The IRISH RUGBY thread

[muppet]

O'Callaghan playing superb stuff tonight unlike his partner O'Driscoll.

3-3 after 33 mins with Munster making lots of mistakes. Ref a pain in the arse at scrum time.

[comethekingdom]

O'Callaghan playing superb stuff tonight unlike his partner O'Driscoll.

3-3 after 33 mins with Munster making lots of mistakes. Ref a pain in the arse at scrum time.

That ref should have been kicked up the road out of Cork tonight. He was cat !

[comethekingdom]

So should the commentator. "The wind is blowing towards <some woman> Kearney's cottage" as yer man takes a kick.

Ah right.

Ah....... Bring back Fred Cogley and Jim Sherwin !!!

[thejuice]

Is there a good site that does a 6 nations fantasy league?

[Hoof Hearted]

Is there a good site that does a 6 nations fantasy league?

irish times has been the one thats been played on here as last 3 years, they should have one going in the next 2 weeks

[thejuice]

grand, i must set one up for work, cheers

[Hoof Hearted]

No room for O'Leary in Ireland squad

Rugby: Tomás O'Leary has been dropped from the Ireland squad for the forthcoming Six Nations campaign. The Munster scrumhalf has not been included in Declan Kidney's 32-man panel and has instead been demoted to the Irish Wolfhounds panel.

With O'Leary making way, Eoin Reddan and Peter Stringer will contest the number nine jersey for the opening clash in Italy on February 5th.

Tony Buckley's fall from grace has seen the prop discarded by the management team but his Munster teammate John Hayes has been retained in the first team squad. Buckley had been Kidney's first choice at the start of the autumn internationals but has now fallen out of favour even at provincial level.

After a string of impressive performances for Leinster, Mike Ross could now be in line to add to his meagre tally of just two caps. Despite concerns over his availability, Jerry Flannery is included but Rory Best and Sean Cronin do provide Kidney with options.

Those are thin on the ground at fullback where Gavin Duffy's return from an injury sees him included as the only recognised number 15 in the squad. Luke Fitzgerald may be Kidney's preferred option while Keith Earls also has limited experience in the position.

Mike McCarthy is the only uncapped player in the squad, the 29-year-old backrow player rewarded for some eye-catching displays in the Magners League.


"As always, the selection of the squad is never an easy one, but certainly the level of competition in each position is probably as great as it has ever been over the last two years," Kidney said this afternoon. "Players have been really pushing their performances for their provinces, so that level of competition can only be good.

"That translates into more competition for each place in the squad, and then for the first selection against Italy, which can only be a good thing coming into the championship. As we know from last year and every other time we have faced Italy, they represent a greater threat every year.

"The addition of their teams in the Magners League is building their experience, and I think that will have an even greater influence on their national side for the championship. The key for us is to work hard in setting the foundations for the tournament in our first week in camp, and our only focus will be on that opening game against Italy."



Ireland squad

Backs: Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Gordon D'Arcy (Landowne - Leinster), Gavin Duffy (Galwegians - Connacht), Keith Earls (Thomond - Munster), Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock - Leinster), Shane Horgan (Boyne - Leinster), Ronan O' Gara (Cork Constitution - Munster), Brian O'Driscoll (UCD - Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Landowne - Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College - Leinster), Peter Stringer (Shannon - Munster), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena - Ulster), Paddy Wallace (Ballymena - Ulster)

Forwards: Rory Best (Banbridge - Ulster), Tom Court (Malone - Ulster), Sean Cronin (Buccaneers - Connacht), Leo Cullen (Blackrock - Leinster), Stephen Ferris (Dungannon - Ulster), Jerry Flannery (Shannon - Munster), John Hayes (Bruff - Munster), Cian Healy (Clontarf - Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Naas - Leinster), Shane Jennings (St. Mary's College - Leinster), Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution - Munster), Mike McCarthy (Buccaneers - Connacht), Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution - Munster), Paul O'Connell (Young Munster - Munster), Sean O'Brien (Clontarf - Leinster), Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution - Munster), Michael Ross (Clontarf - Leinster), Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary's College - Leinster), David Wallace (Garryowen - Munster)

Ireland Wolfhounds

Backs: Isaac Boss (Terenure College - Leinster), Ian Humphreys (Ballymena - Ulster), Denis Hurley (Cork Constitution - Munster), Keith Matthews (Buccaneers - Connacht), Fergus McFadden(Old Belvedere - Leinster), Johne Murphy (Young Munster - Munster), Niall O'Connor (Belfast Harlequins - Ulster), Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin - Munster), Eoin O'Malley (Old Belvedere - Leinster), A.N. Other

Forwards: Nigel Brady (Dungannon - Ulster), Tony Buckley (Shannon - Munster), Willie Faloon (Ballynahinch - Ulster), Jamie Hagan (Galway Corinthians - Connacht), Chris Henry (Ballymena - Ulster), Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary's College - Leinster), Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne - Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Shannon - Munster), Devin Toner (Lansdowne - Leinster), Dan Tuohy (Ballymena - Ulster), Damien Varley (Garryowen - Munster), Brett Wilkinson (Galwegians - Connacht)

[thewobbler]

They're all maybe getting a bit long in the tooth now, but Ulster players I'd high hopes for a few years back were Neil McMillan, Roger Wilson and Paul Shields. And Neil Best, obviously.

I heard Shields retired from injury. Has anyone idea if the others are even still alive? McMillan in particular - he looked a proper openside if Ulster ever produced one.

[Joxer]

From RTE.ie

Declan Kidney has announced a 32 man squad for the forthcoming RBS 6 Nations with Connacht's Mike McCarthy getting his first call-up to international duty.

McCarthy was capped for Brian Ashton's England at the U-21 World Cup in 2002.

Luke Fitzgerald and Rory Best return after suffering injuries during the Guinness series in November.

Speaking about the squad, Declan Kidney said: 'As always the selection of the squad is never an easy one but certainly the level of competition in each position is probably as great as it has ever been over the last two years.

'Players have been really pushing their performances for their provinces, so that level of competition can only be good.

'That translates into more competition for each place in the squad and then for the first selection against Italy, which can only be a good thing coming into the championship.'


Ireland Squad for RBS 6 Nations Championship:

Backs:
Tommy Bowe, Gordon D'Arcy, Gavin Duffy, Keith Earls, Luke Fitzgerald, Shane Horgan, Ronan O' Gara, Brian O'Driscoll,
Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Peter Stringer, Andrew Trimble,
Paddy Wallace.

Forwards:
Rory Best, Tom Court, Sean Cronin, Leo Cullen, Stephen Ferris,
Jerry Flannery, John Hayes, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Shane Jennings, Denis Leamy, Mike McCarthy, Donncha O'Callaghan,
Paul O'Connell, Sean O'Brien, Mick O'Driscoll, Michael Ross,
Rhys Ruddock, David Wallace.

[Geoff Tipps]

From RTE.ie

Declan Kidney has announced a 32 man squad for the forthcoming RBS 6 Nations with Connacht's Mike McCarthy getting his first call-up to international duty.

McCarthy was capped for Brian Ashton's England at the U-21 World Cup in 2002.

Luke Fitzgerald and Rory Best return after suffering injuries during the Guinness series in November.

Speaking about the squad, Declan Kidney said: 'As always the selection of the squad is never an easy one but certainly the level of competition in each position is probably as great as it has ever been over the last two years.

'Players have been really pushing their performances for their provinces, so that level of competition can only be good.

'That translates into more competition for each place in the squad and then for the first selection against Italy, which can only be a good thing coming into the championship.'


Ireland Squad for RBS 6 Nations Championship:

Backs:
Tommy Bowe, Gordon D'Arcy, Gavin Duffy, Keith Earls, Luke Fitzgerald, Shane Horgan, Ronan O' Gara, Brian O'Driscoll,
Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Peter Stringer, Andrew Trimble,
Paddy Wallace.

Forwards:
Rory Best, Tom Court, Sean Cronin, Leo Cullen, Stephen Ferris,
Jerry Flannery, John Hayes, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Shane Jennings, Denis Leamy, Mike McCarthy, Donncha O'Callaghan,
Paul O'Connell, Sean O'Brien, Mick O'Driscoll, Michael Ross,
Rhys Ruddock, David Wallace.

O'Leary and Buckley are the big omissions.

[Capt Pat]

What is the story with Tomas O Leary. He didn't get to start for munster at the weekend either.

[dec]

For any of you in the States, BBC America is showing 6 games live this year, including two Ireland games. BBC America Live Match Broadcasts

    Scotland vs. France
    At the Stade de France located in Saint Denis (Paris), France.
    Saturday, February 5th at 12pm ET / 9am PT
    Pre-show begins at 11:30am ET / 8:30am PT

    Wales vs. Scotland
    At Murrayfield Stadium located in Edinburgh, Scotland.
    Saturday, February 12th at 12pm ET / 9am PT
    Pre-show begins at 11:30am ET / 8:30am PT

    France vs. England
    At Twickenham Stadium located in Twickenham, London, England.
    Saturday, February 26th at 12pm ET / 9am PT
    Pre-show begins at 11:30am ET / 8:30am PT

    Ireland vs. Wales
    At Millennium Stadium located in Cardiff, Wales.
    Saturday, March 12th at 12pm ET / 9am PT
    Pre-show begins at 11:30am ET / 8:30am PT

    Scotland vs. England
    Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham Stadium located in Twickenham, London, England.
    Sunday, March 13th at 11am ET / 8am PT
    Pre-show begins at 10:30am ET / 7:30am PT

    England vs. Ireland
    Millennium Trophy match at Aviva Stadium located in Dublin, Ireland.
    Saturday, March 19th at 1pm ET / 10am PT
    Pre-show begins at 12:30pm ET / 9:30am PT

[Celt_Man]

They're all maybe getting a bit long in the tooth now, but Ulster players I'd high hopes for a few years back were Neil McMillan, Roger Wilson and Paul Shields. And Neil Best, obviously.

I heard Shields retired from injury. Has anyone idea if the others are even still alive? McMillan in particular - he looked a proper openside if Ulster ever produced one.

Roger Wilson is currently doing the business for Northamption Saints in the Heinken Cup and Premiership

[Capt Pat]

I notice Englad have a South African flanker Hendre Fourie playing for them. Is he any good?

What will the Ireland team be next week with all the injuries? A quick guess from me is.

Healy
Cronin
Ross
O'Connell
O'Callaghan
Ferris/Leamy
Wallace
O'Brien
Reddan
Sexton
Fitzgerald
Darcy
O'Driscoll
McFadden
Earls

[muppet]

I notice Englad have a South African flanker Hendre Fourie playing for them. Is he any good?

What will the Ireland team be next week with all the injuries? A quick guess from me is.

Healy
Cronin
Ross
O'Connell
O'Callaghan
Ferris/Leamy
Wallace
O'Brien
Reddan
Sexton
Fitzgerald
Darcy
O'Driscoll
McFadden
Earls

With all the injuries you could be right but while we might scrape past Italy that team would probably struggle for the rest of the games.

Front row is experimental at this level while they hopefully do well, especially with Ross there, he is still new to International rugby. I'd love to see him really succeed because we need him to. Court has done well enough to have a shot though.

O'Connell hasn't played in a year, hopefully O'Callaghan's form improve with the return of his partner. I would have like to see someone new tried here (not Cullen) but with so many missing now is not the time. O'Connell has shown serious signs of rustiness ofter injury in the past and he's not getting any younger either.

I'd be praying Ferris makes it or at least misses only the Italy game. Heaslip is a huge loss although O'Brien is the form player it is still a step up for him. Wally is coming to the end of a great career and is showing signs of it, but with so many missing he is needed.

Funny to say it but Fitzgerald and Earls would be the two main worries despite their obvious potential neither is in form for different reasons. Hopefully that changes quickly. Is Gavin Duffy in with half a shout to start here?

Would he be the first former Mayo Minor to start in the 5/6 Nations if he does?