Early indications from Schmidt are that sexton will probably go. IMO Schmidt isn't happy with decision sexton made and equally wants to discourage others from doing same so no special treatment. The money comes at a cost.

Completely agree regarding Sexton, Schmidt should be using this tour to figure out who his No 2 outhalf is. Hopefully Marmion will be brought and USED this time too.

Was thinking also that some players would be given a rest over the summer since the run up to the RWC basically begins with the start of next season. Players like POC, Best and D'Arcy because of their age and Sexton because they will have little control over how much club rugby he plays plus his involvement with the Lions would be on such a list for me. Might be others but mounting injuries might curtail that. There certainly should be some spots for players that missed out on the 6N.

After getting through the 6N with a more or less clean slate with injuries. In the last week we've had McFadden, Tuohy and POM ruled out for the rest of the season with Best probably not back either with injury. Adding on top of that BOD's retirement that makes at least 5 places in the squad up for grabs. While there is still some big games to go and probably at least one or two more injuries a lot of guys who didn't get a chance during the 6N must be thinking they're going to get a chance to with Joe vs Argentina.

These are my picks:

OUT

Best
POM
Tuohy
BOD
McFadden

IN

Herring
Ferris
McCarthy
Cave
Earls

punditarena.com/2014/03/20/unselected-fi...s-missed-six-nations

both Henshaw and Marmion are nominted here as getting involved in the Irish team.
Dave Mcsharry is omitted, he has to go to Argentina

Agree with you there. If Sexton hadn't had his two brainfarts in front of the posts it would have being a lot more relaxing. He seems to specialize in bottling it from that particular angle. You'd hope that he would work on that blind spot because while we got away with it today (largely to him scoring two tries) he cost us against New Zealand. For a world class kicker to have such a fault is something that worries me. Thought we kicked to deep in the first half as well usually to far into their 22 making it easy for them to call the mark.

Trying to stay reasonable here, after all Ireland had only won in Paris once before in past 40 years and arguably France played their best game of this 6N, but they did make it a lot harder than it had to be. Still a very special win.

Agree with Borders the kicking was overdone and it lasted up til the end with Kearney kicking away possession right after France had failed to find touch off a penalty. Ireland were so effective with ball in hand which made it even more curious that they would risk handing France possession especially when they went up 12-6 and then again 22-13. It was as if they were hoping France would crumble which they didn't and it made for a very tense final 15 minutes. Relief would best describe the emotion at the final whistle.

Indeedy, here's our boy...

overstrander wrote: Saw Pinky on da telly in the Stade de France.

Hope you have one hell of night after one hell of a match!

Delighted with this win. As usual with Ireland nothing is ever done the easy way (some of the aimless kicking was driving me bananas) but this is a sweet victory. We won a Grand Slam with Kidney in year 1 but never consistently performed for the rest of his tenure. The key for Ireland (as with Connacht) will be to get to a certain level of performance every day and try and evolved from there. I'd love to see a situation where we know every day Ireland will show up at least. That hasn't been there for the last few years. Its a great reward for the older players and hopefully can give the younger generation the chance to push on.

What a f*cking win!! I'd write more but my heart medicine is in low supply.

That's it lads, that's fucking it. Some win.

Saw Pinky on da telly in the Stade de France.

Hope you have one hell of night after one hell of a match!

ConnachtCows wrote: Thats a ridiculous article, and I thought the Irish Times were better than that. They're only a notch above the Independent at this stage. Another rag in the making

Cheer up CC.

An Irishman's Diary is often like that, and as he says himself, it's just off the top of his head.

Thats a ridiculous article, and I thought the Irish Times were better than that. They're only a notch above the Independent at this stage. Another rag in the making

www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/38-r...hem-mildly-1.1724156

For da craic.

This was discussed last season. The solution suggested then was a 5pt bonus for winning all 5 games which would work IMO.
It will probably come in the next time the rules are up for review as the TV companies won't allow final round kickoffs at same time.