IRELAND BOSS ANDY Farrell has named a 24-man squad for a two-day training camp this week as they turn their attention towards a trip to Rome to play Italy in the Six Nations in two weekends’ time.
Farrell has released the following 12 players to their provinces for Guinness PRO14 action this weekend:
Connacht: Bundee Aki, Ultan Dillane, Dave Heffernan
Leinster: Ryan Baird, Ross Byrne, Jack Conan
Munster: Craig Casey, Andrew Conway, Shane Daly, Chris Farrell
Ulster: Stuart McCloskey, Tom O’Toole.
John Cooney, Harry Byrne, and Eric O’Sullivan have also returned to their provinces after providing specialist injury cover before Ireland’s defeat to France last weekend.
Farrell’s 24-man training squad will gather for a two-day mini-camp on Thursday and Friday this week as they prepare for the Italy clash on Saturday 27 February.
Ireland say that Billy Burns, Cian Healy, and Iain Henderson “will follow the appropriate protocols this week” after being removed for Head Injury Assessments against France. Burns did not return from his, although Healy and Henderson did.
Ireland training squad:
Forwards:
Cian Healy
Dave Kilcoyne
Ed Byrne
Rob Herring
Ronan Kelleher
Tadhg Furlong
Andrew Porter
Iain Henderson
James Ryan
Tadhg Beirne
Will Connors
Rhys Ruddock
CJ Stander
Josh van der Flier
Backs:
Conor Murray
Jamison Gibson Park
Johnny Sexton
Billy Burns
Robbie Henshaw
Garry Ringrose
Keith Earls
James Lowe
Hugo Keenan
Jordan Larmour.
Harry Byrne not in the 24 man squad would indicate he isnt starting against Italy. Starting Murray and Sexton would be terrible against a team like Italy, but typical Farrell style of living in fear.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: this is a nonsense squad. 6 nations is over for Ireland. Why not pick new blood and try something different against Italy. Farrell’s days are numbered
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: Agree and disagree ….Murray and Sexton shouldn’t start ..maybe on the bench but deffo not starting. Debate on cooney seems to be over, insofar as hes not rated by mgt. I’m not sure JGP is good enough but they do; so given hes only a handful of caps, they need to play him and also get some game time into casey. H Byrne needs some pitch time too…theyve had a look at his brother, so now need to look at a kid that can something different and play flat. I’d also be looking at coombes, Baird and frawley.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: Farrell got a contract to 2023 when he had never been a head coach. Baffling decision.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: Farrell needs to get the team playing confidently with a new system before he can introduce new players into that system. The next few games offer the chance to bed down the system and get the team back to winning ways. With more exposure to the system and hopefully more confidence in the system through wins then the team can evolve. Every team has a specific system which they try play to, we are struggling to implement it during games so far.
16 Leinstermen, 5 Munstermen, 3 Ulstermen, 0 Connachtmen. No up-and-coming talent, for a game against Italy FFS!
@David Finn: Calm down. It’s just a training squad for two days this week, it’s very normal to release players with little game time. They’ll likely be brought back in after the weekend for a full week of training next week.
@David Finn: 24 irish men, there is plenty of young players in that squad, larmour kennan kelleher etc
@Chris Mc: You’ve named 3 players. 3 isn’t plenty. It is 3. One of those guys (Keenan) is 24. 24 isn’t old obviously but that’s an age you’d want to see outside backs getting a lot of game time in. The youngest player in our 24-man squad is 23. This isn’t a young squad.
In a 24 man squad he picks 3 looseheads in a 34 man squad he picks 2?
@Chris Mc: Welcome to the Andy Farrell wheel of logic.
@Chris Mc: my first thoughts too… the man seems to be making it up as he goes along
@baw baw: of course he’s making it up as he’s going, what do you think he’s doing, looking up to the bible to see how many looseheads to pick?
Murray and Sexton wheeled out to avoid the wooden spoon. Characteristically negative and backward from this coaching staff. But let’s wait for the starting XV – not hopeful now
@Sam Murray: Don’t think it’s really an indication the two lads will start . I agree big mistake if they do get the start, however they were never getting sent back to their provinces this week . Sexton and Murray gain nothing by togging out in the Pro 14 against sides missing their internationals
@Sam Murray: Unlikely Murray and Sexton will help us avoid wooden spoon, new blood needed now.
The young talented players sent back to their provinces, best not to take any chances against a strong Italian team! Stick to what’s been working.
@Tom Cunningham: Convinced an organised AIL team like Cork Con could beat Italy. If he starts his strongest team then I think the tide will slowly begin to turn against Farrell. If we are going to continue to play Sh !te rugby, at least give the young lads some experience and prepare them for the World cup.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL:
Yeah my thoughts exactly, build for the future and try something different. Our game plan is so stale though that maybe the young lads are better off not being exposed to that.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: so you believe an amateur AIL team can beat a squad of professional international rugby players.
@Peter Dickson: Give me a big Senior Cup team and I’ll beat the Italians as head coach
Same old same old against Italy so
Is it possible that these guys who were sent back to their provinces were just to get game time.? Some of them haven’t played for a while and then they may be brought back in after the weekend. It makes sense to give them a run out. I imagine that squad will be back to 34/35 next Monday.
@Tom Byrne: yes, that is exactly why they’ve been sent back. 90% of commentors clearly haven’t quite engaged their brain yet this morning. This isn’t the match squad, it’s a two day training squad. The match squad will come together next week.
@Ger: it’s not the match squad (yet) but it signals intent for the next game! We don’t want guys just called in for injury cover and then no game time. We need to give them game time in the green jersey. Harry Byrne needs to be part of the 23, he’s the in form 10 at the moment.
@Con Cussed: I agree regarding HB but the players who were released are mostly players who haven’t played in two weeks or more and need game time. I will be for more interested in the make up of the squad next week. Sadly I don’t think it will be a huge amount different to what we’ve seen but I’ll leave my complaining till then just in case.
Looks like Murray, Sexton back in with Burns and JGP on bench
@Umpaloompa: Sickeing tbh. If not now, then when? There are 23 internationals between now and the World cup and we are set to go into it with the same problems as 2019.
Farrell is always smiling when on telly.
Is he on drugs?
OFFER MCCALL THE JOB.
@Mick O’Shea: why would you offer a coach whose club was engaged in cheating the job and don’t reply that he didn’t know… he is toxic at this time
@Kevin50: I will reply. The team still had to do the business on the pitch, which they did almost effortlessly. Repeatedly. This must come from a mindset and a skills training regime that is effective and dynamic not from a cash flow. The current Ireland team isn’t firing on any cylinders. France didn’t look at all troubled on Sunday.
A good kick up the arse is what’s needed.
I believe McCall to be strong enough to achieve this.
If a system of finances is so offensive to you, then follow a less demanding sport that will keep you safe.
I’m only thinking of your heart.
@Mick O’Shea: ROG and POC time
Jaysus lads you don’t just rotate the whole team after already losing two games. As good as the young lads have been, it’s still very early for them. If he were to put the likes of Casey, Byrne, Baird & Coombes in with absolutely no experience. The Italians would easily win. It’s a development process and you put them in when the time is right. This time isn’t right for them yet. Murray eill be starting against the italians with Casey and Ross Byrne on the bench. Baird could be in the no.19 shirt if he plays well this weekend.
@Harry O’Callaghan: but when is the time right? The issue is he is not breaking these guys in anywhere! And if he does it’s normally with 10 to 15 minutes on the clock and the game is done and dusted.
Other nations are taking the chance and starting young lads and building for the next WC.
Ireland doing the same thing as usual and being conservative in selection and focused only on the short term.
@Aaron Tynan: In the 2019 six nations, France used it as a chance to blood youngsters. Yes, they lost 3 games but how are they feeling now? Some short term pain for long term gain.
@Harry O’Callaghan: It’s not like those you’ve mentioned haven’t played rugby before! They also get to train with the national team before playing. So with the skill set they already have it won’t take long to fit in. Also, if Sexton, Murray and Co are on the bench we have cover to replace guys. However, the attacking tactics have to allow for flair too.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: In 2019 Covid19 was not a factor. It is now – no gate receipts. I have no doubt Farrell & co have been made acutely aware of this by the IRFU hierarchy.
That means putting out the best team in the remaining games. Had we beaten Wales or France there would have been a little leeway to experiment but realistically not now.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: exactly. Can’t understand why ppl can’t understand this. Though to be fair the money from the six nations is massively important to the irfu so every place counts
Why did he keep a squad of 24? Surely all he needed was 4. 2 on either side of field. One to kick and other to chase.
I’d be fairly confident that Murray and sexton will start the Italy game . 2 losses and 3 games to go . Farrell will want to finish strongly and that means having his best 9 and 10 on the pitch . If they use new players and end up with the wooden spoon it wouldn’t do anything good for the teams moral and Farrell and co could be looking for a new jobs .
They’ll play it safe .
Woulf of have preferred to see Casey, Baird and O Toole retained