Ireland Squad for RBS 6 Nations Championship 2009

thewobbler · January 21, 2009, 05:12:05 PM

AZ - it's a fairly straight comment. If there is no viable alternative option at fly-half, then ROG and his massive ego will have to remain on the field for all 400 minutes of the 6 Nations. Regardless of how he plays, he won't be replaced, either during a game or for the next match.

If O'Gara is having one of regular stinkers and an unproven but talented fly-half is on the bench (like Humprheys jr), Kidney would have no choice but to blood him, otherwise the media would get on his back for being too conservative, too loyal. Leaving nobody viable on the bench removes the problem.

I have to echo all the other comments about Stringer, M O'Driscoll, O'Kelly, Dempsey et al. You won't win a 6N with these guys playing, and none will be around for the next RWC. It's a professional era we're in, and these fellas should be put to roost like proper professionals would be.

longrunsthefox · January 21, 2009, 05:19:32 PM

I was at the All Blacks game in Croke Park...some atmosphere. Anyway this Ulster supporter beside me stood for the national anthem and dropped his head and perhaps prayed for tolerance. Then he bellowed out Ireland's Call with the chest out like there was no tomorrow. All the match he was shouting, 'will O'Gara be wheeled on when he's in a wheel chair?' ...total agenda... then was 'Bring on Steven Ferris! Bring on Stephen Ferris!' Funny as fuc... best was Fields of Athenry and he sang, ...'so lonely round the fields of Ballnafeigh!' God love him

Jim_Murphy_74 · January 21, 2009, 05:37:48 PM

Quote from: AZOffaly on January 21, 2009, 02:17:36 PM
Humphrey's exclusion is a surprise,

Is it a case of Kidney thinking some game time in the "A" team is better than bench time for the full team?

Humphreys' form may be quite good but it is also quite recent. His ability to make any kind of tackle is also very recent.

Kidney may just want to see a bit more of him...

Interestingly the two correspondants in the Sunday Tribune both agree that D'arcy is best option to partner O'Driscoll in midfield. I find it fascinating that two Magner's League games on the wing for Leinster in almost 12 months represents better current form than that of Wallace, Cave or Earls.

/Jim.

AZOffaly · January 21, 2009, 05:46:24 PM

I believe O'Driscoll was Clontarf originally, and then Blackrock? I could be wrong though.

As for Humphreys, I've seen him a couple of times on the telly, and I saw him have a blinder at Thomond Park. I'd have picked him, no argument at all. I still don't understand how it's a reflection on O'Gara that he is not selected. I doubt if Kidney asked ROG if he was okay with selecting Humphreys.

It could be that Kidney wants to see more of Humphreys, and if he continues to play well, there'll be no choice for Kidney.

On the positive side, I'm glad to see the 'Quins Mike Ross picked. O'Sullivan was criminal at ignoring lads playing in England, until very late in the day.

I agree there's a lot of lads in there that are past it at this stage, but I think Kidney might be trying to get the best possible results this year, and blood younger lads next autumn. It's probably too early for Cave and Earls.

Myles Na G. · January 21, 2009, 07:05:40 PM

Quote from: longrunsthefox on January 21, 2009, 05:19:32 PM
I was at the All Blacks game in Croke Park...some atmosphere. Anyway this Ulster supporter beside me stood for the national anthem and dropped his head and perhaps prayed for tolerance. Then he bellowed out Ireland's Call with the chest out like there was no tomorrow. All the match he was shouting, 'will O'Gara be wheeled on when he's in a wheel chair?' ...total agenda... then was 'Bring on Steven Ferris! Bring on Stephen Ferris!' Funny as f**... best was Fields of Athenry and he sang, ...'so lonely round the fields of Ballnafeigh!' God love him

You hear the same kind of provincialism from Munster fans. I don't like it, wherever it comes from.

Gnevin · January 21, 2009, 09:59:56 PM

Good to see some new names here but I'd be worried that they are only in the squad and will never get a run.

stephenite · January 21, 2009, 10:04:02 PM

Quote from: AZOffaly on January 21, 2009, 05:46:24 PM
I believe O'Driscoll was Clontarf originally, and then Blackrock? I could be wrong though.

O'Driscoll is certainly from Clontarf but as he went to school in Blackrock, that's where he has always played. The UCD one is strange, I'm nearly sure I've a programme at home from a few years back that states his club is Blackrock.

Not that it makes much difference, his club is Leinster in reality

Dinny Breen · January 21, 2009, 10:04:35 PM

Actually where's Johnny Murphy? Not even in the A squad, 9 tries this season already......

robbed this from Leinsterfans.com, made me laugh

Dinny Breen · January 21, 2009, 10:07:58 PM

The only club BOD has played for is UCD. He transferred his registration back last season. It makes a difference to UCD as they will get extra tickets for having an International coming from their club. Likewise Shane Horgan and Boyne who are a Junior Club from Drogheda, very commendable of the two boys.

ludermor · January 21, 2009, 10:43:28 PM

Whats the story with Cave? He seems impressive in open play but whats he like overall? Was he a regular last year?

stephenite · January 21, 2009, 11:12:20 PM

Quote from: Dinny Breen on January 21, 2009, 10:07:58 PM
The only club BOD has played for is UCD. He transferred his registration back last season. It makes a difference to UCD as they will get extra tickets for having an International coming from their club. Likewise Shane Horgan and Boyne who are a Junior Club from Drogheda, very commendable of the two boys.

Comvinced I saw him play for Blackrock out in Stradbrook many moons ago - must have been a schools fixture I supppose

rosnarun · January 22, 2009, 12:57:01 AM

Quote from: Dinny Breen on January 21, 2009, 10:07:58 PM
The only club BOD has played for is UCD. He transferred his registration back last season. It makes a difference to UCD as they will get extra tickets for having an International coming from their club. Likewise Shane Horgan and Boyne who are a Junior Club from Drogheda, very commendable of the two boys.

speaking of overinflated Ego's isnt it time it was pointed out this empperor lost his last stich of clothes about 3 years ago. while i agree you shouldn't move people on without a replacement Surely between Fitzgerald Cave Earls wallace horgan trimble D'arcy and the rev Trimble they can come up with better than o'driscoll who spend more time in the arse in the air in the scrums than Creating anything worthwhile
My choice would be Wallace and Earls as Fitzgerald too show signs of wanting to follow his Da into the scrum.
O gara needs stringers in top form to look good but as stringer is feck itll be a long slow death for the gambler

Off The Fence · January 30, 2009, 04:23:32 PM

Ireland announce a 27 man squad

Ireland Squad V France
Backs:
Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College - Leinster)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne - Leinster)
Keith Earls (Young Munster - Munster)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College - Leinster)
Shane Horgan (Boyne - Leinster)
Robert Kearney (UCD - Leinster)
Geordan Murphy (Leicester)
Brian O'Driscoll (UCD - Leinster)
Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution - Munster)
Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin - Munster)
Peter Stringer (Shannon - Munster)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena - Ulster)

Forwards:
Rory Best (Banbridge - Ulster)
Tom Court (Malone - Ulster)*
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon - Ulster)
Jerry Flannery (Shannon - Munster)
John Hayes (Bruff- Munster)
Jamie Heaslip (Naas - Leinster)
Marcus Horan (Shannon - Munster)
Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution - Munster)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution - Munster)
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster - Munster)
Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution - Munster)
Malcolm O'Kelly (St.Mary's College - Leinster)
Alan Quinlan (Shannon - Munster)
David Wallace (Garryowen - Munster)

______________________________

No Eoin Reddan who is on the A Squad and Stringer still remains..hmmmmmmmm

screenexile · January 30, 2009, 06:26:49 PM

Ridiculous... more of the same tripe and nothing new or fresh about it at all. Stringer, Malcolm O'Kelly, Dempsey, Paddy Wallace, Mick O'Driscoll shouldn't be near an Ireland team. O'Kelly, Stringer and Dempsey are past their best and would Wallace and O'Driscoll get anywhere near another Country's test team? I think not. I'm quite worried about this 6 Nations campaign as their is very little new about the side. I thought we were supposed to be building for a World Cup in 3 years time? Not by the looks of this squad!!!!