Irish Summer Tests

[Peat]

Correct me if wrong, but isn't the Baabaas game quite soon after the Rabble Pro final - which would presumably rule out any players of the finalists, in the fairly likely assumption there's an Irish team in there?

 

[big ginger 8]

Correct me if wrong, but isn't the Baabaas game quite soon after the Rabble Pro final - which would presumably rule out any players of the finalists, in the fairly likely assumption there's an Irish team in there?

Yeah forgot about that factor. As Leinster and Munster are in first and second respectively I'll pisck a team from Ulster and Connacht with player unlikely to be involved.

1. McGrath
2. Very hard this one no one springs to mind give Annett a go maybe?
3. Hagan
4. Tuohy
5. McCarthy
6. Ruddock
7. Ryan/Henry
8. Muldoon
9. Marshall
10. Keatley
11. Gilroy
12. McSharry
13. Cave
14. Conway
15. O'Hallorn

16. Dundon? struggling to think of good options
17. Wilkinson
18. Nagle
19. Henry/ Jennings
20. Murphy (probably too early for McGrath to be involved
21. Jackson
22. Zebo

 

[SoRadical]

A forty man squad is a bit over the top in terms of size if you ask me. There are only four games that are confirmed to be taking place thus far. I'll give a thirty-three man one instead, otherwise I'll feel I'm just including players that don't deserve to be in there.

Prop: Court, Hagan, Healy, Ross, Wilkinson.
Hooker: Best, Cronin, Sherry.
Lock: O'Connell, Donnacha Ryan, Toner, Tuohy.
Back Row: Diack, Ferris, Heaslip, O'Brien, O'Mahony, Dominic Ryan.
Scrum Half: Reddan, Marshall, Murray.
Fly Half: Madigan, O'Gara, Sexton.
Centre: Fitzgerald, Griffin, McFadden, O'Driscoll.
Back Three: Bowe, Earls, Jones, Rob Kearney, Trimble.

In response to Psychic Duck's questions,

How much would you experiment in the Barbarians match and midweek matches against Super Rugby teams?

Nothing over the top, as there's zero point in that. (Certainly nothing like calling up the Paddy Jacksons or Jack McGraths of the provinces who simply aren't ready for international rugby as of yet.) I'd like to see a mixture of experience and youth. Lads like Hagan, Sherry, Toner, Diack, Marshall, Madigan and Cave should all get a go and more experienced players should be partnered alongside them. Oh and give Ferris the captaincy for a game. I'd like to see that.

Is McFadden a goal kicker of international standard?

Absolutely.

Would you bother calling up 31+ year olds (such as Coughlan) to tour when they are unlikely to be part of the first choice starting lineup?

No. Players of Coughlan's standard aren't of an international calibre anyway. (No offence to the guy.) I think everyone I've picked for the squad has something to offer.

Do you think Toner deserves to be in the Ireland matchday 22's he's really improved this season?

Donnacha Ryan, Paul O'Connell and Dan Tuohy are all ahead of him for me. He's an excellent option in the line out though and should definitely get some game time against the ABs. I'd have Tuohy benching for O'Connell and Ryan because of his dynamism.

My 22 for the Barbarians match would be something like this,

1 Healy
2 Best
3 Hagan
4 Toner
5 Donnacha Ryan
6 Ferris (C)
7 Dominic Ryan
8 Diack
9 Marshall
10 Madigan (Lightning quick half back pairing here )
11 Earls
12 McFadden
13 Griffin
14 Trimble
15 Jones

16 Sherry
17 Wilkinson
18 Tuohy
19 O'Mahony
20 Murray
21 Sexton
22 Fitzgerald

 

[Peat]

Yeah forgot about that factor. As Leinster and Munster are in first and second respectively I'll pisck a team from Ulster and Connacht with player unlikely to be involved.

Ulster will punish you for this arrogance by knocking you out in the Rabble Pro semi-final. It is written.

2. Very hard this one no one springs to mind give Annett a go maybe?

The lad's had 12 minutes of senior provincial rugby, think a slower assent might be in order.

Personally I'd stick in the Ulster stars there, adds a bit of cachet and a bit of a hard edge and know-how to an otherwise disorganised team. Failing that, I'd give Nigel Brady the game as a 'goodbye' present - and because he'd give his props the best chance to shine. You can't stick greenhorns all over the place, it's not that fair on them - well, you can, but see last Leinster-Ulster game for what happens.

SoRadical - why so big a fan of Diack?

 

[Draggs]

Looks like Tommy Bowe is out.
http://www.espnscrum.com/ireland/rugby/story/162450.html

 

[big ginger 8]

Looks like Tommy Bowe is out.
http://www.espnscrum.com/ireland/rugby/story/162450.html

****! At least we have some good wingers and it outs Trimble on his better side but Bowe's our best finisher so we'll miss a lot of tries he also creates a good few.

 

[Me 1]

****! At least we have some good wingers and it outs Trimble on his better side but Bowe's our best finisher so we'll miss a lot of tries he also creates a good few.

Knowing Kidney he'll use it as an excuse to move McFadden to wing and keep D'Arcy at 12

 

[killer08]

see how bowe recovers first

 

[Feicarsinn]

Not a massive problem. It's a blow of course, because Tommy is a world class winger ad would probably get into about 9 of the 10 top teams in world rugby, but we're pretty well stocked in wingers. I'd have qualms with any of Trimble, Fitzgerald or Earls starting out wide.

This represents a good opportunity to see how useful one of Kearney jnr, Zebo and Gilroy are, with Gilroy being my preference. No doubt Kidney will just bring the three guys mentioned aboive and have McFadden as cover. Sigh.

 

[big ginger 8]

Knowing Kidney he could end up picking Johne Murphy be grateful if he doesn't.

 

[big ginger 8]

Couldn't see it elsewhere so in the November series we're playing S.A. and Argentina in the Aviva and the Wolfhounds are playing Fiji in Thomond.

 

[mulldog]

Squad (based on total playing time - mainly in Heineken Cup and season performance) - Will be the closest to Kidneys squad as you can get!!!!!

Prop: Cian Healy, Tom Court, Brett Wilkinson, Mike Ross, Ronan Loughney
Hooker: Rory Best, Sean Cronin, Mike Sherry
Lock: Paul O'Connell, Donnacha Ryan, Dan Tuohy, Devin Toner
Back Row: Stephen Ferris, Sean O'Brien, Kevin McLaughlin, Jamie Heaslip, Peter O'Mahony, Chris Henry
Scrum Half: Eoin Reddan, Isaac Boss, Connor Murray
Fly Half: Ronan O'Gara, Jonathan Sexton
Centre: Gordon D'arcy, Fergus McFadden, Brian O'Driscoll, Darren Cave
Wing: Andrew Trimble, Keith Earls, Tommy Bowe, Luke Fitzgerald
Full Back: Robert Kearney, Gavin Duffy

Good Chance to be included in squad or extended squad or via injuries:
Damien Varley, Declan Fitzpatrick, Donnacha O'Callaghan, Mike McCarthy, Shane Jennings, Tomas O' Leary, Paul Marshall, Ian Madgian, Paddy Wallace, Craig Gilroy, Simon Zebo, David Kearney, Felix Jones

Outside Chance:
Jamie Hagan, Paddy McAllister, Stephen Archer, John Muldoon, Rhys Ruddock, Willie Faloon, James Cloughlan, Paddy Jackson, Nevin Spence, Eoin O'Malley, Tiernan O'Halloran

You Never Know.......................
Jack McGrath, Adam Macklin, Ian Neagle, Dominic Ryan, David Wallace, Frank Murphy, Dave McSharry, Johne Murphy, Fionn Carr

Far Cries.......................
Adrian Flavin, Nigel Brady, Marcus Horan, Denis Buckley, Tony Buckley, Jon Andress, Tommy Hayes, Ryan Caldwell, Peter Stringer, James Downey

 

[big ginger 8]

I really don't want Loughney to go. Also doubt Kidney would bring Duffy unless he has to.

 

[Peat]

Welcome to the forum mulldog, you're a serious optimist if you think O'Callaghan's not going.

 

[Irishflanker]

Squad (based on total playing time - mainly in Heineken Cup and season performance) - Will be the closest to Kidneys squad as you can get!!!!!

Prop: Cian Healy, Tom Court, Brett Wilkinson, Mike Ross, Ronan Loughney
Hooker: Rory Best, Sean Cronin, Mike Sherry
Lock: Paul O'Connell, Donnacha Ryan, Dan Tuohy, Devin Toner
Back Row: Stephen Ferris, Sean O'Brien, Kevin McLaughlin, Jamie Heaslip, Peter O'Mahony, Chris Henry
Scrum Half: Eoin Reddan, Isaac Boss, Connor Murray
Fly Half: Ronan O'Gara, Jonathan Sexton
Centre: Gordon D'arcy, Fergus McFadden, Brian O'Driscoll, Darren Cave
Wing: Andrew Trimble, Keith Earls, Tommy Bowe, Luke Fitzgerald
Full Back: Robert Kearney, Gavin Duffy

Good Chance to be included in squad or extended squad or via injuries:
Damien Varley, Declan Fitzpatrick, Donnacha O'Callaghan, Mike McCarthy, Shane Jennings, Tomas O' Leary, Paul Marshall, Ian Madgian, Paddy Wallace, Craig Gilroy, Simon Zebo, David Kearney, Felix Jones

Outside Chance:
Jamie Hagan, Paddy McAllister, Stephen Archer, John Muldoon, Rhys Ruddock, Willie Faloon, James Cloughlan, Paddy Jackson, Nevin Spence, Eoin O'Malley, Tiernan O'Halloran

You Never Know.......................
Jack McGrath, Adam Macklin, Ian Neagle, Dominic Ryan, David Wallace, Frank Murphy, Dave McSharry, Johne Murphy, Fionn Carr

Far Cries.......................
Adrian Flavin, Nigel Brady, Marcus Horan, Denis Buckley, Tony Buckley, Jon Andress, Tommy Hayes, Ryan Caldwell, Peter Stringer, James Downey

Aside from Duffy, Kidney is a massive Felix Jones fan, I wouldn't be overly disappointed if Kidney brought that squad, because lets face it Cave, POM, Loughney, Toner, Wilkinson, Touhy, McLaughlin, and Henry all getting game time vs the All Blacks and DOC not going is almost, dare I say it, relatively progressive.
Note: RELATIVELY progressive.

 

[lynam1104]

DK will never leave DOC at home I hate to say. I would also be looking to bring Madagin or Marshal both have been excellent and deserve reward. Do we have any mid week games ?if so I'd like to see those to have a run out.

 

[mulldog]

Welcome to the forum mulldog, you're a serious optimist if you think O'Callaghan's not going.

Well, I only named a 33 man squad; Kidney may well take 40 players to New Zealand so I'm not saying O'Callaghan definitely won't go.

But yeah if a decision did come down to Toner or O'Callaghan to travel, Kidney would go with O'Callaghan - bit of shame, but want can you do! Thinking about it more I'd say there's a good chance McCarthy would go ahead of Toner too, saying he got promoted to the bench when O'Connell got injured in the SN. Dan Tuohy could well be in for a shock yet Peat!!!

 

[mulldog]

DK will never leave DOC at home I hate to say. I would also be looking to bring Madagin or Marshal both have been excellent and deserve reward. Do we have any mid week games ?if so I'd like to see those to have a run out.

No mid week games.....the team seem to be really targeting a victory down there. I'd say this test series has been on their minds for a long time.

Madigan will go depending on the size of Kidneys squad.

Marshall does deserves a go, but let's face it he's not starting for Ulster.......... Isaac Boss started against Clermont at weekend and Kidney seems to have loyalty to O'Leary. Based on this I'd say the odds are against Marshall making the cut. Could get time against the barbarians!

 

[mulldog]

I really don't want Loughney to go. Also doubt Kidney would bring Duffy unless he has to.

Loughney one of the few Irish tight head's getting game time - Consistently playing in the Pro12 and started the vast majority of Connacht's Heinkein Cup matches. Based on this he should be on the plane and will be almost certain to feature against the barbarians.

Duffy other than Kearney has been the stand out Irish full back this year. Been immense for Connacht! Kidney seems to like Jones a lot and he would have brought him to the World Cup if he didn't get injured. So this could be a 50/50 call.......still think it would be harsh on Duffy if he didn't go.

 

[Peat]

Well, I only named a 33 man squad; Kidney may well take 40 players to New Zealand so I’m not saying O'Callaghan definitely won't go.

But yeah if a decision did come down to Toner or O'Callaghan to travel, Kidney would go with O'Callaghan - bit of shame, but want can you do! Thinking about it more I’d say there's a good chance McCarthy would go ahead of Toner too, saying he got promoted to the bench when O'Connell got injured in the SN. Dan Tuohy could well be in for a shock yet Peat!!!

Tuohy getting proper international recognition would be a bit of a shock by now, its true... here's hoping he's got a HC winner's medal to beat Kidney round the head with if he gets it wrong again.