Ireland Training Squad Named For Two Day Camp

Sin é wrote:Out/Injured after the weekend: D'Arcy, O'Gara, Reddan, Dec Fitzpatrick, Mick McCarthy, Zebo

In: Downey, Madigan, P. Marshall, Loghney, Toner & Gilroy.

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from IRFU:

Following the weekend action involving the Irish provinces in the RaboDirect Pro12, there have been several additions to the Ireland training squad meeting up in Carton house this week.
Gordon D'Arcy took a knock to his ribs and is unable to train, with uncapped Munster centre James Downey called up to replace him.

Outhalf Ronan O'Gara has a dead leg and is also unable to train, so the uncapped Leinster back Ian Madigan joins the squad.

Scrumhalf Paul Marshall comes into the squad in place of Eoin Reddan who was unable to play at the weekend due to a leg injury.

Prop Ronan Loughney comes into the squad in place of Declan Fitzpatrick, who is continuing rehab on a knee injury in Ulster.

Second row Mike McCarthy picked up a calf knock and is replaced by Leinster second row Devin Toner.

The final change is Simon Zebo, who turned an ankle and is unable to train. Craig Gilroy replaces him in the training squad.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

Sin é wrote:Out/Injured after the weekend: D'Arcy, O'Gara, Reddan, Dec Fitzpatrick, Mick McCarthy, Zebo

In: Downey, Madigan, P. Marshall, Loghney, Toner & Gilroy.

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from IRFU:

Following the weekend action involving the Irish provinces in the RaboDirect Pro12, there have been several additions to the Ireland training squad meeting up in Carton house this week.
Gordon D'Arcy took a knock to his ribs and is unable to train, with uncapped Munster centre James Downey called up to replace him.

Outhalf Ronan O'Gara has a dead leg and is also unable to train, so the uncapped Leinster back Ian Madigan joins the squad.

Scrumhalf Paul Marshall comes into the squad in place of Eoin Reddan who was unable to play at the weekend due to a leg injury.

Prop Ronan Loughney comes into the squad in place of Declan Fitzpatrick, who is continuing rehab on a knee injury in Ulster.

Second row Mike McCarthy picked up a calf knock and is replaced by Leinster second row Devin Toner.

The final change is Simon Zebo, who turned an ankle and is unable to train. Craig Gilroy replaces him in the training squad.

so these guys were only called up because of injuries they should be in the squad anyway...

thebandwagonsociety wrote:D'arcy will find it tough to get that place back.
Madigan in to see what the set up is like.
Gilroy likewise.
Toner can hold a tackle bag for the 2 days.

Sin é wrote:

thebandwagonsociety wrote:D'arcy will find it tough to get that place back.
Madigan in to see what the set up is like.
Gilroy likewise.
Toner can hold a tackle bag for the 2 days.

Gilroy played in the Baa-Baas game just prior to the tour to NZ. Zebo was preferred.

Rava wrote:I just wondered what the "Zebo was preferred" comment had to do with it.

We've had to swallow some hard truths, admits Sexton

The trouble is, Ireland aren't doing anything overly exciting to attract the punters, most of whom are more enthralled with what their provinces are up to.

The trouble is, Ireland aren't doing anything overly exciting to attract the punters, most of whom are more enthralled with what their provinces are up to.

By David Kelly

Tuesday September 25 2012

If the IRFU were not appraised of the gradual disconnect between its public and team, the sluggish trill of the Lansdowne Road cash registers will have fully informed them.

Although they ignored any mention of the Hamilton humiliation against New Zealand in their AGM, the potential for vast swathes of empty seats in Lansdowne Road will always rouse IRFU honchos from their torpor.

Hence the big three -- Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell and Jonny Sexton, Ireland's most marketable rugby stars -- were wheeled out for a media bun-fight yesterday with one simple aim: to get bums on seats.

The trouble is, Ireland aren't doing anything overly exciting to attract the punters, most of whom are more enthralled with what their provinces are up to.

Sexton knows only provincial domination.

brilliance

He has been a central part of three Heineken Cup successes in four seasons for Leinster. His Ireland career has been less fulfilling, however, despite occasional flashes of brilliance.

After a notable congregation a month ago, a la the famous Enfield meeting pre-2009 Grand Slam, Sexton has been reaffirming the need for him and his team-mates to renew their commitment to the green of Ireland.

"There's a hell of a lot of stuff that we spoke about," says Sexton of the August 29 crisis summit at Lansdowne Road.

"There were some hard truths. It was probably a tough meeting to go through. We watched a lot of the last Test, the 60-0 loss to New Zealand.

"We have to take a bit of responsibility for that and there has to be some type of, not backlash, but there has to be some type of response.

"We spoke about the fact that Ireland has to be our No 1 and it has to be a step up when we come back from the provinces.

"It hasn't been for the want of trying, things just haven't gone for us. We spoke about not being too far away, either. We spoke about the second Test where we lost with the last kick of the game; there was Wales when we lost with the last kick of the game.

"France, you know, we threw away a lead and it could have been different. So coming into the England game we could have been going for a Grand Slam if it weren't for a couple of lapses in concentration towards the end of the Welsh and French games.

"We know it's just small margins. We know we're close, but there's lots to do before we get to that stage of winning."

A recurring theme that this Irish team has lost its erstwhile unerring focus is referred to by Sexton; whether this call to arms from the class of 2012 can replicate the memorable Grand Slam of just a few years ago remains to be seen.

"I wasn't involved in 2009 but looking from the outside the guys had a pretty clear focus to win the Grand Slam and I don't think anything was going to stop them.

"I think a lot of the newer guys who came in maybe thought they were going to have that success straight away, considering that we had so much success with our provinces, but it didn't work like that.

"International rugby's not like that. You've got to go out and approach it differently to that. I think we're desperate for a bit of success now this year."

His captain stoutly endorses this sentiment. "There is a pressure on us to perform and get back to the standards we expect of ourselves," O'Driscoll says.

"I am a big believer in performances looking after results rather than being results-driven. If you're performing well, you get that knock-on effect in terms of the team confidence and momentum.

"We have to make sure when we spend time together in camp like this, we enjoy it again. Any time we have been successful, we have built a unity as a team and a squad.

"We have to go back to working on that. It doesn't happen by accident. You have to constantly work at it. We're getting there. And the meeting last month will help that no end."

One gets the feeling that the Irish camp will not want their re-evaluation to mirror what happened in the 2008 meeting, but there are striking similarities, particularly in terms of the heartfelt honesty displayed therein.

"Sometimes you just need to be honest with each other," O'Driscoll reveals. "A lot of really good things were said at that meeting.

"It's not that you go through the motions being with Ireland. But sometimes it's good to take stock of how lucky you are and what you're actually involved in.

"Maybe we were guilty of taking the fact that we were representing our country for granted and one should never do that.

"It's important that we understand the pride that comes with wearing the jersey and the respect that needs to be shown every time we put it on. If everyone can think that way, and we can get the functional part of it right too, we can be in a good place.

"There's only one thing greater than playing for your country and that's winning for your country," he says sternly.

"We have to try to remember what that's like and make that feeling happen more often than not."[b]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/weve-had-to-swallow-some-hard-truths-admits-sexton-3240512.html

Sin é wrote:

Rava wrote:I just wondered what the "Zebo was preferred" comment had to do with it.

It was in reply to a comment by Pete that Gilroy was the form call (over Zebo).

Gilroy was in Ireland camp before and got selected to play the Baa-baas (as did Zebo), so its not like Gilroy is being ignored.