Ireland Squad Announcement

[munstermuffin]

I agree with you Peat but that is the reason Steenson isn't involved is purely because of money and getting him over for training in the 1st week is a no-no as he with the Exeter lads.

Spence is versatile and is in form but we'll probably make a balls of calling up anyone decent. My guess is someone will drop from main squad to fill this spot when needed.
Keatleys chances will improve next year when he plays in Munster but Connacht must be thinking they aren't seen as a decent place to stake international claim.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Matthews definitely shouldn't be there. He's a decent ML player but no more.

If England want Steenson they're welcome to him. It'd be an indictment on England's development of flyhalves if they picked Steenson. He's a great goalkicker but that's it. He'll never be international class. Jonny Sexton, Ronan O'Gara, Paddy Wallace, Ian Humphreys and Ian Keatley are all better options for Ireland at present. Ian Madigan, Paddy Jackson, Ian McKinley, James McKinney and Cathal Marsh will all be better options 2-3 years from now too.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

I think leaving out McFadden and Varley is just a complete joke. And including Hayes is actually insane. Waste of space!

 

[Conal]

id even have buckley over hayes

 

[munstermuffin]

Wouldn't we be better off with Buckley as opposed to Hayes.
Both have little confidence left but at least Buckley is younger of 2 and could be an impact off bench where The Bull will survive until end of season with Munster but that'll be the limit

 

[Peat]

If England want Steenson they're welcome to him. It'd be an indictment on England's development of flyhalves if they picked Steenson. He's a great goalkicker but that's it. He'll never be international class. Jonny Sexton, Ronan O'Gara, Paddy Wallace, Ian Humphreys and Ian Keatley are all better options for Ireland at present. Ian Madigan, Paddy Jackson, Ian McKinley, James McKinney and Cathal Marsh will all be better options 2-3 years from now too.

England's fly-half options are an indictment of England's development of fly-halves. England's options when it comes to players aged 24 or older is an indictment of England's development of players. There's nothing new there.

However - ROG and Mincer are nearing the end of their careers. I will be stuck somewhere between nervous apprehension and laughing uproariously if iHumph gets a senior go with Ireland. The man's consistency is all over the shop. No one really knows how good Keatley is I think.

Those boys might come good. And might not. I'm not sure McKinney will ever be international class.

Your answer here may well be 'That still doesn't make Steenson the answer' and fair enough, that may well be, but I do think you overrate your fly-half stocks.



edit: I'd expect Buckley, O'Leary and a few others to come back into the main squad after the first A match.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Is Kearney gonna be injured for the 6 nations?

 

[munstermuffin]

Wonder is this a phsycological game Kidney is playing with O'Leary Buckley and a few. He sort of sees the Italy game as a chance to do it. He pulled this craic with munster before

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I still think giving Steenson a token A cap is wrong. We may not know how good the kids I've mentioned and Keatley will become but we know exactly how good Steenson is and that's not good enough. Rather than pin our hopes on him, give Ian Humphreys, Ian Keatley, Jeremy Staunton, Scott Deasy, Ian Madigan or even Niall O'Connor a shot at playing for the Wolfhounds. All have played a lot of rugby this season and are either better players or have more potential.

 

[Peat]

There is not a way in hell Niall O'Connor is a better player or has more potential than Steenson, even as poorly as you seem to rate him. I'd like to be proven wrong there but am very certain I won't. And his most recent game time has been subbing behind an 18 year old for the As and orchestrating the loss of a 14 point half time lead.

I disagree with a lot of what you've said there, but we know that and its not like I'm that expert on all the players involved, so I'll just say that and move on. But O'Connor? No. No way. You've either strayed into hyperbole or this is the exception that proves the rule about your rugby knowledge if you genuinely think O'Connor is a better player or has more potential than Steenson.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I disagree with a lot of what you've said there, but we know that and its not like I'm that expert on all the players involved, so I'll just say that and move on. But O'Connor? No. No way. You've either strayed into hyperbole or this is the exception that proves the rule about your rugby knowledge if you genuinely think O'Connor is a better player or has more potential than Steenson.

Is O'Connor a better player than Steenson? No. Does O'Connor have more potential than Steenson? Yes. Do I think either are good enough to ever be capped? No. O'Connor can tackle and can't kick accurately. Steenson can kick accurately but can't tackle. You can teach O'Connor to kick the ball if you're patient. You can't teach Steenson to grow a couple of inches and put on weight so that he's less of a turnstyle defensively.

Jonny Sexton is 25. Ronan O'Gara is 34 but is butressed by having a new 2 year deal. Paddy Wallace easily has 3 years of rugby ahead of him. Ian Humphreys has 4 or 5 years to go. Ian Keatley was capped at 22 and has all the skills necessary to make it. Paddy Jackson is apparently supremely gifted. Having seen Cathal Marsh on multiple occasions, if he bulks up he can become a superb 10. James McKinney has Steenson's boot plus a better understanding on how to attack. Ditto Ian McKinley. Ian Madigan oozes attacking flair. Jeremy Staunton and Niall O'Connor are muck. All are better, more experienced or have more upside than the Exeter player in my opinion. There's absolutely no need to pick Steenson unless he's good enough. He's not good enough therefore Declan Kidney is right for not selecting him.

 

[munstermuffin]

Just to throw in there JJ Hanrahan can play 10 too .

 

[Conal]

to be fair to o'connor he has all the time in the world to improve while steenson should be nearing his best

 

[coonor]

Quite happy with the squad but my changes would be:

-Buckley in for Hayes
-Varley in for Flannery
-Tuohy in for M O'Driscoll
-Dominic Ryan in for Mike McCarthy
-Fergus McFadden in

Kidney also says everyone in the Wolfhounds squad is definatly in contention for the Italy team so Varley could still be called up.

Pleased that Ross, O'Brien, Jennings and Cullen are in.
Its also good to see some players who I thought were guaranteed a spot like Buckley and O'Leary are not in due to poor form.

 

[Peat]

Well each to their own Snoopy. I still reckon Steenson could be an international, he has the boot and its not like there aren't some international fly-halves at the moment who are notoriously poor tacklers, but you and Kidney disagree so what do I know!

But I do have to slip in O'Connor's a pretty poor tackler as well.

 

[CCCakumbra]

I totally agree Peat, Steenson is a quality Out Half and I correct me if I'm wrong, but I still think he's quite young. However Ian Humphreys is playing the rugby of his life atm! I seriously think he's the best 10 in Ireland on current form!

 

[Feicarsinn]

Backs
Tommy Bowe (Ospreys) Of Course
Gordon D'Arcy (Landowne - Leinster) Playing well this season, will start
Gavin Duffy (Galwegians - Connacht) Meh, fine with having him in the squad all things considered
Keith Earls (Thomond - Munster) Yep, no complaints
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock - Leinster) Hmmm, pick on potential. Needs game time pronto to be ready
Shane Horgan (Boyne - Leinster) Great call. In the form of his life.
Ronan O' Gara (Cork Constitution - Munster) Meh, he's a prat but he does a job
Brian O'Driscoll (UCD - Leinster) Of course
Eoin Reddan (Landowne - Leinster) Deserved. Playing well lately.
Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College - Leinster) The best flyhalf in the 6N, bar Stephie Jones at the moment
Peter Stringer (Shannon - Munster) Should get the nod over Reds
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena - Ulster) Bad call. Not playing well and isn't good enough anyway
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena - Ulster) Yeah, sure
Forwards
Rory Best (Banbridge - Ulster) Em, I'm okay with this. An experienced hooker is needed
Tom Court (Malone - Ulster) Shoud get the bench slot. Versatile and playing well
Sean Cronin (Buccaneers - Connacht) Give him the 2 shirt and let him develop
Leo Cullen (Blackrock - Leinster) Should get the nod at 4
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon - Ulster) The man is a god.
Jerry Flannery (Shannon - Munster) Wha??? Bad call Deccie, bad call.
John Hayes (Bruff - Munster) **** right off you old, head stamping, useless git.
Cian Healy (Clontarf - Leinster) Has improved his scrummaging while keeping his work rate high.
Jamie Heaslip (Naas - Leinster) *Jizzes*
Shane Jennings (St. Mary's College - Leinster) I want this man in the 22
Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution - Munster) No. Not playing well. Maybe as a backup 6, but not in the 22
Mike McCarthy (Buccaneers - Connacht) Didn't see that coming. Still, it's nice to see form being rewarded
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution - Munster) Tuohy should be here.
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster - Munster) Yeah, I can see why they brought him. Fair enough
Sean O'Brien (Clontarf - Leinster) Must start. A god.
Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution - Munster) ****. Fecky fecky ****.
Michael Ross (Clontarf - Leinster) Whoop!
Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary's College - Leinster) Eh?
David Wallace (Garryowen - Munster) Yup, Wally's still a man I wan near the 22.


Replace O'Driscoll with Toner, O'Callaghan with Tuohy, Hayes with Haga, Flannery with Varley, Trimble with McFadden and Ruddock with Ryan. Then I'd be delighted. As is, I'm not too ****** off at all.

 

[Feicarsinn]

I totally agree Peat, Steenson is a quality Out Half and I correct me if I'm wrong, but I still think he's quite young. However Ian Humphreys is playing the rugby of his life atm! I seriously think he's the best 10 in Ireland on current form!

Then you're wrong.


Edit:

Looking at this squad, I wonder how much input the provincial coaches have with national selection. For example, Schmidt would have certainly advised Deccie to go with Donnacha over Rhys at the moment and I'm sure McGahan would have done the same with Varley.

 

[Peat]

Andrew Trimble (Ballymena - Ulster) Bad call. Not playing well

If you refer to provincial form you're badly wrong and won't find an Ulster fan who'll agree with you.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Then you're wrong.


Edit:

Looking at this squad, I wonder how much input the provincial coaches have with national selection. For example, Schmidt would have certainly advised Deccie to go with Donnacha over Rhys at the moment and I'm sure McGahan would have done the same with Varley.

He'd be even more likely to recommend Dominic though