Ireland A vs. Tonga (13/11/09)

Podge_irl

15. Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht)

14. Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster) Captain

13. Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

12. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

11. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

10. Ian Humphreys (Ballymena/Ulster)

9. Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)

1. Brett Wilkinson (Galwegians/Connacht)

2. A.N. Other

3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)

4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)

5. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)

6. Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)

7. Neil Best (Northampton Saints)

8. Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster)

Replacements
16. Denis Fogarty (Cork Constitution/Munster)
17. Bryan Young (Ballymena/Ulster)
18. Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)
19. Kevin McLaughlin (UCD/Leinster)
20. Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster)
21. Ian Keatley (Galwegians/Connacht)
22. Johne Murphy (Leicester Tigers).


Pretty good team. Will be interesting to see how they get on against a full blown test team. I have no idea what the Tongan squad is like though - is it full strength? We'll definitely get an indication of whether Humphreys has improved his tackling or not!

siltirocker

Pretty sure its actually Tonga 'A' they are playing.

Podge_irl

siltirocker wrote: »

Pretty sure its actually Tonga 'A' they are playing.

Nope, its a full international Tongan side.

2040

I'd have put Boss in at 9. Nice team though.

RugbyFanatic

Podge_irl wrote: »

15. Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht)

14. Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster) Captain

13. Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

12. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

11. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

10. Ian Humphreys (Ballymena/Ulster)

9. Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)

1. Brett Wilkinson (Galwegians/Connacht)

2. A.N. Other

3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)

4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)

5. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)

6. Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)

7. Neil Best (Northampton Saints)

8. Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster)

Replacements
16. Denis Fogarty (Cork Constitution/Munster)
17. Bryan Young (Ballymena/Ulster)
18. Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)
19. Kevin McLaughlin (UCD/Leinster)
20. Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster)
21. Ian Keatley (Galwegians/Connacht)
22. Johne Murphy (Leicester Tigers).


Pretty good team. Will be interesting to see how they get on against a full blown test team. I have no idea what the Tongan squad is like though - is it full strength? We'll definitely get an indication of whether Humphreys has improved his tackling or not!

Does anyone else find it an absolute disgrace that Boss and McLaughlin are on the bench?

accensi0n

Hope Cave and McFadden click and they use Horgan and Trimble to plough up the middle on the inside a lot.

thomond2006

Podge_irl wrote: »

15. Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht)

14. Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster) Captain

13. Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

12. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

11. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

10. Ian Humphreys (Ballymena/Ulster)

9. Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)

1. Brett Wilkinson (Galwegians/Connacht)

2. A.N. Other

3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)

4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)

5. Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)

6. Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)

7. Neil Best (Northampton Saints)

8. Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster)

Replacements
16. Denis Fogarty (Cork Constitution/Munster)
17. Bryan Young (Ballymena/Ulster)
18. Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)
19. Kevin McLaughlin (UCD/Leinster)
20. Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster)
21. Ian Keatley (Galwegians/Connacht)
22. Johne Murphy (Leicester Tigers).

Really looking forward to see how McFadden and Cave do in the centre. They are two serious prospects for the 2011 squad.

Denis Fogarty must be disappointed that he'll only make the replacements.

Is this Stringer's first game for Ireland A? It must be his first omission from the Ireland senior match day squad (bar RWC2007) for a long time.

Time for Ian Humphreys to stand up and be counted.

Gavin Duffy in my opinion is a lost cause and I can't understand why the Irish management are persisting with him. Give Felix Jones a crack of the whip for goodness' sake.

Neil Best has no business being on the A side, he should be on the bench for the Wallabies match ahead of Denis Leamy.

Looking forward to seeing how Brett Wilkinson does.

chupacabra

This match doesent appear to be on tv.

2040

I completely forgot about Felix Jones. Why isn't he there?

GO'S

niall ronan didnt even make squad

Crash

Shaggys taken the captaincy off Best, according to irfu.ie

GO'S

niall ronan didnt even make the squad:eek::eek: pretty much a churchill cup team with a few changes

Podge_irl

Crash wrote: »

Shaggys taken the captaincy off Best, according to irfu.ie

Probably why it says Captain beside his name in the first post

Doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Besty did well in that position in the CC, the only thing Shaggy has over him is "seniority", he doesn't particularly strike me as captain material and its not as if many teams are lead by their right winger.

thomond2006

GO'S wrote: »

niall ronan didnt even make the squad:eek::eek: pretty much a churchill cup team with a few changes

Someone had to miss out.

Maybe DK knew he'd cause a war on the forum by leaving Kevin McLaughlin out.

Niall Ronan and Felix Jones are holding the tackle bags in the senior squad.:mad:

RugbyFanatic

Borders no.2 wrote: »

Niall Ronan and Felix Jones are holding the tackle bags in the senior squad.:mad:

Niall Ronan doesn't deserve to be ahead of anyone in his position picked for Ireland A

wixfjord

RugbyFanatic wrote: »

Does anyone else find it an absolute disgrace that Boss and McLaughlin are on the bench?

Who would you have Locky on ahead of then? Seems no matter what team is picked people have a gripe with it. If it was O Brien or Henry left out there would be uproar aswell.

siltirocker

Podge_irl wrote: »

Probably why it says Captain beside his name in the first post

Doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Besty did well in that position in the CC, the only thing Shaggy has over him is "seniority", he doesn't particularly strike me as captain material and its not as if many teams are lead by their right winger.

It's something i keep seeing here, but having watched both games, 50 mins of the 2nd game was the only time i remember him leading. As i believe John Muldoon was the 'A' captain. Heard one or two weren't pleased he lifted the cup either. (Not trying to stir sh1t btw )

little173

RugbyFanatic wrote: »

Does anyone else find it an absolute disgrace that Boss and McLaughlin are on the bench?

Instead of who? O'Brien? I prefer O'Brien, albeit he is a different type of player, I think he is a better prospect.

Boss vs Stringer, wouldnt say that is a "disgrace" could go either way.

RugbyFanatic

wixfjord wrote: »

Who would you have Locky on ahead of then? Seems no matter what team is picked people have a gripe with it. If it was O Brien or Henry left out there would be uproar aswell.

This would of been my team

6.McLaughlin
7.Best
8.O'Brien

RugbyFanatic

little173 wrote: »

Boss vs Stringer, wouldnt say that is a "disgrace" could go either way.

Boss is playing better than O'Leary and Reddan currently.

Crash

Podge_irl wrote: »

Probably why it says Captain beside his name in the first post

Doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Besty did well in that position in the CC, the only thing Shaggy has over him is "seniority", he doesn't particularly strike me as captain material and its not as if many teams are lead by their right winger.

I really need to start deleting more stupid posts I make and your replies to them

little173

RugbyFanatic wrote: »

Boss is playing better than O'Leary and Reddan currently.

I dont happen to agree that Boss is better than either of them. I think he is very limited, a few decent games doesnt warrant jumping ahead of those guys.

Ciaran-Irl

Yeah, I think I'd have Trimble or J. Murphy at wing, Fionn Carr on the bench and drop Duffy, but it makes sense that they opted for someone with more recent experience in that position.

Felix Jones is the better prospect at fullback, but it is fair to say that he hasn't been on the scene for long enough to justify inclusion.

Fionn Carr is the only omission of note, though it is harsh on Muldoon, who has played very well for Ireland A.

little173

RugbyFanatic wrote: »

This would of been my team

6.McLaughlin
7.Best
8.O'Brien

You think O'Brien is best suited to No.8? More of a question really, I know with Heaslip there he is likely to have to make do with a flank position, is he tall enough or will he grow into an 8 as he gets older, like a Dallaglio for instance?

bamboozle

thomond2006 wrote: »

Really looking forward to see how McFadden and Cave do in the centre. They are two serious prospects for the 2011 squad.

Denis Fogarty must be disappointed that he'll only make the replacements.

Is this Stringer's first game for Ireland A? It must be his first omission from the Ireland senior match day squad (bar RWC2007) for a long time.

Time for Ian Humphreys to stand up and be counted.

Gavin Duffy in my opinion is a lost cause and I can't understand why the Irish management are persisting with him. Give Felix Jones a crack of the whip for goodness' sake.

Neil Best has no business being on the A side, he should be on the bench for the Wallabies match ahead of Denis Leamy.

Looking forward to seeing how Brett Wilkinson does.

Completely agree with you re Best & Leamy, Leamy has been consistently poor for 18 months, for all his mobility around the pitch Dennis Fogarty's line out throwing is awful, probably the reason why he's on the bench
overall a good mix of youth and experience.

subfreq

little173 wrote: »

I dont happen to agree that Boss is better than either of them. I think he is very limited, a few decent games doesnt warrant jumping ahead of those guys.

+1

I reckon this A Team has it work really cut out for them. If it's a full strength Tonga then they can score from anywhere. Certainly wont be a walk in the park.

RugbyFanatic

little173 wrote: »

You think O'Brien is best suited to No.8? More of a question really, I know with Heaslip there he is likely to have to make do with a flank position, is he tall enough or will he grow into an 8 as he gets older, like a Dallaglio for instance?

Its more being about able to play both McLaughlin and O'Brien with the experience of someone like Best beside them in a competitive game. If I'm being honest I would of had McLaughlin as second choice 6 for the Irish main squad, he has been in pheonominal form and there have been many players who were thrown in the deep end with no problems.

Podge_irl

RugbyFanatic wrote: »

This would of been my team

6.McLaughlin
7.Best
8.O'Brien

Interesting as that would be, Henry has been playing very well at 8 for Ulster. I probably would have had McLaughlin in ahead of SOB really, he's been the better of the two this season so far.

As regards the captaincy thing. Muldoon was the official captain for the tournament, but Kidney actually had a different captain for each game didn't he?

sock puppet

Podge_irl wrote: »

Interesting as that would be, Henry has been playing very well at 8 for Ulster. I probably would have had McLaughlin in ahead of SOB really, he's been the better of the two this season so far.

As regards the captaincy thing. Muldoon was the official captain for the tournament, but Kidney actually had a different captain for each game didn't he?

The problem is McLaughlin's a six and having him in the team would mean moving Best to 7.

eroo

Borders no.2 wrote: »

Niall Ronan and Felix Jones are holding the tackle bags in the senior squad.:mad:

Both should be starting for this A side. If not, Ronan should've at least made the senior 22. He needs international experience.

Size=everything

eroo wrote: »

Both should be starting for this A side. If not, Ronan should've at least made the senior 22. He needs international experience.

Who would you start Niall Ronan ahead of?

Amazotheamazing

eroo wrote: »

Both should be starting for this A side. If not, Ronan should've at least made the senior 22. He needs international experience.

Ronan is not International standard, and he will never be International standard.

eroo

Size=everything wrote: »

Who would you start Niall Ronan ahead of?

That's the problem.. to start him means putting him in ahead of the likes of the v.experienced Wallace. But at the same time I think Ronan deserves a chance. He's fighting Wallace for no.7 in Munster, he should be given equal opportunity in the National set up.

Size=everything

eroo wrote: »

That's the problem.. to start him means putting him in ahead of the likes of the v.experienced Wallace. But at the same time I think Ronan deserves a chance. He's fighting Wallace for no.7 in Munster, he should be given equal opportunity in the National set up.

I would definitely have Sean O'Brien ahead of him.

Amazotheamazing

Size=everything wrote: »

I would definitely have Sean O'Brien ahead of him.

As a 7? Despite Sean O'Brien having absolutely awful hands? He'd be a hopeless link man. Ronan mightn't be much of a 7, but he's a better 7 than O'Brien, and I really don't rate Ronan that highly.

eroo

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

As a 7? Despite Sean O'Brien having absolutely awful hands? He'd be a hopeless link man. Ronan mightn't be much of a 7, but he's a better 7 than O'Brien, and I really don't rate Ronan that highly.

I don't understand why you don't. I believe he could make it as an international. Just needs experience. He is a good 7 btw.

Podge_irl

sock puppet wrote: »

The problem is McLaughlin's a six and having him in the team would mean moving Best to 7.

Best is already named at 7. Perhaps Kidney doesn't think SOB is suited to 7, he wouldn't be the only one.

eroo wrote:

I don't understand why you don't. I believe he could make it as an international. Just needs experience. He is a good 7 btw.

Ronan? He's lacks physicality. He's excellent if the other 7 guys can dominate the opposition pack, but a liability otherwise.

Digifriendly

Would like to have seen Fionn Carr starting or at very least coming off the bench.

danthefan

eroo wrote: »

That's the problem.. to start him means putting him in ahead of the likes of the v.experienced Wallace. But at the same time I think Ronan deserves a chance. He's fighting Wallace for no.7 in Munster, he should be given equal opportunity in the National set up.

What? He's not fighting Wallace at all, it's blatantly clear Wallace is the better player and will start every big game ahead of Ronan. He's done nothing to show he's an international quality player, just because himself and Wallace are at Munster doesn't mean Ronan should be automatically brought into the Ireland setup.

Size=everything

danthefan wrote: »

What? He's not fighting Wallace at all, it's blatantly clear Wallace is the better player and will start every big game ahead of Ronan. He's done nothing to show he's an international quality player, just because himself and Wallace are at Munster doesn't mean Ronan should be automatically brought into the Ireland setup.

Exactly. Ronan is behind Wallace, Jennings, Best and O'Brien in the pecking order and there is absolutely no reason he deserves to jump ahead of both Best and O'Brien for Ireland.

Size=everything

Digifriendly wrote: »

Would like to have seen Fionn Carr starting or at very least coming off the bench.

Not even in the panel. I really don't think Kindey rates him if he has players such as Hurley and Dowling ahead of him.

ALH-06

thomond2006 wrote: »

Gavin Duffy in my opinion is a lost cause and I can't understand why the Irish management are persisting with him. Give Felix Jones a crack of the whip for goodness' sake.

I agree - we should forget about Duffy. Completely. But Jones just hasn't been given sufficient game time by Munster this season, unfortunately for him. Anyone think he might be a surpise selection for the Fiji match?

RugbyFanatic wrote: »

Boss is playing better than O'Leary and Reddan currently.

O'Leary brings an added physicality to SH, which is obviously important if Kidney is thinking of player ROG at 10. But as for Stringer - it's a travesty that he's ahead of Boss on this squad. Has barely played for his province this season. I'm genuinely disappointed with Kidney - this decision smacks of favouritism and bias.

Ciaran-Irl wrote: »

Fionn Carr is the only omission of note.

It's a tragedy that this guy has been again overlooked!

danthefan wrote: »

What? He's not fighting Wallace at all, it's blatantly clear Wallace is the better player and will start every big game ahead of Ronan. He's done nothing to show he's an international quality player, just because himself and Wallace are at Munster doesn't mean Ronan should be automatically brought into the Ireland setup.

Size=everything wrote: »

Exactly. Ronan is behind Wallace, Jennings, Best and O'Brien in the pecking order and there is absolutely no reason he deserves to jump ahead of both Best and O'Brien for Ireland.

+1+1. Ronan's not good enough for international level. He's got great ball skills but completely lacks the required physicality, and always will. Simple as that.

sock puppet

Podge_irl wrote: »

Best is already named at 7. Perhaps Kidney doesn't think SOB is suited to 7, he wouldn't be the only one.

Is he? It says so in the opening post but on the IRFU site it has Best down at 6.

Podge_irl

sock puppet wrote: »

Is he? It says so in the opening post but on the IRFU site it has Best down at 6.

So it does. I got that off the IRFU site, it was obviously a typo originally. I thought it was a bit odd - though not entirely unbelievable.

potsy11

Is this game on the box? What channel?

Anyone......

premierstone

potsy11 wrote: »

Is this game on the box? What channel?

Anyone......

Not been televised unfortuneately

sock puppet

Podge_irl wrote: »

So it does. I got that off the IRFU site, it was obviously a typo originally. I thought it was a bit odd - though not entirely unbelievable.

Yeah. Don't think that's O'Brein's best position myself. Personally I'd like to have seen Falloon given a run out. Needs to bulk up a bit more though if he wants to seriously compete for an international starting sport.