Ireland's RWC training squad winners and losers
Seven of the 46 players capped by Joe Schmidt during Ireland’s nine-match 2018/19 campaign have not been selected in the 44-strong squad chosen on Tuesday to begin preparations in mid-June for the World Cup.
Injuries ruled the unfortunate Sean O’Brien and Dan Leavy out of contention, with Quinn Roux, Stuart McCloskey, Sam Arnold, Darren Sweetnam and Will Addison the other exclusions.
There was good news, however, for five players who didn’t feature at any stage during the recent Test season as they were called-up for the preparations that will take place in Maynooth, Galway and Limerick before a four-match warm-up series against Italy, Wales (twice) and England gets underway in August.
Here, RugbyPass nominates the three of the biggest winners and the two of the biggest losers following Schmidt’s training squad announcement for the Japan finals…
WINNER – Dave Kearney
Not since November 2017, a difficult evening when he threw an intercepted pass to gift fighting Fiji a try, has Dave Kearney been capped by Ireland. But Schmidt has always had a soft spot for a winger he handed a debut to in his very first match in charge versus Samoa in November 2013.
Ireland training squad announced for Rugby World Cup pre-season training.Two uncapped players included.#ShoulderToShoulder #RugbyWorldCup2019
Squad: https://t.co/XmgvKTNZrt pic.twitter.com/68MnObBbPB
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) May 28, 2019
Injuries have become the bane Kearney’s life. He has played just three times for Ireland since getting exposed by Argentina in the 2015 World Cup quarter-final and featured in just five of Leinster’s last 26 European Cup games.
However, Schmidt believes the soon-to-be 30-year-old has more to offer in RWC preparations than Darren Sweetnam, the less experienced Munster wing who started Ireland’s November win over USA.
LOSER – Quinn Roux
Omission is a huge blow for the 28-year-old as he was Ireland’s second busiest lock during the 2018/19 season, making six appearances and starting on three occasions. Only James Ryan earned more engine room caps.
The South African didn’t play for Connacht since the start of March, a virus his latest reported ailment, and he will be replaced in the RWC training squad by a fellow countryman, Jean Kleyn, who has recently qualified for Ireland under the same 36-month residency rule that qualified Roux.
He won’t lose all hope, though. Schmidt has stated that “one or two guys may be added to the squad at a later stage” and that gives Roux every incentive to get himself healthy. He was excluded from Ireland’s initial Six Nations squad, which included five locks, but injuries put him in the mix and he went on to play four times in the championship.
WINNER – Tommy O’Donnell
Injuries have been a curse in the Munster back row’s career, but the wheel has now turned in his favour with Schmidt’s RWC training squad. With O’Brien and Leavy ruled out, O’Donnell has been invited along to Carton House to see can he make an impact.
He will hope he can stay the distance on this occasion. Back in August 2015, he horrifically dislocated a hip when Ireland beat Wales in their opening warm-up for that year’s RWC.
O’Donnell hasn’t been capped since the March 2016 Six Nations game versus Scotland, but the shoulder operation he required following Munster’s win last January over Exeter could now work in his favour as the 32-year-old will arrive into Irish camp fresh and ready to give everything to secure a back row squad berth.
LOSER – Stuart McCloskey
McCloskey is a midfielder who is bang in form. His efforts for Ulster earned him selection in the Guinness Dream Team XV for that tournament, but that wasn’t enough to get the attention of Schmidt who has instead included Rory Scannell, the Munster midfielder last capped in Tokyo two years ago.
McCloskey’s out-of-favour situation is a regular occurrence. The 26-year-old’s ability to off-load in the tackle and dominate the gain line frequently generates excitement about him at club level, but the more conservative Schmidt has preferred to keep him on the leash internationally, capping him just once in each of the last three years.
His last appearance came against the USA last November and while he was never going to budge Bundee Aki, the Test team’s clearly established No12, he will feel hard done by that Scannell has worked his way ahead of him in the fringe pecking order.
WINNER – Mike Haley
Addison’s pain is Haley’s gain in the Ireland training squad back line. Both arrived in the country last summer from Premiership club Sale and it was Addison who came out of the blocks quicker, gaining inclusion in Schmidt’s November squad and winning three caps.
The full-back showed his adaptability, too, slotting in at midfield at the last minute to start when Robbie Henshaw pulled up lame in the warm-up to face Argentina.
Back surgery ruined the remainder of his 2018/19 campaign and while he will return to full-fitness in pre-season, Schmidt has decided to instead take a look at the uncapped Haley, who looked decent to a certain level with Munster but didn’t have the required class to alter their semi-final losing sequence.
IRELAND’S 2018/19 APPEARANCE CHART
3 LOOSEHEADS – No change for RWC training squad
Healy (6 starts + 1 cap as sub), Kilcoyne (2+5), McGrath (1+3)
4 HOOKERS – No change for RWC training squad
Best (6), Scannell (2+3), Cronin (1+5), Herring (0+1)
4 TIGHTHEADS – No change for RWC training squad
Furlong (7), Porter (1+5), Bealham (1+1), Jn Ryan (0+3)
6 SECOND ROWS – RWC Change: Roux excluded, uncapped Kleyn included for RWC training
Ja Ryan (6), Roux (3+3), Henderson (3+2), Beirne (3), Dillane (1+2), Toner 2+2)
8 BACK ROWS – RWC Change: O’Brien and Leavy ruled out with injury, O’Donnell called in
O’Mahony (7), Stander (5), van der Flier (4+3), O’Brien (4+1), Conan 3+2), Murphy (2+2), Ruddock (2), Leavy (0+1)
4 SCRUM-HALVES – No change for RWC training squad
Murray (5), Marmion (2+1), Cooney (1+5), L McGrath (1+3)
4 OUT-HALVES – No change for RWC training squad
Sexton (7), Carbery (2+4), Carty (0+3), Byrne (0+2)
5 CENTRES – RWC Change: McCloskey and Arnold excluded, Rory Scannell included
Aki (8), Ringrose (6), Farrell (2), McCloskey (1), Arnold (0+1)
8 BACK THREES – RWC Change: Addison and Sweetnam excluded, uncapped Haley and Dave Kearney called up
Stockdale (8), Earls (7), Kearney (6), Larmour (4+3), Henshaw (1), Conway (2+3), Addison (2+1), Sweetnam (1)
* Henshaw’s sole appearance in 2018/19 came at full-back versus England, but he is an established centre
WATCH: Part one of the RugbyPass documentary on what awaits the fans at RWC 2019 in Japan
Comments on RugbyPass
The World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
1 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
19 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments