33-strong Ireland squad for a two day training and preparation camp

[ick]

A 33-strong Ireland squad was announced today for a two day training and preparation camp for the coming season.

While a further squad will be announced for the Guinness Series in late October following the completion of the second round of the Heineken Cup, this training squad reflects a mixture of internationals and younger players who have been gaining experience in the early part of the season.

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Ireland Training Squad (33):

Rory Best (Banbridge – Ulster)
Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins – Ulster)
Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins – Ulster)
Tom Court (Malone – Ulster)
Sean Cronin (Lansdowne – Leinster)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne – Leinster)
Keith Earls (Young Munster – Munster)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon – Ulster)
Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon – Ulster)
Cian Healy (Clontarf – Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Naas – Leinster)
Iain Henderson (Queens University – Ulster)
Chris Henry (Ballymena – Ulster)
Denis Hurley (Dolphin– Munster)
Luke Marshall (Ballymena – Ulster)
Conor Murray (Garryowen – Munster)
Mike McCarthy (Buccaneers – Connacht)
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere – Leinster)
Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary’s College – Leinster)
David O’Callaghan (Dolphin – Munster)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution – Munster)
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster – Munster)
Brian O'Driscoll (UCD – Leinster)
Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution – Munster)
Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution – Munster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne – Leinster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf – Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon – Munster)
Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary’s College – Leinster)
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena – Ulster)
Dan Tuohy (Ballymena – Ulster)
Damien Varley (Garryowen – Munster)
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution – Munster)

[Cill na Martra]

the lack of at least one from Madigan, Keatley and Jackson is a joke. Where is the succession plan regarding OH? What happens if one or both of ROG/Sexton get injured?

[the plastic paddy]

Can anyone explain the sense in only having four props in the training squad? Seems completely crazy to me.

[Christy]

Interesting to see Luke Marshall getting a call up i thought Paul Marshall would get a chance as well. I am seriously disappointing he didn't give one of Madigan, Keatley or Jackson a chance. Is Paddy Wallace injured or has Kidney given up on him

[fullback15]

Injured Christy

[the plastic paddy]

Interesting to see Luke Marshall getting a call up i thought Paul Marshall would get a chance as well. I am seriously disappointing he didn't give one of Madigan, Keatley or Jackson a chance. Is Paddy Wallace injured or has Kidney given up on him

Generally he only gets the call from the beach to play against the best team on earth these days!?!:p

[lahinch_lass]

hmm and how many of that list have not played a single full game yet this season & thus have given no indication as to whether they're back on form or not? It just seems bonkers to me for the irish team mangement to be selecting a squad when they haven't even let the provinces use all their internationals yet.

[the plastic paddy]

hmm and how many of that list have not played a single full game yet this season & thus have given no indication as to whether they're back on form or not? It just seems bonkers to me for the irish team mangement to be selecting a squad when they haven't even let the provinces use all their internationals yet.

And sends a bit of a message that it is the same old same old which disappoints me.

[Dowlinz]

the lack of at least one from Madigan, Keatley and Jackson is a joke. Where is the succession plan regarding OH? What happens if one or both of ROG/Sexton get injured?

Jackson was obliterated in the hec final, he's immensely promising but why would you call him up? Has Keatley ever even started a hec match? He's hardly covered himself in glory at rabo level let alone looking for him to get into the international side. Madigan is a good player but at the end of the day ROG and Sexton are two of the least injury prone players around so your scenario is very unlikely to happen and has literally never happened before. You'd be the same fellow complaining if he called Madigan into the squad and never featured him in a matchday for the autumn internationals.

[mr chips]

There seem to be two options in most positions, with an extra hooker, lock and centre whilst being surprisingly thin at fullback ...

Loosehead: Tom Court, Cian Healy
Hooker: Rory Best, Sean Cronin, Damien Varley
Tighthead: Declan Fitzpatrick, Mike Ross
Locks: Mike McCarthy, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Donnacha Ryan, Dan Tuohy
Back row: Stephen Ferris, Jamie Heaslip, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Kevin McLaughlin, David O’Callaghan, Peter O'Mahony
Scrum halves: Conor Murray, Eoin Reddan
Fly halves: Ronan O'Gara, Jonathan Sexton
Centres: Darren Cave, Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls, Luke Marshall, Brian O'Driscoll
Wingers:Tommy Bowe , Fergus McFadden, Andrew Trimble, Simon Zebo
Full back: Denis Hurley

... unless the intention is that Earls (or possibly McFadden??) would be at 15. Can't remember McFadden playing there, and certainly can't think of any other of the backs listed playing there.

[Dowlinz]

And sends a bit of a message that it is the same old same old which disappoints me.

10 of the 33 weren't in the 43 man panel for the world cup a little over a year ago. But sure don't let the facts get in the way of a good deccie bashing.

Darren Cave
Declan Fitzpatrick
Iain Henderson
Chris Henry
Denis Hurley
Luke Marshall
David O'Callaghan
Peter O'Mahony
Dan Tuohy
Simon Zebo

[Ruckuss]

Congrats to baby DOC btw, nobody here seems to have mentioned this?

[fullback15]

why isnt Rob Kearney in it? Is he injured?

[Christy]

He is injured Fullback15

[The Outlaw]

Very disappointing squad really. Not picked on form.