Ireland 2016 Squad

First topic message reminder :

So what would you like to see for the 6 nations and end of season tour of South Africa? Who would you like brought in and left out? Les Kiss and POC are gone, the only definites..


Players I think should be brought in to the squad or considered:
Olding - Utility back
McCloskey - center
Garry Ringrose - center
Marmion - scrum half
Luke McGrath - scrum half
Dave O'Callaghan - blindside
Sherry - hooker
Josh Van Der Flier - openside
Dan Leavy - backrow
Jack Conan - 8
Jack O'Donoghue - 8
Cj Stander - 8
Ross Moloney - lock
Marty Moore - tighthead
Matt Healy - winger
Cathal Marsh  - outhalf
Andrew Trimble - winger

Some of the best young (except Trimble) players in Ireland to consider.

Any sign of a squad announcement from you lot?!

15 Kearney
14 Trimble
13 Henshaw
12 McCloskey
11 Earls
10 Sexton
9 Murray
8 Heaslip
7 O'Brien
6 Stander
5 Toner
4 McCarthy
3 Moore
2 Best (c)
1 McGrath

Bench: Cronin, Healy, Furlong, Ryan, Ruddock, Marmion, Jackson, Fitzgerald

Front 5 looks pretty weak but that's a serious back row if Joe has the balls to pick it.

Zebo has done very little to earn a spot in 23, unfortunate as I hoped he'd put pressure on Rob. I'd like to see Payne play more at 15 for Ulster, he used to be superb there and isn't half the player at 13, sorry. Dave Kearney shouldn't be near the squad, solid player but as the World Cup showed not good enough if we have serious ambitions. Tempted to put Henshaw at 15 and include Fitz or Marshall in the centre but you don't want to mess him around at this stage.

We'll beat Italy and Scotland and we'll get two from Wales, England and France. No reason to think we can't challenge.

Not impressed with RK's form at all. Trimble is going ok but not in top form.

The one thing I am sure of is McCloskey should be the first back on the team sheet and everything else should be built around him.

By chance the perfect partner for him (and also Teo) is Ringrose but I think the 6N has come a bit to soon for that partnership but it would be a dream team partnership.

Ringrose did well again against Bath though.

rodders wrote:Not impressed with RK's form at all. Trimble is going ok but not in top form.

The one thing I am sure of is McCloskey should be the first back on the team sheet and everything else should be built around him.

By chance the perfect partner for him (and also Teo) is Ringrose but I think the 6N has come a bit to soon for that partnership but it would be a dream team partnership.

Ringrose did well again against Bath though.

Henshaw to full back with Ringrose and McCloskey in the centres. Probably a season too soon for that opportunity to be taken.... but the thought of it

1. McGrath
2. Best
3. Furlong
4. Mike
5. Toner
6. Ruddock
7. SOB
8. Stander
9. Murray
10. Sexton
11.Fitz
12.McCloskey
13.Henshaw
14.Earls
15.Payne

Subs: Healy, Cronin, Moore, Ryan, Heaslip, Reddan, Jackson, Zebo (for cover reasons obviously)

As long as Stander starts, and the Kearney bros aren't playing I'm happy.

Haven't seen enough of Ulster this year to comment on Trimble's form but I do think he is the sort of winger that Ireland need.

Rob Kearney's form for Leinster has been mediocre at best for the past two seasons however he has been able to raise his game for Ireland. I'd select him to retain some leadership in the absence of POC and POM and also because there isn't an obvious alternative right now.

I'm more worried about Conor Murray's form because when he has a bad day it really stifles the whole team.

This would be mine.

01 - McGrath
02 - Best (C)
03 - Furlong
04 - McCarthy
05 - Toner
06 - Ruddock
07- SOB
08- Stander
09 - Murray
10 - Jackson
11 - Earls
12 - McCloskey
13 - Marshall
14 - Trimble
15 - Henshaw

Subs: Healy, Cronin, Moore, Ryan, Heaslip, Marmion, Sexton, Payne

42.ie says Healy is doubtful for Wales game so backup needed for Jack Mac - is James Cronin fit?

thebandwagonsociety wrote:

Henshaw to full back with Ringrose and McCloskey in the centres.  Probably a season too soon for that opportunity to be taken.... but the thought of it

One can only dream that one day soon this will come to pass.

brennomac wrote:42.ie says Healy is doubtful for Wales game so backup needed for Jack Mac - is James Cronin fit?

Kyle McCall is!

rodders wrote:

brennomac wrote:42.ie says Healy is doubtful for Wales game so backup needed for Jack Mac - is James Cronin fit?

Kyle McCall is!

Rodders wouldn't have any problem with McCall either

brennomac wrote:

rodders wrote:

brennomac wrote:42.ie says Healy is doubtful for Wales game so backup needed for Jack Mac - is James Cronin fit?

Kyle McCall is!

Rodders wouldn't have any problem with McCall either

Denis Buckley maybe too? He has been in the training squad before!

brennomac wrote:42.ie says Healy is doubtful for Wales game so backup needed for Jack Mac - is James Cronin fit?

No he isn't.

David Kilcoyne would be the most like-for-like prop for Healy.

Sin é wrote:

David Kilcoyne would be the most like-for-like prop for Healy.

In terms of ball carrying an not passing yes, but at least Healy can scrummage.

gleesonisgod wrote:

Sin é wrote:

David Kilcoyne would be the most like-for-like prop for Healy.

In terms of ball carrying an not passing yes, but at least Healy can scrummage.

His scrummaging isn't that bad anyway, its all about ball carrying nowadays.

PS - Healy is a liability at the moment.

Marshes wrote:

brennomac wrote:

rodders wrote:

brennomac wrote:42.ie says Healy is doubtful for Wales game so backup needed for Jack Mac - is James Cronin fit?

Kyle McCall is!

Rodders wouldn't have any problem with McCall either

Denis Buckley maybe too? He has been in the training squad before!

I concur - not with Kilcoyne though his scrummaging is worse than Keith Earls defense!

The curve awaits boys

RubyGuby wrote:The curve awaits boys

You and Gatland are both on the mind games!

http://sport.bt.com/rugby-union-hub/rugby-union/aled-davies-is-only-uncapped-player-in-wales-six-nations-squad-S11364034479867

Whenever I see Gatland in the media I always wonder who he's doing it for... I mean, is it for his own players? Is it for our players? Is it get his name in the papers? Whats the point?

Maybe it's just his honest opinion, but I also doubt he really believes we are actually favourites given the players that are missing, off form or just haven't been playing very much rugby lately.

RubyGuby wrote:The curve awaits boys

Saw you posting this lots during the world cup Ruby, in the nicest possible way what are you on about? The curve of difficulty? I think the road is curved from the very off here, and only gets windier on the way to Paris and London!

Ireland training squad due to be named tomorrow afternoon. I'm not optimistic about seeing too many changes. McCloskey and Stander being the only certs.

profitius wrote:Ireland training squad due to be named tomorrow afternoon. I'm not optimistic about seeing too many changes. McCloskey and Stander being the only certs.

I think there has to be some more newbees at least in the training squad to replace retirees and injuries: POC, Bowe, Healy, Henderson, POM, Ross, Jones and some out of form like Zebo all to be replaced

I wouldn't drop Zebo from the wider squad. Firstly, I don't think he's been that bad; certainly not good at all and not always looking interested but how much of that is down to being in a seriously misfiring team? I'd be interested to see if his form rises coming into a more settled and confident camp. Also, he might not make the 23 on form but he's talented enough that I want him kept in the loop between now and the next RWC. I think he will be a big part of the team in that whole period if he doesn't leave for an overseas side.

The only reason I can see for not selecting him would be if they thought it would motivate him to get back towards his best form, which would be fair enough.

Worth noting that Simon Zebo was one of 2 Irish players that made the Telegraph's and Planet Rugby Champs Cup team of the week! Maybe his form isn't that poor.

Planet Rugby's comment:

15 Simon Zebo (Munster): Looked in good shape at the back for an improved Munster side as he crossed for a try amongst nine carries. Zebo seems to enjoy the greater freedom he has in attack when he wears number fifteen and Munster will hope this form continues.

4 Ross Molony (Leinster): With their knockout chances over, Saturday's fixture against Bath was a chance to look at the next generation for Leo Cullen. 22-year-old Molony certainly grabbed his opportunity and was named the man-of-the-match by the host broadcaster. A mention for Leicester's Dom Barrow.

Well I don't really disagree with that. I thought he was quite good in that game myself- that's kind of why I'm interested in seeing whether its a case of him just looking bad up until the last game because the rest of the team was off colour, or whether its a case of him playing badly independent of whats going on around him. There's been a few Munster performances where the whole team has looked disinterested and low on confidence and I suspect if you put some of the players in a different environment, such as the Ireland camp, they'll pick up their form very quickly. Not unlike Sexton playing terrible stuff for Racing when he was there before coming into th Irish set-up and suddenly playing very well. Zebo's last game would seem to indicate thats the case, as he improved just as Munster as a whole improved.

I wouldn't drop very many, if any, Munster players just because they're off form. Where they will struggle is in getting new players into the squad, apart from Stander.

I also totally agree with that guy, who ever he is, that 15 suits him well.

So the squad gets named today, any guess on who might be made captain?

I would hazard a guess at it being between Sexton and Best. I would be surprised to see Heaslip named as captain as I believe he is not a certain starter at 8 (unless they move him to 6 to allow CJ Stander in at 8).

My tip would be Sexton to get it.

My vote - Rory Best. Leads by example, already respected as a leader in the set up, consistent performances, cool head.

My tip - no idea!

I think Best would be more in the mould of POC than Sexton or Heaslip, in terms of interaction with his team mates.
Sexton may be too abrasive with his team mates and Heaslip doesn't have the gravitas. POC's shoes are hard to fill!!

Whoever is selected, it will only be a stopgap until POM returns

A lot of rumors Sean O'Brien will be the captain.

Also rumours CJ Stander won't be selected.

I'm taking both rumours with a huge pinch of salt. I would be very surprised if they were true. I might be very surprised later today.

Would be incredible if CJ doesn't make the squad.

Along with McCloskey he's been the player of the season so far - although Joe generally doesn't read too much into provincial form, rather his analysis of players strengths and weaknesses and whether he perceives they have the ability to execute his style of play and game plans the way he expects.

Aahh the great rumours that abound on the days of squad announcements.

If CJ is not in the squad... Schmidt is a fool of the highest order.

If SOB gets made captain, it will surprise me as well but at the same time, I would not be unhappy.

Looks more promising on the Marty Moore situation.

http://www.the42.ie/marty-moore-leinster-wasps-u-turn-2557253-Jan2016/?utm_source=facebook_short

"With a deal having already been struck between Moore and Wasps, Leinster may be required to pay a fee to buy the prop out of his agreement with the English club if they are to retain him.
Leinster would also need to offer Moore improved terms on their original two-year proposal, but The42 believes the province are willing to do so."

Why would they wait until he'd signed before offering improved terms? Not sure if i'd buy that.

I think Rory will get the captaincy, he's one of the elder statesmen and has prior experience, he is highly respected by his colleagues and leads by example. If any of the other candidates are named I'll not be displeased mind you, they are all worthy.

CJ simply HAS to be in the squad, Joe ain't so slow

Afternoon Gents

I'm on the scrounge for up to 6 tickets for your boys against Scotland. If you know of any going, I'd appreciate the heads up.

Cheers and good luck!