2009 Churchill cup

chupacabra

Anyone looking forward to this as much as i am? Should be very interesting to see the team selection seeing as the U20's will be off in Japan and most of our "fringe" players will be filling in for the lads who are off to South Africa.

We have a chance at making the cup final this year thanks to a favourable draw with Georgia and Canada our only pool contenders. Division B looks to be the danger group with the Pumas and the Saxons and the poor aul Eagles vying for the no.1 spot.

Team should look something like this:

1. Brett Wilkinson
2. Denis Fogarty
3. Mike Ross
4. Devin Toner
5. Bob Casey (c)
6. Johnny O'Connor
7. Niall Ronan
8. James Coughlan

9. Paul O'Donohoe
10. Keatley/Sexton/Humphries/O'Connor (depends on who gets the call for the senior squad)
11. Ian Dowling/Fionn Carr
12. Ian Whitten
13. Fergus McFadden
14. Mark McCrea
15. Barry Murphy

Weak in areas i know, backrow especially. But the likes of Jennings and O'Brien should make the senior side so there arent many options.

Diom

1. Brett Wilkinson
2. Denis Fogarty - Sean Cronin (definitely, unless he is playing with the senior team)
3. Mike Ross
4. Devin Toner - Andrew Browne (bench at least, class player)
5. Bob Casey (c)
6. Johnny O'Connor
7. Niall Ronan
8. James Coughlan - Only if John Muldoon is not available

9. Paul O'Donohoe
10. Keatley/Sexton/Humphries/O'Connor (depends on who gets the call for the senior squad)
11. Ian Dowling/Fionn Carr - Fionn Carr is an FB far better there than on the wing
12. Ian Whitten - who?
13. Fergus McFadden - Keith Matthews
14. Mark McCrea
15. Barry Murphy


*****************************
Obviously it depends on who is going to be on the senior team as you said. The choices available will be clearer once the Lions team is selected. I would predict however that Kidney will return to the likes of Horgan, O'Kelly, Dempsey and Leamy for the full senior squad for the AIs, and leave the Ireland A team as it was for this years game against Scotland.

Podge_irl

Is Wilkinson going to be Irish qualified in time for the CC? I thought he wasn't qualified til the autumn.

[Jackass]

Am I missing something here? Ok, so U-20's will be off - a hefty chunk of first choice will be with Lions, there's an Ireland tour iirc and then this is Ireland A...how the feck can you pick a team for this yet?? There'll be 4 touring teams split between our small player base. I'd be more excited about the Ireland team minus the Lions stars with the likes of Cave, Healy, O'Brien, Earls etc. etc. getting caps

chupacabra

I'll be over for the Churchill cup this year so it matters to me who will be in the squad.

Robbo

Podge_irl wrote: »

Is Wilkinson going to be Irish qualified in time for the CC? I thought he wasn't qualified til the autumn.

I've been led to believe it was June and that's why he spent time in the pre-6N training camp.

guapos

id presume alot of the younger players who play against usa and canada in the senior match will also feature in the churchill cup. Im looking foward to seeing sean obrien, earls, cave and cronin in the green.

Zzippy

chupacabra wrote: »

Anyone looking forward to this as much as i am? Should be very interesting to see the team selection seeing as the U20's will be off in Japan and most of our "fringe" players will be filling in for the lads who are off to South Africa.

We have a chance at making the cup final this year thanks to a favourable draw with Georgia and Canada our only pool contenders. Division B looks to be the danger group with the Pumas and the Saxons and the poor aul Eagles vying for the no.1 spot.

Team should look something like this:

1. Brett Wilkinson
2. Denis Fogarty
3. Mike Ross
4. Devin Toner
5. Bob Casey (c)
6. Johnny O'Connor
7. Niall Ronan
8. James Coughlan

9. Paul O'Donohoe
10. Keatley/Sexton/Humphries/O'Connor (depends on who gets the call for the senior squad)
11. Ian Dowling/Fionn Carr
12. Ian Whitten
13. Fergus McFadden
14. Mark McCrea
15. Barry Murphy

Weak in areas i know, backrow especially. But the likes of Jennings and O'Brien should make the senior side so there arent many options.

Jonny O'Connor is not a 6, he's an out and out 7. I'd also have Sean Cronin in at hooker, he's definitely one to watch for the future. If John Muldoon doesn't travel with the Ireland squad he should be in the backrow here.

liam12989

What about Pollock? He might even captain the side a class act.
Hoprfully cave,healy and even mike ross get some game time at senior level.
And Humphreys is the best replacement OH by a mile

anonymous_joe

Whose Ian Whitten?

Diom

Zzippy wrote: »

Jonny O'Connor is not a 6, he's an out and out 7.

Don't know how I missed that. I totally agree. He can play there, but should be in his only natural position at 7.

chupacabra

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Whose Ian Whitten?

Promising young inside center for ulster. He's in his last year at the academy at the moment and he was capped against Leinster last weekend. He's a tall strong player with a very bright future for Ulster and Ireland, looks a perfect partner for Darren Cave.

barnesd

Mike Ross has to be brought on the senior tour with Hayes given the summer off. We desperately need to look at our options at TH.

anonymous_joe

chupacabra wrote: »

Promising young inside center for ulster. He's in his last year at the academy at the moment and he was capped against Leinster last weekend. He's a tall strong player with a very bright future for Ulster and Ireland, looks a perfect partner for Darren Cave.

Oh, did he come on on Saturday? Saw some Ulster lad I'd never heard of on the pitch, looked alright.

Amazotheamazing

chupacabra wrote: »

1. Brett Wilkinson
2. Denis Fogarty
3. Mike Ross
4. Devin Toner
5. Bob Casey (c)
6. Johnny O'Connor
7. Niall Ronan
8. James Coughlan

9. Paul O'Donohoe
10. Keatley/Sexton/Humphries/O'Connor (depends on who gets the call for the senior squad)
11. Ian Dowling/Fionn Carr
12. Ian Whitten
13. Fergus McFadden
14. Mark McCrea
15. Barry Murphy

Have to say, I don't think you can pick this side until the Lions and senior squad has been picked, but anyhow, O'Connor isn't a 6, would pick Neil Best. Roger Wilson is also a better 8 than Coughlan, would have Frank Murphy at 9, Matthews or Downey at 12, B. Murphy at 13 (he is not a fullback, at all) and probably Duffy at fullback.

barnesd

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Have to say, I don't think you can pick this side until the Lions and senior squad has been picked, but anyhow, O'Connor isn't a 6, would pick Neil Best. Roger Wilson is also a better 8 than Coughlan, would have Frank Murphy at 9, Matthews or Downey at 12, B. Murphy at 13 (he is not a fullback, at all) and probably Duffy at fullback.

The 'A' team should be for development, Murphy is 26/27 at this stage, it's fairly clear he's never going to be first choice for Ireland, and I can't see the point in playing him over McFadden. Similarly with Duffy, the only difference being he's a bit older again. The 'A' team should be about getting as many promising youngsters on the pitch as possible imo.

Amazotheamazing

barnesd wrote: »

The 'A' team should be for development, Murphy is 26/27 at this stage, it's fairly clear he's never going to be first choice for Ireland, and I can't see the point in playing him over McFadden. Similarly with Duffy, the only difference being he's a bit older again. The 'A' team should be about getting as many promising youngsters on the pitch as possible imo.

Within reason, there's no point sending out a team of kids to be beaten either.

Diom

Agreed. I think that the A team had a good blend of youth and experience this year. Something along those lines would be great.

chupacabra

Bumpity bump. Churchill cup kicked off today with the Saxons beating Argentina Jaguars and Canada beating Georgia.

Irelands first game is on wednesday against Canada and its on sky sports 2 at around 11pm.

I've been quite impressed with Canada in the last few weeks.They performed well against our Senior team and ran Wales to the wire and were very impressive last night in seeing off Georgia finishing very strongly.The major benefit we will have is their very short turnaround but our lads would want to have their heads screwed on Wednesday if we are to get the win.

Incidentally we should have no problems against Georgia over the course of 80 minutes judging by last night.

Stev_o

Eh Johne Murphy anyone? I dunno about you but i like my wingers scoring tries unlike the ones mentioned.

danthefan

Ireland team against Canada on Wednesday. Some dodgy selections to say the least.

1 - Bryan Young (Ballymena/Ulster)
2 - Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht)
3 - Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)
4 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
5 - Devon Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
6 - Neil Best (Northampton Saints)
7 - Sean O’Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
8 - Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster)
9 - Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster) Captain
10 - Niall O'Connor (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
11 - Johne Murphy (Leicester)
12 - Keith Matthews (Buccaneers/Connacht)
13 - Fergus McFadden (UCD/Leinster)
14 - Fionn Carr (Galwegians/Connacht)
15 - Denis Hurley (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Replacements:
16 - Denis Fogarty (Cork Constitution/Munster)
17 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
18 - Trevor Hogan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
19 - John Muldoon (Buccanneers/Connacht)
20 - Frank Murphy (Buccaneers/Connacht)
21 - Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)
22 - James Downey (Northampton Saints)

siltirocker

Stev_o wrote: »

Eh Johne Murphy anyone? I dunno about you but i like my wingers scoring tries unlike the ones mentioned.

Fionn Carr, , , , , don't really need to same more, but i do 100% agree w/you about Johne Murphy, he is brillant.

Stev_o

siltirocker wrote: »

Fionn Carr, , , , , don't really need to same more, but i do 100% agree w/you about Johne Murphy, he is brillant.

I didn't see the line up till later instead saw the mentions of some poeple wanting a pairing of Dowling and McCrea It's a great prospect for both wingers.

Diom

danthefan wrote: »

Ireland team against Canada on Wednesday. Some dodgy selections to say the least.

1 - Bryan Young (Ballymena/Ulster) Fine
2 - Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht) excellent was disappointed that I didn't get to see him in the SIs
3 - Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster) OK, he deserves a shot, let's hope he can continue the good form he has in the SIs
4 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)good this is his position
5 - Devon Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) Not sure about Toner, but it's good to see some new faces
6 - Neil Best (Northampton Saints)Always liked Best, great work-rate
7 - Sean O’Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)Good
8 - Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster)? I can understand maybe giving Muldoon a rest but still... he is the tour captain
9 - Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster) Captain Hope Murphy gets on early
10 - Niall O'Connor (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) defense is suspect
11 - Johne Murphy (Leicester)Let's hope the GP has not turned him into a total tram-line runner
12 - Keith Matthews (Buccaneers/Connacht) interesting, lively player so it is nice to see him have a chance to impress
13 - Fergus McFadden (UCD/Leinster)I know nothing of this guy
14 - Fionn Carr (Galwegians/Connacht)Great! Should have been capped in the SI if you ask me
15 - Denis Hurley (Cork Constitution/Munster) Hurley is a decent runner with the ball in hand, but I don't trust him defensively or under Garryowens

Replacements:
16 - Denis Fogarty (Cork Constitution/Munster)
17 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) hope he's on early
18 - Trevor Hogan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
19 - John Muldoon (Buccanneers/Connacht)Rested?
20 - Frank Murphy (Buccaneers/Connacht)
21 - Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary’s College/Leinster)
22 - James Downey (Northampton Saints)

The subs look like they could be a lot better than their starting counterparts. Tire them out and then empty the bench at the start of second half?