The IRISH RUGBY thread

Started by Donnellys Hollow, October 27, 2009, 05:26:16 PM

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thewobbler

Ian Humphreys is a big omission. I can't really understand the need to pick four specialist scrum-halves, but only two specilaist fly-halves. If either fly-half gets hurt, surely it would be better (in a 44 man squad!) to have a playmaker ready to come into the matchday squad who is has worked with all the calls, routines and tactics.

The suspicious Ulster man in me would speculate that the inclusion of 4 scrum-halves is a wee arm around the shoulders of Stringer in case he feels left out, and the absence of fly-half cover is a big arm around sensitive Ronan's shoulders.


Good to see so many youngsters breaking into the main squad though, even if they'll nearly all be playing A rugby this season.

Capt Pat

I wish they would at least divide that big long list of names into backs and forwards. In fact I would expect them to break it down by position.

Capt Pat

Quote from: thewobbler on January 19, 2010, 09:28:10 PM
Ian Humphreys is a big omission. I can't really understand the need to pick four specialist scrum-halves, but only two specilaist fly-halves. If either fly-half gets hurt, surely it would be better (in a 44 man squad!) to have a playmaker ready to come into the matchday squad who is has worked with all the calls, routines and tactics.

The suspicious Ulster man in me would speculate that the inclusion of 4 scrum-halves is a wee arm around the shoulders of Stringer in case he feels left out, and the absence of fly-half cover is a big arm around sensitive Ronan's shoulders.


Good to see so many youngsters breaking into the main squad though, even if they'll nearly all be playing A rugby this season.

Those 2 are very delicate and need all the encouragement they can get.

Dinny Breen

QuoteIsaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster), Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster), Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster), Ian Dowling (Shannon/Munster), John Fogarty (De La Salle Palmerston/Leinster), Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster), Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster), Shane Jennings (St.Mary's College/Leinster),  Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster) , Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)

Have had their day or just not good enough - tackle bag holders.
#newbridgeornowhere

Capt Pat

Without Further ado

Ireland squad: Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster), Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster), Tom Court (Malone/Ulster), Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht), Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster), Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Ian Dowling (Shannon/Munster), Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster), Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster), Declan Fitzpatrick (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster), John Fogarty (De La Salle Palmerston/Leinster), John Hayes (Bruff/Munster), Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster), Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster), Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster), Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster), Denis Hurley (Cork Constitution/Munster), Shane Jennings (St.Mary's College/Leinster), Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster), Fergus McFadden (UCD/Leinster), Kevin McLaughlin (UCD/Leinster), Johne Murphy (Leicester), Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster), Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster), Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster) , Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster), Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster), Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster), Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster), Jonathan Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster), Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster), Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster), Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster), David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster), Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster), Brett Wilkinson (Galwegians/Connacht).

Fullback - Kearney, Dennis Hurley

Utility back - Paddy Wallace

Wing - Bowe, Earls, Horgan,Murphy, Dowling

Centre - O'Driscoll, Darcy, Trimble, Fergus McFadden

Outhalf - O'Gara, Sexton

Scrum half - O'Leary, Reddan, Stringer, Boss

Number -  8 Jamie Heaslip, Chris Henry

Openside - Dave Wallace, Jennings, O'Brien

Blindside - Ferris, McLaughlin , D Ryan

Second Row - O'Callagahan. O'Connell. Toner, Cullen, dan Touhy,

Tight head - Hayes, Buckley, Court, Ross

Hooker - Flannery, Fogarty, Cronin, Best

Loose head - Healy, Horan, Brett Wilkinson, Declan Fitzpatrick


Capt Pat

Quote from: Dinny Breen on January 19, 2010, 10:40:31 PM
QuoteIsaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster), Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster), Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster), Ian Dowling (Shannon/Munster), John Fogarty (De La Salle Palmerston/Leinster), Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster), Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster), Shane Jennings (St.Mary's College/Leinster),  Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster) , Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)

Have had their day or just not good enough - tackle bag holders.

Add Paddy Wallace.

thewobbler

Dinny - I can't believe you included Shane Jennings in your otherwise acceptable list of expendables. Granted you would watch a lot more Leinster than I would, but almost every time I've seen him play he has been worth watching. Anything in particular you don't like about his game?

screenexile

Quote from: Capt Pat on January 19, 2010, 10:57:36 PM
Quote from: Dinny Breen on January 19, 2010, 10:40:31 PM
QuoteIsaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster), Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster), Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster), Ian Dowling (Shannon/Munster), John Fogarty (De La Salle Palmerston/Leinster), Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster), Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster), Shane Jennings (St.Mary's College/Leinster),  Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster) , Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)

Have had their day or just not good enough - tackle bag holders.

Add Paddy Wallace.

Not a particular fan of his but he's the no.1 partner for BOD as far as Kidney is concerned and he's the 3rd choice out half should Sexton or O'Gara. . . certainly more than a tackle bag holder!!

Donnellys Hollow

Quote from: thewobbler on January 19, 2010, 11:12:36 PM
Dinny - I can't believe you included Shane Jennings in your otherwise acceptable list of expendables. Granted you would watch a lot more Leinster than I would, but almost every time I've seen him play he has been worth watching. Anything in particular you don't like about his game?

Jennings is a liability. Gives away far too many penalties. O'Brien is the future and he'll more than likely be Ireland's 7 come the next RWC.
There's Seán Brady going in, what dya think Seán?

Dinny Breen

Quote from: thewobbler on January 19, 2010, 11:12:36 PM
Dinny - I can't believe you included Shane Jennings in your otherwise acceptable list of expendables. Granted you would watch a lot more Leinster than I would, but almost every time I've seen him play he has been worth watching. Anything in particular you don't like about his game?

DH summed it up there more or less. He's very committed but I don't think he has great rugby intelligence for a 7 and while he does a reasonable/good job for Leinster he's not in my opinion International class, whereas the raw potential in O'Brien is frightening, O'Brien and Ferris is the same backrow would put the fear of god into a lot of teams.

Wallace is a nice contrast to D'arcy, he's there because he can distribute, himself and O'Gara don't work to well together but he compliments Sexton nicely I think.

One to watch is Kevin McLaughlin, serious athlete and very talented.
#newbridgeornowhere

Bord na Mona man

Quote from: Donnellys Hollow on January 20, 2010, 02:01:08 AM
Quote from: thewobbler on January 19, 2010, 11:12:36 PM
Dinny - I can't believe you included Shane Jennings in your otherwise acceptable list of expendables. Granted you would watch a lot more Leinster than I would, but almost every time I've seen him play he has been worth watching. Anything in particular you don't like about his game?

Jennings is a liability. Gives away far too many penalties.
It seems to be occupational hazard for flankers who go digging for the ball. Jennings, Best and O'Concrete always gave away a good quota of penalties. Makes you realise what a priceless asset McCaw is for being able to rip, root and spoil and get away with it.

ludermor

And Brussow seems to have taken that art to a different level this year.

ludermor

Quote from: Dinny Breen on January 19, 2010, 10:40:31 PM
QuoteIsaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster), Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster), Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster), Ian Dowling (Shannon/Munster), John Fogarty (De La Salle Palmerston/Leinster), Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster), Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster), Shane Jennings (St.Mary's College/Leinster),  Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster) , Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)

Have had their day or just not good enough - tackle bag holders.
Agree with the vast majority of them but just a couple of comments.
Cullen - who would you have as 2 first choice back up to to the incumbents?
Horan- While i have no problem with Healy taking over No1 i would like to have horan as back up for the next year or two.
Horgan - Have been very impressed with him this year, wouldnt mind him on the fringes if any injuries come up. Who would you have as back up to the wings?

There is some serious competion coming up in the back row places ( in pretty much all the provinces) which is great news  for the future.

trileacman

Quote from: Dinny Breen on January 19, 2010, 10:40:31 PM
QuoteIsaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster), Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster), Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster), Ian Dowling (Shannon/Munster), John Fogarty (De La Salle Palmerston/Leinster), Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster), Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster), Shane Jennings (St.Mary's College/Leinster),  Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster) , Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)

Have had their day or just not good enough - tackle bag holders.

Horgan is playing beter than earls and should start. Fogarty could yet be useful but I understand what your saying and who else would you have in place of Cullen, sound cover, well liked and a good leader. Horan is also in that bracket, sound cover.

Finally the absence of eternal failure Trimble makes a mockery of your list as he is absolute p***.
Fantasy Rugby World Cup Champion 2011,
Fantasy 6 Nations Champion 2014

AZOffaly

Tony Buckley is a huge disappointment. He just hasn't developed. On another note, I think it's funny to read David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster), etc etc. I'd say some of these lads wouldn't even remember the last time they played for their club :D