Ireland 2022/2023 - moving on

First topic message reminder :

The IRFU have been taking care of business whilst the national team have been taking the plaudits for their successful NZ tour series.  

A week after the 3rd test, Leinster announced their new IRFU-approved CEO to take over from the long-serving and very successful Mick Dawson.  As the wags put it, they searched Google and came up with their man - Shane Nolan -  a Google executive who happens to be a longtime Leinster fan with a strong remit to build up the commercial side of the business including delivering the revamped RDS stadium and a lot more corporate backing.  

Only a couple of days later, up popped the new CEO of the IRFU, Kevin Potts, to say they’d already sat down with Andy Farrell before he headed off to NZ and agreed a two-year extension to his contract with options to extend further if certain performance markers were met.  Presumably that includes not just winning a RWC quarterfinal for the first time…

Farrell is being given the resources and budget to develop the best squad possible including a stronger input into provincial selections and development of all of his likely RWC squad players.  

One gets the impression that IRFU supremo Kevin Potts is going for broke at his first attempt in securing greater success in the RWC than his long-term predecessor, Phillip Browne, ever achieved.  

The Autumn Internationals and Emerging Ireland tour to SA provided an opportunity to develop a wider core of players outside Farrell’s 20-23 already selected cohort of players.  

O’Toole, Loughman, Baird, McCarthy, Timoney, Carbery, Coombes, Casey, Larmour, Hume, Stockdale, Baloucoune, Frawley need greater club and country time this coming season, with possibly some being played out of their regular starting positions for province.  

With the Six Nations coming up, and squad named for the first 1-2 games, a number of players have dropped back, and only 1 uncapped player made it through - Jamie Osborne, who might get an opportunity from the bench during one of the games.

All in all, it continues to be an interesting season in the run-up to the RWC.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:That's a poor comeback.

A poor comment deserves a poor comment. You’re just very poor, aren’t you?

Wow. Thinking I was right then.

With Eddie Jones contracted until 2030, I feel this is going to be a very long 8 years .

Only contracted to next year mikey. Au revoir.

Ross Byrne has been called up to the Ireland squad. Also Frawley to have knee surgery. The frailty of the young Irish fly halves really is quite bizarre. Carberry, Frawley and H Byrne are always seemingly in the doctor's surgery.

Yeah and people call Sexton injury prone. Given how physical Sexton and how long he has lasted I dont agree.

Collapse2005 wrote:Yeah and people call Sexton injury prone. Given how physical Sexton and how long he has lasted I dont agree.

You don't get over a 100 caps being injury prone.

Maine man wrote:Ross Byrne has been called up to the Ireland squad. Also Frawley to have knee surgery. The frailty of the young Irish fly halves really is quite bizarre. Carberry, Frawley and H Byrne are always seemingly in the doctor's surgery.

Sadly, I do think that it is time to move on from Carberry. he really is more injured than fit.

As for Sexton being injury prone... I kind of liken him to Wilkinson in that they play the game with an incredible level physicality so will pick up injuries but i would hardly suggest Sexton has been injury prone throughout his career but as he gets older, the body will suffer more with the intensity he plays at.

Papers reporting that Baloucoune to be dropped for O'Brien. Disappointed for Baloucoune but he has been rather quiet in both games. He needs to go looking for the ball a lot more. I'm hoping the papers are incorrect. Also reporting McCloskey to get the nod as well which is fully deserved in my eyes.

Yeah was really hoping to see a bit more from him but not entirely his fault.

Really wierd to think that Jonny Sexton has never been to South Africa, never with Leinster, Ireland, nor the Lions. Never on holiday etc.

Ireland v Australia
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 24 caps
14. Mack Hansen (Connacht/Corinthians) 8 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 46 caps
12. Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 8 caps
11. Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster/Naas) 2 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 109 caps CAPTAIN
9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 22 caps

1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 47 caps
2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 12 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 62 caps
4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 35 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 47 caps
6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 88 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 44 caps
8. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 22 caps

Replacements:

16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 30 caps
17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 120 caps
18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 26 caps
19. Joe McCarthy (Leinster/Dublin University) *
20. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 32 caps
21. Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 6 caps
22. Jack Crowley (Munster/Cork Constitution) 1 cap
23. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 40 caps

Australia Team
Forwards

1 James Slipper (Captain)
2 David Porecki
3 Allan Alaalatoa
4 Nick Frost
5 Cadeyrn Neville
6 Jed Holloway
7 Michael Hooper
8 Rob Valetini
Backs

9 Nic White
10 Bernard Foley
11 Tom Wright
12 Hunter Paisami
13 Len Ikitau
14 Mark Nawaqanitawase
15 Andrew Kellaway
Replacements

16 Folau Fainga'a
17 Tom Robertson
18 Taniela Tupou
19 Will Skelton
20 Pete Samu
21 Jake Gordon
22 Noah Lolesio
23 Jordan Petaia

Big Will on the bench.

A couple of members of theat Aussie team must be commentators nightmares, particularly Nawaqanitawase...
Much easier with solid anglo-saxon or Gaelic names like van der Flier (and yes I know he's Irish of Dutch ancestry)

I heard he is from the same suburb of Joburg as Jack van Poortvliet

Interesting array of schools represented by the first 15, its quite a good spread.

Blackrock 3
Clongowes 2
Bangor Grammar School 1
St Andrews 1
Wesley 1
Daramalan College Canberra 1
Newbridge 1
St Marys 1
Gisborne Boys' High School NZ 1
St Augustine's and Scoil Mhuire Horeswood New Ross 1
St Michaels 1
Pres Cork 1

Is this on Prime?

mikey_dragon wrote:Is this on Prime?

It is

Hope Im wrong but i feel an ambush coming.

Nah - Ireland will cruise this ...

With Crowley at 10?

TBH I haven't looked at the teams - just going with my gut

Ireland will walk it.

What a strange game this is. Ireland seem to be treating it as tackle practice, and Wallabies with incredibly naïve tactics which is playing right into it. Wallabies need more variety instead of just passing side to side - get some pick and goes going, actually win your lineout and get mauls trundling to pull players in.

Not much of a spectacle so far.

No I was expecting this game to be a lot more lively ...

A glimpse into the future of what rugby would look like if they banned the jackle!

Ireland need to be careful here - they do actually need to play some rugby at some point to get points...

This is a pretty awful performance from Ireland, stop/start no flow or consistency to the game

It's hard to tell what Ireland are actually trying to do this game

Jeez finally Ireland play some rugby and get a score.

That was not in from the side

Absolutely dreadful game, and Ireland will be very relieved in the end that they didn't lose that.

Wallabies again lots of effort but just not getting the win. It's been a horrible year of injuries for the Wallabies and they'll be glad to go home and lick their wounds!

RDW wrote:Absolutely dreadful game, and Ireland will be very relieved in the end that they didn't lose that.

Wallabies again lots of effort but just not getting the win. It's been a horrible year of injuries for the Wallabies and they'll be glad to go home and lick their wounds!

Still got Wales to play before they can go home. Think both teams would happily call it off at the moment.

Galted wrote:

RDW wrote:Absolutely dreadful game, and Ireland will be very relieved in the end that they didn't lose that.

Wallabies again lots of effort but just not getting the win. It's been a horrible year of injuries for the Wallabies and they'll be glad to go home and lick their wounds!

Still got Wales to play before they can go home.  Think both teams would happily call it off at the moment.

Oh jeez I'd forgotten about that. Wallabies will have fully run out of steam by then.

Wales will have to pick domestic players only I guess?

Yes they will, meaning the starting team will be very similar as it was for Georgia…

Nawaqanitawase Looks like a super player. Aussies seemed very techy, on the edge of a fight at every confrontation.

It may not have been the best of matches but a win is a win. Ireland used to lose games like that but under Farrell, Ireland have a lot more resolve and belief.

Any fringe players to put their hands up? Tom Stewart and Antoine Frisch are playing great. Might not see any other new caps until after the world cup.

profitius wrote:Any fringe players to put their hands up? Tom Stewart and Antoine Frisch are playing great. Might not see any other new caps until after the world cup.

The young Waterford born, South African winger who plays for La Rochelle and Ireland under 20s might be one to keep an eye on. His name is Ike Anagu. He is 6'3 strong and fast.

Would be surprised if SA aren't monitoring him, he'd be like Mapimpi but bigger and stronger. Still surprised they let Duhan slip away.

You might be right, apparently though he has stated that he wants to represent Ireland.

Collapse2005 wrote:

profitius wrote:Any fringe players to put their hands up? Tom Stewart and Antoine Frisch are playing great. Might not see any other new caps until after the world cup.

The young Waterford born, South African winger who plays for La Rochelle and Ireland under 20s might be one to keep an eye on. His name is Ike Anagu. He is 6'3 strong and fast.

I'll keep an eye out during the u20 6 nations. Supposed to be a good side again this year.

When's your 6N squad being named?

mikey_dragon wrote:When's your 6N squad being named?

Thursday I think. We're always the last to name squads. There won't be many surprises.

mikey_dragon wrote:When's your 6N squad being named?

Tomorrow, Friday, maybe next Wednesday....

Does it really mater? Ireland are going to thrash all the teams anyway.

Pot Hale wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:When's your 6N squad being named?

Tomorrow, Friday, maybe next Wednesday....

Does it really mater?  Ireland are going to thrash all the teams anyway.

You might thrash all the other teams after your opening defeat to Wales. #Gatlandball

Carbery dropped, Ross Byrne, Crowley and Sexton in. Osbourne is the only uncapped player.

Stockdale and Earls in. Didn't see that coming.

Carbery is a bit of a shock but he can't complain.

mikey_dragon wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:When's your 6N squad being named?

Tomorrow, Friday, maybe next Wednesday....

Does it really mater?  Ireland are going to thrash all the teams anyway.

You might thrash all the other teams after your opening defeat to Wales. #Gatlandball

Ok then. After our opening defeat to Wales. Fair point, Mikey.

Carbery dropped - Correct decision
Ross Byrne in - Correct decision
Crowley in - Correct decision
Osbourne in - Correct decision
Stockdale in - Wrong decision
Timoney dropped - Wrong decision

Has Stockdale been really bad?

Should Murray and Earls be in if they have been dropped for Munster?

Happy for Ross Byrne, think he deserves a proper chance.

The Stockdale inclusion is one of the most bizzare calls in Irish rugby history. Hopefully he proves everyone wrong though.

Collapse2005 wrote:Has Stockdale been really bad?

In a word

YES

On form he doesn't make the Ulster 23 let alone Ireland.
My granny would be more reliable under the high ball - and shes dead