Ireland Squad Announced For Guinness Series

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

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

......and every one of them has more Irish heritage than Richardt Strauss, Robbie Diack and Peter Borlase. I certainly wouldn't question Holland or Morrison's commitment to Ireland; at least they didn't throw a rattle out of their prams and walk out on a World Cup like failed manager Roy Keane.

I was talking more in terms of the bs residency rule. Increase it to 5 years at the very least.

Peat, is Whitten not contracted now that he's in the Heineken Cup squad? I presume he's on a similar deal with Ulster to the one Simon Shawe has at Leinster.

Munstermuffin, I'm not sure. He could be posturing for a new deal in the same way that O'Driscoll flirted openly with Biarritz before re-signing with Leinster a few years ago. Only time will tell.

 

[durbutter]

didn't throw a rattle out of their prams and walk out on a World Cup like failed manager Roy Keane.

You just crossed the line...........greatest Irish midfielder ever and a role model for working class people everywhere.

 

[munstermuffin]

In fairness darbutter if Keane had any pride in his country. When your captain of your country in biggest tournament there is you put up with any crap until after the tournament and just go out there and do your utmost.
Snoop I agree with your view on residency issue but hope IRB sort it across board because it some countries like the pacific island countries that get screwed the most

 

[coonor]

Sometimes we have to look at it from a players point of view. For example Being from Guernsey I can choose to play for Either England, Scotland, Wales or Ireland. Obviously if I had the choice I would play for Ireland since all my family are Irish but if I couldn't get into the Irish squad for the sake of my career I may well choose to play for Scotland for eample. In the same way Stan Wright could have got caps for Ireland and maybe have a fair international career but he cant with the Cook Islands so I wouldn't blame him for moving some where to inhance his internation careers.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

durbutter, Roy Keane is in no way a role model to anyone. He is undeniably one of Ireland's greatest football players of all time but you can't justify his petulant behaviour in Saipan nor some of his malicious behaviour on the pitch. The man ended Haaland's career simply out of spite. He's a total scumbag

 

[durbutter]

durbutter, Roy Keane is in no way a role model to anyone. He is undeniably one of Ireland's greatest football players of all time but you can't justify his petulant behaviour in Saipan nor some of his malicious behaviour on the pitch. The man ended Haaland's career simply out of spite. He's a total scumbag

He is one of the most driven sports people around. He had to fight from day 0 against all the odds to get where he wanted to be. His singular focus and dedication to get where he wanted to be (the pinnacle of his chosen sport) should be an example to us all. He doesn't do excuses and self pity and was, and is, about balls out going for it all the time.

He was never a tabloid story, kept his private life private, and in his own bull headed way is a man of principle.

Yes he has let himself down on many an occasion, and there's no doubting he has a nasty streak. And i wish he'd stop being an easy vox pop for sky sports news(Shut it Roy, none of your business!!)

But he's a man who's proved the doubters wrong all his live and never takes no for an answer and if i could have even a little of what drives him, i'd be a happy man.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

durbutter, Roy Keane is in no way a role model to anyone. He is undeniably one of Ireland's greatest football players of all time but you can't justify his petulant behaviour in Saipan nor some of his malicious behaviour on the pitch. The man ended Haaland's career simply out of spite. He's a total scumbag

This.

Reasons to hate Roy Keane:
1.Intentionally injures Alf Inge Haaland
2.Sent off in his first appearance as Ireland captain
3.Regularly decided not to play friendlies for Ireland
4.Thought Tehran was too far away so didn't travel for the World Cup playoff there
5.Sent home from the World Cup for being a knob
6.Tells tasteless joke about Clive Clarke ("I didn't know he had a heart") after his player nearly dies of a heart attack during a game
7.Fails as manager of Sunderland and quits rather than try turning it around
8.Failing as manager of Ipswich
9.Berated by mutlitude of former players for his lack of coaching skills, man management and self restraint
10.Is from Cork

His unwillingness to accept second best as a player is an admirable trait but it's superceded by all of the above.

 

[durbutter]

This.

Reasons to hate Roy Keane:
1.Intentionally injures Alf Inge Haaland

Fair, that was a disgrace.

2.Sent off in his first appearance as Ireland captain

Hate? for that? Have to take the rough with the smooth, he dragged Ireland to the world cup, kicking and screaming.

3.Regularly decided not to play friendlies for Ireland
4.Thought Tehran was too far away so didn't travel for the World Cup playoff there

Hate him from not playing a friendly, you are desperate.

As for Terhan, he had a ****le, didnt want to aggravate it in a critical part of the season, said as much to Mick, and that was that.
Hate?

5.Sent home from the World Cup for being a knob
6.Tells tasteless joke about Clive Clarke ("I didn't know he had a heart") after his player nearly dies of a heart attack during a game

Can't argue with that. that was a disgrace.

7.Fails as manager of Sunderland and quits rather than try turning it around
8.Failing as manager of Ipswich

Failed? took them from bottom of the C'shp to auto qualification in one season?
Yeah he made a balls of his signings and wan't doing well in the Premiership, but they wern't relegated or anything.
As for Ipswich, we'll wait and see. poor start to the season alright.

9.Berated by mutlitude of former players for his lack of coaching skills, man management and self restraint

Most of them are unsucesful losers looking for attention-Cas, Jason Mac, etc. What about the Man U old guard? What about Duff or Keane? yeah.

10.Is from Cork

Ah sher there's no excuse for that.

 

[Peat]

Peat, is Whitten not contracted now that he's in the Heineken Cup squad? I presume he's on a similar deal with Ulster to the one Simon Shawe has at Leinster.

This is only the top of my head, but I didn't even think he was in the HC squad. Jerry Cronin's the lad who got in there - Alan Whitten I think is able to play still because of his age. But to the best of my knowledge, Whitten isn't even in the academy insofar as Ulster have said. Maybe he's signed on some form of deal and they haven't said. But I don't think so.

 

[profitius]

He is one of the most driven sports people around. He had to fight from day 0 against all the odds to get where he wanted to be. His singular focus and dedication to get where he wanted to be (the pinnacle of his chosen sport) should be an example to us all. He doesn't do excuses and self pity and was, and is, about balls out going for it all the time.

He was never a tabloid story, kept his private life private, and in his own bull headed way is a man of principle.

Yes he has let himself down on many an occasion, and there's no doubting he has a nasty streak. And i wish he'd stop being an easy vox pop for sky sports news(Shut it Roy, none of your business!!)

But he's a man who's proved the doubters wrong all his live and never takes no for an answer and if i could have even a little of what drives him, i'd be a happy man.

+1

 

[munstermuffin]

What the he'll has Roy Keane to do with the Autumn Internationals. On to real thing and Leo Cullen is training with Ireland today. Don't know if that means he is officially added or jus in for the session.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

FIngers crossed he's fit to play. I dread the thought of any of our 2nd rows besides POC, DOC or Cullen taking on the Boks or the All Blacks

 

[durbutter]

Bob Casey.

But he must've shagged someones daughter cos he's been ignored for so long. Even as a replacement he'd be invaluable.

 

[Conal]

Bob Casey.

But he must've shagged someones daughter cos he's been ignored for so long. Even as a replacement he'd be invaluable.

iv always wonderd what bob casey has done to avoid selection
it isnt playing in england as during his time at irish keith wood , reddan, dawson? duffy, g murphy, j o'connor have all been picked

 

[Jockstap]

The Ireland management expect Brian O'Driscoll to be fit for Saturday's GUINNESS Series opener against South Africa. A 30-man squad has gathered in Dublin ahead of Tuesday's team announcement.

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Ireland team manager Paul McNaughton confirmed that the management will be working with a 30-man squad this week, as they prepare for the historic Aviva Stadium clash with the Springboks.
Of the panel originally selected for the GUINNESS Series, the players to miss out are Munster hooker Damien Varley and Leinster's Mike Ross, Isaac Boss and Shane Horgan, who all lined out for their provinces over the weekend.

Brett Wilkinson, who came in as cover for the injured Marcus Horan, is not included, but the fit-again Luke Fitzgerald is in contention to feature against South Africa.

The uncapped Johne Murphy and Devin Toner are also pushing for selection, while long-serving captain Brian O'Driscoll is making encouraging progress in his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Speaking at a press conference in Dublin this morning, McNaughton said: "Everyone is primarily fully fit to go. Brian (O'Driscoll) will have a modified (training) run today, but we're optimistic about him.

"We expect him to be fit and available to be considered for selection. We hope he'll get to full participation (at training) tomorrow. Everybody else in the squad will train fully today."

IRELAND Squad (2010 GUINNESS Series v South Africa):

Forwards (16) -

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)
Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
John Muldoon (Galwegians/Connacht)
Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) *
David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)

Backs (14) -

Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht)
Keith Earls (Thomond/Munster)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Rob 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

 

[TRF_Olyy]

No Leo,
Shame, hopefully he's called up to one of the later matches

 

[coonor]

I want Ireland to keep more ball then they usually do. Be patient and go through the phases, weaken the defence by our strong ball carriers and spead through our sparky backs.

 

[coonor]

I was just wandering what people think about the lack of ticket sales. Is it that they are over priced and poorly marketed? or are people not so bothered about this years Guinness series? How many people are expected to attend to te games?

 

[munstermuffin]

Just bad organisation. Prices not equal and at least a lesson was learned and IRFU said they got it wrong. No biggie

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

The appetite for rugby is there as seen by Leinster and Munster filling the Aviva Stadium only 4 weeks ago. The price was way over the top for these games. It's a painful lesson for the IRFU and hopefully they'll learn from it but I've heard tickets for the 6 Nations games against France and England are being packaged together for €250 each. Ouch