– Niall Kelly reports from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
IT STARTED LATE on Thursday, not long before midnight, a familiar chorus of “There’s only one Conor McGregor” snaking its way across the casino floor and carrying a dozen partying fans along with it.
Don’t worry — the Irish are finally here.
For most of the week, it was almost the dirty little secret of UFC 196. Las Vegas has become so used to the wave of green that sweeps into town with McGregor that when the usual invasion never quite materialised, nobody knew how to react.
“I’ve already written an article for tomorrow’s paper wondering what has happened to the Irish fans,” a worried-looking Canadian journalist confided while waiting outside the MGM Grand Garden for Friday afternoon’s weigh-ins.
He cast his eye over the queue to get in to the arena, so long that it was split into two with each part doubling back on itself, laced with tricolours, GAA jerseys and the kind of pasty faces that cannot be mistaken for any other nationality.
Thankfully, there was still time for a bit of a re-write.
There was of course a visible Irish presence earlier in the week but the army has unquestionably swelled over the past 24 hours. The majority of the McGregor fans at Wednesday’s open workouts cheered on their man with an American twang, while those who arrived in time for Thursday’s press conference seemed to be confined to a few pockets of green.
It fed concerns that a third fight in the space of nine months, and so soon after the December pilgrimage for the Jose Aldo featherweight title fight, might be one trip too many for even the die-hards. Not even the UFC bean-counters could find fault with anyone who chose to sit this one out.
But the fanaticism which McGregor inspires doesn’t abide by that kind of logic, not to mention the hedonist Vegas playground which has its own unique charms to keep pulling people back.
Those who were expecting a repeat of the wild Aldo atmosphere might feel that this week comes up short, but it’s more likely that that particular moment in Irish MMA history will live on as the exception rather than the rule.
By the time The Notorious bounded on to the scales to weigh in at an easy 168lbs, smiling and rubbing his belly, their numbers had comfortably moved from the hundreds into four figures.
“I’m looking forward to going in there and putting the martial arts back into the game,” he said, enjoying himself every bit as much as those behind the Olé Olés which rolled around the arena.
Weight should never be an issue. Champions should be able to go up and down and fight any challenge that comes before them.
“I’m looking forward to going in fresh and putting on a show for the fans because the fans’ support, I always step up for the fans.”
Stop any of those same fans in the bar or on the casino floor and they would surely tell you that it’s unthinkable that Nate Diaz could cause a shock in Saturday night’s main event.
“I’m here to kill or be killed. That’s Stockton, California,” Diaz warned, battling the boos which threatened to drown him out. ”Fuck this little bitch, fuck you.”
The roles of hero and villain were determined long before this. Now they have their audience — and they’re making their voices heard.
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
Mcgrath Best Furlong Ryan Toner Cj O’brien Heaslip Murray Jackson Earls Henshaw Ringrose Trimble Zebo
https://media.giphy.com/media/GjYjLvGErsggg/giphy.gif
I STILL think Kearney shouldn’t be starting
Team I would go with …
McGrath, Best, Furlong
Ryan, Toner
Stander, Heaslip, SOB
Murray
Jackson
Trimble, Henshaw, Ringrose, Earls
Zebo
R: N Scannell, Healy, Bealham, Henderson, JvdF, Marmion, R Scannell, O’Halloran
In terms of the team that will start Joe will go with that first 15, bar Kearney at FB. On the bench he’ll probably go with Treacy, Keatley & Zebo instead of the brothers Scannell & O’Halloran.
He loves Kearney can’t see him being dropped
Zebo isn’t coming off the bench. Either 11 or 15
@John Kelly: I was going to post my team but this is pretty much it.
I think its a toss up between this team and Kearney at FB with Zebo on the wing and Earls on the bench
McGrath, Best, Furlong
Henderson, toner,
VDF, Heaslip, Cj stander,
Murray, Jackson
Henshaw, Ringrose,
Earls, OHalloran , Zebo.
1. McGrath
2. Best
3. Furlong
4. Toner
5. Ryan
6. Stander
7. VDF
8. Headlip
9. Murray
10. Jackson
11. Earls
12. Henshaw
13. Ringrose
14. Zebo
15. O’Halloran
McGrath Best Furlong Toner Ryan Stander O Brien Heaslip Murray Jackson Trimble Henshaw Ringrose Zebo O Halloran.
1. McGrath 2. Best 3. Furlong 4. Ryan 5. Toner 6. Stander 7. Van den flier 8. Heaslip 9. Murray 10. Jackson 11. Zebo 12. Henshaw 13. Ringrose 14. Trimble 15. O’Halloran 16. N Scannell 17. Healy 18. Ryan 19. Henderson 20. O’Brien 21. Marmion 22. R Scannell 23. Earls
1 Jack m
2 Rory B
3 T Furlong
4 toner
5 Ryan
6 CJ
7 SOB
8 Heaslip
9 Murray
10 Jackson
11 Earls
12 Scannell
13 henshaw
14 Trimble
15zebo
Bench Scannell, Healy, John Ryan, Henderson, JVDF, Marmion, Keatly. Ringrose
O halloran, zebo, ringrose, Henshaw, Earls, Jackson, Murray, heaslip, vdf, stander, toner, Ryan, furlong, best, ma grath
McGrath, Best, Furlong
Henderson, Toner
Stander, Heaslip, SOB
Murray
Jackson
Zebo, Henshaw, Ringrose, Earls
O’Halloran
R: Scannell, Healy, Bealham, Ryan, JvdF, Marmion, Scannell, Trimble
1. Tiernan O’Halloran
2. Andrew Trimble
3. Garry Ringrose
4. Robbie Henshaw
5. Simon Zebo
6. Paddy Jackson
7. Conor Murray
8. Jack McGrath
9. Rory Best
10. Tadgh Furlong
11. Billy Holland
12. Dan Leavy
13. Jamie Heaslip
14. Keith Earls
15. Ian Keatley
16. Cian Healy
17. Finlay Bealham
Great half back combo , and the centres will be hard to stop on a crash ball .
I love that phrase “crash ball” Always reminds me of Kevin Maggs for some reason.
1 McGrath
2 best
3 furlong
4 dillane
5 Henderson
6 Stander
7 VDF
8 Heaslip
9 Murray
10 Jackson
11 Earls
12 Henshaw
13 Ringrose
14 Trimble
15 Zebo
16 Scannell
17 Healy
18 Bealham
19 Ryan/ Toner
20 SOB
21 Marmion
22 Scannell
23 O’Halloran
It absolutely amazes me that you think we should drop our best second row for Iain Henderson (who barely plays at all) and Dillane (who’s been injured for a while now)
Now 2nd rows need to be more athletic. In my opinion Toner offers nothing else other than a line out option. In the 6Ns you have Itoje, Kruis and Johnny Gray all extremely athletic and mobile 2nd rows. In my opinion Ireland should go with Dillane and Henderson due to their mobility and athleticism but saying that I do think Schmidt will go with Toner and Ryan
I’m meant to be working so don’t really have the time to reply to that, but this article pretty much sums it up for me
https://dementedmole.com/2017/01/08/ireland-second-rows-in-2016-the-post-paul-oconnell-era/
And I should be studying for my Leaving
Oisin if your right and toner and Ryan offer nothing apart from lineout ( our major source of tries) why may I ask will joe pick those two statues?
Wow excellent article
Kearney will start as he generally delivers for Joe. I’d be one of his biggest critics but in fairness he delivered against NZ. Ryan and SOB will start imo with Henderson and vdf coming off the bench around 50mins to inject pace into game
About 40 comments and McCloskey hasn’t even been mentioned as a bench option. Ulster have been terrible but McCloskey has performed better than most. Not sure I’d start him over Ringrose but considering the calls for him 12 months ago I’m surprised he hasn’t even been named.
Johnny 5 we have 3 centres playing better and for winning teams. RS is the only player who’s got a chance of breaking the partnership of henshaw and ringrose.
@Johnny 5: Boooo! McCloskey’s defensive errors were woeful against Clermont, always coming out too quick, not drifting, and he certainly didn’t imrpove on his mistakes when playing against Exeter.
My advice to McCloskey, lose the top not and try to get some advice from Andy Farrell
O halloran earls ringrose hesnhaw zebo Jackson Murray stander VDF SOB Henderson Toner furlong best McGrath
McGrath, Best, Furlong,Toner, Henderson, Stander, SOB, Heaslip, Murray, Earls, Henshaw, Ringrose, Zebo, O’Halloran
Any 10?
Popplewell-wood-claw-o’connell-mc bride- o’brien-slattery-foley Murray-campbell-geoghean-gibson- O’driscoll-ringland-o’reilly.
@sean byrne: Campbell for Kyle, are you mad?
McLaughlin, Wood, Millar, O’Connell, McBride, J O’Driscoll, Slattery, Duggan, Murray (on form, needs to do it consistantly for legend status), Kyle, T O’Reilly, Gibson, O’Driscoll, Ringland, T Kiernan.
1. McGrath, 2. Best 3. Furlong, 4. Ryan, 5. Toner 6. Stander 7. O’Brien 8. Heaslip 9. Murray 10. Jackson. 11. Zebo 12. Henshaw 13. Ringrose 14. Trimble 15. O’Halloran 16. Healy 17. Scannell 18. Ryan 19. Henderson 20. Van der Flier 21. Marmion 22. Scannell 23. Earls
Team I want:
mcgrath, best, furlong
toner, hendo
stander, heaslip, van der flier
murray, jackson
marshall, henshaw
earls zebo trimble
scannel, finly, ryan, dillane, o’brien, marmion, scannel, kearney
Team that will be picked:
mcgrath, best, furlong
toner, ryan
stander, heaslip, van der flier
murray, jackson
henshaw, ringrose
zebo kearney trimble
scannel, healy, finly, hendo, o’brien, marmion, scannel, earls
Stick to the Fulham Dacourt!
1 McGrath 2 Best 3 Furlong 4 Ryan 5 Toner 6 Stander 7 O’Brian 8 Henderson 9 Murry 10 Jackson 11 Earls 12 Henshaw 13 Ringrose 14 Trimble 15 Zebo 16 N Scannel 17 Healy 18 Belham 19 Henderson 20 VanDeflier 21Marmion 22 R Scannel 23 Kearny
Henderson will start , we need at least one 2nd row who can carry the ball forward and make defensive hits . And at 6ft 7in tall he’s a great lineout option.
1 Mc Grath
2 Best
3 Furlong
4 Toner
5 Ryan
6 Stander
7 Van Der Flier
8 Heaslip
9 Murray
10 Jackson
11 Earls
12 Henshaw
13 Ringrose
14 Trimble
15 Zebo
16 Scanell
17 Healy
18 Ryan
19 Henderson
20 O Brien
21 Mc Grath
22 Keatley
23 Kearney
McGrath, Best, Furlong Toner, Ryan Stander, SOB, Heaslip Murray Jackson Henshaw, Ringrose Earls, Trimble Zebo R. Scannel, Healy, Bealham, Henderson, JVDF, Marmion, Scannel, TOH
McGrath, Best, Furlong, Toner, D Ryan, Heaslip, Stander & O’Brien
Jackson & Murray
15 Kearney, 14 Zebo,13 Henshaw, 12 McCloskey & 11 Trimble (12 is likely to be Ringrose)
Subs: Healy, Tracy, J Ryan, Henderson, van der Flier, Ringrose, Marmion, Keatley (if Ringrose starts Earls on the bench)
N Scannell and Conan to get opportunities over the course of the championship. It’s a pity Byrne and O’Loughlin didn’t get a shot ahead of Gilroy and Bowe (past form vs current form)
Treacy doesnt even start for leinster why would he make irelands subs?
I say the only real choices are:
Who partners Toner in Second Row?
Trimble v O’Halloran…
I think it is fair to say that Schmidt is looking at the Henshaw-Ringrose center pairing…
The Front Row is nailed down… Back row of CJ, Heaslip, SOB is one of the strongest in the world… The All Blacks would fear them…
I would loved a winger like Healy or Kelleher… A guy with real gas… Gilroy has a fair bit…
1. Healy
2. Best
3.J. Ryan
4.Henderson
5.Toner
6.Stander
7. Van der Flier
8. Heaslip
9. Murray
10. Jackson
11. Earls
12. Mccloskey
13. Henshaw
14. Bowe
15. Zebo
16. Tracey. 21. L. Mcgrath
17. Mcgrath 22. R. Scannell
18. Furlong. 23. O’ Halloran
19. D. Ryan
20. Conan
I had a look at who started in previous games, if schmidt hasnt changed his mind in the last few months then the depth chart is:
15: kearney, Zebo, OHalloran
14/11: Trimble, Earls/Zebo, Gilroy, the rest(Z started vs NZ, but E started the last game vs Aus)
13: Ringrose, Marshall
12: Henshaw, McCloskey/Scannell
10: Jackson, Keatley/Scannell
9: Murray, Marmion, McGrath
8: Heaslip, CJ, Conan
7: SOB, VDF, TOD
6: CJ, POM, Leavy
5/4: Toner, Ryan, Henderson, Dillane, Holland
3: Furlong, Bealham, Ryan
2: Cronin, Tracy, Scannell
1: McGrath, Healy, Kilcoyne
Again, this is purely based on who Schmidt picked in previous games. Not based on my own preferences
McGrath Best Furlong Toner Ryan Stander O Brien Heaslip Murray Sexton Earls Henshaw Ringrose Trimble Zebo Bench Scannell Healy Ryan Henderson O mahony Marmion Jackson Bowe
No sexton scannell 22 and Jackson 10 and van den flier on the bench
Looks like Trimble might be out though.
15. Zebo
14. Earls
13. Ringrose
12. Henshaw
11. Trimble
10. Jackson
9. Murray
1. McGrath
2. Best
3. Furlong
4. Toner
5. Ryan
6. SOB
7. VDF
8. Stander
16. N Scannell
17. Healy
18. Bealham
19. Dillane
20. Heaslip
21. Marmion
22. R Scannell
23. O’Halloran
Healy,
Scannell
kilcoyne
Dillane
Henderson
Van der Flier
ODonnell
Conan
Marmion
Jackson
Bowe
mcLoskey
gilroy,
Trimble
OHalloran
Reinstate the Probables V Possibles match!!
Zebo, Bowe, Trimble, Ringrose, Henshaw, Jackson, Murray, Heaslip, Stander, O’brien, Toner, Henderson, Furlong, Best, Mcgrath
15-Zebo
14-Trimble
13-Ringrose
12-Henshaw
11-Earls
10-Jackson
9-Murray
1-McGrath
2-Best
3-Furlong
4-Henderson
5-Toner
6-Stander
7-O’Brien
8-Heaslip
16-Tracy
17-Healy
18-Bealham
19-Dillane
20-van der Flier
21-Marmion
22-Keatley
23-O’Halloran
1. McGrath, 2.Best, 3. Furlong
4. Toner, 5.Ryan
6. Stander, 7. O’Brien, 8. Heaslip
9. Murray, 10. Jackson 11. Zebo 12. Henshaw 13. Ringrose 14. Earls 15. Kearney
Replacements;
Treacy, Belham, Healy
Henderson, J VDF,
Marmian, Scannell, O’Halloran
Dillane & Trimble not fully fit so I’m ruling both out. A chance that Zebo starts at 15 with Bowe at 14 to add some experience & no place for Kearney