Ireland Squad Announced

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/25479.php

Prop: Cian Healy, Tom Court, Brett Wilkinson, Mike Ross

Hooker: Sean Cronin, Rory Best

Lock: Paul O'Connell, Donnacha Ryan, Dan Tuohy, Donnacha O'Callaghan

Backrow: Rhys Ruddock, Peter O'Mahony, Chris Henry, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip, Stephen Ferris, Shane Jennings

Scrumhalf: Eoin Reddan, Conor Murray

Flyhalf: Jonathan Sexton, Ronan O'Gara

Centre: Eoin O'Malley, Fergus McFadden, Gordon Darcy, Paddy Wallace

Winger: Simon Zebo, Andrew Trimble, Tommy Bowe, Keith Earls, Dave Kearney

Fullback: Rob Kearney, Denis Hurley

RS a bit misleading...there is no breakdown of Centre/Winger (for example Earls - you have him in as a winger but the press release makes no distinction).

This is the squad for the first two games of the Six Nations, by the by, other posters. For Wales and France.

So Court is considered a tighthead- only one specialist tighthead, and three looseheads. It will be Court who is forced across.

Only 2 hookers, 2 scrum-halves. But seven backrows and five centres. Some positions are clearly decided; others might be up for grabs?

Earls will almost certainly start; but where? Interesting.

DOD wrote:RS a bit misleading...there is no breakdown of Centre/Winger (for example Earls - you have him in as a winger but the press release makes no distinction).

Hilarious.

DOD - as you know I have pegged Earls to start as a centre against Wales.

However the fact Deccie has named Wallace, McFadden, O'Malley and Darcy has me wondering.

There is no breakdown of positions but it is easier to discuss the squad when done like this rather than alphabetically.

It seems to me he has dropped a 9 and a hooker to include an extra back rower and an extra wing. I might be readin that wrong and I maintain I would be surprised to see anyone not in the initial 24 in the match day 22 but credit where it is due given that Henry, Tuohy, POM and Kearney jr are in there

Should add that if you include earls as a centre then extra centre

Whats the betting Kidney does what EOS suggested the other week and picks Wallace and D'Arcy at 12 and 13?

Have to say, that wouldn't be the most progressive combination.

EOS honestly suggested that?

Stand, I would say credit where it is due given that Henry, Tuohy, POM, Kearney Jr AND Ruddock AND O'Malley AND Hurley AND Zebo are all included.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:EOS honestly suggested that?

You saw his last few years as Ireland coach; do you actually have any doubt?

Stag that was Kidney who suggested playing D'arcy at 13 and Wallace at 12?

Pretty happy with that squad selection .

So far so good from Deccie...now if he just wins the tournament then I'll be happy .

Zebo in the squad so is Dave Kearney ....

That's great...

Dave Kearney is there?

Kidney clearly isn't bringing in young players at all..... Baby Kearney should be ahead of Zebo based on the Hounds game. Zebo has something that Kearney doesn't though.

Don't know what you're talking about Rodders....

Ah no I got muddled up.

Sorry lads no Dave Kearney. Earls to definitely cover wing in that case.

So wait - is Kearney Jr not included?

Ok I'm confused

No Rory, I saw Kearney listed as a surname twice. Eyes playing tricks.

Zebo, Bowe, Trimble and Earls covering wings.

Dave Kearney is actually in the squad though.. From your link;

David Kearney, Eoin O'Malley, Peter O'Mahony, Simon Zebo and Brett Wilkinson are the uncapped players who make the step up to train with the senior Ireland squad this week.

And then he's in the list

Baby Kearney is on the press release though. He is in!

So Kidney picked Zebo over Kearney Jr? Well that is certainly a strange call - Zebo I think should be there, but Kearney Jr must have earned his place after that wolfhounds game. I mean he was our best player.

Oh I don't know whats going on

I thought he was there originally.

OK Ive checked its official.

BOTH Robert AND David Kearney ARE included.

Right can we start this thread over?....

I'm not happy with this selection!

Justice for kearney!

IRELAND Training Squad (v Wales, 2012 RBS 6 Nations):

Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)
Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster)
Denis Hurley (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Shane Jennings (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) *
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) *
Eoin O'Malley (Old Belvedere/Leinster) *
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
Brett Wilkinson (Galwegians/Connacht) *
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster) *

PHEW.

I give up...let me know when the 6N is over.......

Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)
Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster)
Denis Hurley (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Shane Jennings (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) *
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) *
Eoin O'Malley (Old Belvedere/Leinster) *
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
Brett Wilkinson (Galwegians/Connacht) *
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster) *

I'm assuming fitzgerald is f**ked?

red_stag wrote:Stand, I would say credit where it is due given that Henry, Tuohy, POM, Kearney Jr AND Ruddock AND O'Malley AND Hurley AND Zebo are all included.

Yes indeed but I was thinking more from a rewarding form point of view. Should have included Zebo though

Val, yea he's still injured.

valjester wrote:I'm assuming fitzgerald is f**ked?

Seems to be, rumours are circulating that he has a trapped nerve in his neck and could require the same surgery that’s keeping O’Driscoll out.

It would be a bloody shame as he was in deadly form.

Awful news about Fitzgerald that is terribly unlucky.

This is the start of a decade of Kearney-related selection confusion.

"Kearneys in at fullback again"
"Jeez, what?! And after he missed that tackle against France"
"No Rob missed the tackle, Dave was the one who scored the try"
"Oh ok, but was it Dave or Rob who took all those high balls against Scotland"
"Nah, that was Da... Rob. It was Rob."
Are you sure?
"No."
I just checked. It was Rob who scored the try."

So can we still label Kidney conservative? I'm pleasantly surprised by the inclusions.

Notch wrote:This is the start of a decade of Kearney-related selection confusion.

"Kearneys in at fullback again"
"Jeez, what?! And after he missed that tackle against France"
"No Rob missed the tackle, Dave was the one who scored the try"
"Oh ok, but was it Dave or Rob who took all those high balls against Scotland"
"Nah, that was Da... Rob. It was Rob."
Are you sure?
"No."
I just checked. It was Rob who scored the try."

Good progressive squad, I slated Kidney before for not having enough players for the future in his original squad so I'm happy to see I was wrong!

Will depend on the 22 I think thomond but I agree that's a really positive squad.

1F'sgonnagetya! wrote:Good progressive squad, I slated Kidney before for not having enough players for the future in his original squad so I'm happy to see I was wrong!

I’ll hold fire until the match day 22 is announced. We could well have DOC starting, with Touhy dropped altogether.

How do people feel about Brett Wilkinsons inclusion? Would Archer have been a better option and just let Court do loosehead cover.

Rodders, what wrong? Who is there that shouln't who is not there that should?!

I guess Deccie has basically decided against farking about with hooker & scrum half. Stright fights between Best & Cronin and Murray & Reddan. Best to start for certain methinks and prob Murray.

Same at OH, no 3rd player as cover/bag holder.

Centre will be interesting alright. And I could see any mix of the wingers being used. Trimble & Zebo or Kearney would be an exciting combo with Rob at FB.

red_stag wrote:How do people feel about Brett Wilkinsons inclusion? Would Archer have been a better option and just let Court do loosehead cover.

P.I. staker

Debaters I have to say I like the fact its a straight shootout at hooker and scrumhalf.

He managed Sexton v ROG excellently lets see him do the same in these positions.

I thought Wilkinson looked very handy in the loose - but I mean if anyone saw our scrum against the Saxons, I don't see how any of those props could be selected. He could be top try scorer for Ireland and it still wouldn't matter if he can't fix his scrummaging. Besides we already have two loose heads who are fantastic in the loose and better scrummagers - Healy and McAllister. At tight head we really need to be developing some younger players. I am hoping Macklin is the answer.

Squads perfect debators1!

roddersm wrote:Squads perfect debators1!

Now Im worried

Also my team for Wales:

Healy - Best - Ross
Ryan - POC
Ferris - Heaslip - SOB

Murray - Sexton
Wallace - Earls
Trimble - Kearney - Bowe

You know.. I actually like the look of that team. Hope it is Wallace that starts at 12 though, but I doubt it.

In deccie we trust stag !

It doesn’t make a lick of difference if Wilkinson is there or Archer, neither of them are getting near the 22 man squad. And rightly so, the scrummaging against the Saxons was appalling.

Mick they are one injury from the match day squad.

Rory I like that team. I honestly couldnt care what centres he picks but agree 100% with rest of team.

The real test will be the bench: Kidneys biggest achilles heel I believe.