Ireland's Guinness Series Squad

[big ginger 8]

Unfortunately Kearney will be injured.

 

[coonor]

My main concern is that against Fiji will either have to start ROG or Sexton and Murray or Reddan. What will anyone gain from playing any of them together against Fiji? We could be starting Madigan or Jackson and Marmion or Marshall and then we would be giving players an opportunity to compete and develop.

 

[big ginger 8]

My main concern is that against Fiji will either have to start ROG or Sexton and Murray or Reddan. What will anyone gain from playing any of them together against Fiji? We could be starting Madigan or Jackson and Marmion or Marshall and then we would be giving players an opportunity to compete and develop.

Yeah totally agree and Kidney seemed to suggest that it's unlikely people will be coming in for the Fiji match.

In an ideal world I'd like something like.

1. Kilcoyne
2. Cronin
3. Fitzpatrick
4. Tuohy
5. Toner
6. Henderson
7. Henry
8. Ruddock
9. Marshall
10. Jackson
11. Gilroy
12. McSharry
13. Cave
14. Conway
15. Madigan

16. Sherry
17. Court
18. Hagan?
19. McCarthy
20. Doughall
21. Marmion
22. McFadden
23. Zebo

Bet you Kidney doesn't have half those.

 

[irelandfan123]

although I am pleased to see another ulster man in the shape of herderson i would still question the fact that he has played under ten games for ulster, also Marshall is not a starting player at 12 for ulster and I have seen very little from him Paddy Jackson would slot to 12 easy, thinking that he would maybe be the better choice there too
Not to excited with that squad not enough youth and poor Girloy has seemed to suffer from the two players ahead of him at ulster

 

[Peat]

Yeah totally agree and Kidney seemed to suggest that it's unlikely people will be coming in for the Fiji match.

Forgive me for saying this, but that's a total relief. I'd been afraid Ulster would be utterly shorn of players for the Zebre game. Although, really, I just don't particularly want Ulster players near Kidney - happy for them to represent Ireland, that's the natural order of things, but Kidney's not a coach you want near people...

 

[big ginger 8]

Forgive me for saying this, but that's a total relief. I'd been afraid Ulster would be utterly shorn of players for the Zebre game. Although, really, I just don't particularly want Ulster players near Kidney - happy for them to represent Ireland, that's the natural order of things, but Kidney's not a coach you want near people...

Why would you ever be worried it would have been the Munster A team anyway.

 

[Peat]

Why would you ever be worried it would have been the Munster A team anyway.

He's not *that* bad - although I notice everyone is so used to his bias that no one's commenting on another barely proven Munster player in the national squad - and it's not unusual for fringe games to include a lot of Ulster players... although having now looked at the recent team reports, it's less than I thought. Also, with Ulster on the up, so too goes national representation it seems. 10, likely to be 11 with the full squad.

 

[big ginger 8]

He's not *that* bad - although I notice everyone is so used to his bias that no one's commenting on another barely proven Munster player in the national squad - and it's not unusual for fringe games to include a lot of Ulster players... although having now looked at the recent team reports, it's less than I thought. Also, with Ulster on the up, so too goes national representation it seems. 10, likely to be 11 with the full squad.

I know I'm only joking. If you're referring to Kilcoyne I'd say it's cause most people are happy enough to have him. He's been playing well and needs to be tested. Also as has been said before we have a real lack of props.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Just out of curiousity, with the exception of Kearney, Is this squad better or worse than the squad that toured NZ?

Kearney is definitely a big blow, this opens the doors for some bombardement from our punters... Now they just have to get Basson in the bok team to chase the **** out of those bombs!

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

Not sure, Mike Ross is back fully fit (didn't have him for the first test), Bowe is back, Ferris is, O'Connell is, Strauss is now in. However O'Brien isn't and neither is Kearney. The majority of the players we missed in NZ could be replaced for, but we don't have anyone near Kearneys standard.

 

[big ginger 8]

Just out of curiousity, with the exception of Kearney, Is this squad better or worse than the squad that toured NZ?

Kearney is definitely a big blow, this opens the doors for some bombardement from our punters... Now they just have to get Basson in the bok team to chase the **** out of those bombs!

Well Ferris and PO'C are back which will be huge for our physicality which of course is key to beating you guys. However both only played 2 games this season I think and Ferris was just injured again with back spasms so I don't know how confident I am of him making it. O'Brien is also out which is a big blow has he was really coming into his own as a fetcher and also brings a lot of physicality. Declan Fitzpatrick is also out which could be very bad for us if Ross is subbed off/injured. While we've also got our best finisher and someone good under the highball back in Bowe.

Can't think of anyone else. I'd say it's maybe a bit stronger overall than the team that went to N.Z. but the lack of an actual fullback could well **** us up.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

Well Ferris and PO'C are back which will be huge for our physicality which of course is key to beating you guys. However both only played 2 games this season I think and Ferris was just injured again with back spasms so I don't know how confident I am of him making it. O'Brien is also out which is a big blow has he was really coming into his own as a fetcher and also brings a lot of physicality. Declan Fitzpatrick is also out which could be very bad for us if Ross is subbed off/injured. While we've also got our best finisher and someone good under the highball back in Bowe.

Can't think of anyone else. I'd say it's maybe a bit stronger overall than the team that went to N.Z. but the lack of an actual fullback could well **** us up.

Fitzpatrick is in the extended squad for the Dragons game though

 

[psychic duck]

Why has Kidney only selected one tighthead in the squad? Surely Hagan should be included if Fitzpatrick is out.

The Fiji fixture is for the Ireland Wolfhounds for some reason <_< so I would expect that many players outside this squad would play in it.

 

[big ginger 8]

Fitzpatrick is in the extended squad for the Dragons game though

Forgot that yeah hopefully he's ok in time.

Why has Kidney only selected one tighthead in the squad? Surely Hagan should be included if Fitzpatrick is out.

The Fiji fixture is for the Ireland Wolfhounds for some reason <_< so I would expect that many players outside this squad would play in it.

Nah why would you do that?

The Fiji match is officially an Ireland XV I think but essentially the same as the Wolfhounds. However from what Kidney was saying it the press conference it's unlikely extra players will be brought in and kind of depends on injuries. Maybe also a suggestion if S.A. goes well players will be brought in son first squad can rest but if not they'll try and get cohesion by playing against Fiji.

 

[psychic duck]

Forgot that yeah hopefully he's ok in time.



Nah why would you do that?

The Fiji match is officially an Ireland XV I think but essentially the same as the Wolfhounds. However from what Kidney was saying it the press conference it's unlikely extra players will be brought in and kind of depends on injuries. Maybe also a suggestion if S.A. goes well players will be brought in son first squad can rest but if not they'll try and get cohesion by playing against Fiji.

In that case, then why the hell is it "Ireland XV" and not just a normal international fixture?

I've heard some conspiracy theories as to why Ireland have decided to make it not an international, but I still don't understand it.

 

[Peat]

I know I'm only joking. If you're referring to Kilcoyne I'd say it's cause most people are happy enough to have him. He's been playing well and needs to be tested. Also as has been said before we have a real lack of props.

Ah fair enough.

As for Kilcoyne - it's a fair enough call. So were all the others though. It is marginal imo, again just like the others. Denis Buckley's played a lot more first class games and has impressed. Calum Black's been impressive for us so far this season, albeit not starting, and again has a lot more first class games. But all marginal calls go to Munster, it appears...

As for Deccie Fitz - yes, he'll be back - providing he doesn't get injured again...

In that case, then why the hell is it "Ireland XV" and not just a normal international fixture?

I've heard some conspiracy theories as to why Ireland have decided to make it not an international, but I still don't understand it.

Ireland's contract with the Aviva stadium prevents them from playing full internationals at home in any other stadium - so any game held elsewhere can't be a full international.

 

[big ginger 8]

In that case, then why the hell is it "Ireland XV" and not just a normal international fixture?

I've heard some conspiracy theories as to why Ireland have decided to make it not an international, but I still don't understand it.

I've no idea Kidney said something along the lines of it's a test quality non test international. He should go into politics when he get's fired.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Partly what Peat said no doubt, partly rankings. Labelling the guys the 'A' team means that we get to try out as many players as we like without fear of dropping any points. It hints very strongly at the conservatism in Irish rugby.

Overall I'm not to disappointed with the squad. There are of course a few baffling selections, but that's par for the course. One thing that I would have like to have seen is the inclusion of Niall Morris in the squad. He's played in both of Tigers' Heineken Cup games this season so he must be pretty highly rated over there. With Kearney out, Earls playing most of his rugby at 13, and Hurley being a bit suspect he could have been worth a punt.

 

[psychic duck]

Partly what Peat said no doubt, partly rankings. Labelling the guys the 'A' team means that we get to try out as many players as we like without fear of dropping any points. It hints very strongly at the conservatism in Irish rugby.

Well, a team like Ireland really ought to be quite confident in beating Fiji tbh, even trying out a few youngsters.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Yeah well, I don't know how much of what Peat says is true mind.

In any case, going on recent form I'd probably pick something like: Morris, Bowe, O'Driscoll, McSharry, Zebo, Sexton, Marshall, Healy, Best, Ross, Henderson, O'Connell, Ferris, O'Mahony, Heaslip

Few marginal calls in there. I've been impressed with Zebo this season. While there are some very big faults in his game he's got pace to burn and a real eye for the line. He needs work, but he's got bags of potential. On a similar note I wouldn't have a problem with throwing Henderson in. He looks a real player. People will argue that it's too soon, but we capped Rhys Ruddock at a similar age (admittedly he hasn't been fantastic as of late but I don't think it did him any real harm. Marshall is the form scrum half, simple as. McSharry probably deserves a go considering how few 12's we have going. D'arcy had a bloody good game the other week mind.