Ireland Summer Tour? Maybe

[Groundhog]

Would have been very cool to tour Fiji but glad they got something in place. Wouldn't mind a third game on top of the one's announced.

Hope they play the KPMG tag rugby team and just ruthlessly smash the smug ********.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Japan and America with a small possibility of a few fans if Star's trial goes ahead successfully is a deec summer line up. I reckon we should give Johnny and Healy the summer off and only start Ryan, Ringer, Keenan and a few other starters once.

Have to give Japan a hammering though.

 

[Groundhog]

In terms of new caps I would expect to see:

Coombes (I'm sure you're all shocked), Penny, Boyle, Baloucoune.

Might see:

Thornbury, Blade, Haley, Lowry, Frawley.

Of the low cap guys I would expect Baird, Casey, and O'Toole to also get good game time. Also imagine Carbery will play.

 

[big ginger 8]

Don't think we'll see Frawley unfortunately, guy has shocking luck. Back on the injury report with shoulder and hamstring injuries both of which have kept him out long term recently.

Also how very dare you not mention HB even if he is also on the injury report as is Boyle.

 

[Groundhog]

Harry Byrne hype January 2021 - April 2021

 

[big ginger 8]

Forwards: Keita Inagaki, Asaeli Ai Valu, Shinnosuke Kakinaga, Jiwon Koo, Craig Millar, Yukio Morikawa, Atsushi Sakate, Shunta Nakamura, Kosuke Horikoshi, Mark Abbott, Wimpie van der Walt, Uwe Helu, James Moore, Naoki Ozawa, Ben Gunter, Jack Cornelsen, Pieter Labuschagne, Michael Leitch, Tevita Tatafu, Amanaki Lelei Mafi, Kazuki Himeno

Backs: Koki Arai, Naoto Saito, Kaito Shigeno, Yu Tamura, Rikiya Matsuda, Shota Emi, Siosaia Fifita, Semisi Masirewa, Kotaro Matsushima, Lomano Lava Lemeki, Shane Gates, Ryoto Nakamura, Timothy Lafaele, Gerhard van den Heever, Ryohei Yamanaka


Japan squad for the matches vs the Lions and us. Strong squad and former Munster winger Gerhard van den Heever in the squad after qualifying.

 

[big ginger 8]

Hawkshaw to captain Leinster 'A' against Ireland U-20

The Leinster Rugby 'A' team, as sponsored by Bank of Ireland, has been named to face Ireland U-20 in a warm-up game for the Six Nations.

www.leinsterrugby.ie

 

[big ginger 8]

Ireland Squad – Vodafone Summer Series
Backs (17)
Will Addison (Ulster/Enniskillen) 4 caps
Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Enniskillen) uncapped
Caolin Blade (Connacht/Galwegians) uncapped
Billy Burns (Ulster) 6 caps
Harry Byrne (Leinster/Lansdowne) uncapped
Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 22 caps
Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 1 cap
Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 24 caps
Shane Daly (Munster/Cork Constitution) 1 cap
Tom Daly (Connacht/Lansdowne) uncapped
Chris Farrell (Munster/Young Munster) 14 caps
Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 9 caps
Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 11 caps
Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary's College) 29 caps
Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 4 caps
Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 34 caps
Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Lurgan) 34 caps

Forwards (20)
Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 3 caps
Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 14 caps
Paul Boyle (Connacht/Lansdowne) uncapped
Ed Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 4 caps
Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) uncapped
Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 18 caps
Peter Dooley (Leinster/Lansdowne) uncapped
Caelan Doris (Leinster/UCD) 7 caps
Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 5 caps
Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 21 caps
Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 11 caps
Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 43 caps
Ross Molony (Leinster/UCD) uncapped
Peter O'Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 75 caps
Tom O'Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) uncapped
James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 35 caps
John Ryan (Munster/Cork Constitution) 23 caps
Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) uncapped
Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 31 caps
Fineen Wycherley (Munster/Young Munster) uncapped

Happy some guys are in there but looks like a missed opportunity not having Hume, Penney or a younger hooker. Not sure how much of an answer Dooley is at loosehead but glad they're trying something there.

Delighted for Balocounne, Boyle and Coombes. Also well deserved for Moloney, never going to be a stalwart for Ireland but still noticeably improving at 26/7 similar story with Timoney.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

 

[big ginger 8]

Stolen position sorted squad:
Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 5 caps
Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 21 caps
Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 11 caps

Ed Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 4 caps
Peter Dooley (Leinster/Lansdowne) uncapped
Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 43 caps

Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 14 caps
Tom O'Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) uncapped
John Ryan (Munster/Cork Constitution) 23 caps

Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 3 caps
Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 18 caps
Ross Molony (Leinster/UCD) uncapped
James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 35 caps
Fineen Wycherley (Munster/Young Munster) uncapped

Paul Boyle (Connacht/Lansdowne) uncapped
Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) uncapped
Caelan Doris (Leinster/UCD) 7 caps
Peter O'Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 75 caps
Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) uncapped
Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 31 caps

Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 1 cap
Caolin Blade (Connacht/Galwegians) uncapped
Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 9 caps

Billy Burns (Ulster) 6 caps
Harry Byrne (Leinster/Lansdowne) uncapped
Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 22 caps

Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 4 caps
Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 34 caps
Tom Daly (Connacht/Lansdowne) uncapped
Chris Farrell (Munster/Young Munster) 14 caps

Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 24 caps
Shane Daly (Munster/Cork Constitution) 1 cap
Will Addison (Ulster/Enniskillen) 4 caps
Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Enniskillen) uncapped
Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 11 caps
Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary's College) 29 caps
Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Lurgan) 34 caps

Farrell: 'I know the players will come in eager to make the most of this opportunity to pull on the green jersey and play in front of supporters for at the Aviva Stadium for the first time in 18 months. Johnny (Sexton), Cian (Healy) and Keith (Earls) will not be involved in this window as we grow the experience of other players. It will be a great opportunity to see can this group perform at this level.'

Both games free to air as well.

 

[Groundhog]

Chuffed for Coombes who was always going to make it. Also big ups Wycherley who has been consistently great for us, but will probably suffer for his versatility a bit. Well deserved for Boyle too, always shone even when Connacht were being.... Connacht. Baloucoune a very exciting selection. Don't really think Dooley, Timoney, or Moloney will be mainstays in Irish squads, but fair play to them. We obviously are down two tightheads, but Ryan another caretaker player. Tom Daly I don't think should have been picked. Good at what he does for Connacht, but not a top level guy I'd have thought.

Carbery in green again will be good to see. Looks to be back to full fitness so pray he can stay well

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

A few decent call ups, Timoney being my stand out insofar as he isn't a must pick like HB or Balacoune. No Hume is mental when you have Tom Daly in there, not even a European level player.

 

[Jakedood]

Hume must be a little disappointed, far and away one of our better players
Timoney has become a real workhorse alongside his athletic ability (fast, big engine and crazy strong) but has only just started implementing it well in games, good for him and may be a half decent blindside/8 option
Dunno much about Daly but I thought Hume had to go, and was looking forward to it. Can't even say form as he's been really good even in losing causes. His work rate has come on leaps and bounds, he's picked up a knack for making big plays when needed. And the feet for the break leading to McCloskey try last week was just stunning

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

Hume must be a little disappointed, far and away one of our better players
Timoney has become a real workhorse alongside his athletic ability (fast, big engine and crazy strong) but has only just started implementing it well in games, good for him and may be a half decent blindside/8 option
Dunno much about Daly but I thought Hume had to go, and was looking forward to it. Can't even say form as he's been really good even in losing causes. His work rate has come on leaps and bounds, he's picked up a knack for making big plays when needed. And the feet for the break leading to McCloskey try last week was just stunning

After seeing the squad I thought I'd love to see McCloskey - Farrell for a laugh in the centre for the sheer brute size.... but to be fair they both have surprisingly good hands for big guys. Wonder if it would ever work! Wouldn't mind Farrell making a return north some day.

Disappointed for Hume, felt like he deserved it. Timoney has definitely earned his spot. Reminds me a bit of Ruddock with his work rate and toughness.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Will Addison (Ulster/Enniskillen) 4 caps

What position is Will in at? Fullback?
I'd have thought Haley would be the better shout considering how fragile Will is

Though I guess covering 11-15, as Addison does, is a big help

 

[big ginger 8]

What position is Will in at? Fullback?
I'd have thought Haley would be the better shout considering how fragile Will is

Though I guess covering 11-15, as Addison does, is a big help

Given the make-up of the squad would imagine he's there as a 15/23. I think they really like his playmaking from 15. Haley unlucky that our back three stocks are pretty unaffected by injury or the Lions especially at 15.

 

[Groundhog]

Addison gets the box ticks because he is an extremely useful #23, he can come into the line and playmake from 15 and he's been around the squad before. Feels harsh on Haley who's had the season of his life and does everything a 15 needs to do well, but would be equally harsh to hold Addison's injury history against him when he's fit right now I guess.

 

[Groundhog]

Cooney, O'Sullivan, Lowe and Thornbury were not considered due to injury. Byrne also with a ****le, but Harry was to be selected regardless

 

[paddybrown]

Cooney's has missed every game for Ulster since getting knocked out cold against Leicester - but they've called it a neck injury rather than a concussion. I hope he's not so badly hurt that he'll still be unable to play in July, but I'd rather he's back fully fit for Ulster next season than take any silly risks to play for Ireland. Pleased to see Caolin Blade get a call-up - I think it's criminal that he has no Ireland caps to his name at 27. Hope he gets some game time.

From an Ulster point of view, I'm delighted that Baloucoune, Timoney and O'Toole have got their call-ups. Baloucoune was knocking on the door before he got injured, and his athleticism doesn't seem to have suffered any during his layoff, although his handling has looked a bit rusty at times. Timoney has really stepped up since Coetzee left - a different style of number 8, less of a bulldozer, but skilful and makes great breaks. Disappointed for Hume, but his call-up will come.

Carbery, Billy Burns and Harry Byrne at 10. Carbery was the heir apparent to Sexton a couple of years ago before he got injured - hopefully he can stay fit. Billy Burns has a good skillset but lacks confidence, I think - it took him a couple of years to come out of his shell and impose himself after he joined Ulster. If we could give him a confidence transfusion from Ian Madigan, he'd be a hell of a player. Still haven't seen enough of Harry Byrne to have any idea if the high hopes riding on him are justified. I've been impressed by what I've seen (except his haircut) of Ben Healy, who's had a bit more experience, but he hasn't been selected this time.

 

[Reiser99]

From my perspective it's more ambitious than Wales, but certainly less ambitious than England. Depends very much on who actually plays as you could get a team of

Kilcoyne (43 caps)
Herring (21 caps)
Ryan (23 caps)
Dillane (18 caps)
Ryan (23 caps)
O'Mahony (75 caps)
Van der Flier (31 caps)
Doris (7 caps)

Gibson-Park (9 caps)
Carbery (22 caps)
Conway (24 caps)
Farrell (14 caps)
Ringrose (34 caps)
Larmour (29 caps)
Stockdale (34 caps)

That would be a team with 407 caps at an average of about 27 caps. Playing that team isn't going to tell you much you don't already know and would be a waste. However, if Farrell is ambitious then you could get a really exciting team. (any team that doesn't include O'Mahoney tbh)