Crowley is firmly no. 1... Toss up for backup imo
🎵 When captain O'Mahony throws his mighty shield...
I think Murray is a better SH than Casey. Murray makes the right decision more often than Casey does.
I thought Casey was excellent in Toulon on Saturday. His passing is now at a top class level, and his kicking has improved.
Naturally his decision making isn't where you want it to be, but he's a young guy and he'll only get there with experience. I think this is the year he steps into the Irish 23.
I agree, it was more the way that he hasn't gotten to the level a lot of posters felt he was going to reach by this stage of his career
Looking at all the squads now, I think Ireland have a very good chance of winning this year's championship.
Wales and England are starting fresh to varying degrees. France is without some very big names, but obviously a very formidable squad, Italy will Italy.
Scotland, like us, have a very settled squad, and have both France and England at home, so they will fancy their chances to challenge for the title.... But facing us on Patrick's day weekend will be beyond then imo.
At 6/4 I think we're worth a punt
I dont think anyone sees him as being captain in 4 years time, but there is a place in The world cup squad for an older highly experience player (earls this year) for the smaller games and to help out off the field as much as on it.
Not saying that is going to be POM, but that role exists for someone.
Henry slade would like this post if he was logged on.
I dont think we have enough players with enough rugby in their legs to win in Marseilles Friday 2 weeks time.
The majority of the team that will start havent had a hard game of Rugby yet this season.
I dont think we are ready for France, anyone else maybe but not them.
So you agree with me that he wont be captain but called me a hater anyway.
He does, unfortunately he thinks about it, a long, long, long, time.
I would of liked to seen Doak in the Training Panel as well as part of long term planning.
Just find it easier to follow in this format.
It's nice to see the three training panellists in for some experience in camp.
Cian Prendergast is a surprise omission.
Timoney gets the nod over Hodnett, fair play to him.
No room for Zebo despite there not being a lot of inspiring options at fullback.
Overall, it was always likely to be very similar to the World Cup squad, but there are a few changes, just enough to keep it interesting.
The squad looks fairly decent overall, but just don't feel like they'll win a Grand Slam, but who knows.
The non selection of Zebo is fine, his age is wrong but Keenan is the only proper FB in the squad and Stockdale cant be ahead of him on form.
I would have picked zebo ahead of Stockdale but also hope that neither is needed.
Can you see France doing the slam though?
A slip up in Murrayfield is always possible
How do you figure the majority of the team haven't had a hard game of rugby this season?
Leinster's win in La Rochelle was test match level of ferocity.
Munster's win in Toulon is arguably their second biggest win in the past 12 months.
I dont think he will be captain in 4 years, but i also think hes worthy of his place
Tom Ahern, Nathan Doak, John Hodnett. Milne (injured), Tommy o'Brien, Jager
Great, so you agree with me.
I made no comment on his place in the squad. Anyway, im going to leave it here.
No point dragging the thread off topic by an argument with a fellow Peter hater.
Unless he retires or gets injured, POM will be Ireland captain at RWC 2027. He's not getting dropped and he's not having the captaincy taken from him.
I can see the style of england causing them trouble tbh, and there is a lot of rugby played by some of them. England owe them one as well.
Hard to see a slam, but hard to see them not winning championship tbh.
It would be no surprise to see them put 50 points on someone one week and loose the following week.
I guess it will all come down to what team adapts best to their newest changes, ours at 10, Wales in a few areas, France sans Dupont, england with foreign players unavailable etc.
not a hope in hell and im willing to put a €50 bet on with you, for charity, that he will not be named as ireland WRC captain in 2027
Unless he runs for president in 2025 of course. Then its the Aras for 14 years.
No Prendergast is a strange decision, think he’s been excellent this season and making big plays regularly POM style. Hodnett is also unlucky not to be named.
Amazing to see Healy back in. It says a lot about our depth at LH that he’s still making the squad when Leinster are slow to play him off the bench in the biggest games (got 2 mins off the bench in 2023 HC final and 10 against LAR on last trip there). Obviously a lot of this is down to Porters engine but it’s still concerning.
POM is a logical choice as a squad captain if we’re looking to win this tournament but I think at least one of Baird and Prendergast should be getting starts. It will be an opportunity lost if POM starts all 5 games at 6. Maybe Farrell also sees POM starting at 7 freeing up the 6 jersey and springing VDF from the bench.
We know Farrell is a vibes man. Might also have been a factor behind giving POM the captaincy (deserves the honour of being an Irish captain) and getting Healy the cap record (especially after his pre World Cup injury).
It was at the start of December, and larochelle were going very badly then
Furlong didnt play.
Porter played 30 mins
Vdf didnt start.
POM is only back and hasnt 80 mins played.
There is most definaltey a lack of high level game time amongst what will be the starting 15 in a little over 2 weeks.
With the exception of Beirne I would not have any of the most likely starting 15 at anything over 90% international match ready at this point.
It bodes well for the team as the competition progresses and for the clubs as the business end of the season approaches, but currently they are undercooked.
A scared selection and no thoughts to building to 2027 World Cup. No surprise it’s always 1/4 finals exits. Farrell already seems to be obsessed with Lions job - against an atrocious Australia it really is a waste of everyone’s time and energies
How likely do you think it is that retires prior to the RWC? I would suggest very likely. Certainly more likely than not.
In which case, where's the problem?
France did just that in the last RWC, look where that got them...
You don't build for a World Cup right after the previous one ends. Four year cycles are a load of nonsense.
You beat me to it, syd, but I'd imagine the "unless he retires" stipulation will get TRC off the hook...
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