[2014 Mid-Year Tests] Ireland

[lynam1104]

I think the fact that Madigan has been involved in the 6N nations squads helped his case too. Hopefully Joe can fix him and send the old Madigan back to Leinster.

 

[IRISH RUGBY MAN]

To be fair to Madigan, I thought he was a lot sharper against ulster. But I'd bring Keatley ahead off him based on the seasons form. But like lynam1104 said, hopefully Joe can get the old Madigan back

 

[munstermuffin]

No complaints. Keatley has been miles ahead on form and will be better playing full games. Madigan hasn't been great this season and while he played well last Saturday that was at 12 and well he wasn't great. But overall feel sorry for Paddy Jackson

 

[Big Ewis]

holy shhit, just read Ferris could stop his career already ?!!!...the injury he got in 2012 lingered, and he stopped shortly after coming back. Would like to officially offer Ireland my condolences if that happened, it would really annoy me quite a bit if that happened. Great player, fantastic mass.
Ferris+son-of-a-*****+Heaslip= one of the Top 3 third rows in the world, at a time when the whole planet has enormous overpowerful third rows.

 

[Feicarsinn]

EMERGING IRELAND Squad (2014 IRB Nations Cup, Romania, June 13-22):


Backs (11) -


Michael Allen (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) *
Andrew Conway (Blackrock College/Munster) *
Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster)
Eoin Griffin (Galwegians/Connacht) *
JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster) *
Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)
Brendan Macken (Blackrock College/Leinster) *
Paul Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) *
Johne Murphy (Young Munster/Munster) *
Noel Reid (Clontarf/Leinster) *


Forwards (15) -


Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) *
Rodney Ah You (Buccaneers/Connacht) *
Michael Bent (Dublin University/Leinster)
Callum Black (Malone/Ulster) *
Paddy Butler (Shannon/Munster) *
Bryan Byrne (Clontarf/Leinster) *
Robin Copeland (Cardiff Blues) *
Sean Dougall (Dolphin/Munster) *
David Foley (UL Bohemians/Munster) *
Michael Kearney (Clontarf/Connacht) *
Mike McCarthy (Lansdowne/Leinster) (capt)
Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster) *
John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) *
James Tracy (UCD/Leinster) *

 

[big ginger 8]

Emerging Ireland:

Tracy, Annett, Byrne,

Black, Bent, Ah You, Ryan

McCarthy (c), Foley, Kearney

Dom Ryan, TOD, Dougall, Copeland, Butler,

Marshall, McGrath

Keatley, Hanrahan

Griffin, Reid, Macken

Gilroy, Murphy, Conway, Allen


Prop Ryan is just bleh, he's never going to be up to H Cup standard let alone international level. Why not take Furlong someone we know has tonnes of potential?

Bryan Byrne on the other hand is exactly the progressive move we need. Obviously there's 5 hookers injured/rested but good to see him. Annoying I'm sure for the lkes of McCarthy and TO'D but hopefully they go about it the right way. A pretty good team can be got from that.

For the first match I'd have:

1. Bent
2. Annett
3. Ah You
4. Kearney
5. McCarthy
6. Ryan
7. O'Donnell
8. Copeland
9. McGrath
10. Keatley
11. Conway
12. Reid
13. Griffin
14. Murphy
15. Gilroy

It's actually a fairly dangerous backline and a relatively mobile pack who should be ok at the set peice.

Before I get jumped on oviously it'd be mixed up after and I think Kearney McCarthy is more balanced than Foley McCarthy.

 

[Feicarsinn]

I'm looking forward to seeing what Hanrahan, McGrath, Keatley, Copeland and Black can do with the opportunity. Noel Reid has come on a lot this year, hopefully he can keep up the improvement.

Prudent enough to send out a few experienced members of the squad, even though they probably wont take too much from it.

 

[munstermuffin]

Arguably our oldest emerging squad ever ha ha but resources are stretched. Looking forward to this more than Argentina games. BG8 your mad having Kearney over Foley who wasn't far away from full tour.
Backs are very rotatable and JJ/Keatley axis can be used

 

[big ginger 8]

Arguably our oldest emerging squad ever ha ha but resources are stretched. Looking forward to this more than Argentina games. BG8 your mad having Kearney over Foley who wasn't far away from full tour.
Backs are very rotatable and JJ/Keatley axis can be used

Yeah I'm bat**** insane...did you even read my full comment?

 

[Jaguares]

Daniel Hourcade - Puma's Head Coach:

"Ireland is the best Europe's team at the moment and is able to adapt to any type of game, seems a team from the Southern Hemisphere. The Irish pressure on the line-out is huge. We'll must do things well there".

 

[Peat]

Disappointed that guys like Warwick, McCloskey and Scholes haven't got a shot, there's a few never-wills in that squad that could be replaced. Guess they're needed to bed the young lads in though. Would have thought McCloskey in particular would appeal to Schmidt.

 

[munstermuffin]

Yeah I'm bat**** insane...did you even read my full comment?

I did but just think Foley out of the 3 is the 1 that has proven he can do a job for lock both sides. My comment more at balanced bit and well while McCarthyis captain that's why I'd have MCCarthy/Foley combo.

On a seperate issue that Arg squad named looks desperate

 

[IRISH RUGBY MAN]

Disappointed that guys like Warwick, McCloskey and Scholes haven't got a shot, there's a few never-wills in that squad that could be replaced. Guess they're needed to bed the young lads in though. Would have thought McCloskey in particular would appeal to Schmidt.

Yep, I'd of taken Scholes instead of Murphy and probably McCloskey instead of Macken but can't say I've seen a lot of Macken.
I probably would of brought Warwick instead of Bent. I don't see point in bringing old boys that will never get a chance at the national team which Murphy and Bent will not. We should of been looking to bring throug youth a bit more. What's the Craic with duncan Casey? Is he injured? Cause he'd of been a nailed on starter for me

 

[Feicarsinn]

Yep, I'd of taken Scholes instead of Murphy and probably McCloskey instead of Macken but can't say I've seen a lot of Macken.
I probably would of brought Warwick instead of Bent. I don't see point in bringing old boys that will never get a chance at the national team which Murphy and Bent will not. We should of been looking to bring throug youth a bit more. What's the Craic with duncan Casey? Is he injured? Cause he'd of been a nailed on starter for me

They're going to be going up against full international sides. Romania and Russia may not be the strongest sides, but they'll be experienced and very tough. You don't want to just throw a bunch of kids up against that lot. A bit of experience in the side will do a world of good.

 

[IRISH RUGBY MAN]

They're going to be going up against full international sides. Romania and Russia may not be the strongest sides, but they'll be experienced and very tough. You don't want to just throw a bunch of kids up against that lot. A bit of experience in the side will do a world of good.

I understand that but Boys like Murphy and Bent who probably won't be starting, can have their places taken by younger boys who have a good future ahead of them. I fully understand bringing people like McCarthy, O'Donnell, Marshall and Keatley who will probably be starting and can have a positive effect on the pitch

 

[psychic duck]

They're going to be going up against full international sides. Romania and Russia may not be the strongest sides, but they'll be experienced and very tough. You don't want to just throw a bunch of kids up against that lot. A bit of experience in the side will do a world of good.

Not really. These tournaments are usually more experimental for these sides as well compared to full internationals and I'd imagine Romania will have a few kids tested themselves.

 

[big ginger 8]

I understand that but Boys like Murphy and Bent who probably won't be starting, can have their places taken by younger boys who have a good future ahead of them. I fully understand bringing people like McCarthy, O'Donnell, Marshall and Keatley who will probably be starting and can have a positive effect on the pitch

Murphy and Bent will definitely get at least one start and I wouldn't be overly surprised to be Bent start at loosehead although I do think Black should. If we're questioning any props inclusion it should really be Ryan imo. Bent as actually done ok at H Cup and international level and 28 isn't too old for a prop he should still be playing rugby by the time of the 2019 WC. Ryan has never been at all impressive to me an I've seen a number of Munster fans question him.

In fairness to Murphy he was Munster's best back for a large portion of this season and in great form, he can also cover fullback. However I wouldn't have minded if someone like TO'H or Scholes go.

Oh and yeah Duncan Casey had surgery.

 

[munstermuffin]

@Irish Rugby. Casey had shoulder surgery so isn't available but you need a blend of experience for these games. As lads said they're full international teams but Duck is right in that they experiment here too but what I find from these games is the physicality in the tight is right up there.

 

[munstermuffin]

Murphy and Bent will definitely get at least one start and I wouldn't be overly surprised to be Bent start at loosehead although I do think Black should. If we're questioning any props inclusion it should really be Ryan imo. Bent as actually done ok at H Cup and international level and 28 isn't too old for a prop he should still be playing rugby by the time of the 2019 WC. Ryan has never been at all impressive to me an I've seen a number of Munster fans question him.

In fairness to Murphy he was Munster's best back for a large portion of this season and in great form, he can also cover fullback. However I wouldn't have minded if someone like TO'H or Scholes go.

Oh and yeah Duncan Casey had surgery.

On that BG8 Murphy's form only dipped when he started going in to 13 but he is a very honest hard working winger and a smart 1 too.
Regards John Ryan I'd agree on questioning his inclusion. He did ok in cameos towards end of season here but truth is he will never make a Rabo level prop never mind any type of international prop.

 

[IRISH RUGBY MAN]

Cheers, wasn't quite sure what the story was there, but I know he's come on leaps and bounds. Aye I know the teams will be very physical but I just don't see need to bring a Murphy when we have a Scholes or O'Halloran who are both young, talented players. Don't get me wrong, I like Murphy and I thought he was outstanding in the early heineken cup matches but I don't think his experience would be missed too much if he was replaced for a younger player.