for the IRB Rugby World Cup 2011:
* Indicates first World Cup.-------
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster)
Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)*
Tony Buckley (Sale Sharks)*
Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)*
Sean Cronin (Leinster)*
Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)*
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)*
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster)
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)*
Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)*
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)*
Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)*
Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers)
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)*
Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)*
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) Captain
Ronan O'Gara (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)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster)
"Ireland coach Declan Kidney has omitted Luke Fitzgerald and Tomas O'Leary from the 30-man Rugby World Cup 2011 squad.
The duo are the two surprise omissions from the squad.
The squad will be captained by Brian O'Driscoll and contains a split of sixteen forwards and fourteen backs.
Fifteen players will be travelling to the Rugby World Cup for the first time, including the recently capped Fergus McFadden and Conor Murray.
Nine of the forwards will be making their first appearance in a Rugby World Cup squad, while six of the backs will make their tournament debut.
Ireland play their final Guinness Summer Series game against England on Saturday in Aviva Stadium and fly out to New Zealand the following Tuesday."
Ireland's 30-man squad....
posted on 22/8/11
Pleasently surprised. Glad to see Tomas didn't make it, and Geordan did. I'd rather see Tony the tiger go than Tony Buckley, but there ye go.
posted on 22/8/11
Ya I might have had Fitz in for paddy, but I dont think either will get much ime regardless.
I heard somewhere Buckley is studying physiotherapy (cant remember where, but in UL I heard)..... maybe they are killing 2 birds with one stone and hes there for medical reasons.
posted on 22/8/11
So its like this, Now we know who's going, and we also know that Geordan Murphy, Stephen Ferris and young Murray absolutely HAVE to start against england if we want them in shape for the competition.
posted on 22/8/11
leeds
posted on 22/8/11
I'd have thought Boss will need to get a run as well DingBat.
posted on 22/8/11
a worrying question boys:
What effect did donal lenihan's post match comments have on this squad selection? and what ongoing effect is it likely to cause?
posted on 22/8/11
ye charlie spot on, from the bench probably. but we really need to win this one. so reddan needs to be there. maybe murray wont be in the team... dont know
posted on 22/8/11
I dont think itll have too much of an effect. If we look realistically at the squad picked:
-TOL hasnt been good enough to be picked, so fair play to DK, who has often been criticised for favortism.
-I thought we were always going to have 2 natural FB's and thought Felix would go, but now cant so Geordan was brought in.
-Buckley, who else?
-McFadden and Wallace, been beter than Fitz so far I think, and as neither of the 3 are going to start, I thin he picked the 2 who are best over the most positions for cover.
Think the rest of the squad was pretty nailed down. My opinion, but as am not an expert would welcome thoughts.
posted on 22/8/11
depends mate
donal lenihan told RTE that DK had already told Geordan Murphy, John Hayes and others over a week ago maybe more that they were not going to travel.... that cant be good for the squad mentality. especially later when injuries and idiocy (TOL) force him to go back to those guys and include them again.
could be a load of BS too tho.
posted on 22/8/11
Agree about the result being more important now. I'll be looking for vast improvement around the pitch. The squad is named now, there playing for starting positions.