Ireland vs Barbarians, Thomond Pk, 28/05/15 19:45, Sky SP1

thomond2006 · 25-05-2015 2:10pm

Fantastic that Rhys Ruddock is back. This is a big game for him.

In hindsight this was a silly time to schedule a game. Could it have been played next week when you would have more players available? (Connacht anyway) A Lulster team isn't exactly a great sell for Limerick people and a Thursday night kick off rules out people travelling to the game.

shuffol · 25-05-2015 2:14pm

Wonder why Henderson isn't involved.

molloyjh · 25-05-2015 2:14pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

Crazy anti-Munster bias with that selection!! :pac:

Would you believe there are actually genuine complaints about it on Facebook! :rolleyes:

molloyjh · 25-05-2015 2:16pm

shuffol wrote: »

Wonder why Henderson isn't involved.

Looks like most of the front line Ulster players were rested. No Best, Payne or Cave for example. Touhy and Henry probably could do with the game time and Gilroy is an outside shot at the squad so now's a good time to get a look at him.

thomond2006 · 25-05-2015 2:18pm

molloyjh wrote: »

Would you believe there are actually genuine complaints about it on Facebook! :rolleyes:

Ah it's from people who obviously aren't following rugby week to week. Tbh there might have been a spot for some Munster fringe players but with our injury worries they have to be held back. Had POM, TOD and DOCII been fit for example I'm sure Jack O'Donoghue would have been released. Same for Andrew Conway if Zebo wasn't following RTP. Further to that, Munster have a lot of injuries amongst "squad players".

Mahatma Geansai · 25-05-2015 2:20pm

Coughlan and Bleyendaal would have been good options for the Baa-Baas to have included.

total former · 25-05-2015 2:24pm

molloyjh wrote: »

Would you believe there are actually genuine complaints about it on Facebook! :rolleyes:

Yes, yes I would believe that.

Teferi · 25-05-2015 2:25pm

That's a nice looking Irish squad actually, the pack should be good and there is plenty to be excited about in the backs I would have thought.

Peregrine · 25-05-2015 2:26pm

molloyjh wrote: »

Would you believe there are actually genuine complaints about it on Facebook! :rolleyes:

Somehow, I'm not surprised

stephen_n · 25-05-2015 2:26pm

Some interesting selections in there in terms of development and maybe a push for places, Gilroy could get to push Jones for a place. Touhy, Henry and Ruddock will all be looking to put their hands up too, delighted to see Ben Marshall in there, still find the fact his contract hasn't been nailed down anywhere strange.

total former · 25-05-2015 2:31pm

Strong team possible then:

McGrath Strauss Ross
Tuohy Toner
Ruddock Henry Heaslip
Reddan Jackson
Gilroy McCloskey Marshall* Kearney
Kearney

That's not a bad side, it's only the centres that aren't really in the running for the RWC squad (yet). I've gone with *Marshall at 13 because he's the most likely of the 12s to play there, it would be a major surprise if we started O'Shea.

molloyjh · 25-05-2015 2:31pm

Probably starting XV:

McGrath, Strauss, Ross
Toner, Touhy
Diack, Heaslip, Henry

Reddan, Jackson
???, ???
Gilroy, R Kearney, D Kearney

I can't call the centres at all from the squad....

molloyjh · 25-05-2015 2:33pm

total former wrote: »

Strong team possible then:

McGrath Strauss Ross
Tuohy Toner
Ruddock Henry Heaslip
Reddan Jackson
Gilroy McCloskey Marshall* Kearney
Kearney

That's not a bad side, it's only the centres that aren't really in the running for the RWC squad (yet). I've gone with *Marshall at 13 because he's the most likely of the 12s to play there, it would be a major surprise if we started O'Shea.

Has Marshall played 13 before? How much game time has he had lately?

bilston · 25-05-2015 2:35pm

molloyjh wrote: »

Ireland Squad:

Loosehead: |McGrath, Bent
Hooker:|Strauss, Herring
Tighthead:|Ross, Furlong
Lock:|Toner, Touhy, Marshall
Blindside:|Ruddock, Diack
Openside:|Henry, Murphy
Number 8:|Heaslip, Conan
|
Scrum Half:|Reddan, McGrath
Out Half:|Jackson, Madigan
Inside Centre:|Marshall, Reid, McCloskey
Outside Centre: |O'Shea
Wing: |D Kearney, Gilroy
Full Back: |R Kearney, Kelleher

Obviously Joe is looking at one of the 12s as a 13, but not sure which one. McCloskey maybe?

Hard to know as it is a bit of a random selection.

The strongest XV is probably

15 R.Kearney
14 Gilroy
13 McCloskey
12 Madigan
11 D.Kearney
10 Jackson
9 Reddan
1 McGrath
2 Strauss
3 Ross
4 Toner
5 Tuohy
6 Ruddock
7 Henry
8 Heaslip

But logic may go out the window a bit. For example I'd be tempted to start Luke McGrath.

English Lurker · 25-05-2015 2:39pm

molloyjh wrote: »

Has Marshall played 13 before? How much game time has he had lately?

Think I've seen him there outside Olding?

Might be barking up the wrong tree, but this seems the strongest squad you guys have put out against the Baabaas for some time. I'm looking forwards to this, not often you can waste a Thursday night with rugby (and the Challenge Cup ain't exactly great).

bilston · 25-05-2015 2:44pm

English Lurker wrote: »

Think I've seen him there outside Olding?

Might be barking up the wrong tree, but this seems the strongest squad you guys have put out against the Baabaas for some time. I'm looking forwards to this, not often you can waste a Thursday night with rugby (and the Challenge Cup ain't exactly great).

Yep. Marshall has played 13 outside Olding. Scarlets away at the start of the season being one example. He has actually looked quite good there. If provincial form is anything to go by I expect Madigan and McCloskey in the midfield. McCloskey could play 13 but then so could Madigan.

25-05-2015 2:47pm

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

You'd struggle to piece together a good Pro12 backline out of that lot. The pack should be decent enough, but it certainly won't be a team that will draw in a big crowd.

Must. not. bite.

molloyjh · 25-05-2015 2:51pm

Here's one of the choice complaints on Facebook about Munster players who should be involved. It's actually pretty funny. This guy in particular is outraged.

Martin Kelly plays Munster player.. hasn't played for Munster yet.. Barry O Mahony only played 4 games for Munster.. Johnny Holland only played 4 games for Munster Allan Cotter only played 5.. Shane Buckley only played 3.. theres plays there that would love to get a cap..

thomond2006 · 25-05-2015 2:57pm

molloyjh wrote: »

Here's one of the choice complaints on Facebook about Munster players who should be involved. It's actually pretty funny. This guy in particular is outraged.

All the players he mentions are injured.

Wang King · 25-05-2015 2:58pm

Buer wrote: »

He retired a year ago. He wouldn't be able to hack 10 minutes of rugby at this level now.

Augers well for Nacewa returning to Leinster

Tox56 · 25-05-2015 3:10pm

molloyjh wrote: »

Ireland Squad:

Loosehead: |McGrath, Bent
Hooker:|Strauss, Herring
Tighthead:|Ross, Furlong
Lock:|Toner, Touhy, Marshall
Blindside:|Ruddock, Diack
Openside:|Henry, Murphy
Number 8:|Heaslip, Conan
|
Scrum Half:|Reddan, McGrath
Out Half:|Jackson, Madigan
Inside Centre:|Marshall, Reid, McCloskey
Outside Centre: |O'Shea
Wing: |D Kearney, Gilroy
Full Back: |R Kearney, Kelleher

Obviously Joe is looking at one of the 12s as a 13, but not sure which one. McCloskey maybe?

Serious company in the back 3 for Kelleher there

.ak · 25-05-2015 3:30pm

I'd like to see Reid and COS used at some point, they're very good together as a unit.

irishbucsfan · 25-05-2015 3:54pm

The selection in the backline is very interesting. I think we'll see Reddan/Jackson starting at 9/10, I'd think we could see Reid/Marshall at 12/13. I'd be really interested to see that selection.

Interesting that, I think, we're going to see Dave Kearney playing on the right wing...

awec · 25-05-2015 4:00pm

The Irish Rugby Facebook is always good for a laugh when these things are announced.

Zzippy · 25-05-2015 4:12pm

awec wrote: »

The Irish Rugby Facebook is always good for a laugh when these things are announced.

Do you think the players look at the FB page and bitch that there are more comments from other province's fans than theirs?

jacothelad · 25-05-2015 4:25pm

molloyjh wrote: »

Ireland Squad:

Loosehead: |McGrath, Bent
Hooker:|Strauss, Herring
Tighthead:|Ross, Furlong
Lock:|Toner, Touhy, Marshall
Blindside:|Ruddock, Diack
Openside:|Henry, Murphy
Number 8:|Heaslip, Conan
|
Scrum Half:|Reddan, McGrath
Out Half:|Jackson, Madigan
Inside Centre:|Marshall, Reid, McCloskey
Outside Centre: |O'Shea
Wing: |D Kearney, Gilroy
Full Back: |R Kearney, Kelleher

Obviously Joe is looking at one of the 12s as a 13, but not sure which one. McCloskey maybe?

Luke Marshall is actually a 10 / 13 who got moved to 12 as Ulster had Cave there playing very well.

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

You'd struggle to piece together a good Pro12 backline out of that lot. The pack should be decent enough, but it certainly won't be a team that will draw in a big crowd.

:pac::pac:

total former wrote: »

Strong team possible then:

McGrath Strauss Ross
Tuohy Toner
Ruddock Henry Heaslip
Reddan Jackson
Gilroy McCloskey Marshall* Kearney
Kearney

That's not a bad side, it's only the centres that aren't really in the running for the RWC squad (yet). I've gone with *Marshall at 13 because he's the most likely of the 12s to play there, it would be a major surprise if we started O'Shea.

bilston wrote: »

Yep. Marshall has played 13 outside Olding. Scarlets away at the start of the season being one example. He has actually looked quite good there. If provincial form is anything to go by I expect Madigan and McCloskey in the midfield. McCloskey could play 13 but then so could Madigan.

Marshall has all the skills required to be a really good 13. He is actually wasted at 12 for Ulster with - when fit - Olding and McCloskey clearly good 12s who offer different styles. I have to say though that I think Olding as a 13 would be a real eye opener. This is another example of talent being log jammed within the provincial system. Guys like Whitten, Steenson and others who clearly have high skill sets and talent are lost to the system. Tommy Seymour is another case in point. Now, Michael Allen is leaving to join the diaspora. A quality centre who can't get games, except on the wing, for Ulster because of the log jam, should have been at least approached by Nucifora.

total former · 25-05-2015 4:37pm

Zzippy wrote: »

Do you think the players look at the FB page and bitch that there are more comments from other province's fans than theirs?

I was in Krystle the other night, got a high-five from Jordi Murphy because we're up to Leinster thread VI while Munster are only on IV.

True story.

molloyjh · 25-05-2015 5:25pm

total former wrote: »

I was in Krystle the other night, got a high-five from Jordi Murphy because we're up to Leinster thread VI while Munster are only on IV.

True story.

I hope you didn't tell him about the thread title(s)!

Neil3030 · 25-05-2015 6:12pm

Very excited to see how Kelleher and Reid do. Delighted Ruddock is back.

George Hook · 25-05-2015 6:52pm

English Lurker wrote: »

Think I've seen him there outside Olding?

Might be barking up the wrong tree, but this seems the strongest squad you guys have put out against the Baabaas for some time. I'm looking forwards to this, not often you can waste a Thursday night with rugby (and the Challenge Cup ain't exactly great).

I wouldn't get your hopes up too high - a lot of these guys haven't played together so might be a bit stop start. But I think it'll be really interesting nonetheless.

Looking forward to McCloskey getting a run out in green, but I wish everyone well, hope they manage to function well as a unit and give Joe some headaches.

Ireland vs Barbarians, Thomond Pk, 28/05/15 19:45, Sky SP1

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