[2021 Six Nations] Ireland Squad

[big ginger 8]

The Ireland coaching group will retain a 24 man panel for the two day mini-camp on Thursday and Friday this week at the IRFU High Performance Centre at the Sport Ireland Campus.

There were no additional injury concerns following the match against France and the players (Burns, Healy, Henderson) who were removed for HIAs will follow the appropriate protocols this week.

12 players are returning to their provincial bubbles to avail of game time in the Guinness PRO14 this weekend – Bundee Aki, Ultan Dillane, Dave Heffernan (Connacht), Ryan Baird, Ross Byrne, Jack Conan (Leinster), Craig Casey, Andrew Conway, Shane Daly, Chris Farrell (Munster) and Stuart McCloskey, Tom O'Toole (Ulster).

The three players who provided specialist cover at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday – Harry Byrne, John Cooney and Eric O'Sullivan– have also returned to their respective provinces.

Edit: Ireland Squad – Two Day Camp February 17/18

Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 90 caps
Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 8 caps
Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary's College) 26 caps
James Lowe (Leinster) 4 caps

Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 49 caps
Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 32 caps

Billy Burns (Ulster) 5 caps
Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/St Mary's College) 96 caps

Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 88 caps
Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 7 caps

Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 18 caps
Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 8 caps

Ed Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 4 caps
Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 106 caps
Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 40 caps

Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 46 caps
Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 34 caps

Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 19 caps
Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 60 caps
James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 33 caps

Will Connors (Leinster/UCD) 7 caps
Rhys Ruddock (Leinster/St Mary's College) 27 caps
CJ Stander (Munster/Shannon) 48 caps
Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 30 caps

Returning to Provinces

Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 30 caps
Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) uncapped
Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 12 caps
Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) uncapped
Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 24 caps
Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 17 caps
Shane Daly (Munster/Cork Con) 1 cap
Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 18 caps
Chris Farrell (Munster/Young Munster) 14 caps
Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 5 caps
Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 4 caps
Tom O'Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) uncapped

 

[Groundhog]

So that's presumably Byrne, Cooney and O'Sullivan gone baby gone? Class.... I'd like to specialist cover yizzer faces in shite

 

[Leinster Fan]

To be fair isn't this just letting the guys who haven't played get some gametime and keeping everyone who has?

Doesn't make me optimistic about the selection against Italy but we'll have to wait and see on that front.

 

[Groundhog]

To be fair isn't this just letting the guys who haven't played get some gametime and keeping everyone who has?

Doesn't make me optimistic about the selection against Italy but we'll have to wait and see on that front.

Specialist injury cover makes me think that barring injury baby Byrne won't be back. The others will all presumably still be in the frame, although slightly surprised Ross Byrne and Dillane are being let go as they played decent minutes.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Yeah I won't condemn him based on this, it's not a big ask for any of those lads to play 80mins in the pro 14 and then play an international 7-8 days later.

 

[munstermuffin]

Interesting points -

1. They trying to pull a stroke with POM as noted in French thread. Doubt it will work though.
2. In a full squad we name 2 LH props yet a watered down 24man squad for training we name 3.
3. Obviously likes of Casey will be back but they know they won't be seeing Italian game in action.

 

[big ginger 8]

To be fair isn't this just letting the guys who haven't played get some gametime and keeping everyone who has?

Doesn't make me optimistic about the selection against Italy but we'll have to wait and see on that front.

Yeah this is very standard. It's only two days of training for Ireland this week so more useful for lads to get gametime.

We never go as experimental against Italy as fans want. That said there are a few selections such as not starting Kelleher that would really annoy me. I'm not expecting HB in which is disappointing but not the end of the world. If Casey isn't involved at all I'll be very ******.

I do have some sympathies with the timing of the game. With another week off after it it would leave Murray, Sexton and Ryan for example without a match in five weeks going into the Scotland game. That said there is still plenty of scope for positive changes.

 

[Groundhog]

Yeah this is very standard. It's only two days of training for Ireland this week so more useful for lads to get gametime.

We never go as experimental against Italy as fans want. That said there are a few selections such as not starting Kelleher that would really annoy me. I'm not expecting HB in which is disappointing but not the end of the world. If Casey isn't involved at all I'll be very ******.

I do have some sympathies with the timing of the game. With another week off after it it would leave Murray, Sexton and Ryan for example without a match in five weeks going into the Scotland game. That said there is still plenty of scope for positive changes.

I will bet you five shillings that Casey won't be in the matchday squad for Italy. I do think there's a good chance Kelleher and Connors start which are good selections and Earls is maybe ousted for Larmour (I kinda doubt it), but Farrell personally namechecked JGP as excellent against France (how?) and as good as confirmed Murray and Sexton start if fit. Harry Byrne won't train with the squad for the game I'd imagine and you'd imagine Baird will be cut too with Ryan fit again.

 

[big ginger 8]

Farrell is on a long-term contract until the 2023 World Cup and his position is not under threat but failing to beat the Italians would be unacceptable from an IRFU point of view. Prize money in the Six Nations is crucial lifeblood now more than ever and the additional €500,000 or so for each place up the final Six Nations table matters.

Found the above quote from the below article interesting. Wonder how much the financial implications of severance pay may stay the executioner's hand barring the absolute worst scenario. Obviously as fans we focus on the coaches and players or even people like Nucifora, but the conservatism in Irish rugby definitely comes from the top down. Even if they do a lot of things to help the game in Ireland, they definitely do lead to a level of stagnation.

With pressure on, Farrell seems unlikely to go for great experimentation in Italy

Ireland must now fight to turn their Six Nations campaign around after two defeats.

www.the42.ie

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Said at the time of appointment a 4 year contract was brain-dead. How have they made this mistake three times now.

 

[munstermuffin]

Found the above quote from the below article interesting. Wonder how much the financial implications of severance pay may stay the executioner's hand barring the absolute worst scenario. Obviously as fans we focus on the coaches and players or even people like Nucifora, but the conservatism in Irish rugby definitely comes from the top down. Even if they do a lot of things to help the game in Ireland, they definitely do lead to a level of stagnation.

With pressure on, Farrell seems unlikely to go for great experimentation in Italy

Ireland must now fight to turn their Six Nations campaign around after two defeats.

www.the42.ie

Don't forget it not just one coach. I'm sure it the package well Catt and possibly Easterby as well as Farrell. POC and Fogarty are doing their roles good and are raw so may be in any new ticket.

 

[big ginger 8]

Ireland expect to be without Caelan Doris 'for the foreseeable future' https://the42.ie/5358337

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Ireland expect to be without Caelan Doris 'for the foreseeable future' https://the42.ie/5358337

Stop posting. That's two careers you've ruined in two days.

 

[munstermuffin]

Ireland expect to be without Caelan Doris 'for the foreseeable future' https://the42.ie/5358337

On a playing sport level - Huge loss as he has been in great form for club and country.

Very worrying though to be such an issue so young. He will return from this but can't see his career being long (as in playing to mid 30's) as position is to attritional and his health is worth more than anything.
Hope this is more precaution and preventing than easing.

 

[big ginger 8]

What's going on in Irish rugby's development pathway amidst Covid? https://the42.ie/5359099

 

[big ginger 8]

Squad for Italy match:
Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 24 caps
Shane Daly (Munster/Cork Con) 1 cap
Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 90 caps
Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 8 caps
Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary's College) 26 caps
James Lowe (Leinster) 4 caps

Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 30 caps
Chris Farrell (Munster/Young Munster) 14 caps
Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 49 caps
Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 4 caps
Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 32 caps

Billy Burns (Ulster) 5 caps
Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 12 caps
Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/St Mary's College) 96 caps

Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) uncapped
Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 88 caps
Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 7 caps

Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 5 caps
Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 18 caps
Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 8 caps

Ed Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 4 caps
Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 106 caps
Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 40 caps

Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 46 caps
Tom O'Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) uncapped
Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 34 caps

Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) uncapped
Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 19 caps
Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 18 caps
Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 60 caps
James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 33 caps

Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 17 caps
Will Connors (Leinster/UCD) 7 caps
Rhys Ruddock (Leinster/St Mary's College) 27 caps
CJ Stander (Munster/Shannon) 48 caps
Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 30 caps

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Class

 

[Groundhog]

Que Sera Sera, whatever will be will be, at least we'll beat Italy, que sera sera.

 

[munstermuffin]

Que Sera Sera, whatever will be will be, at least we'll beat Italy, que sera sera.

Is anyone shocked though really.

As I said already when we fail at the RWC because of lack of 10 options remember why.
6 Nations gone, Italy not flying it. Why not take a view longer than 12 months,

 

[Leinster Fan]

No baby Byrne

About what was expected. We'd all like more longtermism but it wasn't going to happen. At least Baird is there.

Being let down is less depressing when you expected nothing.

It will be depressing when the team is named and neither Baird or Casey are involved.