Look, I won't be that bother for TOH or Roux, Joe might have considered they are not 100%, just back from injury. More angry about Heenan or Niyi, but maybe it was too early, let's wait for 6 nations/Summer tests if both are consistant this season.

Can't say I'm surprised by the low representation of our lads in the Irish set up. TOH must feel hard done by.

Delighted for Ultan, Finlay and Kieran getting a nod of course.

Really sad to see Luke Fitzgerald having to retire; a fine player and good servant for Leinster and Ireland.
For his own welfare, I am glad he has taken the sensible decision and wish him well.

Siob wrote: The U20s have set a new standard for those coming after, there was a distinct skills gap, but if that can be addressed while players are still young and receptive it'll feed into senior teams very nicely. England have moved far away from their bish bosh stereotype in the past few years.

The Seniors were frustrating to watch in the final match though, definition of insanity etc. Even when their was quick ruck ball it just went out to crash into the white wall. If Schmidt believes the skill level is too low to play any other way, and there are times you'd have to agree, why doesn't he push for provincial coaches to improve the skills? If that means dictating that they bring in skills coach X, so be it...as long as Dave Ellis stays in Connacht. The teams are after all the representative teams of the IRFU branches, if a particular aspect of the game is too weak in any province to aid the national team, an improvement plan should be put in place that will benefit both the province and the Irish squad.

You would think David Nucifora thinks along the same lines.

The U20s have set a new standard for those coming after, there was a distinct skills gap, but if that can be addressed while players are still young and receptive it'll feed into senior teams very nicely. England have moved far away from their bish bosh stereotype in the past few years.

The Seniors were frustrating to watch in the final match though, definition of insanity etc. Even when their was quick ruck ball it just went out to crash into the white wall. If Schmidt believes the skill level is too low to play any other way, and there are times you'd have to agree, why doesn't he push for provincial coaches to improve the skills? If that means dictating that they bring in skills coach X, so be it...as long as Dave Ellis stays in Connacht. The teams are after all the representative teams of the IRFU branches, if a particular aspect of the game is too weak in any province to aid the national team, an improvement plan should be put in place that will benefit both the province and the Irish squad.

Bit of a deflating end to the season at the weekend.

Thought we blew it a bit against SA. The ref was a joke really but we looked tired and our composure let us down at crucial times.

As we went for the win at the end, it was all one out Leinster and Munster bosh rugby. We were never going to get over against a much more physically imposing team.

Having said that, it was a very useful tour, but think a few learnings for players and coaches to come from it. Schmidt surprised with great use of players, but felt in the last two games, he went to the bench a bit too late to seek and impact. I was a bit irked that Mcgrath was asked to play so much. Awesome as he is but he was out on his feet in that second half.

The 20's came up well short really. England were very clinical. Much like their senior side. Some exciting forwards to come out of this crop.

I think Schmidt will move home. If he does, i think the gig is between Pat Lam, Les Kiss and Andy Farrell. Future looks bright though.

I think it would have been unfair to bring Reddan all the way to Sa and not give me a run out when the whole squad has had a run. Kieran is young and will get plenty more chances. He s gone from fourth choice to second in a season.

On a positive note 8 Connacht players capped this season for Ireland. That has to be a record!

I stand corrected. tiernan looks like the real deal. such a pity he got crushed. he really looked like he just about to show why is the best fullback in the NH

one of these days shane horgan will learn how to pronounce tiernan's name properly

dobby wrote: agree we are biased. but in a justified way. has earls or trimble ever, and I mean ever, looked like matt healy. does marmion (who does play a different game to murray) not supply a reason for playing him. in fact the least (and toh is a good player)) likely player to make an impact is toh. I think his ruck work work is brilliant, his overall ability to see what his going on is great, but his tackling has been less than impressive. Marmion wraps himself about anybody and there is no letting go. Matt is simply astronomical. Nobody can put their hands on him. What an impact sub.

I hear you. Hopefully we see a bit of Healy tomorrow.

Connnnnacht wrote: More annoyed with Reddan then Schmidt. And not because he's stopping Kieran from getting a run. Why did he bother going on tour if he was just going to retire? Someone else could have gone as a third scrum half and got experience of a tour.

Actually that is a good point. Fair point too.

agree we are biased. but in a justified way. has earls or trimble ever, and I mean ever, looked like matt healy. does marmion (who does play a different game to murray) not supply a reason for playing him. in fact the least (and toh is a good player)) likely player to make an impact is toh. I think his ruck work work is brilliant, his overall ability to see what his going on is great, but his tackling has been less than impressive. Marmion wraps himself about anybody and there is no letting go. Matt is simply astronomical. Nobody can put their hands on him. What an impact sub.

More annoyed with Reddan then Schmidt. And not because he's stopping Kieran from getting a run. Why did he bother going on tour if he was just going to retire? Someone else could have gone as a third scrum half and got experience of a tour.

I think we are probably a little biased, re our own. Similar has happened with Kilcoyqne, Strauss, Ryan, etc.

I am no fan of Schmidt, but he has done more rotation on this tour than i ever expected him to.

I feel for the players in question. The game has no room for sentimentality I agree, but if Marmian was on the bench, Redden wouldn't have been evolved at all either. So from any individual point of view, that would suck for him.

Hard to keep everyone happy.

I hope TOH has a stormer and Healy gets 20 minutes, but winning the test at all cost is really primary right now.

At least they have had the exposure. Will stand to them come November perhaps.

theCulk wrote: He's dropped to give Reddan a send off. Simples. Sometimes rugby can be too sentimental for it's own good IMO

Agree that rugby can be too sentimental but that wouldn't even bother me as much if Marmion had been given anything more than a few token minutes in the previous two games, both of which were extremely draining on the starting players. Its so bizarre that we can go from beating SA in SA for the first time ever to being back in the Deccie bad days within the same tour.

theCulk wrote: He's dropped to give Reddan a send off. Simples. Sometimes rugby can be too sentimental for it's own good IMO

Yeah, save it for a Barbarian's match not when you're chasing a bit of history. But sure doesn't Schmidt figure he can give those last 3-5 minutes to Reddan just as easily as he could to Kieran.