Ireland 6N 33 man squad

Michael Bent
Rory Best
Tom Court
Sean Cronin
Gordon D'Arcy
Keith Earls
Luke Fitzgerald
Declan Fitzpatrick
Craig Gilroy
Cian Healy
Jamie Heaslip
Iain Henderson
Chris Henry
Paddy Jackson
Rob Kearney
David Kilcoyne
Conor Murray
Mike McCarthy
Kevin McLaughlin
Fergus McFadden
Dave McSharry
Sean O'Brien
Donncha O'Callaghan
Brian O'Driscoll
Ronan O'Gara
Peter O'Mahony
Eoin Reddan
Mike Ross
Donnacha Ryan
Jonathan Sexton
Mike Sherry
Devin Toner
Simon Zebo


Notable inclusions - Jackson and McSharry

Notable Ommissions - Trimble and Marshall

I thought Brian O'driscol was in the Irish Wolf hounds and not the full Irish squad.

No they believe them to valuable to risk injury!

so what will be the likely starting line up for Ireland against wales?

Here's what I'd like to see

01. Healy
02. Best
03. Ross
04. McCarthy
05. Ryan
06. O'Brien
07. Henry
08. Heaslip
09. Murray
10. Sexton
11. Zebo
12. Fitzgerald
13. O'Driscoll (captain)
14. Earls
15. Kearney

Coach: Joe Schmidt

Don't see Heaslip as a great captain or Kidney as a coach that can take us any further. Hope they both prove me wrong. "Hope" being the important word in that sentence.

Should have had Madigan or Keatley in there instead of Jackson. Madigan is in better form. Hopefully this will be a good learning experience for Jackson but I feel he'd benefit more from the gametime with Ulster in the Pro12. He will be an Ireland star on the future, but he has been playing through an injury, not taking the place kicks and struggling for form. He's not ready for the step up and O'Gara needs to be stood down asap, so we've missed the boat with the guys who should be our number 2 and 3 outhalves, Madigan and Keatley. I think 10 is a disaster area in this squad. Hopefully Kidney has at least the wisdom to see we need Sexton to last the full 80 minutes.

Trimble still more than worthy of a spot as he's been in considerably better form than Gilroy this season and he's therefore very hard done by. I've said before about how he suits the way Ulster play but Ireland are just too one-dimensional to get the best out of him, whereas Gilroy (and Zebo and Earls for that matter) are actually more suited to Ireland because their role is to hold their width and depth and beat people one on one. Trimble is at his best coming off his wing regularly and playing in a backline which plays flat on the gainline, pushing right up flat in defence and attack. I would be fine with his omission if it wasn't indicative of the severe lack of variety in our backline. Ship it wide, quickly and hope the fast guy can do some damage on the outside it is then. Nothing more fancy than that!

I'm delighted that Mike Sherry is in ahead of Varley, a much better player.

It does feel like this squad is Kidneys desperate plea to keep his job. He's going for youth in most tight calls, consciously screaming out for the approval of the rugby press and casual fans caught up in the hysteria of the next big thing.

Whether the kneejerk move to youth will go as far as touching ROG or BOD, I don't think so.

Michael Bent got in after that horror show?! That is bad.



Would be alright with Feckless' side, Jackson being in might signal ROG out, hopefully.

01. Healy
02. Best
03. Ross
04. McCarthy
05. Ryan
06. O'Brien
07. Henry
08. Heaslip
09. Murray
10. Sexton
11. Zebo
12. Fitzgerald
13. O'Driscoll (captain)
14. Gilroy <==== needs to happen
15. Kearney

What does Trimble have to do to earn his inclusion? Seriously.

He will certainly be hoping Kidney is gone soon.

From that squad, I'd go for;

1) Healy
2) Best
3) Ross
4) Ryan
5) McCarthy
6) O'Brien
7) Henry
8) Heaslip (c)
9) Murray
10) Sexton
11) Zebo
12) D'Arcy
13) O'Driscoll
14) Gilroy
15) Kearney

16) Sherry 17) Court 18) Fitzpatrick 19) O'Callaghan 20) O'Mahony 21) Reddan 22) Jackson 23) Earls

I wish Keatley was available and I wish Luke Marshall wasn't injured.

If Heaslip wasn't captain, would most people still pick him to start?

O'Mahony and Henry have both been in sensational form so far, and O'Brien has shown glimpses of his 2011 form since his return from injury. All 3 can play 8. I reckon O'Mahony will start there in the future.

Kiss also.

My worry is that if Neil Doak has the ulster backline (and Trimble in particular) purring, why is Les Kiss seemingly not able to do this. There is little evidence of a cohesive attacking gameplan in this ireland squad but im delighted that Trimble will be available for Ulster.

Notch I'm never sure which lock to put at 4 and 5 when selecting these teams. Is there a difference between 4 and 5? Does it represent which side of the scrum they are on?

An Ireland XV looks pretty good, but not impressed with the back-ups and bench behind those guys. As a Wales fan, the Ireland team doesn't worry me. Although I do hope there is a change of plan and bit of urgency in our team, otherwise Ireland will just lap it up all day with the choke hold and probably outscore us.

Bowe is a massive loss to you, I would have feared an Ireland team with him in it. How is the fitness of Ross and any other key players with niggles?

Feckless Rogue wrote:Notch I'm never sure which lock to put at 4 and 5 when selecting these teams. Is there a difference between 4 and 5? Does it represent which side of the scrum they are on?

Sometimes it does. I would put 4 as the tighthead lock and front jumper whereas 5 is the middle jumper and typically the lineout specialist. So a lot of times 4 would be the shorter, more powerful lock of the two and 5 would be the rangier, slightly taller, more athletic lock. Thats the way it was for Ireland with DOC and POC at 4 and 5.

Sometimes its different, its not a fixed rule like 1 and 3. Sometimes the roles are divvied up a bit differently. Johann Muller plays 4 for Ulster- he's actually our tighthead lock, middle jumper, lineout general AND Captain. And people wonder why I think he's Ulsters key man, much more so than Pienaar...

I'd almost rather see Archer in there than Bent. At least he's acquitted himself this season coming on for Botha. Bent has gone backwards, literally, since the AI's.

Toner/Stevenson is a toss up.

Looks like the Wolfhounds match did it for both Boss and Marshall.

Sherry deserves his chance, but expect Nugget on the bench...

McSharry did well to get in there, albeit ahead of Cave, who should be ahead of Earls if both of them are going for 13!

Trimble is the unluckiest player in Ireland. Outplaying every other winger in the country, bar Zebo, and then gets shafted by having to play in the crap game in Galway. He must be praying for Schmidt to get the Ireland job... Anyone but Kidney!

Lads they way some of ye are going on you'd swear Trimble is J.Lomu! Every game he plays for Ireland (and I include the A game Friday night) he is consistently poor.

Nipps wrote:Lads they way some of ye are going on you'd swear Trimble is J.Lomu! Every game he plays for Ireland (and I include the A game Friday night) he is consistently poor.

He was muck. He plays well for Ulster. I think it's his level. He has had buckets of chances for Ireland and rarely impressed.

Add him to the list of P Wallace. Leo Cullen. Shane Jennings. Mick O'Driscoll. Guys who are/were great for their clubs but never did it for Ireland. At least the Ulster pair got every chance.

Don't see how Luke (Or anyone else) gets in ahead of Darce who's in great form. Luke needs to ease his way back in on the wing. I don't think he will make the 23 tbf.

Zebo, Gilroy, McFadden and Earls would be ahead of him. (Ferg has a knock though and may not be there)

I just despair at anyone still wanting to shoehorn SOB into his worst and least favourite position over Heaslip. Complete madness. Even without the captaincy he would be one of the first names on the teamsheet, and the fact that he was given captaincy means that management agree with me.

I would have SOB at 6 and Henry at 7 with O'Mahony on the bench. I would not be pi$$ed off with SOB at 7 and POM at 6.

If Ferris was fit I would drop Henry and put POM on the bench.

Any game is plays for Ulster he is consistently brilliant Nipps.

Trimble was Irelands best player in the summer of 2011 but was rewarded with the bench spot during the RWC. As i mentioned above you have to query the nous of the Ireland coaching team that they cant bring him into the game.

The Ulster coaching team can do it easily enough. You see how Gatland has used similar players to Trimble to great effect for Wales. Notch is right when he says Ireland entire attacking gameplan is either the garryowen for Kearney/Bowe or else give it to a winger and hope they produce something.

Now i am not saying Trimble is blameless and he has had his howlers in green but can you point to one in the past year? He didnt do anything much against SA but then neither did the other backs. He didnt do anything much against the Saxons but then no one did! Its hardly provincialism either (before i get accused of that) as the man who has replaced him is Gilroy.

As i say i am delighted because he will line out for Ulster along with Cave and we will have a strong team during the 6N. I am disappointed for Trimble as he will be gutted but he can focus on Ulster now which is great.

Jen

Whats Luke Fitz record like for Ireland because to be honest i think there is a massive amount of revisionism around his performances. If keith Earls kicked as much as Luke Fitz did/does he would and has been vilified.

Standulstermen wrote:

Jen

Whats Luke Fitz record like for Ireland because to be honest i think there is a massive amount of revisionism around his performances. If keith Earls kicked as much as Luke Fitz did/does he would and has been vilified.

I'm not advocating Luke in the 23 at all. Even if Mcfad was out I would have Zebo. Gilroy and Earls ahead of him. for the 11, 14 and 23 jerseys.

I think he looks to be in decent form, but would want to see him continue his recovery with Leinster, and build a case for consideration.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Standulstermen wrote:

Jen

Whats Luke Fitz record like for Ireland because to be honest i think there is a massive amount of revisionism around his performances. If keith Earls kicked as much as Luke Fitz did/does he would and has been vilified.

I'm not advocating Luke in the 23 at all. Even if Mcfad was out I would have Zebo. Gilroy and Earls ahead of him. for the 11, 14 and 23 jerseys.

I think he looks to be in decent form, but would want to see him continue his recovery with Leinster, and build a case for consideration.

Thats fair enough Jen.

The issue i have is that we have two Ulster wingers. Both good players but one has been on fire while the other has been replatively quiet by his standards. Why is it that we pick the quieter of the two? What does that say about our coaching? Unless Kiss has devised some attacking plan (and i hope to God he has) i fear we will be massively predictable and if we are honest our two centres dont offer the same threat they did a few years back. I am seriously worried we are in for another humbling at the hands of the welsh.









We'll probably win now.

Standulstermen wrote:Any game is plays for Ulster he is consistently brilliant Nipps.

Trimble was Irelands best player in the summer of 2011 but was rewarded with the bench spot during the RWC. As i mentioned above you have to query the nous of the Ireland coaching team that they cant bring him into the game.

The Ulster coaching team can do it easily enough. You see how Gatland has used similar players to Trimble to great effect for Wales. Notch is right when he says Ireland entire attacking gameplan is either the garryowen for Kearney/Bowe or else give it to a winger and hope they produce something.

Now i am not saying Trimble is blameless and he has had his howlers in green but can you point to one in the past year? He didnt do anything much against SA but then neither did the other backs. He didnt do anything much against the Saxons but then no one did! Its hardly provincialism either (before i get accused of that) as the man who has replaced him is Gilroy.

As i say i am delighted because he will line out for Ulster along with Cave and we will have a strong team during the 6N. I am disappointed for Trimble as he will be gutted but he can focus on Ulster now which is great.

Jen

Whats Luke Fitz record like for Ireland because to be honest i think there is a massive amount of revisionism around his performances. If keith Earls kicked as much as Luke Fitz did/does he would and has been vilified.

Trimble has unfortunately made too many mistakes at Irish level, not many more than other players, but his mistakes seems to get over-hyped. I am really disappointed for him that he's not in the team, especially as it means our backs are going to be ridiculously light weight, which has been a problem for more than a few years now. Still cannot believe that McFadden would get time ahead of him, would be a terrible decision.

On Cave, again disappointed for him, but having finally got around to watching the A game, I can understand why he was not included. Earls and Bod are ahead of him, and he only covers one position.

Glad that Kidney has gone for McSharry in the squad with Marshall injured, doubt he will get any game time, but nice for him to be included in the squad. Also nice to see Fitz back with the Irish squad but I would hope he doesn't make any 23s, he needs to be allowed get back playing rugby without the additional pressure of the 6 Nations.

Rory;I would have Heaslip at 8, whether he was captain or not. POM should be on the bench. Heaslip's work rate has been outstanding in the Heineken Cup.

Was this squad not initially to be 30 players, 2 full teams? If so 3extras seem to be Fitzpatrick, Jackson and sherry, maybe reading too much into it but does that suggest bent, Cronin and rog's spots are under threat?

Also surprised there is only two scrumhalves in the squad, if Murray gets injured we are in a lot of trouble because the others have been poor recently.
I would have had Boss in as the third scrumhalf, or Marmion.

Maddog wrote:Was this squad not initially to be 30 players, 2 full teams? If so 3extras seem to be Fitzpatrick, Jackson and sherry, maybe reading too much into it but does that suggest bent, Cronin and rog's spots are under threat?

There generally tends to be extras in the front row, you would hope that Rog and Bent are not included in the 23 come next weekend.

valjester wrote:

Maddog wrote:Was this squad not initially to be 30 players, 2 full teams? If so 3extras seem to be Fitzpatrick, Jackson and sherry, maybe reading too much into it but does that suggest bent, Cronin and rog's spots are under threat?

There generally tends to be extras in the front row, you would hope that Rog and Bent are not included in the 23 come next weekend.

ROG will of course be included because he is on a central contract. If he wasn't there it would be a massive waste of money to leave him out. One must wonder how he got offered a contract of that length.

valjester wrote:

Maddog wrote:Was this squad not initially to be 30 players, 2 full teams? If so 3extras seem to be Fitzpatrick, Jackson and sherry, maybe reading too much into it but does that suggest bent, Cronin and rog's spots are under threat?

There generally tends to be extras in the front row, you would hope that Rog and Bent are not included in the 23 come next weekend.

Well I expect them both to be on the bench on Saturday but hope has risen slightly by Jackson and fitzpatricks presence on that list, maybe clutching at straws!

Maddog wrote:

valjester wrote:

Maddog wrote:Was this squad not initially to be 30 players, 2 full teams? If so 3extras seem to be Fitzpatrick, Jackson and sherry, maybe reading too much into it but does that suggest bent, Cronin and rog's spots are under threat?

There generally tends to be extras in the front row, you would hope that Rog and Bent are not included in the 23 come next weekend.

Well I expect them both to be on the bench on Saturday but hope has risen slightly by Jackson and fitzpatricks presence on that list, maybe clutching at straws!

You never know, Rog might be hit by lightening. On Fitzpatrick, I genuinely believe that he is above Bent in the pecking order, and it is clear that the Irish management rate him, the problem is that he is made of matchsticks and can't get fit. If he could last 70mins he would be on the bench, but the problem is if Ross goes down early next week, Fitz won't last the match.

I dont think Cave can have too many complaints. Realsitically his form this season hasnt been good enough to force his way past BOD and to a lesser extent Earls.

I dont think Jackson is in any way close to replacing ROG but central contracts arent the be all and end all. paddy Wallace and Andrew Trimble are both on them as far as i know so Kidney has form for dropping people with them

Maddog wrote:

valjester wrote:

Maddog wrote:Was this squad not initially to be 30 players, 2 full teams? If so 3extras seem to be Fitzpatrick, Jackson and sherry, maybe reading too much into it but does that suggest bent, Cronin and rog's spots are under threat?

There generally tends to be extras in the front row, you would hope that Rog and Bent are not included in the 23 come next weekend.

Well I expect them both to be on the bench on Saturday but hope has risen slightly by Jackson and fitzpatricks presence on that list, maybe clutching at straws!

I'd still have Rog over Jackson, Madigan & Keatley for one last 6N. They all should have surpassed him by the end of the season (Hopefully)

Bent? His overhyping on the back of the AIs is only surpassed by his underhyping now. He aint a worldbeater, but Dekkie Fitz seems to be made of the glass scraped from Ferrises knee.

He needs serious work on his scrumaging fo sho. But he is already better than Tom Court (as a tight head). Decent around the park, but that should be a bonus to scrumaging rather than a replacement for

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:I'd still have Rog over Jackson, Madigan & Keatley for one last 6N. They all should have surpassed him by the end of the season (Hopefully)

Bent? His overhyping on the back of the AIs is only surpassed by his underhyping now. He aint a worldbeater, but Dekkie Fitz seems to be made of the glass scraped from Ferrises knee.

He needs serious work on his scrumaging fo sho. But he is already better than Tom Court (as a tight head). Decent around the park, but that should be a bonus to scrumaging rather than a replacement for

Better tighthead than Rory Best too! And Cian Healy or Donnacha Ryan for that matter.

Still not too confident in him but as you say, the options are truly sparse behind Ross.

Standulstermen wrote:I dont think Cave can have too many complaints. Realsitically his form this season hasnt been good enough to force his way past BOD and to a lesser extent Earls.

I dont think Jackson is in any way close to replacing ROG but central contracts arent the be all and end all. paddy Wallace and Andrew Trimble are both on them as far as i know so Kidney has form for dropping people with them

Problem with Cave is that he is a one position player. That is a good thing in the long run. But in the short term it means that he can't make a bench as a back up.

Not sure where I would put him in the (very short) queue behind BOD.

Lifted from Leinsterfans

Central contracts.

Cian Healy........2013
Rob Kearney........2013
Stephen Ferris........2013
ROG........2013
Sexton........2013
bod........2013
Andrew Trimble........2013

Donncha Ryan........2014
DOC........2014
POC........2014
Jamie Heaslip........2014
Gordon D'Arcy........2014
Keith Earls........2014
Tom Court........2014

Mike Ross........2015
Tommy Bowe........2015

Rory Best........Dunno

Notch wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:I'd still have Rog over Jackson, Madigan & Keatley for one last 6N. They all should have surpassed him by the end of the season (Hopefully)

Bent? His overhyping on the back of the AIs is only surpassed by his underhyping now. He aint a worldbeater, but Dekkie Fitz seems to be made of the glass scraped from Ferrises knee.

He needs serious work on his scrumaging fo sho. But he is already better than Tom Court (as a tight head). Decent around the park, but that should be a bonus to scrumaging rather than a replacement for

Better tighthead than Rory Best too! And Cian Healy or Donnacha Ryan for that matter.

Still not too confident in him but as you say, the options are truly sparse behind Ross.

I only mention that as Court's TH performance is probably fresh in people's minds, and it makes the point. Rory, Cian, and Ryan have never played TH for Ireland.

Notch wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:I'd still have Rog over Jackson, Madigan & Keatley for one last 6N. They all should have surpassed him by the end of the season (Hopefully)

Bent? His overhyping on the back of the AIs is only surpassed by his underhyping now. He aint a worldbeater, but Dekkie Fitz seems to be made of the glass scraped from Ferrises knee.

He needs serious work on his scrumaging fo sho. But he is already better than Tom Court (as a tight head). Decent around the park, but that should be a bonus to scrumaging rather than a replacement for

Better tighthead than Rory Best too! And Cian Healy or Donnacha Ryan for that matter.

Still not too confident in him but as you say, the options are truly sparse behind Ross.

We really need either Fitz or someone else to step up quickly because Ross isn't going to last much longer. Furlong or Moore at Leinster might come good, and I suppose that White is qualified next year(?), but it is a real problem position, I suppose, same as it ever was.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Notch wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:I'd still have Rog over Jackson, Madigan & Keatley for one last 6N. They all should have surpassed him by the end of the season (Hopefully)

Bent? His overhyping on the back of the AIs is only surpassed by his underhyping now. He aint a worldbeater, but Dekkie Fitz seems to be made of the glass scraped from Ferrises knee.

He needs serious work on his scrumaging fo sho. But he is already better than Tom Court (as a tight head). Decent around the park, but that should be a bonus to scrumaging rather than a replacement for

Better tighthead than Rory Best too! And Cian Healy or Donnacha Ryan for that matter.

Still not too confident in him but as you say, the options are truly sparse behind Ross.

I only mention that as Court's TH performance is probably fresh in people's minds, and it makes the point. Rory, Cian, and Ryan have never played TH for Ireland.

And they are similar to Tom Court in that they never should or should have- now, then, ever.

We've wasted an excellent loosehead by messing him around for years, and if it wasn't for the rule change regarding front row replacements we'd still be trying our best to stop him playing to his potential. He's been one of the revelations of Irish Provincial Rugby since he's been allowed to focus on loosehead alone.

If our standard is that he's a better tighthead than a guy who isn't a tighthead, its a frighteningly low standard to judge a player by.

valjester wrote:

Notch wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:I'd still have Rog over Jackson, Madigan & Keatley for one last 6N. They all should have surpassed him by the end of the season (Hopefully)

Bent? His overhyping on the back of the AIs is only surpassed by his underhyping now. He aint a worldbeater, but Dekkie Fitz seems to be made of the glass scraped from Ferrises knee.

He needs serious work on his scrumaging fo sho. But he is already better than Tom Court (as a tight head). Decent around the park, but that should be a bonus to scrumaging rather than a replacement for

Better tighthead than Rory Best too! And Cian Healy or Donnacha Ryan for that matter.

Still not too confident in him but as you say, the options are truly sparse behind Ross.

We really need either Fitz or someone else to step up quickly because Ross is going to last much longer. Furlong or Moore at Leinster might come good, and I suppose that White is qualified next year(?), but it is a real problem position, I suppose, same as it ever was.

Yep still a problem. White qualifies just before the WC. Big Mike has just signed a 2 year central contract though. Only him and Tommy Bowe have a central contract up to the WC.

Notch wrote:
And they are similar to Tom Court in that they never should or should have- now, then, ever.

We've wasted an excellent loosehead by messing him around for years, and if it wasn't for the rule change regarding front row replacements we'd still be trying our best to stop him playing to his potential. He's been one of the revelations of Irish Provincial Rugby since he's been allowed to focus on loosehead alone.

Fair enough. Agree with that. I would add that he started playing better since Killer took his bench spot too.

Killer looks really really good in fairness. Court is currently a better scrumager. So I could see him benching v the bigger scrumaging sides in the 6N.

Anyone notice how the scrum was for the few mins that Dekkie Fitz was on with Court. I was at the game but can't remember.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

valjester wrote:

Notch wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:I'd still have Rog over Jackson, Madigan & Keatley for one last 6N. They all should have surpassed him by the end of the season (Hopefully)

Bent? His overhyping on the back of the AIs is only surpassed by his underhyping now. He aint a worldbeater, but Dekkie Fitz seems to be made of the glass scraped from Ferrises knee.

He needs serious work on his scrumaging fo sho. But he is already better than Tom Court (as a tight head). Decent around the park, but that should be a bonus to scrumaging rather than a replacement for

Better tighthead than Rory Best too! And Cian Healy or Donnacha Ryan for that matter.

Still not too confident in him but as you say, the options are truly sparse behind Ross.

We really need either Fitz or someone else to step up quickly because Ross is going to last much longer. Furlong or Moore at Leinster might come good, and I suppose that White is qualified next year(?), but it is a real problem position, I suppose, same as it ever was.

Yep still a problem. White qualifies just before the WC. Big Mike has just signed a 2 year central contract though. Only him and Tommy Bowe have a central contract up to the WC.

Just having a central contract, doesn't mean he will be still up to the job come 2015. See Ronan O'Gara as an example. Also that list of central contract players isn't entirely accurate.

valjester wrote:Also that list of central contract players isn't entirely accurate.

Feel free to add or subtract. The guy who put it on Leinsterfans did not say it was complete and was asking the same question.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Standulstermen wrote:I dont think Cave can have too many complaints. Realsitically his form this season hasnt been good enough to force his way past BOD and to a lesser extent Earls.

I dont think Jackson is in any way close to replacing ROG but central contracts arent the be all and end all. paddy Wallace and Andrew Trimble are both on them as far as i know so Kidney has form for dropping people with them

Problem with Cave is that he is a one position player. That is a good thing in the long run. But in the short term it means that he can't make a bench as a back up.

Not sure where I would put him in the (very short) queue behind BOD.

Lifted from Leinsterfans

Central contracts.

Cian Healy........2013 renew
Rob Kearney........2013 renew
Stephen Ferris........2013 would need to stay fit and play well between now and may to renew
ROG........2013 gone
Sexton........2013 gone
bod........2013 gone
Andrew Trimble........2013 gone
Donncha Ryan........2014
DOC........2014
POC........2014
Jamie Heaslip........2014
Gordon D'Arcy........2014
Keith Earls........2014
Tom Court........2014

Mike Ross........2015
Tommy Bowe........2015

Rory Best........Dunno

There are 4 free up this year (potentially 5). O'Brien needs one. Zebo too. Girloy/Fitz. Luke Marshall?, Iain Henderson?, O'Mahoney?, Jackson might be likely if Sexton and ROG are both off. Kilcoyne wont get one till Court is gone. Murray surely has one.

Regarding the scrum the other night i think we got 2/3 penalties with Fitz and Court but gave away one. To be hoenst the English LH (Brookes) did exactly the same (bound on the arm) to Court the time england got the penalty as he gave against him on two other occasions

I thought BOD was staying on for one more year at least?

He shouldnt be given a central contract imo LF4L. Thats just my imo not anything more than that

Standulstermen wrote:He shouldnt be given a central contract imo LF4L. Thats just my imo not anything more than that

It depends what type of contract though, if its similar to the ones that DOC, P Wallace, D'arcy, and even Leamy before he retired, then its not too bad. They got contracts which had a very low basic pay, heavily dependent on appearances to top it up.

Cant see BOD really going for that Val. I dont mean that in a critical way but i just dont see it. I think he should retire after this season truth be told (at least internationally). I dont think he should risk his body anymore.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

valjester wrote:Also that list of central contract players isn't entirely accurate.

Feel free to add or subtract. The guy who put it on Leinsterfans did not say it was complete and was asking the same question.

So You can't add or subtract?

You know it's wrong but you don't know why or how?

Standulstermen wrote:Cant see BOD really going for that Val. I dont mean that in a critical way but i just dont see it. I think he should retire after this season truth be told (at least internationally). I dont think he should risk his body anymore.

I think he should retire, I'm more worried about POC trying to come back from a few serious back surgeries now, but Bod isn't exactly the picture of health. I would hate for either of them, or Ferris, to jeopardise their future well being by continuing to play beyond their time. I think that Bod would accept a contract like that because he would be very confident of making the required number of appearances to earn a decent figure.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

valjester wrote:Also that list of central contract players isn't entirely accurate.

Feel free to add or subtract. The guy who put it on Leinsterfans did not say it was complete and was asking the same question.

So You can't add or subtract?

You know it's wrong but you don't know why or how?

I can but I won't.

Edit;It is nearly completely accurate.

Standulstermen wrote:[
There are 4 free up this year (potentially 5). O'Brien needs one. Zebo too. Girloy/Fitz. Luke Marshall?, Iain Henderson?, O'Mahoney?, Jackson might be likely if Sexton and ROG are both off. Kilcoyne wont get one till Court is gone. Murray surely has one.

Regarding the scrum the other night i think we got 2/3 penalties with Fitz and Court but gave away one. To be hoenst the English LH (Brookes) did exactly the same (bound on the arm) to Court the time england got the penalty as he gave against him on two other occasions

Zebo just signed a 3 year with Munster. SOB is contracted for next season to Leinster. Dunno about Murray.

valjester wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

valjester wrote:Also that list of central contract players isn't entirely accurate.

Feel free to add or subtract. The guy who put it on Leinsterfans did not say it was complete and was asking the same question.

So You can't add or subtract?

You know it's wrong but you don't know why or how?

I can but I won't.

It's not a state secret. And if it was why would you say that you knew it was wrong.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

It's not a state secret. And if it was why would you say that you knew it was wrong.

I said it wasn't entirely accurate. That is just a simple statement, I could get the full list, but it would involve a slight amount of effort which I'm not really interested in doing this morning. I'll have a look this evening, and post it up at some stage. As far as I can remember the number of players, and the type of contracts, have been heavily reduced since 2009.