its too long to quote the last bit of the conversation between sexton and kimmage, but the stuff about the priests towards the start reads like Ross O Carroll Kelly speaking about Father Fehily
GGoes with what paul o connell said during his interview with joe molloy for independent podcast
Soroka is one guy who seems to have a big personality. Obviously he's a ways away from the Ireland conversation yet, but hopefully he can get some decent minutes under his belt between now and the end of the season.
Yeah, agreed. He looks a fiery type too, and was always willing to get stuck in and mix it for EI there.
Would be brilliant if he could stay healthy and get a run of games.
He does look like more of a 6 though than anything else (had seen some murmurings this offseason he might have the size to play some games in the row).
Aside from Prendergast and Izuchukwu, who are both basically nailed on for caps in November, I'm very curious to see who'll be capped first out of that EI contingent.
Prendergast nailed on? wouldn't agree but stranger things have happened. maybe 30 minutes off the bench but can't see him starting a game. clearly has talent but still very raw and by no means the finished article.
30 minutes off the bench is still a cap. I think he's absolutely nailed on to play against Fiji and wouldn't be at all surprised if he starts. I say this both because I think he's able and because there's next to no benefit in Crowley or Frawley playing those minutes instead. He's absolutely not the finished product, but he's already playing at a high level. The biggest issue people had with him was his defence and I don't think he missed a tackle in any of the games. Still a lot of room for improvement but that will also come a lot easier as he fills out. Next big focusses are decision making and place kicking, particularly the place kicking. I think the errors in decision making are partly symptomatic of playing in such a scratch side.
I think Hugh Gavin is the brightest talent there IMO, and imagine he’ll be capped on the tour next summer.
A few of these might be at the same time though.
very valid points and I'd tend to agree. I just have a nagging gut feeling that Harry byrne is going to pop up on the pitch in green during November ahead of Prendergast. not that I agree with that.
Harry Byrne was in good form last season and got some time off the bench during the Six Nations. But judging by recent selection, Prendergast is ahead of him for both Ireland and Leinster. We're going into the 4th game of the season and I'm pretty sure Harry has only played once from the bench. All his minutes have come playing at inside centre too. Prendergast, Ross and Frawley all have starts in his preferred position. It looks like Frawley is starting against Munster and one of Ross Byrne or Prendergast will then start against Connacht.
There's a rumour going around that Ross has a knock so Harry might get a bench spot for the Munster game. But right now he appears to be 4th choice 10 for Leinster. He's even further down the pecking order for Ireland.
He had a disastrous end to last season at Leinster. Was dire against the Lions away and possibly worse against Ulster at the Kingspan. Had his most consistent season to date, but has maybe lost the faith of his coaches following those horror shows.
interesting analysis regarding Harry byrne. given how he has dropped down the pecking order its surprising he didn't move to another province during the off season. that opportunity may not arise again given ulster and connaught have both invested in new 10 signings that look promising.
Only way Harry Byrne pops up on the pitch in green in November is if he's a mascot.
Iirc, Harry's minutes in last years 6 Nations in large part came about because Ross Byrne was injured and Frawley got injured?
I think at this stage, his best chance of getting back into the Ireland fold is with another Province from next season. Ulster would make a lot of sense. Munster possibly; Billy Burns is on a 1 year deal, but by all accounts the coaches are very pleased with him.
But another issue he's got is that the guys ahead of him in Crowley, Frawley and Prendergast are all still comparatively new internationally. There's every reason to continue giving them minutes ahead of him. And in the meantime while, I'd still favour Ross ahead of him too.
I would be really quite surprised if Prendergast doesn't start against Fiji.
I suspect Crowley gets two (ABs and one of the others), Frawley starts 1 and Prendergast 1.
😂😂
Going to one of Ulster or Connacht should be a no brainer. Aside from some of the negatives with Connacht, for a pretty skillful 10 who enjoys the flashy stuff, you'd surely have some cracking moments playing with their backline. You're right on the fact that Crowely, Frawley, Prendergast won't be going anywhere any time soon, but Ross Byrne's last return to the Ireland set up should be evidence enough of how quickly these things can change. If HB was starting and playing well for Connacht he's 5th choice for Ireland at a minimum and probably 4th. There'll be three 10s going into every international squad so you're one injury away from inclusion at almost all times. If he stays at Leinster he won't be seeing meaningful minutes and is just waiting for a Jack Murphy, Cathal Forde, or even Billy Burns to play themselves ahead of him nationally, purely through their access to gametime.
v Mun 10.Frawley 23.RossB
v Con 10.RossB 23.Frawley
v Lions 10.Prendergast 23.Frawley 26th Oct
v NZ 10.Crowley 22.Frawley
v Arg 10. Crowley 22.Frawley
v Fiji 10. Frawley 22.Crowley 23rd Nov
v Ulster 10. Prendergast or RossB 23.HarryB or RossB 29th Nov
v Aus 10. Crowley 22.Frawley 30th Nov
Not even sure if Prendergast will even be in the squad. Or RossB. Unless Frawley gets injured.
Summer tour for Prendergast starting v Romania.
Not even sure if Prendergast will even be in the squad unless Frawley gets injured.
There will be at least three out-halves selected; if we assume that Crowley and Frawley are the first two, who is third? We might go back to Ross Byrne but the SA tour would suggest otherwise. We may even see four OHs.
I'd be surprised if Crowley benches against Fiji tbh. I'd say that is Prendergast's most likely debut.
If its 3, and it probably will be, it'll be Ross.
Ulster game is on Fri, Aus on Sat. Just cant see why Prendergast would need to be involved v Fiji at this stage.
I cant wait until Leinster go FULL 'Leinster for SAM'.
No, it won't.
They wouldn't have brought Sam to SA in the summer to now have him back behind Ross again.
I would be utterly shocked if he wasn't in the wider squad and capped this November (Sam).
Part of that could be the SA tour was only 2 games, but we've 4 AI games, so it's possible Ross Byrne could be back in, and possibly even with 4 selected, as you mention.
I actually completely forgot Prendergast toured SA during the summer.
A wrinkle I didn't consider.
Was it for his development rather than a Stone Cold stunner for RossB?
Just cant see why Prendergast would need to be involved v Fiji at this stage.
He doesn't "need" to be involved, but at the same time why not?
We brought him to SA (leaving the Byrnes at home), we picked him to start all three EI games, surely the logical progression is a senior cap?
This went over my head. Is this like a reference to Sam Maguire?
I'd say primarily for Prendergast's development, but also a recognition that Ross didn't finish the season that strongly, and stylistically isn't a fit for the way Ireland want to play.
Ross also hasn't started this season on especially good form either, so for me it's very hard to see what he's done to change the pecking order.
This is the time in the calendar where there is some logic in trying out some new combos etc.
I know he doesn't need to be. It's more to the point that he's not required. As of yet.
Logical progression IF RossB is OUT of contention with AndyF.
I'd say it was definitely for his development!
Ross is not the answer for Ireland. Or even Leinster. We have know that for some time. But it's not clear yet if his exclusion from SA tour was AF making his mind up.
It's not a forgone conclusion that Prendergast will jump ahead of Ross at International level for Nov squad. At lest in my mind anyway.
Will be interesting to see who Leinster start v Connacht. Im guessing its Ross.
Ross ostensibly went from 5th choice 10 in the 2022 AI's to 2nd choice 10 for the 2023 6 Nations, so it definitely could happen again.
I wouldn't back against him select just Crowley, Frawley and Prendergast in the initial squad at least tho. I think both Sexton and Joey got injured last time round to hand Crowley and then Ross Byrne their respective chances, so that's another possibility.
Based on current form, this is the squad I'd like to see us pick for the November internationals.
I've picked 37 players (similar to what we selected in 2022, even though we've an extra fixture this time around):
Back Three (6): Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Mack Hansen, Calvin Nash, Jamie Osborne, Jimmy O'Brien
Centre (4): Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Cathal Forde
Out Half (3): Jack Crowley, Ciaran Frawley, Sam Prendergast
Scrum Half (3): Jamison Gibson Park, Craig Casey, Ben Murphy
Props (6): Andrew Porter, Tadhg Furlong, Finlay Bealham, Cian Healy, Tom O'Toole, Oli Jager
Hooker (3): Ronan Kelleher, Rob Herring, Tom Stewart
Locks (4): Tadhg Beirne, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Iain Henderson
Back Row (8): Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris, Jack Conan, Ryan Baird, Cian Prendergast, Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney, David McCann
Some guys like Tom Ahern I've excluded because they've missed the season to date through injury, but could see him being involved if he can put together a few healthy weeks.
I don't honestly expect guys like Cathal Forde, Ben Murphy or David McCann to make it, but would love to see all three involved.
Loose head prop is a real problem - genuinely struggled to pick a third option there and included Tom O'Toole on the basis Ireland were supposedly considering him there during the summer. I have no honest idea who is the next man up there - aren't great options anywhere right now until we see what the likes of Jack Boyle can do.
FWIW - my team v the All Blacks would be:
Keenan, Hansen, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe, Crowley, Gibson Park, Porter, Kelleher (if fit, if not Herring), Furlong, Ryan, McCarthy, Beirne, van der Flier, Doris ©.
Reps: Herring/Stewart, Healy, Bealham, Baird, Conan, Casey, Frawley, Henshaw
'Leinster for SAM' was a reference was to the 4th Governor of Massachusetts*. Sam Adams. He was a noted revolutionary.
I'm hoping Leinster revolutionise their preference at 10. Soon.
Is this like a reference to Sam Maguire?
'Leinster for SAM' is also a term I have heard from the indigenous population of Co.Mayo in their indefatigable hope of winning an All-Ireland Football Championship. This local parlance has become a colloquialism throughout Ireland for 'jumping on a bandwagon' or to impart the sense of great hope and excitement.
*not really
