Pick Your Ireland Squad for the Six Nations

First topic message reminder :

Pick your squad for Ireland in the Six Nations, and you could win the chance to be in a long, boring, meaningless argument with Sin E and/or rodders. Call now!

Here's my effort;

PROPS
Cian Healy, Mike Ross, Tom Court, Tony Buckley, Paddy McAllister
HOOKERS
Rory Best, Sean Cronin, Damien Varley
LOCKS
Paul O'Connell, Donnacha Ryan, Donncha O'Callaghan, Dan Tuohy, Devin Toner
BACKROW
Stephen Ferris, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip, Peter O'Mahony, Chris Henry
SCRUM HALF
Eoin Reddan, Conor Murray, Isaac Boss
OUTHALF
Ronan O'Gara, Johnny Sexton
CENTRES
Gordon D'Arcy, Paddy Wallace, Fergus McFadden, Darren Cave, Keith Earls
BACK THREE
Luke Fitzgerald, Andrew Trimble, Tommy Bowe, Rob Kearney, Gavin Duffy

Captain; Paul O'Connell
Vice-Captains; Rory Best, Ronan O'Gara, Johnny Sexton, Jamie Heaslip

Additional Players to feature for Ireland A but not the squad for the tournament proper;

Stephen Archer, Mike Sherry, Shane Jennings, Mike McCarthy, Paul Marshall, Ian Madigan, Nevin Spence, Simon Zebo, Craig Gilroy

geoff998rugby wrote: Jennings as a dummy Warburton for instance

Emphasis on the dummy geoff....that plan didn't go the best last time did it?

Stag no way does Sin E not exist...no one could make that guy up!

I vote that we're allowed say urine - of course that's not what you're reading; but I vote we end the ban on an expression that simply means you are peed off (Oh??? getting there!) - meaning annoyed, not some vaguely offensive embarrassing thing like pissing against a tree!! AHA!!!!!! that last one made it!!! But why?

Rant over.

Is saying "I'm peed off" banned here?

Wow. Didn't realise it changes it!

Geoff - if someone can't see past their nose, it doesn't matter if you point to the sunset... they still can't see past their nose.

Good point.

I am past the point of bothering on this thread to be honest.

Also I will be out of communication in a couple of hours until next Monday.
It just might have died down by then.

I'm done on this one too...not much to debate really as its pretty much the same as the RWC squad bar injuries.

I think Kidney has got it wrong in a few places, too much looking at the past rather than the present and future but hopefully a few of the wolfhounds guys can squeeze in.

Whatever the squad I'll be behind them as always

agreed rodders. lets start by beating the taffs. good start and who knows.

curious to see how we go. Just hope its an exciting tournament and we play some good rugby if we finish in the top 2 smashing.

The last few 6 nations have been way behind the HC in terms of drama and excitement lets hope this changes. bring it on

The 6N isn't as good a tournament as the HC and never will be so pointless comparing them. It's very different but enjoyable nonetheless.

I prefer the 6 nations personally, as I don't have sky for all the HC matches however I also love the HC, the problem is most games I watch end up being on TG4 rather than the live game. Not really as good.

Rory, that's why streaming was invented. TG4's HC coverage is far better though. Full matches shown nearly all the time. Why didn't RTE do that?

although underwhelmed with the selections I think that besides a few possibilities DK has gone with the best selection. I think Marshall should get a chance but instead of Boss, while TOL isnt up to his 09 level he has that capability and has been showing signs of it. Its irrelevent to an extent as Murray is streets ahead of the rest anyhow.

Other than a couple of other options - Cullen and/or DOC not included, POM getting a chance etc its a fair call.

In defence of Duffy he has been playing exceptionally well for Connacht.

All in all the best players are included.

Lets see what happens after the Wolfhounds game.

Thomond wrote:Rory, that's why streaming was invented. TG4's HC coverage is far better though. Full matches shown nearly all the time. Why didn't RTE do that?

Streaming isn't the same either - and often the quality is very poor. I really am thankful for TG4 actually, I get to see every province play rugby every week, more rugby than I ever got to watch before. I just would love to see the live experience. For example, I am definitely going to be seeing the Ulster game somewhere, I am hunting down people with Sky at this minute.

You're not using the right streams then.....

Word of advice, once you join Sky, threaten to quit after a few months and they will give you a better deal.

Thomond wrote:You're not using the right streams then.....

Word of advice, once you join Sky, threaten to quit after a few months and they will give you a better deal.

So that's why they won't let you quit when you try??!! They think you're just playing hardball so they throw in all the offers and extras you'll get - and you say "No, actually I just want to leave, honest" - "Right!! Yeah, well, we'll throw in the B Korean Movies channel in for free?????"

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Thomond wrote:Rory, that's why streaming was invented. TG4's HC coverage is far better though. Full matches shown nearly all the time. Why didn't RTE do that?

Streaming isn't the same either - and often the quality is very poor. I really am thankful for TG4 actually, I get to see every province play rugby every week, more rugby than I ever got to watch before. I just would love to see the live experience. For example, I am definitely going to be seeing the Ulster game somewhere, I am hunting down people with Sky at this minute.

Rory I'm sure stand will be showing it in the taphouse. I think its on a big screen at the Europa too.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

red_stag wrote:I think we need a complete new look centre pairing. Its a disgrace that James Downey has been over looked. Him and Earls would be a nod to the future. Missed opportunity.

Downey would just add to the problem. We don't need one dimensional centres with shaky 13s outside them. Do you honestly think Downey and Earls would have made a good partnership stag? That would be the biggest step backwards possible.

Jesus Christ Rory, every single time! Every single time you go for it! He doesn't even have to work at it any more.

Why do you keep biting on such rancid bait?

Eh calm down a bit there Notch I will try and work on my forum baiting skills from now on sure..

roddersm wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

Thomond wrote:Rory, that's why streaming was invented. TG4's HC coverage is far better though. Full matches shown nearly all the time. Why didn't RTE do that?

Streaming isn't the same either - and often the quality is very poor. I really am thankful for TG4 actually, I get to see every province play rugby every week, more rugby than I ever got to watch before. I just would love to see the live experience. For example, I am definitely going to be seeing the Ulster game somewhere, I am hunting down people with Sky at this minute.

Rory I'm sure stand will be showing it in the taphouse. I think its on a big screen at the Europa too.

Definitely. Will be showing all the games that day. Leinster before and munster after.

Rory if I'm in Belfast then I'll head to the bar to watch the game, if so you are welcome to join us if you don't get anything else sorted.

Thanks very much for the offer rodders I would love to catch up some time with you guys for a game, but I got sorted for this thankfully!

Good man Rory enjoy the game!

Paddy McAllister has had to withdraw from the Additionals due to an injury

Paddy always seems to get injured. Does he have a recurring injury Geoff or is he just unlucky? It is such a shame.

01 Cian Healy
02 Sean Cronin
03 Mike Ross
04 Donnacha Ryan
05 Paul O'Connell
06 Stephen Ferris
07 Peter O'Mahony
08 Sean O'Brien
09 Conor Murray
10 Jonathan Sexton
11 Simon Zebo
12 Fergus McFadden
13 Darren Cave
14 Luke Fitzgerald
15 Rob Kearney

16 Rory Best
17 Paddy McAllister
18 John Andress
19 Devon Toner
20 Chris Henry
21 Paul Marshall
22 Ian Madigan
23 Keith Earls

R Damien Varley
R Tom Court
R Jamie Hagan
R Donncha O'Callaghan
R Jamie Heaslip
R Eoin Reddan
R Ronan O'Gara
R Tommy Bowe

Easy as we like.

Are you ill or something?

Extremely tasty first 15 Stag!

Now why should it also be considered so wrong to try something like it - I wonder?

But then maybe I'll be proven wrong and it'll show up.

red_stag wrote:01 Cian Healy
02 Sean Cronin
03 Mike Ross
04 Donnacha Ryan
05 Paul O'Connell
06 Stephen Ferris
07 Peter O'Mahony
08 Sean O'Brien
09 Conor Murray
10 Jonathan Sexton
11 Simon Zebo
12 Fergus McFadden
13 Darren Cave
14 Luke Fitzgerald
15 Rob Kearney

16 Rory Best
17 Paddy McAllister
18 John Andress
19 Devon Toner
20 Chris Henry
21 Paul Marshall
22 Ian Madigan
23 Keith Earls

R Damien Varley
R Tom Court
R Jamie Hagan
R Donncha O'Callaghan
R Jamie Heaslip
R Eoin Reddan
R Ronan O'Gara
R Tommy Bowe

Easy as we like.

you been on the winegums over the weekend?

Stag thats a team for Rumania or Georgia or a Pacific Island not the 6N

No justification for droping Best, Heaslip or Trimble for example

Also Cave and McAllister aren't even fit

Forgot the Wolfhounds

01 Brett Wilkinson
02 Mike Sherry
03 Stephen Archer
04 Ian Nagle
05 Dan Tuohy
06 Kevin McLaughlin
07 Willie Faloon
08 Rhys Ruddock
09 Isaac Boss
10 Ian Keatley
11 Fionn Carr
12 James Downey
13 Nevin Spence
14 Craig Gilroy
15 Denis Hurley

I still say it's a tasty team and I'd like to see it in action.

Okay, okay then - to the sensitive! - only in my dreams then. I'll try dreaming the performance tonight and get back to you all on how they performed.

I like stags team. I think that backrow looks bloody good. Not sure about Cronin over Best though.

Cronin just adds a little more unpredictablity to a nice group of unpredictability.

Not saying Best is predictable 'Bad' (he's solidity with a capital S for senior player), simply saying I'd like to see Stag's team operate and see what they'd do. It'd be nice to think a system would develop within the squad whereby question marks about Best or Heaslip wouldn't surface and you'd simply say "Him? He's up next week, I'd say"

That's what we're looking for when the jokes end - a real squad of equals that play International for us and one that we are all comfortable with whoever shows up on any given week.

red_stag wrote:Forgot the Wolfhounds

01 Brett Wilkinson
02 Mike Sherry
03 Stephen Archer
04 Ian Nagle
05 Dan Tuohy
06 Kevin McLaughlin
07 Willie Faloon
08 Rhys Ruddock
09 Isaac Boss
10 Ian Keatley
11 Fionn Carr
12 James Downey
13 Nevin Spence
14 Craig Gilroy
15 Denis Hurley

I was wrong...you werent on the winegums...you have been sniffing glue again...

red_stag wrote:01 Cian Healy
02 Sean Cronin
03 Mike Ross
04 Donnacha Ryan
05 Paul O'Connell
06 Stephen Ferris
07 Peter O'Mahony
08 Sean O'Brien
09 Conor Murray
10 Jonathan Sexton
11 Simon Zebo
12 Fergus McFadden
13 Darren Cave
14 Luke Fitzgerald
15 Rob Kearney

16 Rory Best
17 Paddy McAllister
18 John Andress
19 Devon Toner
20 Chris Henry
21 Paul Marshall
22 Ian Madigan
23 Keith Earls

R Damien Varley
R Tom Court
R Jamie Hagan
R Donncha O'Callaghan
R Jamie Heaslip
R Eoin Reddan
R Ronan O'Gara
R Tommy Bowe

Easy as we like.

Cave is injured no?

I wouldn’t mind that team though.

E's avin a giraffe.

not like him *cough*

I would love to see that team play. When will Ireland fans realise that you cannot win every single game if you want a team to reach new heights.

How about for one year, just one year, we come 3rd/4th but give a new generation some experience? Who knows, they might even surprise us.

clivemcl wrote:When will Ireland fans realise that you cannot win every single game if you want a team to reach new heights.

Oh we know it...believe me, we know it. It's the 'can we win any game' puzzle we're working on now

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/25435.php

Zebo called up to Wolfhounds to replace injured Luke Fitz.

Gilroy takes his place as an additional player.

Carr replaces Conway as an additional due to injury also.

Paddy McAllister replaced by Jack McGrath.

Don't ya just love Whiff of Cordite.

Declan Kidney

Uncle Deccie will inherit the happiest 52-man squad in Irish history. Hooray! A record three provinces in the HEC knockouts, and Connacht finally ending their losing streak. Munster finally found a cutting edge, Jamie Heaslip is at his marauding best, and Ulster have become men. But with that comes heightened expectations. Deccie will have to work extra-hard to turn this group of in-form players into the lateral-attacking, penalty-condecing, gameplan-confused, poorly selected side we're used to seeing. The real hard work begins now.

Full article here: -

http://whiffofcordite.blogspot.com/2012/01/weeks-out-round-two.html

And I thought I was his harshest critic.

He needs to use the Force. For sure.

Zebo for Ireland!

Gibson wrote: Zebo for Ireland!

"Ulster wing Gilroy, who comes in for the injured Simon Zebo, is among six additional players who will train with the squad before the opener with Wales."

Great reporting there from Auntie Beeb.

Rava wrote:Don't ya just love Whiff of Cordite.

Declan Kidney

Uncle Deccie will inherit the happiest 52-man squad in Irish history. Hooray! A record three provinces in the HEC knockouts, and Connacht finally ending their losing streak. Munster finally found a cutting edge, Jamie Heaslip is at his marauding best, and Ulster have become men. But with that comes heightened expectations. Deccie will have to work extra-hard to turn this group of in-form players into the lateral-attacking, penalty-condecing, gameplan-confused, poorly selected side we're used to seeing. The real hard work begins now.

Full article here: -

http://whiffofcordite.blogspot.com/2012/01/weeks-out-round-two.html

But seriously. If Deccie does pull it off, and gets more abject performances from these players, he has to have his contract terminated.

Harsh Feckless. Harsh.
Harsh on the IRFU.

But true.
This is not England. A land where, when they phhok-up, they openly admit it and continually repeat it. Sack the coaches. Keep the Andrews dross.
That takes balls man. Balls built on an Empire.

But. This is Ireland. We have a 100 years of in-built under-achievement behind us. We just love givin it a lash. With zero actual progression in real terms.

And you, are actually suggesting we change that tack? Actually shifting our sporting psyche to Leinsters?

You Sir, are a lunatic. You. You and your ilk. Ye with your combined, deluded, visions of Irish rugby grandeur - will never catch on. Not in MY country anyway.

Rava wrote:Don't ya just love Whiff of Cordite.

Declan Kidney

Uncle Deccie will inherit the happiest 52-man squad in Irish history. Hooray! A record three provinces in the HEC knockouts, and Connacht finally ending their losing streak. Munster finally found a cutting edge, Jamie Heaslip is at his marauding best, and Ulster have become men. But with that comes heightened expectations. Deccie will have to work extra-hard to turn this group of in-form players into the lateral-attacking, penalty-condecing, gameplan-confused, poorly selected side we're used to seeing. The real hard work begins now.

Full article here: -

http://whiffofcordite.blogspot.com/2012/01/weeks-out-round-two.html

No no no! I just won't have this negativity!

We are going to win the 6N and smash all before us! In Deccie we trust!

Where's Sin and DOD when you need them?? ...

Dont really care if we win the 6-N or not. Those dreams are for insects.
We just need to find our team. A team, that fits into some sort of a game plan.
A team to beat the AB's.

Let the Scots win the 6-N. I dont give a phhhok. Just let's evolve at World level.

He has to go really.

clivemcl wrote:I would love to see that team play. When will Ireland fans realise that you cannot win every single game if you want a team to reach new heights.

How about for one year, just one year, we come 3rd/4th but give a new generation some experience? Who knows, they might even surprise us.

will you all please just stop this now. Yes you too Gibson. This is Ireland not phooking the all blacks plus you have all short memories. Ireland and mass changes to the team rarely work. Lets also take a realistic look at the HC.
Leinster in against first timers Montpellier, has beens bath and a mediocre Glasgow, Ulster scrape through against a failing Leicester, ASM who are only a shadow of their previous sides and the worst Italian team. Munster through luck and inaccuracy by their opponents manage to win 6/6, no one still understands how. And yet people want to throw in players left right and centre.

So ok, who from Ulster and leinster is willing to give up their positions in the Irish team..who do you want to drop from the probable Irish team...more than likely it will be the following
Healy
Best
Ross
Ryan
POC
Ferris
SOB
Heaslip
Murray
Sexton
Trimble
Darcy
Earls
Bowe
Kearney

Decco. Calm down man. Why is it, that all Limerick men lose it, when the status-quo is even questioned? Same ol. Same ol.

Here's to another 100 years of mediocrity bud.

Zebo in the Wolfhounds now. Another great game and a promotion to the final 30?

Id fuccccking love it. It would be a clear statement of a Kidney awakening. He wouldnt make it, but just like to see him told he could.

You'd hate it. Ooh No.Too much change already. I cant handle it. Where's de Bull?

DOD wrote:

clivemcl wrote:I would love to see that team play. When will Ireland fans realise that you cannot win every single game if you want a team to reach new heights.

How about for one year, just one year, we come 3rd/4th but give a new generation some experience? Who knows, they might even surprise us.

will you all please just stop this now. Yes you too Gibson. This is Ireland not phooking the all blacks plus you have all short memories. Ireland and mass changes to the team rarely work. Lets also take a realistic look at the HC.
Leinster in against first timers Montpellier, has beens bath and a mediocre Glasgow, Ulster scrape through against a failing Leicester, ASM who are only a shadow of their previous sides and the worst Italian team. Munster through luck and inaccuracy by their opponents manage to win 6/6, no one still understands how. And yet people want to throw in players left right and centre.

So ok, who from Ulster and leinster is willing to give up their positions in the Irish team..who do you want to drop from the probable Irish team...more than likely it will be the following
Healy
Best
Ross
Ryan
POC
Ferris
SOB
Heaslip
Murray
Sexton
Trimble
Darcy
Earls
Bowe
Kearney

Ah yeah.That's the team Id pick. From Kidneys squad. So, why are we even discussing it?