Ireland Squad Announced For Guinness Series

[King_D'Arcy]

I was of course only joking about 11 Leinster lads earlier... mainly. I know 11 Leinster players would not lead to a full strength team. One thing I don't understand, however, is people saying Heaslip is possibly going to lose the 8 jersey to Leamy, which is quite frankly poppy cock.

 

[coonor]

I was of course only joking about 11 Leinster lads earlier... mainly. I know 11 Leinster players would not lead to a full strength team. One thing I don't understand, however, is people saying Heaslip is possibly going to lose the 8 jersey to Leamy, which is quite frankly poppy cock.II

I agree, Heaslip has managed to pick himself up from the red card against NZ regain his form and now he has successfully shown his leadership skills. Leamy is a great player but he is no where near as skillful as Heaslip. I think Leamy would be a good impact player anyway. he can come off the bench really fired up and keep the physical of Ireland up. Leinster should have aound 8 out of 15 players and lets face it Leinster do have the most irish talent especially young talent.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Has the new captain been anounced, or will it be anounced with the first match squad?
Who do people reckon it'll be?
I reckon Heaslip could be in with a shout, with POC out. If not at full-captain, then vice

 

[Conal]

Has the new captain been anounced, or will it be anounced with the first match squad?
Who do people reckon it'll be?
I reckon Heaslip could be in with a shout, with POC out. If not at full-captain, then vice

bod is captian fantastic untill he retires me thinks
if he is injured best could take it for a few games he has captianed ireland before
heaslip would also be in with a very loud shout

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Was thinking that, but also thought they might not want to be playing BOD the full 80 every match to try and preserve him a little
However BOD, with Heaslip taking over would/could work well

 

[munstermuffin]

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.

Yes have seen him play alot and even had chance of getting to see hum in flesh playing once. A very strong and imposing prop but not yet a finished article.
I'm not building him up, just simply saying he is an option should he excel at Munster.

On the captaincy of Ireland lads isn't it set that BOD is captain with ROG, POC, Best all vice-captains and DOC and Cullen then next in line. I'm sure Heaslip will be added in there too.

And King D'Arcy I agree Leamy shouldn't be #8 but will say it great that the 2 lads are in superb form and pushing eachother. Leamy is also pushing Ferris and competition in the Irish backrow is immense.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Borlase is world class. He's the tighthead prop equivalent of Jeremy Manning.

There's no point talking about Borlase in an Irish context since he hasn't arrived here and isn't qualified. In three years if Ireland are stuck and he's taken Munster rugby by storm, then he might be an option but I'd prefer to move forward with Jamie Hagan, Stewart Maguire, Jack O'Connell, Alan Whitten, Stephen Archer and Adam Macklin.

 

[munstermuffin]

I not saying he is worldclass and as I already pointed out there is work still to be done but well he does have a good base. Also I only asked is he a potential candidate on future. On Archer snoop I'd be very surprised if he makes it in Munster side never mind Irish side.

 

[Peat]

Reckon Kidney would use Borlase should he be good enough and still there in the 3 years time - but thats 3 years time! But he hasn't been shy about capping Wilkinson and I reckon Diack will get Ireland caps, although I can understand you boys not wanting to be like England is, its bloody galling as an Englishman and I think the IRB rules are a bit bullshit - but they're there, and will be exploited by all. Can't see any manager taking the moral high ground.

I also think Heaslip is a world class player and should be being groomed as the next Ireland captain. Much as I'd like to see Best as captain, I think Heaslip's the future and would be a great captain.

edit: If we're commenting on future tightheads, Macklin would need to learn how to scrummage first. The disparity in scrummaging ability between him and McAllister is shocking. Could make a great next Tony Buckley though!

 

[munstermuffin]

Thing is though Peat as you pointed out most countries exploit it so why don't we if it benefits us. Like the All Blacks even do it.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I think my comments are being misinterpreted slightly. A number of the props I've listed will never get close to winning a cap but they are already signed up for the provinces and are Irish. Borlase is a Kiwi who hasn't set foot in the country yet so he's behind that lot.

 

[munstermuffin]

True but I was only basing comments on seen him put in decent performances and on the terms of IF he sticks around. But agree he could be another Manning

 

[coonor]

On Irelands captain I see no point in changing the leadership roles in the team but every player needs to be able co-operate and lead others. At full strengh BOD should be captain in every game he plays. He gains support from every player on the pitch, leads by example and gets respect from everyone even on the other team. POC should be present pack leader. In the future Heaslip is no.1 in line for captain.

 

[munstermuffin]

Paulie may see 20 mins or so vs Aus (with Munster)

 

[Feicarsinn]

True but I was only basing comments on seen him put in decent performances and on the terms of IF he sticks around. But agree he could be another Manning

You mean crap right? Cos Manning was crap.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Thing is though Peat as you pointed out most countries exploit it so why don't we if it benefits us. Like the All Blacks even do it.

I think if you're just taking players from other countries or senselessly trying to turn rugby league players into union players like England keep trying to do it has a very negative affect in the long run; it undermines the system that real English rugby players are going through, thus making these players lose confidence in the system and lose confidence in their chances of being considered. Taking non-national players or non-union players and putting them on your team will not have a positive affect in the long run. It's a quick fix. Like gluing your bumper back on with pritt stick.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

If Borlase does brilliantly for Munster I hope he earns an international call up for New Zealand. Likewise I hope Richardt Strauss and Robbie Diack go on to represent South Africa some day. The rules state that after 3 years residency you can declare for a country so I understand why countries exploit it. I personally think that rule is a farce. What's to stop, say, Japan offering a shitload of money to the entire Baby Blacks team of this year and nurturing them to play for the Cherry Blossoms in the 2015 or 2019 World Cup? Absolutely nothing. Chavball has the right idea with it's player eligibility criteria.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

If Borlase does brilliantly for Munster I hope he earns an international call up for New Zealand. Likewise I hope Richardt Strauss and Robbie Diack go on to represent South Africa some day. The rules state that after 3 years residency you can declare for a country so I understand why countries exploit it. I personally think that rule is a farce. What's to stop, say, Japan offering a shitload of money to the entire Baby Blacks team of this year and nurturing them to play for the Cherry Blossoms in the 2015 or 2019 World Cup? Absolutely nothing. Chavball has the right idea with it's player eligibility criteria.

Well...

EDIT: Matt Holland, Leon Best and Clinton Morrison all wearing Ireland football jerseys...

 

[Peat]

Snoopy - To be slightly pedantic Whitten isn't on Ulster's books at all.

D'Arcy - I do see where you're coming from, my gods I do, but players who lose heart due to seeing a few duff kiwi ex-leaguers around the place probably never had the mental goods anyway. But no, no one likes seeing it. But the option is on the table no matter how much I wish they'd change it.

And ffs man, the argument against Jack Charlton's geneology services starts and ends with Tony Cascarino

 

[munstermuffin]

I agree with ye that if the talent is Irish keep it in but if he proves himself at munster and we are weak in that area would we not consider it.

On a sidenote Snoop do Leinster think Heaslip will leave in June. I've heard him say in past he wanted to go abroad and again in papers today he has said it and with IRFU wanting to reduce costs I wonder is this a done thing