The IRISH RUGBY thread

[Estimator]

11 players it is.
Henshaw, Murray, Payne, Sexton
Best, Furlong, Henderson, McGrath, O'Brien, O'Mahony, Stander.

The announcement will definitely give joe.ie and balls.ie plenty of stories to repeat over the next few days.

[mouview]

Zebo will be disappointed. Scotland's Greg Laidlaw still injured? Would surely have made it otherwise..

[seafoid]

There will be 6 or 7 subs flown out

[gallsman]

Zebo should have been picked ahead of all the outside backs except maybe Daly. Overall, decent return for Ireland.

[square_ball]

Zebo will be disappointed. Scotland's Greg Laidlaw still injured? Would surely have made it otherwise..

Don't think he's still injured but he's not as good as the 3 picked so can't have any complaints.

[Maroon Manc]

Have Scotland been shafted with only 2 inclusions?

Was there any other serious contenders for the captaincy as been captain for 2 tours in a row is a huge honour?

[gallsman]

Have Scotland been shafted with only 2 inclusions?

Was there any other serious contenders for the captaincy as been captain for 2 tours in a row is a huge honour?

He was a cert to get it which i think as a bit of a joke as he's not been in the best of form and without Garland around, wouldn't be a cert to start the tests.

[Tony Baloney]

Zebo will be disappointed. Scotland's Greg Laidlaw still injured? Would surely have made it otherwise..

Don't think he's still injured but he's not as good as the 3 picked so can't have any complaints.

I read an article 2 or 3 weeks ago and he was still rehabing from the ankle injury but due to play soon I think. I think Launchbury might feel aggrieved. 

[Owen Brannigan]

Zebo should have been picked ahead of all the outside backs except maybe Daly. Overall, decent return for Ireland.

Zebo is nowhere near the standard, plays well for Munster at full back but lacks the speed and power required for a winger at international level.

[screenexile]

Have Scotland been shafted with only 2 inclusions?

Was there any other serious contenders for the captaincy as been captain for 2 tours in a row is a huge honour?

He was a cert to get it which i think as a bit of a joke as he's not been in the best of form and without Garland around, wouldn't be a cert to start the tests.

In fairness Gatland is at pains to say he's not necessarily starting and if he has a bad first test the knives will be out for him. There is serious competition in that back row and with at least 4/5 better back row ball carriers than him in the squad!

[Owen Brannigan]

Have Scotland been shafted with only 2 inclusions?

Was there any other serious contenders for the captaincy as been captain for 2 tours in a row is a huge honour?

He was a cert to get it which i think as a bit of a joke as he's not been in the best of form and without Garland around, wouldn't be a cert to start the tests.

In fairness Gatland is at pains to say he's not necessarily starting and if he has a bad first test the knives will be out for him. There is serious competition in that back row and with at least 4/5 better back row ball carriers than him in the squad!

Warburton gave up Welsh captaincy to improve his form.  He had a good 6 nations.  Got injured in Blues v Ulster game affecting knee ligaments.  If all well his injury will be cleared up before departure but have no game time.  Gatland has the luxury of Best as game captain as capable as Warburton as a leader and decision maker.

[Syferus]

Have Scotland been shafted with only 2 inclusions?

Was there any other serious contenders for the captaincy as been captain for 2 tours in a row is a huge honour?

He was a cert to get it which i think as a bit of a joke as he's not been in the best of form and without Garland around, wouldn't be a cert to start the tests.

In fairness Gatland is at pains to say he's not necessarily starting and if he has a bad first test the knives will be out for him. There is serious competition in that back row and with at least 4/5 better back row ball carriers than him in the squad!

Warburton gave up Welsh captaincy to improve his form.  He had a good 6 nations.  Got injured in Blues v Ulster game affecting knee ligaments.  If all well his injury will be cleared up before departure but have no game time.  Gatland has the luxury of Best as game captain as capable as Warburton as a leader and decision maker.

Hopefully his decision making is better than his throwing in the Wales game..

[Orior]

Should there not be a British and Irish Lions thread? Why contaminate this thread with Lions shite?

[seafoid]

Should there not be a British and Irish Lions thread? Why contaminate this thread with Lions shite?

The Lions should be merged with the UK GE thread.

[manfromdelmonte]

Munster have been turgid today