CONOR MCGREGOR WAS in bullish form today as he promoted this weekend’s UFC bout with Max Holloway.
The Dubliner sat at the extreme end of the press conference table behind shades, a bow tie and a baseball cap.
Despite the attire and the presence of superstars of the sport, Chael Sonnen and Shogun Rua, McGregor managed to command more than his fair share of attention. Albeit many of the the questions related to the hype which surrounds him on the circuit.
“I don’t really care about people say. Good or bad,” McGregor says forthrightly. “When the door shuts, I’m going to go forward. I’m gonna go at my opponent and we’re gonna exchange.
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“The result is not in my thoughts, I’m just gonna go out and do what I do every day and have fun. I’m living the dream right now, so I’m a happy man.”
Asked what was going through his mind, he added: “Not much, you know. There’s two things I really like to do and that’s whoop ass and look good. I’m doing one of them right now. Saturday night, I’m gonna do the other.”
His opponent will be Max Holloway and, far from resenting the attention afforded to the Irishman, the 21-year-old feels McGregor is fully deserving of his status in the build-up.
“It is what it is. He’s got hype, man, and I just can’t wait until Saturday night when we get to mix it up,” Holloway says.
Holloway was also keen to downplay talk of this being a short-notice fight for him, saying he tries to stay in fighting shape.
“It wasn’t really short notice I had a little over a month. That’s more than enough if you stay ready. I like to stay in shape. I can’t wait to fight this guy. He brings a lot of tools to the table and we have the tools to make it the fight of the night.”
McGregor unveils a fan-designed poster which will be distributed this week to promote the fight.
By this stage the Hawaiian surely realises that McGregor will be counted as a hometown fighter in Boston, and the Dubliner is certainly not backing down from city’s Irish links.
“I honestly feel at home here. I can’t go anywhere without seeing an Irish flag and I had that media day at Peter Welch’s gym. I was in taking a shower and a little guy came in from a little Irish town called Connemara, a town where they speak our native tongue, and he came in and started speaking as gaeilge.
“Here I am taking a shower and this little aul’ fella comes in and starts speaking fluent gaelic. I feel at home here. I’m happy and looking forward to going out and putting on a show for these people.”
McGregor played coy with rumours that Steve Collins would be part of his corner team this weekend, but smiled as he looked around and put the mic down with a “who knows, tune in Saturday and you’ll find out.”
Oh my, Andy Farrell, A man that understands way more about attacking rugby than Leo Cullen, picks Frawley and Sam ahead of Ross Byrne? Talk about exposing Cullen. Izuchukwu the bolter for me, the thing that separates him from Baird and Ahern is he’s properly filled it, big explosive unit. Munster fans will complain about Coombes not being picked, but he’s got Paul O Connell in Irish camp to back his corner and he clearly doesn’t think he’s good enough
@Eoin H: it’s a huge sign for the Byrne brothers. Harry probably being forced into the Connacht loan and Ross will likely be with S&C bulking up over the summer.
@Owen ODonoghue: Not sure what Bulking up Ross will change at this stage of his career? Harry certainly needs to go but reckon he doesn’t have the right people giving him advice that he needs to
@Eoin H: not for the first time has farrell shown how poor a selector Cullen is. Jgp was a very lightly used sub at leinster until farrell picked him for Ireland. Cullen would still have luke mcgrath as leinsters first choice if farrell didn’t step in
@Eoin H: disagree on Ross, he is only 29 and could have 5 or 6 more season of pro rugby left in him. He doesnt have natural speed or size but its easier to change the latter. If he is 5 or 10kg heavier hes going to have more confidence going into contact both sides of the ball.
@Eoin H: yeah, Farrell knows so much more about attacking rugby that he is taking Cullens attack coach. Cullen sees a lot more of these players and doesn’t pick them. The inside center, Frawley, got 30 minutes at 10 against Toulouse and did nothing. He came on last weekend and cost them the game because he couldn’t catch a ball. Prendegast has done absolutely nothing to deserve the hype. He didn’t even stand out at u20. There is a huge gap between Crowley and these 2
@Stuart: Not really, Farrell has form. He picked JGP ahead of Luke McGrath, McCarthy ahead of Ryan, Harry ahead of Ross and I’m sure there are a few more. SP is the future and is the perfect squad player for this tour. Frawley offers more versatility than either of the Byrnes. We can argue the individual strengths and weaknesses until the cows come home but that is the reason I would select him for this squad. Crowley is no. 1. This is the easiest trio of 10s that Farrell has ever had to select in my opinion.
@Michael Corkery: Andy Farrell is a pragmatic selector. He has to pick 3 outhalves for a squad for 2 tests out of a selection of 7 or 8 from 4 provinces. 1st choice is easy, he wants a versatile player for his 22 jersey in a 6:2 bench and a young talented player to learn from the environment. If Farrell was selecting his 23 for Leinster v Toulouse, there is a fair chance he would have picked the exact same 23 as Leo Cullen. It’s an impossible theory to prove, but I don’t ever see Farrell selecting Frawley as a starting 10.
@John Buckley:
Well a lot is down to getting time at 10…
Crowley when starting off at 10 beat only the Dragons and Ulster in16 months, even then got a start against Ulster and Ben Healy had to save him.
He then won 3 games and drew one and he was going to the RWC.
Munster stuck by him, they took the knocks for him getting started and reaped the rewards…
That is why it was so suprising what Leo did with Sam, he was getting those early minutes given to Sam for free by a Connacht very short on out half.
@Paul Ennis: at the moment crowley is the starting 10 because he is the best player. We have. Farrell played frawley twice at 10 on the NZ tour. There is no chance he would have picked byrne to start at 10, farrell likes his 10 to attack the line. Even a Ross fan like yourself can admit that one thing Ross can’t do is attack the line.
@chris mcdonnell: I hear the Conservatives are looking for a new press secretary Chris. Put that comment on your CV and the job is yours. Barring a last minute injury on tour, he won’t pick Frawley to start 10 in a “TEST MATCH” either. If Crowley were unavailable right now, Ross Byrne would travel and start both tests with Frawley on the bench. Come autumn, Crowley will start the big games and Sam P will make his debut v Fiji. Why? Crowley is light years ahead of Byrne, but Frawley is not. His selection is a pragmatic squad decision that he has the luxury to make. By the time Farrell returns from his Lions sabatical, I believe his 2 main 10s will be Crowley and Sam P.
@chris mcdonnell: And for the record, I can see the flaws of all 4 Leinster outhalves. Ross Byrne is limited but not as bad as you make out. The reason why you think I am a “Ross Byrne fan” is because you force me to come to his defence so often. I don’t need to point out his flaws because there you are castigating the poor man every time you get a phone in your hand. That says more about your negative and sometimes toxic commentary than anything else.
@Eoin H: @Eoin H: Is he that far off the mark? Frawley’s 2 mistakes were v costly in Leinster’s biggest games this year. Prendergast (Sam) hasn’t done anything yet – all sizzle, no steak seen yet. He is young granted, and time will tell. Usual Leinster hype surrounding him. Billy Burns has as much right to selection as these “heroes” ! Translation: Crowley or nothing atm.
@Paul Ennis: why are you always so personal in your comments when somebody disagrees with you? As I’ve said to you before, if you’ve nothing good to say, say nothing at all
@seamus Beirne : “Usual Leinster hype”. And you’ve got to wonder why Munster and Leinster fan bases are increasingly seeing each other as foes instead of friends, with comments like this. You have history though…..don’t you Shay.
@chris mcdonnell: Farrell picked Frawley twice at 10 in NZ because Harry went home from the tour injured. Don’t let the facts get in the way of your ill informed opinions though.
@Brian O’Connor: Always! Have you examples? If someone tells me that I am a “Ross Byrne fan”, that’s not personal, but it is if I respond to it. I called Chris out on his misleading statement regarding Frawley starting in NZ in what I thought was a humorous way. Pretty sure Chris wouldn’t take that personally! Not sure why you are?
@Owen ODonoghue: Ah it’s pretty obvious there’s something dodgy behind the scenes at Leinster with Cullen and the Byrne brothers. Everyone can see they aren’t good enough. Even look at Tom Jordan for Glasgow, not a high profile 10 but has a running game that gave Glasgow a chance to score a try from 50m the last day. Stand and sling 10s are finished
Delighted for Caolin Blade. Want to see him get a reasonable stint of game time down there. Think big Izzy will force himself into the match day squad ahead of Baird, whose form has fallen away a bit in the last couple of months. I don’t know what we learn bringing pom, Healy and Murray.
@killian fitzgerald: Yeah you could well.be right. Or you just might learn that this tour could be the making of the next guys off the rank. If you take out the 3 players I mention, there are still literally hundreds of caps in that squad. It’s not inexperienced.
@Rab McCracken: That’s 3 out of 35 players. That’s about 8% of the squad in total classed as a youngster according to you. There was room for a bit more in my opinion. Although I can see your point on Healy guiding O’Toole, if he is actually going as a LH.
@mickey mac: pace and a higher ceiling than Daly. That said Stockdale hasn’t done it since 2018 when he was sensational. Can he get back to that level and tidy up in defence. – the jury is out but Farrell is a better judge than myself
POM should be nowhere near the squad, and I really don’t know why Coombes or Ahern haven’t been selected. No JGP, Keenan and Hansen are huge losses. No Ross Byrne is definitely a positive. Think SA will win both tests by 10-15
@Dave Moran: you can’t go down to South Africa where they are chomping at the bit for us with all young inexperienced players. Are you soft in the head. You need some old wise heads and it helps they have a bit of dog in them as well. Honestly some people here think it is fantasy football
@Dave Moran: POM closed out the season strong, he struggled post world cup to end of 6N but is in good form since April, he is there on merit
Agree he wont be around until the next world cup but that applies to other players like Murray, Aki and Healy but we still need these guys if we want to be competitive down there
@Dave Moran: Agreed, would have though Hodnett deserve at least run, we know AF isn’t interested in Coombes tho, PoM, just dunno what the fuss is about.
@Warren Conlon Grant: Him and Henshaw have been great for Ireland but they’ll be 37.5 and 35.5 years old by the next world cup comes around. That’s just too old imo.
Given Ireland play off 9, JPG missing for me is a big loss. His ability to read the game, snipe around the ruck and get the backline moving with quick ruck ball is second to none..Casey is very good but not yet at that calibre ..faf and the SA loosies will be all over Casey…
Against that SA pack hopefully he looks at Ryan and McCarthy in the row with Beirne at 6 for one of the games.
Doris has been looking like he is in need of a rest the last few weeks. With the lack of minutes Conan has rocked up it was primed for him to start a game. Fair call on his behalf you have to say.
Prendergast to push on next season and take the 10 jersey for Leinster.
@Gos9: Daly is one year younger than Stockdale and has no Ireland tries to Jacob’s nineteen. Plus Stockdale has finished the season in great form. Not sure what Daly’s kicking is like, but Stockdale has a booming left boot if we lose Lowe.
@Gos9: Beirne is Ireland’s best lock by a mile. Proves it game in and game out. It is a question of who plays with him. I would go with Ryan. Mc Carthy totally over hyped and better coming in with 20 mins left, if at all.
@Rab McCracken: rubbish. Stockdale has never recovered the form he showed early in his career. Dalys defensive abilities alone should have his seat on the plane
@Gos9: agree with you on Daly who is also a solid attacking full back. Would have selected Stewart ahead of Herring given that both Kelleher and Sheehan are both on the plane. Also no point in selecting Frawley unless Leinster are prepared to play him regularly as a 10 next season.
@mickey mac: ‘never recovered form’ tells me you don’t watch Ulster much. Top irish try scorer in URC, this season Daly 23 starts 7 tries 0.3 avg per game. Stockdale 21 starts 10 tries avg 0.5 per game. Both 23 clean breaks in URC Stokdale with more defenders beaten (in fewer game for clean breaks and defender beaten as well) and a stockdale has a higher tackle success rate.
@mickey mac: Hardly rubbish. Stockdale has scored 44 tries for Ulster and 19 for Ireland, Daly has 22 for Munster and none for Ireland. Farrell has never been a safety first coach, picking a winger just for his defensive abilities isn’t his style. And his record with Ireland speaks for itself.
@Rab McCracken: In fairness we’ve been on here bemoaning Jacobs lack of defence plenty of times this season, he’s v lucky to have his name on the team sheet, even the last time he was capped was lucky!! His CV is superior tho.
Excellent squad, lovely mix of youth and experience. I assume O’Toole is third choice loose head. No point in opening the Cooney debate again, but otherwise it’s a very exciting selection.
@frank walsh: not sure what more he needs to do. Better option was loughman. At least we have a few more years with him. The tour would have been far more beneficial
Decent squad. Big statement that in a few cameos Farrell already rates Sam ahead of the 2 Byrne boys. If that wasn’t a cue that one of them should move to Ulster / Connacht I don’t know what is! Interesting move on Tom O’Toole to loose head, I guess we have to try something, Boyle and McCarthy jr still a year or 2 away! Opportunity for Casey to step up to the plate too, I think he’s made big improvements this year. Maybe finally fulfilling that promise.
@Attacki Acki: I think either of the Byrne’s going to Connacht could go either way. Ross is brilliant. . . when things around him are ticking. But Connacht need an outhalf who can pull stuff out of the bag when the chips are down and things aren’t working out. Even if what they try doesn’t work, they need someone who thinks that way. It’s why Carty, Parks, etc have done well there. They have ideas, as mentioned it might not work out, but at least they’ll try and impose.
And my point is the biggest blot on the Byrnes’ playbook is that they seem to get insular in those situations. Who knows, maybe it’ll force them to improve there ala Keatley, or regress ala Niall O’Connor.
@David Hickey: Ross perhaps, but Harry is actually a good running 10. Ross is afraid of his own shadow. I think Harry could reignite his carear in a place where he could be ‘the man’. Ulster would be a great move for him. Still young with lots of potential.
Gibson-Park absence will really cast the door open for the scrum-halves to establish themselves as his heir. It looks like a bit of a problem position for Ireland going forward so it’ll be interesting to see who can potentially be vying with Casey for the future. Looking forward to it and should be a great tour!
@Rab McCracken: Casey is clear no2 but who next. Just don’t get why Murray is going. I’m a huge fan of his and has been a loyal servant in red and green but he has nothing to prove. Not sure blade is the future either
@Rab McCracken: Foley is a phenomenal athlete, just needs the right coach at Leinster to improve his basic scrum half play. Problem is that coach is now at Racing 92 and Leinster don’t have anyone credible to help him
@Rab McCracken: Doak coming through? He’s been around for a few seasons at this stage, is he even a scrum half anymore? (no question he’s potentially a wc player tho), like Foley at lot, great energy, hope it’s not trained out of him now.
@Emmet Martin: I get Larmour but don’t understand Stockdale over Daly. Please Caolin, come through, scared about 9. The rest is very exciting, Lowe/Nash/JOB especially. A lot of forwards in form. Could be magic
@Warren Conlon Grant: Casey is the clear best 9 from the back half of that season, vastly improved, with none of the others stepping up to challenge (which is frustrating for fans) except for Foley who looks the real deal.
JGP is a massive blow to our chances. Delighted at Frawley and Prendergast over Byrne! Been so obvious to most of us for so long. Pleased Loughman hasn’t made it, overrated, how he got into that OPTA stats European team of the season is bizarre
I don’t think it will happen but Blade should be given an opportunity at scrum half. He is the closest to Gibson Park in style, of the three, and significantly more experienced than Casey. GP absence is a huge blow.
I doubt Prendergast will see much game time, if any. He won’t see any if we’re going with 6-2 splits. As valuable as spending time in camp is, I think he’d be better served getting a full pre-season with Leinster with obvious focus on S&C and filling out that frame. This will also likely make him unavailable for the start of the league in late September which isn’t ideal.
@chris mcdonnell: He needs to fill out Chris, and add muscle and bulk to his considerable frame. He’ll be better served doing that than being a non-playing tourist in South Africa in my opinion. And we’ll only know who is first choice etc when the season actually begins, not before. Prendergast has to earn that jersey and earn his place in the first choice Leinster 23. And before I hear you moan about the Byrnes not deserving anything, they’re both more experienced and physically bigger than Sam. He needs to force his way past them and make it impossible to not be selected. I fully believe he can do so next season and I think he’ll be pushing to be first choice 10 come Xmas or the 6N. I think he’s super talented.
@Carmine Lorenzo: They fly home on the 14th of July, the whole squad will be doing preseason with their clubs as usual. SP will learn a HUGE amount from Crowley and the squad in general this tour
@Andrew Slazenger: They are coming off a 13 month season. None of the Leinster players who see any meaningful game time in South Africa will be available for the first league game on Sept 20th or whatever it is. Prendergast has already been in camp once or twice. I am thinking longer term in terms of how he can most quickly become the first choice 10 at club and then for Ireland. Uninterrupted pre season with main focus on S&C is the best way to do this in my opinion. Though if he barely plays he’ll be back at Leinster sooner. All of the players not picked – their seasons ended last weekend, they’ll be back for pre-season before the end of July.
@Carmine Lorenzo: he’ll fill out just fine, he also has had no issue in contact in senior rugby so far. He is already over 15 stone and is 6ft 4. Great example is his carry when collecting a loose line out v Ulster in the QF, you wouldnt see any of the Byrnes doing that..
@Carmine Lorenzo: it’s quite clear that Ross byrne is first choice 10 at leinster and Harry is no 2 based on who started at 10 most all season. The only way that changes is if Leo moves on.
@chris mcdonnell: that can change quickly when national team recognition comes in, look at Crowley, went from third choice at Munster to Ireland starting 10 in 18months. That Australia game in 2022 catapulted him ahead of alot of others
@Carmine Lorenzo: your talking about Cullen, there’s no such thing as forcing your way past one of Leo’s players. Look how long JGP was a sub and only got a chance because farrell picked him. Champions Cup final when Ross was clearly injured it took more than 8 minutes for Leo to make the change. As for physically bigger and more experienced, neither byrne could tackle a cafe mocha.
@chris mcdonnell: They must half some ‘compromising photos’ or something. Interested to see if it comes to a head. Not selecting Ross is a hammer blow to his confidence.
Some good picks and others we may question… personally I feel Sam P will prove himself as a class 10 and as a Muster supporter I’m jealous …. He’s got that relaxed style of playing with ball in hand which is very deceiving and more so unpredictable…. I also noticed he covers some ground behind play and can pop up anywhere …. Love his style. I don’t believe Craig C has the character for a great 9.., under pressure he goes missing and gets flustered, he’s ok when the team are on top but you need a 9 to pull a team along and for me Casey has struggled to demonstrate that in a game…. Unlike JGP… Murray is a safe 9 and is not easily bullied and has a better reading of the game. I’m delighted Farrell is not been so predictable….
Gibson-Park is a huge loss. As is Keenan. But it’ll be a good chance for O’Brien who’s solid at fullback. I was really excited to see Ahern, he just can’t catch a break with injuries but Izuchukwu has been a revelation for Ulster this season. He’s really put his hand up and his big anthletic frame will only benefit the pack. So young still too. Delighted for the Prendergast brothers. Cian in particular has played above and beyond in a lack lustre Connacht team for the last 3 seasons. It won’t be easy to go down there and get a win but I think it’ll be closer than people think. South Africa haven’t played rugby for almost a year. We already beat them in the World Cup so there’s no reason we can’t go and do it again. Lots to look forward to!
Completely shortsighted to continue with O’Mahony as captain. His legs are gone, he is incapable of playing 80 minutes at Test level anymore. We should be building for the next World Cup. Crazy decision from Farrell, who has shirked a big decision yet again.
@Aidan Farrell: farrell has a bit of a problem in that he’s got no other captains. This is going to be a leaderless team pretty soon when the likes of pom and aki finish up. Crowley is a ballsy player who’ll step up but after that we’re getting down to a lot of quiet soldiers
Crowley, Frawley and Prendergast is exactly right in terms of the pecking order IMO and frankly Cullen hasn’t a clue. A bit disappointed young Devine didn’t get a look in at SH given his potential but I guess Blade deserves a go even if his current form seems to below where it was 12 or so months agoI delighted to see Izu get in. Injury permitting, he’ll overtake Baird in the pecking order pretty soon (potentially already this tour). O’Mahoney would have been better off in his garden and getting some good R&R in for next season but I guess he doesn’t want the rest. It’s a pity also to see our only loose head props are converting tight heads. Not a good omen.
Wouldn’t make a difference if we had 20 players on the pitch, when push come to shove we’ll cave in again. We’ve no pace, no power relative to the other teams who actually win trophies.
Player welfare programme needs to be re-evaluated and so does a focking sporting season that goes on for longer than a focking pregnancy
@Colm O’Keane: what international teams win trophies? Apart from South Africa winning the world Cup? Can you remind me who won this year’s 6 nations or the grandslam the year before. Look give your mother back her phone, the adults are talking
So many should have made it that didn’t. France just announced 21 additions to their squad…. Opportunity missed for a lot of talent, especially outside of Leinster.
No Gibson park we haven’t a chance of winning a game same old team .We are standing still as a national team,we never take a chance our players are morphing into robots no flair or xfactor look lost when pressure comes on leader less.Let’s hope the emerging tour throws up some stars of the future
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Oh my, Andy Farrell, A man that understands way more about attacking rugby than Leo Cullen, picks Frawley and Sam ahead of Ross Byrne? Talk about exposing Cullen. Izuchukwu the bolter for me, the thing that separates him from Baird and Ahern is he’s properly filled it, big explosive unit. Munster fans will complain about Coombes not being picked, but he’s got Paul O Connell in Irish camp to back his corner and he clearly doesn’t think he’s good enough
@Eoin H: it’s a huge sign for the Byrne brothers. Harry probably being forced into the Connacht loan and Ross will likely be with S&C bulking up over the summer.
@Owen ODonoghue: Not sure what Bulking up Ross will change at this stage of his career? Harry certainly needs to go but reckon he doesn’t have the right people giving him advice that he needs to
@Eoin H: Well said Eoin. Great to see Prendergast and Izuchukwu get the nod.
@Eoin H: not for the first time has farrell shown how poor a selector Cullen is. Jgp was a very lightly used sub at leinster until farrell picked him for Ireland. Cullen would still have luke mcgrath as leinsters first choice if farrell didn’t step in
@Eoin H: Coombes was never going, AF doesn’t like him and he only got a 15 minute shown in the semis, no one likes him it seems.
@Eoin H: disagree on Ross, he is only 29 and could have 5 or 6 more season of pro rugby left in him. He doesnt have natural speed or size but its easier to change the latter. If he is 5 or 10kg heavier hes going to have more confidence going into contact both sides of the ball.
@Eoin H: yeah, Farrell knows so much more about attacking rugby that he is taking Cullens attack coach. Cullen sees a lot more of these players and doesn’t pick them. The inside center, Frawley, got 30 minutes at 10 against Toulouse and did nothing. He came on last weekend and cost them the game because he couldn’t catch a ball. Prendegast has done absolutely nothing to deserve the hype. He didn’t even stand out at u20. There is a huge gap between Crowley and these 2
@Eoin H: Leinsters backup flyhaves get into the Ireland squad and their first choice 10 is omitted ..bizarre ..
@Stuart: not bizarre at all. Farrell picks the best players available,
@John Buckley: Your some spoofer altogether. Go back to watching your 2000s European documentaries
@chris mcdonnell: absolutely remember this well Frawley and SP going to SA and the Byrnes on their deck chairs definitely sends a message.
@John Buckley: are you that much afraid that crowley will get passed out that you have to abuse the next 2 in line?
@Stuart: only Cullen thinks RB is ahead of the other 2. Farrell is bang on with this selection
@Stuart: Not really, Farrell has form. He picked JGP ahead of Luke McGrath, McCarthy ahead of Ryan, Harry ahead of Ross and I’m sure there are a few more. SP is the future and is the perfect squad player for this tour. Frawley offers more versatility than either of the Byrnes. We can argue the individual strengths and weaknesses until the cows come home but that is the reason I would select him for this squad. Crowley is no. 1. This is the easiest trio of 10s that Farrell has ever had to select in my opinion.
@Michael Corkery: Andy Farrell is a pragmatic selector. He has to pick 3 outhalves for a squad for 2 tests out of a selection of 7 or 8 from 4 provinces. 1st choice is easy, he wants a versatile player for his 22 jersey in a 6:2 bench and a young talented player to learn from the environment. If Farrell was selecting his 23 for Leinster v Toulouse, there is a fair chance he would have picked the exact same 23 as Leo Cullen. It’s an impossible theory to prove, but I don’t ever see Farrell selecting Frawley as a starting 10.
@John Buckley:
Well a lot is down to getting time at 10…
Crowley when starting off at 10 beat only the Dragons and Ulster in16 months, even then got a start against Ulster and Ben Healy had to save him.
He then won 3 games and drew one and he was going to the RWC.
Munster stuck by him, they took the knocks for him getting started and reaped the rewards…
That is why it was so suprising what Leo did with Sam, he was getting those early minutes given to Sam for free by a Connacht very short on out half.
@Paul Ennis: at the moment crowley is the starting 10 because he is the best player. We have. Farrell played frawley twice at 10 on the NZ tour. There is no chance he would have picked byrne to start at 10, farrell likes his 10 to attack the line. Even a Ross fan like yourself can admit that one thing Ross can’t do is attack the line.
@chris mcdonnell: I hear the Conservatives are looking for a new press secretary Chris. Put that comment on your CV and the job is yours. Barring a last minute injury on tour, he won’t pick Frawley to start 10 in a “TEST MATCH” either. If Crowley were unavailable right now, Ross Byrne would travel and start both tests with Frawley on the bench. Come autumn, Crowley will start the big games and Sam P will make his debut v Fiji. Why? Crowley is light years ahead of Byrne, but Frawley is not. His selection is a pragmatic squad decision that he has the luxury to make. By the time Farrell returns from his Lions sabatical, I believe his 2 main 10s will be Crowley and Sam P.
@chris mcdonnell: And for the record, I can see the flaws of all 4 Leinster outhalves. Ross Byrne is limited but not as bad as you make out. The reason why you think I am a “Ross Byrne fan” is because you force me to come to his defence so often. I don’t need to point out his flaws because there you are castigating the poor man every time you get a phone in your hand. That says more about your negative and sometimes toxic commentary than anything else.
@Eoin H: @Eoin H: Is he that far off the mark? Frawley’s 2 mistakes were v costly in Leinster’s biggest games this year. Prendergast (Sam) hasn’t done anything yet – all sizzle, no steak seen yet. He is young granted, and time will tell. Usual Leinster hype surrounding him. Billy Burns has as much right to selection as these “heroes” ! Translation: Crowley or nothing atm.
@Paul Ennis: why are you always so personal in your comments when somebody disagrees with you? As I’ve said to you before, if you’ve nothing good to say, say nothing at all
@seamus Beirne : “Usual Leinster hype”. And you’ve got to wonder why Munster and Leinster fan bases are increasingly seeing each other as foes instead of friends, with comments like this. You have history though…..don’t you Shay.
@chris mcdonnell: Farrell picked Frawley twice at 10 in NZ because Harry went home from the tour injured. Don’t let the facts get in the way of your ill informed opinions though.
@Brian O’Connor: Always! Have you examples? If someone tells me that I am a “Ross Byrne fan”, that’s not personal, but it is if I respond to it. I called Chris out on his misleading statement regarding Frawley starting in NZ in what I thought was a humorous way. Pretty sure Chris wouldn’t take that personally! Not sure why you are?
Still no Coombes or Hodnett
@Frank Grimes: I’d argue Timoney might have just shaded Coombes out but it’s very harsh on Hodnett, he should be in the squad and pushing VDF
@Frank Grimes: Feel bad for Hodnett from any Munster games I’ve watched he was pretty stand-out! I guess a lot of competition in his field.
No surprise to see Sam P make the tour , AF sees what Leo does not
@Owen ODonoghue: Ah it’s pretty obvious there’s something dodgy behind the scenes at Leinster with Cullen and the Byrne brothers. Everyone can see they aren’t good enough. Even look at Tom Jordan for Glasgow, not a high profile 10 but has a running game that gave Glasgow a chance to score a try from 50m the last day. Stand and sling 10s are finished
@Owen ODonoghue: he’s not going to play against the Boks.
@Emmet Martin: if Crowley or Frawley gets injured hes on the bench
Delighted for Caolin Blade. Want to see him get a reasonable stint of game time down there. Think big Izzy will force himself into the match day squad ahead of Baird, whose form has fallen away a bit in the last couple of months. I don’t know what we learn bringing pom, Healy and Murray.
@Carmine Lorenzo: By bringing POM, Healy and Murray we’ll learn how to be competitive in SA, and give the youngsters experience to learn from.
@Carmine Lorenzo: I think you’d learn there would be a serious lack of leadership without them.
@Rab McCracken: what youngsters?
@Carmine Lorenzo: Prendergast, Osborne and Izuchukwu. Plus with O’Toole switching to loose head who better than Healy to guide him?
@killian fitzgerald: Yeah you could well.be right. Or you just might learn that this tour could be the making of the next guys off the rank. If you take out the 3 players I mention, there are still literally hundreds of caps in that squad. It’s not inexperienced.
@Rab McCracken: That’s 3 out of 35 players. That’s about 8% of the squad in total classed as a youngster according to you. There was room for a bit more in my opinion. Although I can see your point on Healy guiding O’Toole, if he is actually going as a LH.
How stockdale got in ahead of daly is an absolute mystery. Daly has been the form winger all season and covers 15. Crazy call
@mickey mac: why stockdale keeps getting picked is a real mystery.
@mickey mac: in fairness, Stockdale has finished the season well. I can see him starting. Wonder if Daly’s future is at 13.
@mickey mac: pace and a higher ceiling than Daly. That said Stockdale hasn’t done it since 2018 when he was sensational. Can he get back to that level and tidy up in defence. – the jury is out but Farrell is a better judge than myself
POM should be nowhere near the squad, and I really don’t know why Coombes or Ahern haven’t been selected. No JGP, Keenan and Hansen are huge losses. No Ross Byrne is definitely a positive. Think SA will win both tests by 10-15
@Dave Moran: Completely forgot that Ahern is injured but one of Coombes/hodnett should definitely be in
@Dave Moran: you can’t go down to South Africa where they are chomping at the bit for us with all young inexperienced players. Are you soft in the head. You need some old wise heads and it helps they have a bit of dog in them as well. Honestly some people here think it is fantasy football
@Dave Moran: OMahony is there to lead …. Something strongly lacking in a Leinster side!!!
@Lulu: those in glasshouses shouldn’t really throw stones.
@Lulu: Will he be there to lead at the next world cup?!? He’d done sweet FA the last year. He shouldn’t be in the squad
@Dave Moran: POM closed out the season strong, he struggled post world cup to end of 6N but is in good form since April, he is there on merit
Agree he wont be around until the next world cup but that applies to other players like Murray, Aki and Healy but we still need these guys if we want to be competitive down there
@Dave Moran: Agreed, would have though Hodnett deserve at least run, we know AF isn’t interested in Coombes tho, PoM, just dunno what the fuss is about.
@chris mcdonnell: So Chris who is meant to lead Leinster because what I’ve seen of them for the past 2 years, they are completely rudderless!!
@Owen ODonoghue: don’t rule Aki out
@Warren Conlon Grant: I hope he is around too! Wrap him in cotton wool !
@Lulu: both ryan and more importantly ringrose have been injured most of the season, I’d guess one of them or doris will do the job.
@chris mcdonnell: Neither captain material…. Ryan was tried and failed dismally. Ringrose is too quiet and lacks imposing himself.
@Warren Conlon Grant: Him and Henshaw have been great for Ireland but they’ll be 37.5 and 35.5 years old by the next world cup comes around. That’s just too old imo.
@Dave Moran: I am amazed you’re not having a go at your favourite target, Casey. Now it is POM.
Given Ireland play off 9, JPG missing for me is a big loss. His ability to read the game, snipe around the ruck and get the backline moving with quick ruck ball is second to none..Casey is very good but not yet at that calibre ..faf and the SA loosies will be all over Casey…
@Stuart: JGP
@Stuart: don’t worry he’s won many games on the high Veldt … you may get a surprise how he thrives in the white hit heat
@Stuart: Pack is the difference. SA will be all over any scrum half if their pack is going backwards. Thats said JGP is 100% a gamechanger
@Stuart: Blade is better than Casey in a weaker team
@anthony davoren: I’m sorry but that’s simple not case …
@damien reidy: no need to apologise, it is the case. The only thing Casey has over Blade is youth.
@anthony davoren: And a far better season behind him. Casey is way better than Blade, the only thing Blade has is experience.
Shane Daly > Stockdale
Good to see Izzy in there with his form.
Against that SA pack hopefully he looks at Ryan and McCarthy in the row with Beirne at 6 for one of the games.
Doris has been looking like he is in need of a rest the last few weeks. With the lack of minutes Conan has rocked up it was primed for him to start a game. Fair call on his behalf you have to say.
Prendergast to push on next season and take the 10 jersey for Leinster.
@Gos9: that’s if Cullen let’s him
@Gos9: Daly is one year younger than Stockdale and has no Ireland tries to Jacob’s nineteen. Plus Stockdale has finished the season in great form. Not sure what Daly’s kicking is like, but Stockdale has a booming left boot if we lose Lowe.
@Gos9: Beirne is Ireland’s best lock by a mile. Proves it game in and game out. It is a question of who plays with him. I would go with Ryan. Mc Carthy totally over hyped and better coming in with 20 mins left, if at all.
@Gos9: i agree with u on doris looking very tired
@Rab McCracken: rubbish. Stockdale has never recovered the form he showed early in his career. Dalys defensive abilities alone should have his seat on the plane
@Gos9: agree with you on Daly who is also a solid attacking full back. Would have selected Stewart ahead of Herring given that both Kelleher and Sheehan are both on the plane. Also no point in selecting Frawley unless Leinster are prepared to play him regularly as a 10 next season.
@mark sheehan: There’s every point in selecting Frawley if they want to keep the option of a 6-2 bench.
@mickey mac: ‘never recovered form’ tells me you don’t watch Ulster much. Top irish try scorer in URC, this season Daly 23 starts 7 tries 0.3 avg per game. Stockdale 21 starts 10 tries avg 0.5 per game. Both 23 clean breaks in URC Stokdale with more defenders beaten (in fewer game for clean breaks and defender beaten as well) and a stockdale has a higher tackle success rate.
@mickey mac: Hardly rubbish. Stockdale has scored 44 tries for Ulster and 19 for Ireland, Daly has 22 for Munster and none for Ireland. Farrell has never been a safety first coach, picking a winger just for his defensive abilities isn’t his style. And his record with Ireland speaks for itself.
@Rab McCracken: In fairness we’ve been on here bemoaning Jacobs lack of defence plenty of times this season, he’s v lucky to have his name on the team sheet, even the last time he was capped was lucky!! His CV is superior tho.
Excellent squad, lovely mix of youth and experience. I assume O’Toole is third choice loose head. No point in opening the Cooney debate again, but otherwise it’s a very exciting selection.
Fair play to cian healy. Nobody has done more than him .not many like him around now
@frank walsh: not sure what more he needs to do. Better option was loughman. At least we have a few more years with him. The tour would have been far more beneficial
Decent squad. Big statement that in a few cameos Farrell already rates Sam ahead of the 2 Byrne boys. If that wasn’t a cue that one of them should move to Ulster / Connacht I don’t know what is! Interesting move on Tom O’Toole to loose head, I guess we have to try something, Boyle and McCarthy jr still a year or 2 away! Opportunity for Casey to step up to the plate too, I think he’s made big improvements this year. Maybe finally fulfilling that promise.
@Attacki Acki: I think either of the Byrne’s going to Connacht could go either way. Ross is brilliant. . . when things around him are ticking. But Connacht need an outhalf who can pull stuff out of the bag when the chips are down and things aren’t working out. Even if what they try doesn’t work, they need someone who thinks that way. It’s why Carty, Parks, etc have done well there. They have ideas, as mentioned it might not work out, but at least they’ll try and impose.
And my point is the biggest blot on the Byrnes’ playbook is that they seem to get insular in those situations. Who knows, maybe it’ll force them to improve there ala Keatley, or regress ala Niall O’Connor.
@David Hickey: Ross perhaps, but Harry is actually a good running 10. Ross is afraid of his own shadow. I think Harry could reignite his carear in a place where he could be ‘the man’. Ulster would be a great move for him. Still young with lots of potential.
Gibson-Park absence will really cast the door open for the scrum-halves to establish themselves as his heir. It looks like a bit of a problem position for Ireland going forward so it’ll be interesting to see who can potentially be vying with Casey for the future. Looking forward to it and should be a great tour!
@Ultán Corcoran: I think we’ll be okay at scrum half with Doak and Foley coming through.
@Ultán Corcoran: Casey will not be Ireland’s scrum half in the next world cup, I can assure you that
@Rab McCracken: Casey is clear no2 but who next. Just don’t get why Murray is going. I’m a huge fan of his and has been a loyal servant in red and green but he has nothing to prove. Not sure blade is the future either
@Rab McCracken: Foley is a phenomenal athlete, just needs the right coach at Leinster to improve his basic scrum half play. Problem is that coach is now at Racing 92 and Leinster don’t have anyone credible to help him
@Rab McCracken: Yeah true, Foley looks like a real deal albeit still a pretty raw talent. You’re right tho.
@Rab McCracken: Doak coming through? He’s been around for a few seasons at this stage, is he even a scrum half anymore? (no question he’s potentially a wc player tho), like Foley at lot, great energy, hope it’s not trained out of him now.
@Eoin H: apart from the second best scrumhalf on the planet
How has David McCann missed out
@launish116: and Coombes and Hodnett and Daly and a good few others. Bizarrely squad. Bar the three caps almost identical to the RWC squad.
Larmour and Stockdale over Shane Daly is actual madness. Two lads full of mistakes versus a guy who never makes any.
No problem with the young lads included – Izuchukwu, Osborne and Sam P. Can’t see any of them playing but good to get exposure.
We need to move on from Healy, great servant but too old.
All in all – a pretty dull squad.
@Emmet Martin: I get Larmour but don’t understand Stockdale over Daly. Please Caolin, come through, scared about 9. The rest is very exciting, Lowe/Nash/JOB especially. A lot of forwards in form. Could be magic
@Warren Conlon Grant: Casey is the clear best 9 from the back half of that season, vastly improved, with none of the others stepping up to challenge (which is frustrating for fans) except for Foley who looks the real deal.
@Thesaltyurchin: Ment to add Devine there
JGP is a massive blow to our chances. Delighted at Frawley and Prendergast over Byrne! Been so obvious to most of us for so long. Pleased Loughman hasn’t made it, overrated, how he got into that OPTA stats European team of the season is bizarre
I don’t think it will happen but Blade should be given an opportunity at scrum half. He is the closest to Gibson Park in style, of the three, and significantly more experienced than Casey. GP absence is a huge blow.
I doubt Prendergast will see much game time, if any. He won’t see any if we’re going with 6-2 splits. As valuable as spending time in camp is, I think he’d be better served getting a full pre-season with Leinster with obvious focus on S&C and filling out that frame. This will also likely make him unavailable for the start of the league in late September which isn’t ideal.
@Carmine Lorenzo: better served doing preseason as 3rd choice outhalf at leinster rather than traveling with the Ireland squad?
@chris mcdonnell: He needs to fill out Chris, and add muscle and bulk to his considerable frame. He’ll be better served doing that than being a non-playing tourist in South Africa in my opinion. And we’ll only know who is first choice etc when the season actually begins, not before. Prendergast has to earn that jersey and earn his place in the first choice Leinster 23. And before I hear you moan about the Byrnes not deserving anything, they’re both more experienced and physically bigger than Sam. He needs to force his way past them and make it impossible to not be selected. I fully believe he can do so next season and I think he’ll be pushing to be first choice 10 come Xmas or the 6N. I think he’s super talented.
@Carmine Lorenzo: They fly home on the 14th of July, the whole squad will be doing preseason with their clubs as usual. SP will learn a HUGE amount from Crowley and the squad in general this tour
@Andrew Slazenger: They are coming off a 13 month season. None of the Leinster players who see any meaningful game time in South Africa will be available for the first league game on Sept 20th or whatever it is. Prendergast has already been in camp once or twice. I am thinking longer term in terms of how he can most quickly become the first choice 10 at club and then for Ireland. Uninterrupted pre season with main focus on S&C is the best way to do this in my opinion. Though if he barely plays he’ll be back at Leinster sooner. All of the players not picked – their seasons ended last weekend, they’ll be back for pre-season before the end of July.
@Carmine Lorenzo: he’ll fill out just fine, he also has had no issue in contact in senior rugby so far. He is already over 15 stone and is 6ft 4. Great example is his carry when collecting a loose line out v Ulster in the QF, you wouldnt see any of the Byrnes doing that..
@Carmine Lorenzo: it’s quite clear that Ross byrne is first choice 10 at leinster and Harry is no 2 based on who started at 10 most all season. The only way that changes is if Leo moves on.
@Carmine Lorenzo: Prendergast will get exposed to better coaches in the Ireland setup than at Leinster.
@chris mcdonnell: that can change quickly when national team recognition comes in, look at Crowley, went from third choice at Munster to Ireland starting 10 in 18months. That Australia game in 2022 catapulted him ahead of alot of others
@Carmine Lorenzo: your talking about Cullen, there’s no such thing as forcing your way past one of Leo’s players. Look how long JGP was a sub and only got a chance because farrell picked him. Champions Cup final when Ross was clearly injured it took more than 8 minutes for Leo to make the change. As for physically bigger and more experienced, neither byrne could tackle a cafe mocha.
@chris mcdonnell: They must half some ‘compromising photos’ or something. Interested to see if it comes to a head. Not selecting Ross is a hammer blow to his confidence.
Some good picks and others we may question… personally I feel Sam P will prove himself as a class 10 and as a Muster supporter I’m jealous …. He’s got that relaxed style of playing with ball in hand which is very deceiving and more so unpredictable…. I also noticed he covers some ground behind play and can pop up anywhere …. Love his style. I don’t believe Craig C has the character for a great 9.., under pressure he goes missing and gets flustered, he’s ok when the team are on top but you need a 9 to pull a team along and for me Casey has struggled to demonstrate that in a game…. Unlike JGP… Murray is a safe 9 and is not easily bullied and has a better reading of the game. I’m delighted Farrell is not been so predictable….
What happened Loughman? surprised he is not there given our lack of looseheads
Gibson-Park is a huge loss. As is Keenan. But it’ll be a good chance for O’Brien who’s solid at fullback. I was really excited to see Ahern, he just can’t catch a break with injuries but Izuchukwu has been a revelation for Ulster this season. He’s really put his hand up and his big anthletic frame will only benefit the pack. So young still too. Delighted for the Prendergast brothers. Cian in particular has played above and beyond in a lack lustre Connacht team for the last 3 seasons. It won’t be easy to go down there and get a win but I think it’ll be closer than people think. South Africa haven’t played rugby for almost a year. We already beat them in the World Cup so there’s no reason we can’t go and do it again. Lots to look forward to!
18 Leinster
7 Munster
6 Ulster
4 Connacht
Seems about right!
Completely shortsighted to continue with O’Mahony as captain. His legs are gone, he is incapable of playing 80 minutes at Test level anymore. We should be building for the next World Cup. Crazy decision from Farrell, who has shirked a big decision yet again.
@Aidan Farrell: farrell has a bit of a problem in that he’s got no other captains. This is going to be a leaderless team pretty soon when the likes of pom and aki finish up. Crowley is a ballsy player who’ll step up but after that we’re getting down to a lot of quiet soldiers
@Aidan Farrell: sure ya can say the same thing about healy, but ya wont.
@munsterman: Beirne? Would have him in but would have to be with PoM out of the picture. He’s a warrior but not an inspirational or charismatic guy.
These guys need a rest this is going to be really tough id be more confident with a fresh team im not so confident now
Crowley, Frawley and Prendergast is exactly right in terms of the pecking order IMO and frankly Cullen hasn’t a clue. A bit disappointed young Devine didn’t get a look in at SH given his potential but I guess Blade deserves a go even if his current form seems to below where it was 12 or so months agoI delighted to see Izu get in. Injury permitting, he’ll overtake Baird in the pecking order pretty soon (potentially already this tour). O’Mahoney would have been better off in his garden and getting some good R&R in for next season but I guess he doesn’t want the rest. It’s a pity also to see our only loose head props are converting tight heads. Not a good omen.
We’re going to the world cup with dad’s army and then “fine margins” will cost us in the quarters.
Wouldn’t make a difference if we had 20 players on the pitch, when push come to shove we’ll cave in again. We’ve no pace, no power relative to the other teams who actually win trophies.
Player welfare programme needs to be re-evaluated and so does a focking sporting season that goes on for longer than a focking pregnancy
@Colm O’Keane: what international teams win trophies? Apart from South Africa winning the world Cup? Can you remind me who won this year’s 6 nations or the grandslam the year before. Look give your mother back her phone, the adults are talking
So many should have made it that didn’t. France just announced 21 additions to their squad…. Opportunity missed for a lot of talent, especially outside of Leinster.
What does John Cooney and Gavin Coombes need to do, to get a cap?
No Gibson park we haven’t a chance of winning a game same old team .We are standing still as a national team,we never take a chance our players are morphing into robots no flair or xfactor look lost when pressure comes on leader less.Let’s hope the emerging tour throws up some stars of the future