Ireland squad v South Africa

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Yes. I'd go for something like that. But I think Bealham will be in with a shout to start at TH. Fibber Joe seem determined not to play Payne at 15 and has been making noises about Henshaw dropping back to FB. At some point I'd like to see Olding (12) Henshaw (13) in midfield. I just hope the wildly overrated Madigan does not start at 10 or 15. Also, Joe will start Earls on the wing if fit - probably Ireland's bet all round wing now that he has added an agressive tackling game to his natural attacking instincts. I would pick him over Healy but would like to see Healy get a run in a game or two.

I've seen nothing this year to justify picking Earls over Healy.

I toyed with the idea of Henshaw playing 15. He started at Connacht there and has played there a bit in the run in and been unsurprisingly excellent. I'd have absolutely no problem with him starting there, but would rather we had called up McCloskey if that were going to happen. I don't think we should underestimate the organisation that Payne brings to the back line in defence and attack. If he can better do that from centre than full back then grand and start TOH at full back.

I don't think Joe has started anyone in any match ahead of Mike Rosswhen he's been fit and available. Having seen the Leinster scrum dominate Ulster and Connacht in recent weeks I doubt he'll start now.

[Peat]

It's going to be a real struggle trying to force something ball in hand with Mike Ross as one of your ruck clearers though. I think he should take the gamble.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

It's going to be a real struggle trying to force something ball in hand with Mike Ross as one of your ruck clearers though. I think he should take the gamble.

I wouldn't have thought so if he's used properly. I'm not sure he's any slower than he was when Leinster were throwing it around.

ETA I also don't think he should take the gamble. At least referees are aware Ross is a decent scrummmager. In an era when scrum reputation is at least as important as scrum ability I'd expect the referee to get severely tested by SA if Bealham starts.

[kk67]

+1 for S.Olding. Haven't seen much of him this season/post injury. Quality player.

[Spiffy]

+1 for S.Olding. Haven't seen much of him this season/post injury. Quality player.

Agree. Olding is class, with the X factor. I'd like to see him given a run at 12 for Ireland, with Henshaw at 13. The current vogue for international teams is a large bosher at 12, but I prefer the playmaking/footballing option. For a relatively small bloke, Olding is not bad at trucking it up anyway, and can make the hard yards when needed. He's a tough defender too. But he has to get more starts at 12 for Ulster.This would be hard on McCloskey, but, overall, I would rate Olding at the better, more skillful player. He is also comfortable at 15 and 10. In the current Ireland setup, I would rate him as well ahead of Madigan as a utility back, but more than that, he's worth a start.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Team for the first Test:

Ireland (v South Africa): J Payne; A Trimble, R Henshaw, L Marshall, K Earls; P Jackson, C Murray; J McGrath, R Best, M Ross; I Henderson, D Toner; CJ Stander, J Murphy, J Heaslip

Replacements: S Cronin, F Bealham, T Furlong, U Dillane, R Ruddock, K Marmion, I Madigan, C Gilroy.

No real surprises there. He;s certainly someone who know his own mind.

[mcshinnertheligind]

Cavan by 3

[Eugene Wrayburn]

I ought to mention that connacht are Pro 12 champions. No Irish team made the Heine QF so no one can argue that they were distracted by that, yet they manage a glorious 1 person in the starting team (who happens to be leaving for Leinster) and 3 on the bench. That's just not right. Particularly in an injury crisis.

[Spiffy]

Team for the first Test:

Ireland (v South Africa): J Payne; A Trimble, R Henshaw, L Marshall, K Earls; P Jackson, C Murray; J McGrath, R Best, M Ross; I Henderson, D Toner; CJ Stander, J Murphy, J Heaslip

Replacements: S Cronin, F Bealham, T Furlong, U Dillane, R Ruddock, K Marmion, I Madigan, C Gilroy.

No real surprises there. He;s certainly someone who know his own mind.

There is something of a surprise in that Fibber Joe, against all his earlier pronouncements, seems now to see Payne as a viable 15, when all the rest of us have realized that, for some time, he's been the best 15 in Ireland. O'Halloran would be my next FB in the peck order. The absolute howler is naming Jordi Murphy at 7. Murphy has been in poor form all season except for a couple of half decent performances. He does not deserve to be in the tour squad, let alone start a test. Murphy/Heaslip/Ruddock were comprehensively outplayed in the Pro 12 final by the Connacht backrow of Muldoon/McKeon/Heenan (non IQ at present)/substitute Sean O'Brien. I'd have Muldoon/McKeon/O'Brien/Henry/O'Donohue/Leavy all ahead of Murphy. None of them is on tour. I'd have TOD ahead too - but he's getting married.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Team for the first Test:

Ireland (v South Africa): J Payne; A Trimble, R Henshaw, L Marshall, K Earls; P Jackson, C Murray; J McGrath, R Best, M Ross; I Henderson, D Toner; CJ Stander, J Murphy, J Heaslip

Replacements: S Cronin, F Bealham, T Furlong, U Dillane, R Ruddock, K Marmion, I Madigan, C Gilroy.

No real surprises there. He;s certainly someone who know his own mind.

There is something of a surprise in that Fibber Joe, against all his earlier pronouncements, seems now to see Payne as a viable 15, when all the rest of us have realized that, for some time, he's been the best 15 in Ireland. O'Halloran would be my next FB in the peck order. The absolute howler is naming Jordi Murphy at 7. Murphy has been in poor form all season except for a couple of half decent performances. He does not deserve to be in the tour squad, let alone start a test. Murphy/Heaslip/Ruddock were comprehensively outplayed in the Pro 12 final by the Connacht backrow of Muldoon/McKeon/Heenan (non IQ at present)/substitute Sean O'Brien. I'd have Muldoon/McKeon/O'Brien/Henry/O'Donohue/Leavy all ahead of Murphy. None of them is on tour. I'd have TOD ahead too - but he's getting married.

At openside? Really? I'm not a massive fan of Jordi Murphy but I don't think he's that bad. While I might have Chris Henry ahead of him that's probably it from those who are fit outside the group and Henry isn't going to make a RWC and hasn't exactly been stellar himself this season. Besides it's not surprise at all that Joe Schmidt likes Murphy.

[Spiffy]

Team for the first Test:

Ireland (v South Africa): J Payne; A Trimble, R Henshaw, L Marshall, K Earls; P Jackson, C Murray; J McGrath, R Best, M Ross; I Henderson, D Toner; CJ Stander, J Murphy, J Heaslip

Replacements: S Cronin, F Bealham, T Furlong, U Dillane, R Ruddock, K Marmion, I Madigan, C Gilroy.

No real surprises there. He;s certainly someone who know his own mind.

There is something of a surprise in that Fibber Joe, against all his earlier pronouncements, seems now to see Payne as a viable 15, when all the rest of us have realized that, for some time, he's been the best 15 in Ireland. O'Halloran would be my next FB in the peck order. The absolute howler is naming Jordi Murphy at 7. Murphy has been in poor form all season except for a couple of half decent performances. He does not deserve to be in the tour squad, let alone start a test. Murphy/Heaslip/Ruddock were comprehensively outplayed in the Pro 12 final by the Connacht backrow of Muldoon/McKeon/Heenan (non IQ at present)/substitute Sean O'Brien. I'd have Muldoon/McKeon/O'Brien/Henry/O'Donohue/Leavy all ahead of Murphy. None of them is on tour. I'd have TOD ahead too - but he's getting married.

At openside? Really? I'm not a massive fan of Jordi Murphy but I don't think he's that bad. While I might have Chris Henry ahead of him that's probably it from those who are fit outside the group and Henry isn't going to make a RWC and hasn't exactly been stellar himself this season. Besides it's not surprise at all that Joe Schmidt likes Murphy.

Murphy has won caps as a 7, but he is not a specialist openside, and plays all three backrow slots at Leinster. When he does play 7 he is not that good at it. The players I mentioned can also play across the backrow - I have seen them do it well for Connacht this season. However you look at it, Murphy is an out of form pick who should not be there. For Ireland's sake, I hope he has a blinder.

[kk67]

Looks decent. I've been a big fan of Chris Henry for longtime......but I've seen precious little Pro12.
I'd guess that this will be the most technical game of the weekend.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

The bad guys.

South Africa: W le Roux, JP Pieterse, L Mapoe, D de Allende, L Mvovo; P Lambie, F de Klerk; T Mtawarira, A Strauss, F Malherbe; E Etzebeth, L de Jager; F Louw, S Kolisi, D Vermeulen

Replacements: B Mbonambi, T Nyakane, J Redelinghuys, P du Toit, W Whiteley, R Paige, E Jantjies, J Kriel

[mcshinnertheligind]

7-0 up !

[Ross. S]

Shocking call

[Mellsblue]

Shocking call

And again. That was an obvious block. Agree with the yellow mind.

[Lord Llandaff]

Put Stander in a black shirt, it probably wouldn't even be yellow

[Mellsblue]

Not sure about that but there have been a few clearouts from Etzebeth that weren't particularly legal.

[Spiffy]

The ref has spoiled this game as a fair contest. Amazing Ireland are still in it.

[Tobylerone]

The ref has spoiled this game as a fair contest.

So the referee should ignore dangerous play for the sake of the "game" ?
Seem to recall people saying that after Hogg was rightly sent off against Wales.. Similar situation..

[morepork]

SA obliging Ireland by running straight into defenders again and again.

[morepork]

Ooooooh.

[Which Tyler]

DON'T FECKING KICK!!!

[I R Geech]

Why did he do that?!

[morepork]

Insane.