It’s a tale of two injury lists lengthening by the day for Ireland and the All Blacks. But something tells me that Steve Tew won’t be making any complaints about Northern Hemisphere teams sending weakened squads to tour down south this June.
After a rash of injuries and some judicious resting of players after a tough Super 14, Graham Henry has announced his somewhat reduced squad for the All Blacks’ June Internationals.
He named four newcomers and recalled winger Joe Rokocoko for next month’s clashes with Ireland and Wales.
The new faces in the 26-man squad are Manawatu fly-half Aaron Cruden, Auckland centre Benson Stanley, Wellington loose forward Victor Vito and Hawke’s Bay fullback Israel Dagg.
The squad lines out as follows:
Anthony Boric (North Harbour), Dan Carter (Canterbury), Jimmy Cowan (Southland), Aaron Cruden (Manawatu), Israel Dagg (Hawke’s Bay), Aled de Malmanche (Waikato), Tom Donnelly (Otago), Ben Franks (Tasman), Owen Franks (Canterbury), Zac Guildford (Hawke’s Bay), Cory Jane (Wellington), Richard Kahui (Waikato), Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Richie McCaw (Canterbury, captain), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Mils Muliaina (Waikato), Joe Rokocoko (Auckland), Kieran Read (Canterbury), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Benson Stanley (Auckland), Adam Thomson (Otago), Brad Thorn (Canterbury), Neemia Tialata (Wellington), Victor Vito (Wellington), Piri Weepu (Wellington), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour).
In other circumstances, Ireland might have relished meeting such a depleted squad given their on-going failure to beat the All Blacks either home or away over the decades. They’ve come close in recent tours, but never far enough.
Ironically however, Ireland coach, Declan Kidney, finds himself with similar problems as the toils of a longer season and the overhang of last year’s Lions tour has taken its toll.
His squad, announced two weeks ago, has already had some changes forced upon it, and 5 uncapped players will now travel as part of a 43-man panel for their four June matches against Barbarians, New Zealand, NZ Maori and Australia.
What’s worrying for Kidney is the amount of caps Ireland has lost from its squad.
Already they’re down two experienced locks – Paul O’Connell, Munster captain and Leo Cullen, Leinster Captain. Ed O’Donoghue, uncapped, but an Ulster veteran, fills in for O’Connell along with uncapped team-mate, Chris Henry. Ulster captain, Rory Best, will also miss out on filling the hooker slot for the tour after injuring an ankle. His replacement, Leinster’s John Fogarty, is another uncapped player.
Luke Fitzgerald, Leinster winger, is a long-term absentee, and is now joined by Leinster backrow colleagues, Stephen Keogh and Kevin McLaughlin on the injury list. McLaughlin had been expected to be a reliable replacement for Stephen Ferris who fractured a cheekbone and will also miss the tour. Niall Ronan of Munster with two Ireland ‘A’ caps to his credit is the replacement. Munster’s stalwart backrower, Denis Leamy, remains absent after the recurrence of an injury from earlier in the season.
With the Irish front row suffering all kinds of problems this season, and the absence of the power of O’Connell and Ferris from the fray, the Irish scrum is going to be under a lot of pressure from all opponents.
If they get some decent ball out to the backline, it’ll be received by either Tomas O’Leary or Eoin Reddan – both chasing the scrum-half jersey, whilst the on-going battle for the 10 shirt continues with both Ronan O’Gara and recently recovered Jonny Sexton, firing on both cylinders. Gordon Darcy will likely take the 12 shirt, he was one of the better performers in Leinster’s Magners’ final defeat to the Ospreys on Saturday.
Paddy Wallace of Ulster as his back-up is carrying an injury but will tour. But hopefully new cap, Fergus McFadden, may get a chance to shine, and display his highly accurate long-range kicking boot similar to Morne Steyn and Leigh Halfpenny. O’Driscoll remains available at outside centre, but the Irish captain has been somewhat lacklustre this season compared to the heights of 2009.
On the wings, Tommy Bowe, the Irish and Welsh Players’ Player of the Year continues to give opposition teams plenty of trouble out wide and through the centre. Keith Earls, Shane Horgan and Andrew Trimble will jostle for position, with Earls the most likely on the other wing, as long as his on-going groin injury doesn’t act up again. Rob Kearney will comfortably fill the 15 geansai, but may be alternated with the English Premiership winning Leicester Tigers captain, Geordan Murphy, who continues to show he has what it takes.
The IRFU’s handling of the proposed player salary cuts and central contract reductions being highlighted prior to the June tour has been poor and a distraction. It will not have helped a somewhat demoralised set of players, who have seen their trophy cabinets empty this year from the 6 Nations, Heineken Cup and Magners League.
Kidney and his staff will have their work cut out to make an impression on a tour that Ireland must do well in if they are to take any momentum into the Autumn and onto the World Cup. And this could be the chance for a number of new faces to make a case for themselves and, just perhaps, nick an unexpected victory along the way. Their first opportunity is next weekend when they face the talented Barbarians.
Derm
Roar Guru
And as the Ireland team flies out to New Zealand, further names are falling off the touring party Shane Horgan has withdrawn with a stomach bug, Jerry Flannery the first choice hooker was injured in the match against the Barbarians as was Fergus McFadden who may have suffered a fractured jaw. Jonathan Sexton, the alternate out half to Ronan OGara didn't play in the Baa-Baas match but had recurrence of pain from a jaw fracture he suffered earlier in the season - no decision has been made on him. Johne Murphy, formerly of Leicester, and who has signed for Munster for next season, replaces Horgan on the wing - a raw recruit. No wonder the Ireland team have chosen to stay in Auckland and only travel to New Plymouth at the last minute to play their match against the AB XV - they may as well enjoy themselves whilst they're on tour - the matches are going to be painful. Apparently, Ireland have promised to field two Irish guys from the touring party for the Nz Barbarians match on June 12 - I think it's likely to be the kit man and press officer - there isn't anyone left. :)
Derm
Roar Guru
And another Irish first team player bites the dust. As I expected, Keith Earls did not recover from his groin injury and pulled up in training today - he's out for the tour. Gavin Duffy, the Connacht full-back will take his place, which will reduce Kidney's options further in the centre. Is this match going to be a farce and should be re-labelled a development squad match?
katzilla
Roar Guru
Its Tommy Bowe and Robert Kearney
Tutu
Guest
Who do you think they will likely be?
Derm
Roar Guru
And two Irish players - as yet unnamed - will play for the NZ Barbarians. Oh my! - Is this the dawn of a new SH/NH love-in?
Derm
Roar Guru
The point was that is a weakened NZ squad for the June tests, not the Tri Nations. And a weakened NZ squad facing two NH teams who have been weakened themselves by injuries.
Tutu
Guest
Ranger has been called into the AB's as cover http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10649397
Derm
Roar Guru
You're right counterruck, it might have. I think the Baa-Baas invitation came along and it had to be played in the North. I think that there was a feeling that for countries like Ireland who have performed so poorly down South in recent years compared to the sixties and seventies, heading down cold to face SH teams was not the best approach. Kidney has seen what's happened with previous teams. The test team hasn't played since March, and they're also down a number of first-teamers through injury. A warm-up fixture against a local team, or a full-on quasi test against Barbarians was the choice. His line-up for the Baa-Baas match is not ideal since he was probably hoping that players such as O'Connell, Best, Ferris would be available/recovered. That was then, this is now. You're right to say a lot of the names are unfamiliar. However, like the other test teams, Kidney needs to assess who he wants to have in his WC squad, so inevitably some unfamiliar names have entered the mix.
counterruck
Guest
i did not catch a lot of mangers league this year but there are a lot of names in there i am unfamiliar with. looking at the squad, the test xv to face nz in a weeks time should be strong but this barbarians fixture seems a bit pointless to me. would'nt it have made more sense to fly out to nz a week earlier - get the gruelling travel and jet lag out of the way, play a warm up fixture in nz, acclimatize and give the AB's a real crack?
Derm
Roar Guru
And here's the real Ireland Team to face the Baa-Baas this Friday in Thomond Park. Second rows Ed O’Donoghue and Dan Touhy will make their first senior appearance for Ireland in the uncapped match. They are joined up front by Ulster colleague Chris Henry who forms a backrow trio with Connacht captain John Muldoon and Niall Ronan who was called into the squad earlier this week. Marcus Horan will start alongside Sean Cronin and Tony Buckley in the front row. In the backline Leinster's Fergus McFadden is the uncapped player named in an experienced line up with Ronan O’Gara, who will captain the side, and Peter Stringer forming the halfback partnership. Gavin Duffy comes into the squad and will partner McFadden in the centre with Rob Kearney, Shane Horgan and Andrew Trimble making up the back three. 15 - Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 14 - Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster) 13 - Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht) 12 - Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)* 11 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 10 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster) Captain 9 - Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster) 1 - Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster) 2 - Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht) 3 - Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster) 4 - Ed O’Donoghue (Ballynahinch/Ulster)* 5 - Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)* 6 - John Muldoon (Galwegians/Connacht) 7 - Niall Ronan (Shannon/Munster) 8 - Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster)* Replacements: 16 - Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster) 17 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster) 18 - Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster) 19 - David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster) 20 - Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster) 21 - Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary's College/Leinster) 22 - Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster) Unsurpisingly, Kidney is giving a run-out to all the newbies in the squad, but no test caps available for the match. It's a pretty raw squad that somewhat matches the Baa-Baas in untried combinations. Only the front row of the forwards has played together previously. And in the backline, there's the old-timer partnership of O'Gara/Stringer to ease the mind. Without reading too much into it, the team selection gives pointers as to who's likely to face the All Blacks on the 12th in New Plymouth. Kearney faces real competition from Geordan Murphy at the back - both played in their league finals last week, with Murphy the captain of the winning Leicester team. Kidney may fancy giving him a start with Kearney on the bench as a utility back three. Kearney has the bigger boot that might be used to test the All Black back three at some point in the match. Horgan and Trimble on the wings will give way to Bowe and Earls for the test match who'll likely be facing Guildford and perhaps Jane. Duffy in the centre is a makeweight given he plays most of his matches with Connacht at 15. McFadden needs the step-up from the 'A' team and could be a surprise inclusion on the bench for the NZ match. All of them should feature in the NZ Maori match. With this selection the debate between Sexton and O'Gara continues. Is Kidney giving O'Gara game time in this match to gey him prepared for the NZ match? Or will ROG have to make way for his younger Leinster rival who played last week in the Magners final and kicked all of Leinster's points? O'Gara is still the more assured with his place and tactical kicking, whilst Sexton has more guile and go on the move. Sexton to start maybe, with O'Gara in the wings, is my guess. O'Leary and Reddan will compete for the 9 shirt with Reddan likely to be on the bench. O'Leary has the edge on whichever of Cowan/Weepu that Henry selects, but will have to be spot on with his box-kicking if he doesn't want to hand back advantage to the New Zealanders. Depending on his performance, Horan may keep the LH spot with Healy being brought on in second half. Cronin will deputise for Flannery in the test match. Buckley and Court will interchange with Hayes at TH. Whoever it is will be up against it. The battle of the backrows and the more nimble requirements of these players under the new interpretations will give Ireland some pause for thought. The presence of a world-class talent in Heaslip will hopefully have New Zealand thinking twice too.
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
Ireland XV (v Barbarians, Mastercard Challenge, Friday June 4th, 19:45, Thomond Park): 15 - Robert Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 14 - Shane Horgan (Boyne/Leinster) 13 - Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht) 12 - Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)* 11 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 10 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster) Captain 9 - Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster) 1 - Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster) 2 - Sean Cronin (Buccaneers/Connacht) 3 - Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster) 4 - Ed O’Donoghue (Ballynahinch/Ulster)* 5 - Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)* 6 - John Muldoon (Galwegians/Connacht) 7 - Niall Ronan (Shannon/Munster) 8 - Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster)* Replacements: 16 - Jerry Flannery (Shannon/Munster) 17 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster) 18 - Mick O’Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster) 19 - David Wallace (Garryowen/Munster) 20 - Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster) 21 - Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary's College/Leinster) 22 - Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
I'd argue that So'oialo has never been good, Rusty, I genuinely think he was one of the worst test players ever.
Rusty
Roar Guru
the difference being Borthwick has never been good. As for Dion, was never a Bok and was good enough to captain Ireland... go figure
Jerry
Guest
Oh, no there's no-one being rested, but he'll pick a new squad for the TN which will be an opportunity for players who aren't currently fit (and aren't called Tom Donnelly or Mils Muliaina) to be selected.
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
You are surely feeling pretty spicy tonight, pothale. Anyway, I'm pretty sure you don't want that So'oialo bloke. He's the NZ Steve Borthwick aka the new Dion O'Cuinegann. My, he really was yet another awesome SA import. Man those Boks are so big and athletic.
Derm
Roar Guru
That's a strong looking Irish team - have to admit that the grandparent rule has come in handy in getting in new players, now that none of the Irish-bvorn players are playing for the Irish provinces any more. Centrally contracting So'oialo and Heymans was a smart move by the IRFU.
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
Ireland v Barbarians: Paul Warwick (Munster); Cedric Heymans (Toulouse), Casey Laulala (Cardiff Blues), Seru Rabini (Leeds Carnegie), David Smith (Hurricanes); Brock James (Clermont Auvergne), Pierre Mignoni (Toulon); David Barnes (Bath), Schalk Brits (Saracens), Census Johnston (Toulouse), Jerome Thion (Biarritz), Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster), Alan Quinlan (Munster), George Smith (Brumbies), Xavier Rush (Cardiff Blues, capt) Replacements: Benoit August (Biarritz), Julian White (Leicester Tigers), Rodney So'oialo (Hurricanes), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Byron Kelleher (Toulouse), Jean-Baptiste Elissalde (Toulouse), Paul Sackey (London Wasps) or Fabrice Estebanez (Brive)
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Who knows.... Henry will be hoping that Hore, Donnelly, Nonu, Kahui, Sivivatu and Mils Muliaina are all fit for the Tri-Nations. Donnelly, Kahui and Muliaina are all part of the squad but were selected despite of recent/current injuries. There's also room for anyone who performs well with NZ Maori to be included in the TN squad but this doesn't happen particularly often.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Sounds like they were dropped.
Derm
Roar Guru
So why do people talk about this squad in terms of the Tri-Nations then, if it's going to be changed for the Tri-Nations, either through rested players returning or those with injuries recover sufficiently in time?