Irish Six Nations Squad Announced

damienom

Att: Sports Editors / Rugby Correspondents



Ireland Squad for RBS 6 Nations Championship



Ireland Coach Eddie O'Sullivan has named a 35 man squad for the 2007 RBS 6 Nations Championship which begins for Ireland with an away trip to Wales in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on February 4th.



There are six players who come into this squad after missing out on the 32 man squad that was named for the Guinness Autumn Series. In the backs, Ulster wing Tommy Bowe returns after missing out due to a hamstring injury and is joined by the uncapped Munster centre Barry Murphy. The other uncapped player in the backs is Leinster's Robert Kearney, whose good form over the last number of weeks has seen him included.



In the forwards, Munster hooker Jerry Flannery returns from his shoulder injury which saw him miss out last year and is joined in the squad by Munster secondrow Mick O'Driscoll. Leinster's Trevor Hogan is also named for the first time in an Ireland squad for an RBS 6 Nations Championship after winning two caps against Japan in 2005.



Stephen Ferris is the only player who was not considered due to his ongoing recovery from a hand injury. Munster backrow Alan Quinlan was not considered due to suspension.



Eddie O'Sullivan on selecting the squad: "The championship is a long and hard tournament that will always test your resources, so I felt that we needed to increase our squad to 35 to give us some extra cover".



"We have a good injury profile at the moment and with the return of players from injury, such as Tommy Bowe and Jerry Flannery as well as the other additions to the squad, it will push up the competition levels. While there are not many changes from November, the squad is always selected on form and this group reflects that".



Eddie O'Sullivan on the RBS 6 Nations Championship: "The RBS 6 Nations Championship is our bread and butter tournament and is the one in which we always want to do well. We were pleased with how the Guinness Autumn Series went, but this tournament is a step up and we will have to raise our performances another level".



"An away trip to the Millennium stadium to play Wales is one of the toughest openings you could get at this moment in time and all we will be focusing on is trying to get the right performance against an excellent Welsh team".



Ireland Squad:



Forwards (18):

Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

Simon Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

Simon Easterby (Llanelli)

Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)

Keith Gleeson (St.Mary's College/Leinster)

John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)

Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster)

Trevor Hogan (Shannon/Munster)

Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)

Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)

Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Malcolm O'Kelly (St.Mary's College/Leinster)

Frankie Sheahan (Cork Constitution/Munster)

David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)

Bryan Young (Ballymena/Ulster)



Backs (17):

Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster)

Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Munster)

Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster)

Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)

Shane Horgan (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Denis Hickie (St.Mary's College/Leinster)

Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)

John Kelly (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Barry Murphy (U.L. Bohemians/Munster)

Geordan Murphy (Leicester)

Brian O'Driscoll (Blackrock College/Leinster)

Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Eoin Reddan (Wasps)

Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)

Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)



Not considered due to injury:

Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster) {Hand}



Not considered due to suspension:

Alan Quinlan (Shannon/Munster)

thebaz

Happy eneogh - only quibble -- why bring Tommy Bowe back , I don't think he cuts at this level !

zAbbo

thebaz wrote:

Happy eneogh - only quibble -- why bring Tommy Bowe back , I don't think he cuts at this level !

Who would you have in his place ?

Tarakiwa

Great to see Jerry Flannery back.

Always rated him as a great player & it is super to have in the squad

An Tarbh

So Hogan plays for Munster now.

Anyway surprised that Keogh isn't in for MOD, hopefully with Flannery back Sheahan should get the boot for the Welsh squad, couldn't have done any harm to have Jackman involved in the training squad either.

Sangre

Forget Bowe, John Kelly?

zAbbo

Sangre wrote:

Forget Bowe, John Kelly?

may as well put in Anthony Horgan.

Bowe has bulked up a bit since he last played.

thebaz

zabbo wrote:

Who would you have in his place ?

ideally Brian Carney - know this won't happen , but can dream !

Also i would select Bob Casey , i know Eddie hates him, but he seams to be getting bigger any photos i've seen of him, and a bit of muscle is always helpfull ! i'd rate hime the 3rd best Irish second row , love to see him used as a sub , but again this won't happen.

An Tarbh

Casey does himself no favours by playing in England, if he was in Ireland he'd be damn close to starting, it'll be interesting if Jennings does play regularly for Leinster how quick will he get into the Ireland squad.

buck65

John Kelly is underestimated IMO - a good cover man , usually solid if unspectacular

An Tarbh

he's up to HEC level but I don't care what Stuart Barnes says about test match intensity there's a significant step up to international level and Kelly is one of those players that isn't up to international level.

phog

damienom wrote:

Ireland Squad:



Forwards (18):

Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

Simon Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

Simon Easterby (Llanelli)

Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)

Keith Gleeson (St.Mary's College/Leinster)

John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)

Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster)

Trevor Hogan (Shannon/Munster)

Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)

Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)

Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Malcolm O'Kelly (St.Mary's College/Leinster)

Frankie Sheahan (Cork Constitution/Munster)

David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)

Bryan Young (Ballymena/Ulster)



Backs (17):

Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster)

Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Munster)

Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster)

Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)

Shane Horgan (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Denis Hickie (St.Mary's College/Leinster)

Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)

John Kelly (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Barry Murphy (U.L. Bohemians/Munster)

Geordan Murphy (Leicester)

Brian O'Driscoll (Blackrock College/Leinster)

Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Eoin Reddan (Wasps)

Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)

Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

So Bowe and Hogan play for Munster now?

thirdmantackle

not one Connacht player...

not even one token Connacht player...

to hell or to Connacht eh?

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

thebaz

daveirl wrote:

This post has been deleted.

Wouldn't say that to him in person -- hes built like a monster

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

Erin Go Brath

Quinlan should have been included, he was playing some fantastic rugby, and his ban is up in time for the first game.

chicoben

yeah but theres no room for him on the team, gleeson? wallace, easterby, best, they're all better than him

Diamondmaker

Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Simon Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Simon Easterby (Llanelli)
Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
Keith Gleeson (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster)
Trevor Hogan (Shannon/Leinster)
Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)
Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Malcolm O'Kelly (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Frankie Sheahan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
Bryan Young (Ballymena/Ulster)

Backs (17):

Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster)
Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Shane Horgan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Denis Hickie (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
John Kelly (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Barry Murphy (U.L. Bohemians/Munster)
Geordan Murphy (Leicester)
Brian O'Driscoll (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Eoin Reddan (Wasps)
Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

John Kellyy!!!????:mad: I know its a full squad but why the hell does Eddie perstist with this donkey. Even tommy bowe bowe bowe is better..!
Aside from that looks the best squad we can pick from given foriuegn bias!!

In all fairness thoug right now I cant think who I would pick over Kelly though...

An Tarbh

I'd rate Skinny ahead of him

zAbbo

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055041844

You're beginning to annoy me Diamondmaker

youcancallmeal

Why would he select Hogan? He's only just about getting his game at Leinster cos they've nobody to replace him. They were even trying Jowitt 2nd row instead of him. Can't understand why Leo Cullen(Who is likely on his way back to Leinster) or even Casey wouldn't be considered!?

thirdmantackle

Leo Cullen and Ian Humphreys deserve call ups after todays performance for Leicster