Ireland & Wolfhounds Squads for the 2012 RBS 6 Nations.

conneem-TT

Ireland Training Squad

Rory Best (Banbridge - Ulster)
Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
Tom Court (Malone - Ulster)
Sean Cronin (St.Mary's College - Leinster)
Leo Cullen (Blackrock College - Leinster)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne - Leinster)
Keith Earls (Young Munster - Munster)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon - Ulster)
Cian Healy (Clontarf - Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Naas - Leinster)
Shane Jennings (St.Mary's College - Leinster)
Rob Kearney (UCD - Leinster)
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere - Leinster)
Conor Murray (Garryowen - Munster)
Sean O'Brien (Clontarf - Leinster)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution - Munster)
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster - Munster)
Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution - Munster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne - Leinster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf - Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon - Munster)
Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary's College - Leinster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena - Ulster)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena - Ulster)

Additional Players
Ian Nagle (Cork Constitution - Munster)*
Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution - Munster)*
Tiernan O'Halloran (Galwegians - Connacht)*
Paddy McAllister (Ballynahinch - Ulster)*
Andrew Conway (Blackrock College - Leinster)*
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution - Munster)*


O2 Ireland Wolfhounds

Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution - Munster)*
Isaac Boss (Terenure College - Leinster)
Gavin Duffy (Galwegians - Connacht)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College - Leinster)
Chris Henry (Belfast Harlequins - Ulster)
Denis Hurley (Cork Constitution - Munster)
David Kearney (Lansdowne - Leinster)*
Ian Keatley (Young Munster - Munster)
Ronan Loughney (Buccaneers - Connacht)*
Ian Madigan (Blackrock College - Leinster)*
Mike McCarthy (Buccaneers - Connacht)
Kevin McLaughlin (St.Mary's College - Leinster)
John Muldoon (Galwegians - Connacht)
Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin - Munster)
Eoin O'Malley (Old Belvedere - Leinster)*
Rhys Ruddock (St.Mary's College - Leinster)
Mike Sherry (Garryowen - Munster)*
Nevin Spence (Ballynahinch - Ulster)*
Devin Toner (Lansdowne - Leinster)
Dan Touhy (Ballymena - Ulster)
Damien Varley (Garryowen - Munster)
Brett Wilkinson (Galwegians - Connacht)*

Not considered due to injury:
Brian O'Driscoll, David Wallace, Darren Cave, Felix Jones, Jerry Flannery, Eoin Griffen*, Denis Leamy, Niall Ronan.

N.B. * denotes uncapped player

conneem-TT

Presumably with Cullen out for 8-10 weeks one of Toner or Touhy will be called up to the main squad.

thomond2006

conneem-TT wrote: »

Presumably with Cullen out for 8-10 weeks one of Toner or Touhy will be called up to the main squad.

What the **** were they doing picking Cullen anyway?

profitius

Same as always so.

Whats the story with the 'additional players'?

colman1212

Wow, surprised Luke Fitzgerald didn't make the first team.
Delighted for Simon Zebo and Peter O'Mahony at the same time.

I really am sick of seeing paddy wallace on every Ireland squad...

Also though Paul Marshall would be in there..

conneem-TT

profitius wrote: »

Same as always so.

Whats the story with the 'additional players'?

Seems they are included as up and coming players to give them exposure to the national training camp.

with six additional up and coming players named who will join the first week of Ireland camp in Limerick to train with the squad.

ynwa_17

No Paul Marshall in either squad is bemusing to say the least

colman1212

profitius wrote: »

Same as always so.

Whats the story with the 'additional players'?

id assume it just means new to the squad?

thomond2006

All 24 in the main squad went to the World Cup.

I assume the "additional players" hold the tackle bags in the senior squad sessions?

Skid

Surprised Luke Fitzgerald isn't back. He has been doing great for Leinster.

bamboozle

hold on a sec, Fitz, Mclaughlin & toner in the wolfhounds and Zebo, Earls, O'mahoney, NAgle DOC all on full squad....

pretty much the WC squad less Boss.

DK brings conservatism to new levels.

jm08

thomond2006 wrote: »

All 24 in the main squad went to the World Cup.

I assume the "additional players" hold the tackle bags in the senior squad sessions?

Yes. They need 30 players for a training session.

molloyjh

I wonder are they putting Fitzy into the Wolfhounds due to this neck strain, i.e. they aren't sure if he'll be fit?

Still though what Cullen is doing in there and him out for 10 weeks I don't know. DOC ahead of Tuohy too!? And while I'm a big fan of Conway he has't had much game time this season and has had no HEC time. Surely it's too early for him to feature? Zebo I don't think is good enough and how they can both be there and EOM not is just bizarre. And how the f*** is Nagle ahead of Toner and Tuohy!? He's had 1 start all season!

Roll on the start of the tournament so we can get this bloody thing over with.

darragh_haven

conneem-TT wrote: »

Presumably with Cullen out for 8-10 weeks one of Toner or Touhy will be called up to the main squad.

I hope Touhy gets the call. Ive been very impressed with him in the last 5 or 6 games that i saw him in.

GerM

Exact same 22 as WC with replacements for Leamy and BOD. I wish I could say I was surprised. Fitz not in there is shambolic. Cullen and DOC in there is bizarre. Jennings doesn't deserve to be ahead of POM at all.

It's a ridiculous squad, frankly.

GerM

Think people are reading too much into the "additional players" section. They're not the next in line. They're just some young lads that have been brought along to train and get a taste of the international set up. More a list of lads who will one day be capped than those that are pushing for selection with the exception of POM.

profitius

GerM wrote: »

Exact same 22 as WC with replacements for Leamy and BOD. I wish I could say I was surprised. Fitz not in there is shambolic. Cullen and DOC in there is bizarre. Jennings doesn't deserve to be ahead of POM at all.

It's a ridiculous squad, frankly.

Its true what they say about it being harder to get out of the squad than into it. Kidney is taking things to new levels.

Noopti

Disappointed.

bm1993

Disgraceful selection from Kidney. I'm actually astonished. Simon Zebo over Luke Fitz. Ian Nagle and Leo Cullen over Dan Tuohy and Devin Toner. No Chris Henry,EOM, the list goes on. He has taken his bias towards Munster to a new level and what the hell does he have against Ulster. Lets hope he manages to fluke the Lions job so we can get a proper coach like Conor O'Shea

Sindri

Disappointed. No Marshall, Toner in the wolfhound squad, so's O' Malley, looks like McFadden will be 13 unless Kidney wants to play D'Arcy there and Wallace at 12 which is highly unlikely.

I hope to God he doesn't play Earls 13.

molloyjh

GerM wrote: »

Think people are reading too much into the "additional players" section. They're not the next in line. They're just some young lads that have been brought along to train and get a taste of the international set up. More a list of lads who will one day be capped than those that are pushing for selection with the exception of POM.

I think you're right. But I'm wondering if POMs chances are actually reduced for being in the Additional Players group. Seems to me these guys are well down the pecking order. Nagle has started 1 game all season, Conway has started twice. Zebo couldn't possibly be ahead of Fitzy.

WeeBushy

One thing to bear in mind is there can be movement between the wolfhound squad and the main squad. Players like Touhy, O'Malley etc. could still be called up, but Kidney wants to have a look at them before naming his 22 for the 6N. That's what I gather from the quotes accompanying the announcement anyway.

In saying that, I would not be surprised at all if the changes from the WC 22 are restricted to sub back row and 13.

vinny chase

bm1993 wrote: »

Disgraceful selection from Kidney. I'm actually astonished. Simon Zebo over Luke Fitz. Ian Nagle and Leo Cullen over Dan Tuohy and Devin Toner. No Chris Henry,EOM, the list goes on. He has taken his bias towards Munster to a new level and what the hell does he have against Ulster. Lets hope he manages to fluke the Lions job so we can get a proper coach like Conor O'Shea

Once again;

the additional players are not in either squad.

Those guys are just training with the collective squad, so Zebo isn't ahead of Luke Fitz for example.

The additional players should be listed below the Wolfhounds squad to clarify this.

Hype710

In DOC's book he mentions how he was called up as an 'additional player' or whatever they called it back then, and the young lads basically got the **** kicked out of them for a week while the main squad prepared for the 6 Nations. Would much rather see O' Halloran and O' Mahony playing for the Wolfhounds. Deccie leaving Jamie Hagan out altogether. Thought he might have done what he did to Sexton when he wasn't being picked by Leinster and throw him in for an 'A' game. Don't see how Archer has been any better although Loughney's selection is fully deserved.

Flincher

bamboozle wrote: »

hold on a sec, Fitz, Mclaughlin & toner in the wolfhounds and Zebo, Earls, O'mahoney, NAgle DOC all on full squad....

Nagle, Zebo O'Mahony are there to train with the senior squad. As far as I know the Wolfhounds will be training separately as they have a match the week before the 6 Nations. Presumably the Wolfhounds will be in contention for selection for the 6 Nations, given that there is only a 24 man Senior Squad named.

I wonder whether Kidney would have gone for Cave over Earls. Cave was the form 13 by a distance.

Also shows how Carr has slipped off the radar. Last year people were calling for him to be included. Now he isn't in the Wolfhounds

Robbo

Surely a minor revolution has occurred in that Buckley isn't anywhere near the squads?

darragh_haven

Sindri wrote: »

Disappointed. No Marshall, Toner in the wolfhound squad, so's O' Malley, looks like McFadden will be 13 unless Kidney wants to play D'Arcy there and Wallace at 12 which is highly unlikely.

I hope to God he doesn't play Earls 13.

I think you'll find there is no god!:D

vinny chase

Declan Kidney wrote:

Commenting on the announcement, Ireland Coach Declan Kidney said, "The Wolfhounds game gives myself and the other coaches one final chance to give games to players to see possible options before we settle on our match day 22 for the opening game.

"It also gives us the opportunity to have a closer look in training at some of the younger players, rather than bringing in more experienced players, who are very much still in the frame for selection.

"There have been some strong performances by players with the Provinces going really well. It always gives the squad a good boost when we have teams with players playing well in Europe before we step back up into the international scene."

Talking about the start of the RBS 6 Nations Championship, Kidney said, "It's a new tournament for us and for everybody involved, so irrespective of the highs and lows of the World Cup, it is a fresh and exciting challenge for us.

"The tournament begins what is big year for us, with a three test tour to New Zealand to come in June and ranking points all important for the Rugby World Cup in 2015, but the Six Nations always stands out as high point."

Wolfhounds players are still possibly in contention for the Senior Squad.

Ron1

Kidney is a Joke. Need a new modern coach from the southern Hem.

Sindri

I'm losing my patience with Kidney.

We had a chance to inject a bit of life into the squad and competition for places. They're young lads there who are knocking on the door and who have raised their game this season like Toner and like Fitzgerald. There is Cave who should be the 13 as it is the safest option and he is the best for the job but he picks McFadden and Earls, and Paddy Wallace.

I predict this will be a poor 6 Nations.

WeeBushy

Sindri wrote: »

I'm losing my patience with Kidney.

We had a chance to inject a bit of life into the squad and competition for places. They're young lads there who are knocking on the door and who have raised their game this season like Toner and like Fitzgerald. There is Cave who should be the 13 as it is the safest option and he is the best for the job but he picks McFadden and Earls, and Paddy Wallace.

I predict this will be a poor 6 Nations.

Cave is injured.

vinny chase

Robbo wrote: »

Surely a minor revolution has occurred in that Buckley isn't anywhere near the squads?

Yeah, thank God.

Only three props in the 24, so Loughney, Wilkinson & Archer (incredibly) all have a shot at that still.

bamboozle

Flincher wrote: »

Nagle, Zebo O'Mahony are there to train with the senior squad. As far as I know the Wolfhounds will be training separately as they have a match the week before the 6 Nations. Presumably the Wolfhounds will be in contention for selection for the 6 Nations, given that there is only a 24 man Senior Squad named.

I wonder whether Kidney would have gone for Cave over Earls. Cave was the form 13 by a distance.

Also shows how Carr has slipped off the radar. Last year people were calling for him to be included. Now he isn't in the Wolfhounds

Fair enough but why on earth are DOC and Paddy Wallace still involved with the senior squad, hardly the backbone of the team, surely this was the perfect time to get rid of the likes of them, bring through younger players (EOM, Toner, Touhey) and revitalise the squad.

as for Earls, the only options for 11-14 players are Wallace, Darcy, McFadden, Earls, Bowe, Trimble, so unfortunately Earls must be odds on for the 13 jersey.

Tox56

Kidney has to go.

This is disgraceful.

Sindri

WeeBushy wrote: »

Cave is injured.

He'd still be better than Earl's.:D

CIARAN_BOYLE

There are 24 players named in the Ireland senior squad, with six additional up and coming players named who will join the first week of Ireland camp in Limerick to train with the squad.

Basically these guys are going to hang around for the first week of camp while the WHs are preparing for their own game and hold tacklebags. Then they are going to be replaced by wolfhounds.

WH 22
Wilkinson Sherry Archer
Toner Tuohy
McLaughlin Muldoon Henry
Boss Madigan
Spence EOM
Fitzgerald Duffy DKearney
Varley, Loughney, McCarthy, Ruddock, O'Leary, Keatley, Hurley

Given the announced 22 this is the WHs squad I would pick, Fitzgerald is included to give him an extra game after injury to get into full fitness before the 6Ns. EOM Henry and Tuohy are probably just getting a bit of a trial but should be involved in the 6Ns squad.

Zzippy

WTF?

Cullen going for an op, out for 10 weeks, but he's named in the squad?

DOC ahead of Tuohy, McCarthy and Toner, all of whom have been playing regularly and at least 2 of whom have been outstanding this season?

Stephen Archer ahead of Jamie Hagan?


Interestingly, Hagan and Carr both omitted, but their replacements in the Connacht team were both named... :pac:

Cool_CM

The squad that everybody expected to be honest, glossed over by the fact that they are letting some of the more promising players that they are grooming for the future to join them to train.

More positive is that players like Archer, Madigan, Sherry and Spence get a run out for the Wolfhounds.

JRant

From that squad announcement it would seem that the only way for a young up and coming player to break into the squad is to sign for Munster first.
6 N hasn't even started and I'm already dejected. I'd love to know what DOC and P. Wallace have on DK cause he aint picking them on ability, thats for sure.

jm08

Robbo wrote: »

Surely a minor revolution has occurred in that Buckley isn't anywhere near the squads?

Probably not released by Sale for next week as it is extra to the 6Ns international window. Geordan Murphy used have that problem as well.

Anyone in the Wolfhounds should be pleased as they are getting a chance to impress. Tommy Bowe was selected for the Wolfhounds first after not making the rugby world cup in '07 and played his way onto the senior team and hasn't been off it since.

Fitzy in particular would probably welcome the extra gametime as he has been injured. The Wolfhounds would also need a bit of experience which the likes of Fitzy would provide.

JRant

From that squad announcement it would seem that the only way for a young up and coming player ( or any player) to break into the squad is to sign for Munster first.
6 N hasn't even started and I'm already dejected. I'd love to know what DOC and P. Wallace have on DK cause he aint picking them on ability, thats for sure.

vinny chase

JRant wrote: »

From that squad announcement it would seem that the only way for a young up and coming player to break into the squad is to sign for Munster first.
6 N hasn't even started and I'm already dejected. I'd love to know what DOC and P. Wallace have on DK cause he aint picking them on ability, thats for sure.

Wallace & O'Callaghan are two classic long time Kidney favourites who were with him as far back as the successful U-19 side.

For some reason, when fit they are automatic inclusions for Kidney.

So frustrating.

almighty1

conneem-TT wrote: »

Ireland Training Squad

Rory Best (Banbridge - Ulster)
Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
Tom Court (Malone - Ulster)
Sean Cronin (St.Mary's College - Leinster)
Leo Cullen (Blackrock College - Leinster) - Should be Toner
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne - Leinster)
Keith Earls (Young Munster - Munster) - Should be Fitzgerald
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon - Ulster)
Cian Healy (Clontarf - Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Naas - Leinster)
Shane Jennings (St.Mary's College - Leinster) - Should be O Mahony
Rob Kearney (UCD - Leinster)
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere - Leinster)
Conor Murray (Garryowen - Munster) - Should be Marshall
Sean O'Brien (Clontarf - Leinster)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution - Munster) - Should be Tuohy
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster - Munster)
Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution - Munster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne - Leinster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf - Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon - Munster)
Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary's College - Leinster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena - Ulster)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena - Ulster) - Should be O'Malley

Jesus Deccie makes EOS look like Evel Knievel.

tolosenc

I think durkadurka said it best

durkadurka wrote: »

What the actual fcuk?

Leinster7

Why are any of you surprised?

I've been calling for Kidney to go for 2 years now. Beating a weak Australia with scrums and kicking was the worst thing that could've happened to Irish Rugby.

What to expect:

1. Expect to see Munster players with complete lack of form playing in the first 15 (Earls, DOC etc)'.

2. Expect to see backs played out of position and guys with no caps mismanaged.

3. Expect to see Johnny Sexton mismanaged....again

4. Expect to see a complete lack of playstyle, plan b or effective use of subs.

5. Expect to lose in Paris, probably one other game we shouldn't and to come 3rd.

6. Expect a lack of foresight, development and the IRFU to do nothing.

Keep Calm and Carry On King Deccie

irishbucsfan

I don't believe that this is the final squad at all.

I think kidney has just sneakilly taken unavailable players out of the world cup squad and announced it.

I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and wait for February.

leakyboots

Tox56 wrote: »

Kidney has to go.

This is disgraceful.

Bravo. Not a ball been kicked, the squad for the first game hasn't been announced yet, but yeah, let's get rid.

Quint2010

Some weird selections. DOC, Wallace etc only in the squad as they are on central contracts. Disappointed with lack of new caps. I mean-NONE???

andrewdcs

That's a big hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm from me.


Doesnt seem to have anything to do with whos playing well / whos not (and they've somehow forgotten Cullen is injured) so form is out the window, its the world cup gentlemans club. Earls looks like being whacked with a mallet to make him fit in at 13, he and D'Arcy are both playing very well but I think that 12/13 axis is an issue. Can't see anyone shifting D'Arcy from 12.


Seems to be light some Ulster players who are looking very good this season, and heavy poor old Paddy Wallace who is simply not as good in any one position as a bundle of players at Ulster, which seems to make him perfect for Ireland. He's very talented, but sadly as a country / province there are more.

Obv having a blue tinted bias think Luke Fitz should have been recalled / I'd imagine if he can keep his form from Leinster he'll get a call up.

The "additional players" thing is just people they want exposed to training camps, and wolfhounds training isn't where Deccie can watch em so they train with the full squad.

I'd imagine (I hope) the team that plays Italy will have 2 or 3 "Wolfhounds".

leakyboots

andrewdcs wrote: »

That's a big hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm from me.


Doesnt seem to have anything to do with whos playing well / whos not (and they've somehow forgotten Cullen is injured) so form is out the window, its the world cup gentlemans club. Earls looks like being whacked with a mallet to make him fit in at 13, he and D'Arcy are both playing very well but I think that 12/13 axis is an issue. Can't see anyone shifting D'Arcy from 12.


Seems to be light some Ulster players who are looking very good this season, and heavy poor old Paddy Wallace who is simply not as good in any one position as a bundle of players at Ulster, which seems to make him perfect for Ireland. He's very talented, but sadly as a country / province there are more.

Obv having a blue tinted bias think Luke Fitz should have been recalled / I'd imagine if he can keep his form from Leinster he'll get a call up.

The "additional players" thing is just people they want exposed to training camps, and wolfhounds training isn't where Deccie can watch em so they train with the full squad.

I'd imagine (I hope) the team that plays Italy will have 2 or 3 "Wolfhounds".

According to the Irish Times (via someone on Mfans), they're not 100% sure Cullen's operation will go ahead - hence naming him.

Leinster7

On a worrying note guys...

We still have no proper World Class no.7

Jennings is closest thing to it (woefully mismanaged by Kidney) and prob won't make the 22. Niall Ronan (injured) ain't all that....we really need to sort this out by next year. Playing 2 sixes in the backrow isn't going to beat the All Blacks and O'Brien is wasted at 7 as he has to be at the first breakdown instead of taking the ball on a crashing run. I don't want to see Ferris or O'Mahony play 7 for the same reason.

Its a real shame Dominic Ryan got injured a few months ago as he seemed like the candidate...