Ireland vs Barbarians, Thomond Pk, 28/05/15 19:45, Sky SP1

thomond2006

Extended Barbarians squad:

Gio Aplon (Grenoble & South Africa)
Zane Kirchner (Leinster & South Africa)

David Smith (Toulon)
Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues & Wales)
Yoshi Fujita (Panasonic Wild Knights & Japan)
Ugo Monye (Harlequins & England)

Wynand Olivier (Montpellier & South Africa)
Joe Rokocoko (Bayonne & New Zealand)

Tusi Pisi (Suntory Sungoliath & Samoa)
Jimmy Gopperth (Leinster)
Stephen Brett (Lyon)

Ruan Pienaar (Ulster & South Africa)
Tomas Cubelli (Belgrano Ath & Argentina)

David Ward (Harlequins)
Deon Fourie (Lyon)

Matias Diaz (Pampas & Argentina)
Saimone Taumoepeau (Castres & New Zealand)
Adam Jones (Cardiff Blues & Wales)
Rodrigo Tejerizo (Tucuman & Argentina)

Rodrigo Capo Ortega (Castres & Uruguay)
Konstantin Mikautadze (Toulon & Georgia)
Brad Thorn (Leicester Tigers & New Zealand)
Jason Eaton (La Rochelle & New Zealand)

Gerhard Vosloo (Toulon)
George Smith (Lyon & Australia)
George Whitelock (Panasonic Wild Knights & New Zealand)
Shane Jennings (Leinster & Ireland)
Pablo Matera (Pampas & Argentina)

Thomas Waldrom (Exeter Chiefs & England)
Ryu Koliniasi Holani (Panasonic Wild Knights & Japan)

So...is anyone actually interested in this? :P

I wouldn't massively care about it. I'll still watch it though for stuff like this :pac:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMhr58P9rfI

Did Brad Thorn not retire?

duckysauce

Thomas Waldrom -- class, should be a great game if weather is good

bilston

Now that Ulster are out of the Pro 12 I'm more interested but I just hope that everyone involved gets through unscathed.

I'd love to know what Joe and the coaching team really think about the game.

Wang King

Would have been nice to have James Coughlan called up for the BaaBaa's

George Hook

Brad Thorn is still playing? Man that guy loves rugby.

irishbucsfan

George Hook wrote: »

Brad Thorn is still playing? Man that guy loves rugby.

He's on his way out. An absolute legend of both codes..

George Hook

irishbucsfan wrote: »

He's on his way out. An absolute legend of both codes..

Agreed all-round fantastic guy.


Adam Jones not retire from international rugby or because there are no caps for this it's not classed as an international?

total former

thomond2006 wrote: »

Extended Barbarians squad:

So...is anyone actually interested in this? :P

It depends how interested Joe Schmidt is to be honest. If we treat it like a genuine world cup preparation game then I'll be very interested.

bilston

Is there a team or a squad announcement today or tomorrow?

awec

The Barbarians marketing for this match is pretty misleading.

Ireland v Barbarians with pictures of POC and Zebo who I am pretty certain won't be within a mile of this game.

thomond2006

Any sign of a squad? I thought they would meet for training by today.

pickarooney

Is this Monye's last game also?

Larbre34

Is this on d'telly?

total former

Larbre34 wrote: »

Is this on d'telly?

Yes; Sky Sports 1.

Maybe one of the mods could update the thread title with time, date and TV details?

.ak

Actually surprised BOD isn't lining out for Baabaas.

thomond2006

.ak wrote: »

Actually surprised BOD isn't lining out for Baabaas.

BOD? Pfft....

Cappamore is only down the road you know. Hayes woz robbed again. :mad:

Buer

.ak wrote: »

Actually surprised BOD isn't lining out for Baabaas.

He retired a year ago. He wouldn't be able to hack 10 minutes of rugby at this level now.

bilston

.ak wrote: »

Actually surprised BOD isn't lining out for Baabaas.

Him and Mike Gibson in the midfield would have shifted a few more tickets.

.ak

Buer wrote: »

He retired a year ago. He wouldn't be able to hack 10 minutes of rugby at this level now.

Sure when does that matter to the Baabaas? Pretty sure I've seen lads well retired before lining out for them. How long was MOD out for?

Obviously have him on the bench.

Buer

Buer wrote: »

He retired a year ago. He wouldn't be able to hack 10 minutes of rugby at this level now.

He's been keeping somewhat active

Buer

.ak wrote: »

Sure when does that matter to the Baabaas? Pretty sure I've seen lads well retired before lining out for them. How long was MOD out for?

Obviously have him on the bench.

They have done but they're very much the exceptions. MOD was only 33 years old retiring and always a very fit bloke who played in a position that is generally associated with players going well into their mid and even late thirties. He was also only called up because he happened to be in London on the day and Flip van der Merwe pulled out with injury 24 hours beforehand.

They regularly call up guys who are just retired like Brad Thorn and Jennings etc. who do it as a swan song but I don't think there are too many guys who have been away from the game for any length of time.

I would say BOD would run a mile if they approached him for the game.

Buer

Buer wrote: »

I would say BOD would run a mile if they approached him for the game.

I doubt he could he even run a mile at this stage, sure in the picture above he is having to have people carry him about the place. #howthemightyhavefallen

its_phil

.ak wrote: »

Actually surprised BOD isn't lining out for Baabaas.

Right up there with the maddest comments around here

duckysauce

Ireland XV (Squad to play Barbarians, Thomond Park, Thursday May 28th

forwards (15)
Michael Bent (Leinster/Dublin University)
Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)*
Robbie Diack (Ulster/Malone)
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf)*
Jamie Heaslip (Leinster/Dublin University) Captain
Chris Henry (Ulster/Malone)
Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch)
Jack McGrath (Leinster/St Mary's College)
Ben Marshall (Leinster/Old Belvedere)*
Jordi Murphy (Leinster/Lansdowne)
Mike Ross (Leinster/Clontarf)
Rhys Ruddock (Leinster/St Mary's College)
Richardt Strauss (Leinster/Old Wesley)
Devin Toner (Leinster/Lansdowne)
Dan Touhy (Ulster/Ballymena)

Backs (12)
Craig Gilroy (Ulster/Dungannon)
Paddy Jackson (Ulster/Dungannon)
Dave Kearney (Leinster/Lansdowne)
Rob Kearney (Leinster/UCD)
Cian Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne)*
Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Ballynahinch)*
Luke McGrath (Leinster/UCD)*
Ian Madigan (Leinster/Blackrock College)
Luke Marshall (Ulster/Ballynahinch)
Colm O'Shea (Leinster/Clontarf)*
Eoin Reddan (Leinster/Lansdowne)
Noel Reid (Leinster/Clontarf)

molloyjh

Ireland Squad:

Loosehead: |McGrath, Bent
Hooker:|Strauss, Herring
Tighthead:|Ross, Furlong
Lock:|Toner, Touhy, Marshall
Blindside:|Ruddock, Diack
Openside:|Henry, Murphy
Number 8:|Heaslip, Conan
|
Scrum Half:|Reddan, McGrath
Out Half:|Jackson, Madigan
Inside Centre:|Marshall, Reid, McCloskey
Outside Centre: |O'Shea
Wing: |D Kearney, Gilroy
Full Back: |R Kearney, Kelleher


Obviously Joe is looking at one of the 12s as a 13, but not sure which one. McCloskey maybe?

The Leinster and Ulster select.

molloyjh

gilberto_eire wrote: »

The Leinster and Ulster select.

Combine that with Gopperth, Kirchner, Jenno and Thorn and there'll be a lot of current and former Leinster players down in Thomond on Saturday.

thomond2006

molloyjh wrote: »

Ireland Squad:

Loosehead: |McGrath, Bent
Hooker:|Strauss, Herring
Tighthead:|Ross, Furlong
Lock:|Toner, Touhy, Marshall
Blindside:|Ruddock, Diack
Openside:|Henry, Murphy
Number 8:|Heaslip, Conan
|
Scrum Half:|Reddan, McGrath
Out Half:|Jackson, Madigan
Inside Centre:|Marshall, Reid, McCloskey
Outside Centre: |O'Shea
Wing: |D Kearney, Gilroy
Full Back: |R Kearney, Kelleher

Obviously Joe is looking at one of the 12s as a 13, but not sure which one. McCloskey maybe?

Crazy anti-Munster bias with that selection!! :pac:

Very interesting to see Cian Kelleher being fasttracked.

sydthebeat

Ben Marshall !!! fair fcuks lad

Mahatma Geansai

You'd struggle to piece together a good Pro12 backline out of that lot. The pack should be decent enough, but it certainly won't be a team that will draw in a big crowd.

thomond2006

Fantastic that Rhys Ruddock is back. This is a big game for him.

In hindsight this was a silly time to schedule a game. Could it have been played next week when you would have more players available? (Connacht anyway) A Lulster team isn't exactly a great sell for Limerick people and a Thursday night kick off rules out people travelling to the game.

shuffol

Wonder why Henderson isn't involved.

molloyjh

thomond2006 wrote: »

Crazy anti-Munster bias with that selection!! :pac:

Would you believe there are actually genuine complaints about it on Facebook! :rolleyes:

molloyjh

shuffol wrote: »

Wonder why Henderson isn't involved.

Looks like most of the front line Ulster players were rested. No Best, Payne or Cave for example. Touhy and Henry probably could do with the game time and Gilroy is an outside shot at the squad so now's a good time to get a look at him.

thomond2006

molloyjh wrote: »

Would you believe there are actually genuine complaints about it on Facebook! :rolleyes:

Ah it's from people who obviously aren't following rugby week to week. Tbh there might have been a spot for some Munster fringe players but with our injury worries they have to be held back. Had POM, TOD and DOCII been fit for example I'm sure Jack O'Donoghue would have been released. Same for Andrew Conway if Zebo wasn't following RTP. Further to that, Munster have a lot of injuries amongst "squad players".

Mahatma Geansai

Coughlan and Bleyendaal would have been good options for the Baa-Baas to have included.

total former

molloyjh wrote: »

Would you believe there are actually genuine complaints about it on Facebook! :rolleyes:

Yes, yes I would believe that.

Teferi

That's a nice looking Irish squad actually, the pack should be good and there is plenty to be excited about in the backs I would have thought.

Peregrine

molloyjh wrote: »

Would you believe there are actually genuine complaints about it on Facebook! :rolleyes:

Somehow, I'm not surprised

stephen_n

Some interesting selections in there in terms of development and maybe a push for places, Gilroy could get to push Jones for a place. Touhy, Henry and Ruddock will all be looking to put their hands up too, delighted to see Ben Marshall in there, still find the fact his contract hasn't been nailed down anywhere strange.

total former

Strong team possible then:

McGrath Strauss Ross
Tuohy Toner
Ruddock Henry Heaslip
Reddan Jackson
Gilroy McCloskey Marshall* Kearney
Kearney

That's not a bad side, it's only the centres that aren't really in the running for the RWC squad (yet). I've gone with *Marshall at 13 because he's the most likely of the 12s to play there, it would be a major surprise if we started O'Shea.

molloyjh

Probably starting XV:

McGrath, Strauss, Ross
Toner, Touhy
Diack, Heaslip, Henry

Reddan, Jackson
???, ???
Gilroy, R Kearney, D Kearney

I can't call the centres at all from the squad....

molloyjh

total former wrote: »

Strong team possible then:

McGrath Strauss Ross
Tuohy Toner
Ruddock Henry Heaslip
Reddan Jackson
Gilroy McCloskey Marshall* Kearney
Kearney

That's not a bad side, it's only the centres that aren't really in the running for the RWC squad (yet). I've gone with *Marshall at 13 because he's the most likely of the 12s to play there, it would be a major surprise if we started O'Shea.

Has Marshall played 13 before? How much game time has he had lately?

bilston

molloyjh wrote: »

Ireland Squad:

Loosehead: |McGrath, Bent
Hooker:|Strauss, Herring
Tighthead:|Ross, Furlong
Lock:|Toner, Touhy, Marshall
Blindside:|Ruddock, Diack
Openside:|Henry, Murphy
Number 8:|Heaslip, Conan
|
Scrum Half:|Reddan, McGrath
Out Half:|Jackson, Madigan
Inside Centre:|Marshall, Reid, McCloskey
Outside Centre: |O'Shea
Wing: |D Kearney, Gilroy
Full Back: |R Kearney, Kelleher


Obviously Joe is looking at one of the 12s as a 13, but not sure which one. McCloskey maybe?

Hard to know as it is a bit of a random selection.

The strongest XV is probably

15 R.Kearney
14 Gilroy
13 McCloskey
12 Madigan
11 D.Kearney
10 Jackson
9 Reddan
1 McGrath
2 Strauss
3 Ross
4 Toner
5 Tuohy
6 Ruddock
7 Henry
8 Heaslip

But logic may go out the window a bit. For example I'd be tempted to start Luke McGrath.

English Lurker

molloyjh wrote: »

Has Marshall played 13 before? How much game time has he had lately?

Think I've seen him there outside Olding?


Might be barking up the wrong tree, but this seems the strongest squad you guys have put out against the Baabaas for some time. I'm looking forwards to this, not often you can waste a Thursday night with rugby (and the Challenge Cup ain't exactly great).

bilston

English Lurker wrote: »

Think I've seen him there outside Olding?


Might be barking up the wrong tree, but this seems the strongest squad you guys have put out against the Baabaas for some time. I'm looking forwards to this, not often you can waste a Thursday night with rugby (and the Challenge Cup ain't exactly great).

Yep. Marshall has played 13 outside Olding. Scarlets away at the start of the season being one example. He has actually looked quite good there. If provincial form is anything to go by I expect Madigan and McCloskey in the midfield. McCloskey could play 13 but then so could Madigan.

Mahatma Geansai

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

You'd struggle to piece together a good Pro12 backline out of that lot. The pack should be decent enough, but it certainly won't be a team that will draw in a big crowd.

Must. not. bite.

molloyjh

Here's one of the choice complaints on Facebook about Munster players who should be involved. It's actually pretty funny. This guy in particular is outraged.

Martin Kelly plays Munster player.. hasn't played for Munster yet.. Barry O Mahony only played 4 games for Munster.. Johnny Holland only played 4 games for Munster Allan Cotter only played 5.. Shane Buckley only played 3.. theres plays there that would love to get a cap..

thomond2006

molloyjh wrote: »

Here's one of the choice complaints on Facebook about Munster players who should be involved. It's actually pretty funny. This guy in particular is outraged.

All the players he mentions are injured.

Wang King

Buer wrote: »

He retired a year ago. He wouldn't be able to hack 10 minutes of rugby at this level now.

Augers well for Nacewa returning to Leinster