Summer tour to Australia

[betty swallocks]

I think Cooney has cemented his seat on the plane to Australia after today's performance.

[Ruckedtobits]

I think Cooney has cemented his seat on the plane to Australia after today's performance.

+1 and if not, he must have pi**ed in the soup in Carton House.

[blockhead]

I think Cooney has cemented his seat on the plane to Australia after today's performance.

+1 and if not, he must have pi**ed in the soup in Carton House.

I'd be shocked if he wasn't in Joe's plans now. He's had an amazing season, truly fantastic when you consider the circumstances. They shout his name from the stands in Ravers FFS!
Without his pens & cons I'd be saying the same thing. But with his his ability to split the posts he has to be a serious option for the bench.

[Oldschool]

I think Cooney has cemented his seat on the plane to Australia after today's performance.

+1 and if not, he must have pi**ed in the soup in Carton House.

I'd be shocked if he wasn't in Joe's plans now. He's had an amazing season, truly fantastic when you consider the circumstances. They shout his name from the stands in Ravers FFS!
Without his pens & cons I'd be saying the same thing. But with his his ability to split the posts he has to be a serious option for the bench.

+1 but more disappointed rather than shocked.

[Ruckedtobits]

Squad to be announced on Wednesday. Confirmed today.

[Xanthippe]

Barbarians have announced that Bundee Aki is out of the team for this weekend - apparently he lucked up a ‘niggle’ and was withdrawn as a precaution

[paddyor]

I think Cooney has cemented his seat on the plane to Australia after today's performance.

+1 and if not, he must have pi**ed in the soup in Carton House.

Or he's the weakest defender of the 3 back ups.

[rooster]

I think Cooney has cemented his seat on the plane to Australia after today's performance.

+1 and if not, he must have pi**ed in the soup in Carton House.

I'd be shocked if he wasn't in Joe's plans now. He's had an amazing season, truly fantastic when you consider the circumstances. They shout his name from the stands in Ravers FFS!
Without his pens & cons I'd be saying the same thing. But with his his ability to split the posts he has to be a serious option for the bench.

He loves it up here and has really fitted in very well, there was even mention of him going one night a week to a charity which sends volunteers to just go and talk each week to a designated pensioner living alone and check up on them at the same time.

[sunshiner1]

Denis Buckley joining up with the BaaBaa's against England. Will be interested to see how he does.

[Leinsterlunatic]

Anyone know what time squad is announced?

[Ruckedtobits]

Something like the following squad going to Australia -
Props - Healy, McGrath, Furlong, Porter, Bealham.
Hookers - Best, Cronin, Delahunt.
Locks - Toner, Ryan, Beirne, Dillane.
Back Row - O'Mahony, Stander, Leavy, Conan, Jordi.
Scrum Halves - Murray, Marmion, Cooney.
Out Halves - J10, Carbery.
Centres - Aki, Ringrose, Henshaw.
Back 5 - R Kearney, Earls, Stockdale, Larmour, Conway.

Assuming that JS is selecting 32 / 33 (my understanding is Host Union accomodate 30, but this can be supplmented at Visitor cost), it's hard to see anyone not included now - other than injured - being named in 14 mths time for RWC2019.

So, injued candidates include SO'B, JVdF, Hendo, Chris Farrell, Bleyandahl, Ferg McF, Jack O'Donoghue. Not saying that all of those are automatic, but other than players contracted overseas, all would be ranked in top 3 in their positions, based on form when they got injured.

The list offered above of 30, all live contenders was compiled before O'Donoghue's injury. Other than him there is no change on the horizon.

If we are taking 32 / 33, a possible 4th scrum-half and kick the decision down the road? Take Marty Moore and get his rehab under way immediately? Take Roux and Dillane ans watch the sparks fly (might that be why Dillane is playing for Ba-Bas?). Take a 4th centre (possibly RO'L) after his 'tour de force' off the bench last week, but more likely Sammy Arnold for his progress across the season topped by that tackle on Lowe.

Looking forward to seeing the names but not expecting any big surprises.

[neill_m]

https://mobile.twitter.com/JBradleyBT/s ... 6/photo/1l

[cormac]

32-man squad to tour Australia - from IRFU

Furlong, Healy, McGrath, Porter, Ryan
Best, Cronin, Herring
Beirne, Henderson, Roux, Ryan, Toner
Conan, Leavy, Murphy, O'Mahony, Stander
Cooney, Marmion, Murray
Byrne, Carbery, Sexton
Aki, Henshaw, Ringrose
Conway, Earls, Kearney, Larmour, Stockdale

[D4surfer]

Ireland Squad

Fullback: Rob Kearney, Andrew Conway

Wing: Keith Earls, Jordan Larmour, Jacob Stockdale

Centre: Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki

Out-half: Johnny Sexton, Joey Carbery, Ross Byrne*

Scrum-half: Conor Murray, John Cooney, Kieran Marmion

Prop: Cian Healy, Jack McGrath, Tadhg Furlong, Andrew Porter, John Ryan

Hooker: Rory Best, Sean Cronin, Rob Herring

Second row: James Ryan, Iain Henderson, Tadhg Beirne*, Devin Toner, Quinn Roux

Back row: Peter O'Mahony, CJ Stander, Jack Conan, Dan Leavy, Jordi Murphy

[D4surfer]

No Luke McGrath. He probably needs the break to sort out his knee but Cooney deserves the spot.

[Xanthippe]

Would have preferred if IRFU had waited until Saturday evening/Sunday to announce the squad - so long as we don't have a repeat of the final v Connacht where several players were obviously 'watching themselves' so as to not risk their summer tour place

[Ruckedtobits]

Five second-row for 3 games and only 5 back-rows for the same games. 'Mind your house' PO'M.

Herring's performance on Sunday against Ospreys may have tipped the balance for him. Good man.

John Ryan's assault on Leinster front-row may have got him the nod ahead of Bealham.

Resourses pretty meagre in the centre. Would have liked Sammy Arnold to travel.

Overall, delighted that every (fit) front-line player wants to travel.

[dropkick]

Five second-row for 3 games and only 5 back-rows for the same games. 'Mind your house' PO'M.

Herring's performance on Sunday against Ospreys may have tipped the balance for him. Good man.

John Ryan's assault on Leinster front-row may have got him the nod ahead of Bealham.

Resourses pretty meagre in the centre. Would have liked Sammy Arnold to travel.

Overall, delighted that every (fit) front-line player wants to travel.

Beirne might be seen as a backrow.


I wouldn't have Arnold there tbh. Excellent athlete but theres not too much guile to his game yet.

[fourthirtythree]

For a world Cup squad a lock who can play 6 is a real bonus, I'd be surprised if he doesn't get a run there.

[Gearzbox2]

Five second-row for 3 games and only 5 back-rows for the same games. 'Mind your house' PO'M.

Herring's performance on Sunday against Ospreys may have tipped the balance for him. Good man.

John Ryan's assault on Leinster front-row may have got him the nod ahead of Bealham.

Resourses pretty meagre in the centre. Would have liked Sammy Arnold to travel.

Overall, delighted that every (fit) front-line player wants to travel.

Herring is bang average, been proved at international level, id have brought Scannell or Tracey, I honestly never even had herring in contention

John Ryan hardly assaulted the leinster scrum, bar 1, he got his arse handed to him....I think James Cronin should be knocking on joes door tonight, hes been in excellent form