With Buckley being injured, gives Uncle Joe an easy reason not to pick him.

Can't fathom the other ommissions, tbh.

5 Connacht lads in the SA squad. 4 if you don't count Henshaw (I don't). And one of those 4 is Quinn Roux, who (esp. given Browney is doing media duties) almost certainly won't make our 23 this weekend.

Nice of Deccie v2.0 to write the pre-match speech for us.

So the squad to SA was announced.

Shameful selection by Eddie, I mean Joe.

Mr Leinster, I mean Mr conservative to the end.

I really do not like or trust the man. I hope now we are wiped in SA and this joker moves on.

He is not growing Irish rugby, he is choking it.

He is a leader and would probably be ahead of Heaslip in captaining the side if Best was unavailable. Maybe over the next season or 2 Mr Conservative Shmit will bring in the likes of TOH and Buckley.

connachta wrote: Nobody seems to note that, but TOH absence is as much weird as Buckley's. Hope this is just because of his current injury. Kearney won't be a solution for rwc 2019, and TOH is at least in contention with Conway, Zebo etc...

If it was because of injury then why has O'Mahoney been called up? I'd love to know the reason for that.

Nobody seems to note that, but TOH absence is as much weird as Buckley's. Hope this is just because of his current injury. Kearney won't be a solution for rwc 2019, and TOH is at least in contention with Conway, Zebo etc...

And I do think that the primary weakness in Buckley's game is 'go forward' ball carrying.

I try to explain it this way, because the reality is he does contribute handsomely with ball in hand but primarily as a passer.

He is strong in the scrum and over the ball, but I can only think it is his go forward ability and potentially his line out play which goes against him.

Joe's selection policy from the start has always been the biggest player possible in each position. Combine that with Healy's central contract as pointed out above, and Buckley will have to grow six inches and gain 20kg of beef before he gets looked at for Ireland. I know international rugby is the pinnacle for players but as supporters we should probably just be happy that we get to keep most of our top performers to ourselves. Look at the hype surrounding Dillane since he got capped versus just a few months earlier in the season - lets keep the rest our players out of sight from those who would look to scoop them away to other provinces or clubs!

Perhaps it is a bit childish to say, but I can't help but think that ever since Cian Healy was announced as a three year central contract, he will be named in every squad and every 23, regardless of form or impact to his confidence, or for the matter, his health.

And I am a huge Cian Healy fan, but seeing him play against us recently, he was not even close to the performances of the other props involved from both teams.

But yet, he is named.

I do feel for both Buckley and even James Cronin because this sadly smells of emotional loyalty and a contractual mistake.

I would be the first to say, I would love to be proved wrong.

Jordi Murphy, McFadden and a few others are quite dubious to say the least.

Eoin McKeon had a point, but should have said nothing.

Its more a sit down and run around

Because there's no European semi finals it's been brought up earlier than usual

Is there always a training camp this late in the season? If any of them get injured......

Cian Healy and Kilcoyne (who I like don't get me wrong) ahead of Denis continues to puzzle me

Congrats to the 6 Connacht lads - no Nathan White was probably to be expected

Ps: Jordi Murphy?! Maybe Eoin McKeon had a point!

Joe Schmidt has released a list of 44 names that will be called up for a one-day Ireland camp this Sunday after the weekend's PRO12 games.

Ireland 44-man Training Squad:

Full-backs: Rob Kearney, Simon Zebo
Wingers: Keith Earls, Craig Gilroy, Matt Healy, Dave Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Andrew Trimble
Outside Centres: Luke Marshall, Jared Payne, Garry Ringrose
Inside Centres: Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, Stuart Olding
Outhalf: Paddy Jackson, Ian Madigan, Johnny Sexton
Scrumhalf: Kieran Marmion, Luke McGrath, Conor Murray, Eoin Reddan
Loosehead: Cian Healy, Dave Kilcoyne, Jack McGrath
Hookers: Rory Best, Sean Cronin, Rob Herring, Richardt Strauss
Tighthead: Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Furlong, Mike Ross
Second Row: Ultan Dillane, Iain Henderson, Quinn Roux, Donnacha Ryan, Devin Toner
Blindside: Peter O'Mahony, Rhys Ruddock
Openside: Jordi Murphy, Sean O'Brien, Tommy O'Donnell, Josh van der Flier
No. 8: Jamie Heaslip, CJ Stander

Congrats to Matt Healy and Quinn Roux...but what the hell does Dennis Buckley have to do to get a look in?

Schmidt and Les Kiss will be in attendance at Thomond Park to run their eyes over Ireland hopefuls Marmion, 23, and Nathan White, and the Connacht scrum-half is keen to make an impression.

The Connacht man has had to be satisfied with 12 minutes against Wales in Ireland’s opening World Cup warm-up match, but he thinks the Connacht game-time he has picked up against Castres last weekend, and again tonight, could prove crucial.

Just read Boss had quite a nightmare. Marmion back to the business is possible after his good job in France!

Congrats to Nathan White on his first cap. Sloppy Irish performance but Joe Schmidt will learn a lot more from that than last week's game.