Ireland squad for 3rd training camp announced.

danthefan

The squad is split into 20 forwards and 14 backs, contains six uncapped players and sees Leinster duo Bernard Jackman and Eoin Reddan included for the first time this season.
There are are six uncapped players named in the squad: Leinster tyros Cian Healy, Devin Toner, Jonathan Sexton and Fergus McFadden and Connacht's Brett Wilkinson and Sean Cronin.

Commenting on the training camp, Ireland Coach Declan Kidney said, "The two camps that we have had have been hugely beneficial in terms of continuing the work from last season and preparing for the year ahead in what will certainly be a big challenge for the squad. We set out to maintain the building process of a panel based on the summer tours as well as that already knew about the players”.

“The next time we meet as a squad will be November, so hopefully the players can produce good form so that the foundations laid now will benefit us at that point.”

Ireland Squad (Training Camp, September 2009)

Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)
Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht)*
Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)*
Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)
Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)
Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster)
Bernard Jackman (Clontarf/Leinster)
Shane Jennings (St.Mary's College/Leinster)
Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Fergus McFadden (UCD/Leinster)*
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)
Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster)
Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary's College/Leinster)*
Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)*
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
Brett Wilkinson (Galwegians/Connacht)*

* Denotes uncapped

http://www.irishrugby.ie/283_18253.php

Pretty happy to see Reddan in I have to say, nothing else really too unexpected anyway.

I see Reddans registered with old crescent,does he not have to use a Leinster based team?

danthefan

Dana Hissing Sympathy wrote: »

I see Reddans registered with old crescent,does he not have to use a Leinster based team?

Bit of an odd one but these lists very frequently have clubs and even provinces wrong. Anyway who cares, he'll never play for them.

[Jackass]

To push it out a litttttlllleee bit, would have liked to see O'Brien in there, but other than that, fairly decent squad.

Good to see Flannery and O'Leary there, despite injury, hopefully making a decent come back.

Is it a bit surprising that Ross isn't included? Are we still praying that Peter Pan (a.k.a John Hayes) will still be fit in 2045? I think we have to accept that although still doing a great job, not having a credible back up, let alone replacement, is a serious concern, that grows even more serious with every oppertunity turned down to look for one.

There would be a certain irony if Hayes got injured this season around the 6 nations. And we would be absolutely pummled as a result, unless some sort of replacement plan is put in place.

Very surprised to see Jackman in there, I think his form last season got very poor towards the end, his loose play often made up for his failings at the line out, but his lineout got worse and he didn't show much around the field in the second half of the season. Also prone to give away stupid penalties.

The only Irish hooker I've seen that's worse than Jackman in recent years is Leinster number 2 Fogarty. You really have to pray this Strauss fella is good or that Harris-Wright steps it up this season!! I hate to be harsh on Jackman, in the 2007 / 08 season I thought he was the best 2 in Ireland (Leinster player of the season that year too), but he really went to the dogs last season.

NickNolte

I'm getting a warm, fuzzy feeling looking at that squad.

danthefan

Neil Best and Tommy Bowe obviously not released by their clubs.

P_1

I've already musingly considered this on another thread but is there any way Stan Wright can be Irish qualified. AFAIK he has been capped by the Cook Islands but would such a cap be counted.

Last time I checked the Cook Islands were a protectorate of New Zealand and not a soverign nation state.

If he is Irish qualified then there could lie the answer to the "WTF do we do if the Bull gets hurt" question.

phog

Dana Hissing Sympathy wrote: »

I see Reddans registered with old crescent,does he not have to use a Leinster based team?

I think Stephen Keogh and Trevor Hogan remained with Shannon for a while after moving to Leinster.

phog

pithater1 wrote: »

I've already musingly considered this on another thread but is there any way Stan Wright can be Irish qualified. AFAIK he has been capped by the Cook Islands but would such a cap be counted.

Last time I checked the Cook Islands were a protectorate of New Zealand and not a soverign nation state.

If he is Irish qualified then there could lie the answer to the "WTF do we do if the Bull gets hurt" question.

From what I've seen of him, Wright's ball handling skills wouldn't be good enough for international standards.

gearstick

danthefan wrote: »

Neil Best and Tommy Bowe obviously not released by their clubs.

and G. Murphy i'm guessing

OldJay

pithater1 wrote: »

I've already musingly considered this on another thread but is there any way Stan Wright can be Irish qualified

No.
Playing for the Cook Islands "counts".

2040

[Jackass] wrote: »

Is it a bit surprising that Ross isn't included? Are we still praying that Peter Pan (a.k.a John Hayes) will still be fit in 2045?

Sorry to go off topic but i couldn't resist.

FridaysWell

Felix Jones should be in instead of Trimble. He showed his quality in the CC.

At least for him to get the feel of Ireland, sure he was there in the last camp wasn't he?

FridaysWell

FridaysWell wrote: »

Felix Jones should be in instead of Trimble. He showed his quality in the CC.

At least for him to get the feel of Ireland, sure he was there in the last camp wasn't he?

Trimble is a seasoned international who is lacking in confidence,Felix Jones is a player who couldnt get in the leinster team and has done nothing of note for club,yet.

Fair enough he had a good churchill but he has to play more games.

FridaysWell

Dana Hissing Sympathy wrote: »

Trimble is a seasoned international who is lacking in confidence,Felix Jones is a player who couldnt get in the leinster team and has done nothing of note for club,yet.

Fair enough he had a good churchill but he has to play more games.

Trimble is a spent force. Himself and Ulster will need a very good season to get back up. And it is more in the line of injury for him anyway.

Keatley couldn't make Leinster. In a way.
Just because they didn't make it does not mean they are bad players.
Jones stood out in the Churchill Cup. True he hasn't done enough to get on the matchday 22, but he should be on the training squad. That develops a player.


Then again this is Ireland. And people can't take risks, or break the bloody mold....

FridaysWell

FridaysWell wrote: »

Trimble is a spent force. Himself and Ulster will need a very good season to get back up. And it is more in the line of injury for him anyway.

Keatley couldn't make Leinster. In a way.
Just because they didn't make it does not mean they are bad players.
Jones stood out in the Churchill Cup. True he hasn't done enough to get on the matchday 22, but he should be on the training squad. That develops a player.


Then again this is Ireland. And people can't take risks, or break the bloody mold....

I never said he was a bad player,he is a good player.

Take risks would indicate we arent going to throw him in at the deep end,he has the best fullback imo in world rugby in front of him who is 23,so its not like we need a replacement anytime soon.

Fullback is a position heavily covered with Fitzgerald also a natural fullback.No point in him taking up a squad place when he could be playing for Munster.

As I said anyway,he has played so infrequntly for Leinster and Munster that you couldnt possibly include him on churchill performances.

LeeroyJones

FridaysWell wrote: »

Trimble is a spent force. Himself and Ulster will need a very good season to get back up. And it is more in the line of injury for him anyway.

Keatley couldn't make Leinster. In a way.
Just because they didn't make it does not mean they are bad players.
Jones stood out in the Churchill Cup. True he hasn't done enough to get on the matchday 22, but he should be on the training squad. That develops a player.


Then again this is Ireland. And people can't take risks, or break the bloody mold....

Trimble is 24, how is he a spent force? He has shown that he can perform on the international stage in the past, granted his last season or 2 have been below par but at the age he is at now he can pick up again. You cannot be that impatient with young players!

As for Jones, I'd prefer to see him perform well at club level before he gets an international call-up!!! it's been already pointed out - we're doing alright for depth at full-back with Kearney, Fitzgerald, Earls and G Murphy all perfecty capable of doing a job their for the coming years.

[Jackass]

I'd liked to have seen Jones in there alright.

He probably hasn't done enough yet to be there on merrit though.

irishbucsfan

[Jackass] wrote: »

Is it a bit surprising that Ross isn't included? Are we still praying that Peter Pan (a.k.a John Hayes) will still be fit in 2045? I think we have to accept that although still doing a great job, not having a credible back up, let alone replacement, is a serious concern, that grows even more serious with every oppertunity turned down to look for one.

There would be a certain irony if Hayes got injured this season around the 6 nations. And we would be absolutely pummled as a result, unless some sort of replacement plan is put in place.

Mike Ross is nearly 30 years old and hasn't shown anything (apart from being an above average prop for another team) to prove that he'll be anywhere near the starting Leinster team this season, let alone the Irish team. If he beats out Stan Wright or CJ Van De Linde, which I don't think he will, then maybe he might merit a place in an Irish training squad.

Brett Wilkinson is a TH correct? That's a more satisfying selection than Mike Ross at the moment.


Also, this was mentioned in another thread, can Stan Wright ever play for Ireland? The chaps a legend

danthefan

Stan can't ever play for Ireland, has caps for the Cook Islands.

irishbucsfan

danthefan wrote: »

Stan can't ever play for Ireland, has caps for the Cook Islands.

We should pull a Tim Cahill. Cook Islands dont count.

OldJay

irishbucsfan wrote: »

We should pull a Tim Cahill. Cook Islands dont count.

Yes they do. Wright can never declare for Ireland.

Diom

Delighted for Brett and Sean. Both class front rowers. Wilko is especially useful given the lack of decent scrummaging props in Ireland at the moment.

skregs

Justind wrote: »

Yes they do.

Try telling that to New Zealand!

P_1

Justind wrote: »

No.
Playing for the Cook Islands "counts".

Thats a pity, could've got us out of a hole.

I suppose if we could've pulled a Tim Cahil, the IRFU would have been onto it like a hot snot.

OldJay

pithater1 wrote: »

Thats a pity, could've got us out of a hole.

I suppose if we could've pulled a Tim Cahil, the IRFU would have been onto it like a hot snot.

Whats all this about Tim Cahill??? An Aussie who plays for Australia in soccer?

PhatPiggins

Justind wrote: »

Yes they do. Wright can never declare for Ireland.

You must be the life of evey party.

anonymous_joe

Justind wrote: »

Whats all this about Tim Cahill??? An Aussie who plays for Australia in soccer?

Tim Cahill (who has an Irish passport afaik) played a game as a teenager for (one of the) Samoa(s). He was 17 or so, and played for five minutes.

Eventually FIFA's new rules allowed you to change nationality after a certain age, bascially because of cases like him. It's very similar to the Nacewa thing.

anonymous_joe

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Tim Cahill (who has an Irish passport afaik) played a game as a teenager for (one of the) Samoa(s). He was 17 or so, and played for five minutes.

Eventually FIFA's new rules allowed you to change nationality after a certain age, bascially because of cases like him. It's very similar to the Nacewa thing.

Tim Cahill wanted to play for Ireland in the 2002 world cup and asked to be called up and that retard McCarthy wouldnt pick him.

irishbucsfan

Dana Hissing Sympathy wrote: »

Tim Cahill wanted to play for Ireland in the 2002 world cup and asked to be called up and that retard McCarthy wouldnt pick him.

He wouldn't have been allowed anyway. He had to go to court to play for Oz

irishbucsfan

Diom wrote: »

Delighted for Brett and Sean. Both class front rowers. Wilko is especially useful given the lack of decent scrummaging props in Ireland at the moment.

Connacht are looking quite healthy in the front row at the moment, with them two messers and Hagan developing.

OldJay

PhatPiggins wrote: »

You must be the life of evey party.

???
Somebody wondered if Wright could play for Ireland and I gave them the facts (ie. he can't).
:rolleyes:

Zzippy

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Connacht are looking quite healthy in the front row at the moment, with them two messers and Hagan developing.

Sounds like a few stories there....?