Irish fans suspect it's the end of an era after Rob Kearney's omission
New Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has named the first squad of his tenure and Rob Kearney heads the list of omissions.
A 45-man squad is set to meet before Christmas in what is a new era after Joe Schmidt.
The 33-year-old full-back has had a Test career that has spanned over twelve years, but many suspected that the World Cup may have been his last hurrah in green.
After amassing 95 caps for his country, as well as three for the British and Irish Lions, fans on social media are marking this as the end to an era.
There was a legitimate case during – and certainly since – the World Cup that Kearney’s 22-year-old Leinster team-mate Jordan Larmour is now the best full-back in Ireland.
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However, when it came to the crunch matches in Japan, Schmidt turned to the player he depended on in the No15 shirt throughout his tenure.
No Rob Kearney. End of an era. https://t.co/SEgpDhtV6B
— Robin Cafolla (@RobinCafolla) December 16, 2019
However, Farrell’s judgement has not be clouded by such a bond and at the beginning of a new RWC cycle, he may have made the decision to look to the new generation, given that Kearney will be 37 come the next RWC finals.
https://twitter.com/DancingSpuds/status/1206594685357166592?s=20
That's some way to mark the end of a legends career – Ireland's greatest ever fullback . Only player to start every match of 2 Grand Slams and beat ABs twice. #respect
— ger (@stranglemint) December 16, 2019
Some fans have described him as Ireland’s greatest full-back, as he has been at the heart of all their success since his debut against Argentina in 2007, which includes two Grand Slams, two further Six Nations titles, as well as Ireland’s historic wins over the All Blacks.
Harsh on Rob Kearney on a personal level but if the ambition is to win the RWC in 2023 then people like Larmour, Farrell, Stockdale, Lowe and even Ringrose need to be tried. https://t.co/Mfs56ecRGf
— Populist Watch Ire 2- 100% Largesse No Less #FBPE (@WatchPopulistIr) December 16, 2019
https://twitter.com/SimonGleave/status/1206610548110118912
If this is the end of Rob Kearneys international career then a word for him after his omission from the Ireland squad. A superb 15 who was as solid under the high ball as you get. Massive 2009 Lions series. All round modern day great player. #IrelandRugby #RobKearney #No15
— Graeme Peacock (@graemepeacock05) December 16, 2019
Maybe the end of international rugby but he's got lots in the tank legend ??
— tony burton (@tpstony) December 16, 2019
Of course, the door may not be completely closed on the Leinster player as this is not the definitive squad for the Six Nations.
But with his starts for his province expected to be less frequent this season, particularly after the RWC, he may find it hard to work his way back into the reckoning. The question is whether he can rely on his reputation.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments