Delighted for them.

+So Bundee (and Kieran + Roux) have an international trophee

Sam Arnold has been training in camp. I'm sure he will get a look in before Farrell no2.

He's kept to be used for the most important game : England

No he would be in contention if Ringrose+Scanell+McCloskey+Gogging get injured

won't happen until rwc 2019 is past. He will be 29, celebrating 30 in the end of RWC 2023 though, he will have his chance to prove he worths it in the meantime

BleedGreen wrote: With Farrell getting injured in training today Ringrose is next in line (even though he's not played at all) after that I think our Farrell would need to be considered. He's been good for majority of the season and be able link up with Bundee

(our) Farrell was moved from 13 to 12 because of defensive shortcomings. Can't see him getting called up, especially since he's a day's travel away.

With Farrell getting injured in training today Ringrose is next in line (even though he's not played at all) after that I think our Farrell would need to be considered. He's been good for majority of the season and be able link up with Bundee

Fantastic player. Wish him all the best going forward.

Worth recognizing Jamie Heaslip on his retirement today, after a fine career. Better to get out while healthy. Always remember his try vs. France in Croker, one of Ireland’s best.

it seems Murray Kinsella's word is fairly accurate that's two weeks in a row he's had the match day 23 spot on, delighted for Quinn that he's being given the chance, but condolences to Ultan on his bereavement.

So knowing that Murray would play the 80 he decided to save Kieran the pointless trip over to Paris and kept him for this weekend when the bench will likely be used earlier?
Or did he just fundamentally disagree with overstrander's assessment and reckon that McGrath had a shocker?
I'll wait til midnight and see what GT says ...

The expected match-day 23 from Murray Kinsella who had it spot on last time around. Marmion comes back onto the bench, with Roux also being named among the replacements, Bundee stays put at 12. Larmour also named on a changed bench with Porter added also and Toner comes in to start as Ryan has a groin strain and is expected to be rested.

15. Rob Kearney
14. Keith Earls
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray

1. Jack McGrath
2. Rory Best (captain)
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. Iain Henderson
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Dan Leavy
8. Jack Conan

Replacements:

16. Sean Cronin
17. Cian Healy
18. Andrew Porter
19. Quinn Roux
20. CJ Stander
21. Kieran Marmion
22. Joey Carbery
23. Jordan Larmour
www.the42.ie/larmour-toner-conan-ireland-italy-3838314-Feb2018/

Last time this idea was being floated was after the World Cup warm up games as well as the pool matches, in particular after the Italy match. By the time we came up against Argentina it was obvious that we had nothing like their attacking game and were struggling to defend any team who had done their homework on us.
After Saturday it just feels like deja vu. And yet the talent available to Ireland at present makes it so difficult for fans not to have hopes. That talent wasn't given any chance to shine on Saturday.
I really hope I'm wrong but that performance won't worry anyone in Wales or England.

Please . . enough of the Eamon Dunphy stuff!! We just won in Paris!
I think Saturday's win was our 4th win in Paris in the last 66 years!
Wasn't particularly pretty but we roughed it out. We're usually on the wrong side of these tight results.
It was always going to be a tough game. To snatch victory like that shows a team spirit and commitment.

phatguerilla wrote: I feel/hope that the performance was just down to Joe planning to keep his extra tricks for the Wales/England games and tried to get away wtih a 5/10 performance.

Last time this idea was being floated was after the World Cup warm up games as well as the pool matches, in particular after the Italy match. By the time we came up against Argentina it was obvious that we had nothing like their attacking game and were struggling to defend any team who had done their homework on us.
After Saturday it just feels like deja vu. And yet the talent available to Ireland at present makes it so difficult for fans not to have hopes. That talent wasn't given any chance to shine on Saturday.
I really hope I'm wrong but that performance won't worry anyone in Wales or England.

Luke Fitzgerald was absolutely jizzing himself over James Ryan, and I do think he was decent in the loose (though not significantly better than Dillane would have been for instance) but I thought he was quite poor in the scrum, which is not surprising as he's quite light for a lock, never mind a tighthead lock. We would get mullered if he plays against Wales or England.

What do people make of the game yesterday, I feel/hope that the performance was just down to Joe planning to keep his extra tricks for the Wales/England games and tried to get away wtih a 5/10 performance.

overstrander wrote: Luke McGrath had a great game, he's really consolidated his place ahead of Kieran Marmion.

His pass to Carbery for the drop goal was inch perfect.

Luke McGrath had a great game, he's really consolidated his place ahead of Kieran Marmion.