Yeah I don't think this is the start of a test career for a lot of these guys. Like the way Tonga had to put out a call for anyone in NZ with a Tongan passport and a pair of boots to play the All Blacks in the summer.
to be contrarian, i think its more of a comment on the state of samoan rugby that a rugby league player, whos played two very intermittent seasons of union (which included 12 weeks worth of bans), is able to tog out for his country.
the whole samoa selection for this game is very much a "whos still around" kind of a group. Theyve named a 20 yo debutant at 9 and a fly half whos kicked 2 conversion in 5 years of test rugby (only amassing 6 caps in that time)
assuming abraham has been brought in as a back rower, then the 4 back rows altogether have 6 caps.
The barbarians are going to put a cricket score up on them
On a personal level I'm delighted for him, he's gone from nowhere to international rugby in about a year and it's a testament to the amount of hard work he has clearly put in.
On a selfish note, I would be extremely worried about him getting sent off if he's playing 8-10 tests a year for Samoa.
Posted here re papa
Also listening to the press conference on Craggy Podcast Daly is going to be out for a small while as well.
its on his missus' insta
edit: well to clarify, i saw post in another group where theres a photo of him, from the #mrandmrspaps insta page, in a samoa jersey and the poster is saying that hes been called up to the squad.
i am not on instagram myself
Any source for that?
No just based on the post above..
The squad announced for Samoa didn't incude Abraham Papali'i, did you hear from another source that he was called up?
https://www.thesouthafrican.com/sport/rugby/samoa-name-squad-for-barbarians-clash-at-twickenham/
Farrell and Prendergast back, our 2 most talented guys IMO, is huge
I'd go with
1) Duggan (played for Eagles)
2) Heff (boiling hot after Ireland squad call)
3) McCoy (rest Bealham for what's next)
4) Dillane
5) Murray
6) Prendergast
7) Butler
8) Boyle (Papa with Samoa)
9) Marms
10) Carty
11) Hansen
12) Bolton/Robb (no Daly on training pics)
13) Farrell
14) Wootton (played for Eagles)
15) O'Donnell (no TOH on training pics)
16) Delahunt
17) Burke
18) Illo/McGrath
19) Dowling (rest Fifita'a after 3 in a row with Tonga)
20) Oliver
21) Blade
22) Fitz
23) Arnold
I wonder will Jack ever grace an upgraded SG?? Such a pity it all got stalled.
I see Big Papa got a Samoa call up so that's him gone this weekend.
Hee hee
Delighted he has signed back on. I'd agree that Farrell is unlikely to pick him, but all Jack can do is continue playing well for Connacht, so fingers crossed he pushes on from here and we reap the benefits!
Im surprised he signed on. Even with the call up it's obvious that Farrell doesn't really rate him. Otherwise he would have been in the squad (see Burns and Ross Byrne in the Autumn Nothing Cup).
Friend is clearly a big admirer though and i doubt he resigned on the cheap. I would say he's Irelands next best option at 10 but he needs to improve his place kicking.
It’s been a boring day working from home, so I had time to do a bit of digging.
Would be excited to see Bolton and mcnulty Start. Also have a theory on subs based on bibs being tucked into shorts...
Been a while since I've seen a good bib theory post 😁
Bundee out with a slight knee injury. Porch out for a few weeks due to a small procedure on his knee. Cian Prendergast, Tom Farrell, Matt Healy and Dominic Robertson-McCoy are back training and Tietie Tuimaga is due to arrive next week.
From the training pictures players wearing bibs:
Burke heff Bealham
dillane Murray
prendergast Butler boyle
marnion Carty
arnold Bolton
hansen mcnulty wootton
Ya great news on carty! I'd be surprised if just being called into training squad was enough to convince him to stay! I'd imagine being named captain and the form he is in had more to do with it!
Great news about Carty's contract. Not easy to find good 10's. I really thought he might go abroad next Summer. I wonder did getting called into the Ireland squad last week (even as 4th choice) convince him to put pen to paper to the contract on offer? Probably feels he's not far away from the Ireland squad now. And one injury and he's in.
What sort of team are we looking at for the weekend? Wonder what the injury situation is like now. Wootton, Robb back anyways. Will prendergast be?
He probably believes he's not to far off the Ireland team. Some consistency and he's right back.
Fantastic news.
Three year deal is huge. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him club captain next season.
Carty has signed a 3 year contract extension. Hallelujah
https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1462768430814310408
A lot of maul tries conceded!
Highlights here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gTCHlf9P34
I think it's true that the way Ireland have played in recent matches would suit Jack better, but his place kicking is a concern. That was drummed home on Saturday when Joey aced that kick from the halfway line, and he was 3/3 off the tee IIRC. Were Jack to play 10, would someone else handle the kicking duties?
I wish Carty well! He's a very good player. That said, I want the best man to step up for Ireland. If that's Carty ... Great. If not... I wish the other lad the best.
Carty certainly has the skill. I hope he grabs the opportunity and pushes on. It will demand a response from the other out halfs.
Yeah, fingers crossed he gets a shot, but I just wouldn't be expecting it, in which case the call up doesn't really change things much for him really. Is Burns injured? If not, I suppose this call-up at least confirms he's moving up the pecking order!
It shows he's 4th on the ladder.
If he impresses in camp, he may rise higher. Many are saying that our current style would suit him better than previously.
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