Set for Ireland debut: Richardt Strauss
South African-born Leinster hooker Richardt Strauss is one of four uncapped players named in Ireland's 31-man squad for the November Tests.
Ireland will face South Africa, Fiji and Argentina in their three-Test series.
Ulster centre Luke Marshall and forward Iain Henderson, who were involved in the Ireland training camp in September, are included in the squad as are Munster prop David Kilcoyne and hooker Strauss, who is now eligible to play for Ireland based on his residency In Ireland for the past three years.
Leinster full-back Rob Kearney will miss the November internationals as he requires surgery on a troublesome back injury and could be sidelined for up to 10 weeks.
There are also changes to the Irish staff with Head Coach Declan Kidney being joined by current Munster assistant coach and former international Anthony Foley.
Foley will be now be leading the defence plans and systems allowing assistant coach Les Kiss to concentrate on attack and the backline.
Foley will continue working with Munster outside of the international window. It was also confirmed that Leinster scrum coach Greg Feek will continue providing his expertise to the Ireland team during competition time.
"We have three incredibly competitive games ahead of us in November and while there have been quite a few injuries and niggles in the early part of the season, it has opened up opportunities for other players to step into the squad," said Kidney.
"There are world ranking points on offer, so the underlying challenge for us is to work towards retaining and improving our ranking position ahead of the Rugby World Cup pool draw. While that is the end goal, our focus will be getting our preparations right to match the intensity of international games.
"I'm pleased that Anthony has taken up the offer of working with the squad to assist during this vital period in November. His previous experience of working with the team during the last RBS 6 Nations championship was important, but his own abilities and experience were central to bringing him onboard. I would like to thank Rob Penney and Joe Schmidt for being so positive and giving Anthony Foley and Greg (Feek) the scope to be part of the plans that we have."
Ireland squad:
Rory Best (Ulster), Tommy Bowe (Ulster), Darren Cave (Ulster), Tom Court (Ulster), Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster), Stephen Ferris (Ulster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Chris Henry (Ulster), David Kilcoyne (Munster), Luke Marshall (Ulster), John Muldoon (Connacht), Conor Murray (Munster), Mike McCarthy (Connacht), Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Kevin McLaughlin (Leinster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster), Paul O'Connell (Munster), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster - Captain), Ronan O'Gara (Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Richardt Strauss (Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Dan Tuohy (Ulster), Simon Zebo (Munster).
Comments
Michtymauler says...
Yeah Melk.. Don't be getting all historical and political!! lol ;-) IRFU consists of the four proud provinces. Just like the RFU consists of several provinces of SA given the amount of Boks in the England team!!
Posted 18:03 24th October 2012
mcdb06 says...
@ melkdave Plenty of players are as good as Toner or better at disrupting lineout ball. The ability to read opposition lineout is more important than height, O'Connell is proof of this. I don't think O'Callaghan should be in the squad. I'd prefer Dan Tuohy to start with O'Connell with Donncha Ryan on bench.
Posted 17:35 24th October 2012
Jcahill1 says...
@ Melkdave. Ireland is the island and the republic of Ireland is the country. Just thought I'd correct you.
Posted 17:20 24th October 2012
Michtymauler says...
Jeeeezzz!!! We've just stopped harping on about Maitland going to Scotland but at least he's qualified through Scottish BLOOD!! The Irish are now taking up the English approach .. Sadly!! The IRB have got to change the eligibility rules. Make the residency rules 6 years!! At least that way, te foreign player has shown commitment to his adopted country and not going to bugger off once he's gained a few caps and lost form..
It's embarrassing!!! People are talking about the Lions tour to the SH... At this rate there's potential for a third of the squad cruelly being SH!!!
It's all just a bit boring... Another mercenary but this time for Ireland ... Then you go back to the Shingler saga and he can't play for the country of his own
mother's birth!!! What a joke!
Posted 17:05 24th October 2012
marzie says...
Melkdave - Ulster is part of the island of Ireland and is thus far from 'overseas'. It is the island of Ireland that is represented by our rugby team - all 32 counties. We are neither 'The Republic Of Ireland' nor 'Northern Ireland', just Ireland. I hope that clears a few things up for you.
Posted 16:44 24th October 2012
andy1000 says...
@jamesliveinhope - totally agree, it seems that a lot of people only have an issue with eligibility rules when it comes to certain teams.
The fact that he's not good enough for his own country so has chosen to play for Ireland should be a sore point for Irish supporters.
Posted 16:32 24th October 2012
Willy says...
Agree with most things that have been said, no progress being made.
Kidney has to go simple as. We will not progress or move forward till he does.
Posted 16:31 24th October 2012
Propmelsey says...
Ooooooooo!! Can we pick him for The British And Irish Lions too!! He'd be the perfect choice!! AND he'd put pressure on Tonga'uiha for the 1st team No 3 shirt ......
Posted 16:28 24th October 2012
Feergmeister says...
As an Irishman I am uneasy about this being acceptable! It was one thing regarding what jack Charlton did with Irish football - at least there was traceable Irish DNA in the selection process, but knowing well we have enough home grown talent when it comes to rugby, I feel saddened that we are prepared to go this route. On the other hand...4 fingers and a thumb!
Posted 16:22 24th October 2012
Dannyboy says...
Just sprayed something across my screen as well, but it ain't coffee!
VERY HAPPY to see Strauss in the team!
Posted 16:19 24th October 2012
melkdave says...
@Jamesliveinhope
Your forgetting that Ireland have always had alot of forgein born players playing for them Ulster lets remember is part of the UK and so Ulster born players are British not irish .So 10 potential overseas born players in this irish squad nice LOL..Mybe now they will stop ranting about England ect.As they are clearly the worst offenders of all.
Posted 16:12 24th October 2012
melkdave says...
~mcdb05
Granted D.Toner isnt the best ball carrier in the world ,but in the lineout in terms of securing your own ball and putting off the opposistion on their throw ,he is a real asset .Much more so than DOC imo.No hooker wants to try throwing in with a 7 foot lock forward right in front of him ready to nick the ball.
Posted 15:59 24th October 2012
GCP_jones says...
@Ferdie...
I did forget M Bent (and Andrew Goodman + quiet a few playersfrom Connacht), I know its a minor thing, but does'nt he have Irish heritage?.He does look a decent prospect judging by what I have seen of the ITM Cup, but he did'nt really feature for the Hurricanes did he?.
I remember Mike Ross did'nt get his chance at Leinster until Stan Wright got injured and he has'nt looked back since.
Will Michael Bent be parachuted straight onto the Leinster bench ahead of home grown players such as Jamie Hagan and Tadgh Furlong, it just does'nt seem to be the right way of promoting the sport amongst aspiring players here.
By the way thanks for your posts on the ITM Cup over the season it was great getting a heads-up on the competion.
Posted 15:31 24th October 2012
Norm says...
GCP Jones Couldnt agree more. Strauss definitely talented enough for inclusion but this trend of emulating the English and AB model of patriating non nationals is a big problem for me and it is only getting started, give it 5 years we'll have less Irish accents in the dressing room than Jack Charlton had in 1990.
Aside from that selection is as expected as it is flawed. I thought bringing in Ruddock would improve the flow from underage to senior team, if we had a first team coach who would plug into it probably would. Why O Gara, what is he going to bring here, and I say that as someone who has argued for ROG in his time over Sexton, Sexton is the better player today for that, but it is different today and we should be moving on. There should be someon now snapping at Sextons heals driving themselves and Sexton on the whole time. Madigan has to be that guy, even Keatley or Jackson.
The selection which bothers me most is Foleys though. I hope i am wrong but this seems to be a statement of very limited ambition
Posted 15:28 24th October 2012
Norm says...
GCP Jones Couldnt agree more. Strauss definitely talented enough for inclusion but this trend of emulating the English and AB model of patriating non nationals is a big problem for me and it is only getting started, give it 5 years we'll have less Irish accents in the dressing room than Jack Charlton had in 1990.
Aside from that selection is as expected as it is flawed. I thought bringing in Ruddock would improve the flow from underage to senior team, if we had a first team coach who would plug into it probably would. Why O Gara, what is he going to bring here, and I say that as someone who has argued for ROG in his time over Sexton, Sexton is the better player today for that, but it is different today and we should be moving on. There should be someon now snapping at Sextons heals driving themselves and Sexton on the whole time. Madigan has to be that guy, even Keatley or Jackson.
The selection which bothers me most is Foleys though. I hope i am wrong but this seems to be a statement of very limited ambition
Posted 15:28 24th October 2012
jamesliveinhope says...
just sprayed a mouthful of coffee across my screen - "here we go" I thought, "all these Leinster and Ireland guys have huge problems with England's overseas born players, I predict a riot".
Nothing!!, not a dicky bird! only @GCP_jones has made a passing reference.
PR could your moderators include "hypocrisy" in the house rules and start dishing out a few bans :)
Posted 15:02 24th October 2012
jmckenna92 says...
@TVaddict like you said Ireland have loads of potential but until kidney gets the sack we are going to still play Gordon D'Arcy at 12 neglect the fact we have no backup props that are ready to play international rugby and our scrum halfs are to slow to the break down. Kidney sucks
Posted 14:43 24th October 2012
Ferdie says...
GCP_jones - you could add another from NZ, Taranaki's Michael Bent who starts for Leinster v Ospreys Sunday-week, recruited with assistance of former Taranaki prop Greg Feek, He's a good prospect and has just finished a very good ITM Cup competition here, struggled to get game time in Super rugby this year and I hope he does well both for Leinster and maybe for Ireland. He qualifies, that's the rules, so best wishes for him - a real loss for Taranaki but that's life..
Posted 14:36 24th October 2012
marzie says...
Surprised no-one has mentioned Shane Jennings's absence, despite his being one of Leinster's few consistently form players this year. I suppose there're enough obvious problems with the rest of the squad as it is. Autumn internationals are the time to blood new players in problem positions Declan, such as *cough* fly-half.
Posted 14:24 24th October 2012
philip274 says...
Shocked that Madigan, Marshall and Keatley have been left out! The future of
Irish rugby feels like it is being neglected, head away for a few years gents, I am sure you would be welcomed to France or Super Rugby with open arms! Down with Declan!
Posted 14:13 24th October 2012