Ireland Squad Announced For Guinness Series

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

The Ireland 34 man squad announced today for the 2010 Guinness Series by the Ireland management shows the return of several players who were absent from the summer tour.

Ireland will play South Africa, Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina on consecutive weekends in November and the squad sees Keith Earls, Rory Best, Stephen Ferris, Denis Leamy, Sean O'Brien and Donnacha Ryan, who were all ruled out of the summer tour due to injuries at the end of the season, named in the panel. Devin Toner was also injured for that tour but returns to the squad as one of two uncapped players, the other being Johne Murphy who came into the summer tour party as a late replacement.
Commenting on the upcoming Guinness Series, that will see Ireland play its first international game in the Aviva Stadium, Ireland Coach Declan Kidney said, "It will be great to be back playing in the home of Irish Rugby on Lansdowne Road in the Aviva Stadium and the atmosphere from what I have seen so far rivals the old stadium. There will be a lot of talk about the new stadium and also about the Rugby World Cup, but the responsibility for the squad and management will be firmly to concentrate on the first game and then take each week as it comes in November. We will soak up all the excitement that goes with all that, but the focus for everybody on November 6th will be performing against South Africa."
There are several players who remain out of consideration due to ongoing rehabilitation with Paul O'Connell and Kevin McLaughlin continuing their recovery from long term injuries and Tomas O'Leary also ruled out until mid November due to his broken thumb. Jerry Flannery and Luke Fitzgerald picked up injuries over the weekend and are remaining with their provinces to be fully assessed where a decision can be made if they are fit to join the squad and take part in training.
Kidney added: "It is going to be a demanding month for the squad and the first time we have played four games in the Guinness series. We felt it was important to have 30 fit players to choose from in terms of setting the foundations for November and it was better for those who picked up knocks to be assessed back in the provinces and when they have the all clear, to come back into the squad. Jerry (Flannery) and Luke (Fitzgerald) are in that position, as are fellas like Tomas (O'Leary) and Leo (Cullen) who may well come back into the mix depending on their recoveries and game time that they may need to build up over the next couple of weeks."
"We need everybody in a position to be able to contribute in training and while we may well leave a window for those coming back, all the players in the squad are deserving of their chance. There are a lot of players who are unlucky not to make this squad, but the door will remain open to them also during November to join up with the panel."
Ireland Squad (Guinness Series 2010, Aviva Stadium)

Forwards (19)
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)
Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)
Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)
Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
John Muldoon (Galwegians/Connacht)
Donncha O' Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
Mick O'Driscoll (Constitution/Munster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)*
Damien Varley (Garryowen/Munster)
David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
Backs (15):
Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster)
Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht)
Keith Earls (Thomond/Munster)
Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster)
Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Johne Murphy (Young Munster/Munster)*
Ronan O' Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary's College/Leinster)
Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
*Denotes uncapped player.

 

[monkeypigeon]

So I'm reading along thinking that this is a wonderful squad...but wait? Either Ian Keatley changed his name to Paddy Wallace or there's a major flaw in this squad.

 

[Sam Owen]

Dont know a lot of the players but its good to see the ones I do fit and ready to go. Good team I've no doubt.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Breakdown:

Full Back:
Rob Kearney, Gavin Duffy

Winger:
Tommy Bowe, Shane Horgan, Johne Murphy, Andrew Trimble

Centre:
Gordon D'arcy, Keith Earls, Brian O'Driscoll, Paddy Wallace

Fly half:
Ronan O'Gara, Jonathan Sexton

Scrum half:
Isaac Boss, Eoin Reddan, Peter Stringer

Loosehead:
Tom Court, Cian Healy, Marcus Horan

Hooker:
Rory Best, Sean Cronin, Damien Varley

Tighthead:
Tony Buckley, John Hayes, Mike Ross

Second Row:
Donncha O'Callaghan, Mick O'Driscoll, Donnacha Ryan, Devin Toner

Back Row:
Stephen Ferris, Jamie Heaslip, John Muldoon, Denis Leamy, Sean O'Brien, David Wallace

Standby:
Leo Cullen, Tomas O'Leary, Luke Fitzgerald, Jerry Flannery

 

[TRF_Olyy]

It looks pretty like what everybody was guessing at,
Disappointing not to see Fionn Carr involved at all though, what does he have to do for a cap?

Also, what's with Cullen and Fitzgerald only on standby? I know they're both just back from injury (though Lukes been back a little longer) but they're both world class!

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Lucky:
Shane Horgan, Isaac Boss, Marcus Horan, John Hayes (WTF?!), John Muldoon

Unlucky:
Fionn Carr, Ian Keatley, Jamie Hagan

I fail to see how a ball carrying, solid scrummaging tighthead in the shape of Jamie Hagan is considered inferior to a clapped out veteran who doesn't carry ball or scrummage anywhere near competently in the shape of John Hayes.

I can see why Carr and Keatley haven't been included. Carr has a lot of competition for the spot and lacks versatility which the other wingers provide. Keatley is viewed as 3rd choice flyhalf and given the fact that Paddy Wallace can provide cover at 10, he probably isn't needed.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Also, what's with Cullen and Fitzgerald only on standby? I know they're both just back from injury (though Lukes been back a little longer) but they're both world class!

Cullen has played just 10 minutes this season and probably needs to prove his fitness. If he starts Leinster's next two games he could feature against South Africa/

Fitzgerald suffered a knock against SA_racens. Once he recovers, he'll shoot straight back into the squad.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Ah, are they on standby as in, they're in once they're fit?
I thought they were there to cover injuries or something

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Declan Kidney:
it was better for those who picked up knocks to be assessed back in the provinces and when they have the all clear, to come back into the squad. Jerry (Flannery) and Luke (Fitzgerald) are in that position, as are fellas like Tomas (O'Leary) and Leo (Cullen)

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I completely missed that bit!

 

[munstermuffin]

Snoop what is story with Luke Fitz I didn't think hip was that serious.
I'm delighted Johne Murphy is included as I predicted he would be.
Also as o said Micko is on there and I think Carr was omitted simply due to backs named are on form and playing higher level as well as beingore versatile.
Snoop I agree John Hayes hasn't been in our team much but he wouldve retired last season only for been assured he has a seat to World Cup. So always expect him there.
I expect all player injured except for Flannery maybe will be with squad at some stage

 

[munstermuffin]

Also do where is Geordan Murphy and I don't think Gavin Duffy should be there.

 

[Conal]

is geordan murphy injured????
why in the name of jesus is hayes still around
but well done toner i reckon toner could be a class lock

the back row look awesome though!

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Didn't even notice Murphy's ommision. I haven't seen much of the Tigers this season but from reports Murphy has been off form. He's 32 or 33 so perhaps his time is up, especially when considering Rob Kearney, Gavin Duffy and at a push Luke Fitzgerald, Tommy Bowe and Johne Murphy can play at fullback. Also, I think one of the Ireland games falls outside the official iRB international test window. Maybe the IRFU had trouble securing Murphy's release and simply refused to pay the Tigers for at best a squad player.

Another who seems unfortunate to miss out is Shane Jennings. He hasn't been in brilliant form, far from it, but he's starting reguarly in Leinster's big games. Considering John Muldoon is just back from injury and is playing in a weaker competition, Jennings can be disappointed to miss out. It's good news for Leinster though.

 

[munstermuffin]

I was just about to say that - Muldoon is only back from injury, playing ok at best and in a lower competition. I thought Jennings had a fine game at Wembley and well Jennings I feel is better player.

Also I think that Denis Hurley, Carr or possibly 1 of the Ulster lads maybe Cave would be a better choice than Duffy.

 

[Conal]

cave is injured at the moment and whitten is a 12
i see cave getting a few caps if it wasnt for the mighty bod
cave is a better 13than duffy but he is only a center duffy is a full back primarily (well i think he is)

 

[durbutter]

Not happy with this at all.

looks like he might be doing another Eddie............

 

[munster2010]

solid squad

 

[coonor]

The spine of the squad is very good but I think some selections are abit strange and are not intact with recen form. I think Muldoon should in for Hayes, Jennings/Ronan for Muldoon are the main poor decisions. Carr deserves a place as he will benfit from it more than Horgan but Keatley needs to develop a bit more however i'm sure both of them can flurish with the wolfhounds.

 

[sexton4ireland]

I think connacht and ulster fans can feel a bit hard done by, ecspecially considering the AIs would be a great chance to TEST players. As many have pointed out hayes instead of hagan, i would also have thought wilkinson instead of horan was worth the experience anyway. Tuohy would have been nice instead of o'driscoll or toner considering he performed so well in the summer. Fionn Carr?! More deserving than duffy, horgan and murphy if not more. Keately or Humphreys? It seems Ulster and Connacht will have to start getting some big wins for their players to get recognition