I know there were personality clashes the last time he was in Ireland camp
Maybe there were, but Cooney was the one who decided to publicly criticise the national coach about his exclusion.
For a fringe player allegedly hoping to get back into the team, it was an extraordinary thing to do.
He'll never wear green again and barring a massive injury crisis, he's no loss.
He always looked promising at underage level and I remember being a little disappointed he left ulster, but the reality was we had Marshall, McCloskey, Olding and Cave as senior centres and Stockdale coming through who was playing a little at 13 at the time I think.
I'm always in favour of players doing what's best for them though, but as professionals they need to be smart enough to realise that teams have a business to run. Seems like Munster might've known they were likely his backup option and didn't want to leave it late to look for his replacement in the squad. I'm sympathetic for him and I've seen him get a little more stick online than I think is warranted, but it is what it is.
You may be right on the first two points.
But to say he's "no loss" I think is untrue. IMO he's without a doubt in the top 2 scrum halves in Ireland, and arguably the best. If he was to declare for Scotland I think he'd walk into their XV. Casey and Murray are ahead of him in the Irish pecking order, but would Ulster take either of them ahead of Cooney? Not a chance.
Surely 2 years is long enough for him and Farrell to put whatever grievances they had aside in the interest of the national team and for Cooney to have maybe matured a bit.
There has never been a time where Cooney was ‘without a doubt’ in the top two scrum halves in the country.
Also, ‘for Cooney to have matured a bit’? He’s 32 years old, not some energetic kid who’s getting a little frustrated. This nonsense just shows that he hasn’t the head for it.
So what's the plan if Keenan and Lowe are unavailable? I assume that Stockdale is going to miss the international windows. Conway hasn't played, so should not be considered?
I'd go RB and Hansen. Maybe JOB on the bench and little Mike at fb?
Ronan Kelleher out of the Autumn series. I've full faith in Herring but if himself or Sheehan get injured we're in trouble.
Connors underwent surgery last week too on a bicep injury.
Early in Kelleher's career but those two guys are both showing worrying injury profiles.
They're also saying Harry Byrne out for 2 months with a hamstring problem.
From an Irish perspective, Dave Heffernan has played well in the last two interpros and would presumably come into the squad.
Agree to disagree. There was a time in 19/20 when he was in the top 2 scrum halves in Europe. Yes, he hasn't quite his those heights again, but he's still an excellent player.
Other than JGP, what Irish 9s are better than him currently? Certainly not Murray. Casey might get there but he's definitely not right now. Not McGrath. Neither of the two lads at Connacht are. And he's still keeping Doak out of the Ulster team. And I think many Ulster fans would keep Cooney over JGP.
TRC10... you gotta be carefull..!
unfortunately I am not knowledgable enough of other provinces. Bayern, is the man for that... But there is an Ennis scrumhalf, that i think is brilliant... so Casey and Murray are probably worrying about this guy....
whats the craic with other provinces?
Rugby appears to only be a hobby for Harry Byrne nowadays.
It must be just awful for him though; body just repeatedly letting him down.
How good is the lad? if he is good, lets massage him to bejaysus... but i am not sure he is the, actually him or Ross are...
Apart from the time when he was nominated as the European player of the year and being named on the Pro 14 team of the year and as Ulster player of the year. Apart from that time.
Murray was playing like a drain at that time (arm or shoulder injury was ruining his passing game), but we were told he'd play himself back into form. After a dozen or more games he still hadn't.
When is the Irish squad for November being announced?
I presume it will be one large squad for the first weekend and the 2 teams to take on South Africa and the NZ xv select team will be picked from that?
Or will they announce two separate squads?
With 3 weeks to go until we play the boks, what’s the starting 15 in people’s minds? Mine would be
Hansen Lowry Baloucoune
Henshaw Ringrose
Sexton Casey
Beirne Doris VDF
Henderson(if fit) Ryan
Porter Sheehan Furlong
bench
Herring,
Healy
Bealham
O Mahony
Conan
Murray
Frawley
Mccloskey
Not confident in it happening but with Kelleher's injury I would love to see Tom Stewart potentially fast tracked into the set up, I obviously wouldnt play him against SA but for NZL XV & Fiji he could do a job based on what I've seen from him. Farrell does have a tendency of picking players regardless of their standing at their province if the player fits his system he'll pick them and Stewart looks the closest thing we have to Kelleher/Sheehan in terms of playing style. I would much rather pick Stewart who's a huge prospect and have an eye to the future than pick a Scannell/Heffernan who is only going to be a tackle bag holder/ emergency pick and will never be more than that and tbh it would be a wasted opportunity.
Reckon Healy is done.
i hope not... such a superhero for Ireland since 2009...
he does have limits, but if he comes on at 60 mins, I have no problem with that,,,
Keenan (Lowry if Keenan isn't ready), Hansen, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe, Sexton, Gibson Park (when is he due back?)
Porter, Kelleher, Furlong, Beirne, Ryan, Conan, Van Der Flier, Doris
Herring, Healy, O'Toole, Baird (Henderson if fit), Coombes (plenty of options here), Casey, Carbery, McCloskey
The No.23 Jersey is interesting, I was thinking Jimmy O'Brien, but then we've no Centre cover. McCloskey covers centre, Ringrose covers wing, Carbery and Hansen (I think) covers FB.
Not sure if I've forgotten anyone.
There's a few other lads that should be looked at as well.
I'd also like to see Stewart, Ahern, Doak and Crowley get a go against Fiji, but it's unlikely, Ahern may have a chance and maybe at a push Doak if Gibson Park is injured, but this is more hope than expectation on my part.
It should be a good series anyway. It's important that we don't fall into the old trap of thinking that the squad that was good enough to beat NZ in July 2022 is necessarily the right squad to compete for a WC in the Autumn of 2023. Not sure what that means for November 2022 though.
Looking at injuries isn’t Farrell better to play players who’ve minutes got? JGP Lowe Keenan have had zero and when will they be due back? You’d assume this weekend is the last time any of the main players from the provinces play and go into camp with Ireland next Monday?
No Thornbury?
Can Jenkins play?
who is 22?
POM was one of the players of the series in the summer and now he doesnt even make the 23? riiiiight......
I think for the Boks we'll need to beef up the pack a bit. Whether that means Coombes coming in, or Beirne shifting to the backrow with one of POM or VDF being an impact player from the bench. Henderson being injured probably makes the former the more likely. But if Beirne was to move to 6, the options at lock to go alongside Ryan would be Treadwell, McCarthy or possibly Ahern. It would be a big ask for McCarthy or Ahern to debut against South Africa. But I'd have no fears over Treadwell starting after how well he went over the summer and his form over the last year.
Anyway, I'd go with something like
15.Lowry 14.Baloucoune 13.Ringrose 12.Henshaw 11.Hansen 10.Sexton 9.Cooney 1.Porter 2.Sheehan 3.Furlong 4.Treadwell 5.Ryan 6.Beirne 7.VDF 8.Doris
16.Herring 17.Loughman 18.Bealham 19.McCarthy 20.POM 21.Casey 22.Crowley 23.McCloskey
John Cooney hasn't been part of an Ireland squad in years. He's clearly not getting called up now.
Probably but that's my team
Of course. But barring a complete change in selection policy, Cooney isn't getting selected and everyone knows it. We should at least post likely squads.
i know the general line is to select a bigger pack against SA but i dont see that as a good idea. if we try and take them on with sheer physicality thats never going to work so we would be much better off picking a fast and skillful set of forwards to try and outsmart/outplay them. the pack from the summer has alot of that with a few decent ball carriers mixed in when needed
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