Hmmm, forgot Frawley. But would he make a 45-man panel?
Lose
kleyn
hodnett
carbery
timoney
connors
deegan
Cian Prendergast ?
Huge competition but he's been regularly selected in wider squads. Is Jamie Osbourne fit again?
Frawley might make it ahead of a less versatile player, possibly Harry Byrne or Joey Carbery. Not sure both Earls and Larmour make it.
Ah, yes. Prendergast. Forgot him.
Don't think Osborne is fit, but he might make it if it's a more meet up than training session.
Prendergast will be in there. Think Frisch, Shane Daly and Niall Murray could be surprise inclusions in the wider squad. Think you’ll only see one of Hodnett, timoney or Connor’s in there.
Scrolling through the irfu website and managed to come to a page titled
’rugby World Cup squad’
it had Harry Byrne and jack carty pictured in this years Ireland kit- when were they in camp this year?
Of course it means nothing probably would it’s interesting to see if any of the names listed are in the announced squad
Regardless of what happens tomorrow players like Haley & Kleyn must feel hard done by not to have been in recent squads. They've had a fantastic season and have improved from where they were last year.
I'd say the squad is fairly set. A couple of new players may get a look.
4 TH props from 4 provinces is a nice look
I’d call in Niall Murray and John Hodnett for a look. Both guys who are in great form and who are really good at specific things.
I feel the same. It's tough to get the balance correct, and perhaps changes will come after the world cup.
On Murray, I think he's phenomenal! I rate him higher than Baird. I think Murray is much better in the 2nd row than Baird has ever been
Hodnetts time will come. He's not getting in ahead of VDF. At least not in the short term. I would say the 7 shirt will be his down the road.
Other lads that could be in with a shout, Tom Stewart, could be a multi capped international. Milne should be looked at. Probably too soon for him. Calvin Nash, will be capped in the warm ups. He's probably the best winger this season.
The only games between now and the RWC are the warm up games. Those games will be used to get the players fit and adjusted from lying on beaches this summer.
I would be amazed if any new players get a role that's anything more than holding tackle bags in camp. It's just too late at this stage, the squad is surely set.
Similar was said 4 years ago too, only for Kleyn to come into the squad ahead of Toner.
It’s certainly the exception that proves the rule tho, (and there are no players who will just become residency-qualified in August, to my knowledge at least).
I think it’s very unlikely, but not impossible. Could be injury dependent as well (he says, wincing at the thought of David Wallace down injured).
4 years ago we were in meltdown. It’s a very different scenario coming off the back of a GS. Kleyn was a knee jerk reaction to getting dominated physically.
Cian Prendergast would be a shout for the squad, been excellent this season. 9f McCarthy and Osbourne hadn't gotten injured, I think they'd be bolters, but probably too late now.
Not Ireland team news, but rather relating to one of our WC opponents.
Libbok and Willemse as your only 10's is a big problem for South Africa. The former is pretty dodgy and the latter is a fullback. I assume they'll call up another 10 (Pollard?) because those options won't win them a World Cup. I'd be very happy if either of them started against Ireland.
Looking at the last few weeks (and being mindful of what goes on in camps etc) you would have to say Crowley is pushing Byrne very hard. He was good against Leinster and he was good today. That comes on top of Ross being quite quiet against La Rochelle.
Hodnett another that is knocking on the door.
Beirne back to his best is also great to see, am very happy with Ryan / Beirne in the row.
Is Furlong under pressure? Hasn't looked fit at all but has time now over the Summer / Pre Season. Conan also going to be hard to leave out.
Thought JGP was below par in the final too.
Plenty of interesting debate over the Summer.
Sexton, Crowley and Byrne are our three 10's for the World Cup. Furlong will be in the squad but Bealham is pushing him now. He's the best performing tight head in Ireland this season.
I'm not sure Hodnett will travel, simply because Farrell doesn't appear to want a specialist 7 outside VDF. We had no recognised back up in the Six Nations iirc.
For the 2019 WC we selected 5 backrow forwards. POM, VDF and Doris will start the big games so there's two spots available if Farrell goes with a similar selection policy. Conan has arguably been the form backrow in the country since the Championship where he also played well. I think the final spot goes to Cian Prendergast. He has experience in the Ireland camp and finished the season excellently.
I think Ryan Baird travels as well, potentially as a fourth lock. I think he's a better blindside flanker, but he made some key contributions in the Six Nations playing at second row.
I think Hodnett is going to be looked at now.He has been brillant recently,lots of Munster players can now be more hopeful in close calls,
Just seen that squads for the World Cup have been expanded from 31 in 2019 to 33 for this year. Definitely gives the chance for more flexibility in selection.
Can see one utility back and an extra hooker touring. Or maybe an extra scrum half? Due to squad limits last time we only brought McGrath and Murray. JGP, Murray and Casey should all travel.
Hodnett should be picked for his post match interview alone! He's a tough nugget and definitely has a future with Ireland whether he is considered for the WC or not.
Regards 10, I'd say Crowley has caught Byrne. Byrne's experience still counts for a lot though. That might give Byrne an edge at the WC, might be a different matter though come the post Sexton era in February.
A 45 man squad is being named this week, the hard calls are still some way off. Anyone with even an outside chance will be called up.
It's great to see Crowley doing so well but Farrell won't jettison Byrne on the basis of one match. Will be interesting to see who gets called up as back up, whether they still want to see Frawley
Agree on Daly I think he has been one of the best players in Munster team this year . Crowley seems to have the X factor as well and I’d definitely have him as back up for sexton .
Byrne was only ever likely to be a stopgap after Sexton. As good as he is as controlling games. One of the young 10’s coming through will pass him in the next 18 months.
I am a huge fan of VDF but my God Hodnett is impressive,he seems to avoid inevitable contact all the time,one thing I have noticed about him is he nearly always does his BEST stuff out on the wing .which is noT something you would be aware of with VDF.
Think it would be a mistake bringing both Munster SHs. Blade deserves a shot, he's been better than Murray and Casey imo.
Crowley was very impressive yesterday I though. Timing his run well.
I think his end of season performances cost Blade a place in the final squad - he was dreadful against the Stormers and many Connacht fans in their thread were willingly pointing out such.
He got Player of the Year with Connacht (unsure if players vote or otherwise) but I think Casey and Murray have shown their value the last few weeks on the big stage.
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