Ireland Six Nations / Ireland Wolfhounds squads announcement *mod warning post 1*

thomond2006

MOD EDIT: From the offset please be civil. If you think someone is trolling report the post and move on. Please remember that at the moment there is ZERO tolerance on the forum as per the sticky

I thought we could have a seperate thread for this since the Ireland thread is pretty big anyway.

I'll post the squads when they come in.

Move any objects capable of damaging your computer screen out of the room!

EDIT:

Ireland Training Squad Broken Down (39):

FORWARDS

Hookers: Best, Cronin, Strauss

Props: Healy, Court, Kilcoyne, Ross, Bent, Fitzpatrick

Locks: Ryan, McCarthy, O'Callaghan, Stevenson, Toner

Backrowers: Henderson, Henry, O'Brien, O'Mahony, Heaslip (captain)

BACKS

Scrumhalves: Murray, Reddan, Marshall, Boss

Flyhalves: Sexton, O'Gara, Madigan, Jackson

Centres: D'Arcy, McSharry, Cave, O'Driscoll, Earls

Wingers: Fitzgerald, Gilroy, McFadden, Trimble, Zebo

Fullbacks: Kearney, Henshaw

Not available due to injury:
Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster/51)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster/35)
Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
John Muldoon (Galwegians/Connacht/3)
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster/85)
Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster/5)

That makes it 17 Leinster, 11 Ulster, 8 Munster and 3 Connacht players.

totallegend

Everyone's favourite journalist reckons a lot of big hitters are going to be in the Wolfhounds team
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/brian-odriscolls-wolfhounds-date-3355805.html

That would be very strange. And very pointless.

Also, George reckons Keatley will be ahead of Madigan. That would be both shocking and not remotely surprising, given that it's Kidney we're talking about.

Quint2010

totallegend wrote: »

Everyone's favourite journalist reckons a lot of big hitters are going to be in the Wolfhounds team
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/brian-odriscolls-wolfhounds-date-3355805.html

That would be very strange. And very pointless.

Also, George reckons Keatley will be ahead of Madigan. That would be both shocking and not remotely surprising, given that it's Kidney we're talking about.

postitnote

Ulster hat on here:
I sincerely hope that any Ulster players picked for either squad are given some serious gametime. Regarding Jackson, I think he needs as many games as possible for his own development. He is young enough to play week in, week out. For me he plays every week for the Wolfhounds or every week for Ulster. I don't want to see him sitting, rotting away on the bench to come on for a token 7 mins at the end of a six nations game.

I guess many people would feel the same about their own provinces too; many others will probably disagree.

In fact i'm betwixt and between when it comes to the Ireland squad. I want to see the best 23 players in the squad based on current form and regardless of age, and I want fresh blood in the squad too. It seems to me that the attitude of management is that these two things are mutually exclusive.

thomond2006

totallegend wrote: »

Everyone's favourite journalist reckons a lot of big hitters are going to be in the Wolfhounds team
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/brian-odriscolls-wolfhounds-date-3355805.html

That would be very strange. And very pointless.

Also, George reckons Keatley will be ahead of Madigan. That would be both shocking and not remotely surprising, given that it's Kidney we're talking about.

I've no problem with it if it means they are not undercooked against Wales.

CIARAN_BOYLE

postitnote wrote: »

Ulster hat on here:
I sincerely hope that any Ulster players picked for either squad are given some serious gametime. Regarding Jackson, I think he needs as many games as possible for his own development. He is young enough to play week in, week out. For me he plays every week for the Wolfhounds or every week for Ulster. I don't want to see him sitting, rotting away on the bench to come on for a token 7 mins at the end of a six nations game.

I guess many people would feel the same about their own provinces too; many others will probably disagree.

In fact i'm betwixt and between when it comes to the Ireland squad. I want to see the best 23 players in the squad based on current form and regardless of age, and I want fresh blood in the squad too. It seems to me that the attitude of management is that these two things are mutually exclusive.

There is only one wolfhounds game

totallegend wrote: »

Everyone's favourite journalist reckons a lot of big hitters are going to be in the Wolfhounds team
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/brian-odriscolls-wolfhounds-date-3355805.html

That would be very strange. And very pointless.

Also, George reckons Keatley will be ahead of Madigan. That would be both shocking and not remotely surprising, given that it's Kidney we're talking about.

I've mentioned before that if BOD doesn't get 80 minutes next weekend he should play the WHs match. Kearney and SOB have had 80 minutes in matches since they've been back but neither BOD or Fitz have yet so could probably do with the game time.

If Kidney is actually thinking of an inside center other than Wallace then maybe he could build a bit of a partnership with BOD.

durkadurka

Big problem with Ireland perennially is we start off a tournament slow because we're undercooked. By the time we get up to speed it has slipped past us again.

Yep lets give Kearney and BOD gametime to they hit the ground running.

irishbucsfan

totallegend wrote: »

Everyone's favourite journalist reckons a lot of big hitters are going to be in the Wolfhounds team
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/brian-odriscolls-wolfhounds-date-3355805.html

That would be very strange. And very pointless.

Hardly pointless really. How many games have those guys played this season?

Tox56

Cave would probably go into meltdown wondering what he has to do to get a chance, but if BOD needs the gametime I think it's the right move to play him in the Wolfhounds game.

Would also be a good experience for whoever plays 12, presumably McSharry

CIARAN_BOYLE

Where is the squad being announced?

postitnote

Only one wolfhounds game eh? My bad. I made the assumption there was some sort of 'A' Six nations run in parallel. I'm assuming this is Scotland, Wales etc not able/unwilling to put out A teams

irishbucsfan

Tox56 wrote: »

Cave would probably go into meltdown wondering what he has to do to get a chance, but if BOD needs the gametime I think it's the right move to play him in the Wolfhounds game.

Would also be a good experience for whoever plays 12, presumably McSharry

Surely it'll be Downey! :pac:

CIARAN_BOYLE

postitnote wrote: »

Only one wolfhounds game eh? My bad. I made the assumption there was some sort of 'A' Six nations run in parallel. I'm assuming this is Scotland, Wales etc not able/unwilling to put out A teams

England actually, the match is the week before the six nations start

DGRulz

Link to announcement http://www.livestream.com/videosonthenet

Robbo

Tox56 wrote: »

Would also be a good experience for whoever plays 12, presumably McSharry

Testify.

I'd like to see Denis Buckley get a look in with the Wolfhounds, the experience would be priceless for him.

thomond2006

Henshaw and McSharry in!

CIARAN_BOYLE

Its a combined squad so you don't really know what the story is for another while

Heaslip still captain!!!

thomond2006

Jamie Heaslip stays as captain.

Tox56

So there's pretty much every fit pro rugby player in the country..

Nice one for Heaslip and Lewis Stevenson

Hagz

Well, personally I want to say fair fcukin play Declan. If you're trying to win back my trust, you're going in the right direction.

peteeeed

so when is o'gara's ban date? madigan or jackson are genuine challengers as the back up no.10 with madigan also being able to play across the back line too

thomond2006

Combined squad for Six Nations/Wolfhounds so it's hard to read into anything yet.

CIARAN_BOYLE

peteeeed wrote: »

so when is o'gara's ban date? madigan or jackson are genuine challengers as the back up no.10 with madigan also being able to play across the back line too

The hearing hasn't happened yet. Jackson has started games at 12 too.

totallegend

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Heaslip still captain!!!

????

dregin

totallegend wrote: »

????

BOD's out.

Otacon

thomond2006 wrote: »

Jamie Heaslip stays as captain.

This is the biggest disappointment for me today.

thomond2006

I think it's a good idea, takes the pressure off BOD. I'd say secretly BOD is pissed off mind!

Tox56

dregin wrote: »

BOD's out.

Kidney says he is taking the pressure off BOD. It worked well for the Lions, will be interesting to see how he plays

totallegend

dregin wrote: »

BOD's out.

He's out injured or he's out as captain?

Ok, now I'm confused, I'll just wait for the full story.

ThisRegard

thomond2006 wrote: »

I think it's a good idea, takes the pressure off BOD. I'd say secretly BOD is pissed off mind!

Don't think it's a secret, Kidney said himself that O'Driscoll was very disappointed.

thomond2006

BOD is named in the squad but is not captain.

dregin

Sorry, out as captain.

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/28133.php

Brian O'Driscoll said, "The captaincy has been a big part of my career and life over the last number of years, and while I was naturally very disappointed not to be leading the team in the Six nations, when I talked it through with Declan I accepted the reasons behind the decision. I've always known that the Rugby World Cup in 2015 was most likely a bridge too far for me, so at some point a player, who will most likely be there for the tournament, needs to build that captaincy experience. Jamie will do a fantastic job and along with the other senior players in the leadership group, I will be giving him all of the support that he needs."

irishbucsfan

Someone post the squad there, I cant watch in work!

totallegend

Right, so a 39 man squad featuring every able-bodied player in the country. Let's not get carried away

http://www.irishrugby.ie/ireland/28133.php

Brian O'Driscoll said, "The captaincy has been a big part of my career and life over the last number of years, and while I was naturally very disappointed not to be leading the team in the Six nations, when I talked it through with Declan I accepted the reasons behind the decision. I've always known that the Rugby World Cup in 2015 was most likely a bridge too far for me, so at some point a player, who will most likely be there for the tournament, needs to build that captaincy experience. Jamie will do a fantastic job and along with the other senior players in the leadership group, I will be giving him all of the support that he needs."

Jamie Heaslip said, "I was incredibly honoured when Declan asked me back in November to lead the team in Brian's absence. To lead your country is the ultimate in any sport. To get the opportunity again, considering what an inspirational leader Brian is and the other players who could have been chosen to captain the team, is even more humbling. I know Brian as a teammate and as a friend and I will be relying on his and the other players support as we head into the Championship.

Ireland Training Squad (39):

Ireland Squad (club/province/international caps):
Michael Bent (Unattached/Leinster/2)
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster/62)
Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster/15)
Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster/3)
Tom Court (Malone/Ulster/29)
Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster/23)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster/71)
Keith Earls (Thomond/Munster/34)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster/23)
Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon /Ulster/2)
Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster/1)
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster/35)
Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster/52) Captain
Iain Henderson (Queens University/Ulster/2)
Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster/4)
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)*
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)*
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster/41)
David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster/2)
Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)*
Paul Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster/)*
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster/14)
Mike McCarthy (Buccaneers/Connacht/6)
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster/16)
Dave McSharry (Galwegians/Connacht/)*
Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster/22)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster/91)
Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster/120)
Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster/126)
Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster/9)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster/47)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster/24)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster/23)
Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary's College/Leinster/34)
Lewis Stevenson (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster/)*
Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster/2)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster/3)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster/49)
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster/3)

N.B. *denotes uncapped player

Not available due to injury:
Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster/51)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster/35)
Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
John Muldoon (Galwegians/Connacht/3)
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster/85)
Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster/5)

Deleted User

Cave makes it!

Deleted User wrote: »

First training camp will be announced and will have every fit Man woman and child that's ever held a rugby ball.

Except for Paddy Wallace and Darren Cave.

Second Camp will contain The 23 + The 7.

Tox56

Interesting Heaslip got the captaincy with both BOD and Best available. Must have impressed in the Autumn and/or they are building for the future

Hagz

Regardless of how large the squad is and how it will be cut, he's rewarded genuine form which is important. Acknowledging McSharry, Madigan, Henshaw etc is massive.

Richard Hillman

This makes me sad

ssaye

Richard Hillman wrote: »

This makes me sad

What does? BOD losing captaincy or what?

Tox56

Hagz wrote: »

Regardless of how large the squad is and how it will be cut, he's rewarded genuine form which is important. Acknowledging McSharry, Madigan, Henshaw etc is massive.

He did the same thing last year in the extended squad

ScissorPaperRock

Pretty delighted with this squad.

Happy to see Conor George was wrong about Keatley ahead of Madigan.

irishbucsfan

ScissorPaperRoc wrote: »

Pretty delighted with this squad.

Happy to see Conor George was wrong about Keatley ahead of Madigan.

He's probably fuming with Kidney!

Fishooks13

Hard to see anyone get pissed off over that vast selection!

Hagz

Tox56 wrote: »

He did the same thing last year in the extended squad

Not from my memory. I seem to remember the inclusion of undeserved and exclusion of certain deserved.

Seph503

Congrats to Jamie on the Captaincy!

Tox56

Hagz wrote: »

Not from my memory. I seem to remember the inclusion of undeserved and exclusion of certain deserved.

Last year the Wolfhounds and Six nations squads were split, so it is a bit different.. but yesterday I looked up the post-Wolfhounds extended squad from last year, and the likes of O'Malley/Zebo/D Kearney/Ruddock/Tuohy/Henry were all named, but none played a single minute in the tournament.

Fishooks13

Nice to see Heaslip retain the captaincy

Ideal candidate.

Nailed on starter, rarely injured and a top class player.

thomond2006

No Marmion is terrible unless he's injured, he wasn't mentioned in the list of unavailable players though.

Otherwise there's nothing to complain about really.

Richard Hillman

ssaye wrote: »

What does? BOD losing captaincy or what?

BOD losing the captaincy. Its the realisation that he wont be there for long plus it will be sad not to see him lead the team out again. I fully understand the reasoning behind it though.

ScissorPaperRock

Fishooks13 wrote: »

Nice to see Heaslip retain the captaincy

Ideal candidate.

Nailed on starter, rarely injured and a top class player.

True. Will lead by example too.

totallegend

Probably easier to talk about the omissions I suppose?

- No sign of Keatley, probably a fair call
- Was there any merit in calling up Denis Buckley, given our track record with props?
- End of the line for Paddy Wallace
- Only one recognised #8 in the squad