Ireland Squad Announced For Guinness Series

[King_D'Arcy]

If there 11 Leinster starting I'd eat my hat. I think Munster and Ulster combined will have alot more than 4

I propose that Munster, Ulster, Connacht and Ospreys share the remaining 4 spots

 

[coonor]

I think Buckley deserves his place due to current Munster form and how he played in the summer. for me the main question is Healy or court. If Healy plays we will have a really impressive ball carrying pack and I think Buckley and Healy are the best rucking props. I'd also like to see how much Buckleys and Healys scrummaging has improved when they play together. Court will keep the scrum solid but he makes alot of mistakes like knock-ons and lacks ball carrying ability.

 

[Conal]

lenister guys seem to have wrote off either d wallace or ferris for o'brien
and i think the dacy and p wallace are a lot closer than people think
fitzgerald might not even start with bowe and earls there as one of them has to get a bench spot
and reddan is not guranteed the spot as kidney might go back to the use of stringer

 

[munstermuffin]

Conal I agree with you 100%. I think Wallace has been in superb form and will be ahead of O'Brien and well I think O'Brien is behind Ferris and Leamy at 6. I think that Reddan is certain to start as other 2 scrum-halves are released back to provinces. Luke Fitz will probably start as Earls has slight injury but if he is fit I think he deserves his start.
And I know I could be called crazy but the ROG/Sexton call could still be tight. Kidney does tend to throw a few surprises too so while I agree Leinster will be best represented I can see them having 8/9 max

 

[coonor]

I would have O'brien, Ferris and Heaslip starting against SA and Ferris, Wallace an Heaslip starting against NZ with Leamy on the bench for both games.

 

[durbutter]

Are we talking about building a squad? If so Ross needs to start most of the games as does Court, Cronin, SOB, Toner etc. etc.

Some of the close calls should be given to the least experienced player so as to get him out there in INTL scene.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Snoop I'll accept that but Ross was a waste last year too so like I'd have him in same boat as Buckley. But at least we have 2 challenging for jersey now as opposed to when Hayes had it he had no rival.

The fact of the matter for 1st time we have realistic competition for every spot

Except in the second row. And at fullback. And at 13. And at 14. And probably number 8.

 

[lynam1104]

14,4,5,13 we don't have competition there at 8 Leamy and Heslip are close running but Heslip is better.

 

[munstermuffin]

If all fit - DOC POC Cullen maybe Toner and Bob Casey all capable.
If BOD is injured he is a loss but Earls Fitz Bowe all capable. On the wings there is probably too much competition.
At 15 I'd say not as great competition but IF G. Murphy fit there competition. Also at 8 Leamy in great form and pushing Heaslip

 

[Peat]

13 isn't a competition because BOD is an all time great. Earls is more than adequate cover.

3 might be a competition but its still something of a cripple fight between a guy who you think you've finally taught how to scrum and a guy who you think you've finally taught how to run and a man who was at his peak during the Napoleonic Wars.

 

[munstermuffin]

Agreed BOD is a legend but we have depht there now and well that your view on 3 battle but isn't it better than 1 man having the jersey and no backup

 

[Peat]

Depends how injury prone the one man is!

Better than both is a battle between real, genuinely international quality tightheads. Which does seem to be fairly rare these days.

 

[coonor]

We have a lot of players that can play 13 but I think we could do with someone thats main position is outside centre. either Earls, fitzgerald or bowe etc. needs to become an international 13. we have good competition at 12 between D'arcy and P.Wallace who both can change the whole Irish game plan. I really want to see BOD at 12 and Earls at 13.
15 we have Kearney who looks to be getting back on form. Earls and Fitz can play 15 but i'd prefer they don't. G. Murphey is really are only other top level full back. I think duffy being in the AI could help improve depth at full back.

 

[munstermuffin]

It'll be interesting how we change after World Cup and well could it possibly be the end of a few players in green shirts such as BOD D.Wallace and others.

 

[Conal]

It'll be interesting how we change after World Cup and well could it possibly be the end of a few players in green shirts such as BOD D.Wallace and others.

bod
rog
poc???
d wallace
mabey darcy??
hayes
horan
flannery???

 

[munstermuffin]

Just on future of Irish #3 jersey. Could Peter Borlaise be a realistic option.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Just on future of Irish #3 jersey. Could Peter Borlaise be a realistic option.

Have you ever seen him play? Seriously, the guy has yet to arrive and your lining him up as our next tighthead prop.

I'm quite against nationalising players to play for us, Richard Strauss being the perfect example. While I hope he continues to perform for Leinster, I'd be very disappointed to see him line out for Ireland in the future. He's a Saffa and we all know it. Same for Borlaise.

Anyway, we all know Jamie Hagan is the incumbent at 3.

 

[coonor]

Have you ever seen him play? Seriously, the guy has yet to arrive and your lining him up as our next tighthead prop.

I'm quite against nationalising players to play for us, Richard Strauss being the perfect example. While I hope he continues to perform for Leinster, I'd be very disappointed to see him line out for Ireland in the future. He's a Saffa and we all know it. Same for Borlaise.

Anyway, we all know Jamie Hagan is the incumbent at 3.

I agree, but he did say that was one of the reasons why he moved. I'm not against players from different countrys playing for Ireland as long as they have some link to Ireland. I am definatly against bringing over players in the hope that they will play for Ireland. We don't want our national rugby team becoming like Englands cricket team.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

I agree, but he did say that was one of the reasons why he moved. I'm not against players from different countrys playing for Ireland as long as they have some link to Ireland. I am definatly against bringing over players in the hope that they will play for Ireland. We don't want our national rugby team becoming like Englands cricket team.

Or England's rugby team for that matter...

 

[coonor]

Or England's rugby team for that matter...

good point