squad contains ten!
New Zealand’s squad contains six players aged 23 and under (three aged 21), Ireland’s squad contains one.
The average age of the New Zealand squad is 26.2, Ireland’s squad comes in at 28.9.
New Zealand’s bench weighs in with an average age of 23.9 whereas Ireland’s bench top the scales at 28.9.
Both teams are missing an equal amount of top-flight players through injury for this game and New Zealand look at it as a chance to blood some youngsters, and a few older players on form. Ireland on the other hand look at it as a chance to wheel in the old guard hoping against hope they can raise their game once again.
Remember as you sit down to your fry on Saturday morning that Kearney, Bowe, Healy, Heaslip and now Cronin only got their chance due to injuries – they haven’t done to badly. Is it not time we had a look at a few more?
I won’t even start on Buckley … I want to hold something back for the Australian game, beisides the little Flute band has started up again with the rather catch Derry’s Walls. All together now, “We’ll fight for no …”
Ireland: (15-9) Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Andrew Trimble, Ronan O’Gara, Tomas O’Leary. (1-8) Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, John Hayes, Donncha O’Callaghan, Mick O’Driscoll, John Muldoon, David Wallace, Jamie Heaslip. (16-22) John Fogarty, Tony Buckley, Dan Tuohy, Shane Jennings, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Geordan Murphy.
New Zealand: (15-9) Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Benson Stanley, Joe Rokocoko, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan. (1-8) Ben Franks, Keven Mealamu, Owen Franks, Brad Thorn, Anthony Boric, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read. (16-22) Aled de Malmanche, Neemia Tialata, Sam Whitelock, Victor Vito, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Zac Guildford.
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3 Responses to “Ireland team for New Zealand”
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It’s a disgrace that Wallace and Court are not in the match day 22. The poisoned gnome from Turnipstan shows his true colours yet again.
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Paddy Wallace is playing centre against the Maori. Shame – his face seems to have healed quite well. I fear that Mrs Wallace will be visiting the Eden Park shop in BT9 and commissioning a bespoke John Merrick-style hessian sack….in Burberry of course…
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Hockey Boy ….. you are on the wrong thread . This was last weeks match!
V funny comment though.
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