Summer Tour

[cjp]

AB's training squad for 2 sessions before a squad of 30 is named to face us:

ALL BLACKS SQUAD

Crusaders: Dan Carter, Wyatt Crockett, Israel Dagg, Andy Ellis, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Luke Romano, Luke Whitelock, Samuel Whitelock
Blues: Charlie Faumuina, Ma'a Nonu, Keven Mealamu, Piri Weepu, Ali Williams, Tony Woodcock
Chiefs: Sam Cane, Aaron Cruden, Richard Kahui, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Brodie Retallick, Ben Tameifuna, Sonny Bill Williams
Hurricanes: Beauden Barrett, Cory Jane, Julian Savea, Brad Shields, Conrad Smith, Victor Vito
Highlanders: Tamati Ellison, Andrew Hore, Aaron Smith, Ben Smith, Adam Thomson

Bit of a shock that there is no Zac Guildford, Hosea Gear or Andre Taylor, a real mix of youth and experience.

[Setanta]

Now that's what I call frightening.

[breakdown]

Was the squad for the Baa Baa's game not meant to be announced an hour ago?

[breakdown]

Squad finally announced. Really good to see Ulster representation, although something tells me that when the Leinster guys come back in Ulster guys will be shown the door.

The Ireland Management have today announced the squad for the summer tour game against the Barbarians in Gloucester on May 29th.
The squad comprises of players from Connacht, Munster and Ulster as none of the teams will have any involvement in the RaboDirect Pro 12 final, which takes place in Dublin on Sunday, 14th May the day before the squad is due to depart Ireland for the Barbarians game.
Any Leinster players that are selected for the Ireland tour to New Zealand and who play in the Rabodirect Pro12 final will join up with the squad in Gloucester.

The squad itself contains seven uncapped players with experienced internationals Ronan O'Gara, Donncha O'Callaghan and Rory Best providing the spine of the squad.

Front row forwards Mike Sherry, Ronan Loughney and Declan Fitzpatrick are included, with Simon Zebo, Craig Gilroy, Nevin Spence and Paul Marshall in the backs.

Two spots have been left open and will be filled next week before the team travel to Gloucester. The Ireland squad to tour New Zealand will be announced on the Monday following the Heineken Cup final, so it is possible that several players who face the Barbarians may not be part of the final tour squad.

Second Row Paul O'Connell was not considered for the Barbarians squad as he continues to make progress in his rehabilitation for a knee injury. He has not been ruled out of contention and a final decision on his availability will be made after the Barbarians game.

Ireland Coach Declan Kidney said: "The game against the Barbarians is vital for us in our preparations for the tour as it gives some players the chance to gain match fitness if they have not played for a couple of weeks, allows us to further expose some players to the national set up and also gives us the opportunity to get some foundations in place for the test series.

"We have a good majority of our selections decided on for the tour party at this point, but the Heineken final gives us possibly one last opportunity to watch players in what will be a massive occasion for Irish Rugby."

Ireland Squad (v Barbarians, Gloucester, May 29th):

Forwards (13):
Rory Best (Banbridge-Ulster)
Tom Court (Malone-Ulster)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon-Ulster)
Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon-Ulster)*
Chris Henry (Belfast Harlequins-Ulster)
Ronan Loughney (Galwegians-Connacht)*
John Muldoon (Galwegians-Connacht)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution-Munster)
Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution-Munster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon-Munster)
Mike Sherry (Garryowen-Munster)*
Dan Tuohy (Ballymena-Ulster)
A.N.Other

Backs (11):
Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins-Ulster)
Keith Earls (Young Munster-Munster)
Craig Gilroy (Dungannon-Ulster)*
Paul Marshall (Ballynahinch-Ulster)*
Conor Murray (Garryowen-Munster)
Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution-Munster)
Nevin Spence (Ballynahinch-Ulster)*
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena-Ulster)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena-Ulster)
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution-Munster)*
A.N. Other

*Denotes uncapped player

From that team I would be choosing
1. Court
2. Sherry
3. Deccy Fitz
4. Tuohy
5. Ryan
6. Muldoon
7. Henry
8. POM

9. Murray
10. ROG
11. Gilroy
12. Wallace
13. Cave
14. Trimble
15. Earls

Ulster bias you may claim but really that is the best XV from that group, and building on my earlier point a team like that will keep ulstermen happy, because i'm sure, that even if they do perform well individually, DK will still go for the tried and tested way and pick the usual DOC in lock and kick the likes of Spence, Gilroy, Henry etc out of the squad, so really, wise move bringing a squad like that DK.

[Rob6]

Squad heading down to New Zealand

Forwards (16):
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon /Ulster)*
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)
Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
Mike Sherry (Garryowen/Munster)*
Dan Tuohy (Ballymena /Ulster)
A.N. Other
A.N. Other
A.N. Other

Backs (13):
Darren Cave ( Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) Captain
Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)*
A.N. Other

According to Kidney, Henry should be in the squad, they are giving him time to get over his injury.

[Dublin4]

What does ROG have to do to get dropped?
Madigan and Keatley should be there.

[Snipe Watson]

What does Ferris have to do to get a rest?

[breakdown]

What does Gilroy have to do? Zebo ahead of him FFS!

[ruckover]

Knowing Kidney, I'm presuming the team will be:
15. Kearney
14. Earls
13. O'Driscoll
12. D'Arcy
11. Trimble
10. Sexton
9. Murray
1. Healy
2. Best (c)
3. Ross
4. Ryan
5. O'Callaghan
6. Ferris
7. O'Brien
8. Heaslip

16. Cronin, 17. TBA, 18. Fitzpatrick, 19. Tuohy, 20. O'Mahony, 21. Reddan, 22. O'Gara, 23. McFadden

[ColinM]

Pleased for Cave and Deccy.

Thought Paddy Wallace would have made it, ditto Gilroy but happy enough for fewer players to travel. I would still hope Ferris can be rested yet.

Madigan needs to be there.

[breakdown]

Madigan isnt going. It says the remaining back traveling is Boss and the remaining forwards are POC and Henry subject to fitness and Brett Wilkinson instead of Court. Paddy Mac should be ahead of Wilkinson too.

[FRB]

Disappointed but not surprised. So much for player management - Ferris has been on one leg for the last 2-3months.

Delighted for Tuohy and Deccy Fitz.

[Jackie Brown]

Zebo.....

[Setanta]

Is Wilkinson loose or tight or both?

[DHK]

Just realised PW wasn't there. Must see McFadden as the back up 12, or BOD with Cave in at 13. Still think PW has so much to offer Ireland. Been in great form this latter half of the season.

Hope CH makes it, well deserved