The Ireland Squad Announcement Thread

[Notch]

First topic message reminder :

Following on from the discussion on the 'Ireland 2016 Squad' thread which can be found here.

Ireland squad has been announced. It contains four uncapped players- Stuart McCloskey, Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier and CJ Stander. However there is no room for Garry Ringrose. Mike Ross, Cian Healy and Chris Henry have all been omitted due to injury but may feature later as they return to fitness in their provincial set-ups.

Ireland Squad RBS 6 Nations 2016 Rounds 1 & 2

Forwards (19)

Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) Captain
Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
James Cronin (Dolphin/Munster)
Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht)*
Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) Vice Captain
Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
Mike McCarthy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)
Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Rhys Ruddock (St Mary's College/Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
CJ Stander (Munster)*
Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)*
Nathan White (Connacht)

Backs (16)

Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)
Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
Stuart McCloskey (McCloskey/Ulster)*
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
Jared Payne (Ulster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Simon Zebo (Cork Con/Munster)

*Denotes uncapped player

[eirebilly]

Sure, I think the form he was showing got him into Ireland and would have seen him start for Wales, France and England I believe.

Must stop now and go back to provincial bias against Leinster. Daverage is Irelands worst winger

[geoff999rugby]

I don't agree but as you say lets join forces moaning about Leinster bias at the IRFU and in Joe's selection..

One thing occurs to me on which we can agree Daverage would not make the Munster or the Ulster team

[Golden]

Fair enough but your performing at a very high level is my best of a bad bunch - perhaps I have higher standards

Started in many top teams ????  - I struggle to see which - he would get nowhere near NZ, Aus, SA, Argentina, France, England, Wales

That just about covers the top teams

Ah now, they are starting Tom James. He wishes he was 'average'.


Having said that I wouldn't have DK in the match day squad either.

[GunsGerms]

I don't agree but as you say lets join forces moaning about Leinster bias at the IRFU and in Joe's selection..

One thing occurs to me on which we can agree Daverage would not make the Munster or the Ulster team

The Munster team is already full of Leinster rejects. Of course Kearney would make the Munster team.

[Notch]

VERY surprised and slightly disappointed that Paddy Jackson will be playing in white this weekend, not in green. Schmidt has released him back to Ulster so is obviously going for Madigan on the bench.

The reason can only be versatility, demonstrates Schmidt backs himself to get the best out of certain players regardless of what form they are in going into camp. Madigan being able to cover centre is great, but if Sexton pulls up injured there's no doubt in my mind who I'd feel better about coming off the bench. I'm not overly optimistic Madigan will ever make it as a starting 10, I think he's a good impact player, but I'd be inclined to pick the two best 10s in the 23 and then look at what other options give the most versatility.

Hopefully Paddy will get some game time later in the tournament. Luke Marshall, Andrew Trimble, Jared Payne and Stuart McCloskey are retained in camp so all remain in the race to start. Rory Best is obviously nailed-on, but Rob Herring starts for Ulster so bench hooker will be Cronin or Strauss- no surprise there.

[carpet baboon]

I think this is Joe's first major mistake. I feel Jackson should be starting and would have been a bit disappointed to see him on the bench. But not in the 23 at all? We aint going to batter our way over Wales try line and Jackson is the form ten in Ireland for getting g the backs moving.

If he plays Payne at 15 and some combo of Henshaw/Marshall/McCloskey in the centres I may forgive him

[theslosty]

Although there was a strong case for PJ to start we shouldn't underestimate the importance of versatility on the bench. As always it will be a physical game and the attrition rate could be high.
It would only take 2 injuries in the backline to have Jackson playing in the centre or on the wing.

[rodders]

Personally not that surprised about Jackson.

Madigan does provide more versatility from the bench and Joe will want Jackson to continue to get game time in case he needs him to start at some point in the tournament.

Without doubt Jackson is the form 10 (followed by Madigan) but lets face it Joe wasn't going to leave Sexton out.

[geoff999rugby]

Versality in this regard is bumkum.

Jackson is better than Madigan and should be ahead of him.

Payne and Henshaw cover 15 so Madigan not needed there.
Earls can play 13
Jackson and Sexton have both played 12

SH, Jackson and the winger he leaves out should be the bench.

[rodders]

Earls can play 13

OK lets not exaggerate geoff .

[kunu]

Does this mean McCloskey is starting? Bit odd having him on the bench with Joe's affinity for versatility & he should be ahead of Marshall I think. Could also be just a cautious move to cover for Payne moving to 15 owing to RK's possible injury.

[eirebilly]

Well, I actually am really surprised about Jackson being released. Again overlooked when easily being the form 10 in Ireland. This will have to affect his confidence about being selected for Ireland when an injury (in recent years) 10 and a versatile player are being selected over him.

Really gutted for Jackson.

[eirebilly]

Earls can play 13

OK lets not exaggerate geoff   .

┌∩┐(◣_◢)┌∩┐

[geoff999rugby]

I suspect it is McCloskey 12, Henshaw 13, Payne 15 with Kearney on the bench or
                   McCloskey 12, Payne/Henshaw 13, Kearney 15 with Payne/Henshaw on the bench or
                   Henshaw 12, Payne 13, Kearney 15 with McCloskey nowhere near the team.

That is my order of preference - my order of expectation is the reverse  

[Notch]

I don't think it will affect his confidence. He's made of stern stuff and there's little doubt that he's been through much worse.

[rapidsnowman]

Why, despite which coach we have, do Ireland always announce their team last?

[kunu]

It didn't do Sexton's confidence any good when he was dropped in 2011 alright - but Schmidt's known for being fairly up front about the reasons he's dropped you, and telling you what to work on. Trimble is quoted in the Irish Times this week as saying Deccie was too nice & didn't do that. Perhaps that's partly why Sexton went a bit off the rails. I'd back Jackson to be grand, and am sure he'll play a part in the campaign.

[Sin é]

It didn't do Sexton's confidence any good when he was dropped in 2011 alright - but Schmidt's known for being fairly up front about the reasons he's dropped you, and telling you what to work on. Trimble is quoted in the Irish Times this week as saying Deccie was too nice & didn't do that. Perhaps that's partly why Sexton went a bit off the rails. I'd back Jackson to be grand, and am sure he'll play a part in the campaign.

The dogs in the streets knew why Sexton wasn't selected to start (he was on the bench and played 30 mins anyway). In case you don't know, it was because he couldn't kick snow off a rope. His kicking stats were about 40% success rate.

[kunu]

It didn't do Sexton's confidence any good when he was dropped in 2011 alright - but Schmidt's known for being fairly up front about the reasons he's dropped you, and telling you what to work on. Trimble is quoted in the Irish Times this week as saying Deccie was too nice & didn't do that. Perhaps that's partly why Sexton went a bit off the rails. I'd back Jackson to be grand, and am sure he'll play a part in the campaign.

The dogs in the streets knew why Sexton wasn't selected to start (he was on the bench and played 30 mins anyway). In case you don't know, it was because he couldn't kick snow off  a rope. His kicking stats were about 40% success rate.

Ach don't be so touchy. Never said he didn't deserve to be dropped.

[Sin é]

Zebo, Earls, Payne, Henshaw, Trimble, Sexton, Murray, McGrath, Best, White, Toner, McCarthy, Stander, O'Donnell, Heaslip.

Team selected doing the rounds on a couple of message boards.

Rob Kearney & Sean OBrien injury doubts.

[Sin é]

It didn't do Sexton's confidence any good when he was dropped in 2011 alright - but Schmidt's known for being fairly up front about the reasons he's dropped you, and telling you what to work on. Trimble is quoted in the Irish Times this week as saying Deccie was too nice & didn't do that. Perhaps that's partly why Sexton went a bit off the rails. I'd back Jackson to be grand, and am sure he'll play a part in the campaign.

The dogs in the streets knew why Sexton wasn't selected to start (he was on the bench and played 30 mins anyway). In case you don't know, it was because he couldn't kick snow off  a rope. His kicking stats were about 40% success rate.

Ach don't be so touchy. Never said he didn't deserve to be dropped.

You implied that Sexton's loss of confidence was down to Deccie not explaining why he was dropped (which he wasn't anyway as he was on the bench and ROG had started the Italiangame the previous week.

[True Raven]

Does Heaslip have a god-like status in Ireland? C J Stander has been on fire this year and seems to me a better player. Heaslip to me is like our own Lydiate, pretty average but has a good game now and again but always seems to retain his spot despite not being the best

[mikey_dragon]

I think a lot of Irish are quite harsh on Heaslip and I just don't see why. Read, Parrise and Vermeulen are easily the best in their position in the world but who comes next? I'd rate Heaslip in the top 5 for sure, a position which he's maintained since 2009.

[rodders]

Zebo, Earls, Payne, Henshaw, Trimble, Sexton, Murray, McGrath, Best, White, Toner, McCarthy, Stander, O'Donnell, Heaslip.

Team selected doing the rounds on a couple of message boards.

Rob Kearney & Sean OBrien injury doubts.

100-nil to Wales....by half time.

[kunu]

It didn't do Sexton's confidence any good when he was dropped in 2011 alright - but Schmidt's known for being fairly up front about the reasons he's dropped you, and telling you what to work on. Trimble is quoted in the Irish Times this week as saying Deccie was too nice & didn't do that. Perhaps that's partly why Sexton went a bit off the rails. I'd back Jackson to be grand, and am sure he'll play a part in the campaign.

The dogs in the streets knew why Sexton wasn't selected to start (he was on the bench and played 30 mins anyway). In case you don't know, it was because he couldn't kick snow off  a rope. His kicking stats were about 40% success rate.

Ach don't be so touchy. Never said he didn't deserve to be dropped.

You implied that Sexton's loss of confidence was down to Deccie not explaining why he was dropped (which he wasn't anyway as he was on the bench and ROG had started the Italiangame the previous week.

The point wasn't to attack Kidney but to suggest Jackson will be ok... Kidney was much better at other areas of man management than Schmidt. Sexton went a bit hairy during the days when he wasn't a certain starter for Ireland and I don't think there's a danger of that happening now with Jackson - but I think that's where the loss of confidence fear might originate. I don't think there's a need to worry about Jackson partly because we now have a coach who is known to be good in that area (Jackson also went through a bit of a nightmare intro to test rugby, so if he can get over that he can get over anything). We haven't always had that- here's a direct quote from Sexton himself about Deccie : "he's such a good person and at times he wouldn't tell you the truth. I said to him I need to know why I'm dropped so I can improve it. I don't want to hear I've done nothing wrong. Here's Andrew Trimble : "Declan tried very hard to have relationships with guys but it never really worked because you never knew where you stood with him. He spoke in riddles sometimes."  I think Schmidt will be blunt with Jackson, and he'll be able to concentrate fully on doing what he needs to improve for the coaches.

[geoff999rugby]

In order to play he doesn' t need to improve he is already better than Madigan and pushing Sexton hard.

Schmidt has dropped the ball in showing a bias to the Leinster man for the bogus reason he provides more options on the bench - he doesn't

[kunu]

I'd agree. Its a boring decision. We haven't yet heard his reasoning, but yeah I'd imagine it's along those lines. We hardly need another utility back if the team above is accurate. It's a backline full of them.

[Notch]

Zebo, Earls, Payne, Henshaw, Trimble, Sexton, Murray, McGrath, Best, White, Toner, McCarthy, Stander, O'Donnell, Heaslip.

Team selected doing the rounds on a couple of message boards.

Rob Kearney & Sean OBrien injury doubts.

I'd be quite happy with that team, bar being concerned over the absence of O'Brien. Hope he's alright in the end.

[eirebilly]

In order to play he doesn' t need to improve he is already better than Madigan and pushing Sexton hard.

Schmidt has dropped the ball in showing a bias to the Leinster man for the bogus reason he provides more options on the bench - he doesn't

Could not have said it better

[carpet baboon]

My feeling is he's picking a team to contain Wales. I say frack that go out to impose our will on them.

[profitius]

The Jackson decision isn't a surprise. Madigan is a more flexible bench option. However if Jackson did start, I wonder would Sexton be dropped from the squad! :O


The rumoured team may or may not be true. I would doubt it though because I think McCloskey will start. There are a number of hints and we've seen today he wasn't called to play for Ulster and I doubt he'll be a sub.

[Notch]

The Jackson decision isn't a surprise. Madigan is a more flexible bench option. However if Jackson did start, I wonder would Sexton be dropped from the squad! :O


The rumoured team may or may not be true. I would doubt it though because I think McCloskey will start. There are a number of hints and we've seen today he wasn't called to play for Ulster and I doubt he'll be a sub.

24th/25th man is possible. But that makes the decision to retain Luke Marshall interesting. If Kearney and O'Brien are injury doubts then they will probably retain 27 players.

[geoff999rugby]

Madigan isn't a more flexible option - we can cover the backs well with better player.
Its one of those mantras that keep getting put out but don't stand up to analysis

[geoff999rugby]

My feeling is he's picking a team to contain Wales. I say frack that go out to impose our will on them.

I suspect you are right and that is a big mistake.

We tried that in the World Cup and it didn't work.
Do that against Wales on Sunday and we will get the same result.
We need to be bold and take the initiative

[JmD]

If Madigan has been chosen for his alleged versatility, presumably that would mean he's covering 12 and McCloskey isn't involved at all. If so, Schmidt could not have ballsed this up any further.

[Notch]

That seems like a bit of a leap in logic. Either McCloskey or Henshaw is unlikely to make the bench, but we always knew that would be the case. Nothing in this to suggest McCloskey won't beat out Henshaw though.

[geoff999rugby]

Good point why not have McCloskey and Jackson on the bench.

McCloskey covers 12 and 13, if the team above is correct and any back three players gets injured just move Payne to 15 and Zebo to the wing if necessary

Simples

[Notch]

Obviously he doesn't want to break up the centres mid-game if a back three player goes down.

a) Payne would have to run in two positions during the week
b) If there is an injury it will disrupt two units, not just one

[theslosty]

Madigan isn't a more flexible option - we can cover the backs well with better player.
Its one of those mantras that keep getting put out but don't stand up to analysis

Actually I think there have been several occasions where Ireland have to field players completely out of position in the last 2-3 years, even playing forwards in the backline. Wales vs England in the RWC is another prominent example.

As well as PJ has been playing it doesn't mean Madigan should be completely disregarded, when he filled in at the RWC many here are on record saying they thought the backline functioned better than it did with Sexton.

[Rory_Gallagher]

I think it is a big mistake not to include Jackson in this game for a number of reasons, however I think Schmidt has preferred Madigan for the exact same reasons he preferred him during the World Cup. Madigan is a high percentage, very reliable and consistent goal kicker.

[carpet baboon]

As much as goal kicking s vital, scoring trys against Wales is what beats them. And Jackson's the man for that right now.
And his kicking this year has been as good as madigan

[carpet baboon]

On a different subject, apart from PJ and herring do we know who else has been sent back to the provinces?

[Notch]

The other provinces are not playing this weekend so it's hard to tell. This is a rescheduled game Ulster are playing, it was meant to be played in the weekend the Oyonnax away game was rescheduled for.

[carpet baboon]

Ahhh that makes sense

[Sin é]

I don't think it will affect his confidence. He's made of stern stuff and there's little doubt that he's been through much worse.

I wonder is the reason he isn't getting selected down to it not affecting him enough? Compare PJ's reaction to non-selection to how ROG & Sexton would have demanded selection.

Maybe he is just doesn't have enough fire in his belly!

[Notch]

Nah, fire in the belly or ice in the mind. Either way is good.

[eirebilly]

I don't think it will affect his confidence. He's made of stern stuff and there's little doubt that he's been through much worse.

I wonder is the reason he isn't getting selected down to it not affecting him enough? Compare PJ's reaction to non-selection to how ROG & Sexton would have demanded selection.

Maybe he is just doesn't have enough fire in his belly!

I am sure he has the fire in his belly but I think that it is poor man management that the most in form 10 in Ireland is released before a crucial match in favour of a player that has been prone to injuries and is out of form and a player who is not an out and out 10 (In my opinion).

I have often said, setting up a team to counter another team instead of playing to their strengths is a risky tactic and this is the only reason I can see for Schmidt's selections.

[eirebilly]

Heaven forbid that Sexton gets an injury but if he did, would Schmidt start Jackson in the next match and have Madigan on the bench or Madigan start with Jackson on the bench?

[Sin é]

Nah, fire in the belly or ice in the mind. Either way is good.

I think you need both. ROG had both in spades.

[Notch]

ROG was such a ligind. And so handsome!

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