The Rugby Thread (Part 1)

Sport
1

Brian O’Driscoll has been named captain of the Ireland squad for the upcoming autumn internationals against Canada, New Zealand and Argentina.

The 85-time capped 29-year-old, who has already captained Ireland on over 40 occasions, heads a squad of 41 players, who assemble for a week’s training in Limerick on Monday next.

At the conclusion of that camp, the Ireland squad will be reduced to approximately 30 players, from which the 22-man squad to play Canada, in Thomond Park on November 8, will be named.

The games against the All Blacks and Argentina take place in Croke Park on November 15 and 22 respectively.

Munster’s Keith Earls, who has played so well in the early part of this season, is also included in the squad.

Coach Declan Kidney said: "I am delighted that Brian has agreed to captain the squad.

“I have also opted to name a bigger squad than originally anticipated so that we can continue to familiarise a largely new-look backroom staff with a wider group of players.”

Ireland Squad:

Backs: Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Ian Dowling (Shannon - Munster), Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College - Leinster), Gavin Duffy (Galwegians - Connacht), Keith Earls (Young Munster - Munster), Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College - Leinster), Shane Horgan (Boyne - Leinster), Robert Kearney (UCD - Leinster), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Barry Murphy (UL Bohemians - Munster), Brian O’Driscoll (UCD - Leinster, captain), Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution - Munster), Tomas O’Leary (Dolphin - Munster), Eoin Reddan (Wasps), Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College - Leinster), Peter Stringer (Shannon - Munster), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena - Ulster), Paddy Wallace (Ballymena - Ulster).

Forwards: Rory Best (Banbridge - Ulster), Tony Buckley (Shannon - Munster), Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon - Ulster), Bob Casey (London Irish), Tom Court (Malone - Ulster), Stephen Ferris (Dungannon - Ulster), Jerry Flannery (Shannon - Munster), John Hayes (Shannon - Munster),
Cian Healy (Clontarf - Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Naas - Leinster), Marcus Horan (Shannon - Munster), Bernard Jackman (Clontarf - Leinster), Shane Jennings (St. Mary’s College - Leinster),
Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution - Munster), Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution - Munster), Paul O’Connell (Young Munster - Munster), Malcolm O’Kelly (St. Mary’s College - Leinster), Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution - Munster), Alan Quinlan (Shannon - Munster), Michael Ross (Harlequins), Donncha Ryan (Shannon - Munster), David Wallace (Garryowen - Munster), Roger Wilson (Northampton)

2

Ireland Squad, Guinness Series 2008, BoD stays as Captain for the series

Backs:
Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
Ian Dowling (Shannon - Munster)
Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College - Leinster)
Gavin Duffy (Galwegians - Connacht)
Keith Earls (Young Munster - Munster)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College - Leinster)
Shane Horgan (Boyne - Leinster)
Robert Kearney (UCD - Leinster)
Geordan Murphy (Leicester)
Barry Murphy (UL Bohemians - Munster)
Brian O’Driscoll (UCD - Leinster) Captain
Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution - Munster)
Tomas O’Leary (Dolphin - Munster)
Eoin Reddan (Wasps)
Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College - Leinster)
Peter Stringer (Shannon - Munster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena - Ulster)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena - Ulster)

Forwards:
Rory Best (Banbridge - Ulster)
Tony Buckley (Shannon - Munster)
Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon - Ulster)
Bob Casey (London Irish)
Tom Court (Malone - Ulster)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon - Ulster)
Jerry Flannery (Shannon - Munster)
John Hayes (Shannon - Munster)
Cian Healy (Clontarf - Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Naas - Leinster)
Marcus Horan (Shannon - Munster)
Bernard Jackman (Clontarf - Leinster)
Shane Jennings (St. Mary’s College - Leinster)
Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution - Munster)
Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution - Munster)
Paul O’Connell (Young Munster - Munster)
Malcolm O’Kelly (St. Mary’s College - Leinster)
Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution - Munster)
Alan Quinlan (Shannon - Munster)
Michael Ross (Harlequins)
Donncha Ryan (Shannon - Munster)
David Wallace (Garryowen - Munster)
Roger Wilson (Northampton)

3

[quote=“Clareman”]Ireland Squad, Guinness Series 2008, BoD stays as Captain for the series

Backs:
Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
Ian Dowling (Shannon - Munster)
Girvan Dempsey (Terenure College - Leinster)
Gavin Duffy (Galwegians - Connacht)
Keith Earls (Young Munster - Munster)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College - Leinster)
Shane Horgan (Boyne - Leinster)
Robert Kearney (UCD - Leinster)
Geordan Murphy (Leicester)
Barry Murphy (UL Bohemians - Munster)
Brian O’Driscoll (UCD - Leinster) Captain
Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution - Munster)
Tomas O’Leary (Dolphin - Munster)
Eoin Reddan (Wasps)
Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College - Leinster)
Peter Stringer (Shannon - Munster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena - Ulster)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena - Ulster)

Forwards:
Rory Best (Banbridge - Ulster)
Tony Buckley (Shannon - Munster)
Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon - Ulster)
Bob Casey (London Irish)
Tom Court (Malone - Ulster)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon - Ulster)
Jerry Flannery (Shannon - Munster)
John Hayes (Shannon - Munster)
Cian Healy (Clontarf - Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Naas - Leinster)
Marcus Horan (Shannon - Munster)
Bernard Jackman (Clontarf - Leinster)
Shane Jennings (St. Mary’s College - Leinster)
Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution - Munster)
Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution - Munster)
Paul O’Connell (Young Munster - Munster)
Malcolm O’Kelly (St. Mary’s College - Leinster)
Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution - Munster)
Alan Quinlan (Shannon - Munster)
Michael Ross (Harlequins)
Donncha Ryan (Shannon - Munster)
David Wallace (Garryowen - Munster)
Roger Wilson (Northampton)[/quote]

Thats old news Clareman :stuck_out_tongue:

4

Didnt the Bull transfer back to Bruff years ago?

I’d have no problem leaving BOD as capt.

5

I know Heaslip went to college in Newbridge so maybe its something to do with that? Always thought of him as a Clontarf man though. Jackman, while being a Carlow man played his best rugby with Clontarf (even played with them while playing for Connacht) and I think was joint top try scorer in the AIL while playing for them so maybe he feels that he owes them something?

I think Brennan moving back to Barnhall while he was with Leinster was the move that started it all off.

6

Sorry Mac, you were too quick for me :wink:

I think a club gets some kind of benifit for supplying players, tickets or something, players can also get their coaching badges through their home clubs a bit easier. Also, players can only play for either their club or province, so if a player gets injured he may tog out for a couple of games for the club (ala Cullen for Thurlas(I think) a few years back)

7

[quote=“Clareman”]Sorry Mac, you were too quick for me :wink:

I think a club gets some kind of benifit for supplying players, tickets or something, players can also get their coaching badges through their home clubs a bit easier. Also, players can only play for either their club or province, so if a player gets injured he may tog out for a couple of games for the club (ala Cullen for Thurlas(I think) a few years back)[/quote]

That reminds me - Contepomi togged out for Carlow for the first few weeks he was in Ireland cos Leinster had messed up his paperwork. Think they’re coach was Argentinian or Italian. He was a scrum half but because of the rules on foreigners only 1 of them could play at a time or something like that.

8

Yeah, they did his club paperwork but not his province or something like that wasn’t it? Total joke at the time

9

i think there’s some rule whereby additional funding is made available to clubs with international players on the books.
heard that in passing when hayes went back to bruff, and the trend with players reverting to their local club would suggest there’s something to be gained from it.

10

[quote=“Clareman”]Sorry Mac, you were too quick for me :wink:

I think a club gets some kind of benifit for supplying players, tickets or something, players can also get their coaching badges through their home clubs a bit easier. Also, players can only play for either their club or province, so if a player gets injured he may tog out for a couple of games for the club (ala Cullen for Thurlas(I think) a few years back)[/quote]

Cullen played for Midleton. Thurles FFS!! :stuck_out_tongue:

Im not sure if you know anything about junior rugby in Mnuster but if youv ever played up in Thurles youd understand why im fucking laughing

11

Dan van Zyl was coach Id say, a saffer.

Leinster registered him alright but forgot to register him for the heiniken cup

12

[quote=“treaty_exile”]i think there’s some rule whereby additional funding is made available to clubs with international players on the books.
heard that in passing when hayes went back to bruff, and the trend with players reverting to their local club would suggest there’s something to be gained from it.[/quote]

I have some idea in my head that when a player is first capped his feeder club (i.e. the club that developed him) get some form of stipend, think in the region of 20k or something.

13

Moved this into a new thread - think we can afford to have two rugby threads going while the internationals are on.

Quick look through that squad - presume there’s nobody of any significance missing.

I think O’Driscoll is the right choice for captaincy. Much of the pressure has been taken off him now and he’s hopefully not being overly relied on by the new regime - when he’s incumbent I don’t think there’s any pressing need for a change.

14

[quote=“therock67”]Moved this into a new thread - think we can afford to have two rugby threads going while the internationals are on.

Quick look through that squad - presume there’s nobody of any significance missing.

I think O’Driscoll is the right choice for captaincy. Much of the pressure has been taken off him now and he’s hopefully not being overly relied on by the new regime - when he’s incumbent I don’t think there’s any pressing need for a change.[/quote]

Agreed. There was no way Kidney was ever going to change the captain really though in hindsight. Just imagine the gnashing of teeth in Dublin for one.

The 3 Leinster fans I sit near at work already call him The Kidney Infection on the basis that he moved the first training camp to Cork.

15

there’s a lot of ulster forwards in that squad.
wonder about ferris and caldwell.
ferris has some serious competition ahead of him when everyone is fit, and caldwell looks to have a shorter fuse than alan quinlan circa 00-01.

16

[quote=“treaty_exile”]there’s a lot of ulster forwards in that squad.
wonder about ferris and caldwell.
ferris has some serious competition ahead of him when everyone is fit, and caldwell looks to have a shorter fuse than alan quinlan circa 00-01.[/quote]

Caldwell is a serious talent, but nuts. First time he was in the Irish squad he deliberately set about winding up one of the senior players (PM if you wanna know who) to make a bit of a mark and set out his stall.

He got smacked and spent two nights in hospital for his troubles. Lesson learned, theres always someone tougher than you out there!!

I think Ferris is quality though, great athlete. Hes just struggling playing in a really shite team at the moment. Best will probably be starting hooker. On that basis dont really have a prob with the nordies in the squad

17

[quote=“therock67”]Moved this into a new thread - think we can afford to have two rugby threads going while the internationals are on.

Quick look through that squad - presume there’s nobody of any significance missing.

I think O’Driscoll is the right choice for captaincy. Much of the pressure has been taken off him now and he’s hopefully not being overly relied on by the new regime - when he’s incumbent I don’t think there’s any pressing need for a change.[/quote]

I was wondering what was going on cos I had no recollection of starting this thread.

Have tickets to the Argentina match and waiting on word on All Blacks tickets.

I’d love to see Kidney throw caution to the wind against Canada and start a raft of lads who’ve barely played before to give them some exposure. Give O’Leary his first proper match in the familiar surroundings of Thomond. Start Fitzgerald in the centre and put Earls at Full Back or Centre. Try out a couple of new props. Give Casey a run in the second row and Jennings a run in the back row. Sexton at out half as well. Wishful thinking I know but I’m sick of all this conservative shite that EOS had around him.

18

[quote=“Mac”]I was wondering what was going on cos I had no recollection of starting this thread.

Have tickets to the Argentina match and waiting on word on All Blacks tickets.

I’d love to see Kidney throw caution to the wind against Canada and start a raft of lads who’ve barely played before to give them some exposure. Give O’Leary his first proper match in the familiar surroundings of Thomond. Start Fitzgerald in the centre and put Earls at Full Back or Centre. Try out a couple of new props. Give Casey a run in the second row and Jennings a run in the back row. Sexton at out half as well. Wishful thinking I know but I’m sick of all this conservative shite that EOS had around him.[/quote]

I would love to see the same myself mac but i don’t think that he will…maybe three or four of the more inexperienced lads will get a start and a few more off the bench but this is the only game he has before the all blacks and he will want to get a bit of familiarity with his starting 15 and his game plan before it…although i reckon kearney will be put on the wing this autumn with geordan murphy to full back(although i would be disappointed with this) and o leary will get the nod as first choice scrum half…

19

[quote=“therock67”]Moved this into a new thread - think we can afford to have two rugby threads going while the internationals are on.

Quick look through that squad - presume there’s nobody of any significance missing.

I think O’Driscoll is the right choice for captaincy. Much of the pressure has been taken off him now and he’s hopefully not being overly relied on by the new regime - when he’s incumbent I don’t think there’s any pressing need for a change.[/quote]

Hurley is missing Rock, some fall from grace for the young fella.

20

Don’t think anyone was really expecting his inclusion all the same, he has only featured twice for munster this season…its not a bad squad at all, we seem to have a nice bit of strength in depth and with the likes of leamy, cullen and a revitalised d’arcy to come back in the new year, I am very confident about the new set up