Correct on both counts. There was outrage in 2007 and Geordan was brought back from the Argies game and either scored a try or set up a try for O’Driscoll. I think the game in 2005 was his only game time in the 6 nations. He was brought in on the left wing I think.
H’on the parish
Connacht hooker Sean Cronin has joined up with the Ireland squad in the wake of Jerry Flannery’s suspension over his clash with Alexis Palisson.
Flannery has been ruled out of the remainder of Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations campaign and with Rory Best the only hooker left in the Ireland squad, Cronin has been brought in ahead of brothers John and Denis Fogarty of Leinster and Munster respectively.
The former Shannon and Munster player impressed during Ireland’s Churchill Cup campaign last summer and was considered to be close to being involved with the senior team in this campaign having made his debut as a second half substitute against Fiji in November.
However, both Flannery and Rory Best recovered from injuries just before the competition got underway.
Best is likely to take over from Flannery as the lead hooker but Cronin is likely to play a significant role over the remainder of Ireland’s campaign with hookers among the most frequently replaced players in Test rugby.
Munster second row Donncha O’Callaghan, who missed the match against France with a knee injury, has also re-joined the squad after linking up with provincial side Munster for a few days of warm weather training in Portugal.
Stephen Ferris, who has struggled with a knee injury since the beginning of the Six Nations, also sat out yesterday’s session at PBC Cork.
Kearney confirmed out for Twickenham. He’s not having a 6 Nations to remember to put it mildly, that missed catch right from the kick off against Paris being a particularly shocking act putting the side on hte back foot from Paris, you don’t recover easily from that sort of thing.
Maunel will Jamie be expected to step in?
Geordan Murphy scored a try for Leicester today…if he is close to match fit I would have him at full back for the England match
From RTE.ie
Geordan Murphy has been included in a 32-man squad named by Ireland ahead of Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with England.
Murphy has not played for Ireland since helping them complete the Grand Slam against Wales last March.
The 31-year-old has been restricted to just three Guinness Premiership appearances for Leicester since dislocating his shoulder last September.
He was in superb form in yesterday’s 33-11 rout of Gloucester and has been drafted in after Rob Kearney was ruled out for between three and five weeks with a knee injury.
Ireland coach Declan Kidney names his side to face England at lunchtime on Tuesday.
Ireland squad: R Best, T Bowe, T Buckley, T Court, S Cronin, L Cullen, G D’Arcy, G Duffy, K Earls, S Ferris, J Hayes, C Henry, C Healy, J Heaslip, M Horan, S Horgan, D Hurley, S Jennings, K McLaughlin, J Murphy, G Murphy, D O’Callaghan, B O’Driscoll, P O’Connell, R O’Gara, T O’Leary, E Reddan, J Sexton, A Trimble, D Tuohy, D Wallace, P Wallace.
predict the 22 Kidney will pick lads:
Murphy
Bowe
BOD
D’Arcy
Earls
Sexton
Reddan(wouldn’t pick him myself but will get the nod due to familiarity with Sexton)
Heaslip
Wallace
Ferris
Cullen
O’Connell
Court
Best
Healy
Subs:
Cronin
Hayes
O’Callaghan
Henry
O’Leary
O’Gara
Wallace
Saw that squad earlier. Was disappointed that there was only 2 scrum halves but yet room for Johne Murphy? What’s that about?
I think Trimble or Horgan might get in there, on the bench even, because of the way injuries messed up the backline in Paris. Depends on how fit Murphy is but I think his availability is crucial.
Disappointing that he’s effectively sent out a message to Stringer and Boss that they’re nowhere near the team. Can find room for the likes of Duffy and Johnny Murphy (I refuse to spell his name the stupid way) as Mac has said but no other scrum half even given a chance to train with the backline.
I think Henry may get the bench alright as McLaughlin is no more versatile really and Henry is playing better rugby anyway. With Ferris getting fitter I think that’s a cracking first choice backrow anyway. O’Brien is the perfect replacement nearly in that you’ve three bulky lads in there and O’Brien offers something different but Henry won’t weaken it significantly as long as we don’t get caught out with Wallace getting injured.
I’d go with your team Puke, but O’ Callaghan in for Cullen.
Not too sure about subs.
Shambolic squad selection by Kidney. The failure to call up either Boss or Stringer is a grave error, and on the back of his series of selection mistakes from the game in Paris too. His jacket will be hanging from a very shaky peg in IRFU Headquarters very, very soon the way he’s self destructing.
England are favourites for the game with the bookies, who are never wrong.
Horgan must start at 14 if Ireland are to have any chance. The situation at scrum half is beyond ridiculous.
In what way Sid, the non selection of Boss or Stringer? Or what?
I’d have Stringer starting myself, or at worst sub to Reddan. I’d have Horgan involved somewhere, not sure about starting though. But it would be equally ridiculous were Trimble to loose out completely. Tommy Bowe to full back would solve alot of arguments, but Geordie will start i’d guess.
We’re playing England, they are fairly average Sid. Its a 50-50 game, if even slightly in irelands favour. Been written off, England starting to talk themselves up. Its a big set up. Englands backs as a unit aren’t in the same league as ours. If our back row have a big game we’ll win by 7+ points.
The team should be:
Murphy, Bowe, O’Driscoll, D’Arcy, Trimble, Sexton, Boss.
Healy, Best, Court, O’Callaghan, Cullen, Ferris, Wallace, Heaslip.
But that’s obviously not possible given the squad selected.
If you argued individual positions normally like everyone else someone might take you seriously. But Boss isn’t in the running, and is 3rd of the 4 of them right now. Not playing O’ Connell would be just retarded, but you’d know that if you actually knew anything about the game.
Agree with front row though.
I’d go for, on reflection.
Bowe
Horgan
BOD
D’Arcy
Earls
Sexton
Stringer
Healy
Best
Court
POC
DOC
Ferris
Wallace
Heaslip
[quote=“caoimhaoin, post: 427812”]
If you argued individual positions normally like everyone else someone might take you seriously. But Boss isn’t in the running, and is 3rd of the 4 of them right now. Not playing O’ Connell would be just retarded, but you’d know that if you actually knew anything about the game.
Agree with front row though.[/quote]
I know Boss isn’t in the running - that’s why I said my team wasn’t possible given the squad selected.
I genuinely think you’ve read one too many ‘Paul O’Connell is Superman’ or ‘Chuck Norris is afraid of Paul O’Connell’ emails - his contribution to Ireland has been negligible over the past few years (well in a positive sense anyway).
This game will be won and lost in the front 5 and that’s why I think England have the edge. However, we will have a chance if Leo stays in though and if Best’s fitness holds up.
Wallace is finished at International level - he is 33 now and will only deteriorate further as the World Cup draws nearer.
Time to move him on.
Remind me again which team reached the last World Cup Final, which team has beaten France on the last four occasions they’ve played them, and which team won easily the last time this fixture was played at Twickenham. Remind me which team has failed to beat France on eight of the last nine occasions and failed to get out of its group in the last World Cup and you’ll see which country is talking up its team. A good lot of our players lack the winning mentality that comes naturally to them. Even last year Ireland were very lucky to win by a point, if the game had run on another couple of plays, England could well have snatched it. England would be 60/40 favourites in my book.
Yes we have better backs but neither scrum half named in the squad leads one to have much hope that they’ll be used effectively. Boss particularly and even Stringer would have been a better option than either of what is there. Given the choice of what’s been named, I’d go for Reddan but with no great confidence in him.
Whatever. :rolleyes: We have beaten them 4 out of 5. Thats whats matters. If we didn’t have a winning mentality we would have lost that game to England last year.
Stringer is well ahead of Boss imo.
Based on current form I think both Stringer and Boss should be in there. Despite having an average game at weekend Boss has had an excellent few months so not sure what more he has to do. Stringers superb service alone would make him a good option while O’Leary is lucky to still be involved imo. Would also have had Brady in there ahead of Best and Cronin but again was always unlikely he would feature.