Ireland Extended Squad for 2014 Six Nations

awec

Forwards (24)

Rodney Ah You (Buccaneers/Connacht)*
Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
Robin Copeland (Cardiff Blues)*
Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Robbie Diack (Malone/Ulster)*
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)
Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster)
Rob Herring (Ballinahinch/Ulster)*
David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Mike McCarthy (Leinster)
Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster)*
Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)*
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
Tommy O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s College/Leinster)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)
Damian Varley (Garryowen/Munster)

Backs (20)

Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster)
Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster)
David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)
Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)*
Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

Simon Zebo, Tommy Bowe, Craig Gilroy, Donnacha Ryan, Declan Fitzpatrick, Richardt Strauss, Roger Wilson to remain with provinces to overcome injuries.

awec

Delighted for the first cappers.

No JJ Hanrahan.

No other surprises either, we seem to have selected almost everyone. :pac:

justsomebloke

amazing how quiet it is in here after a squad announcement :pac:

awec

justsomebloke wrote: »

amazing how quiet it is in here after a squad announcement :pac:

Only mods can post, this is blissful!

Say, justsomebloke, what is your opinion on this squad?

justsomebloke

I think the Zebo and Bowe calls are interesting. Wonder how long they will stay with the provinces.

Other then that it's the usual hands up if there is anyone we forgot

awec

justsomebloke wrote: »

I think the Zebo and Bowe calls are interesting. Wonder how long they will stay with the provinces.

Other then that it's the usual hands up if there is anyone we forgot

It's interesting because this weekend is our last match for a few weeks, so I'm not sure if it's a case of them getting game time at Rabo level first.

justsomebloke

Wonder what the story with strauss is given his inclusion in the statement, I know he is 'training' but I didn't think he would of been that close to coming back, cause other then that they should of included Ferris in the statement

Neil3030

I think I heard somewhere that Strauss is on Warfarin following his surgery, which prohibits any contact in training.

But once he's off that, he is pretty much ready to get going again.

awec

How come Mike McCarthy has no club?

.ak

Surprised Zebo and Gilroy aren't included yet McFadden is.

RuggieBear

i could get used to this.

Micky Dolenz

It is a well rounded and balanced squad for now.

Maybe the thread should be closed so?

awec

Yea, I think the discussion has run its course. :P

Well done rugby posters, this must be the first ever squad announcement thread with no reported posts. Give yourselves a big pat on the back!

justsomebloke

god this must be killing the rest of you.:D

somewhere in ireland a rereg is screaming at the screen

slippy wicket

Well it's about jaysus time.

slippy wicket

On the thread, nice to robin copeland getting a chance to impress.
If he was staying on in cardiff I'd say it would be unlikely he'd be in the group named.

wicklowwonder

Squad ticks all boxes. Interesting see how the Wolfhounds line out. Would have liked to see James Hart on the bench behind Marmion for the Wolfhounds.

Swiwi.

Junior Cert Maths (or how to select an Irish squad)

Write down the starting XV for each of the provinces: 4 x 15 = 60
Cross out any players not actually eligible to represent Ireland: 16
Do the sums: 60 - 16 = 44 players

Seriously, WTH is up with a squad that size? Are the selectors afraid to make decisions?

Phonehead

It's such a large squad it's hard to be critical.

*edit - oh wait I stand corrected

awec

Swiwi. wrote: »

Junior Cert Maths (or how to select an Irish squad)

Write down the starting XV for each of the provinces: 4 x 15 = 60
Cross out any players not actually eligible to represent Ireland: 16
Do the sums: 60 - 16 = 44 players

Seriously, WTH is up with a squad that size? Are the selectors afraid to make decisions?

You've been working that one out all day, haven't you?

Zzippy

Right, that's it! I wanna be a mod!

Phonehead

Swiwi. wrote: »

Junior Cert Maths (or how to select an Irish squad)

Write down the starting XV for each of the provinces: 4 x 15 = 60
Cross out any players not actually eligible to represent Ireland: 16
Do the sums: 60 - 16 = 44 players

Seriously, WTH is up with a squad that size? Are the selectors afraid to make decisions?

It is the Wolfhounds also (isn't it??) so it was always going to be pretty much every Irish qualified provincial player

andymx11

Swiwi. wrote: »

Junior Cert Maths (or how to select an Irish squad)

Write down the starting XV for each of the provinces: 4 x 15 = 60
Cross out any players not actually eligible to represent Ireland: 16
Do the sums: 60 - 16 = 44 players

Seriously, WTH is up with a squad that size? Are the selectors afraid to make decisions?

Although I do agree with you, one must remember this squad is essentially for 2 teams.

Hagz

A 5 hour lockdown should be mandatory after a squad announcement.

Board_man

Delighted to see Ah You get a chance, always good to see the number of props increasing. Also really thought this would have been JJ Hanrahans year, disappointing not to see him get a look

The Lost Sheep

awec wrote: »

How come Mike McCarthy has no club?

Didn't get assigned a club when moved from Connacht I assume? Think he had been Buccaneers when with Connacht

Swiwi. wrote: »

Junior Cert Maths (or how to select an Irish squad)

Write down the starting XV for each of the provinces: 4 x 15 = 60
Cross out any players not actually eligible to represent Ireland: 16
Do the sums: 60 - 16 = 44 players

Seriously, WTH is up with a squad that size? Are the selectors afraid to make decisions?

Presume large number will be cut after A game and after opening week of training when squad cut for first 6N game

Grimebox

It seems counter productive to have such a large squad if Ireland are aiming to win the 6N's

Zzippy

When is the Wolfhounds game?

Swiwi.

awec wrote: »

You've been working that one out all day, haven't you?

Several draft versions ended up in the bin.

The Lost Sheep

Zzippy wrote: »

When is the Wolfhounds game?

Saturday week in Kingsholm

wicklowwonder

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Saturday week in Kingsholm

Slightly off topic but any idea if it on TV?

Pudsy33

Is Herring Irish qualified by residency or the granny rule?

Pudsy33

wicklowwonder wrote: »

Slightly off topic but any idea if it on TV?

Sky Sports are carrying it i believe

Swiwi.

Phonehead wrote: »

It is the Wolfhounds also (isn't it??) so it was always going to be pretty much every Irish qualified provincial player

andymx11 wrote: »

Although I do agree with you, one must remember this squad is essentially for 2 teams.

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Presume large number will be cut after A game and after opening week of training when squad cut for first 6N game

Yeah, I know. But the point is the 2 teams should be named separately. It's supposed to be the ultimate honour, and a reflection of your talent, hard-work and skill to make the top team. I just think it makes it look like the Irish selectors can't make a decision to save themselves, when our rivals all name 30ish man squads.

irishbucsfan

Swiwi. wrote: »

Yeah, I know. But the point is the 2 teams should be named separately. It's supposed to be the ultimate honour, and a reflection of your talent, hard-work and skill to make the top team. I just think it makes it look like the Irish selectors can't make a decision to save themselves, when our rivals all name 30ish man squads.

Is it supposed to be the ultimate honour to be selected for an extended squad? Because that's what this is.

decisions

wicklowwonder wrote: »

Slightly off topic but any idea if it on TV?

Sky are showing it I think.

Fireball07

I demand mod powers!!!!


And no James Cronin :(


Rodney Ah You came as a shock to me, who could have seen this a year ago? Or even 6 months ago.....


Must be really disappointing for the players not involved when a squad is that size.

awec

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Is Herring Irish qualified by residency or the granny rule?

We only signed him in 2012 so it must be a grandparent or something.

Swiwi.

Wonder how Michael Bent is feeling just now? Never thought I'd see an ex-Crusaders and U19 ABs player donning green, but congrats I guess to Rodney Ah You. I'll have to take the word of the Connacht supporters that he's been going well.

So when is the actual squad (the one that will play the 6N, like) named? Will be more interesting to debate then :mad:

Swiwi.

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Is it supposed to be the ultimate honour to be selected for an extended squad? Because that's what this is.

I'll shut up now, but I think it's a bit ridiculous. It's hard to drum up any enthusiasm for a squad announcement, where the real controversy is who didn't make the cut. Unless you were name-checked as being injured etc, if you didn't make this squad, you might as well pack up the bags and leave, cos you're not (remotely) in the selectors plans.

I'd like to be the fly on the wall to know who on earth Schmidt was thinking of when he said there were some close calls...

Grimebox

I would have liked to see Cronin and Hanrahan.

Schmidt certainly seems to favour McFadden given the reasoning behind leaving Zebo/Gilroy/Bowe out. I suppose all three of them have had issues with form too.

decisions

Swiwi. wrote: »

I'll shut up now, but I think it's a bit ridiculous. It's hard to drum up any enthusiasm for a squad announcement, where the real controversy is who didn't make the cut. Unless you were name-checked as being injured etc, if you didn't make this squad, you might as well pack up the bags and leave, cos you're not (remotely) in the selectors plans.

I'd like to be the fly on the wall to know who on earth Schmidt was thinking of when he said there were some close calls...

James Cronin had to be a close call.

wicklowwonder

Swiwi. wrote: »

I'd like to be the fly on the wall to know who on earth Schmidt was thinking of when he said there were some close calls...

Kevin McLaughlin
James Cronin
James Hart
JJ Hanrahan

Probably the only four players who might feel they deserved a shot.

.ak

Swiwi. wrote: »

I'll shut up now, but I think it's a bit ridiculous. It's hard to drum up any enthusiasm for a squad announcement, where the real controversy is who didn't make the cut. Unless you were name-checked as being injured etc, if you didn't make this squad, you might as well pack up the bags and leave, cos you're not (remotely) in the selectors plans.

I'd like to be the fly on the wall to know who on earth Schmidt was thinking of when he said there were some close calls...

Personally I think it's a great idea having a big squad. This is schmidt's first real camp, and now he's basically got everyone under one roof, one message. He can also pretty much try out every combination he wants in training, with essentially two squads that can rep against each other.

I often wonder why our panels aren't this big usually, surely the more the better? We've been far too afraid to involve the fringe players previously.

wicklowwonder

Also is this the first squad of this size in a massive number of years that doesn't include Donnacha O'Callaghan?

Not saying he should be included by the way.

.ak

Grimebox wrote: »

It seems counter productive to have such a large squad if Ireland are aiming to win the 6N's

I don't see why?

Swiwi.

.ak wrote: »

Personally I think it's a great idea having a big squad. This is schmidt's first real camp, and now he's basically got everyone under one roof, one message. He can also pretty much try out every combination he wants in training, with essentially two squads that can rep against each other.

I often wonder why our panels aren't this big usually, surely the more the better? We've been far too afraid to involve the fringe players previously.

Ne'er a true word was spoken. I'm almost disappointed not to read my own name on the teamsheet :pac:

Fireball07

Yeah... no DOC


Oh well.

Grimebox

.ak wrote: »

I don't see why?

Too many people coming in and out of position's. Would it not be better to have only 2-3 players in each position so they would be better drilled

Zzippy

wicklowwonder wrote: »

Kevin McLaughlin
James Cronin
James Hart
JJ Hanrahan

Probably the only four players who might feel they deserved a shot.

Eoin Griffin too...

Teferi

It will be a much more interesting discussion once cuts are made. Good to see Marmion et al involved. Lets hope they stay on past the wolfhounds.