FOUR TRIES IN five isn’t a bad return for a back row forward, although the mere sight of CJ Stander being unleashed from the bench with the game in the balance was a reminder to Jack Conan of the battle he faces to keep that number eight jersey.
Conan showed all his athleticism and potency with a fine breakaway try to further stretch Ireland’s lead but because the collective performance was scrappy and error-laden, those auditioning on the big stage were left to wonder had they impressed sufficiently.
“It’s another step up physicality-wise, pace-wise, the margin for error is smaller, the window for timing is so much smaller so you have to be on it and so sharp ever single time,” Conan said post-match.
“It’s definitely a step up and it’s a few weeks since I played in that Ulster game so I was definitely blowing there a bit in the first half, but I got my second wind in the second half.”
His try was the standout moment.
Gathering the loose ball from his boot laces, Conan ran it home from 48 metres to create further daylight between the sides, only for Ireland to surrender that advantage and allow Fiji back into the contest.
It required two late Ian Keatley clutch penalties to ensure Joe Schmidt’s side maintained their momentum-building streak of six victories in as many Test matches.
“It’s one of those memories that we’ll share going down the line as a team,” Conan added.
“Last weekend we had more than 600 caps against South Africa and this weekend we only had about 200 so for such a young squad, a young 23, to dig deep I think will build the team even more down the line. It was fantastic to be part of that — obviously it wasn’t a vintage performance on our behalf, but any time you go out and get the win it’s great.”
And certainly the general consensus is that a hard-fought 23-20 victory is far more instructive and beneficial than a 40-point rout would have been. For many in green, it was a steep, but valuable, learning curve.
“They [young players] were given their shot — it’s good for them, it’s good for the culture, it’s good for the team. We weren’t at our best, but I think the experience lads gained today is absolutely invaluable going forward.”
“When Joe tells you on the Monday or the Tuesday that you’re going to be involved, you’re not thinking that you’re borrowing this jersey from someone for 80 minutes. You’ve got to think that ‘this is my jersey now’ and do your best. Today, we weren’t at our best, but that’s rugby and you have to roll with the punches. It’s something to improve on and get better.”
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Given as your sub keeper kind of makes a mockery of the whole article
Never make a defender Captain… It’s a GOLDEN RULE, even if he has a double games week or is a potent goal scorer like Gary “The Doc” Doherty, you never make him a captain…
It’s a negative tactic that limits your chance of getting the most out of your squad for that week!
But good luck with it…
Goalkeeper: Gordon banks
Defenders: cafu. Maldini. Roberto Carlos. Beckenbauer
Midfield: Ronaldo. Ronaldinho. Kaka. Zico
Strikers Messi. Pele. Real Ronaldo. Maradona And Fionn Dillon Kelly
Managed by Steve Staunton.
What do you think???
It is not as simple as Rvp is worth two Ricky van Wolfswinkel. you still need another two forwards. Having Rvp means something like Rvp or Anelka over Soldado and Negredo/Benteke/Sturridge. I know which one i prefer. The second one is cheaper too
My team is
Mignolet, Lewis
Terry, Toure, Collins, Michael Turner, Chester
Hazard(c), Walcott, Michu, Mirallas, Jedinak
Benteke, Soldado, Lukaku
Foster
Toure Coleman Terry
Coutinho Mirrales Hazard (c) Nolan
RVP Lukaku Dzeko
Gazzaniga Lucas Brayford Ramage
Mata isn’t fully fit, despite being left out of the Spain squad, I doubt he will play both games in the double gameweek, Hazard is probably a better option.
Cech(V)
Baines, Jagielka, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto
Fellaini, Hoolahan, Carrick, Taarabt
Berbatov,Van Persie(C)
Vorn, Rodallega, Diame, O’Shea
Alvaro Negredo I think.
My team:
Vorm azoplicueta kompany agger dembele kagawa coutinho Michu
Rvp dzeko bony
Boruc
Baker, Martin, Baines,
Michu, Gerrard, Lampard(C), Hazard,
Dzeko, RVP, Anelka.
Mignolet; Riether, Coleman, Zabaleta; Coutinho (v), Downing, Snodgrass, Hazard (c); Anelka, Sturridge, RvP.
that’s a brutal team.
cech
distan luiz mertesacker baines
Mata cazorla silva diame
dzeko giroud.
Mignolet Zabaleta Mertesacker Ivanovic(V) Azpillicuta Fellaini Hazard(C) Coutinho Anelka Aspas & RVP(natch).
Gk mignolet
Ivanovic vidic whittaker zabletta
Y toure kagawa coutinho dembele
Rvp Capt podolski
Subs boruc baker shelvey anelka
Here goes.
Marshall (GKP)
Baines (DEF)
Ivanovic (DEF)
Zabaleta (DEF)
Shelvey (MID)
Mata (MID)
Coutinho (MID) vc
Santi Cazorla (MID)
Ba (FWD) cpt
Bony (FWD)
Anelka (FWD)
Subs
Boruc (GKP)
Figueroa (DEF)
Kim (MID)
Diakité (DEF)
Lloris
Walker Zabeleta Ivanovic Baines
Couthino (C) Allen Ben Arfa
Dzeko Benteke (V) Bony
Given Mertszacker Cabaye Snodgrass
Mignolet
Williams. Kompany Baines
Santi Cazorla,Gerrard,Cabaye,Hazard,
V.Wonswinkel, Benteke, Berbatov
Mannone.
Ivanovic, Riether, Evans.
Brady, Hoolahan, Garvan, Mata (c).
Benteke, RVP, Soldado.
Begovic
Baines Williams Luis Lugano
Miralles (V)Hazard Cleverly
Vydra (C)Van Persie Lukaku
Starting 11:
Lloris
Vidic G.Johnson Luiz
Nolan Walcott Essien Yaya Toure
Lambert Rooney Podolski
Subs : Davis Redmond Shaw Garrido
Nice team lad