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Ireland head coach Declan Kidney at today's squad announcement. INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Four new faces in Ireland’s November squad

Richardt Strauss, Iain Henderson, Luke Marshall and David Kilcoyne have all been called into Declan Kidney’s squad for the Guinness Series internationals.

Updated 13.10

LEINSTER’S SOUTH AFRICAN-born hooker Richardt Strauss is one of four uncapped players called up to the Ireland squad for next month’s Guinness Series internationals.

The 26-year-old, who was one of the stars of Leinster’s Heineken Cup successes in 2011 and 2012, becomes eligible to represent Ireland next month and has been included in Declan Kidney’s 31-man panel for the November tests.

Ulster duo Iain Henderson and Luke Marshall and Munster’s David Kilcoyne are the other new faces ahead of the games against South Africa and Argentina in the Aviva Stadium and against Fiji in Thomond Park.

But there is no place for Rob Kearney who is set to have surgery on a back injury tomorrow and is expected to miss eight to ten weeks, Kidney said.

Kidney will wait until after this weekend’s RaboDirect Pro12 action before finalising his panel and will add “at least one more back and probably a prop to the squad after the weekend,” the IRFU said.

There are new faces too in the backroom staff, with Munster assistant Anthony Foley brought in as defence coach while Leinster’s Greg Feek will work as scrum coach. Both Foley and Feek will continue on their provincial roles outside the international windows.

Discussing his decision to bring Strauss in, Kidney said that the South African’s form merits a place in the squad despite fierce competition at number two.

In Ireland we’re quite fortunate in the hooking position. Damien Varley, Mike Sherry, Sean Cronin have gone well for us. In that respect, it couldn’t say it was a no-brainer because that would be disrespectful to everything they’ve done.

I think Richardt has been playing well over a period of time and he’s backed that up with the way he started the season as well then this year. He certainly merits his position but it’s one of those positions we have quite a bit of competition for.

Henderson, Marshall and Kilcoyne have all impressed Kidney with their provincial form this season and the trio of rising stars help strike a balance between youth and experience, Kidney explained.

“Iain obviously had a very good Under-20 World Cup and we told him to come in to our September camp for a bit of experience, to see how he’d measure up. In fairness to him, he settled in well over the two days and he’s taken his opportunities with Ulster quite well.

“Likewise with David Kilcoyne, we like the way he’s going with Munster too.

“In terms of Luke’s position, obviously we just need to concentrate on the November matches but it’s also within the job to make sure that Ireland has a squad going forward.

We have a number of guys playing well in the centres — James Downey, Paddy Wallace, Gordon D’Arcy in fairness to him stood up to the mark last weekend. We feel it’s incumbent to have a group coming through, we don’t want the three of those disappearing at the one time and having nobody, so Luke is in the squad there. We feel that he really went well in the early part of the season.

He added: “We think the age profile then of the rest of the squad is pretty good. We have some experienced fellas, you can see a couple of guys there who are well over the 100 caps, but the job is to make sure that it’s never cyclical, that you try to be as smooth as possible in bringing guys through.”

Ireland squad: Rory Best, Tommy Bowe, Darrren Cave, Tom Court, Gordon D’Arcy, Keith Earls, Stephen Ferris, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, David Kilcoyne, Luke Marshall, John Muldoon, Conor Murray, Mike McCarthy, Fergus McFadden, Kevin McLaughlin, Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell, Brian O’Driscoll (c), Ronan O’Gara, Peter O’Mahony, Eoin Reddan, Mike Ross, Donnacha Ryan, Jonny Sexton, Richardt Strauss, Andrew Trimble, Dan Tuohy, Simon Zebo.

Declan Kidney names his Ireland squad today, here’s what to expect

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    Mute Ian Harty
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    Oct 24th 2012, 12:39 PM

    Strauss is a great pick…pity Naceewa played that one game for Fiji…

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    Mute Ian Carrigan
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    Oct 24th 2012, 2:22 PM

    No need for Nacewa when we have Rob Kearney. Isa is probably a better full-back (and amazing servant to Leinster ) but i just don’t like the idea of international rugby becoming like club rugby! I would prefer just irish born and bred rugby players playing for Ireland.

    No Madigan is a joke. Another dinosaur in charge of an Irish international team!

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    Mute Ian Carrigan
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    Oct 24th 2012, 2:23 PM

    And yes I know Kearney is injured! but you get my pont : ) If Isa was eligible then another Irish player would miss out on playing!

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    Mute Ian Carrigan
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    Oct 24th 2012, 2:23 PM

    And yes I know Kearney is injured! but you get my point : ) If Isa was eligible then another Irish player would miss out on playing!

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    Mute Soupy Norman
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    Oct 24th 2012, 12:13 PM

    Strauss and Marshall. Superb addictions.

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    Mute Richard Crompton
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    Oct 24th 2012, 1:38 PM

    No Ian Madigan what a joke! All that talk about building for the future, O’ Gara has been great for Ireland and we appreciate it monsignor but please get over him. If Sexton gets injured what then Deccie?

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    Mute b
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    Oct 24th 2012, 2:01 PM

    Wtf no Jennings? Leinster best play so far this season.

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    Mute Dennis Laffey
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    Oct 24th 2012, 2:38 PM

    b – not sure I agree about Jennings being Leinsters best player so far, but even so there are better 7s in Ireland at the minute. Not all about the Boys in Blue.

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    Mute Fintan Harrington
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    Oct 24th 2012, 1:13 PM

    Am I reading this wrong or is Madigan still not getting called up by Kidney?

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    Mute B Collins
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    Oct 24th 2012, 1:38 PM

    Yup. Can’t believe it myself. And this coming from a Munster supporter. O’Gara is a legend, but at 34/35, he’s nearing the end of his career. His selection ahead of younger players undermines the future of Irish rugby.
    The Madigans and Jacksons need to get their experience now ahead of the next world cup campaign. Gutted that Madigan, especially, was not considered. He can run, he can kick, he can tackle (crucially).
    What’s a player got to do?

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    Mute Jenny Halley
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    Oct 24th 2012, 12:43 PM

    So many other young players that should have been picked. Same players will be used regardless if new players have been named.

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    Mute Patrick Kelly
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    Oct 24th 2012, 1:48 PM

    Paul Marshall had to be in this panel and Maddigan if Kidney kept to his word that form players would be included. Old codswallop.

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    Mute Ciaran Fridge O'Dowd
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    Oct 24th 2012, 1:33 PM

    No Madigan? Conor Murray selected and not Paul Marshall?! Absolute joke….

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    Mute Pádraig O'hEidhin
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    Oct 24th 2012, 1:46 PM

    O’Leary should be No. 9

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    Mute James Clarke
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    Oct 24th 2012, 1:29 PM

    Definitely better from Kidney but there are still some glaring omissions- notably Madigan and Marshall. Bringing an injured and honestly very, very old O’Gara instead of a young player playing excellent rugby is hard to understand. As is his persistent refusal to select Marshall for even the panel. With Kearney injured the inclusion of Madigan as an extra option at 15 even strengthens his case for being in the squad. I hope both these players get some game time against Fiji but above all else I hope the IRFU do not give Kidney another contract. He has had a negative influence on Irish rugby at a national level now ever since the grand slam year. He needs to be thanked for the work he has done but the game moved on long ago and with Kidney at the helm we have not.

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    Mute andrew
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    Oct 24th 2012, 1:17 PM

    Fifth face missing. That of a new manager

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    Mute Shane O Leary
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    Oct 24th 2012, 1:08 PM

    I see we’ve the 5th best OH in Ireland at the minute chosen yet again!

    6 second rows, 5 blindsides and only one TH prop.

    Not the worst Kidney selection we’ve ever seen, but thankfully, the clock is ticking…

    http://kidneyclock.net/

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    Mute Colm Buckley
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    Oct 24th 2012, 12:55 PM

    Ya,I’m disappointed with kidney!! He should be building for future,I said it for d summer & again we should hav at least 10 new comers for autumn international!! So we can blood for future & they get good solid international experience Wer just 4-5 yrs behind s.hemisphere rugby d whole time!!

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    Mute Humphrey Jones
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    Oct 24th 2012, 2:12 PM

    Disappointed that Kidney has not included Ian Madigan or Ian Keatley. Both are in good form and we need to build for the future. ROG will be coming off a few weeks on the sideline and won’t have game time. Short sighted.

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    Mute Barry Oneill
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    Oct 24th 2012, 2:00 PM

    What do u need to do to get a look in the Irish team .ruaidhri Murphy playing out of his skin for the brumbies in super rugby .. hello kidney start looking at young talent around the world as well .. Out with the old in with the new kids on the block..

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    Mute Steve O'Brien
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    Oct 24th 2012, 4:16 PM

    Murphy doesn’t want to play for Ireland, he wants to play for Australia, it’s why he is down there.

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    Mute barry kelleher
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    Oct 24th 2012, 1:12 PM

    let the Munster – Leinster arguments begin.

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    Mute ColindeB
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    Oct 24th 2012, 1:29 PM

    You’re behind the times. We’ve moved onto “Deccie hates Ulster players” now.

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    Mute Dennis Laffey
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    Oct 24th 2012, 2:44 PM

    I’m glad to see McCarthy included. He is the best lock available to Ireland at the minute on form (consistently as well). Hopefully he will be started in the Fiji match.

    Ridiculous that ROG has been included in my opinion. It would have been a great opportunity to let Keats or Madigan make some progress.

    Who is going to play fullback? Earls I suppose, despite the fact that he has been playing center all season. Or Zebo… :/

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    Mute Brian Flynn
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    Oct 24th 2012, 9:48 PM

    Gordon D’Arcy was finished at this level two years ago. His inclusion is staggering!

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    Mute Brian Flynn
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    Oct 25th 2012, 12:39 AM

    My bad…I should have also stated that though I believe that D’Arcy is no longer suitable for selection he has been a wonderful player and owes Irish Rugby absolutely nothing. Too much slagging off of great players and due regard should be given to their contribution

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    Mute Keith Flattery
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    Oct 24th 2012, 7:13 PM

    why no johnny o connor as number 7 we lack in that position well done to muldoon and mc carthy totallly deserve it Up the WEST !!!

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    Mute Susan Corscadden
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    Oct 24th 2012, 11:52 PM

    Great to see Strauss included- well deserved!

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    Mute Susan Corscadden
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    Oct 24th 2012, 11:50 PM

    In fairness darcy is doing well of late- considering he was injured up to a while ago.he played like a man possessed against the scarlets. He does deserve the place. Madigan definitely should be included.

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