Ireland 2016/17 season

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AI's
Nov 5th New Zealand vs Ireland Chicago
Nov 12th Ireland vs Canada
Nov 19th Ireland Vs New Zealand
Nov 26th Ireland vs Australia


6 Nations
Feb 4th Scotland vs Ireland
Feb 11th Italy vs Ireland
Feb 25th Ireland vs France
Mar 10th Wales vs Ireland
Mar 18th Ireland vs England

Hasthe munster hooker scannell been in any Ireland training squads yet?. As I would like him on the bench for the 6n

carpet baboon wrote:Hasthe munster hooker scannell been in any Ireland training squads yet?. As I would like him on the bench for the 6n

Niall Scannell hasn't been as far as I know. But you're right - he's coming on leaps and bounds. The Six Nations may be too soon for him, but certainly a good prospect for the June tour in USA and Japan. James Tracy at Leinster is in third place at the moment having been capped against Canada in November. With Richardt Strauss still hovering in the background if necessary.

What happened to Sherry/Casey? They were both knocking on Irelands door but I havent heard from them in a while. Are they both injured?

Didn't Sherry retire?

Pot Hale wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:Hasthe munster hooker scannell been in any Ireland training squads yet?. As I would like him on the bench for the 6n

Niall Scannell hasn't been as far as I know.  But you're right - he's coming on leaps and bounds.  The Six Nations may be too soon for him, but certainly a good prospect for the June tour in USA and Japan.   James Tracy at Leinster is in third place at the moment having been capped against Canada in November.  With Richardt Strauss still hovering in the background if necessary.  

Surprised how little mention Herring gets, don't think hes that far behind Best in terms of ability and against Leinster he seemed to have the better of Cronin in the scrum until he went off injured

marty2086 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:Hasthe munster hooker scannell been in any Ireland training squads yet?. As I would like him on the bench for the 6n

Niall Scannell hasn't been as far as I know.  But you're right - he's coming on leaps and bounds.  The Six Nations may be too soon for him, but certainly a good prospect for the June tour in USA and Japan.   James Tracy at Leinster is in third place at the moment having been capped against Canada in November.  With Richardt Strauss still hovering in the background if necessary.  

Surprised how little mention Herring gets, don't think hes that far behind Best in terms of ability and against Leinster he seemed to have the better of Cronin in the scrum until he went off injured

just

I rate him very highly. But selfishly I don't want him and best away at the same time

carpet baboon wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:Hasthe munster hooker scannell been in any Ireland training squads yet?. As I would like him on the bench for the 6n

Niall Scannell hasn't been as far as I know.  But you're right - he's coming on leaps and bounds.  The Six Nations may be too soon for him, but certainly a good prospect for the June tour in USA and Japan.   James Tracy at Leinster is in third place at the moment having been capped against Canada in November.  With Richardt Strauss still hovering in the background if necessary.  

Surprised how little mention Herring gets, don't think hes that far behind Best in terms of ability and against Leinster he seemed to have the better of Cronin in the scrum until he went off injured

just

I rate him very highly. But selfishly I don't want him and best away at the same time

Maybe if more Ulster players made the squad then we may see more young players getting an opportunity and developing more depth, you just have to se Leinsters backrow to see how its helped them

marty2086 wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:Hasthe munster hooker scannell been in any Ireland training squads yet?. As I would like him on the bench for the 6n

Niall Scannell hasn't been as far as I know.  But you're right - he's coming on leaps and bounds.  The Six Nations may be too soon for him, but certainly a good prospect for the June tour in USA and Japan.   James Tracy at Leinster is in third place at the moment having been capped against Canada in November.  With Richardt Strauss still hovering in the background if necessary.  

Surprised how little mention Herring gets, don't think hes that far behind Best in terms of ability and against Leinster he seemed to have the better of Cronin in the scrum until he went off injured

just

I rate him very highly. But selfishly I don't want him and best away at the same time

Maybe if more Ulster players made the squad then we may see more young players getting an opportunity and developing more depth, you just have to se Leinsters backrow to see how its helped them

That is a fine point there I hadn't considered.

Another great article by demented mole on Irelands second rows. Well worth a read!

https://dementedmole.com/2017/01/08/ireland-second-rows-in-2016-the-post-paul-oconnell-era/

Golden wrote:Another great article by demented mole on Irelands second rows. Well worth a read!

https://dementedmole.com/2017/01/08/ireland-second-rows-in-2016-the-post-paul-oconnell-era/

Very good article. Agree that Toner has been a key player for Ireland and Leinster and is very underrated.

Don't buy the noUlster players in Ireland team preventing youngsters at provincial level argument.

Hasn't stopped Connact youngsters and quite frankly if you look at the number of games ordinary players like Diack and Ross have played it doesn't hold water.

Not being given a chance by selectors is the problem not being blocked by better players.

marty2086 wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:Hasthe munster hooker scannell been in any Ireland training squads yet?. As I would like him on the bench for the 6n

Niall Scannell hasn't been as far as I know.  But you're right - he's coming on leaps and bounds.  The Six Nations may be too soon for him, but certainly a good prospect for the June tour in USA and Japan.   James Tracy at Leinster is in third place at the moment having been capped against Canada in November.  With Richardt Strauss still hovering in the background if necessary.  

Surprised how little mention Herring gets, don't think hes that far behind Best in terms of ability and against Leinster he seemed to have the better of Cronin in the scrum until he went off injured

just

I rate him very highly. But selfishly I don't want him and best away at the same time

Maybe if more Ulster players made the squad then we may see more young players getting an opportunity and developing more depth, you just have to se Leinsters backrow to see how its helped them

There's nothing to suggest that Ulster have the young forwards with the quality necessary to step up for the senior team. If they did they certainly would have played before now, as Ulster haven't been reluctant to try out young backs: McIlwaine, Seymour, Cochrane, Gilroy, Shiels, Gaston, Andrew, Spence, Allen, Jackson, Marshall, Olding, Farrell, Scholes, Arnold, McKinney, McIlroy, Nelson, Stockdale, Lyttle etc..

Leinster are producing players because
- they are allowed to play at both school and club
- their clubs play in 1A and are better coached
- they learn from the senior provincial players
AND they get opportunities with Test call-ups as well as injuries

If the foundation isn't there, neither will they be irrespective of however many opportunities present themselves.

Who is Irelands back up to Sexton? is it still Ian Madigan? or is it Paddy Jackson?

Anyone know when the Ireland squad is announced? According to Leo Cullen it's sometime this week.

majesticimperialman wrote:Who is Irelands back up to Sexton? is it still Ian Madigan? or is it Paddy Jackson?

Jackson. Carbery is third choice. Madigan is out of the picture but to be honest, he never kicked on. Has skill but not the brains to play 10.

Anyone know when the squad is announced? Is it today?

Pretty sure I read it was Sunday afternoon after the ERC games

Makes sense, cheers Marty

profitius wrote:Anyone know when the Ireland squad is announced? According to Leo Cullen it's sometime this week.

majesticimperialman wrote:Who is Irelands back up to Sexton? is it still Ian Madigan? or is it Paddy Jackson?

Jackson. Carbery is third choice. Madigan is out of the picture but to be honest, he never kicked on. Has skill but not the brains to play 10.

Yep Madigan is nowhere to be seen.

Very few players considered who don't play in Ireland.
You have to be exceptional or plug an obvious weakness - Madigan doesn't fit either remit

Marty Moore could fit the bill if furlong got injured?

The Great Aukster wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:Hasthe munster hooker scannell been in any Ireland training squads yet?. As I would like him on the bench for the 6n

Niall Scannell hasn't been as far as I know.  But you're right - he's coming on leaps and bounds.  The Six Nations may be too soon for him, but certainly a good prospect for the June tour in USA and Japan.   James Tracy at Leinster is in third place at the moment having been capped against Canada in November.  With Richardt Strauss still hovering in the background if necessary.  

Surprised how little mention Herring gets, don't think hes that far behind Best in terms of ability and against Leinster he seemed to have the better of Cronin in the scrum until he went off injured

just

I rate him very highly. But selfishly I don't want him and best away at the same time

Maybe if more Ulster players made the squad then we may see more young players getting an opportunity and developing more depth, you just have to se Leinsters backrow to see how its helped them

There's nothing to suggest that Ulster have the young forwards with the quality necessary to step up for the senior team. If they did they certainly would have played before now, as Ulster haven't been reluctant to try out young backs: McIlwaine, Seymour, Cochrane, Gilroy, Shiels, Gaston, Andrew, Spence, Allen, Jackson, Marshall, Olding, Farrell, Scholes, Arnold, McKinney, McIlroy, Nelson, Stockdale, Lyttle etc..

Leinster are producing players because
- they are allowed to play at both school and club
- their clubs play in 1A and are better coached
- they learn from the senior provincial players
AND they get opportunities with Test call-ups as well as injuries

If the foundation isn't there, neither will they be irrespective of however many opportunities present themselves.

I heard an interview with Joe Brolly last Sunday (general interview) where he was talking about amateur GAA/sport in general where he said that his GAA club ground shares with Harlequins (I think) and it has seen a serious decline in recent years - said something like there used to be about 14 or 15 harlequin rugby teams and now there are only a couple. Also had great praise for Brian McLaughlin and what a great man he is.

GunsGermsV2 wrote:Marty Moore could fit the bill if furlong got injured?

Not for me

Bealham would start with Ryan or Ah You on the bench
Ross hasn't retired and Herbst available next year
Archer and Casey as well

Now Moore is better than the last two but I just don't think they would make an exception given the above

geoff999rugby wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:Marty Moore could fit the bill if furlong got injured?

Not for me

Bealham would start with Ryan or Ah You on the bench
Ross hasn't retired and Herbst available next year
Archer and Casey as well

Now Moore is better than the last two but I just don't think they would make an exception given the above

You are probably right. There would need to be a few injuries but stranger things have happened.

The IRFU tweeted the team will be announced on sunday. I think the U20 squad announced on tuesday. Funny how Ireland is always last to reveal their squad.

profitius wrote:The IRFU tweeted the team will be announced on sunday. I think the U20 squad announced on tuesday. Funny how Ireland is always last to reveal their squad.

Apparently the announcements been pushed back to Monday

Actually, the IRFU want to hold off the announcement until the Monday after St Patrick's Day.

SecretFly wrote:Actually, the IRFU want to hold off the announcement until the Monday after St Patrick's Day.

Thats in the hope Sexton will be fit

Eddie apparently ain't worried about us anyway...so England have the Slam in the bag. We should call it all off and let the hard worked players rest.

Team announced - quite happy with it.

Good to see McLoskey, Conan, Conway and the Scannells get in,

Bowe, Kearney and Gilroy lucky to get in ahead of Byrne.

Squad named. 3 uncapped players in there. The 2 Scannells and Andrew Conway. 1 cap Jack Conan also gets a recall.


40 man squad with 19 players on 10 caps or less.


Ireland Squad 2017 RBS 6 Nations Nations Championship 2017 - Rounds 1 &2

Player/Club/Province/Caps

Forwards (22)
Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht) 6 caps
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) (c) 100 caps
Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 1 cap
Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht) 8 caps
Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 11 caps
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 62 caps
Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) (vc) 91 caps
Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 28 caps
Billy Holland (Cork Constitution/Munster) 1 cap
Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 17 caps
Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster) 1 cap
Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 36 caps
Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster) 44 caps
Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) 12 caps
Peter O'Mahony (Cork Con/Munster) 37 caps
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster) 43 caps
John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 1 cap
Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) *
CJ Stander (Munster) 10 caps
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 42 caps
James Tracy (UCD/Leinster) 1 cap
Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 5 caps

Backs (18)
Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 67 caps
Andrew Conway (Munster) *
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 54 caps
Craig Gilroy (Bangor/Ulster) 9 caps
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 24 caps
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) 19 caps
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 72 caps
Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 9 caps
Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster) 9 caps
Stuart McCloskey (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 1 cap
Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 1 cap
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 53 caps
Tiernan O'Halloran (Buccaneers/Connacht) 3 caps
Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 3 caps
Rory Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) *
Jonathan Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster) 63 caps
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 69 caps
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster) 28 caps

*Denotes uncapped player

Not sure Tommy bows and gilroy deserve there spots, would have liked to see. Byrne in there.
I take it sweetman is injured?

carpet baboon wrote:Not sure Tommy bows and gilroy deserve there spots, would have liked to see. Byrne in there.
I take it sweetman is injured?

They don't but give Conway is there Schmidt has probably gone for a mix of new faces and experience.

Prediction - for any team to finish above England, with the new bonus points, they'll need a grand slam.

I predict if we can beat Wales we'll do it.

Delighted for the Scannell brothers and Andrew Conway. Well deserved. All are playing really well. Interesting that it looks like Niall Scannell will probably cover outhalf with only Sexton & Jackson named at outhalf.

Do you mean Rory Scannell?

carpet baboon wrote:Not sure Tommy bows and gilroy deserve there spots, would have liked to see. Byrne in there.
I take it sweetman is injured?

Sweetnam is injured. Conway is playing really well (and the way Schmidt likes his wingers - brave and really good in the air. Very pacy as well. Defence is excellent).

GunsGermsV2 wrote:Do you mean Rory Scannell?

Opps! Yes.

Sin é wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:Not sure Tommy bows and gilroy deserve there spots, would have liked to see. Byrne in there.
I take it sweetman is injured?

Sweetnam is injured. Conway is playing really well (and the way Schmidt likes his wingers - brave and really good in the air. Very pacy as well. Defence is excellent).

True. He looks very good this year.

Absolutely amazed that Bowe and Gilroy are in the squad.

Maine man wrote:Absolutely amazed that Bowe and Gilroy are in the squad.

Who would you have there?

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

Maine man wrote:Absolutely amazed that Bowe and Gilroy are in the squad.

Who would you have there?

Byrne or the other young winger from Leinster who's name I have completely forgotten. Or Niyi.
Bowe and gilroy are just not playing well at the moment.

Thought Bowe looked good against Bordeaux. Think Schmidt was at that game wasnt he?

carpet baboon wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

Maine man wrote:Absolutely amazed that Bowe and Gilroy are in the squad.

Who would you have there?

Byrne or the other young winger from Leinster who's name I have completely forgotten. Or Niyi.
Bowe and gilroy are just not playing well at the moment.

Gilroys barely playing at the minute hes behind Bowe/Trimble/Piutau/Ludik

Byrne from Leinster should be in there.

Byrne looks good alright but he can be kind of frustrating to watch too.

Just looking at the back row options. My word we have some talent to pick from

carpet baboon wrote:Just looking at the back row options. My word we have some talent to pick from

Best back row squad in world rugby along side England.

I would love to see a vdf stander conan combo tried out at some point

That would be a formidable combo. For me Stander, SOB and Heaslip is still out best combo though.

Is that an Ireland squad without any big names excluded due to injury?
Are we going into a 6 nations with a full selection to choose from ?
Surely not

Bar A Byrne for Gilroy, no complaints. But we are talking about the 6th choice winger here.

Lack of a true 3rd choice 10 is a slight concern. Who is the next best irish 10 that is fit? Ross Byrne I guess? Maybe Madigan? Keatley and Carty are not at the required standard.