IRELAND HEAD COACH Andy Farrell has announced Caelan Doris as his new captain and named two uncapped players in his 35-man squad for the upcoming November Tests.
26-year-old Doris will take over from Peter O’Mahony as Ireland skipper ahead of the games against New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji, and Australia in Dublin next month.
Doris took on the captaincy for Ireland’s second Test win over South Africa last summer when O’Mahony was dropped to the bench.
The Munster man is currently injured but O’Mahony has been included in the autumn squad as he continues to recover from a hamstring issue, with the experienced blindside flanker to rehabilitate with Munster ahead of his return to action next month.
Ireland have included experienced hookers Rónan Kelleher and Rob Herring in their autumn squad despite both currently being sidelined with injuries. It remains unclear exactly when they will recover but they will feature at some stage in November, with Connacht’s Dave Heffernan the other hooker selected in the injury-enforced absence of Dan Sheehan.
Farrell’s squad includes Ulster lock/flanker Cormac Izuchukwu and Leinster out-half Sam Prendergast, both of whom will hope to win their first senior Test caps for Ireland.
24-year-old Izuchukwu and 21-year-old Prendergast were part of Ireland’s tour of South Africa last summer but weren’t capped, while both were involved in the recent Emerging Ireland trip back to South Africa.
Farrell has named five additional ‘training panellists’ as he looks to kick their development on, with Connacht wing Shayne Bolton, Munster flanker Alex Kendellen, Leinster tighthead prop Thomas Clarkson, Leinster loosehead prop Jack Boyle, and Leinster academy hooker Gus McCarthy all involved.
Overall, Farrell’s squad has a settled, familiar look to it, with plenty of continuity from last summer’s tour to South Africa.
Back row Jack Conan, who was absent in July for personal reasons, misses out again through injury but Leinster out-half Ciarán Frawley has been included after an injury scare last weekend against Connacht, while Farrell has opted to choose only five props in his main squad.
Ulster lock Iain Henderson returns after missing the trip to South Africa, while first-choice scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park and right wing Mack Hansen are also back having been ruled out of that tour with injuries. Fullback Hugo Keenan, who was absent due to Ireland 7s duty last time, is another familiar returning face.
Jordan Larmour, Caolin Blade, Jimmy O’Brien, and Oli Jager – who all went to South Africa – are absent from this squad, with Jager and O’Brien currently injured.
Ireland will gather at the IRFU’s high performance centre in Dublin on Monday before flying out to Portugal for a training camp ahead of their first November Test against New Zealand on Friday 8 November.
They face Argentina the following Friday, welcome Fiji to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday 23 November and conclude the campaign against Australia on Saturday 30 November for what will be the IRFU’s 150th anniversary Test.
Ireland squad for 2024 November Tests:
Props: Andrew Porter, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Tadhg Furlong, Finlay Bealham
Hookers: Rónan Kelleher, Rob Herring, Dave Heffernan
Locks: Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Iain Henderson
Back rows: Caelan Doris (captain), Josh van der Flier, Peter O’Mahony, Cormac Izuchukwu, Ryan Baird, Nick Timoney, Cian Prendergast
Halfbacks: Jamison Gibson-Park, Craig Casey, Conor Murray, Jack Crowley, Ciarán Frawley, Sam Prendergast
Centres: Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey
Back threes: Mack Hansen, James Lowe, Jamie Osborne, Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash, Jacob Stockdale
Training panellists: Thomas Clarkson, Alex Kendellen, Shayne Bolton, Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy.
Healy and O’Mahony have been incredible players for Ireland but there’s nothing to be gained from picking them at this stage.
@eltonioh: Or Conor Murray
@Stuart Z Quinn: Murray is still the best back up to JGP – I also think he is a bolter for the Lions tour – AF likes him off the bench to close down a game
@Owen ODonoghue: would be interesting if he started and finished his career as a Lions bolter
@Owen ODonoghue: Murray still class. Not starting him in Urc v glasgow was imo one of the reasons munster lost the semi final
@Graham Ahern: The tweak in the laws to make blocking access to the box kick receiver a penalty offence has given him a new lease of life.
@eltonioh: I see your point but Murray was brilliant in the summer tbf. Really rolled back the years.
@Owen ODonoghue: Murray still has a huge role to play for Ireland but I don’t think he will be in the conversation for the B&I Lions
@Paul Ennis: dunno about that, you look at the rest of the home nations scrum halves and Murray is as good as if not better than them.
@mark sheehan: I don’t think there will be too many players picked who are not regular starters for their country, never mind their club. I get the role of finishers in modern rugby but you need a scrum half to start for your mid week team. JGP, Alex Mitchell, Jack Van Poortvliet & Ben White will all be considered ahead of Murray right now and White has the advantage of playing inside the likely starting test 10. Even Casey is starting for Munster ahead of Murray and might tour as a mid week starter. If he goes for a big squad, maybe 4 travel. I don’t see Murray being one of them unless there are a few injuries.
@Paul Ennis: I think JGP, Mitchell and Murray is who AF would go for if he had to pick tomorrow
@eltonioh: same with Iain Henderson. Why wouldn’t they have included Ahern, who has been so valuable for Munster over the last two years? Henderson is 32 and constantly injured. That combo makes his selection bizarre to me. POM doesn’t need to be in that squad imo. Nor Healy.
@Brenda Collins: You might be right although you could add Murray and Aki to that category if 32 is your cut off. Probably be the last squad that Healy & POM will be involved in with Andy, so I totally understand why he has picked them – I would too. Plus who would you bring in ahead of Henderson? Healy probably gets 3 more caps as the options at LH are so sparse… plus we probably have 1 barely fit hooker in all 4 squads and Healy can offer additional cover. Even though backrow is so competitive, POM will add value to the wider squad whether he plays or not.
If there was ever an example of a player getting a call up based solely on the colour of the jersey he wears, it’s Thomas Clarkson. Jesus wept. Leo brought in a prop that had planned on retiring rather than see Clarkson back up Furlong. How hasn’t Scott Wilson being called up!l? The mind boggles
@5sZl1dX2: ye Wilson class
@Gary Galligan: Ulster are so light at TH and there is a game at the end in the league that overlaps so perhaps they felt it better to leave him in situ. He’ll be capped at some point in the future anyway. Great prospect.
@5sZl1dX2: I think you calling Farrell out for provincial bias is a bit rich
@Petter Sellberg: I’m not going to seek clarity on a comment from someone who can’t spell their own name
@5sZl1dX2: classy
@Carmine Lorenzo: Shame they weren’t so thoughtful for URC rounds 2-4.
@Justin Robinson: I’m not so sure the Irish coaches rate Wilson as highly as most do. Why bring him on EI tour and restrict him to 1 sub appearance at tighthead and 1 at loosehead. Baffled me to be honest when he could have been scrummaging against top class opposition. Then to be snubbed here just adds to that feeling that maybe they don’t see it
@5sZl1dX2: you’re right Barry Harry, clearly the Irish management team have no clue what they’re doing and the sooner they draft you in the better. The future of Irish rugby depends on your infinite wisdom
@Ross Watson: Yeah that makes a lot of sense. EI tour was a bit of a waste for him, when needed more by Ulster. Maybe they do think he needs more time.
@5sZl1dX2: Aungier clearly ahead of him
@anthony davoren: what’s with people not been able to spell their own names here?
@5sZl1dX2: agreed but i think he is seen as a 2027 candidate. probably the only TH we have that could be a 125 to 130kg prop that comes off the bench to nail our scrums
@5sZl1dX2: it’s ‘being’.
@5sZl1dX2: alright Baz :D
@Dave Moran: wouldn’t disagree there although is Aungier ahead of OToole as they’re a similar age. If OToole doesn’t make an impression in this squad i think it’s time to see Aungier.
@5sZl1dX2: I agree that Clarkson is very fortunate. Not for provincial bias as you state. Jack Aungier would have been the one. He’s already a regular in Connacht.
@Ross Watson: There are only 2 players from the EI tour in this squad. Hardly call it a snub!
@Paul Ennis: snub. Omission. Call it whatever you want. Im not worried by him remaining with Ulster, as he should have been allowed to do earlier in the season. He’s plenty of time to make it international squads. My point was only that I don’t think the coaches rate him as highly as some fans do which is fine for a 21 year old
@Ross Watson: That’s fair. The fans on this forum usually don’t take an objective view when players from their province are excluded.
@5sZl1dX2: because the Irish coaches had a good look at Wilson on the EI tour and don’t deem him ready yet. That was very clear from the minutes he got while down there. Of course it’s the color of the jersey that matters though. To you, not the Irish coaches.
By what about the player from my province?
@Les Whinin: you’re gas…
@Les Whinin: ha … yeah that guy who looked good in that league game against that italian team who rested 15 players and then had a food poisoning outbreak…
@Les Whinin: What about the 13 year old who looks great, gotta plan for the 2172 World Cup.
Typical Ireland, three years out from a World Cup and very little experimentation. Same faces still getting picked on reputation, and who won’t be around in 2027. This short term thinking is why we fail at every single World Cup. Glad to see Doris in as skipper, with O’Mahony removed of the captaincy.
@Aidan Farrell: had the exact same thought when I saw the squad. zero experimentation, or building for the future.
@Aidan Farrell: like whoo
@Niall English: I wouldn’t say zero for the future but the sheer amount of injured old heads in the squad is a worry. PoM, Hendo, Herring (albeit he may be needed due to injury). Might be an unpopular call but I don’t rate Prendergast over McCann or Kendellan or even Ahern. Also although I really like Timoney he isn’t threatening the 23 and he’s 30 odd.
@Gary Galligan: highly likely that bealham, hendeeson, pom, Murray, aki, henshaw, mccloskey and lowe won’t be around next world cup.
@Ross Watson: Bang on, although VDF is the only proper 7 in the squad so POM and Timoney needed as cover
@Aidan Farrell: Strongly disagree, plenty of newish faces in there. We have another 3 years to fill out the squad and Farrell has consistently added new players to build out the squad so far.
There’ll be a fair number of new people getting a shot when most of the Irish team is away on the Lions too, plus whatever EI tour goes on next year.
We still want to win these games, OZ 27 is yonks away.
@Aidan Farrell: I’ve a feeling the training panelists could well see game time – can’t see our front row last the full 5 weeks without injuries
@Ross Watson: ahern is only just back from injury. I don’t think prendergast is at the level of others that are available, especially mccann, deegan is another who can count himself very unfortunate.
@Aidan Farrell: why do you think Ireland would be so focused on the £4.8m for winning the WC and not the £24m available in the 6 nations over those 4 years?
@Patrick O’Sullivan: Dave McCann seems to have made 8 his position. There is enough cover for Doris in Conan, POM, Timoney & Prendergast who can all cover. Prendergast is well deserving of his place in the squad. He is now an experienced provincial captain. The step up to international is significant and previous appearances carry weight. Training Panel is the right way to go.
@Paul Ennis: McCann is Ulster’s first choice 7 and has started all three back row positions this season. He definitely has not decided to make 8 his position.
@Aidan Farrell: the truth of it is and something squidgerugby highlighted about Ireland, is that the IRFU Pursue 6 nation titles as this is where the majority of revenue comes from. They will never do a SA or All Black on it and drop lots of players to experiment start of cycle. For this reason Farells hands are tied.
@Kingshu: I’d prefer to finish bottom of the 6 Nations for four years straight and win a World Cup quarter final than bank the money.
@Paul Ennis: I’d encourage anyone to compare Prendergasts stats to the others. They don’t back up that he’s well deserving over the likes of Deegan or McCann. He’s a decent player and no more for me. Another issue I have is that the likes of Prendergast (and timoney and O’Toole in fairness) have been on a lot of squads and never really threatened to break into the team. Unless they do it this time wouldn’t it be better to have a look at others. And I say that as someone who really rates Nick Timoney.
@Aidan Farrell: Let me suggest 1). If Ireland finished bottom in even 1 Six Nations you and every other Irish fan would quickly lose confidence that the team were going to succeed in the World Cup; either the plan would change or the coach would go; and 2) Given the money from the 6N provides a subsidy to the rest of Irish rugby, the consequential cuts to Provincial budgets would also cause howls of outrage
@Kevin Ryan: we don’t experiment during the 6nations and that makes perfect sense to me. But we didn’t experiment in the summer either which makes this winter the perfect time to look at some other guys.
@Aidan Farrell: if that happens, who is going to pay Leinster’s wages?
@Aidan Farrell: evolution, not revolution
@Paul Ennis: I would disagree on 8 being his main position. Over this year and last he’s played more 7 then 8 with 6 as his least likely starting position. Why bother bringing prendergast when pom, baird, Doris, beirne and izzy cover 6. Timoney covers 8 and 7, bringing McCann 7,8 and 6 cover as well as looking like he has what it take to play at top level rugby.
Your entitled to your opinion as am I on prendergast
@Ross Watson: No. As others have said the perfect time is next summer’s tour when our top guys are with the Lions
@Gary Galligan: Matthew Devine ahead of Murray.
@Patrick O’Sullivan: Don’t get me wrong… I really like Dave McCann. But Prendergast had done nothing to deserve being dropped. Back row is such a competitive area. As pointed out by many, I am wrong about 8 being his position. But he still needs to oust one of the incumbants… just like Coombes, Hodnett, Ahern, Deegan, Connors & Penny. If he is patient and keeps working hard his time will come. Alternatively, he could take Kingshu’s advice and look for a move to Leinster!!
@Aidan Farrell: for once we agree. I couldnt understand the conservative selection for the SA tour. I can’t understand the conservative selection for these autumn games either. I am mystified. POM, Henderson, Healy, Murray do not need to be in this squad.
@Ross Watson: “even ahern”? Ahern is the best of them imo. A giant of a man and lethal in open play. I like Kendellan but he doesn’t even start for Munster when all their players are available so tbh I was a bit surprised by his inclusion.
@Aaron Tynan: I don’t believe for a second Farrell hasn’t full control over squad selection. The fact is the six nations is an extremely prestigious tournament steeped in history. We’ve been spoilt in years because of our success but there was a long long period where Ireland were more accustomed to wooden spoons than titles. The world cup is a relatively new tournament in comparison. The gas thing is if Farrell experiments in six nations and we do crap people will be looking for him to be sacked before the world cup. I think we can just accept that Farrell and his backroom team are better placed than us commenters to select the correct squad
Perfect squad. Only glitch. Maybe ahern instead of Henderson??
@Gary Galligan: need another lock who can run a lineout besides just Ryan. If nothing else but for training.
We all know Beirne can’t, even Munster fans have to acknowledge that after 2 years of him trying to
Presume this means Herring will be fit for the ABs?! All the noises were no way RK would make it back but maybe.. Ahern prob over Prendergast, maybe Deegan over Timoney but we do need cover for 7. Would have had Ben Murphy on training panel too
You’d hope this is the last stop for a good number of those picked. Taking up seats on the bus at this point. We were forced into playing Osbourne at 15 at the highest level when Keenan left, and he flourished. I think the young lads are far more capable than the selectors think/allow.
@Conor: it won’t be. Autumn is the chance to blood new players. The Six Nations is worth so much financially, there won’t be any risks taken with selection
@5sZl1dX2: sad but true. And we know where it’ll leave us in 2027
@5sZl1dX2: I think we’ll still need Healy, Murray and O’Mahony from a leadership perspective at the next six nations, and you keep them in now for continuity. After that 6 nations there’s a natural break with the Lions/development tour, when those lads will be phased out.
This isn’t a 6N so feels like a big opportunity missed to actually experiment a bit more. Farrell and Ireland continue to be the most conservative selectors in world rugby. I get it if this was for the 6N but picking O’Mahony who is injured and not taking a look at Ahern is a bit of a miss imo. Ben Murphy the form 9 out there too. And it’s absolutely criminal that Max Deegan hasn’t been awarded for his form.
@Carmine Lorenzo: Farrell doesn’t pick on form, we know that already. If he did, half that squad wouldn’t be picked
@Carmine Lorenzo: No point having Ahern, Baird and Izuchukwu – they’re all the same type of player so adding a third just takes minutes and training reps away from the other two. O’Mahony offers something completely different, most notably on leadership, so he justifiably gets the nod over Ahern IMO. Ahern is also just coming back from a big injury and has no form to speak of.
Ben Murphy is in good form but we’re talking about 4 URC games. You can’t go handing international caps out that lightly.
Agree RE Deegan.
@Conor Quinn: But to your point Ahern is actually fit and O’Mahony isn’t even! And he defo has no form to speak of, was dropped for the South African second test. This isn’t a cut at him as I know his leadership is a big factor. However at this rate, surely others have started stepping up to fill that void. In that squad you have Doris, Henderson, Prendergast and Beirne…all provincial captains! Then you have amazing leaders like Ryan, Ringrose, Murray etc…
@Carmine Lorenzo: Yeah fair point RE other leaders, but the back row is pretty youthful – with Conan out, VdF is the only other guy over 26. I can see why they still want him in this squad, assuming his injury is short term.
@Carmine Lorenzo: You are talking about form over the space of 4-5 URC games. With teams settling in, as if it’s any indicator of international rugby ability. Yes all those players have been good in the league. Deegan won’t make Leinsters European team unless Conan is out and even then, it’s doubtful. Ben Murphy will be possibly starting in the challenge cup. Shiny new toy syndrome in overdrive as always. Ireland aren’t even remotely conservative in selection. Farrell has used 70+ players in 4 years. Which top team uses more? POM is in the squad to give him a send off in Dublin, Aherne has been injured pretty consistently and has been pretty much anonymous since his return from this injury.
My god, we are looking thin in the front row. Injuries aside, it’s rather disappointing. Still seeing the same auld names Healy, O mahony, Henderson, Murray etc etc. Lads who are passed it or lads who haven’t had a big game in years. The only positive is to see Bolton in the extended squad or whatever fancy name they have on it now.
@Ray Ridge: completely agree. Would add Aki to that list. Draw a line at 32 and leave it at that. If Farrell is being conservative for Autumn games, we definitely won’t see anything new for the Six Nations
@5sZl1dX2: I’d probably keep Aki as he’s still putting in a shift every time he pulls on a Jersey, but I understand totally where you’re coming from. We keep hearing about strength in depth in Irish rugby currently, but it’s hard to see when the same names like Healy, Henderson, herring, o mahony, Murray and too lesser extinct Aki keeping being named. Of course there’s injuries also. I’d have Ahern in their ahead of Prendergast. Or even jansen.
@5sZl1dX2: That’s too simplistic. It’s position-dependent – there are plenty of tight-five players still killing it well past 32. Scrum-halves too (a general observation, not defending the selection of Conor Murray).
@Colin Rainier: You’re right, but I’m not sure you could describe Healy, Herring, and Henderson as killing it, though.
I thought Jeremy Loughman might have got a call up, but that’s just my Munster bias, other than that it’s some squad
@Comeonyouknow: he has been playing very well this season, but I’d say injury in last game rules him out for a few weeks.
@Comeonyouknow: Injured in the last match.
Interesting to compare this with those who were in or around the World Cup squad. If I remember well, the only newcomer in the front row is Heffernan, who is presumably only there because of injuries to others; in the second and back row McCarthy and Izuchugwu are recent arrivals,no newcomers at scrum half or centre…though I suppose Frawley or Osborne might get a run here at some stage.
It’s getting to be more than a bit worrying that Cian Healy is still among the best props available, and an understudy for Porter who is less of a penalty conceding machine is overdue.
And let us hope that Cullen takes note of Farrell’s assessment of Leinster’s out halves…
@Lesidees: it’s signals that all experimentation will happen on the summer tour, with 10-15 Irish guys on tour with the Lions it gives them the opportunity to play all the young guys on the Irish tour. I’ve a feeling that squad will still include POM & Healy but will have Ahern, Kendellen, Gavin, Prendergast etc
@Owen ODonoghue: it also signals a continuing lack of real competition in most positions.
If fit, the first choice xv is pretty easy to name – Porter Sheehan Furlong McCarthy Beirne O’Mahony Doris Vander Flier Gibson-Park Crowley Lowe Ringrose Aki Hansen Keenan.
You can maybe make a case for Ryan instead of Beirne, Conan for O’Mahony, Henshaw for Aki, but that’s about it
@lesidees: Ireland has more genuinely world class players than it has ever had before. Not realistic to expect there will also be guys who are good enough to take their places
Andy knows what he is doing. Players will come in for the Fiji game. Why would we want our experienced internationals dropped for these games when there is no URC to keep them busy during the window. Keep her lit I say.
@Paul Ennis: it’s inevitable. Wholesale rotation for the Fiji game and Farrell will publicly moan about the performance. Happened the last time they played Fiji and after the Ireland A vs NZ A game. Rather than introduce a player to a semi-settled strong, basically put out a scratch side and be surprised there’s no cohesion
@Paul Ennis: really? he made a balls of the world cup with our best squad ever assembled for a world cup.
@Harry Barry & @Niall English I have ye lads muted so you are wasting your time
@Paul Ennis: feels like the right squad for the first two games which will be incredibly tough and attritional. I think we’ll have a lot of new faces coming in during the November window so i expect our Fiji and Aus teams will have some surprise in there. I’m very interested to see how split the Outhalves. I see Crowley starting against NZ but think Frawley will get at least one start against Arg or Aus – SP could be a starter v Fiji or off the bench etc
@Owen ODonoghue: You are 100% right. It is almost like Andy picked the sequence of the games with exactly that in mind. Go hard or go home to begin with and then ease himself out and let Simon take over v Fiji and maybe Australia. There will also be a few injuries along the way to force a few call ups which is just the natural way we do things in Ireland. And it works.
@Owen ODonoghue: Yeah hopefully Frawley is fit and gets at least 1 start. Crowley is the man in possession and Farrell places a lot of emphasis on that. But Crowley is playing quite poorly this season after an iffy South African series and Frawley is in good form. Would be good to see form rewarded a bit more.
@Paul Ennis: 2 ballbags lol
@Shawn: Yeah… I was curious for all of about 0.05 seconds
Pretty much as expected. Max Deegan probably most unfortunate – he’s in better form and has a higher Test ceiling than Prendergast or Timoney IMO.
Healy, O’Mahony and Murray are all still in the top 3 players in their position and deserve their places in the squad. You don’t drop experienced, quality players just because they won’t be there at the next world cup.
On the training panellists, McCann and Forde are unlucky to miss out, but I like the inclusion of Shayne Bolton.
@Conor Quinn: I think Deegan is better than Timoney and Prendergast too, difference is they are starters for their team, and get plenty of gametime, Deegan only gets in, if there are injuries, think he’s one of the fallouts of DH, players lacking ambition, “If you’re happy to sit third, fourth, maybe fifth choice when you could be playing somewhere else and potentially developing your career… that’s not the sort of player that will be travelling to places like this on tour.” If Deegan had moved in the summer and was in this form, no doubt he’d be in the squad.
@Kingshu: I think that’s probably true. Was there a specific offer for Deegan from one of the other provinces?
@Conor Quinn: Ulster were sounding him out apparently
A lot of apologies need to be issued by those who couldn’t see the writing in the wall and screamed bloody murder over POM not getting a central contract when he was the Irish Captain.
Jack Aungier a little unlucky not to be named.
Everyone giving out about X or Y being picked. Farrell was always going to stick with the tried and trusted. Plenty of change next year when the Lions are on tour.
Still easier to make Ireland squads if wearing blue. But maybe does look like some for the 50/50s are going the way DH wanted. Only 2 LHs does that mean TOT is there as LH and TH cover, I thought that experiment was finished.
@Kingshu: If it’s finished, it needs to be revived… We have Porter and that’s it for the World Cup, maybe one of Loughman, Milne or A n other steps up but it’s looking weak. TH on the other hand we have many options
@Andrew Slazenger: Finished for ToT I ment. Ulster have said they are short at TH and will not be playing him at LH, he’ll maybe train there in Ireland camps, but would need gametime if going to make the move. Think the IRFU are better looking at other options to ToT.
Wasn’t there some spoofer here thinking they know it all trying to make out Hansen and Farrell had fallen out
I have zero issues with DH ban on foreign props. The greatest internal threat to our long term success position wise is lack of props. We will be blown off the park if furlong porter go down / no viable successors are found.
Deegan is v unlucky, quality operator but until he starts euro cup games or the top league fixtures when all Leinster players are available I think he’ll be labelled as a Leinster back up player, come international selection, perhaps unfairly.
McCanns unlucky he’s as good/important as timoney at UR, his time will come undoubtedly, and heir to UR long term captaincy.
My general take is – the 6ns success and all the money is intrinsic to the development and continued success of Irish rugby. It makes zero financial sense to risk that, especially how bad rugby’s finances are generally world wide. Anyone watching Irish rugby between 88 and 00, will never take 6ns success for granted.
Re the actual fixtures- we owe the kiwis big time. They’ll be desperate to beat us in our own backyard. Ire has put a lot of SA and Kiwi noses out of joint over the last several yrs, it’s incredibly important to keep turning them over regularly. This isn’t about ranking pts/tables, it’s 100% about pecking orders, we are near the top, we’ve done it our own way, and need to stay there. We have got the southern hemisphere mystic off our backs and young players are nolonger in awe.
Interesting to see if a full deck to choose from how much POM features come 6ns, that hard nosed competitor attitude is great for pup development.
I’ve a feeling Jack Boyle will walk away with 2 or 3 caps post November and be our back up loose head in 2025.
@Owen ODonoghue: lololol
@Niall English: not saying he deserves them, it just looks like he has found himself in the right place at the right time. FWIW i would have Loughman, Buckley or O’Sullivan ahead of him
@Owen ODonoghue: 100%. He’s got a big chance tbf. Milne needs to fix his scrummaging. Both are great prospects for Ireland.
Shane Bolton is overrated. He was found out by Ulster and Leinster. Andrew Osborne is a way better winger then him with loads more talent. What do Irish born players have to do to get into the national team? Too much preference for foreign-born players so we can hear non-stop SA and NZ fans on every forum comment on how Ireland only win because of them.
@Linda: Andy obviously wants a look at him and maybe give him a few pointers. Remember James Lowe in his first couple of caps. He went away with work ons and came back a far better player. Bolton has that type of rough diamond feel to him that Andy likes. Ireland have not been good at breeding wingers through our academies (apart from Calvin Nash) and as a result we have not really produced a natural international winger since Tommy Bowe. We have been converting centres or full backs and importing from abroad. It has just been the way.
Can’t decide which Prendergast deserves to be there less
WHERES SHANE DALY??!??
@Dave Moran: Who were you expecting would be left out so he could be included?
As a Munster supporter, it’s worrying to see Beirne as the only forward selected. That tells a story. Thought Tom Ahern would make it. Great ball handler with speed. One for the future. Keegan also unlucky.
@Ivan O’Riordan: Kendellen might see minutes. Big fan of his serious player.
It’s a very experienced squad. There will be some young players like McCann and Culhane disappointed not to be in the training squad but they may have a chance to impress before the 6Ns. The big elephant in the room regarding Irish rugby is the lack of young quality props coming through.
Great to see Clarkson, Boyle and McCarthy in the training panelist’s. Prop is a real area of weakness that we need to be developing right now. Would like to have seen Ben Murphy but I think it’s still a bit early for him. He’s burst onto the scene so he has to deliver consistency from now on and until next season to be considered.
@Harry O’ Callaghan: like Ben Murphy but his box kicking in the last 2 rounds probably cost him
Zero interest in reading the comments all the same toxic (Nice Squad)
Murray owes Ireland nothing but past his best.casey not the answer. We have second best scrum half in world in Gibson Park.god help us when he retires