Ireland's 6N training squad announcement (this wednesday)

First topic message reminder :

This Wednesday see's Declan Kidney announce possibly his final training squad for a competition as Ireland Head Coach. Indeed within the next 5 months or so Kidney's contract will expire and he may very well find himself looking for another job. Is this reason to throw caution to the wind? Many of us certainly hope so although some young and/or exciting players are now injured it looks like it will have less of a bang than it could have had if it had been announced 2 weeks ago.

Injuries rule out O'Connell which is a huge loss, as well as Marshall and Bowe who would have been hoping to be involved. Ferris is another who is out for what would appear most of the tournament if not the whole thing.

This time last year Kidney announced a 30 man training squad and a 23 man squad for the Wolfhounds game.

Ireland Training Squad (39):

Ireland Squad (club/province/international caps):
Michael Bent (Unattached/Leinster/2)
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster/62)
Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster/15)
Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster/3)
Tom Court (Malone/Ulster/29)
Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster/23)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster/71)
Keith Earls (Thomond/Munster/34)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster/23)
Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon /Ulster/2)
Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster/1)
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster/35)
Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster/52) Captain
Iain Henderson (Queens University/Ulster/2)
Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster/4)
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)*
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)*
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster/41)
David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster/2)
Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)*
Paul Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster/)*
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster/14)
Mike McCarthy (Buccaneers/Connacht/6)
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster/16)
Dave McSharry (Galwegians/Connacht/)*
Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster/22)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster/91)
Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster/120)
Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster/126)
Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster/9)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster/47)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster/24)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster/23)
Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary's College/Leinster/34)
Lewis Stevenson (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster/)*
Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster/2)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster/3)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster/49)
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster/3)

This seems unfair on the Saxons!

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/brian-odriscolls-wolfhounds-date-3355805.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

BRIAN O'DRISCOLL is expected to be named in the Ireland Wolfhounds side to face an England Saxons side in Galway on Friday week, January 25.

The Ireland captain will be named in the Ireland 'A' side for the first time in his illustrious career to facilitate his getting some much-needed game time ahead of Ireland's opening Six Nations game against Wales in Cardiff on February 2.

And O'Driscoll, who has 120 caps for his country, can expect to be in good company in Galway, with Rob Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald and Sean O'Brien also expected to be included. All four are short of match practice this season.

Potential Wolfhounds team?

Court Cronin Bent
Stevenson Toner
Henderson Wilson O'Brien

Boss Keatley
McSharry O'Driscoll (c)
Fitzgerald Kearney O'Dea

Sherry Kilcoyne Fitzpatrick Swift Diack Marmion Madigan Henshaw

That would be a pretty exceptional A team.

The people of Galway will be delighted!

Does anyone know if this match is on tv?

I'd say it'll be on TG4.

Sky will cover the Saxons games I'm fairly certain. Indo reporting that 4 fly halves will be named and Madigan ain't one if them. I wonder if Conor George is on the WUM

When they say,

"Live at 10:00am today.....?"

The senior Ireland national coaching team will be taking charge of that Wolfhounds side which will play the England Saxons in the Galway Sportsground on Friday, January 25th.
It was also announced that Munster Assistant Coach Anthony Foley and Leinster Rugby's Greg Feek will be part of that coaching team for the Wolfhounds game and will continue to work with the Ireland squad throughout the RBS 6 Nations Championship.

The move to involve the senior coaches with the Wolfhounds team is designed to aid preparations for Ireland's opening game against Wales in Cardiff by giving the Ireland coaching staff the opportunity to work with the players and also give those same players a chance to impress the coaches.

The squad will see several further additions to it, primarily in the backrow, following this weekend's round of European games. Both squads will train together in the Ireland training base in Carton House, with a Wolfhounds squad selected later next week. After the Wolfhounds game, a shortened training squad will be selected for the Wales game.

In addition to the squad being announced, it was also confirmed that Jamie Heaslip would continue in the captaincy for the RBS 6 Nations Championship after leading the side during the Guinness Series in November.

Ireland Coach Declan Kidney said, "Our priority is the Wales game, but there is an opportunity in the Wolfhounds match for some of the players as we head into the Six Nations. While the majority of our focus is on the preparations for the Wales game, the coaching staff felt it made sense to have time with the wider group of players and also to have two fully fit teams on the field ready to train after what is usually an attritional end to the group stages in Europe.

There are quite a few players who have been out injured and could be lacking game time, so this will be the ideal chance for them and the newer members in the squad to challenge for places in the senior team. After the Wolfhounds game we will able to name a smaller squad which will train together and prepare for the Wales game."

Commenting on the captaincy, Kidney said "Jamie had done a really good job for the squad and management during November and I felt that now was the correct time to do this. Brian has had very little rugby in the last number of months and I think he deserves the space and time to concentrate on getting himself back playing fully fit. We need Brian the player just as much as we need Brian the captain and typical of the man and the selfless way he has contributed to Irish Rugby and the Ireland team, he has said that the captain and the team would have his full support."

Brian O'Driscoll said, "The captaincy has been a big part of my career and life over the last number of years, and while I was naturally very disappointed not to be leading the team in the Six nations, when I talked it through with Declan I accepted the reasons behind the decision. I've always known that the Rugby World Cup in 2015 was most likely a bridge too far for me, so at some point a player, who will most likely be there for the tournament, needs to build that captaincy experience. Jamie will do a fantastic job and along with the other senior players in the leadership group, I will be giving him all of the support that he needs."

Jamie Heaslip said, "I was incredibly honoured when Declan asked me back in November to lead the team in Brian's absence. To lead your country is the ultimate in any sport. To get the opportunity again, considering what an inspirational leader Brian is and the other players who could have been chosen to captain the team, is even more humbling. I know Brian as a teammate and as a friend and I will be relying on his and the other players support as we head into the Championship.

Ireland Training Squad (39):

Ireland Squad (club/province/international caps):
Michael Bent (Unattached/Leinster/2)
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster/62)
Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster/15)
Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster/3)
Tom Court (Malone/Ulster/29)
Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster/23)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster/71)
Keith Earls (Thomond/Munster/34)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster/23)
Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon /Ulster/2)
Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster/1)
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster/35)
Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster/52) Captain
Iain Henderson (Queens University/Ulster/2)
Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster/4)
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)*
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)*
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster/41)
David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster/2)
Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)*
Paul Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster/)*
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster/14)
Mike McCarthy (Buccaneers/Connacht/6)
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster/16)
Dave McSharry (Galwegians/Connacht/)*
Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster/22)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster/91)
Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster/120)
Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster/126)
Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster/9)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster/47)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster/24)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster/23)
Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary's College/Leinster/34)
Lewis Stevenson (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster/)*
Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster/2)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster/3)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster/49)
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster/3)

N.B. *denotes uncapped player

Not available due to injury:
Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster/51)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster/35)
Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
John Muldoon (Galwegians/Connacht/3)
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster/85)
Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster/5)

Great squad, Deccie is really going for it!

Touhy out injured. Shoite that ain't good. Squad as anticipated really. Has BOD captained Ireland for the last time?

Tuohy will be back for the ospreys game willy. Not to many left out! I guess felix Jones and and keatley are the big(ger) names not in

Standulstermen wrote:I guess felix Jones and and keatley are the big(ger) names not in

I'd include Tommy O'Donnell too.

I could include Diack then stag. The only thing that surprises me about their omissions is that we now have only 4 back rowers and Henderson in the squad

Does that hint that they are expecting ferris back by the end of February/march?

red_stag wrote:

Standulstermen wrote:I guess felix Jones and and keatley are the big(ger) names not in

I'd include Tommy O'Donnell too.

Yeah looks like Felix has been leap frogged by Henshaw. Big call.

The captaincy is another big call, I am surprised by that, but at least it means we will get a clean fight between BOD, Earls and anyone else DK is thinking of for the 13 jersey.

I imagine that means BOD will not captain the Lions then.

I thought Keatley would get chosen over Madigan also

Heaslip the new Ireland captain then? Well picked up Pete. Is it strange that Deccie has done that given this could be his last few games coaching Ireland. A new coach might have his own ideas about captain.

They do say they will be adding more back rows after the games this weekend.

Am I correct in counting 4 backrows and 6 2nd rows? I guess Henderson will move to the back row to make it 5 and 5 but still a bit light in that area? Maybe Kevin McL to come in? Wilson?

Delighted for Henshaw, McSharry and Stevenson. Well deserved. Even if it’s only the Wolfhounds at this stage, it’s a mark of how hard the three of them have been working.

Not sure Jackson deserves to be there, on current form. But it’s telling about Ulster’s current injury woes that 4 of the 6 unavailable due to injury are Ulster players.

Henderson is actually a back row who has had to play in the second row because of injuries although he played there at school.

Yeah more backrows are being added.

I'd guess Wilson, McLaughlin and o'donnell

I'd call Hendy a lock before being a 6 I must say

He was an 8 at school, maybe he should be an 8 long term

http://thefrontrowunion.com/profiles/guys/william-iain-henderson/

Actually, he is listed as a Lock on the Ulster site.

I think he will be/is an excellent 6!

I think most of us want him to be a lock in the long term but he has been significantly more impressive as a backrower than second row for Ulster the few times he has played.

About time Madigan made a squad

Hookisms and Hyperbole wrote:I think most of us want him to be a lock in the long term but he has been significantly more impressive as a backrower than second row for Ulster the few times he has played.

Absolutely true. I hope he stays as a six, although part of that is wanting a convenient like-for-like replacement for 1F. He has been good in the scrums as lock, though, which is handy.

I think he's most likely to end up at 5, then 8 and then 6. He was playing better at 6, but has his slight downturn in form been because of change in remit at 5 or not playing as well?

I Think it is easier to be standout at 6 but I would argue his showing against Leinster in the 2nd row is as impressive an outing as he has had for us. I still think he could be a 2nd row as he is mixing it with seasoned internationals like kellock and not coming off 2nd best, and all this at 20 years old!

Ireland need more locks. That's what Henderson should be developed for.

It's not about what Ireland needs though pot. If it were, he would be on a central contract. He isn't so it's about what ulster needs right now

To be fair stand ulster could do with him playing lock at the moment also.

WillyGilly wrote:To be fair stand ulster could do with him playing lock at the moment also.

You think so? Only because of injuries, I'd say. In a few more weeks, with Muller and Tuohy back, I'll be very happy with our four second-row options (Muller, Tuohy, Stevenson and McComb).

Well done to Heaslip on retaining the captaincy, looks like it's not just a temporary thing for him.

And congrats to the new caps in the squad. No shocking ommissions, but it's a big squad so we'll see what kind of match day squad is picked in a couple of weeks...

O Gara's citing case will be heard today in Dublin, he faces a minimum four week ban if found guilty, which would see him out for at least the first two games.

I think ROG being found guilty might be the only way we see Madigan or Jackson get any game time this 6N, so could be in the interests of the team long term.

Squad looks good given the injuries, I imagine we'll see Cronin, Fitzpatrick, Kilcoyne, Toner, Stevenson, Boss, Madigan, McSharry Henshaw, only with the Wolfhounds.

Sorted by position:

Looshead Props: Tom Court, Cian Healy, Dave Kilcoyne

Hookers: Rory Best, Sean Cronin, Richard Strauss

Tighthead Props: Michael Bent, Declan Fitzpatrick, Mike Ross

Second Row: Mike McCarthy, Donncha O’Callaghan, Donnacha Ryan Lewis Stevenson, Devin Toner

Backrow: Iain Henderson, Jamie Heaslip, Chris Henry, Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony

Scrumhalves: Isaac Boss, Paul Marshall, Conor Murray, Eoin Reddan

Flyhalves: Paddy Jackson, Ian Madigan, Ronan O’Gara, Jonathan Sexton

Centres: Daren Cave, Gordon Darcy, Keith Earls, Dave McSharry, Brian O’Driscoll

Winger: Luke Fitzgerald, Craig Gilroy, Fergus McFadden, Andrew Trimble, Simon Zebo

Fullback: Robbie Henshaw, Rob Kearney

Mick

Is Heaslip retaining the captaincy the right move though? I'm pleased to see someone other than O'Connell and O'Driscoll got it but if we get a new coach by the AI's he may have his own designs and shifting the captaincy again isn't ideal.

Just a thought..

Standulstermen wrote:Mick

Is Heaslip retaining the captaincy the right move though? I'm pleased to see someone other than O'Connell and O'Driscoll got it but if we get a new coach by the AI's he may have his own designs and shifting the captaincy again isn't ideal.

Just a thought..

Yeah that's a good point. It does mean the next coach will have one less thing to put his stamp on.

Also interesting to compare the squadsto last year's training squad, shows the number of youngsters/additions coming through:

Ireland Squad 2013 vs 2012 - Announced squad has been expanded from 32 to 39.

Out from 2012 (Injury or Exclusion) - Squad of 32:
Tommy Bowe
Stephen Ferris
Paul O Connell
Leo Cullen
Shane Jennings
Paddy Wallace
Ian Nagle
Tiernan O Halloran
Paddy McAllister
Andrew Conway
Total=10

In for 2013 - Squad of 39:
Michael Bent
Isaac Boss
Darren Cave
Luke Fitz
Declan Fitzpatrick
Iain Henderson
Chris Henry
Robbie Henshaw
Paddy Jackson
David Kilcoyne
Ian Madigan
Paul Marshall
Mike McCarthy
Dave McSharry
Lewis Stevenson
Richardt Strauss
Devin Toner
Total=17

Standulstermen wrote:It's not about what Ireland needs though pot. If it were, he would be on a central contract. He isn't so it's about what ulster needs right now

The IRFU pay a certain proportion of his contract*, so they they probably would have such input (though it seems that Ulster use him where they need him anyway).

*All provincial contracts, including NIQ players.

Mickado wrote:Well done to Heaslip on retaining the captaincy, looks like it's not just a temporary thing for him.

And congrats to the new caps in the squad. No shocking ommissions, but it's a big squad so we'll see what kind of match day squad is picked in a couple of weeks...

I'd say it probably is a temporary thing. Making BOD a captain so young was in hindsight a bad thing because it came to stage where it was a big deal to drop him. Much better to develop the leadership skills by rotating the the captaincy in the squad which also takes the pressure off one individual.

It will be interesting to see who is pack leader when POC comes back!

Dont recall there ever being a need to drop him or anyone playing better at 13 to replace him. He probably could have benefited from less pressure. Simon Easterby probably should have been given it.

GunsGerms wrote:Dont recall there ever being a need to drop him or anyone playing better at 13 to replace him. He probably could have benefited from less pressure. Simon Easterby probably should have been given it.

Its not about dropping him, its about developing other leaders in the squad. During Brian's captaincy, there were at least a few leaders around him like Easterby, Foley, POC who were all captains of their club/province. Leo is the only Irish player captaining a province at the moment - that isn't good. It got to the stage where Ireland couldn't function without Brian O'Driscoll because everyone was so dependent on him.

Anyway I think Heaslip will do a good job. Granted he has a few restaraunts, shares in twitter, a silly haircut and inflated media profile but dont listen to what Hookey says he still does a great job on the pitch and has a decent record as captain. I probably would have prefered Best to be captain but Heaslip would have been my second choice anyway.

Actually I think Irish players are some of the most grounded in the world. Even if Heaslip does embrace the limelight a bit if he was in any other team, NZ, Wales, England etc. he would probably be considered media shy.

GunsGerms wrote:Anyway I think Heaslip will do a good job. Granted he has a few restaraunts, shares in twitter, a silly haircut and inflated media profile but dont listen to what Hookey says he still does a great job on the pitch and has a decent record as captain. I probably would have prefered Best to be captain but Heaslip would have been my second choice anyway.

He got yellow carded against SA for giving the ref lip! We lost the match too.

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Dont recall there ever being a need to drop him or anyone playing better at 13 to replace him. He probably could have benefited from less pressure. Simon Easterby probably should have been given it.

Its not about dropping him, its about developing other leaders in the squad. During Brian's captaincy, there were at least a few leaders around him like Easterby, Foley, POC who were all captains of their club/province. Leo is the only Irish player captaining a province at the moment - that isn't good. It got to the stage where Ireland couldn't function without Brian O'Driscoll because everyone was so dependent on him.

Chris Henry has captained Ulster for a lot of this seasons matches while muller has been out. Best is a big authority and influence within the ulster set up.

GunsGerms wrote:Actually I think Irish players are some of the most grounded in the world. Even if Heaslip does embrace the limelight a bit if he was in any other team, NZ, Wales, England etc. he would probably be considered media shy.

He has one restaurant I believe. I wouldn't mind that.

I thought the whole Waltons 'good night routine on twitter' with Healy was a bit immature at the world cup tbh.

Also, I don't want to see him wearing those massive head phones when he gets off the team bus!

The Irish players not captaining the provinces makes sense.

Best used to Captain Ulster but now its Muller, and to me it makes sense to have a NIQ player as captain.

You want the Captain to be involved in most games and respected within the squad and an Irish international player is going to be missing for large parts of the season, a non international irish player may not be able to get the same level of respect when the internations return.

A NIQ player will have the respect of the squad and will be there to lead the team durning the 6 nations and autum internations.
Cullen gets the Captaincy as he is similar as in he doesn't get the Ireland call ups anymore, but still has the respect of the team.

You don't want to be rotating the capataincy to much as this could create friction on the field, as one player says kick another says go to touch etc, you want someone that everyone knows is making the calls.

I don't think we will see to many Irish players, except those whose international careers are over captaining the Provinces in Future, it will be NIQ or Fringe Irish players that get the role as they will be away from the province less.

Sin é wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Anyway I think Heaslip will do a good job. Granted he has a few restaraunts, shares in twitter, a silly haircut and inflated media profile but dont listen to what Hookey says he still does a great job on the pitch and has a decent record as captain. I probably would have prefered Best to be captain but Heaslip would have been my second choice anyway.

He got yellow carded against SA for giving the ref lip! We lost the match too.

Thats not why he got yellow carded. He was carded for collapsing a maul. Its the captains job to talk to the ref. Johnson, O'Connell, Drico, any good captain will try to influence the ref any way they can. He does probably give away too many silly penalties but I suppose most penalties are conceded by the number 7 and that is often the role he has even if his jersey says 8.

I must admit I am surprised that Best wasn't made captain. Alongside Healy and Ryan they have been Ireland's outstanding players in green over the past season and Best seemed to be the 'next guy' behind POC and BOD. Nonetheless I think Heaslip can be a good captain, but I would rather he concentrated on trying to regain his form.

Anyway the captaincy issue is a misnomer. We need leaders throughout the side. I think we have it in the back but we are seriously lacking leaders in the backline without BOD. It really is time for someone like Kearney for example in step up in this regard.

This is a 39 man squad, I would imagine any hope of any sense of radicalism will drift away when the smaller squad is named. I am really pleased for Henshaw and McSharry and for Connacht as a whole to see their form rewarded. I would be disappointed if I was Felix Jones as he has looked pretty good nearly every time I have seen his this season.