IRFU sqaud for Argentina

[thewobbler]

Forwards (17)

Neil Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Simon Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) (Captain)
*Peter Bracken (Wasps)
*Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)
Leo Cullen (Leicester)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
Keith Gleeson (St.Mary's College/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster)
Trevor Hogan (Shannon/Leinster)
Bernard Jackman (Clontarf/Leinster)
*Shane Jennings (Leicester)
Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Malcolm O'Kelly (St.Mary's College/Leinster)
Alan Quinlan (Shannon/Munster)
Frankie Sheahan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Bryan Young (Ballymena/Ulster)


Backs (13)

Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster)
Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Munster)
*Brian Carney (Clonakilty/Munster)
Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht)
*Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Kieran Lewis (St.Mary's College/Leinster)
*Barry Murphy (U.L. Bohemians/Munster)
Geordan Murphy (Leicester)
*Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster)
Eoin Reddan (Wasps)
Jeremy Staunton (Wasps)**
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

* indicates uncapped player

**Subject to Fitness Test


There really is quite some strength in depth in Irish rugby at the moment. There are some very good players in what is a B squad.

Would have liked to see young Humphreys get a run-out, and I can't understand Roger Wilson's absence (unless he's crocked), but you could assemble a very decent side out of what's there. Geordan Murphy really has fallen out of favour if he has to travel on this.

[tyroneboi]

interesting squad alright. think the majority of these lads are playing to get into the world cup squad at best. In my opinion the only guys that have a chance of getting in the team come world cup are jerry flannery an geordan murphy.

[Gnevin]

A very strong squad indeed . Why isn't Luke Fitzgerald included in it?

[Declan]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/features/insideirishrugby.html

THis looks like it will be worth watching

[Uladh]

What sort of teams will the pumas be putting out?

I was interested to read at the weekend that Ben Kay thinks Shane Jennings os the best back row forward he has ever played with at any level. thats some compliment given the pack company kay has kept during his career.

[lynchbhoy]

Stuart barnes wrote (yet again) at the weekend that Ireland are either crazy or have some fantastic team in order to leave out G Murphy

[GalwayBayBoy]

Stuart barnes wrote (yet again) at the weekend that Ireland are either crazy or have some fantastic team in order to leave out G Murphy

Barnes has got a bad case of man-love for Murphy. He's always bigging him up.

No doubt he's very talented but can also be very erratic. He's had some right stinkers in an Ireland jersey which is why he's not considered an automatic pick.

[lynchbhoy]

Stuart barnes wrote (yet again) at the weekend that Ireland are either crazy or have some fantastic team in order to leave out G Murphy

Barnes has got a bad case of man-love for Murphy. He's always bigging him up.

No doubt he's very talented but can also be very erratic. He's had some right stinkers in an Ireland jersey which is why he's not considered an automatic pick.

I know I used to laugh and agree with him,
but when not in a leicester jersey, Murphy just isnt the same player.

[Uladh]

He misses too many tackles at international level. not a great habit to have in any of your back three if you intend challenging for the world cup.

out of interest... is anyone heading to any of the world cup games?

[johnneycool]

Stuart barnes wrote (yet again) at the weekend that Ireland are either crazy or have some fantastic team in order to leave out G Murphy

Barnes has got a bad case of man-love for Murphy. He's always bigging him up.

No doubt he's very talented but can also be very erratic. He's had some right stinkers in an Ireland jersey which is why he's not considered an automatic pick.

I know I used to laugh and agree with him,
but when not in a leicester jersey, Murphy just isnt the same player.

Murphy was the only Leicester back to turn up on sunday IMO. However Girvan Dempsey hasn't done an awful lot wrong for Ireland in recent times and probably deserves the start on consistency alone.

What's the point of taking Mal O'Kelly to the southern hemisphere? He must be guaranteed a place on the World cup squad but I think he'll be fucked in the French heat come August time.

Is Tony Buckley the half bearded back row for Munster?

[amallon]

What about Brian Carney?  What has his form been like for Munster?  Will he be in the world cup sqaud?

[Kerry Mike]

Tony Buckley or Mushy as he is known, is a prop, Height 1.96 m Weight 134 kg compared to John Hayes'
Height 1.93 m Weight 125 kg , so he's a big strong lump of a young lad, unproven really yet as he has only played a handful of games for Munster, but is spoken of with great potential. Bath tried to sign him this season but he turned them down after a better offer from Munster.

Carney has played well in the few games he has played , but unless he plays well against the Argies he wont make the world cup squad, still lots to learn about the union game and the years may be against him, but he has speed , strength and power and would be good cover for Shane Horgan or Trimble on the wing

[GalwayBayBoy]

Ireland Team For First Argentina Test Named
Carney to make test debut
www.IrishRugby.ie
by Editor

Carney is the only uncapped player in the starting XV and is joined in the back three by Gavin Duffy, who starts at full back for the first time for Ireland. There is a new centre partnership in the shape of Andrew Trimble and Kieran Lewis, who starts the game at inside centre. Paddy Wallace will also form the halfback combination with Isaac Boss.

In the forwards, Jerry Flannery starts at hooker for the first time since the summer tour last year. Malcolm O'Kelly also returns to the side after missing the entire RBS 6 Nations Championship due to injury. In the backrow, Jamie Heaslip makes his second start for Ireland at No.8 and is flanked by Neil Best and the experienced Keith Gleeson. team will be captained by Simon Best for the first time.

Ireland Coach Eddie O'Sullivan said, "This tour is about allowing players to challenge for the World Cup squad and it starts this weekend in the first test against Argentina. Players have to put their hands up over the next two weeks to put their case forward. Now that might put pressure on players, but there is no more pressurised an environment then international rugby and the world cup, so this will be a good test for them."

The Ireland team to play Argentina on Saturday, 26th May 2007 in the Estadio Brigadier Estanislao Lopez del Barrio Centenario, Santa Fe at 16.10hrs local time (20.10 Irish time) is as follows:

Player Club Caps
15 - Gavan Duffy Galwegians/Connacht 4
14 - Brian Carney Clonakilty/Munster 0
13 - Andrew Trimble Ballymena/Ulster 14
12 - Kieran Lewis St.Mary's College/Leinster 1
11 - Tommy Bowe Belfast Harlequins/Ulster 8
10 - Paddy Wallace Ballymena/Ulster 3
9 - Isaac Boss Ballymena/Ulster 7
1 - Bryan Young Ballymena/Ulster 5
2 - Jerry Flannery Shannon/Munster 14
3 - Simon Best Captain Belfast Harlequins/Ulster 16
4 - Trevor Hogan Shannon/Leinster 3
5 - Malcolm O'Kelly St.Mary's College/Leinster 83
6 - Neil Best Belfast Harlequins/Ulster 10
7 - Keith Gleeson St.Mary's College/Leinster 25
8 - Jamie Heaslip Clontarf/Leinster 1

Replacements:
16 - Bernard Jackman Clontarf/Leinster 2
17 - Tony Buckley Shannon/Munster 0
18 - Mick O'Driscoll Cork Constitution/Munster 9
19 - Stephen Ferris Dungannon 1
20 - Tomas O'Leary Dolphin/Munster 0
21 - Geordan Murphy Leicester 46

[Dinny Breen]

out of interest... is anyone heading to any of the world cup games?

Yep have 2 tickets per group game and the quarter-final if we get there, unfortunately the brother has decided to get married in the middle of Oregon in the good ol' USA early September so will miss the first 2 group games...

Is Tony Buckley the half bearded back row for Munster?

That half-bearded player is John O'Sullivan, Kerry Mike probably didn't know that because he generally only plays Magners League and no right-minded Munster fan would go and watch the bread and butter stuff, he's also from Kerry but learned his rugby in Kildare.

Bath tried to sign him this season but he turned them down after a better offer from Munster.

He actually signed for Bath and then reneged but considering his coach is Judas Kidney this doesn't come as a shock.

Carney has played well in the few games he has played , but unless he plays well against the Argies he wont make the world cup squad, still lots to learn about the union game and the years may be against him, but he has speed , strength and power and would be good cover for Shane Horgan or Trimble on the wing

Christ if Horgan continues his current form Carney should start, he's a class act and has played well abd I actually think O'Sullivan wouldn't have approved his contract if he wasn't going to bring him to the World Cup. He definitely would be an asset too...

[tyroneboi]

All irish rugby fans keep Monday 28th May at 9.30 on RTE 1 free:


Inside Irish Rugby '07

Watch 'Reaching For Glory: Inside Irish Rugby '07' on Monday, 28 May, on RTÉ One at 9.30pm

It has been a historic year for Irish rugby: it was goodbye (for now) to the oldest rugby stadium in the world, wins for Ireland over the game's super-powers, Croke Park opened its doors, Ireland won the Triple Crown for the third time in four years, and they also came oh so close to winning their first Six Nations Championship...

RTÉ Sport's cameras were there every step of the way and now they bring you inside the camp to experience the season through the players' eyes.

RTÉ Sport brings you exclusive access to the dressing rooms for Ireland's wins over Australia and South Africa in the Autumn Internationals. The cameras travel around Europe and enter Croke Park amongst the players for Ireland's latest Triple Crown win.

Hear the tactics, dressing room talks and watch squad training sessions in this 52-minute documentary from the same team who made 'The Dubs: Story of a season' and 'Final Words: Brian Kerr's World Cup Story'.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/features/insideirishrugby.html


This sounds awesome - seriously cant wait. Have been reading about it and it sounds like a Living With the Lions Irish style!!