Ireland and Wolfhounds

James Cronin, Robbie Diack, Rob Herring and MARMION are the four uncapped players going on the tour.

Joe has an interesting way of dealing with the Madigan or Keatley issue - don't bring either of them!!


www.irishrugby.ie/news/31826.php

Interesting selection. I would have definitely have had Bowe in my squad but apart from that no major quibbles. Wondering if Varley got in ahead of Cronin cause of the neck injury or he wants another look at Varley?


Props:
James Cronin
Dave Kilcoyne
Jack McGrath
Marty Moore
Mike Ross

Hookers:
Rory Best
Rob Herring
Damian Varley

Second-Rows:
Iain Henderson
Devin Toner
Paul O'Connell

Back Row:
Robbie Diack
Chris Henry
Jamie Heaslip
Jordi Murphy
Rhys Ruddock

Scrum-half:
Kieran Marmion
Conor Murray
Eoin Reddan

Out-half:
Paddy Jackson
Johnny Sexton

Backs:
Darren Cave
Keith Earls
Robbie Henshaw
Felix Jones
Rob Kearney
Luke Marshall
Fergus McFadden
Andrew Trimble
Simon Zebo

Madigan not brought due to 3 scrumhalves but when you look at the other backs included I'd have had in front of a couple of them, good for Marmion

Madigan's form has being ropey all year yes he had a great game against Ulster but one game does not a season make. Schmidt said that he wants him and Keatley in the emerging Ireland squad were they will get real gametime and can show him what they can do rather than a 5 minute cameo off the bench.

He also said that Mike McCarthy will be added to the team if he is passed fit soon.

Jackson out of tour with back injury. Madigan in.

galway_gas wrote: Jackson out of tour with back injury. Madigan in.

My severe disliking for Leinster, had me hoping that Keatley would get in ahead of Madigan

Once a crip always a crip!

I'm assuming Madigan got in on versatility but think this was the wrong decision by Joe. Keatley had being playing the better rugby for the past season and deserved his chance. Madigan has had one good game against Ulster and thats pretty much it.

Is it a bit too presumptuous to assume that any of the players still around town these days (i.e. not out of the country on holiday already) might be touring with the Emerging Ireland squad?

I'd say a lot of the Connacht boys will be in with a shout. Rodney Ah You for one has to rate his chances.

P.S. Welcome to the forum.

connachtexile wrote: I'm assuming Madigan got in on versatility but think this was the wrong decision by Joe. Keatley had being playing the better rugby for the past season and deserved his chance. Madigan has had one good game against Ulster and thats pretty much it.

Agree that Joe has got this wrong, connachtexile. He should have seen enough of Keatley with Munster this past season so holding him back for the emerging Ireland squad didn't hold much weight from the start and now he is taking the player who could benefit more from time with the emerging side. Admittedly, before this season I felt Madigan would end up being Sexton's understudy and perhaps Joe stills feels that's the case but he has not earned a trip to Argentina this time around.

Apparently Joe Schmidt got caught sneaking out with five minutes to go in the Leinster A final and was roundly booed! All in good nature of course.

Donnacha O'Callaghan and Roger Wilson are to play for the Barbarians against England this summer.

Will O'Callaghan line out in the 14 jersey???

Mick Kearney, Rodney and Griffin in the Emerging Ireland squad with McCarthy to captain and Dan McFarland as coach. I think its a good opportunity for Kearney and Rodders, and its good to let Griffin know he might not be totally forgotten while in England.

Emerging Ireland Squad 2014

FORWARDS (15)

Props:

Rodney Ah You (Buccaneers/Connacht)*

Michael Bent (Dublin University/Leinster)

Callum Black (Malone/Ulster)*

John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster)*


Hookers:

Bryan Byrne (Clontarf/Leinster)*

Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)*

James Tracy (UCD/Leinster)*


Second Row:

David Foley (UL Bohemians/Munster)*

Mick Kearney (Clontarf/Connacht)*

Mike McCarthy (Lansdowne/Leinster) (c)

Back Row:

Robin Copeland (Cardiff Blues)*

Sean Dougall (Dolphin/ Munster)*

Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster)*

Paddy Butler (Shannon/Munster)*


BACKS (11)

Scrum-Half:

Paul Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)

Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster)*

Out-Half:

JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster)*

Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)

Utility backs:

Michael Allen (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)*

Andrew Conway (Blackrock College/Leinster)*

Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster)

Eoin Griffin (Galwegians/Connacht)*

Brendan Macken (Blackrock College/Leinster)*

Johne Murphy (Young Munster/Munster)*

Noel Reid (Clontarf/Leinster)*

Some thoughts on the emerging Ireland squad:

1. That's only 26 guys. Surely another 4 wouldn't hurt to go along?

2. Is Duncan Casey injured?

3. Dave Heffernan got screwed. He's played a lot more first team rugby this season and deserves his place over the likes of Annett,Tracy and Byrne.

4. Happy for the lads who got in but the likes of Darragh Leader and Dave Heffernan must be disappointed.

5. Apart from those gripes I'm otherwise happy.