Congratulation to Tiernan on his first cap. According to Murray Kinsella on twitter he played the last four minutes on Saturday. This seems to have been missed by most media outlets.

Delighted Tiernan is getting his chance (assuming he comes off the bench of course!)

Quinn Roux gets the call up to retain the starting XV's proficiency in Afrikaans.
Tiernan makes the bench ...
www.irishrugby.ie/news/37634.php#.V2KhVaK2KUw

N17 wrote: Funny, GT in his article calls Henshaw out as Buccaneerss/Leinster....but Ian Madigan as Blackrock/Leinster....

When will Ian become Bordeaux Begles, because Henshaw has transferred to his new team straight away....


www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/internati...springboks-1.2678354

But [strike]we were always at war with Eurasia[/strike] Robbie has always been a Leinster player.

greyingbeard wrote: Great spot, I wonder when the last Ireland 15 named with zero Leinster back was?

Ulster 6 players, Leinster 5 (and a half).

Wonder when the last time Leinster didn't provide the most players in an Ireland XV was?

Edit: June 7, 2014 vs. Argentina (first test) when Ulster provided 7 of the starting lineup.
Leinster have provided more starters than any other province for all 23 tests since then..

pinky wrote: Ah yes, good to see Robbie will be playing with all his Ireland team-mates around him next season

IRFU wrote: 15. Jared Payne (Ulster)
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
12. Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)

www.irishrugby.ie/news/37581.php#.V1lrnKK2KUw

Looks like Kieran has finally moved up to second choice SH anyway.

Great spot, I wonder when the last Ireland 15 named with zero Leinster back was?

Funny, GT in his article calls Henshaw out as Buccaneerss/Leinster....but Ian Madigan as Blackrock/Leinster....

When will Ian become Bordeaux Begles, because Henshaw has transferred to his new team straight away....


www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/internati...springboks-1.2678354

Ah yes, good to see Robbie will be playing with all his Ireland team-mates around him next season

IRFU wrote: 15. Jared Payne (Ulster)
14. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
12. Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)

www.irishrugby.ie/news/37581.php#.V1lrnKK2KUw

Looks like Kieran has finally moved up to second choice SH anyway.

I've never understood that logic, putting a 13 at fb and a fb at 13. Sounds like Marshall at 12 then.

Apparently Joe spoke about Robbie potentially starting at full back, because he sees Jared as being key to our defense in the centre. Still, maybe if Tiernan trains well he'd be in with a shout of a start. Wouldn't that be something.

To think we could see a backline like
15 Tiernan
14 Craig
13 Jarrod
12 Robbie
11 Matt
10 Paddy
9 Kieran
Unlikely but we can only dream. Expect instead that Jarrod will move to fullback. That said it continues to be exciting times for Connacht. Congratulations to all our boys involved. Do us proud as you have all year.

We might see running rugby from Ireland now, Madigan's a bit of a lunatic, but SA may well be expecting the ruck, ruck, kick of the past few years, catch them on the hop with a quick passing scrum-half and backs running at gaps, could be very enjoyable for us. Hopefully they'll keep in mind the first rule of playing the Boks, as demonstrated by Japan: don't get caught.

You're a great man for the lists Connachta! But I have to say I agree with you.

Deserved!
If you look carefully, Connacht players have a chance to get parity with the other provinces for RWC 2019 squad

The following players have a fair chance, with their age and their qualities

1) Buckley (29 in 2019)
2) McCartney (IQ, 33-34 in Sept 2019)
3) Bealham (29)
4) Roux (30)
5) Dillane (26)
6) SOB 2.0 (24)
7) Heenan (IQ 28) Fox Matamua (IQ 28)
8 ) Masterson (26)
9) Marmion (26)
11) Healy (30)
12) Aki (IQ, 29)
14) Adeolokun (29)
15) TOH (28)

That's 13/14 guys with REAL probabilities, they can make it. Even Niyi/Matt, with current backline ageing fast, same for Tom and the 3 current hookers.
I don't even talk about outside chances (Robb/Parata, Poolman, Ronaldson/Carty -because not many competitors-, J.Cooney, Conan O'Donnell...)

Tiernan and Matt called into Ireland squad for South Africa tour

Darragh wrote: It's going to be a tough enough tour regardless of who goes now.

Agreed, hope all our lads come home in one piece.
On one hand I'd feel aggrieved that our high performers aren't getting the Irish recognition they deserve, then on the other Id be thinking they deserve a long holiday that doesn't involve springboks so they are refreshed in mind and body for next season!