Irish World Cup 30

First topic message reminder :

Declan Kidney announced the Ireland Rugby Squad for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand today.


The squad will be captained by Brian O'Driscoll.

Forwards (16) Caps in Brackets

Props (4)
Tony Buckley (Sale Sharks)(23)
Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)(20)
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(20)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)(9)

Hookers (3)

Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)(49)
Sean Cronin (not assigned club yet/Leinster)(13)
Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)(39)

Second Rows (4)

Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)(31)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)(74)
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)(77)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)(9)

Backrows (5)

Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)(25)
Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)(37)
Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)(52)
Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)(11)
David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)(72)

Backs (14)

Scrumhalves (3)

Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster)(14)
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(1)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(31)

Outhalves (2)

Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)(110)
Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)(18)

Centres (3)

Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)(58)
Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) captain(113)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)(28)

Outside Backs (6)

Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)(39)
Keith Earls (Thomond/Munster)(20)
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)(29)
Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers)(69)
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(4)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)(35)

Provincial Breakdown; Leinster 13, Munster 9, Ulster 5, Overseas 3

And the county breakdown. There are 12 counties and 2 overseas countries represented in the squad. For players born oversea but who grew up in Ireland, I put them down in the county they grew up and regard themselves as being from.

Limerick (7); Cronin, Flannery, Poc, D. Wallace, Reddan, Murray, Earls
Cork (4); Buckley, Ross, Doc, Rog
Dublin (3); Bod, Healy, Sexton
Kildare (3); Heaslip, G. Murphy, McFadden
Tipperary (2); Leamy, Ryan
Antrim (1); Ferris
Down (1); P.Wallace
Carlow (1); O'Brien
Armagh (1); Best
Wicklow (1); Cullen
Wexford (1); D'arcy
Louth (1); Kearney
Monaghan (1); Bowe
Derry/Londonderry/Whatever you want yourself (1); Trimble
Brisbane (1); Court
Tokoroa (1); Boss

That breaks down as;
Munster 13
Leinster 10
Ulster 5
Abroad/Poaches 2

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Comfort wrote:
Does anyone in Ireland rate Downey at 12 of northampton?

I would take Paddy Wallace ahead of him every time.

No... Really. I would.

That deserves a pint eh?

Notch wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Comfort wrote:
Does anyone in Ireland rate Downey at 12 of northampton?

I would take Paddy Wallace ahead of him every time.

No... Really. I would.

That deserves a pint eh?

Thanks Mate. Have one yourself

Notch wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Comfort wrote:
Does anyone in Ireland rate Downey at 12 of northampton?

I would take Paddy Wallace ahead of him every time.

No... Really. I would.

That deserves a pint eh?

Or a smack of some common sense

I've liked the look of McFadden when I've seen him, it'd be nice to see him get a sustained run alongside BOD to see what they could do.

A lot has always been said of what a good footballer Fitzy is, hes another who's been inconsistent this season, he's been over-running passes a lot aswell. Maybe a move to inside centre could do wonders with BOD outside him.

To be fair, I think Ireland actually have a lot of options at 12 to pair with BOD, its just unfortunate none of them are really that experienced there or starting there regularly enough.

I dont think McFadden is being brought as just a backup winger. He is a centre - first and foremost. Id see no problem with him playing alongside BOD at the WC. It may be just what this team needs to spark. I'd like to see him play inside Earls at some stage tomorrow. Could be the future for us. Been saying that for a while now. Im sure Kidney will try it. Either that or him outside Darcy. Its only England forfeicsake...