hugonaut wrote:
I see three reasons why Schmidt would pick O'Brien: 1] he has performed brilliantly for him in the past; 2] O'Brien now owes the coach big performances because of Schmidt's faith in him [similar to RK in Chicago]; and 3] O'Brien provides the same positional cover off the bench as Jordi Murphy but has the added benefit of having one of the biggest reps in world rugby. The guy has been legitimately one of the best players in the world.
Of course there are reasons but I don't think they stack up.
You could have said the same thing in November, but he didn't justify selection in his brief appearance, he's been injured since then, and it's now even longer since he played well. I know he wasn't bad against Argentina, but I thought it showed that he should have got up to speed with Leinster first, the difference when Leavy came on was huge.
I suppose selection in the training squad doesn't mean that he'll be in the 23 in the first couple of games, I'd certainly have Jordi ahead of him for the bench spot and would say that seeing how he does for Leinster and then maybe selecting him later in the tournament would be fair enough.
Bit of a kick in the teeth for Connachts league hopes losing Blade and Carty for the Cardiff game. They've no one else at 9.
Ruddock's tackle stats consistently too low for me to be taken seriously as a Six Nations blindside..... Ruddock's defensive stats don't stack up. - All Blacks Nil, Jan 15th, 2014
England A 8 - 14 Ireland A, 25th Jan 2014 Ruddock(c) 19/2 Tackles
Rory Best (Ulster/Banbridge) 113 caps (C)
Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 4 caps
Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 11 caps
Sean Cronin (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 65 caps
Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 11 caps
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 28 caps
Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 84 caps
Iain Henderson (Ulster/Queens University) 42 caps
Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 24 caps
Jack McGrath (Leinster/St Marys College) 53 caps
Jordi Murphy (Ulster/Lansdowne) 26 caps
Sean O’Brien (Leinster/UCD) 52 caps
Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 52 caps (vc)
Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 11 caps
Rhys Ruddock (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 21 caps
James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 13 caps
John Ryan (Munster/Cork Constitution) 16 caps
Niall Scannell (Munster/Dolphin) 11 caps
CJ Stander (Munster/Shannon) 28 caps
Devin Toner (Leinster/Lansdowne) 63 caps
Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 13 caps
Backs (17)
Will Addison (Ulster/Enniskillen) 3 caps
Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 12 caps
Caolin Blade (Connacht/Galwegians) 0 caps
Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 16 caps
Jack Carty (Connacht/Buccaneers) 0 caps
Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 10 caps
John Cooney (Ulster/Terenure College) 4 caps
Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 72 caps
Chris Farrell (Munster/Young Munster) 3 caps
Tom Farrell (Connacht/TBC) 0 caps
Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 36 caps
Rob Kearney (Leinster/UCD) 87 caps
Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 9 caps
Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 67 caps
Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 17 caps
Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/St Marys College) 78 caps (vc)
Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 14 caps
It's tough on Ross Byrne but at least we get him. At this stage it probably makes sense for Joe to have a look at Carty while there's time before the RWC. He (or Burns) gets called if there's an injury to 1 of 3 players.
paddyor wrote:Bit of a kick in the teeth for Connachts league hopes losing Blade and Carty for the Cardiff game. They've no one else at 9.
Tom Farrell and Aki also in the extended squad. All 4 could be unavailable for the Cardiff game.
The Algarve training camp is due to run until next Friday.
Ah they should be ok then as games on Saturday so long as both Sexton/Carbery and Murray/Cooney come thru unscathed you'd think. Jackson was usually released for 6N games when not needed for the weekend. That's a massive game for Connacht too.
Ruddock's tackle stats consistently too low for me to be taken seriously as a Six Nations blindside..... Ruddock's defensive stats don't stack up. - All Blacks Nil, Jan 15th, 2014
England A 8 - 14 Ireland A, 25th Jan 2014 Ruddock(c) 19/2 Tackles
Bit of a kick in the teeth for Connachts league hopes losing Blade and Carty for the Cardiff game. They've no one else at 9.
They got James Mitchell who can do a job and didn't they sign Lloyd for injury cover?
As for Byrne I feel for the guy. That said I can see him being called up later. Carty is being brought up to speed in case he's called into a squad. Bryne has that foundation already and caps to go with it.
paddyor wrote:Bit of a kick in the teeth for Connachts league hopes losing Blade and Carty for the Cardiff game. They've no one else at 9.
Tom Farrell and Aki also in the extended squad. All 4 could be unavailable for the Cardiff game.
The Algarve training camp is due to run until next Friday.
Ah they should be ok then as games on Saturday so long as both Sexton/Carbery and Murray/Cooney come thru unscathed you'd think. Jackson was usually released for 6N games when not needed for the weekend. That's a massive game for Connacht too.
Munster and Connacht play on the Saturday. Leinster and Ulster on the Friday.
There's little chance that Joe will release any players in the possibly 28/29 he'll want for English game. In essence the 38-man Squad are now locked-in till after the Scottish game at least.
blockhead wrote:With my blue cap on, I'm glad Ross is with us for this period of 5 games.
Absolutely. Loads of motivation for him and we wouldn't gain very much from him being away in an Irish training camp and not actually playing for Ireland.
LeRouxIsPHat wrote:Hadn't noticed that Bealham was left out as well, harsh!
You would have him above Ryan or Porter? I dont think its much of a surprise
I'd have him ahead of Ryan alright.
Part of my surprise with a few players is that I thought we might pad out the squad to help get guys up to speed in case they're needed for the World Cup, but I'm guessing we couldn't actually do that so more understandable that people like him missed out.
If Schmidt's thinking of have three outhalves and three centres in his World Cup squad he might have chosen Carty so he's able to judge which of them makes a better auxilliary 12.
Very harsh on Ross Byrne, but Cartys inclusion is completely justified, hes been playing very very well, and often behind a beaten pack. Surprised about Tom farrells inclusion, wouldnt have thought he was ready just yet. Dillane going above Roux is a funny one tho, we havent seen a huge amount of Dillane lately, so the coaches must know something that isnt evident on the field of play, thought Roux had been playing decently well, and starting pretty much all of Connachts big games
blockhead wrote:With my blue cap on, I'm glad Ross is with us for this period of 5 games.
Absolutely. Loads of motivation for him and we wouldn't gain very much from him being away in an Irish training camp and not actually playing for Ireland.
This. A bit of a blow to the ego; but to my judgement not a long term strategic disadvantage. He’ll be playing and hopefully impressing in near full matches- while Carty (if he’s not released back) will be watching in his suit from the stands. Unless, of course, there’s an injury to Johnny or Carbery- in which case it wouldn’t surprise me to see Ross jump ahead of Jack into the match day squad.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
"Oh, I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused!"
Ireland squad by county: (From Mirror, not Oldschool's one, de paper)
Dublin (14)
Jack Conan (Leinster)
Cian Healy (Leinster)
Andrew Porter (Leinster)
Rhys Ruddock (Leinster)
James Ryan (Leinster)
Andrew Conway (Munster)
Johnny Sexton (Leinster)
Jordan Larmour (Leinster)
Garry Ringrose (Leinster)
Jordi Murphy (Ulster)
Josh van der Flier (Leinster)
Jack McGrath (Leinster)
John Cooney (Ulster)
Tom Farrell (Connacht)
Limerick (4)
Dave Kilcoyne (Munster)
Keith Earls (Munster)
Sean Cronin (Leinster)
Conor Murray (Munster)
Cork (3)
They do have one of the biggest leaders in the team though in Peter O'Mahony whose doggedness is synonymous with the Cork spirit.
Peter O'Mahony (Munster)
John Ryan (Munster)
Niall Scannell (Munster)
Armagh (2)
Rory Best (Ulster)
Iain Henderson (Ulster)
Kildare (2)
Joey Carbery (Munster)
Tadhg Beirne (Munster)
Tyrone (2)
Jacob Stockdale (Ulster)
Chris Farrell (Munster)
Westmeath (2)
Robbie Henshaw (Leinster)
Jack Carty (Connacht)
Carlow (1)
Sean O'Brien (Leinster)
Kerry (1)
Ultan Dillane (Connacht)
Meath (1)
Devin Toner (Leinster)
Wexford (1)
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster)
Louth (1)
Rob Kearney (Leinster)
Galway (1)
Caolin Blade (Connacht)
England (1)
Will Addison (Ulster)
South Africa (1)
CJ Stander (Munster)
New Zealand (1)
Bundee Aki (Connacht)
You know I'm going to lose,
And gambling's for fools,
But that's the way I like it baby, I don't want to live FOREVER!
Dave Cahill wrote:Beirne has now been joined in the sickbay by Iain Henderson
Hithertofor Joe selected Roux ahead of Dillane primarily it seems for his scrummaging.
As things stand Ryan and Toner would start.
Will Joe go with Dillane for high tempo athlethism over brute force in Roux.
It will be educational to see what answer Joe comes up with.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall who's the greatest player of them all? It is Drico your majesty.
