ANDY FARRELL HAS included Leinster out-half Ross Byrne in his Ireland squad for the upcoming Six Nations, but there is no place for Munster’s Joey Carbery.
Captain Johnny Sexton and tighthead Tadhg Furlong are both named as they continue to recover from injury, but centre Robbie Henshaw misses out due to a wrist injury.
Sexton is expected to be fit for Ireland’s opening fixture away to Wales on 4 February, with Leinster teammate Byrne included after his strong run of form on the back of returning to the international fold to kick a match-winning penalty against the Wallabies in November.
Farrell has selected three out-halves, with Munster’s Jack Crowley making the cut and Carbery a surprise exclusion.
Leinster centre Jamie Osborne is the only uncapped player in the 37-man selection. The versatile 21-year-old spent time in Ireland camp last November and featured for Ireland A in their loss to a New Zealand XV at the RDS.
Munster backrow Gavin Coombes is called up alongside experienced pair Keith Earls and Conor Murray – who were both dropped for Munster’s Champions Cup clash with Northampton last weekend.
James Lowe, who recently returned to New Zealand for personal reasons, is also included.
Jordan Larmour returns to the squad having missed the November internationals due to injury while Ulster’s Mike Lowry, Robert Baloucoune and Munster’s Calvin Nash, who were all part of the November Series squad, are not named.
Munster prop Jeremy Loughman and Ulster pair Kieran Treadwell and Nick Timoney also miss out.
“The Six Nations is a huge competition for us and another opportunity for us to grow as group,” said Ireland head coach Farrell.
“2022 was a busy year as we got to work with a larger group of players as we continued to build our squad depth and competition for places.
“While there are a few players carrying knocks and others that have missed out on selection for the start of the tournament, they will have the opportunity to push their case playing for their provinces in the URC over the coming weeks as no doubt we will need to call upon the wider group as the tournament progresses.”
Ireland Six Nations squad
Outside backs (7): Keith Earls (Munster) 98 caps, Mack Hansen (Connacht) 8 caps, Hugo Keenan (Leinster) 25 caps, Jordan Larmour (Leinster) 30 caps, James Lowe (Leinster) 15 caps, Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster) 3 caps, Jacob Stockdale (Ulster) 35 caps.
Centres (4): Bundee Aki (Connacht) 41 caps, Stuart McCloskey (Ulster) 9 caps, Jamie Osborne (Leinster) *, Garry Ringrose (Leinster) 47 caps.
Out-halves (3): Ross Byrne (Leinster) 14 caps, Jack Crowley (Munster) 2 caps, Johnny Sexton (Leinster)(captain) 109 caps.
Scrum-halves (3): Craig Casey (Munster) 7 caps, Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 23 caps, Conor Murray (Munster) 100 caps.
Props (6): Finlay Bealham (Connacht) 27 caps, Tadhg Furlong (Leinster) 63 caps, Cian Healy (Leinster) 121 caps, Dave Kilcoyne (Munster) 48 caps, Tom O’Toole (Ulster) 4 caps, Andrew Porter (Leinster) 48 caps.
Hookers (3): Rob Herring (Ulster) 31 caps, Ronan Kelleher (Leinster) 18 caps, Dan Sheehan (Leinster) 13 caps.
Locks (4): Tadhg Beirne (Munster) 36 caps, Iain Henderson (Ulster) 68 caps, Joe McCarthy (Leinster) 1 cap, James Ryan (Leinster) 48 caps.
Backrows (7): Ryan Baird (Leinster) 8 caps, Jack Conan (Leinster) 33 caps, Gavin Coombes (Munster) 2 caps, Caelan Doris (Leinster) 23 caps, Peter O’Mahony (Munster) 89 caps, Cian Prendergast (Connacht) 1 cap, Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 45 caps.
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Right call going with Byrne and Crowley imo
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: right decision on Carberry.. tough but fair
@Macodub: thought Carberry was playing well? If he was not first choice at Munster it would be understandable, he played well last 6n v France away
@Name can be blank: I agree, but felt he fell off in that game in a big way after the 2 early 2nd half tries. And made some bad calls between Baille’s try and the games end. Should have come off after 60-65.
@Cathal Carr: rowntree backing crowly to see out the last 20 mins at the weekend showed why he’s ahead at the min.
@James Murphy: carbery came off with an injury as far as I’m aware
@whoowhat?: no according to GR Carbery and O Mahony subs were tactical
@John Horgan: ah my bad.
Can’t believe Earls and Murray made it.. time to move on
@Macodub: both still have something to offer imho. They’ll have less exposure than previous outings no doubt, but they’re also good to have around the camp from what I hear, they can lift the standards of the younger lads.
@Macodub: I’m actually surprised Stockdale made it tbh
@Macodub: it’s because they’re on central contracts. Same with Stockdale. No mystery as to why some out of form players are picked. No doubt they still offer something but their selection definitely isn’t on current form.
@Macodub: Agreed but also Stockdale hasn’t been great. Loughman being injured opened the door for Kilcoyne.
@Macodub: Earls ahead of Baloucoune is madness. Shouldn’t Farrell be building for the WC and getting younger squad players experience at a competitive level at this stage?
@Stephen Foster: just realized Baloucoune is out injured. My bad
One big positive as I hoped was Gavin Coombes being included. If he gets maybe 2 games this tournament I’d be very happy as he has earned those opportunities.
One big negative is Mike Haley. People unfairly write him off because they say he constantly runs into opposition. I mean, how often nowadays do you see full backs finding a gap in the defence when they are running with the ball? He is great under the high ball and absolutely works his socks off. To have just one cap to his name is really bad I have to say. He deserves much more.
@Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O’Chathail: i actually agree on Haley but for me the failure to fully exploit him by being on his shoulder more. Whether this is lack of coaching or his communication is another thing. For me it says our 9′s are decent but not top level.
@Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O’Chathail: pretty often at Leinster and Connacht, I would have added Ulster at the start of the season to that. It’s a tuff crowed of talented 15s right now.
@Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O’Chathail: Haley is a decent player, a safe pair of hands (a good thing in a fullback!) but I don’t think he would add to the squad if he were picked instead of, say, Larmour, O’Brien, or Stockdale. He’s a bit the Ross Byrne of full-backs, a good player, but nothing special
@Criiochúr Daniel Daithí O’Chathail: i agree with you, great under the high ball, good second receiver and a great last line tackler. Nothing wrong with a full back that runs into contact. Rob ‘edge of the balcony’ Kearney would always run straight into contact.
A big reason Ben Healy moved from Munster was that Carbery was No. 1 there based on his Ireland place. If Andy Farrell can now see what all Munster fans have seen for a while, then that pecking order could be quite different. Healy at 10 and Crowley at 12 vs Ulster looked quite exciting. A bit salty over this tbh.
@Seamus__: Crowley has always been a 10 for me. And that’s probably why Healy made his mind up, because he was in a situation where he was stuck in the middle between Joey and Jack and realized he was in a Catch 22 situation and accepted that by the time Joey left, his prime form would probably be gone and Jack would be in as the future.
Murray can make an Ireland squad handier than a Munster one, and it seems 1 is now the number of good games needed for a Leinster player to make an Ireland squad. Harsh on Treadwell motm in his last cap.
@Patrick Breen: we know what Treadwell can bring and it’s not international quality. Looks a savage squad player but for a fourth choice lock your better off bringing a young pup who can be guided by O’Connell. McCarthy tore us apart in Thomand I thought before his niggle and O’Connell has said he rates him highly
@Patrick Breen: I assume by 1 game you’re talking about Osbourne? Osbourne has been playing good to great for at least a year, he bossed the midfield against Munster last May, you’ve probably forgotten about that, just because he happened to catch the eye in a European game doesn’t take away from the rest of his workload.
@Patrick Breen: that’s tactical. He’ll start against Toulouse.
@Patrick Breen: Yes, Osborne has only played 1 game for Leinster.
@Patrick Breen: horses for courses. Murray offers size, place kicking and solid defense, he’s definitely the kind of guy you want if you are ahead and want to play conservatively and hold onto a lead.
@h: he does bring international quality. We are blessed at the moment with a lot of seriously good players (#1 in the world) and just because we have some better players it doesnt mean those left out are not international quality. Try not to be such a bell end.
Surprised Carbury missed out, he’s not playing badly (he’s had worse form +made it before) and has always delivered for Ireland; also surprised Earls and Stockdale kept ahead of Nash or Daly. Didn’t think Earls has played enough rugby this season. If Murray or Earls don’t play this weekend it would be good to hear Farrell’s explanation.
@Ciaran Kennedy: it’s not just about the starting 15… countless players have lauded praise on how the experienced heads like Murray and Earlsy have helped the squad off the pitch with their experience and character. Great role models for the younger folk like Larmour and Osbourne to look up to. Like the back 3 is Lowe Keenan Hansen and that won’t change unless injury so better off for likes of Daly and Haley to stay playing for us and can be called up if injuries occur.
@Ciaran Kennedy: I would argue Carbery has never delivered for Ireland, he’s always been just bossed around the pitch, makes a few kicks but never has stood up.
@Patrick Breen: Chicago?
@Patrick Breen: he didn’t usually stand out but he’s finished most big wins, including all the NZ ones, I think we’d have beaten Wales the day O’ Mahony got the line if he’d been on the pitch.
@Patrick Breen: but Ross Byrne has?
@Patrick Breen: well at least he doesn’t just melt under the slightest bit of pressure unlike carty.
@whoowhat?: Your Carty/Connacht jabbing is farcical at this stage Stan.
@Cathal Carr: farcical as in there being very little between munster and connacht?
@whoowhat?: What an utter irrelevance, and shows the petty nature of your true colours. And anyway, what does that have to do with me? I think Munster are still well ahead of Connacht, although the gap is tightening.
@Cathal Carr: ah you poor crater. I see you had no interest in Mr breens bashing of carbery but when I bash connacht/carty back and you are outraged over it, just shows your character and if you actually had the integrity your trying to portray then you’d have collared us both.
Gap is far from tightening, connacht have been going backwards for year on year since ye won it. Maybe we when friend goes then things will start to improve.
@whoowhat?: its a discussion about Carbery vs Byrne, not Carty. And Breen’s comment has hardly a bashing. Saying someone has never “stood up” is light years away from saying someone melts under the slightest bit of pressure.
Of course it is compare the gap between Connacht and Munster over the past 5 years, vs the previous 5 years, and the previous 5 years, and so on.
Also “ye”? I am not a Connacht supporter. My support is in Ollie Campbell Park and the RDS. I know every comment you make is partisan but don’t put that on the rest of us.
I don’t know why I don’t just ‘mute’ you like half the usual posters have, but its necessary to call out you jibberish at times.
@Cathal Carr: yes it’s a carbery v Byrne discussion and I’ve no problem with carbery missing out it’s A.F’s decision.
But when Mr breen and his and a couple of his fellow disgruntled connacht fans who love nothing more then to post negatively about all things munster then it becomes more then just carbery v Byrne. Its snide remarks about carbery and its just 1 of the many that he gets for said group. Good for you coming to the aid of carty, don’t see ye tho for the bashing of munster players or the “I dislike munster as much as the next man” though, maybe your Cape and underpants were in the wash those days.
@whoowhat?: Did know we were judging on 5 year blocks, so you win. Although this block of 5 ain’t going so well for them.
Auto assumed you were connacht, so yes I may have been hasty on that.
As for “mute” ah sweetheart, how cute. Your just making stuff up to suit your argument. Sure people may have muted me and I’ve no problem with that, but you don’t have access to whether people have or haven’t.
So from now on maybe start your posts with
“Speaking from a position of come please at utter ignorance”
Xx
@whoowhat?: come please = complete
@whoowhat?: cool story bro.
@Cathal Carr: thought not.
@whoowhat?: He folds like a deck chair every time he plays against Carty….
So
I found Byrne has been poor in his Irish starts, very poor even. But we are talking almost 18 months back, and since he has had some star showings for us in blue, and stood up when called for (like in November). So 100% the right call. And while Joey is a good player, his 8 out of 10 rating games are just too few and far between.
@Cathal Carr: Byrne has had very few Ireland starts and almost all of them in 2nd string teams. In the two matches most of his detractors highlight our pack got destroyed so he got no clean ball. He deserves the chance to show what he can do in the 1st choice line-up. After Sexton he is the best game manager and kicker we have.
@The Logic: Yep, I acknowledged he deserves his chance, I too think he is the best game manager, and acknowledged in my comments he only has two Ireland starts, but can not agree with the second string teams comment. Look back at the line ups; they weren’t 2nd string teams. His pack against England was Healy, Kelleher, Porter, Roux, Ryan, POM, CJ, Doris, etc. Henderson, Bealham, Herring, etc amongst the replacements.
@The Logic: Byrne is a good kicker yes and he is solid and reliable but that’s about it, he’d excel in a South African side where they need a reliable kicker and he needs a dominant physical pack to give him front foot ball. He does not excel in a team that will from time to time be dominated physically, where as Sexton is that good he can operate in that type of game. In saying that I’ve no issue with him getting a shot again at No.10 but he has to show something at this stage if he does get a chance, @27 its put up or shut up for him.
@Peter Dunne: Agreed. Brynne is an old archetype fly half, he doesn’t play flat to the gameline, and he doesn’t offer as much from a ball carrying perspective.
You probably cannot play the same style of attacking rugby with Sexton or Crowley as you would with Brynne. I suppose it depends on what you are looking to get out of your 10.
@Conor HF: That’s true, but Ireland have a style of play mostly influenced by the coaches and Sexton, hence Conor Murray has seen his game time reduced over the past 2 years he doesn’t really suit our style of play, I just feel at international level Byrne hasn’t got that extra bit of X factor that Ireland need from their No.10, I also think if Carberry is not picked on form then Earls, Murray, Kilcoyne, Henderson shouldn’t be near the squad as hes starting ahead of two of them at Munster, makes a bit of a mockery of the decision..
Only a couple of questionable selections (Earls, Stockdale, Murray) but isn’t as if there is currently wingers in flying form. Blade could probably feel a little aggrieved.
Besides that the starting team probably picks itself. The 23 will be interesting.
@Shane Obrien: Agree Nash, Daly and Blade (or Doak) would have been the better as the other three are not there. Of the three Earls is the better option. Stockdale & Murray are lacking the skills they used to have. Reward form then the competition and players will improve. I know I will offend a few Munster supporters but Daly is a better player at 15 than Haley! Haley makes a few good moves but Daly and Nash are consistently better players. Once Conway returns to form Daly should be at 15, he could play there for Ireland too if JOB or Keenan are injured, more so than Hansen.
@Con Cussed: I can definitely see there being other alternatives but I doubt those 3 or the 3 selected make a match day squad anyways. Maybe Farrell just likes a bit of experience around camp. It’s hard to know.
@Con Cussed: you’re off your rocker, if Casey or someone was a better scrum half and able to stick to Haley they’d clean up, he always beats more defenders than he has any right to. If Ireland were able to utilize him I’d have ahead of the excellent Keenan.
@Ciaran Kennedy: LOL ;0) Haley, is way behind JOB, Keennan and even Hansen – get real lad. Daly is a far better player.
Patterson is a great scrum half and can keep up with the best, not seeing any great synergies with Haley there.
@Con Cussed: the 9 should be/could be running better support lines, Haley doesn’t drop much but he constantly gets past defenders to the degree that he gets isolated too often. Watching it, it almost looks like Munster players are also surprised when he gets away!
Is Stockdale not absolutely terrible?
@James Murphy: central contract brigade all over this, keeping the likes of Daly and Nash away from the team in favour of Earls, Stokdale etc. Hope they change that system moving forward, it’s a liability and must be a motivation crusher, especially as they’re playing better. Terrible message to young players. Larmour with a rub of the green too. For me Daly had done enough in the last few games. Not much between them atm.
@James Murphy: Were you calling him terrible in the 2018 Six Nations?
He is coming back from a career threatening injury and indeed has missed a good part of this season. He is lucky to be included in the extended squad but I would trust Andy Farrell’s judgment over anyone on this forum.
@Trevor Johnston: in fairness he’s looked a shadow of his previous self. Larmour deserves to be there, he’s playing brilliantly.
@Trevor Johnston: No he was great in the 2018 Six Nations but he’s been woeful since the tryline fumble in the Ulster/Leinster quarter final the next year.
O’Driscoll was great in 2009 but nobody would pick him now – if it weren’t for his central contract then Stockdale would be nowhere near the squad
@Sam Kendlin Hobbs: his central contract comes to an end in a few months and the IRFU have announced they won’t be renewing it. So that’s hardly the reason he’s in the squad. Also do you honestly think that Farrell would accept being forced to put centrally contracted players in the squad? If so how about the many players in the sw ah are not under an IRFU contract?
@Sam Kendlin Hobbs: As I said he is lucky to be in the squad and lucky to be playing rugby after a very bad injury. It’s a chance for him to show if he has still got it. To say he has woeful since 2019 is not factual. Let Andy decide his future.
@Trevor Johnston: I was his biggest fan but the man is ruined. To be fair it won’t make much difference as he won’t play but very strange decision
@James Murphy: I hope you are wrong James but I suspect ankle is gone.
@James Murphy: ruined is very harsh and early to call, after long injury played a few games and looked very hungry in those, picked up a small injury has come back, hasn’t reform form, but very early to write him off, but agree he doesnt deserve a call up. Used to think that Ireland pick the best squad and central contracts didnt play a part in selection, but think now they must do. Hope thats wrong as means that Murray is with the squad next 2 and a half years, maybe deserves to be there now, but in a years time?
@Trevor Johnston: unrelated to the above, but with everyone focusing on Healy being named in the Scotland squad, which was expected, for Ulster fans its probably more intresting that Cooney wasn’t named in it, he is availble to play for them from February 23, 2023 meaning available for 3rd game for them.
So Carbery joins the list of heirs apparent to Sexton who have failed to inherit…Madigan, Jackson, Burns, Carty…)
I was a big fan of Carbery, but I don’t think he has ever been the same player after the run of injuries he had coming into and after the last World Cup. Coming so soon after Healy’s switch, it makes the failure to make him (Healy) an offer he couldn’t refuse look very short-sighted.
Leaving Carbery out of the squad this close to the World Cup is quite a gamble. It seems unlikely that Sexton could make it through the tournament without injury, so unless Ireland get lucky, they could go into one of their biggest games ever with an outhalf with little more than a handful of international starts under his belt.
@Lesidees: it is a strange one letting Healy go so soon. TBH I think he is the better outhalf of the three in Munster. Wonder who made the decision to put him down the pecking order. Some of the off field Munster decision making has been odd. Not least offering JVG a contract extension and now Healy.
Loughman , Paterson and Nash would’ve been better options to kilcoyne Murray on Earles in my opinion. They are all back up players and we know what they can do. Great call dropping Cadbury, kick in the ass he needs. All in all a great squad. Exciting times!
@Dennis Reynolds: loughman probably is not fit
@Dennis Reynolds: agree.. harsh on treadwell and balacoome also
@Macodub: think any Ulster lads have been severely hampered by their awful run of form.
@Macodub: yeah I think those two are the two who can feel most aggrieved as they did well for Ireland in their most recent games, Treadwell in particular. But I suppose Farrell can only pick x number of players and its hard to argue about the quality of their replacements.
Surprised by Carberys omission, but the right call. His performances on both sides of the ball and overall game management has been average for a long time. It’ll make or break him, but comes too late for Ben Healy.
Stockdale is a lucky man, personally I’d have Nash in there with his workrate.
@Daithí O’ Donnabhain: delighted to see Joe McCarthy selected, well deserved.
@Daithí O’ Donnabhain: I really don’t understand the hype about Nash. Granted he gets about and tries to get on the ball but I don’t think he has the rugby iq for an international. Makes some really basic errors at times with the ball which I think could cost teams tries at international level
I cannot understand how both Murray and Casey are there !
Joey getting the Coombes treatment, fair play to AF, there’s nothing between them really and RB is ahead by a hair. Reckon we might see a few more feature. Stock sale is an interesting one with talk of his central contract being withdrawn, last shot maybe. Class player, hope he finds some form. AF seems intent on having Crowley around, even with the limited opportunity at 10.
I would be more worried about our strength at loose head when we are still picking Kilcoyne
@Anton Phelan: healy is been carried around at this stage too. Loughman I thought was going well
@James Murphy: Buckley the best scrimmaging loose head we have and doing pretty well around the park too. Given it’d be just for the world cup I think he should’ve been picked
@James Murphy: Healy looks to me these days like a man that’s embarrassed he’s to still do it for us. I’m not knocking the man, he’s deserve to be there still.
Tough calls all right but we should trust those who know more than us. The backroom team have not done too badly up to now. Carbery will bounce back and has that opportunity to show that in the Champions cup. Byrne was poor in the Champions cup final last year but current form and that kick v Australia shows confidence. The experience of Murray and Earls is always good to close out games. These calls will ensure strong competition for places going into the World cup.
So the Munster number 1 / 10 doesn’t make it but the number 2 does as does the number 2 of Leinster. And Munster number 3 / 10 in Scottish squad. Am I missing something?
@Tom O’Hanlon: plus the Leinster 4th or 5th choice centre, I’m not unhappy he’s there, just pointing out Negati, Henshaw, Frawley, Ringrose are ahead of him at club.
Serious kick up the pants for carberry, personally I thought he has been improving, it’s do or die for his international career,
Ross Byrne safe but le Rochelle last year anyone?
@Matthew Delaney: in fairness you could say that about most Leinster players in the biggest game every year. Still better to be always 2nd to 4th instead of 4th to 12 th we’ve been
Ross Byrne is the number one fly half currently.
Should start against Wales.
Carbery hasn’t kicked on, Byrne has this season.
Ah here, if you were picking on form then carbery is playing better than Murray and Earls in their positions. The latter two haven’t even been starting.
@B Collins: That’s an excellent point B it does make a mockery of the decision if he has been dropped entirely on form. The fact Murray and Earls are in the squad, you could also extend that to Henderson, Stockdale and Kilcoyne, makes it a bit laughable on form…
@Peter Dunne: I assume you were not watching Henderson last week. He had a great game
@Trevor Johnston: Until he went off injured which is how he’s spent most of the time over the last 12 months…
@Peter Dunne: HIA which isnt the reason he was out over the Autumn, played 18 games in last 12 months, obviously wasnt injuried most of the time.
I assume munster can now promote Jack Crowley to 1st choice fly half