Right off im going to name the starting 15 players to play Italy in Croke Park this Saturday (Febuary 2nd). They are Fullback Girvan Dempsey, Centers Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon Darcy, Wings Geordan Murphy and Andrew Trimble with Ronan O' Gara and Eoin Reddan as the half backs. The back row forwards will be David Wallace, Dennis Leamy and Simon Easterby. Second Rows will be Donnacha O'Callaghan and Malcolm O'Kelly. Finally the front row will be John Hayes, Marcus Horan and Rory Best.
In typical Eddie O'Sullivan fashion you can safely assume there will be little if no suprises to the starting line up for Ireland's Six Nation Opener against Italy this weekend. Eddie plays it safe. There's no suprise there and there's nothin wrong with that. But after the disaster that was Ireland's World Cup Campiagn last year, surely it's time to look forward and not back. Surely it's time to push the boat out a bit Eddie.
But Eddie is stubborn. He doesn't take kindly to any criticism. He says the squad of 22 was picked based on form yet the likes of Shane Jennings and Keith Glesson who have being in fine form Leinster this year, were'nt even considered for the orginal training squad. I believe Easterby will start the Italy game as without Paul O' Connell the forward pack is lacking a strong and experienced pack leader. Reddan will start ahead of Stringer because Eddie dropped Stringer for Reddan during the World Cup and Eddie doesn't like saying or showing he was wrong. Even after the diaster that was Ulster's Heineken Cup Campaign this year I believe Trimble will start on the wing ahead of Munster's Brian Carney. I'm basing this selection on his try against Gloucester in the last round of the Heineken and Eddie's unwavering support of Trimble. The person most likely to suffer this campaign is once again Geordan Murphy. Eddie doesn't have faith in Murphy's ability (which is startling!!) and has dropped him numerous times. Geordan needs to be loved and believed in, which he is at his club Leicester, where his performances have been excellent. I fear only a hat-trick of tries against Italy will stop Geordan losing his place to Shane Horgan (if fit) for the France game. Also Geordan didn't have the best of times the last time he faced France. Eddie remembers don't you worry! Finally Jamie Heaslip will, like Tony Buckley, will come off the bench to replace Easterby and Hayes respectively. Heaslip has been one of the most consistant players this year and only for the fact that the forwards need an experienced pack leader he would be starting.
By tommorrow Eddie may have read this and just to spite me he may push the boat out and name a different starting 15. Go on Eddie. I dare you!
In typical Eddie O'Sullivan fashion you can safely assume there will be little if no suprises to the starting line up for Ireland's Six Nation Opener against Italy this weekend. Eddie plays it safe. There's no suprise there and there's nothin wrong with that. But after the disaster that was Ireland's World Cup Campiagn last year, surely it's time to look forward and not back. Surely it's time to push the boat out a bit Eddie.
But Eddie is stubborn. He doesn't take kindly to any criticism. He says the squad of 22 was picked based on form yet the likes of Shane Jennings and Keith Glesson who have being in fine form Leinster this year, were'nt even considered for the orginal training squad. I believe Easterby will start the Italy game as without Paul O' Connell the forward pack is lacking a strong and experienced pack leader. Reddan will start ahead of Stringer because Eddie dropped Stringer for Reddan during the World Cup and Eddie doesn't like saying or showing he was wrong. Even after the diaster that was Ulster's Heineken Cup Campaign this year I believe Trimble will start on the wing ahead of Munster's Brian Carney. I'm basing this selection on his try against Gloucester in the last round of the Heineken and Eddie's unwavering support of Trimble. The person most likely to suffer this campaign is once again Geordan Murphy. Eddie doesn't have faith in Murphy's ability (which is startling!!) and has dropped him numerous times. Geordan needs to be loved and believed in, which he is at his club Leicester, where his performances have been excellent. I fear only a hat-trick of tries against Italy will stop Geordan losing his place to Shane Horgan (if fit) for the France game. Also Geordan didn't have the best of times the last time he faced France. Eddie remembers don't you worry! Finally Jamie Heaslip will, like Tony Buckley, will come off the bench to replace Easterby and Hayes respectively. Heaslip has been one of the most consistant players this year and only for the fact that the forwards need an experienced pack leader he would be starting.
By tommorrow Eddie may have read this and just to spite me he may push the boat out and name a different starting 15. Go on Eddie. I dare you!
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