Some curious choices at certain position, but with the right approach Ireland can still prevail, writes Keego…
...So here we are, Declan Kidney threw us for a loop. None of us saw that team coming. Now that it is here, twitter is losing its mind!
Taking into account the injuries, the surprises are only 3. Paddy Jackson, Luke Marshall and Ronan O’Gara not starting the game against Scotland at the weekend. Smaller arguments have broken out over Tom Court starting instead of Kilcoyne.
For me, Paddy Jackson is really good. He will be a fantastic player. He has had two outings in a pressure environment that being the semi and the final of the Heineken cup last year. The fact is that he did not perform. He was not able to control the game as a 10 should. This doesn’t mean that he never will, it just means that he has had a shot and has not been able to handle the pressure, which would be multiplied while wearing the green jersey. He will be taking the starting spot from Ronan O’Gara which had Munster people’s brains exploding.
Surely Ronan was the back up 10 behind Sexton, so he should start? Is this not how the pecking order of a team is meant to work? He should start with Jackson/Madigan coming on if needed. With Jackson starting the chance of him being scarred for life after a bad start and being replaced by O’Gara might be something he won’t be able to come back from.
Class is for life, sporting prime is not. While Ronan may not have too many games left in the green jersey, he should be starting this one. It is the right decision. There is no point in urinating on the team structure based on two lacklustre games. O’Gara will play a blinder when he is called upon on Sunday. And will then go back to number 2 (poooo) behind Sexton the following week, which again, might not do Jackson much good.
Luke Marshall has not had a huge amount of vile thrown his way via twitter. He is young, strong and ready to rumble. For me McFadden should be in there as the senior player. At 27, people think he is over the hill which is insane. He has been learning from the two best centres in the modern era. Anyone who thinks this is a negative might be missing the point. He has Heineken cup winner’s medals. He has played in pressure situations and has played really well in the green jersey. Again, Kidney is urinating from a height on the team structure.
Not sure why the word ‘urinate’ is coming up so often. Maybe I had too much coffee today.
Tom Court has been quietly helping assassinate front rows all season and also deserves his shot. Kilcoyne has been immense too. This looks to me as the hardest decision Kidney had to make. The other two took care of themselves.
That is only my opinion. Now that I have dribbled out the nonsense, let’s look at what we need to do to win the game. As usual, it is all about the simple things. If the weather is dry, we can run the ball. The scrum, lineout and maul worked well against England. We should start by grinding up the Scottish front row. Slowing them down so that their fairly epic backline do not get the ball with time in hand. Their full back and wingers are playing blinders. Maitland (who is in my Irish times fantasy team) is a great find by Scottish rugby (and is something we should be doing).
We have a better front row. Our backline is at least on equal footing as theirs. Kearney is a better tackler than Hogg; he may lack half a step on the Scottish 15. Keith Earls is back in his proper position on the left wing. I always find him more exciting to watch when he is out there. The 13 experiment should be over at this stage. He is facing Maitland which will be challenging for both sides. If we can get quicker ball to Earls then he might have the nous to undo Maitland.
Gilroy has his hands full again facing Tim Visser. Visser is absolutely lethal. Gilroy has to step up again this week. If he can do that then he is putting his name on the jersey. I think Trimble has been shafted and would be better again in this game. No offence to Gilroy, but in the English game, Trimble was the right choice. It is the same this week. How can the number 2 player at the province be first choice for the national team?
Again Kidney urinating on the team structure…
In saying all of this, I hope Jackson scores 30 points and single handedly wins us the game. I do not want to see O’Gara HAVE to come on. That could be horrible for one of our future 10’s.
Lastly, Madigan must have done something. He is the form player. He is the centre of all the good things at Leinster when Sexton is away. He will lead the team next year. He should be playing in green. He was brought in because all of us on twitter went mad. Hopefully Madigan takes this snub in stride and keeps improving for Leinster until the Irish coach has no choice but to pick him.
It now looks like I need to go to the toilet.
As usual, if my bowel movements are to be discussed/abused (?)/debated then I can be found @nkeegan. Also, if you have a few minutes, check out www.thedailyclothesline.com for more from me.
Until next week.
Keego (@nkeegan): Blogger, former professional wrestler, sometime attempted rugby player (@TheThirsty3rds), professional procrastinator and attempted musician with a fondness for long walks on the bar, tea and the couch. Opinionated Leinster fan and constant gardener.
