Seven Munster men in Ireland pack
Heineken Cup winners Munster provide seven of the Ireland forwards for Saturday's Test against New Zealand.
It might have been eight but flanker Alan Quinlan was ruled out with a thigh strain and Leinster's Jamie Heaslip will start at number eight.
Four of the backs are from Leinster with Luke Fitzgerald getting a chance at centre, partnering Brian O'Driscoll.
Robert Kearney is chosen ahead of Girvan Dempsey at full-back with Jerry Flannery at hooker ahead of Rory Best.
Skipper O'Driscoll joined the Irish camp on Monday, having remained at home after the departure of the larger squad because of the sudden death of a close friend.
"All I want to say about last week was that it was a brutal week in my life and a lot of my friends' lives," he said.
"It came as a shock and I suppose rugby was secondary for that period of time."
O'Driscoll believes the recent successes of Leinster, in winning the Magners League, and Munster (Heineken Cup), plus Eoin Reddan winning the Guinness Premiership final with Wasps, ensures Ireland will be confident going into the Wellington Test.
"There are guys back and used to winning things," he added. "When you put all that into the melting pot it is a great combination to have."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ireland: R Kearney, S Horgan, Brian O'Driscoll (cpt), L Fitzgerald, T Bowe, R O'Gara, E Reddan, J Heaslip, D Wallace, D Leamy, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, J Hayes, J Flannery, M Horan.
Replacements: G Dempsey, P Wallace, P Stringer, S Jennings, M O'Driscoll, T Buckley, R Best.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina; Anthony Tuitavake, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu; Daniel Carter, Andy Ellis; Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, John Afoa, Brad Thorn, Ali Willliams, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino.
Replacements: Keven Mealamu, John Schwalger, Anthony Boric, Adam Thomson, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Leon MacDonald.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What are we looking at as a succesfull tour
keeping the NZ game respectful and maybe nicking one against Australia ?
On paper we have a good chance in both games - the Kiwis supposedly weakened by an exodus of talent, the Aussies still not fire on all cylinders. However, on paper ro otherwise we have being going great guns for 18 months or so, so my expectations are not high.
its hard to read too much into these games as Kidney is not the mangaer yet so we do not know how the team will play under him. I think NZ will hammer us tho.
Anyone know if this will be available to view anywhere on the web? (live of course!!)
Quote from: Tankie on June 03, 2008, 07:26:52 PM
its hard to read too much into these games as Kidney is not the mangaer yet so we do not know how the team will play under him. I think NZ will hammer us tho.
Probably, bit low key round these parts to be honest, the French game gutted them though
Maybe the AB's will feel the apathy....and hopefully the Crusaders lads are drunk out!
Should be a big Irish support in town for it though
Looking forward to watcing an Irish team playing at a reasonable hour of they day for once - hard to see them winning but you never know I suppose.
Ireland centre Luke Fitzgerald has been ruled out of Saturday's Test against New Zealand in Wellington after failing a fitness test on an ankle injury.
The news is a blow for the tourist who had been confident the 20-year-old would make the side despite missing the first two days of training in New Zealand.
"The injury didn't respond as quickly to treatment as our medical team had predicted," team manager Joey Miles said. "However, we're still reasonably optimistic Luke will be available for the Test in Australia."
Ulster's Paddy Wallace will step in to partner skipper Brian O'Driscoll in the midfield, while Leicester's Geordan Murphy moves onto the bench.
Pedigree
While disappointed for Fitzgerald, Miles said the Irish were not unduly concerned about having to make the change with just over 48 hours to the match.
"Paddy Wallace has a pedigree of playing inside centre with his club Ulster," added Miles. "We knew there was an outside possibility of this happening so Paddy Wallace has trained most of the week in that position."
New Zealand's explosive inside centre Ma'a Nonu, in particular, is expected to attack that midfield channel, and how the 81-kilogram Wallace contains those forays will be crucial.
"Anyone who plays at inside centre in international football has got to expect that type of challenge. Paddy is more than up to it," said Miles.
But defence coach Graham Steadman said it was not just Nonu the Irish had to be wary of.
"What we've got to do is trust our defensive system," he said. "The All Blacks will pose problems all over the park if they're given time and space to execute. What we've got to do is cut down on space."
Cover
Meanwhile, Ulster's Stephen Ferris, who was due to play in the Churchill Cup, has been called into the squad as cover for loose forward Alan Quinlan, who has been struggling with a thigh injury and was not considered for the Test against New Zealand.
Quinlan will remain with the squad with Irish management hopeful he will recover in time to play Australia in Melbourne on Saturday week.
-------------------------------------------------
Is there no-one else ? would horgan not be better stepping across and murphy to the wing ?
Quote from: Hoof Hearted on June 05, 2008, 08:28:17 AM
Is there no-one else ? would horgan not be better stepping across and murphy to the wing ?
Horgan is pants at centre. And gets worse everytime he plays there. He's a winger, full stop.
We haven't a hope now :(
Sky Sports 1
8:00-9:00am
Live International Rugby Union
08:00am - 10:30am
New Zealand and Ireland scrum down at Westpac Stadium in Wellington. Ireland have never beaten the All Blacks, but can they take advantage of New Zealand's disappointing World Cup run?
I'm looking forward to this now... should be an interesting game... An All Blacks team in transition against an Ireland team seemingly on the way up. I wonder is there any chance of a repeat of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weUHwCjeD7s (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weUHwCjeD7s)
It really is bizarre why anyone would suggest Horgan for centre without giving Wallace a chance.
Horgan is as much an international centre as Stringer is a lock forward. Wallace may not be the answer, but personally I'd rather find out something new than something old.
Wallace gets a hard time as he is playing 10 when he is not a 10, he is a centre tho and has some great hands and is a better choice than horgan for centre BUT i think Luke is better!
Looking forward to this game, hopefully Ireland will play with a little bit of freedom. Not sure if Fitzgerald is that big a loss, he hasn't played many games in the centre and he can be a bit niave defensively and Wallace would be more creative than him. Wallace and BOD played together for the Irish team that won the u19 WC in 98 and also played together in UCD.
If I was looking to do a bet Ireland plus 7 or higher
One of my favourite videos on that. Funny though if it was England doing it I would call them disrespectful bastards.
The more the week goes on, the more I am looking forward to this match. It takes a big occasion to get me out of bed at 8am on my day off, but I'll be up.
Ireland are 8 - 5 up -- o'gara penalty and wallace try
11-8 to Ireland now
Well even for Munster fans they now must admit that Horan is the biggest retard ever to play in a front row.
14-11 to NZ, 63 mins gone.
Live stream here: http://www.justin.tv/uggla
Try under the posts. 21-11
O'Gara and Wallace at 10-12 are poor in defence
was o'driscolls flight late in getting to NZ, he will be a useful addition for next week !!
why are we running pens from our own 22. bad choice by stringer
BOD cant do anything if he aint given the ball
21-11 at the end.
Horan should be dropped from the Aussie game as he needs to be thought a lesson, they guy has no discipline at all
how cold would it be there this time of year?? BOD giving interview there after match, big coat on him and looked absolutly freezing.
http://www.metservice.co.nz/default/index.php?alias=wellington (http://www.metservice.co.nz/default/index.php?alias=wellington)
Min 4 max 16 , typical ladyboy, can't take a bit of cold ;)
QuoteO'Gara and Wallace at 10-12 are poor in defence
Actually I thought they defended that channel quite, haven't seen the replay but I thought it was either Heaslip or Wallace who missed the tackle for Carters decisive break.
Quotewas o'driscolls flight late in getting to NZ, he will be a useful addition for next week !!
Ridiculous statement, Ireland weren't playing a wide game, how many times was he passed the ball, and despite one error on the scramble he defended very well. Considering the slow ball O'Gara was getting I thought our tactics were spot on and only for that act of stupidity from Horan we could have sneaked that. Never a fan of his ability or attitude and deserves to be dropped from the Ireland squad, not just for that but he's simply not big enough for International rugby and was hammered in the scrums today.
O'Connell was immense again today, start to show the form to live up to the hype, although I thought Wallace was outstanding and Leamy and a fine game too. Kearney was the pick of the backs and O'Gara had excellent game control, Reddan was poor and it really wasn't a game to judge the outside backs on.
I thought the way NZ picked and drove today was fantastic, dynamic, controlled and aggressive. Competely different to what Munster did in the last 20 in Cardiff.
Another what could have been, well reffed as well.
Won't beat Oz, too many minds on holidays but would love to see Mushy on from the start.
McCaw's tackle on Wallace in the opening minute, when ireland were in fantastic attacking position, set the tone. if anyone (anyone at all?) wasn't sure about wallace's ability to operate at this level, that snapshot says it all. New Zealand's aggressive physicality, especially in the tight, was a few levels above what ireland can produce. buckley was the only one to match the type of dynamism when he came on.
Flannery's throwing was woeful and some of the handling errors, granted in dismal conditions, were not acceptable. wallace had a great game and carried the fight with POC.
one annoying thing - when the blacks threw to the front of the lineout, which was often, they never once threw even close to straight. So'oialo had to strain to reach back to his own side to collect on several occasions. I thought O'Callaghan was asleep for most of the game by the way.
Not sure of the merits of these games and the sooner the northern and southern hemisphere seasons are parralleled the better.
Noticed that too Uladh, could not believe they did not get called up in the line-outs for it.
Stupid from Horan, O'Connell fairly chewed him out.
We had no option but play a limited sort of game given that Wallace was at 12
Quote from: Uladh on June 07, 2008, 11:20:03 AM
Not sure of the merits of these games and the sooner the northern and southern hemisphere seasons are parralleled the better.
Its a bit hard to parallel seasons in two different hemispheres. Rugby is a winter sport so unless the northern hemisphere is going to play from March through to October this wil never happen. Think of all the injuries on hard ground?
Heard a (Kiwi) buck previewing it on Newstalk on Friday evening and he said it was going to piss rain. PP were offering Ireland +14 at evens so even though I woudn't know a lot about rugger I had to have a nibble.
Quote from: bridgegael on June 07, 2008, 10:23:29 AM
how cold would it be there this time of year?? BOD giving interview there after match, big coat on him and looked absolutly freezing.
McCaw said it was the coldest he has ever been playing rugby, that stadium is right on the seafront
Peter Stringer gets the nod to start his first game for Ireland since the Georgia game in the Rugby World Cup last September.
Stringer, who will be extending his record as the most-capped Ireland scrum half by making his 84th appearance, was a replacement last time out against New Zealand and came on during the second half for Eoin Reddan.
Another replacement who saw game-time in the New Zealand game is also promoted to the starting line-up with hooker Rory Best selected to win his 24th cap.
IRELAND TEAM & REPLACEMENTS (v Australia, Saturday, June 14, Telstra Stadium, Melbourne, kick-off 7.30pm local time/10.30am Irish time):
Player / Club / Caps
15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 7
14 - Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster) 62
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) 84 (capt)
12 - Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster) 9
11 - Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 14
10 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster) 83
9 - Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster) 83
1 - Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster) 57
2 - Rory Best (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 23
3 - John Hayes (Bruff/Munster) 85
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 46
5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) 53
6 - Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster) 33
7 - David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster) 47
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Clontarf/Leinster) 9
Replacements:
16 - Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster) 22
17 - Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster) 8
18 - Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster) 15
19 - Shane Jennings (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 2
20 - Eoin Reddan (Wasps) 11
21 - Geordan Murphy (Leicester) 57
22 - Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College/Leinster) 80
Makes the team weaker in my opinion.
I think its a poor decision to drop Reddan.
I'm disappointed Buckley has not been given a chance ahead of Horan.
Flannery is better than Best, but he was muck, so can't really have any complaints about being dropped.
Is there noone other than paddy wallace to play centre? is trimble injured?
Jennings in for injured Wallace
AUSTRALIA v IRELAND
Venue: Telstra Dome, Melbourne Date: Saturday, 14 June Kick-off: 1100 BST Coverage: Live updates on BBC Sport website
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shane Jennings comes into the team at open-side flanker
Flanker Shane Jennings has been called into the Ireland team for Saturday's Test against Australia in Melbourne.
Jennings replaces David Wallace, who failed a fitness test on a calf strain injury on Friday morning.
Leinster player Jennings is promoted from the bench, with Ulster's Stephen Ferris joining the replacements.
Veteran scrum-half Peter Stringer has been recalled by interim coach Michael Bradley, with Ulster hooker Rory Best also promoted from the bench.
Stringer takes over from Eoin Reddan following the 21-11 defeat by New Zealand.
Best's promotion sees Jerry Flannery, like Reddan, dropping to the bench.
Ferris was a late call-up to the squad because of an injury to Alan Quinlan.
Both Quinlan and Luke Fitzgerald were again not considered because of injury.
Bradley said the promotion of Stringer and Best was warranted and felt he has selected the best side possible to defeat the Wallabies.
606: DEBATE
Give your thoughts on the Ireland team
Both players were introduced as replacements during Saturday's defeat in Wellington.
"We went through every position and weighed up the pros and cons of the lads who are in the starting team and those that haven't participated in a game," Bradley said.
"Rory deserves a chance at the Test starting spot and Peter showed what he can do in the period of time against New Zealand."
Prop John Hayes and lock Donnacha O'Callaghan did not train with the rest of the squad on Tuesday, but the duo are expected to line up against the Wallabies.
Saturday's match will be the first game in charge for new Australia coach Robbie Deans and Bradley is expecting extremely difficult opposition.
"A new coach brings a fresh look so you would think there would be a new look to the Australian side," Bradley said.
Bearing in mind that it is the end of the season, we have curtailed the training for the last couple of weeks
Interim Ireland coach Michael Bradley
"I am extremely wary of Australia when they get into their stride, so it's going to be a very difficult challenge for us this weekend."
With the Telstra Dome roof set to be closed for Saturday's match, Bradley is predicting a free-flowing game with plenty of tries.
And despite the fact that his players are coming to the end of their season, Bradley is not expecting fatigue to be a factor in the final stages of the match.
"Bearing in mind that it is the end of the season, we have curtailed the training for the last couple of weeks," Bradley said.
"Training sessions have been reasonably short and we have been checking for response from the lads on a daily basis as to how they are feeling.
"They are feeling as fresh as we think we can have them at this part of the season."
Quote from: Uladh on June 10, 2008, 03:13:48 PM
Is there noone other than paddy wallace to play centre? is trimble injured?
With Trimble, Fitzgerald and D'Arcy all injured, I am happy that Wallace is the next best option. He deserves his chance.
The other Wallace was excellent v the All Blacks, but its a silver lining that Jennings will get an opportunity to make his case.
How much are we likely to lose this game by?
Quote from: magpie seanie on June 13, 2008, 03:34:06 PM
How much are we likely to lose this game by?
Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning!!! Come on seanie show a bit of Friday cheer... we at least have a chance of winning this game tomorrow!
QuoteHow much are we likely to lose this game by?
15 -20
Ah for god's sake Dinny it can't be that bad! We didn't even get beat by the All Blacks by that much, or are you blaming the weather for keeping us in it for longer than we should have been?
QuoteAh for god's sake Dinny it can't be that bad! We didn't even get beat by the All Blacks by that much, or are you blaming the weather for keeping us in it for longer than we should have been?
Number of factors, yes the weather kept us in it in NZ, poor team selection, new Aussie boss who the OZ players will be keen to impress plus he's a top top coach, the attitude of the Irish players (it's week 53, it's a long year) beaten before we even kicked a ball.....
I could be wrong and I hope I am but Bradley is just another O'Sullivan clone....
Yeah actually I don't know a lot about Bradley but I was at a coaching seminar and somebody asked big Willie Anderson who he would like to see as next Ireland coach and he said he hoped Bradley would get it not this time but probably the next time. Anderson rates him very highly and said he has experience of every level of rugby and would be the perfect man for the job.
Will Bradley even get the Munster job now? Seems like the Munster Branch aren't keen on him and he may have to sit at Connacht for the next while. I feel he won't get the Ireland job until he does well in a big appointment. England or Wales may be the place for him to go.
Ah yes the same Willy Anderson that was ran out of London Irish, Leinster and Scotland because he can't coach, not an opinion that means a whole lot. The only reason why Michael Bradley has a coaching job is because he is the son-in-law of Noel Murphy, one of the head honchos in the IRFU, it is not on ability. If he leaves Ireland he will be found out, Munster are a professional out-fit, they believe in continuity and experience Tony McGann will get that job.
Quote from: screenexile on June 13, 2008, 03:54:21 PM
Yeah actually I don't know a lot about Bradley but I was at a coaching seminar and somebody asked big Willie Anderson who he would like to see as next Ireland coach and he said he hoped Bradley would get it not this time but probably the next time. Anderson rates him very highly and said he has experience of every level of rugby and would be the perfect man for the job.
Will Bradley even get the Munster job now? Seems like the Munster Branch aren't keen on him and he may have to sit at Connacht for the next while. I feel he won't get the Ireland job until he does well in a big appointment. England or Wales may be the place for him to go.
Sitting on his hole at Connacht is about as much as he has been doing for the past couple of years. >:( We have been f**king woeful these parts 18 months. I was (still am) hoping that he did relatively well down under on this tour and he gets snapped up by some unsuspecting English club. He will never be head coach at Munster IMHO.
Fair enough. I try to follow rugby as much as I can bit wouldn't be involved any other way than reading papers and watching TV so just wouldn't be great with knowing calibre of managers and their achievements. Fair enough point about Bradley then to be honest the Munster Branch don't seem like a crowd who would do anything half assed (Unlike the IRFU) so I presume they will get the best candidate available to them and best of luck with that.
If Bradley is so bad why don't they get rid of him down in Connacht?
QuoteIf Bradley is so bad why don't they get rid of him down in Connacht?
As I said earlier the only reason why Michael Bradley has a coaching job is because he is the son-in-law of Noel Murphy, one of the head honchos in the IRFU.
Quote from: Dinny Breen on June 13, 2008, 04:40:43 PM
QuoteIf Bradley is so bad why don't they get rid of him down in Connacht?
As I said earlier the only reason why Michael Bradley has a coaching job is because he is the son-in-law of Noel Murphy, one of the head honchos in the IRFU.
.......and his salary is paid by the IRFU not Connacht. He is an IRFU employee! Cant sack him even if we want to :-[
Surely a well organised campaign from a few of the Connacht faithful would do the trick? It worked for O'Sullivan. He already has the run of poor results so why not put some pressure on him!
Unfortunately a few of the blazers at Connacht think the sun shine out of his arse! and a few blinkered supporters are in the same boat.
Hopefully Ireland do the business v the Aussies in the morning, Bradley get huge kudos for his tactical genius ::) in master minding the victory, and gets snapped up by some premiership club ;)
Is there anywhere to watch this morning's game online now?
Bradley came near enough to getting a prized scalp.
Looking at some of the comments earlier about Bradley, was anyone surprised by the way Ireland played
or at least tried to play? or was Bradley's influence minimal on the Irish game plan?
I can't remember a game where Ireland spread it out to the wings as often as this time.
Plus the subs appeared earlier and often.
Quote from: Main Street on June 14, 2008, 04:19:45 PM
Plus the subs appeared earlier and often.
That's certainly one aspect that differentiates him from O'Sullivan.
The difference between the teams was we made more silly mistakes. I don't think that was Bradley's fault
Thought he made a mistake taking off Best for Flannery. Best was going quite well and i dont think we won one of our own line outs when Flannery came on! Was never convinced about Kearney before this tour but he was exceptional both this week and last.
Did I hear correctly that Kidney is trying to gazump Leinster and take Gaffney off them?