You'd have 4 points for a win in that case so the table would be 14/13/12 but same gaps. In any case I think the answer on whether this will be brought in is no: you could theoretically have a case where team got the grand slam with no try bonus points (20 pts.) and doesn't win the championship, as one of teams they beat had 4 bonus point wins and 1 lbp (21).

If there were bonus points in 6N we would have 8 points, one ahead of England and two ahead of France.

Does anyone know if there are plans to go this route in the future?

I have to assume Schmidt is looking for a big win in order to build on Ireland's points differential advantage.

Agreed but I'll be bummed out if Jackson doesn't get at least 20 mins.

The super Sergio is out so they will be going for the throat !! Could be a bad day in Dublin for the Azzuri !!!

A bit surprised they're risking Sexton for the Italians. Jackson would more than be up to the job and starting him would be in line with squad building for the RWC. I have to assume Schmidt is looking for a big win in order to build on Ireland's points differential advantage.

Third one this year for him !!

Luke Marshall is concussed again! Worried about that boy. It can't be good for his health and if it continues I can see him having to retire early like David Quinlan did.

I heard earlier in the week that TOD had taken a knock in training so maybe it's something as simple as he had to sit out training and Schmidt decided he wanted a lad you had ran the plays against England on the bench as opposed to a lad who missed a few days because he couldn't train. Who knows?

Its an odd call, you wouldn't think England away would be the best first cap for a player. Even though I believe it is tactical its hard to know what Murphy does better than TOD, Murphy's main asset is his carrying, which TOD is also strong. I have seen it suggested that Murphy is the nearest rival to Heaslip which I find both massively overstating his present form and underrating Heaslip's importance to Ireland, no way he is coming off the field early Saturday imo.

Jordi Murphy in to replace TOD and Henderson in to replace Tuohy. Intriguing choice of Murphy over TOD. I'm assuming Murphy is being brought in to do a particular job for England. Schmidt has always being a horses for courses manager with Ireland so I'd love to know what the job Murphy is being brought on to do. Tough on TOD but he's young and this seems tactical rather than form so he'll be back sooner rather than later.

Really happy for Henshaw with the level of training Schmidt gives him it can only be good for us as well. Shame McSharry missed most of the season, while I don't think he'd be ahead of Darcy or Marshall he'd have had a good chance of making the Wolfhounds and getting some training under the Irish Management.

Sinéad Kissane ‏@sineadkissane
Brian O'Driscoll "has a little bit of a bug" so didn't train today but management say he will be fine. Henshaw trained at 13 today

its a long week and you'd expect BOD to recover in time but Henshaw must be flying

I get your points and agree with them. I'm thinking that Henderson might be picked ahead of him for his ball carrying ability something we're quite short on. Not much between them to be frank and would be happy with either.

I agree with the above, plus McCarthy has lost some of the early season flab and whatever injuries that were holding him back and was looking in great form before his face was ripped apart. Even though Cole is out the scrum will still need to be at its best possible level which Henderson may not be able to provide. Plus Launchbury and Lawes are in superb form and are both well ahead of Henderson in development and form and he may struggle to contain either of them. I was a little surprised Launchbury didn't go on the lions tour tbh but I think Gatland wanted to pick as much proven experience as possible, but that's a different story.

connachtexile wrote: According to the Sunday Times Henderson is the favourite to take the spot on the bench against England next wknd.

I trust Schmidt to make the right call, based on the game plan. One thing I would say is I think Mike's perfection of the choke tackle is really under rated. Above all others, he has an unreal ability to hold guys up, normally on his own, for long enough for others to come and help. I'd love to see him get more opportunities to show that in a green jersey.

According to the Sunday Times Henderson is the favourite to take the spot on the bench against England next wknd.