I'm actually kinda relieved with the selection : AH YOu and Kearney needs international advice to progress, Griffin is none of our business anymore it's honorific for Connacht, and above all McSharry, Buckley, McKeon, Healy are all injury prone and will rest. Heff is our last fit hooker, so very good news we could keep him safe

Leader and Healy can feel hard done by.

On the other hand Heffernan has 2 starts and is still getting up-to-speed setpiece-wise. And as for Buckley - his form was generally good the second half of the season but there were horrible lapses of concentration like the try in the Glasgow away game, and he spent the first half of the season in the doghouse for going off the reservation last summer. The very anthithesis of a Joe Schmidt player I'd think.

Surprised that Leader is not in the mix. You really couldn't get more "emerging" than him. Had a great season, is young and played often with Connacht.

Heffernan as well is hard done by, Buckley too, and I think Healy might have gotten a shout over Johne Murphy.

Fairly sure Schmidt picks them and McFarland gets to coach them. Forgot about Buckley as well when doing my gripes. Schmidt probably wanted a mixture but don't think he got it right. That said if guys are going over just to hold tackle bags then I'd rather they got a rest and recuperated.

Surely Schmidt is picking this team even if McFarland is coaching?

Have to agree that some of the Connacht lads should feel a little agrieved. There are maybe four looseheads ahead of Byrne and three hookers ahead of Tracy at Leinster. You could argue that's its am emerging Ireland side but that is countered with Macca, Keatley, Gilroy & Johne Murphy.

possible that JHW might have gone before shoulder knack. Delighted for Mick but along with Heff & Darragh, Bucks must be confused as with Dan as head coach, he surely should have had a better shout(unless injured) than lad not guaranteed place in Leinster A team. Might have brough Matt along too but backs places were at a pemium

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.

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)*

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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'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.

Once a crip always a crip!