next player to make irish debut

jph100

who do people think will be the next player to get their first cap?

me,i think maybe jackman/kearney/fitzgerald/heaslip

its hard to say! i know it depends on form/injuries at the time of next match but the 6 nations is coming up fast

cruiserweight

Maybe you should just list uncapped players as possibilities. They all have caps. Hard to say until we see what squad will be picked.

skelliser

jackman, heaslip and andy dunne should get a look in

youcancallmeal

Heaslip has one cap already against the Pacific Islands in 2006. In fact he was the 1000th player to be capped for Ireland!

Edit: According to the IRFU website Heaslip has 3 caps?

colster

jph100 wrote: »

who do people think will be the next player to get their first cap?

me,i think maybe jackman/kearney/fitzgerald/heaslip

its hard to say! i know it depends on form/injuries at the time of next match but the 6 nations is coming up fast

AFAIK they have already played for Ireland.

paulusdu

Kearny has a cap too i think, didn;t he play down in Argentina ?

cruiserweight

colster wrote: »

AFAIK they have already played for Ireland.

paulusdu wrote: »

Kearny has a cap too i think, didn;t he play down in Argentina ?

All four players mentioned in the original post have caps

Teg Veece

Jackman also has a few caps.

So of those you've listed, there aren't too many choices!

jph100

ha stupid me. i recall them having played alright.though none wud hav played in a full strength side wud they?

maybe i shud say who will make their 6 nations debuts?

paulusdu

Im not sure if Andy Dunne has one yet, i have seen him play once or twice this season, and he looks pretty handy. Maybe a should as a squad selection ???

Podge_irl

youcancallme>al wrote: »

Edit: According to the IRFU website Heaslip has 3 caps?

He also played against Argentina in the summer and against Scotland before the world cup. Jackman has 4 caps I think (2 against Japan, dunno what the others are).

There are reasonably few uncapped players floating around thanks to all the 2nd teams sent out before the world cup. Even bloody Tomás O'Leary has one.

tHE vAGGABOND

Donnacha Ryan maybe - we are not sort of backrows, but I would pick him ahead of Mick O Bleedin Driscoll and the fact he can play second or back row means he would be a good man on the bench?

Has Johathan Sexton got a cap? Have been quite impressed with him this season. He is only young, but he must be REALLY close to getting into the leinster 10 shirt, and thus forcing Dr Phil to 12, and Darcy onto the bench.

90% of the players who will spring to mind have 1 or 2 caps from the Argentina tour or other mickey mouse games [Tony Buckley, Kearney etc]

Stev_o

Johnny Murphy

Crash

I'd say Sexton will be the next uncapped to get a shot, imo.

Amazotheamazing

Sexton or Donnacha Ryan, but considering how poorly our wings are playing, Dowling or J. Murphy ( I don't think either are Int standard, but at the minute, neither are S. Horgan, FitzGerald (move him to centre), Kearney or Bowe (who I suppose is doing well in a bad team).

Sandwich

çrash_000 wrote: »

I'd say Sexton will be the next uncapped to get a shot, imo.

Amazed at Sexton being talked up lately. Not that theres a lot of competition to warm the outhalf subs seat, but he looks seriously below international (and even Leinster) standard to me. Watched him last weekend and while he is game and may improve, at present I fear the step up to international might do him more harm than good.

LeeroyJones

Johne Murphy and Sexton should be the next two capped players.

andyman

Jonathan Sexton!

toomevara

Sandwich wrote: »

Amazed at Sexton being talked up lately.

Agree completely. nowhere near international standard. Compare him to the likes of England's Danny Cipriani or Wales' James Hook, huge gulf in talent skills and ability, no contest...

Podge_irl

toomevara wrote: »

Agree completely. nowhere near international standard. Compare him to the likes of England's Danny Cipriani or Wales' James Hook, huge gulf in talent skills and ability, no contest...

In fairness, there is no point comparing him to them, just have to compare him to Paddy Wallace (depressing as that is)

toomevara

Podge_irl wrote: »

In fairness, there is no point comparing him to them, just have to compare him to Paddy Wallace (depressing as that is)

Oh Christ....you're right! Dear Jesus save us from the wicked thing.....

LeeroyJones

you can't just say "don't call up Sexton, Cipriani and Hook are better!". Let's deal with Irish players!

The fact is the only 10's playing at the level we want are ROG, Sexton and Wallace-who isnt even a pure 10! so thats leaving us with ROG and Sexton. Can Sexton make it at international level? it's yet to be proven-how can it be tested-give him a few caps and see how he copes. He's done very well at Leinster, he's looked average some say-looking average in the Leinster backline takes some talent!

Crash

who said I was talking him up? I made a judgement on who I thought would be the next person to recieve a cap, not the next person i'd like to see a cap.

Its simply the fact that we need a 10, he's the closest we have to it. Who knows, maybe hitting international will really step up his game - he's improved a lot since his first few leinster games anyhow.

Shan75

çrash_000 wrote: »

who said I was talking him up? I made a judgement on who I thought would be the next person to recieve a cap, not the next person i'd like to see a cap.

Its simply the fact that we need a 10, he's the closest we have to it. Who knows, maybe hitting international will really step up his game - he's improved a lot since his first few leinster games anyhow.

Agree.We have no choice but to give Sexton a chance.O'Gara won't be around forever and we simply must find a relacement.

Nothingcompares

As the lad said himself, Sexton is more concerning about getting a start in the Leinster HC games then an international call up.

toomevara

LeeroyJones wrote: »

you can't just say "don't call up Sexton, Cipriani and Hook are better!". Let's deal with Irish players!

I suppose the point I was trying to make in respect of Cipriani/Hook is that those two lads give you an insight into the level a young fly-half needs to aspire to to make it into the 6N and flourish. Sexton's not there yet. More regular rugby for Leinster, in the Heineken and Magners, and involvement in the Irish set up might jolly him along.

Look at Cipriani, undoubtedly (english media hype aside) the form fly-half in England this season, but no one is seriously suggesting that he earns a full cap this season..too soon...

Amazotheamazing

Perhaps, but woh else is there? Wallace is struglling to get his game at Ulster, Staunton and Iain Humpreys are adrift in the GP, neither are close to their respective first teams, Steenson is doing very well but in Division One in England, Manning has been playing AIL all season and rumoured to move back to New Zealand shortly. Dunne is doing ok in Connacht but hardly better than Sexton, not sure how McHugh is getting on in France.

Fact is we'll need some to cover outhalf in the 6 nations, Sexton seems to be the most likely candidate.

Stev_o

Think O Riordan should be eased into being Irelands no.2 scrumhalf has preformed extremely well for Bristol and is the exact back up SH we want

dc69

after fitzgeralds impressive finishing today and eddie watching in the stands i expect him to start one of the games,the alterantives are kearney,carney and trimble and none of them warrant a start any more than he does,so it will be a tough call but i think he will get a game,it will be a toss up between him and kearney i think.

I also think healy will come on during a game but he wont start,he is very young and i dont really know whether he should play or not but he has looked promising and has played well,i think he will be in the initial squad and obviously eddie and the staff will assess whether he is capable to make the proper squad,i think it is stupid however saying straght out he is "too young",i mean the guy is a monster and is bigger than some props i have seen ,also taking into account there isnt an ounce of fat on him and he is 110kg's.we will have to see.

i also expect buckley to feature and sexton.

Erin Go Brath

Luke Fitz should definitely get a start in the 6N's. Tricky little customer.

toomevara

Stev_o wrote: »

Think O Riordan should be eased into being Irelands no.2 scrumhalf has preformed extremely well for Bristol and is the exact back up SH we want

I'd agree with that, superb for Bristol at the moment. Was absolutely excellent last night, albeit on a losing side, against Stade in their own back yard. Lovely service, excellent kicking game and a brilliant eye for a break. Also defensively better than either Stringer or Reddan, imo...

Podge_irl

dc69 wrote: »

after fitzgeralds impressive finishing today and eddie watching in the stands i expect him to start one of the games,the alterantives are kearney,carney and trimble and none of them warrant a start any more than he does,so it will be a tough call but i think he will get a game,it will be a toss up between him and kearney i think.

Kearney has been much better for Leinster (his brainfarts aside). Fitz has potential, but he's still too unreliable in terms of the basics.

Bounty Hunter

Dowling for me considering the position he plays and the high standard he was at pre-injury

Crash

Fitz was awful. he could finish, yes, if a ball arrived at his doorstep.

but as for the rest of the time, he was kicking randomly, chipping random shots etc.
Kearney has him beat, not sure how anyone can say fitz had a decent game out of that. he scored two tries, and yet came out of it with reasonably poor play.

stevire

Barry Murphy and Ian Dowling would be good options for the 6N... Not necessarily starting players but solid bench options. Most of the Leinster players i had in mind have already been mentioned.

I'd give Kearney a go, he's due a few more caps on the international stage against decent opposition...

Luke can be hot/cold, still developing Id give him another season or 2 and he should be up to standard.

Shan75

stevire wrote: »

Barry Murphy and Ian Dowling would be good options for the 6N... Not necessarily starting players but solid bench options. Most of the Leinster players i had in mind have already been mentioned.

I'd give Kearney a go, he's due a few more caps on the international stage against decent opposition...

Luke can be hot/cold, still developing Id give him another season or 2 and he should be up to standard.

Barry Murphy cannot tackle so that counts him out straight away.Dowling certainly deserves a chance to show if he's up to international level.People seem to have this notion that he's not up to it yet talk about Kearney,Carney and Fitzgerald.He has been superior to all three of these this year.He may lack a bit of pace but defensively he is far more wily and smart than the others and even though he won't beat an opponent in a sprint he will barge through them, also something the other three are incapable of.

Sangre

kearney is miles ahead of luke at the moment. silly talk of having him ahead.

Podge_irl

Shan75 wrote: »

Barry Murphy cannot tackle so that counts him out straight away.Dowling certainly deserves a chance to show if he's up to international level.People seem to have this notion that he's not up to it yet talk about Kearney,Carney and Fitzgerald.He has been superior to all three of these this year.He may lack a bit of pace but defensively he is far more wily and smart than the others and even though he won't beat an opponent in a sprint he will barge through them, also something the other three are incapable of.

Barry Murphy can't even get into the Munster 22 at the moment, never mind the Ireland team. He (shockingly) has a cap already anyway

Dowling's strike rate for a winger is very very poor. I would also seriously question whether he is "far more wily and smart". He also certainly won't be barging through people at international level given his size, so his lack of speed will seriously hurt him. I'm not even sure Fitz has the speed to be an international wing, he rarely seems to back himself from any distance.

Stick_man

Unfortunatley there is no stand out un-capped player that that has a justifable claim for selection, Sexton looks like he has a decent kicking game and good pass but does'nt look international class yet, the back-up fly half options are worryingly thin and we need to find a credible solution fast. Thankfully O Gara never seems to get injured but he will not be around forever. Bring sexton into the training squad and help him develop his game but he wont be ready for another couple of years, until then its Paddy Wallace:(.Cian Healy looks a real prospect but again its far too soon for him. Buckley was capped in the summer and I would like to see him get some game time. If we are twenty or so points up on Italy late on then let him go toe to toe with castrogeovainni. He can only benefit from it.

dc69

Podge_irl wrote: »

Kearney has been much better for Leinster (his brainfarts aside). Fitz has potential, but he's still too unreliable in terms of the basics.

everyone to there own opinion,although i can fully understand why you think that,cause kearney has been vg!
the question is do we introduce talent in this six nations where a space is available for them,i.e kearney is a fullback and is very good at it,fitzgerald thinks he is a fullback but everyone else sees him as a 13,or wing.Disco Dennis is gone,so should we stick a player in there that may actually play in that position for their entire ireland career i.e fitz? or someone as a stopgap i.e Kearney who will eventually play fullack.doesnt leave much room for trimble though:),tbh i havent been watching much ulster games but i havent heard good things about him in a while.

glad i aint making the call

Shan75

Podge_irl wrote: »

Barry Murphy can't even get into the Munster 22 at the moment, never mind the Ireland team. He (shockingly) has a cap already anyway

Dowling's strike rate for a winger is very very poor. I would also seriously question whether he is "far more wily and smart". He also certainly won't be barging through people at international level given his size, so his lack of speed will seriously hurt him. I'm not even sure Fitz has the speed to be an international wing, he rarely seems to back himself from any distance.

Fair point but I would say Dowling has bulked up since last year.TBH if we had any really decent wingers currently we probably wouldn't even be mentioning him.The main reason I would be in favour of giving him a chance is because some of the other names being bandied about do not fill me with much confidence.Thinking back to the Ireland A game against Australia A in Thomond Park Fitzgerald showed some flashes of brilliance but he is still only showing flashes although I still think he has the potential be to very good.Thinking ahead to the Six Nations and beyond we will have no real international class wingers unless Shane Horgan can return to the form of a couple of years ago.Scary.

tHE vAGGABOND

Luke Fitz should definitely get a start in the 6N's. Tricky little customer

He cant defend worth a damn at the top level imho..

I annoys the crap out of me how he overruns passes so much - but lets write that down to his youth..

He can finish, like we saw yesterday, but I think he would/will be murdered by a top international side when he is on the back foot..

Beanmachine

i'd like to see Bob Casey get a call into the squad iv'e watched a lot of guiness premiership this year and he has been very impressive for London Irish and with O'kelly coming near the end of his carrear and O'Connell injured with his back i feel he would be usefull to have in the squad.

jph100

Beanmachine wrote: »

i'd like to see Bob Casey get a call into the squad iv'e watched a lot of guiness premiership this year and he has been very impressive for London Irish and with O'kelly coming near the end of his carrear and O'Connell injured with his back i feel he would be usefull to have in the squad.

yeah havent really seen him play before but has a good rep in england. was reading an article about him yesterday and he was saying playing for ireland still means everythin to him.hes younger than i thought he was.hes 28/29, around the same as o'connell+o'callaghan i reckon

bleg

cullen and micko for the second row!

tHE vAGGABOND

He is from the same 'rock school team as Leo Cullen [and BO'D] so they are all the same age..

I would put him behind Cullen in the pecking order, as he has been sensational for Leinster this season.

But you know Eddie will pick that donkey Mick O'D

bleg

mick o driscoll is playing some stuff at the moment. munster's lineout yesterday was class.

skelliser

i know he played for ireland but johnny o concrete should get a recall, playing some great stuff at connaught and has plenty of experience

Beanmachine

Personally i don't rate Mick O'Driscoll at all i agree with tHE vAGGABOND that casey would be behind Cullen in the pecking order but i said in my post that i would like to see him in the squad, getting a chance to prove himself. However i can't see O'Sullivan picking overseas players for this squad really the only two are Geordan Murphy and Eoin Reddan.

Stev_o

Come on EOS the chance is here to put two leaders in the second row in the form of Cullen and Casey they ll offer more then any other 2nd row combination in the country

vinny chase

Conor O'Loughlin