Barbarians Squad V Ireland/England/ Belgium

toomevara

Backs: I Balshaw (Gloucester), P Hewat (London Irish), T Delport (Worcester), L Vainikolo (Gloucester), G Thomas (Cardiff Blues), M Turinui (Queensland Reds), J Pretorius (Stormers), S Mapusua (London Irish), T Smith (ACT Brumbies), S Larkham (unattached), G Jackson (Saracens), A Gomarsall (Harlequins), M Claassens (Bath), R Powell (Worcester).

Forwards: F Pucciarello (Munster), C Visagie (Saracens), O le Roux (Leinster), P Collazo (Gloucester), D Crompton (Bristol), M Regan (Bristol), S Bruno (Sale Sharks), J Harrison (Ulster), K Chesney (Saracens), D Grewcock (Bath), R Skeate (Stormers), P Wannenburg (Blue Bulls), M Molitika (Cardiff Blues), D Croft (Queensland Reds), M Chapman (ACT Brumbies), C Newby (Otago Highlanders).

Freddie and Ollie going to get a go. Interesting to see Larkham named...

Podge_irl

Ireland Team (to play The Barbaians, Kingsholm, Gloucester, Tuesday May 27th K.O. 7:45)

Player/Club/Province

15 – Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)

14 – Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster)

13 – Brian O’Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (Captain)

12 – Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)

11 – Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

10 – Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

9 – Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster)

1 – Bryan Young (Ballymena/Ulster)

2 – Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

3 – Mike Ross (Harlequins)

4 – Bob Casey (London Irish)

5 – Malcolm O’Kelly (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)

6 – Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)

7 – Shane Jennings (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)

8 – Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster)

Replacements

16 – Bernard Jackman (Clontarf/Leinster)

17 – Tom Court (Ballymena/Ulster)

18 – Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon/Ulster)

19 – Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

20 – Frank Murphy (Leicester)

21 – Jonathon Sexton (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)

22 – Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster)

Podge_irl

Disappointed to see Wallace starting ahead of Sexton and that front 5 is less then impressive, though I'm interested to see how Casey and Ross get on.

Crash

Starting sexton on his first ever irish squad appearance would have been foolish IMO.

Podge_irl

crash_000 wrote: »

Starting sexton on his first ever irish squad appearance would have been foolish IMO.

Given that the alternative is Wallace though....

Actually, given the make-up of the squad heading south, I wonder if Wallace will move to centre when Sexton comes on, as he's probably the next best option after Fitz/BOD. At least it seems that that will indeed be the combination for the tour, and not Horgan.

Stev_o

Ah Bradley has done a good job with this squad now we will get some questions answered

RtD

Perhaps the tallest second row combo ever seen in world rugby:D

a_bomb

I cannot believe that anybody could support the choice of Paddy Wallace at 10!!! I really cant under stand picking him!!! He is never EVER gonna be good enough to be the Irealnd first choice out half. It is a match against the World Barbarians for Gods sake its not as if he is being thrown in against a well drilled side!!!

How wallace is on the senior tour this summer is a disgrace to the development of Irish rugby players.....****ing disgrace!!!!

tughfc

wallace is one of the worst irish players on this tour its a disgrace. what a disaster of a player.:mad:

Sangre

Bit pointless having MOK in there.

tughfc

ye kinda is!! its supposed 2 be developing players!!

Crash

Course its pointless having Wallace there - but we don't have another outhalf who's even been capped for Ireland. Putting Sexton on to start would have been a bit of a silly decision - tho would've happened if he'd not been injured at 6N time. Giving Wallace 30/40 allows us to see how Fitz settles in at Centre and then depending on, switch him and bring Sexton on, or take him off completely. Think it settles things in the back line a wee bit - he's not gonna do anything great at FH but still.

Podge_irl

crash_000 wrote: »

Giving Wallace 30/40 allows us to see how Fitz settles in at Centre and then depending on, switch him and bring Sexton on, or take him off completely. Think it settles things in the back line a wee bit - he's not gonna do anything great at FH but still.

Its a valid enough argument, but considering there are 4 Leinster outside backs its equally valid to say that Sexton would have fit in better, especially given Wallace's lack of game-time at 10 of late and his rather poor form there. If there was ever a game that would suit Wallace at FH its this one though, his game management (or lack thereof) won't be such an issue.

remus808

Podge_irl wrote: »

Its a valid enough argument, but considering there are 4 Leinster outside backs its equally valid to say that Sexton would have fit in better, especially given Wallace's lack of game-time at 10 of late and his rather poor form there. If there was ever a game that would suit Wallace at FH its this one though, his game management (or lack thereof) won't be such an issue.

Yeah, I have to agree, keeping the Leinster backline together would've been ideal. I do think that, being a centre, the nature of a Baa Baas game will suit Wallace.. His game managment and kicking out of hand are poor but his distribution and skills with ball in hand are good.

I'd like to see him brought to 12 (He's one of better options at centre IMO) after 50 when Sexton comes on, with Horgan going off to allow Fitzgerald to stay on the field. Fitz is lethal in broken field play, would be disappointed to see him taken off.

I think sending Sexton to the CC is the right choice, he dosen't have a realistic chance of any meaningfull gametime against NZ or Aus, he's better served starting over there instead, and then challenging for a spot in the AI's.

remus808

Also, considering how the Leinster backs have misfired this season, while their Munster counterparts have been on song, and how the Leinster pack has outmuscled all and sundry (including Munster, twice), isn't it ironic that due to various reasons the 22 against NZ will still be pretty much all Leinster backs and all Munster forwards? Says alot.

dc69

what do people make of the Bod 13/Fitz 12 combo.Personally I would swap their positions around.

remus808

dc69 wrote: »

what do people make of the Bod 13/Fitz 12 combo.Personally I would swap their positions around.

They are in numbers only (Apparently BOD insists on wearing 13, drama queen), BOD will be lining up in the 12 channel with Fitz outside him. Just as well, cause Fitz is no inside centre.

dc69

karmabass wrote: »

They are in numbers only (Apparently BOD insists on wearing 12, drama queen), BOD will be lining up in the 12 channel with Fitz outside him. Just as well, cause Fitz is no inside centre.

I presumer you mean he insists on wearing 13,fitting seeing as he is the best 13 we have ever had.;)

[Jackass]

Oh dear...

tughfc

karmabass wrote: »

Also, considering how the Leinster backs have misfired this season, while their Munster counterparts have been on song, and how the Leinster pack has outmuscled all and sundry (including Munster, twice), isn't it ironic that due to various reasons the 22 against NZ will still be pretty much all Leinster backs and all Munster forwards? Says alot.

ye exactly nd they have the prop poux who would walk onto a many a team in europe! like leinster nd munster really struggle for good front rows! ur man poux is only on the bench!

Punchbowl

Is this on TV?

Podge_irl

Aye, its on RTÉ 2

Stev_o

Sky Sports are showing it aswell.

Nukem

Podge_irl wrote: »

5 – Malcolm O’Kelly (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)

*rocking chair creaks*

Size=everything

Quite excited to see how the centre pairing of Fitz and BOD will turn out but disappointed Sexton isn't starting. Wallace is woeful at outhalf and its not like Sexton is unfamiliar with the backline!

Stev_o

RickyHatton wrote: »

Quite excited to see how the centre pairing of Fitz and BOD will turn out but disappointed Sexton isn't starting. Wallace is woeful at outhalf and its not like Sexton is unfamiliar with the backline!

Well Sexton has never played outside Fitzgerald who in turn hasnt played Inside Centre at all.

Crash

Mm I really think it'd be detrimental to both players to be honest, to start both of em at once.

Podge_irl

Stev_o wrote: »

Well Sexton has never played outside Fitzgerald who in turn hasnt played Inside Centre at all.

?

Numbers aside, I imagine Fitz will be playing outside centre and him and Sexton have played in those positions together before (albeit with Conters between them rather than O'Driscoll).

tughfc

lads thats stupid talk that u wouldnt start both of em,what will that do if both were started there would still be bundles of caps around them wer trying 2 find players for the future here!!:cool: