Uncapped Munster centre James Downey has been called up to Ireland's two-day training squad.
The 31-year-old, who moved to Thomond Park from Northampton in the off-season, is one of six additions to the squad following the latest round of PRO12 action.
He replaces Gordon D'Arcy who is sidelined with a rib injury.
Fellow uncapped fly-half Ian Madigan, scrum-half Paul Marshall, prop Ronan Loughney, second-row Devin Toner and wing Craig Gilroy are also included in coach Declan Kidney's 33-man group.
Joining D'Arcy in missing the camp at Carton House will be Ronan O'Gara, Eoin Reddan, Declan Fitzpatrick, Mike McCarthy and Simon Zebo.
Revised Ireland Training Squad: Rory Best (Ulster), Tommy Bowe (Ulster), Darren Cave (Ulster), Tom Court (Ulster), Sean Cronin (Leinster), James Downey (Munster), Keith Earls (Munster), Stephen Ferris (Ulster), Ronan Loughney (Connacht), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Chris Henry (Ulster), Denis Hurley (Munster), Luke Marshall (Ulster), Conor Murray (Munster), Devin Toner (Leinster), Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Kevin McLaughlin (Leinster), David O'Callaghan (Munster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster), Paul O'Connell (Munster), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster), Ian Madigan (Leinster), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Paul Marshall (Ulster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Dan Tuohy (Ulster), Damien Varley (Munster), Craig Gilroy (Ulster).
Comments
Irishzimbabwean says...
Looks as though we are all, literally, on the same page here!
Bones& - I am sure your failure to include Ulster in your submission was merely an oversight!
Ref Ulster/Ireland - the new Ulster coach was coaching the New Zealand U20s only a couple of years ago, Kidney was coaching the Ireland U20s nearly 15 years ago. Sort of sums it up doesn't it!
Posted 14:58 22nd October 2012
blametheref says...
Says it all about Kidney, brings in Downey at last, whether it's too late at 31 remains to be seen...But I think a frustrated O' Driscoll summed it up after the New Zealand debacle and previous bad performances when he alluded to the fact that the Irish backline didn't know what they were doing half the time because Kidney's structure of play was non-existant, with the players taking different instructions from Kidney, the scrum coach right down the line...The mad selections and resultant hesistancy of decision out wide has been terminal in this Irish team under Kidney. You only have to compare the way Leinster move the ball to Ireland and you've get that in a nutshell...
Posted 08:52 02nd October 2012
papachinzo says...
I'm glad its not just us Irish who think he's a fool.
There's so much young talent coming through at the moment, and he just straight up refuses to pick them. Its kind of worrying to be honest.
He almost ruined Leinster in one season, now he's on the verge of making our youth and 'peak age' players redundant at International level.
The likes of Macken Marshal and Madigan should all have caps at this stage.
O'Connell Ross and O'Driscoll are the only over 30's players that should be in that panel at this stage.
Posted 15:42 25th September 2012
The_Dange says...
@Bones7 "Must be awful watching Wales work wonders with younger players in teams that do not consistantly perform to the same levels as Leinster and Munster pretty much solely because they have a more forward-thinking and creative setup."
It is.
Posted 13:20 25th September 2012
Bones7 says...
I think Declan Kidney lives in a bubbles sometimes. Quite how Downey is just getting picked now I don't know seeing as D'Arcy has offered nothing at all for years other than the gamble of defensive frailties and attention lapses to keep fans on their toes. Even BOD himself is looking past it now I think. Kidney's setting up an impossible task for his successor as he'll have to replace nearly an entire squad instead of being able to introduce players one or two at a time like a normal coach would do. Must be awful watching Wales work wonders with younger players in teams that do not consistantly perform to the same levels as Leinster and Munster pretty much solely because they have a more forward-thinking and creative setup.
Posted 09:43 25th September 2012
Cdn_content says...
About Time though perhaps over due. Downey has been a stud at Northampton for he past few years. Silly kidney
Posted 01:38 25th September 2012
NHSaints says...
Now why the hell wasn't this done 2 years ago when he was with Saints and in the form of his life with massive hits every week and upfield charges with 3 players on his back (often still getting offloads away)? I can tell you now he wouldn't have let Jonathan Davies past him in the world cup...hindsight is a bitter thing Mr Kidney, especially when it shows you the mistakes you made.
Posted 21:32 24th September 2012
crunchfit says...
@ Smee
You're right. The provinces have the right idea but unfortunately, those in charge of that national team absolutely do not. Selecting Downey now is a perfect example of this. Firstly, Kidney failed continuously to pick Downey when he is a viable option with time left in his career. Then, he only picks Downey (or allows him to train anyway) towards the end of his career when another player is injured, at the expense of younger players with much more time left in their careers and much more potential. Downey won't get that much better and even if he does, he'll be retiring soon after that.
Kidney only seems to think about the present, and for any professional coach to be like that is a detriment to his team and a disgrace. The same goes for the people who put him in charge and then renewed his contract after a period of generally poor results.
Posted 19:47 24th September 2012
melkdave says...
Well its about time ,DKs policy of ignoring players not playing for irish teams ,is barmy to put it nicely Also the fact its taken a injury to GD ,whos been a total waste for the last 2-3yrs,says alot.J.Downey is now 31 so hasnt that many years left ,A waisted talant by DK and his staff YES bigtime,he should have been BODs partner 3-4 yrs ago .Got to say agree with @Spike19 when he says injuries have looked to make the squad stronger aswell.Hopefully D.Kidney will be gone soon,as i feel his done nothing but hinder Ireland during his tenure as manager/coach..I would look at R.Deans trhe present Australian manager as a replacement aswell,look what his done there ,with very limited resources quality player wise..Bet he would love to coach a side with alot of promising young talant breaking though,and where supporters wont be baying for his blood every match..
Posted 19:26 24th September 2012
3in4 says...
Kidney many would say you should have done this 2 years ago. Guess it doesnt matter too much since thankfully you'll be out the door soon
Posted 17:47 24th September 2012
Norm says...
June 2013 but they are negotiating this week. Surely he doesnt get an extension!
Great coach and has done great things for Ireland but now fresh impetus needed. Moreover with what Penney is trying to do now at Munster, his gameplan and area of strength, is no longer in sync with the game the bulk of his players are playing and drilling in every week!
Conor O'Shea has to be the man but is he ready to do it yet, I suspect he may want to stay on and continue what he is doing and doing so well at Quins.
Posted 16:13 24th September 2012
Norm says...
Hmmm. All he needed after all was a Munster shirt to get that cap!
That aside dont think this is a good selection. First cap aged 30+, hardly a development option. Should be young blood at BODs shoulder learning now when they can.
Posted 16:07 24th September 2012
spike19 says...
Amazing, I would say that almost all of those injuries have actually made the squad stronger and much more progressive.
Downey is older but I think he could be Ireland's battering ram this year at 12.
I think Paul Marshall really deserves his chance this season he has a bit of aaron smith about him.
Madigan is the second best flyhalf in the country on form, ROG sadly is at the end of his international career.
Toner is younger than McCarthy and a far better lock extremely dominant in the line out.
Its tight between Zebo and Gilroy who is the form winger at the moment but Zebo has the X Factor.
Loughney is stronger in the scrum than Fitzpatrick and more dynamic in the loose. He is also 3 years younger.
The absence of an openside flanker in the squad is quite worrying! I would have liked to see Willie Faloon or Tommy O'Donnell in there, at the moment the loose forwards consist of 4 blindside flankers and 2 number eights. Chris Henry is not at international standard 7 nor is O'Mahony who is an 8/6. With SOB out until December it might be wise the blood a new 7 in November ready for the 6 nations!!
Posted 15:36 24th September 2012
Smee says...
With all due respects to Mr Downey and most of our old heros but has anyone else noticed that Irish rugby seems to be going backwards instead of forwards. Bringing a 31 year old into the fold is not how Irish rugby should be looking forward.
Let me give an example so as to make it very simple for Mr Kidney and the Irish selectors......
George North is almost a quarter of the way to his century of caps at the ripe old age of 22. Ahh yes ye say, but Mr North is a gift of nature, but do we not have our own gifts of nature in Ireland, was BOD not one of them. Had either of these players been kept hidden from international rugby until they were in their late 20's or early 30's then nobody would ever have heard of them and what a shame that would have been.
Mr Kidney you should either look to our next generation or have the decency to stand aside and let someone else do what you are too afraid to do.
By the way the Lions jobs is already taken.......
Posted 15:19 24th September 2012
GCP_JONES says...
Once again it takes an injury to a player for Kidney to give someone who has been banging on the door for years a go. when is his contract up?.
Posted 14:22 24th September 2012