While I understand what Phillips has I believe Peel will come again. Definitely in best 2 scrum halves in Wales though.
IRELAND squad for 2009 RBS 6 Nations campaign:
Backs: Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Ian Dowling (Munster), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster), Darren Cave (Ulster), Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster), Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster), Shane Horgan (Leinster), Robert Kearney (Leinster), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster), Ronan O’Gara (Munster), Tomas O’Leary (Munster), Eoin Reddan (Wasps), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Peter Stringer (Munster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Paddy Wallace (Ulster).
Forwards: Rory Best (Ulster), Ryan Caldwell (Ulster), Bob Casey (London Irish), Tom Court (Ulster), Stephen Ferris (Ulster), Jerry Flannery (Munster), John Hayes (Munster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Marcus Horan (Munster), Bernard Jackman (Leinster), Shane Jennings (Leinster), Denis Leamy (Munster), Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster), Paul O’Connell (Munster), Mick O’Driscoll (Munster), Malcolm O’Kelly (Leinster), Alan Quinlan (Munster), Mike Ross (Harlequins), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), David Wallace (Munster).
No Connacht player named, which is fair enough in a way, one or two might be deemed unlucky but they’d end up being nothing more than tacklebag holders anyway.
Girv holds onto his place, Dorsh gets in.
Seven uncapped players - Cian Healy, Darren Cave, Ryan Caldwell, Ian Dowling, Jonathan Sexton, Tom Court and Mike Ross
Sexton ahead of Humps and Keatley… woah !
Delighted to see Dowling, Ross & Cave in…
Bob Casey is strange as he is not really up to it.
No Connaught player, would have Murphy ahead of Stringer myself.
Thats is an extended squad, those not in the 22 will play the A game.
No issues apart from a shocking call where he has picked Sexton over Humphreys. One plays regulalry for his province and is in excellent form, the other has had a poor season and cant get a game. Strange decision.
There was 10 extra players picked in an A squad who will join with the discarded from the squad above, Humphreys is in that. So is Duffy and Muldoon and Sean Cronin of Connacht.
No Conncaht player is good enough for the 39 man sqaud, simple as that.
Fuck, never noticed no Huphreys, shocking omission on Kidneys behalf.
A Team Panel
Isaac Boss (Ballymena - Ulster)
Sean Cronin (Buccaneers -Connacht)
Gavin Duffy (Galwegians - Connacht)
Ian Humphreys (Ballymena - Ulster)
Keith Matthews (Buccaneers - Connacht)
John Muldoon (Galwegians - Connacht)
Sean O’Brien (Clontarf - Leinster)
Neil Best (Northampton)
John Andress (Exeter)
Frank Murphy not deemed good enough for this panel even. Tough call.
My team from this would be:
Kearney
Bowe
Cave (going on what you boys are saying)
Drico (too slow for 13)
Earls
Rog
O’Leary
Horan
Flans
Bull
POC
Doncha
Leamy
Wallace
Heaslip
Subs
Best
Some prop (not up on them)
One from: Jennings
Quinlan
Fitzgerald
Murphy
Wallace
Redden
[quote=“dancarter”]A Team Panel
Isaac Boss (Ballymena - Ulster)
Sean Cronin (Buccaneers -Connacht)
Gavin Duffy (Galwegians - Connacht)
Ian Humphreys (Ballymena - Ulster)
Keith Matthews (Buccaneers - Connacht)
John Muldoon (Galwegians - Connacht)
Sean OBrien (Clontarf - Leinster)
Neil Best (Northampton)
John Andress (Exeter)
Frank Murphy not deemed good enough for this panel even. Tough call.[/quote]
Very harsh but Boss has come into some decent form I guess.
Good to see SOB in there.
[quote=“Locke”]My team from this would be:
Kearney
Bowe
Cave (going on what you boys are saying)
Drico (too slow for 13)
Earls
Rog
O’Leary
Horan
Flans
Bull
POC
Doncha
Leamy
Wallace
Heaslip
Subs
Best
Some prop (not up on them)
One from: Jennings
Quinlan
Fitzgerald
Murphy
Wallace
Redden[/quote]
Fitzgerald ahead of Earls
Ferris ahead of Heaslip/Leamy
[quote=“myboyblue”]IRELAND squad for 2009 RBS 6 Nations campaign:
Backs: Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Ian Dowling (Munster), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster), Darren Cave (Ulster), Gordon D’Arcy (Leinster)JOKE, Keith Earls (Munster), Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster), Shane Horgan (Leinster)Joke, [/B]Robert Kearney (Leinster), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster), Ronan O’Gara (Munster), Tomas O’Leary (Munster), Eoin Reddan (Wasps), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Peter Stringer (Munster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Paddy Wallace (Ulster).
Forwards: Rory Best (Ulster), Ryan Caldwell (Ulster), Bob Casey (London Irish), Tom Court (Ulster), Stephen Ferris (Ulster), Jerry Flannery (Munster), John Hayes (Munster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Marcus Horan (Munster), Bernard Jackman (Leinster), Shane Jennings (Leinster), Denis Leamy (Munster), Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster), Paul O’Connell (Munster), Mick O’Driscoll (Munster), Malcolm O’Kelly (Leinster), Alan Quinlan (Munster), Mike Ross (Harlequins), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), David Wallace (Munster).[/quote]
I have time for Sexton, and he needs to be looked after, but n
o Humpheries and Keatly seems wrong if your going on form. I personally don’t think Keatly has the tools to make it, but Humpheries is been ridden here i think. I say Horgan and D’Arcy are jokes in the sense that i believe their International days are over and young players should be brought in for experience. I’d have D’Arcy there for experience and get him to bring players along, but Horgan offers nothing. People will say you have a short memory and all that, but they both simply aren’t playing anywhere near International standard in last 6-9 months I would hope form previous to 6-9 months should be disregarded.
Don’t really have anything to argue with in the forwads, but maybe sending 4 Munster 2nd rows isn’t a great idea, either for Munster or Ireland. Mal O’ Kelly is haunted to be on it. McCullagh must be a little disapointed, but i doubt he’s up to it anyway.
Delighted to see Cian Healy and Mike Ross in there. I had grave doubts about Ross, but on advice from Dan and others i took a good look at him recently, and he has transformed himself into at least a very good club player, if not more.
I know he is captain, but why does everyone put BO’D straight into their team at 12? Is it because we on’t have 12’s? or is it because he is BO’D? because he isn’t playing well, thats for sure.
Caoimhaoin Brian O Driscoll at 70% is every bit as good as our next best centre in my opinion…Even if he isn’t in sparkling form he will still put in 100% and won’t let you down…huge player for Ireland especially in defense
Agreeed. He is quality, and he is still a savage defender and an asset at the breakdown. And there is always the chance hel find the spark. His performances are being benchmarked against a time when he was the best player in the world, hes doing alright now just not setting the world on fire. Your making a very big statement dropping him. Not sure any 12 is a better option at the moment, Wallace maybe, but Im not sure I want to go down that road either.
Keatley is no where near required standard at the moment. maybe hes nursing Sexton through a bad patch to keep his confidence high, thats the only possible explanation I can think of.
interesting to see who gets picked for the A game
[quote=“caoimhaoin”]I have time for Sexton, and he needs to be looked after, but n
o Humpheries and Keatly seems wrong if your going on form. I personally don’t think Keatly has the tools to make it, but Humpheries is been ridden here i think. I say Horgan and D’Arcy are jokes in the sense that i believe their International days are over and young players should be brought in for experience. I’d have D’Arcy there for experience and get him to bring players along, but Horgan offers nothing. People will say you have a short memory and all that, but they both simply aren’t playing anywhere near International standard in last 6-9 months I would hope form previous to 6-9 months should be disregarded.
Don’t really have anything to argue with in the forwads, but maybe sending 4 Munster 2nd rows isn’t a great idea, either for Munster or Ireland. Mal O’ Kelly is haunted to be on it. McCullagh must be a little disapointed, but i doubt he’s up to it anyway.
Delighted to see Cian Healy and Mike Ross in there. I had grave doubts about Ross, but on advice from Dan and others i took a good look at him recently, and he has transformed himself into at least a very good club player, if not more.
I know he is captain, but why does everyone put BO’D straight into their team at 12? Is it because we on’t have 12’s? or is it because he is BO’D? because he isn’t playing well, thats for sure.[/quote]
Caoimhaoin in shock anti Darcy and Drico post!
Imagine we applied the attitude of “aren’t playing anywhere near International standard in last 6-9 months” to the likes of OGara he’d be in and out of the team like a yo yo.
I agree his defence is excellent, and maybe i’m over critical and expect too much, but he hasn’t gone past a guy in 2 years. The most average of players can work on defence and become good at it, i believe there is more in him, and that the captaincy doesn’t suit him. People go on about his record as captain, but i believe we would have won most of those games if not all, and maybe one or two more, if he wasn’t captain at all.
I don’t agree at all that Keith Earls and Darren Cave are 70% of BO’D at all. Maybe at his peak that might at a stretch be true, but now, no i’m not having that. There is f-all between most players anyway. Both are being mentioned as outsiders for the Lions, while that might be fanciful from an Irish point of view i don’t think anybody would be considered if they were only 70% as good a player as one of their rivals.
[quote=“Pikeman”]Caoimhaoin in shock anti Darcy and Drico post!
Imagine we applied the attitude of “aren’t playing anywhere near International standard in last 6-9 months” to the likes of OGara he’d be in and out of the team like a yo yo.[/quote]
I’m just trying to ask questions. I’m not anti anyone, especially if they play for Ireland. I’ll bow to the others opinions on DRiscoll, but D’Arcy hasn’t been at the races in a long while.
ROG never went 6 months with bad form, so its a poor repost.
I know these guys earned a serious reputation, all over the world, but i believe we are guilt of judging on past performance too much in this country.
Oh, so it has to be 6 months or more to suit the argument I see.
World Cup ring bells?-what was that- 4, 5 games in a row. And he hasn’t been setting the international scene on fire of late either that’s for sure. If he wasn’t from “Down there” I wonder would you hold him in as high a regard.
However, I slightly agree on Darcy (although if he wasn’t from wx I wonder would I have a different view 
)-he was average enough in his season after he won player of the year but I always thought he partnered well with Drico and the way he was able to forage for a ball after a tackle was excellent too.
France head coach Marc Lievremont has named just one recognised fly-half in his 30-man squad for a three-day training camp ahead of the RBS 6 Nations Championship.
Lionel Beauxis is the only out-and-out number ten included, with David Skrela not fit, Francois Trinh-Duc out of form and Frederic Michalak yet to rediscover his best level following his return to Toulouse after a year with South African outfit the Sharks.
Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, one of three scrum-halves named in Lievremont’s enlarged group, will act as cover at fly-half.
Elissalde played at number ten for Toulouse for large parts of last season although he is more comfortable as a scrum-half.
Lievremont put his faith in Trinh-Duc in last year’s Six Nations but the Montpellier youngster missed the November Tests because of injury and has not found his form since.
‘International players, especially a young player like him, go through poor periods,’ Lievremont said.
‘Francois is a player we appreciate enormously and who we believe in, but it wouldn’t do him any good to give him the number ten jersey for France at this time.’
Elsewhere, Toulouse backs Clement Poitrenaud and Florian Fritz return to the squad after spells in the wilderness while winger Aurelien Rougerie is also back after injury.
However, Vincent Clerc, France’s leading try-scorer in last season’s Six Nations, has not been called up as he continues to get his match sharpness back after a lengthy absence because of a knee injury.
Perpignan’s Maxime Mermoz, who has just one cap to his name, is one of four centres included.
There are few surprises in the forwards, except maybe the drafting-in of Damien Chouly, the Perpignan flanker.
With Imanol Harinordoquy on his way back from injury and not included, fellow versatile back-row forward Julien Bonnaire returns.
Bonnaire was a regular for Les Bleus under Lievremont’s predecessor Bernard Laporte and was a star performer in the 2007 World Cup, but he was overlooked for the autumn internationals.
‘Julien has rediscovered his combative edge and his presence on the pitch,’ Lievremont said.
'It’s true that it wasn’t there in November. But for some weekends he has been back in excellent condition and his performances have been at a very good level.
‘It is logical that he returns for us.’
There is no room for number eight Elvis Vermeulen, Bonnaire’s team-mate at Clermont-Auvergne.
The squad will take part in a training camp at the squad’s base in Marcoussis from January 26-28, after which Lievremont will trim the group to 23 ahead of France’s opening match of the Six Nations, against Ireland on 7 February.
France’s provisional 30-man training-camp squad:
Backs: Maxime Medard, Clement Poitrenaud, Cedric Heymans (all Toulouse), Alexis Palisson (Brive), Julien Malzieu, Aurelien Rougerie (both Clermont-Auvergne), Yannick Jauzion, Florian Fritz (both Toulouse), Benoit Baby (Clermont-Auvergne), Maxime Mermoz (Perpignan), Lionel Beauxis (Stade Francais), Jean-Baptiste Elissalde (Toulouse), Sebastien Tillous-Borde (Castres), Morgan Parra (Bourgoin).
Forwards: Julien Bonnaire (Clermont-Auvergne), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Fulgence Ouedraogo, Louis Picamoles (both Montpellier), Damien Chouly (Perpignan), Sebastien Chabal (Sale), Lionel Nallet (Castres), Romain Millo-Chluski (Toulouse), Jerome Thion (Biarritz), Guilhem Guirado (Perpignan), Benjamin Kayser (Leicester), Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Francais), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Lionel Faure (Sale), Fabien Barcella (Biarritz), Fabien Lecouls (Toulouse).
Both Neil Francis (I know, I know) and Mark Jones, the rugby writer in the Sunday Tribune picked the exact same XV for the Six Nations in last week’s paper. Thought this was strange as usually they’d pick them without seeing each others and often vary them on purpose just to stimulate debate.
Francis had BOD as captain, the other fella had O’Connell.
Interesting to see both of them picked Darcy when none of ye seem to want him near the team.
Both of their teams were
Kearney
Horgan
O’Driscoll
Darcy
Fitzgerald
O’Gara
O’Leary
Horan
Flannery
Hayes
O’Callaghan
O’Connell
Ferris
Wallace
Leamy
[quote=“Pikeman”]Oh, so it has to be 6 months or more to suit the argument I see.
World Cup ring bells?-what was that- 4, 5 games in a row. And he hasn’t been setting the international scene on fire of late either that’s for sure. If he wasn’t from “Down there” I wonder would you hold him in as high a regard.
However, I slightly agree on Darcy (although if he wasn’t from wx I wonder would I have a different view )-he was average enough in his season after he won player of the year but I always thought he partnered well with Drico and the way he was able to forage for a ball after a tackle was excellent too.[/quote]
I agree, and i was kinda giving you the oppurtuity to pick another Munster player, because i believe one or two have been played when they didn’t deserve to as well. Its nothing to do with me being a Southerner. I think Donnacha O’ Callaghan, peter Stringer and Leamy have all been haunted to be picked before other more “in-form” players. At any time in my memory that ROG has been stink (and he has) there has been nobody to take his place. Thats why i think ROG is a bad comparision.