The Ireland Squad Announcement Thread

by **Notch** Wed 20 Jan 2016, 12:48 pm

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

by Pete330v2 Fri 05 Feb 2016, 7:30 pm

Joe Schmidt is becoming Eddie O'Sullivan and we all know how that ends Sad

by Rory_Gallagher Fri 05 Feb 2016, 7:39 pm

I think we should wait and see how we get on this year. You would think we had already lost the game against Wales. There is a lot to be excited about over the next few seasons with this team. Schmidt clearly has his eyes on quite a few of the young prospects who will be capped sooner rather than later.

by eirebilly Fri 05 Feb 2016, 7:44 pm

Rory_Gallagher wrote:I think we should wait and see how we get on this year. You would think we had already lost the game against Wales. There is a lot to be excited about over the next few seasons with this team. Schmidt clearly has his eyes on quite a few of the young prospects who will be capped later rather than sooner.

Fixed that wee error for you to reflect the true progress Wink

by Rory_Gallagher Fri 05 Feb 2016, 7:55 pm

Sure, whatever. If you expect an international coach to just throw in a bunch of uncapped players and untried combinations at once I guess it won't be as quick as you would like. Yet Schmidt actually has selected a few uncapped and inexperienced players for this game...

Obviously I would have liked Jackson and McCloskey to be involved in this game as much as anyone but I can see why Schmidt has selected the team he has. Personally I think he got those two selections wrong, but then again I am not the international coach.

by eirebilly Fri 05 Feb 2016, 7:57 pm

Jesus wept, was just trying to make a joke Rory...

by Rory_Gallagher Fri 05 Feb 2016, 7:59 pm

I should clarify that I am talking about the decision not to include Paddy Jackson in the 23. I never would have expected him to start.

by Rory_Gallagher Fri 05 Feb 2016, 8:01 pm

eirebilly wrote:Jesus wept, was just trying to make a joke Rory...

The emotes sometimes don't work for me so I didn't see the wink emote when I first read the comment. Regardless, many on here seem to be very frustrated with the team so my comment still stands. Wink

by Peter Stringer Sat 06 Feb 2016, 7:36 pm

You guys couldn't stop quoting me during the World Cup. It's almost like you don't want to know what I think about the Six Nations. For shame!

by eirebilly Sat 06 Feb 2016, 7:40 pm

Peter Stringer wrote:You guys couldn't stop quoting me during the World Cup. It's almost like you don't want to know what I think about the Six Nations. For shame!

by Rory_Gallagher Sun 07 Feb 2016, 10:53 pm

What about CJ Stander today. Probably the biggest positive from an Irish perspective. Exactly the sort of player we have been looking for. A ball carrying threat who can only bring the best out of our other players. I don't think it was a coincidence that Heaslip made more metres than usual. With SOB returning we are going to have one hell of a back row. Sheer power and breakdown savvy to go with it.

That is ignoring the fact that POM, Henderson and Henry are yet to return, with Ruddock, TOD and now Van der Flier on standby. I think we were unusually lacking in quality depth in the back row during the RWC but we seem to be fully operational yet again. Very Happy

by Peter Stringer Sun 07 Feb 2016, 11:37 pm

Rory_Gallagher wrote:What about CJ Stander today. Probably the biggest positive from an Irish perspective. Exactly the sort of player we have been looking for. A ball carrying threat who can only bring the best out of our other players. I don't think it was a coincidence that Heaslip made more metres than usual. With SOB returning we are going to have one hell of a back row. Sheer power and breakdown savvy to go with it.

That is ignoring the fact that POM, Henderson and Henry are yet to return, with Ruddock, TOD and now Van der Flier on standby. I think we were unusually lacking in quality depth in the back row during the RWC but we seem to be fully operational yet again.

He had a great game today. In fairness though he's been playing like that for years. His father, Seamus O'Stander was a great player for Cork Con back in the day but was never picked for Ireland. It's not a surprise given the Lulster mafioso running the IRFU at the time and the anti-Munster media that still exists today.

Stander showed why he should have been picked for the World Cup but was a victim of Schmidt's innate conservatism.

by rapidsnowman Mon 08 Feb 2016, 9:43 am

Who let the genie out of the bottle? Shocked

by GunsGerms Mon 08 Feb 2016, 11:19 am

Anyone else think the talk of this Ireland team not being a full Irish team is a bit ridiculous? Personally I though the team on Saturday is more or less full strength because even though we were missing good players like SOB, Healy and Kearney etc. the guys that came are all international class and all just as good or nearly as good.

Liam Toland for example:

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/liam-toland-draw-a-great-achievement-for-depleted-ireland-1.2526128

Full strength teams are like dodo's or wolley mammoths these days anyway. They don't exist any more and what we had on Saturday is more or less as good as it gets. Despite possibly one or two guys playing out of their best position possibly, all players were doing their bit and were generally really well organised and committed.

by **rodders** Mon 08 Feb 2016, 11:28 am

Rory_Gallagher wrote:What about CJ Stander today. Probably the biggest positive from an Irish perspective.

Agreed, he was awesome - best player Ireland have produced since Jared Payne.

by Sin é Mon 08 Feb 2016, 11:46 am

It was really a joy to see Zebo open up the Welsh defence a few times - something we havn't seen for a long time. Smile

the Welsh media were very impressed.

More of that please uncle Joe

by SecretFly Mon 08 Feb 2016, 11:56 am

Sin é wrote:It was really a joy to see Zebo open up the Welsh defence a few times - something we havn't seen for a long time. the Welsh media were very impressed.

More of that please uncle Joe

Keeping gaps open though is the key. Support runners keeping the gap a gap to the tryline. Disappointing sequencing again when breaks are made.... always looks panicky from the first break because the attacker has very little reassurance that good support will follow. It needs to be much more regimented in expecting breaks and having due support to keep sequences going.

by **rodders** Mon 08 Feb 2016, 11:59 am

Sin é wrote:It was really a joy to see Zebo open up the Welsh defence a few times - something we havn't seen for a long time. the Welsh media were very impressed.

Of course they were, he was their best player!

by Sin é Mon 08 Feb 2016, 12:01 pm

Schmidt had programmed Kearney to always run to a predestination spot on the pitch so that the support didn't have to think so much.

by SecretFly Mon 08 Feb 2016, 12:03 pm

So as Zebo sped away, the other boys on auto stood waiting for him to come back for the appointed ruck'n'recycle?

Oh I see.

by rapidsnowman Mon 08 Feb 2016, 12:06 pm

rodders wrote:
Rory_Gallagher wrote:
What about CJ Stander today. Probably the biggest positive from an Irish perspective.

Agreed, he was awesome - best player Ireland have produced since Jared Payne.

Sin é wrote:
It was really a joy to see Zebo open up the Welsh defence a few times - something we havn't seen for a long time. Smile the Welsh media were very impressed.

Of course they were, he was their best player!

No pressure rodders, but you're sitting on a hat-trick here if someone sets you up!

by Guest Mon 08 Feb 2016, 12:08 pm

Sin é wrote:Schmidt had programmed Kearney to always run to a predestination spot on the pitch so that the support didn't have to think so much.

Further proof of Schmidts divinity.

by GunsGerms Mon 08 Feb 2016, 1:17 pm

I think Zebo will continue to divide opinion. On the one hand he made one nice break and over all had a decent game. On the other hand kicking to touch when the ball was passed back to him in the 22 was poor focus on his part. His positional sense and fielding high balls at full back is not good either.

In fairness though he probably wouldn't have started if Kearney was fit.

by greygoose Mon 08 Feb 2016, 1:28 pm

Zebo produced some decent stuff, but shouldn't be near the 15 shirt, doesn't seem comfortable in defense. Would like to see him replace Earls on the wing with Kearney back at fullback(as much as RKs form has been muck).

by **rodders** Mon 08 Feb 2016, 1:36 pm

GunsGerms wrote:I think Zebo will continue to divide opinion.

Too true, I can't decide if he's worse on the wing or worse at fullback.

by **Notch** Mon 08 Feb 2016, 1:41 pm

Yeah, I think of all the team that started yesterday Zebo is the one whose place is really under threat. I would be tempted to drop Henshaw back to fullback and start McCloskey at 12. Otherwise keep the centres the same and out Rob Kearney back in.

by greygoose Mon 08 Feb 2016, 1:45 pm

Notch wrote:Yeah, I think of all the team that started yesterday Zebo is the one whose place is really under threat. I would be tempted to drop Henshaw back to fullback and start McCloskey at 12. Otherwise keep the centres the same and out Rob Kearney back in.

Really? Interesting, why Henshaw to fullback and not Payne? For my money, Henshaw and McCloskey could be a really effective centre partnership. And Payne just looks so classy at fullback.

by RubyGuby Mon 08 Feb 2016, 1:57 pm

rapidsnowman wrote:
rodders wrote:
Rory_Gallagher wrote:
What about CJ Stander today. Probably the biggest positive from an Irish perspective.

Agreed, he was awesome - best player Ireland have produced since Jared Payne.

Sin é wrote:
It was really a joy to see Zebo open up the Welsh defence a few times - something we havn't seen for a long time. Smile the Welsh media were very impressed.

Of course they were, he was their best player!

No pressure rodders, but you're sitting on a hat-trick here if someone sets you up!

How did you think Ruddock went when he came on Rodders, I agree with Stander's and Payne's contributions which were vital thumbsup

by **Notch** Mon 08 Feb 2016, 1:59 pm

greygoose wrote:
Notch wrote:Yeah, I think of all the team that started yesterday Zebo is the one whose place is really under threat. I would be tempted to drop Henshaw back to fullback and start McCloskey at 12. Otherwise keep the centres the same and out Rob Kearney back in.

Really? Interesting, why Henshaw to fullback and not Payne? For my money, Henshaw and McCloskey could be a really effective centre partnership. And Payne just looks so classy at fullback.

Payne is the best defensive organiser in the hardest position to defend- his positioning is the key to our entire defensive alignment. In many ways he is the 'Captain' of our defence. The way we defended was superb, especially our drift defence into the wide channels shutting down their dangerous runners. It all comes down to calm, effective communication and that is what Payne gives us. France have a plethora of threatening runners and will test us again in those wide channels- however, we can also pressurise them into errors. That I think is going to be the key to beating them. Force them into mistakes and play off turnover ball. I think it's obvious to everyone that Payne is doing the job Schmidt wants him to do extremely well, so don't expect to see any other player fill his shirt this 6N unless there is an injury.

Zebo I like as a fullback option due to his ability to cut a line from deep, and he did that wonderfully well several times, but his positional play and kicking wasn't good enough. Henshaw I think will offer more cutting edge in attack but Kearney is safer under the high ball. If you look at the back three they picked for their opening, it isn't set up to kick, it's a very attacking minded unit. Kearneys solidity at the back may be less of an asset if they aren't going to bring much of a tactical kicking game. On the other hand we want to try and target the likes of Vakatawa under the high ball Kearney might win the battle on that basis.

It's an interesting selection conundrum. What I will say is if McCloskey is selected, I wouldn't worry about him against France at all. Not compared to the difficulty of facing that very good, settled Welsh centre partnership. But if Henshaw isn't moved I'm not sure there's enough of an upside to dropping him to make way for McCloskey just yet.

I would predict that Schmidt will stick with Henshaw, Payne and Kearney and put the French wingers in situations they don't want to be in- contesting 50/50 balls just outside their own 22. If we win those 50/50s it will give us a great platform to attack from.

by **rodders** Mon 08 Feb 2016, 3:08 pm

RubyGuby wrote:
rapidsnowman wrote:
rodders wrote:
Rory_Gallagher wrote:
What about CJ Stander today. Probably the biggest positive from an Irish perspective.

Agreed, he was awesome - best player Ireland have produced since Jared Payne.

Sin é wrote:
It was really a joy to see Zebo open up the Welsh defence a few times - something we havn't seen for a long time. Smile the Welsh media were very impressed.

Of course they were, he was their best player!

No pressure rodders, but you're sitting on a hat-trick here if someone sets you up!

How did you think Ruddock went when he came on Rodders, I agree with Stander's and Payne's contributions which were vital

Not bad for a Welsh man ruby. No he's a good player Ruby I think he should have started ahead of O'Donnell.

by SecretFly Mon 08 Feb 2016, 3:11 pm

O'Donnell more explosive momentum-wise. Ruddock has a traction gear for sure but I've seldom seen a 10 second dynamite fuse sticking out of his ass......

by RubyGuby Mon 08 Feb 2016, 3:53 pm

You gave us Guinness we gave you Ruddock - We're happy thumbsup

by Engine#4 Mon 08 Feb 2016, 10:18 pm

Stats are showing 7 line breaks for Ireland on Sunday. Not bad against a usually mean Welsh defence? Though I seem to remember there being little enough support for several of them. In contrast Wales had zero line breaks.

by RubyGuby Mon 08 Feb 2016, 10:29 pm

So 7 line breaks to nil and a 16-3 deficit for the last 60 mins!! Those stats are funny things thumbsup

by Engine#4 Mon 08 Feb 2016, 11:28 pm

Now now Ruby, I'm not taking a shot at Wales! There's plenty of fun back and forth going on in the match thread. Ireland's midfield make-up and lack of penetration have both been the subjects of quite a bit of discussion recently. It seems we were defensively solid (if a little narrow on occasion) and did manage to get in behind more than usual. Very Happy

by RubyGuby Tue 09 Feb 2016, 9:24 am

Engine#4 wrote:Now now Ruby, I'm not taking a shot at Wales! There's plenty of fun back and forth going on in the match thread. Ireland's midfield make-up and lack of penetration have both been the subjects of quite a bit of discussion recently. It seems we were defensively solid (if a little narrow on occasion) and did manage to get in behind more than usual.

I'm disappointed Engine, an opportunity lost after we had some ascendency - I know both sets of fans might feel the same but our backline was poor and predictable and a drift defence combatted that quite easily. Not playing well and getting a draw is not too bad, there's a lot more to come from both teams - Good luck in your next 4 games mate guinness

by **rodders** Tue 09 Feb 2016, 9:32 am

RubyGuby wrote: Good luck ~~in your next 4 games mate~~ against England

Fixed it for you Ruby Smile

by RubyGuby Tue 09 Feb 2016, 9:41 am

rodders wrote:
RubyGuby wrote: Good luck ~~in your next 4 games mate~~ against England

Fixed it for you Ruby

As if

by geoff999rugby Tue 09 Feb 2016, 9:45 am

Peter Stringer wrote:
Stander showed why he should have been picked for the World Cup but was a victim of Schmidt's innate conservatism.

Hard to pick a man who wasn't eligible Rolling Eyes

by GunsGerms Tue 09 Feb 2016, 10:07 am

Apparently Toulon legend and former Ireland captain Paul O'Connell has today announced that he will retire from rugby completely due to injury.

by Don Alfonso Tue 09 Feb 2016, 5:13 pm

McFadden called up.

Christ.

The.

Night.

by GunsGerms Tue 09 Feb 2016, 5:23 pm

He brings a lot of experience and a good international try scoring record. Who would you call up?

by carpet baboon Tue 09 Feb 2016, 5:24 pm

Why? Who for? Who's injured?

by Don Alfonso Tue 09 Feb 2016, 5:33 pm

GunsGerms wrote:He brings a lot of experience and a good international try scoring record. Who would you call up?

Gilroy. Healy. Someone whose last notable contribution wasn't to get sent off careening into someone in a ruck in a no-arms "clear-out" - on returning after a three-week ban for stamping.

by carpet baboon Tue 09 Feb 2016, 5:36 pm

GunsGerms wrote:He brings a lot of experience and a good international try scoring record. Who would you call up?

Well if we need a winger I would look at Healy or gilroy and a centre cave ringrose or Reid.
I like him, but I think we have better options

by Golden Tue 09 Feb 2016, 5:49 pm

Must be to replace Earls. Disappointing for healy. Can't imagine either will play though

by carpet baboon Tue 09 Feb 2016, 7:27 pm

What's happened to earls? Cited?

by Rory_Gallagher Tue 09 Feb 2016, 9:36 pm

He picked up an injury during the game. Concussion maybe?

Anyway, for the France game here is my proposed team:

McGrath - Best - Furlong
Ryan - Toner
Stander - Heaslip - O'Brien
Murray - Sexton
McCloskey - Payne
Zebo - Kearney - Trimble

Bench: Cronin, Cronin, White, McCarthy, Ruddock/TOD, Marmion, JACKSON, Kearney

The main hurt in this selection is dropping Henshaw after the performance against Wales. It isn't that he was terrible, it is just that he was exposed at 12 which was going to happen sooner or later. McCloskey is the better option for a number of reasons. I would love to see him start at fullback but there would probably be too much disruption in the backs. Unfortunately he doesn't make the bench either as we need someone who can play on the wing primarily (although he would probably be fantastic on the wing). For familiarity and because it is probably the best combination available, I have retained Payne at 13 and brought Rob Kearney for added stability at the back. Zebo pushed to the left wing where hopefully he will have more space due to the new look midfield and extra oomph in the pack.

However, this is what the team will be:

McGrath - Best - White
McCarthy - Toner
Stander - Heaslip - O'Brien
Murray - Sexton
Henshaw - Payne
Zebo - Kearney - Trimble

Bench: Cronin, Cronin, Furlong, Ryan, Ruddock, Marmion, Madigan ( picard

), Kearney

by Sin é Tue 09 Feb 2016, 9:37 pm

carpet baboon wrote:What's happened to earls? Cited?

Concussion assessment, but sounds like he will be fit to go.

He wasn't cited yet anyway!

by Rory_Gallagher Tue 09 Feb 2016, 9:38 pm

Sin é wrote:
carpet baboon wrote:What's happened to earls? Cited?

Concussion assessment, but sounds like he will be fit to go.

He wasn't cited yet anyway!

If he is fully fit then he replaces Zebo in my teams above.

by Peter Stringer Tue 09 Feb 2016, 10:24 pm

geoff999rugby wrote:
Peter Stringer wrote:
Stander showed why he should have been picked for the World Cup but was a victim of Schmidt's innate conservatism.

Hard to pick a man who wasn't eligible

That's the problem with Schmidt apologists like you. You defend his indefensible conservative selection policies. Look, all I'm saying is that it takes a coach with vision to make such a radical and groundbreaking decision. Schmidt just hasn't got it in him. I'm not saying he is a bad coach. I'm just stating that he isn't as innovative as say Declan Kidney.

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