Summer tour to Australia

[nelly the elephant]

The best choice to replace Best as captain unfortunately plays in the worst position.
Rob Kearney has all the qualities you need in a captain except he's too far away from the action.
Heaslip was Joe's likely backup to Best but that's no longer an option.
James Ryan is the standout next best option.
POM and J10 both lack the necessary sangfroid.
Ryan is a natural leader and in fact has shown the presence of mind, on a number of occasions, not to take charge but to defer to existing leadership regime.
Did I mention that he also leads by example.
Ryan to my mind is already the best SR Ireland have fielded in the professional era. This is based on the fact that his performances have put him consistently in contention for mom. This achievement is even more remarkable given the level of performance at which both Ireland and Leinster have been at recently.

He will Captain the Lions....of that i've no doubt(injury permitting)

[MelbourneRebel]

Team leaked.
Healy, Cronin, Furlong
Toner, Ryan
O'Mahony, Stander, Leavy
Murray, Sexton
Henshaw, Ringrose
Stockdale, Kearney, Earls

[sunshiner1]

Disappointed there is no Beirne in there. Also would have rested either POM or Stander. The bench will be interesting.

[bamboozle]

Team leaked.
Healy, Cronin, Furlong
Toner, Ryan
O'Mahony, Stander, Leavy
Murray, Sexton
Henshaw, Ringrose
Stockdale, Kearney, Earls

Scrum will improve - despite good showing last weekend
Lineout will improve
we'll improve on deck with Leavy
Balance to backline with Ringrose at 13
Guidence of Sexton at 10
Its going to make for a huge game, Australia will need to put in another big performance. We've 5 fresher players coming into the pack and should be confident if this is the team.
Hopefully Beirne will be on bench.

[paddyor]

Actual team

15. Rob Kearney
14. Andrew Conway
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Keith Earls
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray

1. Cian Healy
2. Niall Scannell
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. James Ryan
6. Peter O’Mahony (captain)
7. Dan Leavy
8. CJ Stander

Replacements:

16. Rob Herring
17. Jack McGrath
18. Andrew Porter
19. Tadhg Beirne
20. Jordi Murphy
21. John Cooney
22. Joey Carbery
23. Jordan Larmour

Congrats Tadhg.

[MelbourneRebel]

I've never known the team briefed to the dailies ahead of the print-run to be so wrong!

Harsh on Stockdale

[paddyor]

I've never known the team briefed to the dailies ahead of the print-run to be so wrong!

Harsh on Stockdale

He has over 2000 mins this season, which is really durable for a back 3 player. Probably his worst day out in green last weekend, only highlight being his cover tackle, 6 turnovers and seemed to struggle under the high ball.

[hugonaut]

Actual team

15. Rob Kearney
14. Andrew Conway
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Keith Earls
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray

1. Cian Healy
2. Niall Scannell
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. James Ryan
6. Peter O’Mahony (captain)
7. Dan Leavy
8. CJ Stander

Replacements:

16. Rob Herring
17. Jack McGrath
18. Andrew Porter
19. Tadhg Beirne
20. Jordi Murphy
21. John Cooney
22. Joey Carbery
23. Jordan Larmour

Congrats Tadhg.

Happy to see Cooney and Beirne in there, they've earned their spots the hard way – consistently excellent performances throughout the season. On the other hand, Scannell is lucky to be selected in such a strong team. He hasn't done enough this season to earn it between his poor form and injuries. He was given a reprieve for the Racing semi-final and chosen ahead of Marshall but had a stinker.

Would have brought Conway in for Earls, not Stockdale. I thought Earls' knock looked quite bad and would have preferred him to be able to take a complete week off before assessing how he shaped up for the final test.

No Ulsterman in the starting lineup, no Connacht player in the matchday squad. Five former Leinster players now contracted to other provinces [Conway, Beirne, Murphy, Cooney and Carberry] in the 23.

[CiaranIrl]

What the hell has Cronin done to piss Schmidt off so much. What does he have to do to get a chance to wear the 2 jersey?

[sunshiner1]

15. Rob Kearney
14. Andrew Conway
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Keith Earls
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray

1. Cian Healy
2. Niall Scannell
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. James Ryan
6. Peter O’Mahony (captain)
7. Dan Leavy
8. CJ Stander

Replacements:

16. Rob Herring
17. Jack McGrath
18. Andrew Porter
19. Tadhg Beirne
20. Jordi Murphy
21. John Cooney
22. Joey Carbery
23. Jordan Larmour

Happy with the team. Really think POM and Stander need big games as neither covered themselves in glory last week. Happy to see Conway in as he's played well this season and will give another option against Folau. Glad to see Beirne on the bench will be watching him closely. Think Jordi is lucky to make the bench I would have Ruddock in front of him but understand why he went with Jordi. No problems seeing Aki, Marmion or Stockdale dropped as this is about experimentation. Delight that Ringrose is back as well.

[TerenureJim]

Harsh on Cronin and would have like to see Byrne get a shot at bench but guess Joey covers more positions and is less of a like for like with Sexton, still think Byrne isn't getting enough credit for his euro performances, same could be said for Luke McGrath.

Think I'd have rested Murray and tried Cooney and similar re PO'M or Stander with Beirme into the start.

Would live to see Leavy/Beirne go against Pocock/Hooper it'd be breakdown war!

[MelbourneRebel]

Perhaps he sees Cronin as an impact sub

[FLIP]

Perhaps he sees Cronin as an impact sub

Great impact he'll make from the stands so.

[johng]

Getting nervous about Rory and wants to see depth is all

[MelbourneRebel]

Perhaps he sees Cronin as an impact sub

Great impact he'll make from the stands so.

He’s trying different options on sat to be fair but good point!

[ronk]

Harsh on Cronin and would have like to see Byrne get a shot at bench but guess Joey covers more positions and is less of a like for like with Sexton, still think Byrne isn't getting enough credit for his euro performances, same could be said for Luke McGrath.

Think I'd have rested Murray and tried Cooney and similar re PO'M or Stander with Beirme into the start.

Would live to see Leavy/Beirne go against Pocock/Hooper it'd be breakdown war!

Byrne is break glass while getting time in the environment. I don’t expect him to play

[Ruckedtobits]

What team was Joe planning to pick for this game? (Before last Sat's defeat or prior to Tour). What particular aspects of last week's game may have caused further changes?

Stockdale's performance will have disappointed. Joe and his coaches were aware of some defensive frailty but would expected better competition in the air. Conway, despite his height is a very talented competitor in the air and far more evasive as an attacking runner. Expect to see both Earls and himself running off Sexton or other mid-fielders.

If Ireland had won on Saturday, I would have expected to see Carbury at full-back instead of Kearney but with the re-jigged back three, his defensive organisation is an absolute requirement.

Again, at half-back, a win might have seen Conor Murray given a rest in favour of Cooney with whom Sexton hasn't played for a couple of years. As it is they will possibly get some game time together.

The hooker position is obviously very competitive but it appears that Cronin is carrying the can for the vital scrum penalty last week. Personally, my take was that Furlong and Cronin both lost concentration but Greg Feek was a lot closer and is more expert in his analysis of what occurred.

A win last Saturday might have seen Tadgh Beirne replace PO'M. However, with the Aussie scrum stronger than expected and their breakdown work as good as feared, the Irish tactics next Sat may well see Sexton and Murray looking for positional dominance via the touchline with Toner, O'Mahony and Ryan targeting the vulnerable Aussie line-out and thrower.

Henshaw and Ringrose will be a key strength which Ireland will hope will prosper, particularly, allied with intrustions by our wingers.

I won't be surprised to see Beirne come in for Stander on about 55 mins. On both sides of the ball, his presence may cause Cheika's team more problems than Stander, who has really become a one-trick pony, and the trick no longer works.

All in all, another intriguing game in prospect. Without JVdF or SO'B, we may not have enough horsepower and expertise to dominate the breakdown as this Irish team have become accustomed to doing. Accordingly, trying to find another way around this Aussie defence may be the challenge. How they try it will be worth watching.

[sunshiner1]

I think if we win the second test Joe could give Byrne a try-out. Didn't expect to see him quite frankly before the third test anyway barring injury. His job right now is to learn and get up to speed with the methods used. As for Cronin we know what he can do. So giving the third choice guys some gametime makes sense. Right now Herring is looking good for 3/4th choice hooker. Scannell need a big game to get himself back in with a shout.

[D4surfer]

What the hell has Cronin done to piss Schmidt off so much. What does he have to do to get a chance to wear the 2 jersey?

Probably the tip tackle that resulted in a penalty. Ryan got done for a partial neck roll in the same play but would have got away with it if Cronin hadn’t lifted the guy. Some penalties are unavoidable but not this one and that infuriates Joe.

[betty swallocks]

Henderson and Aki not considered for selection apparently