It appears as though fate has intervened to boost Ireland’s chances in next seasons World Cup with Rory Best (ankle) and Paul O’Connell (groin) joining Luke Fitzgerald (knee), Stephen Ferris (cheekbone), Denis Leamy (knee), Donnacha Ryan (shoulder) and Leo Cullen (shoulder) on the injury list.
Hopefully these players will get a full summers re-hab and will be in shape to boost Ireland’s challenge in 15 months time.
Judging by last nights game at the RDS D’Arcy, O’Driscoll, Heaslip and Sexton could also have done with a couple of weeks with their feet up after a hard season but such is the life of a professional player in this modern age.
Ireland’s summer season starts next weekend with a warm up match against the Barbarians at Thomond and then it’s straight off to New Zealand for the All Blacks, Maori and Australia on successive weekends.
Ulster have a reasonable representation with Trimble and Wallace joining old teammate Tommy Bowe in the backs and Court Henry, Tuohy and the departing O’Donoghue up front.
It’s a big tour for Court, Trimble and Henry who would all feature in my starting XV given the makeup of the tour party. Court in particular could ease a lot of Irish concerns if he can successfully convert his club form into a few impressive displays for his adopted country.
I would also have liked to have seen the underrated Young getting a chance to shine in the front row and I think Kyriacou would have benefited from the trip in Rory’s place even if he would have been starting behind Flannery and the impressive Cronin.
No matter how positive a spin I try to put on it it still grates to see Horgan, Hayes, Buckley and Stringer on the our sheet. Some undoubtedly have been great servants of Ireland but in Horgan’s case, when you’re chased down by a second row, as he was last night, it’s a definite indication that your days as an international winger are numbered. Stringer and Hayes have nothing left to prove and if they are going to be in next summers squad should be rested and as for Buckley, well he’s been found wanting so often that it’s time to give up on that particular experiment.
So what’s my prediction? I predict two wins for Ireland, unfortunately none in a full international. I reckon it will be close against New Zealand, but we’ll take a bit of a beating against a young Australian side.
IRELAND Squad (2010 Summer Tour, June 4-June 26):
Backs: Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster), Shane Horgan (Leinster), Rob Kearney (Leinster), Fergus McFadden (Leinster)*, Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster), Ronan O’Gara (Munster), Tomas O’Leary (Munster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Peter Stringer (Munster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Paddy Wallace (Ulster)
Forwards: Tony Buckley (Munster), Tom Court (Ulster), Sean Cronin (Connacht), Jerry Flannery (Munster), John Fogarty (Leinster)*, John Hayes (Munster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Chris Henry (Ulster)*, Marcus Horan (Munster), Shane Jennings (Leinster), Kevin McLaughlin (Leinster), John Muldoon (Connacht), Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster), Mick O’Driscoll (Munster), Ed O’Donoghue (Ulster)*, Dan Tuohy (Ulster)*, David Wallace (Munster)
Summer Tour Match Schedule:
Friday, June 4: Barbarians v Ireland XV, Thomond Park, 7.45pm
Saturday, June 12: New Zealand v Ireland, Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth, 7.35pm (8.35am home)
Friday, June 18: New Zealand Maori v Ireland XV, International Stadium, Rotorua, 7.35pm (8.35am home)
Saturday, June 26: Australia v Ireland, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 8pm (11am home)
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4 Responses to “Ireland’s Antipodes Adventures!”
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I Predict more players to cry off !
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A very daring prediction Oldman(!). Rory Best has been pants since his return but how could any hooker recovering from a neck injury ever give 100%? I would have given Kyriacou a run. Agree with the sentiments about the inclusion of Horgan, Hayes and Buckley but I still think Stringer – little shite that he is – is a class act.
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hey johnny regarding stringer – dont mince your words mate – say what you mean. He still has a quick pass, although the direction/height can be a bit unpredictable. I agree with Dewi re Horgan Hayes and the big ‘puddin’ Buckley.
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Yes its good to see Wee Decky the poisoned Gnome of Turnipstan give youth a chance before the World Cup in 18 months time with the selection of Horgan, Stringer, Duffy, Buckley, Fogarty,Hayes,Muldoon and M O’Driscoll all of whom are well past their sell by date. How he can say the squad is picked on form is beyond me. Shaggy wouldn’t get a game for Larne 5ths!
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