Irish lock selections for New Zealand tour

Pick four.

Ryan, O'Connell, Tuohy and Toner for me, although I'm sure O'Callaghan will go and possibly Cullen/McCarthy at the expense of Toner and Tuohy.

Mike McCarthy should be on the list I think.

I went Ryan, POC, Tuohy and Toner.

I think Toner is underrated and could grow into quite a good lock for us at one point.

Ryan is a must, we need more mobility as POC is anything but mobile, Ryan's ball skills and awareness are also very good for a lock foward.

Ryan, POC, Tuohy and Cullen.

I expect O'Callaghan to not win out in this poll as someone we want to see tour, but to start at least one or two tests

Why would you bring Cullen Notch, I find that an odd call.

Second best lineout organiser we have available and a leader. I would have voted for Mike McCarthy instead had he been in the poll but I haven't been won over by Devin Toner yet.

Cullen has limited value because O'Connell will always start if fit, also I think Donnacha Ryan is capable of stepping into O'Connells shoes if necessary.

Toner has a skill set that none of the other locks have. His ball skills and handling have been a revelation this season, he's like a giant centre at times.

He still lacks the physicality of the other candidates but hes getting there.

Ryan, POC, Tuohy and Toner all the way for me

POC, Ryan, Tuohy and Hayes (Toner of the ones listed)

I don't think Cullen is a great player at International level anymore, he was pretty good in 2010 at times. He is a leader but Ireland have more than enough of them.

He is very similar to POC too in his strengths and weakness'.
He is an old style lock who is not mobile, good lineout operator and good grunt but POC is better at all those things.

Toner has come on massively this season and is only 25.
Locks normally grow into their position and he has his best years ahead of him. I'd say he's been one of Leinsters best players this year tbh.

His ball skills and offensive awareness have improved no end and he is comfortable offloading or taking the contact. He isn't immense in the contact area but he doesn't get blown out of it the way he did last season.

He is such an asset in the lineout and despite being gangly adds something near 20 stone in the scrum.

I think the future lock pair will be Tuohy and Ryan and it will be a good combo that but having Toner as cover will be huge as he is a very good player especially now that he is more affective in the loose and coming on with 20/30 mins to go could work really well for him. It has for Leinster since Thorns arrival.

Underrated player IMO

Went Ryan, POC, Toner and Tuohy. Really debated picking DOC. Hes been good this season and went well during the 6 nations. As long as hes not first or second choice maybe not even 3rd i wouldnt mind him going, but toner has had such a good season i cant leave him out and Tuohy too.

ignore!

He said Tuohy and Ryan rodders, not Toner and Ryan!

Also, missing an "m" from your name?

Good spot Rory! Yeah dropped the m!

Yeah i just noticed that as well. Loads of name changing today

I was thinking of americanising my name. BEEFJERKY

I think we need to change Toner. His name appears very faint alongside the other names. The only problem is I always have trouble loading the cartridge.

biltongbek wrote:I was thinking of americanising my name. BEEFJERKY

I had some of that Biltong stuff not so long ago - cant say I was won over, very strange consistency.

Thohy has impressed me. Toner OK(ish)

The rest - too old

Ryan is 28 - why is that too old? What is the acceptable age for players?

It really depends on the player doesn't it,after all Brad Thorn was still starting for the All Blacks last year and by all accounts they'll struggle to replace him.The Crusaders are definitely weaker without him.

I went for POC and Cullen because NZ is not somewhere you want to go without an experienced lineout leader. Went with Ryan and Tuohy after that as Ireland need to develop some younger options and Ryan did okay in the 6N. Tuohy I went with because he was Ulster's best forward in both games against Tigers and probably their best player overall at Welford Rd.

Ryan,POC and Tuohy should make it easy.

Somehow however I fear DOC, POC, Cullen and Ryan.

Ryan was a fantastic line-out operator over the 6 nations. He is learning a lot from POC. Tuohy is also very good at the line-out, improving each game in that regard. Ryan is in his best form now, really needs to be nailed down for Ireland.

In fact, speaking from an Ulster POV, I think Ryan is a similar player to Muller, except younger and more mobile. Both are a similar size according to their stats, and both are hard workers and great line-out operators. Tuohy works brilliantly with that.

Ryan is crucial for us to develop. The fact he is so mobile and his ball skills and vision are good means we can play that "total" rugby with backs and forwards all comfortable on the ball.

Ryan and Tuuohy are going to be a great combo one day.
Ian Nagle really has disappeared.