Forwards (19) -
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)
Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)
Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)
Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
John Muldoon (Galwegians/Connacht)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) *
Damien Varley (Garryowen/Munster)
David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
Backs (15) -
Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster)
Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht)
Keith Earls (Thomond/Munster)
Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster)
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Johne Murphy (Young Munster/Munster) *
Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
This is the Irish squad announced for the Autumn internationals, and rather than look at a list of the usual suspects, it is of course more interesting to reflect on who isn’t in the squad and feel aggrieved on their behalf. Fitzgerald and Flannery are injured, both have come back from injury, neither has looked 100%, and Flannerys continued absence is a worry. Better to give him a good rest now and get him right for the World Cup.
Shane Jennings can count himself a bit unlucky. He moves back to Ireland to get into to contention for the squad, is playing well but still no luck. You need to move back to Ireland and you need to play well and you need to be photogenic to sell jerseys and we can’t make the whole squad Leinster – maybe you should have signed for Munster.
Fionn Carr proves that wearing green is not particularly helpful for your Ireland career, is Shane Horgan fast enough any more to be an international wing?
In the Aviva Premiership, Geordan Murphy continues to be always the bridesmaid, never the bride (I’m sure he’d make a lovely bride) remaining to be the most talented Irish player to hardly start for Ireland. Bob Casey is also unlucky, he must be in the top four Irish locks, and with O’Connell injured, and Cullen only just back, he should be starting. And looking at Jennings, moving back to Ireland is no guarantee of playing for your country. Both players could be falling foul of the player release system which the English league is operating, but it looks like the Tommy Bowe model is the one to follow for expat players. Make the team, then move overseas.
Of course, picking these players means you have to leave someone out, but hey, that’s the coaches problem!
My only worry with the squad is at hooker, where one injury to Best and we’re in the poo.
Telly Watch
Friday the 22nd
Munster v Benetton Treviso, ML, TG4, 19:45
SAT OCT 23
Exeter Chiefs v London Irish, AP, SS1, 18:05
CONNACHT v LEINSTER, ML, RTE2, 18:05
I see Munster have hardly made any changes to the team that thumped Toulon, smart move as they don’t want Treviso to upset the momentum they’ve started, and this is no bunch of bozos they are playing.
Ulster take on Edinburgh at Murrayfield and thier backline definitely has the who? Factor, against an Edinburgh team resting stars of their own. C’mon Ulster!
It will be interesting to see what team Leinster pick for the match, is it going to be the orange peeler passing to the physio, or as they like to say, testing the strength of the squad. Should be a good match, Leinster should win but you never know in Galway.
Exiles
London Irish get a chance to bounce back from their defeat to the Ospreys, and I reckon Exeter are going to FEEL THE WRATH!
No comments:
Post a Comment