Tour to Japan

[Oldschool]

You're all mad if you think that fit players who are on the Lions waiting list won't go on this tour.

1. Cronin, Healy
2. Cronin, Scannell, Tracy.
3. Ryan, Bealham, Bent.
4/5. Toner, Roux, Holland, Dillane
6/7/8 Heaslip (captain, O'D if not fit), Leavy, VDF, Conan, Ruddock
9./10 Marmion, McGrath, Jackson, Carbery.
12/13. Ringrose, Scannell, Marshall, O'Loughlin
Back 3. Zebo, Earls, Trimble, TOH, Kearney (Conway if not fit)

Back three is our weakest area.
Waste of time playing Earls in the Japanese tests.
We need to see who's ready to move up.
Zebo, JS and Munster need to decide what his best position is and leave him there - don't think it's FB either but that just an opinion.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I'd go with a weaker team against the US but for Japan I'd pick...

Zebo
Sweetnam
Ringrose
McCloskey
Earls
Jackson
Marmion
Conan
VDF
Ruddock
Dev
Treadwell
Ryan
Scannell
Healy

Tracy
Kilcoyne
Bent (just filling a jersey because I'd leave Bealham out)
Molony
Leavy
Luke
Carbery
Adam Byrne

I don't see TOH playing much for Ireland so I'd leave him out.

I really don't think McCloskey has it in him to make the step up. He's a big unit who looks good when he can bully players, but his skill set isn't enough to cut it when that doesn't work. He might be big enough to pull it off at Pro 12 level or against Japan / USA, but he would be completely shown up against a NH team. Scannell is the best bet for a backup to Henshaw IMO.

I think he does have the skills but hasn't been in good form since he was dropped during the 6N last year. However, I'd put him in because I think we need a big lump at 12 and he played well last weekend. That's a bit reactive but I reckon he'll be starting for Ulster again next season and just feel he suits our game plan better. Big fan of Scannell (although I think his form has dipped since the 6N started) but just don't see us straying from the Henshaw style of 12, particularly with Aki to qualify in November.

[neiliog93]

Earls, Heaslip, Trimble and maybe Zebo should be left at home to rest. Utterly redundant to take them on a tour of this nature. If Cian Healy and Sean Cronin had had a full season, I'd say the same for them. I'd only take Toner because our second row options are so limited and we'll need him.

[CiaranIrl]

Yeah I think Robb has more about him at IC but injuries have closed that door for now.

Is he injured? I'm not paying attention! Sorry.

[leinsterforever]

I'd go with a weaker team against the US but for Japan I'd pick...

Zebo
Sweetnam
Ringrose
McCloskey
Earls
Jackson
Marmion
Conan
VDF
Ruddock
Dev
Treadwell
Ryan
Scannell
Healy

Tracy
Kilcoyne
Bent (just filling a jersey because I'd leave Bealham out)
Molony
Leavy
Luke
Carbery
Adam Byrne

I don't see TOH playing much for Ireland so I'd leave him out.

I really don't think McCloskey has it in him to make the step up. He's a big unit who looks good when he can bully players, but his skill set isn't enough to cut it when that doesn't work. He might be big enough to pull it off at Pro 12 level or against Japan / USA, but he would be completely shown up against a NH team. Scannell is the best bet for a backup to Henshaw IMO.

I don't think skill level is a problem. I feel it's more his timing that lets him down sometimes. Don't know if a spell playing 7s would be beneficial

[neiliog93]

LP: Kilcoyne, J.Cronin (he might bring C.Healy due to his disrupted season)
HK: S.Cronin, N.Scannell, Tracy
TP: J.Ryan, Bealham, Bent (latter two both cover loosehead)

SR: Toner, Roux, Holland, Treadwell

BR: Conan, VDF, Leavy, Ruddock, O'Donnell

SH: Marmion, L.McGrath, Cooney (if they decide to bring third scrum-half)

OH: Jackson, Carberry

CE: R.Scannell (emergency third out-half), McCloskey, Marshall, Ringrose

Back 3: Zebo, O'Halloran, Gilroy, Conway, Sweetnam....maybe Adeleokun if they decide to take more players than normal.

[Peg Leg]

I would have Byrne ahead of Carberry. And O'Loughlin ahead of Gilroy (who has always filled a spot and never demanded selection). I'm struggling with Conway over Byrne too...

[wixfjord]

I would have Byrne ahead of Carberry. And O'Loughlin ahead of Gilroy (who has always filled a spot and never demanded selection). I'm struggling with Conway over Byrne too...

Conway deserves to be there definitely.

As for Adeleokun, no way I'd have him on the tour.

[Fan with smartphone]

http://www.the42.ie/james-ryan-munster- ... 3-May2017/

[leinsterforever]

Squad's supposedly being named tomorrow. Think I'd go with:

1: Cian Healy, Denis Buckley, Peter Dooley
2: Sean Cronin, Niall Scannell, James Tracy
3: John Ryan, Finlay Bealham, Conor Carey
4,5: Devin Toner, Billy Holland, Kieran Treadwell, James Ryan
6: Rhys Ruddock
7: Dan Leavy, Josh van der Flier
8: Jamie Heaslip/Jack O'Donoghue, Jack Conan
9: Kieran Marmion, Luke McGrath, John Cooney
10: Paddy Jackson, Joey Carbery
11: Keith Earls, Jacob Stockdale
12: Stuart McCloskey, Rory Scannell
13: Garry Ringrose, Rory O'Loughlin
14: Andrew Trimble, Darren Sweetnam
15: Simon Zebo, Tiernan O'Halloran

A 33-man squad is probably on the large side, but this is a unique opportunity to familiarise players with Japan ahead of the World Cup. And I think Healy and Zebo are two of the most likely to get called away to the Lions, so it might be sensible to take six props and six back three players

[LeRouxIsPHat]

JOD is one guy who's disappointed me I must say. Hasn't been poor by any means but I expected a lot more. Munster's first choice back row is brilliant so not saying he's doing anything wrong by not being a starter, but I thought he'd really be knocking down the door by now similar to when Leamy really burst onto the scene.

[Oldschool]

Squad's supposedly being named tomorrow. Think I'd go with:

1: Cian Healy, Denis Buckley, Peter Dooley
2: Sean Cronin, Niall Scannell, James Tracy
3: John Ryan, Finlay Bealham, Conor Carey
4,5: Devin Toner, Billy Holland, Kieran Treadwell, James Ryan
6: Rhys Ruddock
7: Dan Leavy, Josh van der Flier
8: Jamie Heaslip/Jack O'Donoghue, Jack Conan
9: Kieran Marmion, Luke McGrath, John Cooney
10: Paddy Jackson, Joey Carbery
11: Keith Earls, Jacob Stockdale
12: Stuart McCloskey, Rory Scannell
13: Garry Ringrose, Rory O'Loughlin
14: Andrew Trimble, Darren Sweetnam
15: Simon Zebo, Tiernan O'Halloran

A 33-man squad is probably on the large side, but this is a unique opportunity to familiarise players with Japan ahead of the World Cup. And I think Healy and Zebo are two of the most likely to get called away to the Lions, so it might be sensible to take six props and six back three players

Cronin, Earls and Ringrose would be close to a lions call up also.
It's very possible that Ross Byrne could go cos Joe is going to want to build on the career momentum he gained due to Sexton and Carberry outages.

[Dave Cahill]

JOD is one guy who's disappointed me I must say. Hasn't been poor by any means but I expected a lot more. Munster's first choice back row is brilliant so not saying he's doing anything wrong by not being a starter, but I thought he'd really be knocking down the door by now similar to when Leamy really burst onto the scene.

He just hasn't pushed on at all, I thought he'd be a big player for Munster by now

[leinsterforever]

JOD is one guy who's disappointed me I must say. Hasn't been poor by any means but I expected a lot more. Munster's first choice back row is brilliant so not saying he's doing anything wrong by not being a starter, but I thought he'd really be knocking down the door by now similar to when Leamy really burst onto the scene.

He just hasn't pushed on at all, I thought he'd be a big player for Munster by now

IMO he should really focus on his footwork and handling skills, because he doesn't really have the size to batter people out of the way like Stander

[simonokeeffe]

JOD is one guy who's disappointed me I must say. Hasn't been poor by any means but I expected a lot more. Munster's first choice back row is brilliant so not saying he's doing anything wrong by not being a starter, but I thought he'd really be knocking down the door by now similar to when Leamy really burst onto the scene.

He just hasn't pushed on at all, I thought he'd be a big player for Munster by now

IMO he should really focus on his footwork and handling skills, because he doesn't really have the size to batter people out of the way like Stander

hes suffering from the utility tag at his age IMO
needs to pick/be given a position and stick with it

needs more experience at 7 to play 7, needs more size to play 8, needs a bit of both to play 6

[leinsterforever]

IMO he should really focus on his footwork and handling skills, because he doesn't really have the size to batter people out of the way like Stander

hes suffering from the utility tag at his age IMO
needs to pick/be given a position and stick with it

needs more experience at 7 to play 7, needs more size to play 8, needs a bit of both to play 6

He is on the small side for an eight, but I don't think he necessarily needs more size. Ardie Savea would be about his size (or maybe even a bit smaller) and he's made a good fist of his recent switch to no. 8. That's the great thing about rugby. The amount of physicality you need is inversely proportional to how evasive you are in attack and how technically sound you are in defence

[neiliog93]

JOD has been pretty poor, something many Munster fans have acknowledged. He's billed as 6'3 and 106 kg but I'd be a bit skeptical, until recently he was billed as 6'2 and 97 kg. Lightweight for a top level 8, he'd be better off as a 7 or lighter than average 6 who provides mobility around the park and an easy to lift line-out option.

[simonokeeffe]

IMO he should really focus on his footwork and handling skills, because he doesn't really have the size to batter people out of the way like Stander

hes suffering from the utility tag at his age IMO
needs to pick/be given a position and stick with it

needs more experience at 7 to play 7, needs more size to play 8, needs a bit of both to play 6

He is on the small side for an eight, but I don't think he necessarily needs more size. Ardie Savea would be about his size (or maybe even a bit smaller) and he's made a good fist of his recent switch to no. 8. That's the great thing about rugby. The amount of physicality you need is inversely proportional to how evasive you are in attack and how technically sound you are in defence

He was a great 8 for the wolfpuppies
Savea is a bit of an outlier as hes quicker than most backs and has matching footwork, so he has serious momentum going into collisions

[Leinster Lout]

I can't for the life of me understand why people would bring Trimble and Toner to Japan

[FLIP]

I can't for the life of me understand why people would bring Trimble and Toner to Japan

Toner because he will be at the next world cup.

Holland shouldn't go as he has very little chance of going to it.