Ireland Training squad for Nov Internationals

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http://thescore.thejournal.ie/ireland-training-squad-1087189-Sep2013/

Ireland Training Squad (22-23 September): Stephen Archer (Munster),  Rory Best (Ulster), Isaac Boss (Leinster), Tommy Bowe (Ulster), James Coughlan (Munster), Sean Cronin (Leinster), Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster), Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster), Declan Fitzpatrick (Ulster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Chris Henry (Ulster), Robbie Henshaw (Connacht), Paddy Jackson (Ulster), Shane Jennings (Leinster), Rob Kearney (Leinster), Dave Kearney (Leinster), David Kilcoyne (Munster), Ian Madigan (Leinster), Luke Marshall (Ulster), Mike McCarthy (Leinster), Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), Kevin McLaughlin (Leinster), Niall Morris (Leicester Tigers), Conor Murray (Munster), Sean O’Brien (Leinster), Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster), Paul O’Connell (Munster), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92), Mike Sherry (Munster), Richardt Strauss (Leinster), Devin Toner (Leinster), Dan Tuohy (Ulster), Simon Zebo (Munster).

Nice to see Jack McGrath get picked as he was very impressive v Ospreys.

Niall Morris though? Trimble and Gilroy are also injured.

No Tom Court.

Just bought 2 tickets for €25 each for Ireland v Australia. Good value to be had.

It'll be interesting to see how Niall Morris plays on friday night.

profitius wrote:It'll be interesting to see how Niall Morris plays on friday night.

He wasn't great. Didn't really stand out.

profitius wrote:

profitius wrote:It'll be interesting to see how Niall Morris plays on friday night.

He wasn't great. Didn't really stand out.

Didn't look international class too me, upstaged by Bowe for the try and along with the rest of the Tigers back 3 struggled to deal with the high balls and the tactical kicking from Jackson and Payne.

Schmidt will have a few headaches with selection, with this weekends performances almost a reversal of the league form so far.

Didn't see Munster or Connacht but Jackson, Marshall * 2, Roger Wilson, Henry and Best all raised the bar, as did O'Brien, Cronin, Heaslip and Kearney for Leinster.

I'm a little out of the loop in the middle east at the moment but from what I have seen so far this season this is the 31 man squad I hope Joe picks. This is a 35 man squad, last year a 31 man squad was picked

Props: Healy, Kilcoyne, McGrath, Ross, Moore, Archer
Hookers: Best, Cronin, Sherry
Locks: O'Connell, Ryan, Toner, Tuohy
Flankers: O'Brien, Henderson, O'Mahony, Henry, McLaughlin
8's: Heaslip, Wilson
Scrumhalves: Boss, Murray, Marmion
Flyhalves: Sexton, Jackson, Madigan
Centres: O'Driscoll, Marshall, Olding, Cave
Back 3: Bowe, Earls, Kearney, McFadden, Trimble

Morris is decent but nothing special - not as good as Kearney or Payne as a 15
Not as good as Zebo, Bowe, Earls, Trimble, Gilroy. McFadden as a wing

Niall Morris was much the same as he was at Leinster- a good solid player without much extra class to offer. He took a good option of leaving to get more gametime and it's helping him develop but if he was back at Leinster even now he wouldn't be getting much gametime in his preferred 15 shirt. He's good backup to have and I'd say he'll pick up a few A caps but he shouldn't be involved in International squads unless there is a glut of injuries in the back three.

I would like to see both James Hart and Robin Copeland tied down to Ireland this year. Give them a cap in the wolfhounds as both have serious potential.

Hart has been every Grenoble match day 23 so far this season and by all accounts has been impressive. He has a French mother so the sooner the better.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:I would like to see both James Hart and Robin Copeland tied down to Ireland this year. Give them a cap in the wolfhounds as both have serious potential.

Hart has been every Grenoble match day 23 so far this season and by all accounts has been impressive. He has a French mother so the sooner the better.

Depends if they're good enough. I don't like handing out cheap caps. Copeland can't get into the Cardiff team and Hart might be just hype. I've seen little or nothing of both players so its not a judgement. If they're good enough then cap them.

Wolfhounds games are of limited value anyway, give them both a run off the bench and that way if they do keep up the form France and Wales can't sniff around them.

Copeland doesn't start because he isn't welsh. Ask any Cardiff fan and they will tell you he should be one of the first names on the sheet.

Notch wrote:Wolfhounds games are of limited value anyway, give them both a run off the bench and that way if they do keep up the form France and Wales can't sniff around them.

Ye thats exactly what I mean. There is only 1 wolfhounds game a year and its usually an awful game. It should be used to tie players down or else what is really the point of it. I really do think a sevens team would be of much better use.

Lets be honest Ireland hand out cheap Wolfhounds caps all the time - as do just about every other country with their 'A' teams.

The last player I can recall from Ulster was Ed O'Donoghue - but we have been doing it for years

Thought Steenson was excellent for the cheifs yesterday! Is he even in the wolfhound squad?

Agree Copeland looked good once he came on too!

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:I'm a little out of the loop in the middle east at the moment but from what I have seen so far this season this is the 31 man squad I hope Joe picks. This is a 35 man squad, last year a 31 man squad was picked

Props: Healy, Kilcoyne, McGrath, Ross, Moore, Archer
Hookers: Best, Cronin, Sherry
Locks: O'Connell, Ryan, Toner, Tuohy
Flankers: O'Brien, Henderson, O'Mahony, Henry, McLaughlin
8's: Heaslip, Wilson
Scrumhalves: Boss, Murray, Marmion
Flyhalves: Sexton, Jackson, Madigan
Centres: O'Driscoll, Marshall, Olding, Cave
Back 3: Bowe, Earls, Kearney, McFadden, Trimble

As an Ulster fan, I would shy away from a team that Ulstercentric!

Michael Allen has been better than Trimble, to be honest. Don't know that Allen should come into the figuring just yet, but it does mean Trimble would want to find his previous form sharpish (and he has been consistently excellent for us). Gilroy may feature as well, and Fitzpatrick, if he keeps this incredible "two games iwthout injury" run going.

To be frank, as much as I like to see them get a crack, I suspect the ship has officially sailed for Cave and Wilson, and there's nothing they can do. A shame for Cave in particular, but there we go.

Allen has been better than Trimble, but Allen is not better than Trimble. From an Ulster PoV Trimble is our best kick chaser and thats going to be very important in Montpellier next week so he won't be dropped.

Notch wrote:Allen has been better than Trimble, but Allen is not better than Trimble. From an Ulster PoV Trimble is our best kick chaser and thats going to be very important in Montpellier next week so he won't be dropped.

No disagreement - I just wouldn't volunteer Trimble for the AI squad given how he's started the season.

If Zebo is out the wings will be Earls and Bowe - no brainer if you ask me.

geoff998rugby wrote:If Zebo is out the wings will be Earls and Bowe - no brainer if you ask me.

Remember who the coach is now Geoff ....cough Mc Cough Fadden ...

Trimbs has only played 2 games, give him a chance. He might get a hit out against Samoa.

It's looking like Earls and Bowe. It's always going to be two from six with McFadden, Trimble, Gilroy and Zebo the other options.

I've never been convinced by McFadden, Trimble hasn't hit his stride, Gilroy has had a couple of knocks and is being tried out at fullback and Zebo also hasn't got his season started yet, plus he's picked up that injury.

I would pick my squad for the AIs as;

Healy, Court, Ross, Fitzpatrick, Archer, McGrath
Best, Cronin, Sherry
O'Connell, Ryan, Tuohy, McCarthy, Henderson
O'Mahony, O'Brien, Henry, Heaslip, Wilson
Murray, Boss, Reddan
Sexton, Jackson, Madigan
D'Arcy, Marshall, Henshaw, BOD
Earls, Zebo, Bowe, Trimble, Gilroy
Kearney

Since Zebo, Henshaw and Gilroy can all play 15 Kearney might be the only 'specialist' 15 picked. Also, I didn't want to pick Wilson, but in terms of quality back-ups who else is there? Wilson may not be flashy or even that great an option at international level but he's only competing with the likes of Coughlan, Butler and McLaughlin.

I think if we have any injuries at all in the backrow we're very weak. We really have little depth behind the first-choice players there.

 If Schmidt picks McFadden instead of those two I will be very disapointed.

I was hoping we were going to have a coach who did not default to one Province - having said that the training squad suggest I am wrong

It really should be:

Bowe the class act on the wing in Irish rugby and
Earls who, now he is playing in the only position he should play, is playing very well

Only 5 players should be considered for the back row - POM, Heaslip, SOB, Henry, Hendo

Anyone else see us losing all 3 this autumn?

rodders wrote:Anyone else see us losing all 3 this autumn?

Nope,2 wins minimum for me assuming that Schmidts ideas don't have a bedding in period.I expect a lot from the team this season.

Marmion should be involved. I'd go with Murray, Boss and Marmion. Although I'm a Murray fan, Marmion might add more pace to the team so I'd like to see him start a game. Reddan looks past it at this stage but might be picked because he is familiar with Schmidts style of play.


Trimble won't be in the squad. He is a whole hearted player and liked by everyone but international rugby looks a step too far for him. Darren Cave might make the AI squad. I'm not convinced by Henshaw yet. He looks a great athlete but he'd want to brush up on his passing skills. D'Arcy is a solid pro but Luke Marshall looks like the number one 12 at the moment. Olding possibly next on that list or as a utility back. Ulster have an embarrassment of riches there!


Martin Moore has done his chances no harm. At 22 he is a baby in propping terms but holding his own in most games. Archer doing well for Munster and has the benefit of being good around the field. Deccie Fitz is probably the best scrummager but I'm not sure Schmidt will pick him. I think on the tighthead side they should pick the best scrummager in preparation for the 6 nations but I'd leave out Ross to give the others a go. On the loosehead side Schmidt likes mobility so will probably pick the 3 named in the training squad but Court or even James Cronin could be called up.


Can't see Wilson making the squad off the back of one game. If anything Schmidt will pick McLoughlan. Coughlan has little chance of making the squad now either. Btw, pity Jake Heenan isn't Irish qualified. Irish name but misses out by just one generation. He looks a smashing player for the future, real quality.


At outhalf Keatley has played himself out of selection. Madigan isn't getting picked so Jackson firmly number 2 now behind Sexton. The signing of Gopperth is good for Leinster but not good for Ireland.


Wouldn't surpirse me to see one or two surprise selections.

profitius wrote:Marmion should be involved. I'd go with Murray, Boss and Marmion. Although I'm a Murray fan, Marmion might add more pace to the team so I'd like to see him start a game. Reddan looks past it at this stage but might be picked because he is familiar with Schmidts style of play.


Trimble won't be in the squad. He is a whole hearted player and liked by everyone but international rugby looks a step too far for him. Darren Cave might make the AI squad. I'm not convinced by Henshaw yet. He looks a great athlete but he'd want to brush up on his passing skills. D'Arcy is a solid pro but Luke Marshall looks like the number one 12 at the moment. Olding possibly next on that list or as a utility back. Ulster have an embarrassment of riches there!


Martin Moore has done his chances no harm. At 22 he is a baby in propping terms but holding his own in most games. Archer doing well for Munster and has the benefit of being good around the field. Deccie Fitz is probably the best scrummager but I'm not sure Schmidt will pick him. I think on the tighthead side they should pick the best scrummager in preparation for the 6 nations but I'd leave out Ross to give the others a go. On the loosehead side Schmidt likes mobility so will probably pick the 3 named in the training squad but Court or even James Cronin could be called up.


Can't see Wilson making the squad off the back of one game. If anything Schmidt will pick McLoughlan. Coughlan has little chance of making the squad now either. Btw, pity Jake Heenan isn't Irish qualified. Irish name but misses out by just one generation. He looks a smashing player for the future, real quality.


At outhalf Keatley has played himself out of selection. Madigan isn't getting picked so Jackson firmly number 2 now behind Sexton. The signing of Gopperth is good for Leinster but not good for Ireland.


Wouldn't surpirse me to see one or two surprise selections.

It's great that we can name 4 TH props,obviously they all have their weaknesses but it wasn't too long ago that we were stuck with shoehorning Tom Court in there when there was an injury so the outlook for the RWC 2015 is looking great in comparison.LH is beginning to look like an area where we not only have depth but real quality,Healy is top quality and the young lads Kilcoyne,Cronin and McGrath look the business,that's before you go to Court who is still a very handy player and Paddy McAllister who will hopefully recover from his injury problems and fulfill his undoubted potential.

Buckley, Wilkinson and Loughney at Connacht are all decent LH options also.

Didn't Loughney also play TH on the NZ tour last year,has he abandoned that altogether or does he still play both?

Nathan White will be IQ for the world cup as well, but with the way things are going we may not even need him!

asoreleftshoulder wrote:Didn't Loughney also play TH on the NZ tour last year,has he abandoned that altogether or does he still play both?

I think he came on for Fitzpatrick in the first test at TH. Didn't go terribly well. He has continued there for connacht but he is quite average TH scrumager in my opinion although he was a fairly handy Loosie.

Submachine wrote:Buckley, Wilkinson and Loughney at Connacht are all decent LH options also.

Sorry the Connaught guys aren't good enough - give the two lads at Munster and when he is fit McAllister at Ulster a chance ahead of them

GunsGerms wrote:Just bought 2 tickets for €25 each for Ireland v Australia. Good value to be had.

Ha me too! Can't go wrong with that!