Ireland 2017-18

[fourthirtythree]

I think TOD is a pure form pick but DK is a squad filler, it it actually looked like he had to play somebody else would be called up.
I doubt Zebo was dropped before deciding to leave, really surprised if that was the case that would have left a squad with deliberately one experienced international full back and a couple of multi position guys.`
Chris Farrell is sh!t. Sorry. But I've seen him play. He's an incompetent. Timing is off, and not just in his inevitable late hits.
Wouldn't have McGrath ahead of Cooney on current form but it's the third choice spot and probably will get very little time.
I think all three of the looseheads have earned the right to duke it out in training to be honest. McGrath may be the incumbent but the other two are showing cracking form.

[simonokeeffe]

With Payne out and probably needed at 15 if fit, Farrell's competition for back up 13 was emmmmm Luke Marshall, who doesnt have the pace and is guaranteed a few clangers per game

I agree Murphy is a surprising ommision but Neilog is right when he says TOD makes it only as JVDF and to some extent Heaslip are injured

DK partly there due to lack of experience at this level in back 3 and right wing being up in the air

[Ruckedtobits]

There's been rumours of TO'H moving to Munster. Any extended whispers that it might be further afield?
Cannot think of any reason why, having performed well on summer tour and with exclusion of Zebo and the unproven fitness of RK, there is a serious question about his exclusion from the Autumn Internationals.

[neiliog93]

There's been rumours of TO'H moving to Munster. Any extended whispers that it might be further afield?
Cannot think of any reason why, having performed well on summer tour and with exclusion of Zebo and the unproven fitness of RK, there is a serious question about his exclusion from the Autumn Internationals.

True...raises concerns about his and Cronin's futures.

[CiaranIrl]

With Payne out and probably needed at 15 if fit, Farrell's competition for back up 13 was emmmmm Luke Marshall, who doesnt have the pace and is guaranteed a few clangers per game

I agree Murphy is a surprising ommision but Neilog is right when he says TOD makes it only as JVDF and to some extent Heaslip are injured

DK partly there due to lack of experience at this level in back 3 and right wing being up in the air

Would Aki not be the backup 13 if push came to shove?

Apparently Payne is pretty touch and go to come back this season at all. Pretty bad headaches all the time.

[fourthirtythree]

Darrel is the backup 12 and Aki for 13 if have thought. I would have gone for Scannel myself.

As an aside this article is hilarious in who he suggests is preferred e.g. jVDF is unlucky and Ruddock is picked...
http://www.the42.ie/ireland-november-in ... 5-Oct2017/

I'm guessing the comments are very bitter below it. Best not to read.

[simonokeeffe]

With Payne out and probably needed at 15 if fit, Farrell's competition for back up 13 was emmmmm Luke Marshall, who doesnt have the pace and is guaranteed a few clangers per game

I agree Murphy is a surprising ommision but Neilog is right when he says TOD makes it only as JVDF and to some extent Heaslip are injured

DK partly there due to lack of experience at this level in back 3 and right wing being up in the air

Would Aki not be the backup 13 if push came to shove?

Apparently Payne is pretty touch and go to come back this season at all. Pretty bad headaches all the time.

If Aki was covering 13 in wider squad then Reid or Scannell would have to have been included too, not that I'd mind that

We have more matchday options of 13 cover, well Earls, think Stockdale played a bit there too, so come matchday Henshaw is probably covering 12 and Earls 13. I dont see McCloskey being picked as 22. Or Chris Feral

[Gearzbox2]

When is Cronin's contract up?

End of this season. With his eye-catching pace and raft of international caps would be a very sexy front row signing for a multi-millionaire club owner. Maybe Joe and the top echelons of the IRFU know of some transfer news re. Cronin that the general public are still unaware of.

Cronin to Gloucester is doing the rounds supposedly???!!!...Good mates with leinsters old S and coach Dan Tobin
Could be absolute drivel mind you, 2nd hand ear wigging at a training session on Tuesday night sources!!!!

[neiliog93]

Interesting, there is obviously the Irish link with Gloucester but they have two good hookers in Hibbard and Matu'u. Although Hibbard will be 34 in December. Might explain Cronin's omission.

[Raydollard]

Zebo gone, other class players like Madigan already gone. Keatley though is in squad. As is Aki. This is crass stupidity. Presumably holding on to Sexton was an aberration. Any clown can see this ending badly.

[RAILWAY1]

As a proud Munster man I could start ranting about JS dropping Simon Zebo so quickly from the squad for the Autumn Internationals but I think it is the right call if his intention is to form a squad for the world cup.
However his selection of RK , DK and Chris Farrell beggars belief when you think of some of the younger players with form omitted from selection. Some of the players not selected will have to do some serious thinking on precisely what they did to p1$$ off Joe and see can they rectify the situation. Basically coming to the world cup we need the best possible squad for Ireland be they Munster , Leinster, Connacht, Ulster or Residence qualified but we need to put provincialism aside ------- for now

[Dundalk 1]

On Zebo I have never heard such shite spouted by his various supporters
He scored 9 tries for Ireland in 35 games
He scored the grand total of 1 try in 6 nations or World Cup
His only other try of note was walking over the All Black line in Chicago
He is a good player but not fantastic and certainly not irreplaceable
The really sad part about today was the dropping of Tommy Bowe
Clearly the right decision given his age and form but he scored 30 tries for Ireland and in his time was irreplaceable
One of our best wingers
Up there with Shaggy and Hickie

[Morf]

Chris Farrell is sh!t. Sorry. But I've seen him play. He's an incompetent. Timing is off, and not just in his inevitable late hits.

Remember Joe's grá for Eamonn Sheridan.

He likes a Jauzion/Greenwood-shaped 13.

[sunshiner1]

Porter in front of Bealham is one I find interesting. Obviously Joe thinks Porter has a higher ceiling than him. Hope he gets some gametime against the likes of Fiji.

[simonokeeffe]

Porter in front of Bealham is one I find interesting. Obviously Joe thinks Porter has a higher ceiling than him. Hope he gets some gametime against the likes of Fiji.

Bigtime. Plus the 5 prop policy has been abandoned for now. Ryan and Porter have experience on other side so that hurts Bealham even if theyre seen more as specialists. Plus Killer has been playing well

[enby]

The O'Halloran situation is puzzling. It doesn't seem to be like Joe's form to exclude him from the squad as he appears to be a Joe type of player.

Hopefully Farrell will have the time to do some serious work with Adam Byrne

[Oldschool]

As a proud Munster man I could start ranting about JS dropping Simon Zebo so quickly from the squad for the Autumn Internationals but I think it is the right call if his intention is to form a squad for the world cup.
However his selection of RK , DK and Chris Farrell beggars belief when you think of some of the younger players with form omitted from selection. Some of the players not selected will have to do some serious thinking on precisely what they did to p1$$ off Joe and see can they rectify the situation. Basically coming to the world cup we need the best possible squad for Ireland be they Munster , Leinster, Connacht, Ulster or Residence qualified but we need to put provincialism aside ------- for now

Chris Farrel's inclusion suggests that the door is always open to players to return to the fold.
Tadg Beirne was on nobody's radar until this season.
Going away was a very good move for him - in highsight.
Others may go the same route and hopefully with similar success.
There's a case to made that the "exclusion" rule should not include Pro14 teams.
RK and DK might be a stretch too far.
Other players might be tempted to follow Zebo's path if they see too many roadblocks to advancement.
A balancing act between loyalty to players in the now and players of the future.

[Peg Leg]

As a proud Munster man I could start ranting about JS dropping Simon Zebo so quickly from the squad for the Autumn Internationals but I think it is the right call if his intention is to form a squad for the world cup.
However his selection of RK , DK and Chris Farrell beggars belief when you think of some of the younger players with form omitted from selection. Some of the players not selected will have to do some serious thinking on precisely what they did to p1$$ off Joe and see can they rectify the situation. Basically coming to the world cup we need the best possible squad for Ireland be they Munster , Leinster, Connacht, Ulster or Residence qualified but we need to put provincialism aside ------- for now

TO'H will not get a squad spot under Joe because he doesnt make the small changes requested of him (i suspect). We have heard joe (i think talking about zebo at the time) talk of the improvement categories he asks players to prioritise in order to make the cut.
Everytime i see TOH hold the ball with one hand it makes me think that he's not listening and expecting his optastats to be enough.
Joe like structure and players being a specialist in their 1 position on the field.

[Peg Leg]

Porter in front of Bealham is one I find interesting. Obviously Joe thinks Porter has a higher ceiling than him. Hope he gets some gametime against the likes of Fiji.

Which is a load of scrotum. Bealham is a good age and proven. Provincial rugby is where you explore ceiling height.

[Peg Leg]

The O'Halloran situation is puzzling. It doesn't seem to be like Joe's form to exclude him from the squad as he appears to be a Joe type of player.

Hopefully Farrell will have the time to do some serious work with Adam Byrne

I would say he is the antithesis of a js type player