Captain: Jamie Heaslip
Number eight Jamie Heaslip will captain Ireland during the upcoming Six Nations, with Declan Kidney naming six new caps in a 39-man squad.
Robbie Henshaw, Paddy Jackson, Ian Madigan, Paul Marshall, Dave McSharry and Lewis Stevenson are the six new faces in the squad.
Doubts over Brian O'Driscoll's fitness mean that Heaslip has been awarded the captaincy, with O'Driscoll set to play for the Ireland Wolfhounds against the England Saxons next Friday.
Munster assistant coach Anthony Foley and Leinster's Greg Feek will be part of that coaching team for the Wolfhounds game and will continue to work with the Ireland squad throughout the tournament.
"Our priority is the Wales game, but there is an opportunity in the Wolfhounds match for some of the players as we head into the Six Nations," said Ireland coach Declan Kidney.
"While the majority of our focus is on the preparations for the Wales game, the coaching staff felt it made sense to have time with the wider group of players and also to have two fully fit teams on the field ready to train after what is usually an attritional end to the group stages in Europe."
"Jamie had done a really good job for the squad and management during November and I felt that now was the correct time to do this.
"Brian has had very little rugby in the last number of months and I think he deserves the space and time to concentrate on getting himself back playing fully fit.
"We need Brian the player just as much as we need Brian the captain and typical of the man and the selfless way he has contributed to Irish Rugby and the Ireland team, he has said that the captain and the team would have his full support."
Heaslip took charge against South Africa in the absence of Brian O'Driscoll during last year's November Tests, with the latter stating his disappointment at not been handed back the captaincy armband.
"The captaincy has been a big part of my career and life over the last number of years, and while I was naturally very disappointed not to be leading the team in the Six Nations, when I talked it through with Declan I accepted the reasons behind the decision," said O'Driscoll.
"I've always known that the Rugby World Cup in 2015 was most likely a bridge too far for me, so at some point a player, who will most likely be there for the tournament, needs to build that captaincy experience. Jamie will do a fantastic job and along with the other senior players in the leadership group, I will be giving him all of the support that he needs."
"I was incredibly honoured when Declan asked me back in November to lead the team in Brian's absence," added Heaslip.
"To lead your country is the ultimate in any sport.
"To get the opportunity again, considering what an inspirational leader Brian is and the other players who could have been chosen to captain the team, is even more humbling.
"I know Brian as a team-mate and as a friend and I will be relying on his and the other players support as we head into the Championship."
Ireland squad:
Forwards: Michael Bent, Rory Best, Tom Court, Sean Cronin, Declan Fitzpatrick, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip (c), Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, David Kilcoyne, Mike McCarthy, Sean O'Brien, Donncha O'Callaghan, Peter O'Mahony, Mike Ross, Donnacha Ryan, Lewis Stevenson, Richardt Strauss, Devin Toner
Backs: Isaac Boss, Darren Cave, Gordon D'Arcy, Keith Earls, Luke Fitzgerald, Craig Gilroy, Robbie Henshaw, Paddy Jackson, Rob Kearney, Ian Madigan, Paul Marshall, Dave McSharry, Conor Murray, Fergus McFadden, Brian O'Driscoll, Ronan O'Gara, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton, Andrew Trimble, Simon Zebo
Not available due to injury:
Tommy Bowe, Stephen Ferris, Luke Marshall, John Muldoon, Paul O'Connell, Dan Tuohy
Comments
Irishzimbabwean says...
Damo - far as I can see you have just agreed with my observation. Heaslip is our ball winner, be it in hitting rucks and mauls, making turnovers and winning line out ball. Thus he is providing the ball for McCarthy to make his carries. Am I missing something here?
Posted 08:45 18th January 2013
BackingLeinster says...
Really find it funny posters here commenting on the size of players. They're both 5' 11" and having seen them in person, built like tanks. I think some people are forgetting Toner's height and that he makes anyone look like a hobbit when standing next to them.
Posted 07:32 18th January 2013
Sincero says...
Have many of you never seen a ould game of rugby? You'd find it informative, I'd wager...
Posted 03:42 18th January 2013
whatisthis says...
@ damo
I think you should get yout question mark button and exclamation mark button checked. Otherwise just take a chill pill.
Posted 00:30 18th January 2013
damo says...
@ Irishzimbabwean says...
Heaslip carried the ball 3 times VS SA as captain, I reckon Mccarthy carried the ball on average 15 times for Ireland so far, and his form is awful, when is the last time he came off the back of a scrum and made yards???????????? Still thinking I reckon 4 years ago maybe, he is not an 8 and thats final, BOD is the Captain of Ireland and thats a fact this lad is a poorly chosen captain from a joke of a manager, how he is still in a job is beyond me abs joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 22:22 17th January 2013
shrimps says...
@ melkdave
if a 10 were going to slot into the role at 12 for ireland, it should be sexton. madigan at 10 would leave them exposed to get charged at down the middle, he's not the biggest guy. personally, i think madigan is a brilliant player, he really knows how to break the line himself as well as put others through on the inside or wide outside with a single pass. he really is a brilliant 10 right now and has more to come. i don't think it would be a bad idea to put sexton at 12 with madigan at 10, if only to experiment. i'm sure ireland have ore traditional 12 players at the moment but their back line have always lacked creativity under declan kidney. they have the pace / attacking threat in the back three now. i'd like to see the result of experimentation of that sort.
Posted 21:09 17th January 2013
BiggyFint says...
Without pushing the boat out trying to promote Connacht players all the time but If I'm correct George Naoupu has never represented New Zealand at any level above under 19. Next season will be his third in Ireland due to a year in Japan. This guy is a serious player and at 29 should still be knocking around come the next WC. His ability to cover second row could make him a usful adition to the Ireland squad in the future given we are short number at 8 and second row. A decent squad with many in form players in the mix for a change. I would however have liked to have seen Tommy O'Donnell and Jordi Murphy get a look in.
Posted 19:00 17th January 2013
norm says...
A squad with an eye on the future. Right deco, shackles off and let them at it! Don't know if I am confident but am excited!
As above if they are hobbits your a feckin orc!
Posted 18:56 17th January 2013
paddy91317 says...
ArmchairGeneral says...
Heaslip a step closer to Lions Captaincy to shut up your clown critics.
WELL SAID
Posted 18:51 17th January 2013
madraglas says...
All I will say is you are all spouting a pile of mumbo jumbo. The squad is fine. Some young lads and experience. As for the out guard...better the devil you know and all that!
Heaslip...good luck to him and why not!
Here's to another great 6N
Posted 18:29 17th January 2013
connaughtabu says...
Greetings, fellow Irish fans,
The squad is fairly predictable, except for the inclusion of a couple of Connaught backs (McSharry and Henshaw - congrats!).
Still don't think Toner is test class, but he does try and he can catch the ball in the line out! Is Stevenson any good, by the way?
My concern is the lack of specialist cover for Heaslip at No8.
I am worried that O'Brien won't be fully fit. Hopefully there might be a place bionic man, Rhys Ruddock!! He is playing really well these days and does more "Richard-Hill-esque" than SOB.
Posted 16:47 17th January 2013
spike19 says...
I don't think Heaslip is the right choice for the long term captaincy, he is more of a stop gap until someone of BODs character and calibre emerges. However despite some strange comments here he is still the best number 8 in Ireland by a long way. If you look at the other 8s around like Wilson and Couglan they are both older with 1 cap between them. Heaslip is a class above.
He is big game player and a leading candidate for the Lions 8 spot though I don't think he should be captain as BOD/Warbuton are the two stand out players and possibly Robshaw if he can hold a spot down.
Its good to see Luke back although he should be aware that Zebo and Gilroy are now ahead of him for a wing spot as they have been performing all season and not just for one game.
Posted 16:37 17th January 2013
shrimps says...
@carpelone
would that not be the italian or scottish captains? those are the teams that nearly always contest for the wooden spoon. i'm guessing youre italian, italian fans / media always talking the irish down for some reason and saying the next game against the irish will be the one or the next tournament they will do well in. are you doing something similar right now?
Posted 15:58 17th January 2013
Sincero says...
Topping the carries charts and on 100%, that's right, 100% tackle-success rate, I think Heaslip is doing just about ok.
Posted 15:54 17th January 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Heaslip a step closer to Lions Captaincy to shut up your clown critics.
Posted 15:20 17th January 2013
Irishzimbabwean says...
I do not understand the constant criticism of Jamie Heaslip. He does not a huge amount of the unglamorous work for both Leinster and Ireland which allows the likes of O'Brien do the glory of ball carrying. It would be good to see stats on the amount of turnovers, tackles, rucks hit etc from Heaslip. While not Richard Hill (who is?), his contribution is immense. Will only be noticed when he is not playing.
Posted 14:49 17th January 2013
olearyc5 says...
I don't know what any of you guys are talking about. Heaslip definitely gets in the team. He's in good form and had a great game on Saturday.
@99call Boss is also in great form, and played better than Reddan last weekend. It doesn't matter how well 9's play, as Murray will be no1. and Reddan no.2 irrespective of form
Posted 14:00 17th January 2013
liam2me says...
Heaslip isn't good enough to start never mind captain the side
Posted 13:57 17th January 2013
AsAbove_SoBelow says...
1.Cian Healy, 2.Rory Best, 3.Mike Ross.
4.Mike McCarthy, 5.Donnacha Ryan.
6.Sean O'Brien, 7.Peter O'Mahony, 8.Jamie Heaslip.
9.Paul Marshall, 10.Jonathan Sexton.
12.Gordon D'Arcy, 13.Brian O'Driscoll (c).
11.Simon Zebo, 15.Rob Kearney, 14.Keith Earls.
16. Richardt Strauss 17.Tom Court, 18.Michael Bent.
19. Donncha O'Callaghan, 20. Chris Henry.
20.Eoin Reddan, 21.Ronan O'Gara.
22.Andrew Trimble, 23. Luke Fitzgerald.
Not considered due to injury:
Tommy Bowe, Stephen Ferris, John Muldoon, Paul O'Connell, Dan Tuohy.
Not considered due to being the slowest passer of a ball in world rugby:
Conor Murray.
Not considered due to being hobbits and massively overrated:
Fergus McFadden, Paddy Jackson.
Unlucky to miss out:
Craig Gilroy, Ian Madigan, David Kilcoyne.
Posted 13:43 17th January 2013
damo says...
Sack the manager, Keately should be fighting with Jackson for reserve 10 and pushing $exton, Heaslip should be playing for a 3rd division club in tag rugby cos he is the worlds softest 8 by a mile, terrible manager and terrible captain, poor BOD must be fuming as his form while out injured must have been better than this clown, Darcy is in wowwwwww Donnaca O Call unreal!!!
Would pick Toner at 8 before Heaslip as at least he tries to tackle, Heaslip has been seen at the back of a scrum checkingo ut his pocket mirror!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Munster men must be laughing also Ryan/O'Mahony 2 hard men watching this lad gettign rewarded for what???????????
Posted 13:35 17th January 2013