Ireland in the November tests

[Conal]

I think Kidney should pick a younger player and start him at 5. We know how good Cullen is, why rush him back fo a meaningless game. Toner? One of the Ulster boys? Maybe give Ryan another chance? Any other ideas?

the uslter lads would be
dan tuhoy is a better player than mod by far this season and has a future with ireland
caldwell is playng ok aswell and he is on par if not better than mod and far more mobile and commiting less penalty offenses aswell

toner > mod
Ryan >mod
Cullen >>>> mod

 

[munstermuffin]

Thing with Ryan and few others named is they like a DOC second rower and well not a massive lineout option. That is why Ryan was dropped last weekend. I agree we should blood in young guys as Micko is like Trimble (who I always am a critic of) in that he has fine form for Munster but rarely does it on international stage.
I don't think Toner is international class either but Tuohy is deserving of a shot

 

[durbutter]

Has Touhy played much this season? He was decent with Ireland in the summer, but i thought he's just coming back from injury no?

 

[lynam1104]

Dose anyone know when the squad is being announced?

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

The squad is announced tomorrow at lunch time.

Dan Tuohy has been dropped by Ulster and is now behind Tim Barker. I think the second rows who'll be named in the squad will be O'Callaghan, Cullen, O'Driscoll, Ryan and possibly Toner.

 

[munstermuffin]

To agree with you snoop that Toner will be named as will the others you nemed because of experience or fact they starting regularly. And Snoop in the order you named them I think is the pecking order

 

[coonor]

My squad would be:

props:- Hagan, Court, Healy, Buckley, ross
Hookers:- Best, Varley, Cronin (considering Flannery is likely to be out due injury and is not fully fit anyway)
Locks:- O'callaghan, O'driscoll/Casey(Couldn't decide), Cullen, Ryan, Toner
flankers:- Ferris, O'brien, Wallace, Jennings, Ronan
No.8:- Heaslip, Leamy
Scrum Half:- Reddan, Stringer, Boss
Fly Half:- O'gara, Sexton, Keatley
Backs:- O'Driscoll, Earls, Wallace, D'arcy, J Murphy, Fitzgerald, Bowe, Kearney, Carr, Trimble

 

[munstermuffin]

Coonor I think O'Leary will be included.
I also thin John Hayes will be in squad as he is only been kept on due to World Cup.
Also while I think Casey is a fine player and impressed me in H'Cup the Irish management don't seem to favour him.

Also lads on the hooker position - I think Varley has a great chance of starting and is possibly the most improved player over last 12 months.
And I'll admit Connacht haven't crossed my attention much but all praise I'm hearing is for Fanning on the wing who impressed me in AIL last year but how is Carr actually doing

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Also lads on the hooker position - I think Varley has a great chance of starting and is possibly the most improved player over last 12 months.

Varley is a great story Seemingly not rated by Munster a couple of years ago, he earned his stripes playing in the AIL and then took a chance to earn a contract with Wasps. Since then his career has gone from strength to strength.

Of the fit hookers in available to Ireland, I'd place Varley second behind Sean Cronin. Ordinarily that would be enough to earn a place on the bench but given Cronin's lack of experience, I think Declan Kidney will choose Rory Best ahead of him in his matchday 22/23 for South Africa.

I also thin John Hayes will be in squad as he is only been kept on due to World Cup.

You could be right. I don't think he deserves to be there but there must be a reason he didn't retire during the summer. I'd rate him 4th in the Irish tighthead pecking order at present behind Mike Ross, Tony Buckley (who'll probably start) and Jamie Hagan. He's currently neck and neck with Tom Court (a much better loosehead) and a few furlongs ahead of the fast improving Tim Ryan. Ross and Buckley are better options than the Bruff stamper as things stand.

 

[sexton4ireland]

Two teams for greatest exposure!

For SA/NZ
1.Healy (needs as much top level international experience as possible)
2.Cronin/Best (Cronin to get at least one start)
3.Buckley/Ross (One each, both finally looking like they might be up to it)
4.Cullen (obvious, to me, if not kidney)
5.Tuohy
6.Ferris
7.O'Brien (not that hes necessarily better than wallace but different, may provide balance, ecspecially at breakdown, refereing considered)
8.Heaslip
9.Stringer (I cannot see how anyone can justify reddan or oleary on form of the last 12 months, worrying, quick ball might help backs and the fact that stringer does not pose a physical threat might be offset by big backrow if gameplan is right. Its a pity marshall wont get gametime at ulster now, boss on the bench-better impact player, if stringers getting pummeled we have the antidote)
10.Sexton
11.Fitzgerald
12.D'Arcy (back to best form)
13. BOD
14.Bowe
15.Kearney

For Argentina/Samoa
1.Court
2.Cronin/Flannery (another start for cronin here, flannery keep in consideration with one start)
3.Hagan for samoa one of above for argentina
4.Ryan
5.O'Callaghan
6.Jennings/Muldoon (one each, poor jennings)
7.Ronan (Wallace is not out, we just know about him, sub for every match! let the real 7 battle begin with o'brien in the 6 nations! Again Ronan offers something different, I have a feeling we need a fetcher)
8.Muldoon/Henry (one each, poor henry)
9.O'Leary/Reddan (give them a game each and hope, potential is still there)
10.Humphreys/Keateley (one each)
11.Carr
12.Wallace
13.McFadden
14.Trimble
15.Earls

 

[coonor]

Coonor I think O'Leary will be included.
I also thin John Hayes will be in squad as he is only been kept on due to World Cup.
Also while I think Casey is a fine player and impressed me in H'Cup the Irish management don't seem to favour him.

Also lads on the hooker position - I think Varley has a great chance of starting and is possibly the most improved player over last 12 months.
And I'll admit Connacht haven't crossed my attention much but all praise I'm hearing is for Fanning on the wing who impressed me in AIL last year but how is Carr actually doing

Isn't O'leary injured if not i'd put him in as I actually rate O'leary quite highly. I think Hayes will probably be selected but I think some one else like Hagan deserves a shot (I am very keen on rewarding on form players by placing them in the Ireland squad for friendlys) Casey was an on the fence decision as I highly doubt he will be selected but I think he is one of the top opperators of the lineout in th premiership, his work rate is great and he is quite a physical player. I think MOD is on form and proved something in the summer but sometimes he does have a habbit of making mistake such as missing tackles and knocking the ball forward in contact alot.

 

[munstermuffin]

O'Leary is doubtful but I'm sure he will be included and given time.