Is it not because of Carbery's reported move to the Crusaders?
More than enough time for things to get completely out of hand on here.
McCarthy could be a pick as a tight head lock project.
All our other locks are more natural loosehead. That's fine. Sometimes we play with 2 natural lh locks and it works out. There's not a massive jump between the two spots.
Kleyn would be the other IQ natural tight head lock really that would be trying for the spot.
Pat McCarry saying on twitter that the won't be an IRFU press conference until Monday.
20 Leinster, 8 munster , 5 ulster & 4 Connaught kind of sums up the strength of the 4 provinces.
Kleyn probably is ahead(and unlucky) but I think it's similar to Casey, Crowley and Harry Byrne where Farrell gets in young players who look like they have a high ceiling
I think Kleyn has been brilliant the last two seasons. I half expected he might make a squad last year, but that having not happened it's clear he isn't in favour for whatever reason.
A much more experienced and gnarled lock, powerful tackler and good in contact.
McCarthy is a good deal quicker though and has better hands. I think Farrell is more focused on these skills rather than brute force.
I'm sure posters of a certain persuasion will say Kleyn but I don't really think he fits in with how Ireland are going at the moment. I also think he's about at his ceiling which is below international level.
Which tight head lock elsewhere is ahead of McCarthy in your view?
Like, I’m trying to win a game tomorrow or i die. Definitely Kleyn, and maybe others depending. Honestly, Moloney is probably a more impactful player right now.
It’s up to those left out to prove Andy wrong, he left the door open. It certainly gave Gavin Coombes the right motivation when he didn’t make a squad.
McCarthy is simply not the 4th best lock in ireland right now
Who is?
I think Byrne is playing much better than he was in 2018/2019 when he got his 1st call up to the Ireland squad, but it really does help that he is playing in a team so dominant a lot of the time. Strangely, despite it being a poor game, I think the Ospreys match would have stood to him a lot, given Leinster were struggling and not on top, and he changed the game when he came on.
As much as I love Byrne for Leinster, I'm still a little haunted by his lack of impact (and mistakes) in Marseille and the Bulls Semi-Final last year.
Whatever about Carbery's performances for Munster, I think he has been pretty turgid for Ireland and maybe Farrell's starting to give up on him? or is he hoping for a kick up the backside like Coombes has gotten?
Stockdale is blessed to be in that squad, I think if Henshaw were fit, he wouldn't be there. But other than that, am I missing someone that he beat to the post (Nash?)...? But realistically, he would need a few injuries to move up the depth chart to get off the training pitch.
Well firstly he could be injured. Or secondly the people who are paid to make these crucial decisions have came to a conclusion.
Haley could count himself somewhat unlucky.
McCarthy is simply not the 4th best lock in ireland right now, but that seems a projection pick.
To me Byrne has been playing well for years though, but yea maybe that’s it.
With 7 outside backs in the squad I feel that Earls and Stockdale are there purely to take part in training and to see if they can perform in a way they aren't for their provinces.
If they do they might be an option. If they don't there's 5 outside backs and thats sufficient.
I'm a little surprised that there's no out and out fullback included.
JOB is probably the fullback cover in the squad.
I'm a little surprised that McCarthy made it into the squad as the 4th lock.
I mean it’s relative. He hasn’t been amazing, but he’s the best I’ve seen in a few years. He has been consistently picked for Ireland on worse form than this. Alot worse.
Also, Murray and Earls didnt even play in those games.
Crowley is playing more?
Ross Byrne is playing really well?
Given how much time has been invested in him, I find this completely mad tbh. Has he seriously been dropped from a 40 man squad a few months before the RWC?
yea, so what’s changed?
So why was he subbed in the game v Northampton at a crucial stage? It wasn’t injury.
I have and IMHO hes just not good enough.
He can go the 7s route AFAIK.
Edit: but he wouldn't be in the frame anyway
Porch cannot play for Ireland at all
Porch isn't IQ (yet).
But you're right, with Conway and Baloucoune injured, Stockdale and Earls aren't really depriving anyone of a spot.
Is he not now in/out of the Ulster 15 ?
Definitely injured so
Joey Carbery could get injured in the time it took you to type that message.
I'm sure there will be a press conference later and we'll know for sure at 12pm tomorrow
Who would you have instead? Shane daly? Porch? Haley? Is balacoune injured?
Is there a press conference later?
If so - the first question will be about Carbery.
If he's been dropped I can only presume it's down to his defensive issues, It's a real problem for him. His go forward play for Munster this season has improved under Rowntree.
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