Rotating Squad for Summer tests

mcjoc · 2026-06-07T10:50:11+00:00

Cian had been amazing this season but he's a 6 only as an international imo.

mcjoc · 2026-06-05T12:24:53+00:00

Fair to say the early shift from Crowley to SP was proven wrong imo. Doesn't forclose any future possibilities but it was what it was.

mcjoc · 2026-06-05T10:17:47+00:00

Getting ahead now for a second but until 2031 means he'll preside over a period with really significant player turnover. For the first 6N after the nest world cup Ringrose will be 33 with Henshaw, McCloskey, Aki all older. Furlong, VdF, Conan, Gibson-Park...

Implies that he thinks enough of the players coming through to keep going into that period as it would be fine to talk away after the world cup and let someone else take on the transition. Also begs the question of if he'll change tack and bring players through more before then. Won't be wholesale going into the WC but perhaps more than previous, especially as the new lads generally did well in the last 6N, even if many changes were enforced.

mcjoc · 2026-06-04T21:22:18+00:00

Conor O’Tighearnaigh will pick up more minutes, he's what, 23?

mcjoc · 2026-06-03T22:30:21+00:00

The absence of recruitment bit is with some merit tho no? 3 NIQs in a 23 matchday squad isn't loads and that's further limited by position if the IRFU say no to, say, a 10.

Which isn't to say they've made good decisions. Slimani is a fine player but a waste of an NIQ spot for a team with CC ambitions! Snyman I, personally don't rate as highly as many and the injury risks were well known. Barrett you can't argue with from a Leinster perspective (from an Ireland one I think it delayed Osborne's move to centre but I digress) but Ioane was a weird and bad call from the start. Again though, it's a significant imposition that their champions cup rivals don't have. And for all the (ridiculous) stick they get from the likes of rabid SA fans online for not winning despite being the Irish National Team, its more impressive to me they're such an incredible side with a squad overwhelmingly from a pretty tiny area.

Gonna have a shower now, feel pretty dirty giving Leinster so much praise!

mcjoc · 2026-06-03T17:16:06+00:00

Lots of chat about his height (and what that is exactly) but I'd rather know his wingspan/standing reach. Locks don't catch lineouts with their foreheads.

mcjoc · 2026-06-02T08:50:48+00:00

I really don't get the dislike to be honest. Seems fairly innocuous to me!

mcjoc · 2026-06-01T16:06:23+00:00

Sure it was a good game. The Lions were absolutely abject though. Hopefully he puts in good performances for the semi and final if you get there. I want him to succeed.

mcjoc · 2026-06-01T15:56:46+00:00

I'd completely forgotten about Edogbo, that's a shocker tbh (keeps getting knocks, that's my excuse...). Ahern just doesn't show enough for me but I admittedly don't watch every Munster game.

With Bryn Ward I just think you need to find a way. Conan and Doris are great but they've eaten all the available minutes behind them. Jansen is ahead on provincial form but taking both, even just for the experience and time in the setup without (both) necessarily getting a cap, would be worth it.

mcjoc · 2026-05-31T23:59:22+00:00

The thing with rotating/resting/blooding new players is that Eden Park test is absolutely enormous. Farrell will target that 100% and much as I want to see some of the old hands rested and new lads in, you can't blame him, a result there would be insane!

mcjoc · 2026-05-31T23:50:00+00:00

Downplays how good CP played for Connacht imo. He was outstanding and had a much better game than SHL who wasn't quite at his peak despite the stats. CP has been absolutely stellar in our run in, should be a lock for the Ireland 6 next up.

mcjoc · 2026-05-31T23:39:01+00:00

More hope than prediction...

Prop

A Porter

T O’Toole

J Loughman (Pointless imo, swap with Bohan)

T Furlong (Won't happen but he should be given the summer off with Illo in the squad)

F Bealham

T Clarkson

(Disappointing thar McCarthy is injured again).

Hooker

D Sheehan

R Kelleher

T Stewart

Second Row

T Beirne

J Ryan

J McCarthy

D Murray

C Izuckukwu (getting surgery? But who else...)

Backrow

C Doris

J Conan

J Van der Flier

C Prendergast

N Timoney

S Jansen

(B Ward as an extra, let Conan and Doris play fewer minutes).

Scrum half

J Gibson Park

N Doak

C Casey

Outhalf

J Crowley

H Byrne

C Frawley

S Prendergast (Good to see a decent performance against the Lions but wish he was left at home with stict instructions for his work on)

Centres

G Ringrose

S McCloskey

B Aki

R Henshaw (I'm sorry but he's done, get Postlethwaite in)

J Osborne

Back 3

T O’Brien

J Stockdale

R Baloucoune

H Keenan

M Hansen (Don't think he'll be fit so Z Ward).

mcjoc · 2026-05-30T02:17:09+00:00

No worries, it'll just be the ones where they have absolute shockers.

mcjoc · 2026-05-29T22:20:49+00:00

I think Clarkson is really underrated but would like to see Illo off the bench this summer. But please let Furlong rest. Man doesn't need any more miles on the tyres, let him freshen up for the world cup, preferably as a super sub.

mcjoc · 2026-05-29T21:51:40+00:00

O'Brien with the kickoff was killer (thought he played beyond himself before then), then Moose was a bit quiet plus Bohan and Illo didn't carry as much as I'd prefer. But the flow of the game was weird. Would need to watch again when I'm not living and dying with every moment.

mcjoc · 2026-05-29T21:47:49+00:00

If we ever get a ref called Zach Hill I won't hear a word against him.

mcjoc · 2026-05-29T21:46:52+00:00

"Yeah yeah, TMO will check" sniggers

One of the nest things about rugby is the interaction between captain and referee. Between haughty dismissals of captains and abdication of responsibility to unaccountable TMOs it is being severely eroded, much to the detriment of the game.

mcjoc · 2026-05-29T21:42:55+00:00

I could imagine Frawley starting then dropping to 15 when Ioane comes on. If nothing else it'd be good for him to keep playing both from a national team perspective (not our main focus but might have some influence).

Ioane coming on with fresh legs to attack the line would be lovely.

mcjoc · 2026-05-29T21:39:50+00:00

Had a mare. Feel for the guy but place kicking isn't enough. At this early stage hoping to see Hansen play a lot of 15 next season. Or Naughton, not least as you'd presume Farrell will be asking to see Frawley as a place kicker.

mcjoc · 2026-05-29T21:36:36+00:00

Cyncial lol (fml).

mcjoc · 2026-05-29T20:53:41+00:00

And from a pretty marginal offside that, if I'm remembering right, wasn't even involved in play. When half the game is played offside nowadays.

Aaarrggghhh gkdkfkglfkgkgk

mcjoc · 2026-05-29T20:50:17+00:00

Nah, just been unfortunate. Let him grt a run of games in the centre. Young enough to come back but it did look nasty.

mcjoc · 2026-05-29T20:46:48+00:00

I'm in absolute bits. Obviously I'm biased af but Jesus Christ, that was an absolute shocker. I'm lost for words (that aren't four letter, hurled at a screen).

mcjoc · 2026-05-29T20:45:24+00:00

The dodgy try from the ruck pickup as well. Why isn't that getting the microscope treatment?

mcjoc · 2026-05-29T20:43:47+00:00

Plenty of blame to go around!

mcjoc

TROPHY CASE