Ireland's Guinness Series Squad

[coonor]

With just under three weeks to go until Ireland's opening match in the 2012 GUINNESS Series, the squad for the November games will be announced at a press conference in Dublin on Wednesday afternoon

http://www.irishrugby.ie/guinnessseries/27519.php


So as the Heineken first and second rounds come to a close, attention turns to the Autumn Internationals.

Wth the Ireland squad being announced Wednesday, what players would people like to be selected? Does anyone predict any potential new bloods? Any predictions on how the series will go?

 

[big ginger 8]

Presuming we do around a 35 man squad and presuming people return to fitness in scheduled time I'd go:

Props:
Healy, Ross, Fitzpatrick, Kilcoyne, Court

Hookers:
Best, Cronin, Sherry (I know many will say Strauss but I've decided I'm against that at the moment)

Secondrows:
O'Connell, Ryan, Tuohy, Henderson, Toner (DO'C has played well but we no longer need him)

Backrows:
Ferris, O'Brien, Heaslip, Henry, O'Mahony

Scrumhalves:
Reddan, Murray/Marshall, Marmion

Outhalves:
Sexton, Jackson, Madigan

Centres:
O'Driscoll, D'arcy, McSharry, Cave, McFadden

Wings:
Bowe, Trimble, Earls

Fullbacks:
Kearney, Jones

Even with Kidney coaching if S.A. turn up with the same gameplan as at the start of the R.C. I'd expect a win if it's the style they played towards the end I'd be a lot more worried but I think we can beat them but we need to click. Obviously we should beat Fiji comfortably and I'd still expect a win vs Argentina especially as I believe (though I'm probably horribly wrong) that they won't have all their players.

 

[coonor]

I would like to see Gilroy or Zebo in there to be honest. Gilroy should have been capped a long time ago and Zebo has been the only really threat for Munster this season. Either way they both have a future with Ireland and I think they should be involved. I think Strauss should be in but obviously I understand your reasoning.

Other than that I agree with your squad.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Isn't Felix Jones only just back from another serious injury?
I was a big fan of his before, but I wouldn't have him in the Ireland squad yet, if only to ease him back in so he doesn't break again so soon!

 

[coonor]

Isn't Felix Jones only just back from another serious injury?
I was a big fan of his before, but I wouldn't have him in the Ireland squad yet, if only to ease him back in so he doesn't break again so soon!

Yeah he played for Munster off the bench on Sunday. I think it's more that we have a lack of options at fullback, especially now that Murphy has retired. We tend to move wingers into the 15 jersey but in reality that's only a quick fix. The sooner Payne is IQ the better, he is a quality player!

At the moment I rank our 15s in this order:
Kearney
Jones
Earls
Duffy
Hurley
Madigan
Gilroy
Henshaw
Darcy

 

[Peat]

Would point out that Niall Morris is totally a full-back and has been rather effective for Leicester this season... also, I'd have Earls above Jones. Jones was very non-special last time he was fit, and seems to lack Earls' general class to me.

 

[Big Ewis]

best of luck Ireland. Squad looks nice...I hope you have a better scrum this time around, coz the Boks don't joke around in there...
Should be a worthy test !...very excited about this one in particular.
And btw it would be a first ever for Argentina if they won on Irish soil...

Say, sorry for being such a "stoner" but, is O'Gara done with int'l ball ? Or just injured...?

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

best of luck Ireland. Squad looks nice...I hope you have a better scrum this time around, coz the Boks don't joke around in there...
Should be a worthy test !...very excited about this one in particular.
And btw it would be a first ever for Argentina if they won on Irish soil...

Say, sorry for being such a "stoner" but, is O'Gara done with int'l ball ? Or just injured...?

I don't think so, but his time is gone. The sooner we can get the likes of Jackson and Madigan experiencing test rugby the better. O'Gara is still a decent 10 though.

 

[Feicarsinn]

I don't think so, but his time is gone. The sooner we can get the likes of Jackson and Madigan experiencing test rugby the better. O'Gara is still a decent 10 though.

Nope, been less than useless this season. Would be 5th choice in the country in my books.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

Nope, been less than useless this season. Would be 5th choice in the country in my books.

Ah really? I haven't really seen him play this season to be fair.

 

[big ginger 8]

Henderson and Luke Marshall in as well as Strauss. Props and fullbacks could be brought in. Feek in as scrum coach Foley in on defence Kiss concentrating on attack.

 

[coonor]

Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster/62)
Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster/49)
Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster/3)
Tom Court (Malone/Ulster/29)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster/69)
Keith Earls (Thomond/Munster/32)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster/35)
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster/33)
Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster/50)
Iain Henderson (Queens University/Ulster)*
Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster/2)
David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster)*
Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)*
John Muldoon (Galwegians/Connacht/3)
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster/12)
Mike McCarthy (Buccaneers/Connacht/4)
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster/14)
Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary's College/Leinster/5)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster/88)
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster/85)
Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster/120) Captain
Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster/124
Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster/7)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster/45)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster/22)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster/21)
Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary's College/Leinster/32)
Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)*
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster/48)
Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster/5)
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster/1)
N.B. *denotes uncapped player

 

[big ginger 8]

How has RO'G got in with no Jackson or Madigan. Don't think Zebo deserves to be there. Only two hookers is a bit strange. We are really screwed at fullback.

 

[coonor]

ROG shouldn't be there- how can anyone rate him as any higher than 5th best 10 in the country!

The scrum half and fly half positions are two of the most important in the team and Kidney has selected 4 players in those positions! Marshall should be in, while both Jackson and Madigan should be there at the expense of ROG.

Where's Cronin? He should be there especially when you consider that Strauss is untested at this level.

McCarthy & DOC..... really? Kidney has picked 6 locks (although some may be seen as backrower all of them are first trade locks). One of these two shouldn't be there! DOC has been pretty good this season but adds little consistent value and McCarthy is coming on 31 and in reality will never be international class.

I think Henderson and Marshall will learn alot from holding tackle pads..... if any of them get game time i'll be surprised!

 

[Peat]

I think Henderson and Marshall will learn alot from holding tackle pads..... if any of them get game time i'll be surprised!

Fiji innit.

I am surprised that anyone's surprised about ROG.

 

[big ginger 8]

Fiji innit.

I am surprised that anyone's surprised about ROG.

Still probably only bench options.

Not surprised still annoyed

 

[osullie6]

Fiji innit.

I am surprised that anyone's surprised about ROG.

And of course if he doesn't recover in time for the tour Paddy Wallace will probably be called up as the backup 10.

 

[coonor]

Fiji innit.

I am surprised that anyone's surprised about ROG.

Is it bad that Kidney has gotten to a point at which I don't even think he will play two young, talented and deserving players against the likes of Fiji..... I really hope i'm wrong!

I'm not surprised with inclusion of ROG (I don't think anyone would have put money against it), I'm just surprised that Kidney still hasn't changed. Every time we say the same thing and every time the same players live let us down. How many times does this need to happen before they are dropped. It took about 2 years of consistent dreadful play for Kindey to drop TOL, how long will it take before he drops ROG? Kidney must surely know that his position in is great threat because of his actions over the last 2 years but he still doesn't change.... I suppose that's what I find surprising.

 

[big ginger 8]

So based on that squad I'd pick this 22 for S.A.:

1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best
3. Mike Ross
4. Donnacha Ryan
5. Paul O'Connell
6. Stephen Ferris
7. Peter O'Mahony
8. Jamie Heaslip
9. Eoin Reddan
10. Jonathan Sexton
11. Andrew Trimbe
12. Gordon D'arcy
13. Brian O'Driscoll
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Keith Earls (cringe)

16. Richardt Strauss
17. David Kilcoyne
18. Tom Court (cringe)
19. Iain Henderson
20. Chris Henry
21. Conor Murray
22. Ronan O'Gara
23. Fergus McFadden

Not very pretty could be good could be woefully bad. Very worried about fullback which will be vital against S.A. and Argentina.

Of course Kidney will have Murray starting with DO'C, McLaughlin and Zebo on the bench.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

So based on that squad I'd pick this 22 for S.A.:

1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best
3. Mike Ross
4. Donnacha Ryan
5. Paul O'Connell
6. Stephen Ferris
7. Peter O'Mahony
8. Jamie Heaslip
9. Eoin Reddan
10. Jonathan Sexton
11. Andrew Trimbe
12. Gordon D'arcy
13. Brian O'Driscoll
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Keith Earls (cringe)

16. Richardt Strauss
17. David Kilcoyne
18. Tom Court (cringe)
19. Iain Henderson
20. Chris Henry
21. Conor Murray
22. Ronan O'Gara
23. Fergus McFadden

Not very pretty could be good could be woefully bad. Very worried about fullback which will be vital against S.A. and Argentina.

Of course Kidney will have Murray starting with DO'C, McLaughlin and Zebo on the bench.

This game should be quite interesting. I see you guys have the same problem with ROG that we have with M Stain. WIll be intersting to see Adriaan and Richardt Strauss line up across from each other (they're cousins) with Du Plessis out injured.

I'm surprised there's no Kearney in your 22; last time Ireland beat us there it was the Kearney/Sexton show with Kearney beating us single handedly and Sexton there to goal the kicks while Steyn was being woeful.

Ireland seem very much unchanged from recent years and that might help them against a newish SA squad carrying some amount of injury along with the new faces. At the same time it could prove costly. I'm not going to make any predictions.