Ireland 2025

[Groundhog]

Gleeson and Edogbo also out.

Absolutely ffs. At least Edogbo is a head injury and not a reoccurrence.

Thought Farrell would get in after the McCloskey injury. I hope he gets a token few caps, but won't be anything more than that.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

How far is Dan Kelly away from getting a look in?

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

How far is Dan Kelly away from getting a look in?

Centre is hard to tell. We really need another out and out 13 in my opinion, Aki, Henshaw and McCloskey are all better 12s than 13s or exclusively 12s, and aging. Osborne is also more of a 12 when playing midfield. Faz doesn't seem interested in giving opportunities though.

 

[Groundhog]

How far is Dan Kelly away from getting a look in?

Probably a crapshoot between him, Gavin and Postlethwaite if there's another injury in the centre. Will be involved in the A game against Spain at a minimum I'd imagine. He's started life incredibly well at Munster, the man loves tackling.

 

[big ginger 8]

 

[Groundhog]

Could you just skip the ******* middle man and let me know why I’m angry about this? I’m incredibly busy and don’t have time to delve into the reasons why I should be outraged by things. And don’t give me some ‘pretty bogstandard squad’ thing there is always a reason to be mad.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Could you just skip the ******* middle man and let me know why I'm angry about this? I'm incredibly busy and don't have time to delve into the reasons why I should be outraged by things. And don't give me some 'pretty bogstandard squad' thing there is always a reason to be mad.

Edogbo and Gleeson injured. Strong Leinster men travel regardless of any little bumps they got.

Hansen also has a boo boo.

 

[AlRums]

Opinions?

 

[Smurfy]

Opinions?

I think Farrell & Co have painted themselves into a corner with their investment in Prendergast, but it’s very hard to see how they can ignore last Saturday. Or indeed the huge flaws in Prendergast’s game for all his occasional brilliance. His tackling technique wouldn’t look out of place in minis rugby.

 

[big ginger 8]

Ireland A

Forwards: Lee Barron (Munster), James Culhane (Leinster), Sam Illo (Connacht), Sean Jansen (Connacht), Diarmuid Mangan (Leinster), David McCann (Ulster), John McKee (Leinster), Michael Milne (Munster), Darragh Murray (Connacht), Evan O'Connell (Munster), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Ruadhan Quinn (Munster), Alex Soroka (Leinster), Tom Stewart (Ulster) (captain), Alex Usanov (Leinster), Scott Wilson (Ulster)

Backs: Robert Baloucoune (Ulster), Shayne Bolton (Connacht), Harry Byrne (Leinster), Nathan Doak (Ulster), Cathal Forde (Connacht), Fintan Gunne (Leinster), Dan Kelly (Munster), Michael Lowry (Ulster), Ben Murphy (Connacht), Jack Murphy (Ulster), Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster), Zac Ward (Ulster).

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Last year Prendergast was better than Crowley and got picked ahead of him. Crowley improved a bit in the second half of last season and massively so this season.

I expect Crowley to get the nod, he deserves it.

Pressure is only going to ramp up on Prendo. Byrne is well capable of mounting a challenge for the Leinster jersey and Casper Gabriel seems to be developing nicely.

 

[Smurfy]

Last year Prendergast was better than Crowley and got picked ahead of him. Crowley improved a bit in the second half of last season and massively so this season.

I expect Crowley to get the nod, he deserves it.

Pressure is only going to ramp up on Prendo. Byrne is well capable of mounting a challenge for the Leinster jersey and Casper Gabriel seems to be developing nicely.

The impression I got last season was that there was a belief that Prendergast had a higher ceiling, and that Crowley had disappointed in SA the previous summer. Prendergast’s appalling defence was ignored because of what he could potentially deliver with his undoubted quality, but he never looked like he could command the pitch and run a game. I think Prendergast’s physique is a big issue especially in terms of his defence, where he lacks the weight to go with his height to be an effective tackler in the 10 channel where the ability of a 10 to get low against bigger, heavier ball carriers is vital.

 

[SéniorHuevo]

Ireland A

Forwards: Lee Barron (Munster), James Culhane (Leinster), Sam Illo (Connacht), Sean Jansen (Connacht), Diarmuid Mangan (Leinster), David McCann (Ulster), John McKee (Leinster), Michael Milne (Munster), Darragh Murray (Connacht), Evan O'Connell (Munster), Tom O'Toole (Ulster), Ruadhan Quinn (Munster), Alex Soroka (Leinster), Tom Stewart (Ulster) (captain), Alex Usanov (Leinster), Scott Wilson (Ulster)

Backs: Robert Baloucoune (Ulster), Shayne Bolton (Connacht), Harry Byrne (Leinster), Nathan Doak (Ulster), Cathal Forde (Connacht), Fintan Gunne (Leinster), Dan Kelly (Munster), Michael Lowry (Ulster), Ben Murphy (Connacht), Jack Murphy (Ulster), Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster), Zac Ward (Ulster).

As someone who doesn't watch much outside of Spain, who should we be looking out for the most?

 

[big ginger 8]

As someone who doesn't watch much outside of Spain, who should we be looking out for the most?

Ruadhan Quinn is probably the biggest prospect, he's a backrower with Munster. Soroka, O'Connell and Culhane all ones to look out for in the pack as well.

Byrne is looking like he's beginning to look like he might be delivering on bis potential after years of injuries, Bolton, Ward and Baloucoune quite exiting as well.

 

[SéniorHuevo]

Ruadhan Quinn is probably the biggest prospect, he's a backrower with Munster. Soroka, O'Connell and Culhane all ones to look out for in the pack as well.

Byrne is looking like he's beginning to look like he might be delivering on bis potential after years of injuries, Bolton, Ward and Baloucoune quite exiting as well.

No Joel for us. The only time Spain's most recognisable player will be with the team is at a World Cup if he doesn't get injured.

 

[Groundhog]

Team v Spain:

15. Michael Lowry (Banbridge/Ulster)

14. Robert Baloucoune (Enniskillen/Ulster)

13. Jude Postlethwaite (City of Armagh/Ulster)

12. Dan Kelly (Munster)

11. Shayne Bolton (Connacht)

10. Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster)

9. Ben Murphy (Clontarf/Connacht)

1. Michael Milne (UCD/Munster)

2. Tom Stewart (Ballynahinch/Ulster) ©

3. Tom O'Toole (Ballynahinch/Ulster)

4. Evan O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)

5. Darragh Murray (Buccaneers/Connacht)

6. Alex Soroka (Clontarf/Leinster)

7. Ruadhan Quinn (Young Munster/Munster)

8. Paul Boyle (Buccaneers/Connacht)

Replacements:

16. Lee Barron (Dublin University/Munster)

17. Alex Usanov (Clontarf/Leinster)

18. Scott Wilson (Queen's University Belfast/Ulster)

19. Diarmuid Mangan (UCD/Leinster)

20. David McCann (Banbridge/Ulster)

21. Nathan Doak (Banbridge/Ulster)

22. Cathal Forde (Corinthians/Connacht)

23. Zac Ward (Ballynahinch/Ulster)


Still baffles me Coombes didn't make this. Fair enough if they went full blown young guys, but Lowry is the same age. Has to be some element of beef there.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

12. Dan Kelly (Munster)

 

[Groundhog]

Dan Kelly is over his toxic ex and ready for his glow up.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Dan Kelly is over his toxic ex and ready for his glow up.

More like he's gone crawling back to his home town and the weird horse girl who fancied him in school after failing to land the supermodel in the big city that he thought he was destined for

 

[big ginger 8]

No mention of injuries but Boyle wasn't in the original squad but Culhane and Janesen were, presume they're not fit.