Is it the end? Ronan O'Gara
Ronan O'Gara is the big name missing from Ireland's 32-man squad for the Six Nations match against France in Dublin.
The veteran fly-half has struggled to find his rhythm in recent months, with Paddy Jackson getting the nod ahead of him for the defeat by Scotland following Jonathan Sexton's withdrawal due to injury.
The omission may well signal the end for Ireland's most-capped player at international level, with the last of his 128 appearances coming as a substitute during the Scotland game.
Although Sexton has not yet fully recovered, he has not yet been ruled out of Saturday's game at the Aviva Stadium, but Jackson and Ian Madigan are both in the squad as cover.
Sexton is not the only one struggling with injury as locks Mike McCarthy and Donnacha Ryan as well as wing Craig Gilroy are also under a cloud despite being included in the squad.
Gordon D'Arcy is still struggling with a foot injury and is ruled out alongside fellow centre Darren Cave and utility player Robbie Henshaw.
However, Andrew Trimble is back in the squad having been overlooked since the autumn internationals, with Robbie Diack selected for a Six Nations squad for the first time.
Ireland squad: Rory Best, Sean Cronin, Robbie Diack, Keith Earls, Luke Fitzgerald, Declan Fitzpatrick, Craig Gilroy, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Iain Henderson, Paddy Jackson, Dave Kearney, Rob Kearney, David Kilcoyne, Ian Madigan, Luke Marshall, Mike McCarthy, Fergus McFadden, Conor Murray, Sean O'Brien, Donncha O'Callaghan, Tommy O'Donnell, Brian O'Driscoll, Peter O'Mahony, Eoin O'Malley, Eoin Reddan, Mike Ross, Donnacha Ryan, Jonathan Sexton, Andrew Trimble, Devin Toner Dan Tuohy.
Comments
99call says...
Im sorry that one of the best irish players' career has had to end like this but I think hes brought it on himself with the help of Kidney
He should have bowed out after the last RWC and would have been remembered as a GS winning outhalf with a couple of Hcup wins aswell
But now he'll be remembered as the outhalf who stayed too long and was not able to perform at that level.
Im glad to see the next 3 irish outhalves in the squad and as I didnt see Madigans game on the weekend I wont comment on whether he shold be selected but Jackson did well against a good Treviso side that stuffed Munster the week before, the final result was unlucky but that wasnt his fault he kicked his goals and controlled the game very well, so if Sexton is fit then Jackson has to be on the bench.
The interesting one for me is Robbie Diack, hes played no8 for Ulster for the last few weeks and has done well, hes a good lineout option and decent ball carrier, I dont think he'll get in ahead of Heaslip but it might give Jamie a kick up the back side as DKs squad very rarely have another No8 that would be a direct challenge to him so it might push him a bit as hes got too comfortable as the only 8 in the squad.
Anyway this would be my team
Healy, Best, Ross, Ryan, Tuohy, Henderson, SOB, Heaslip, Reddan, Sexton, Gilroy, Marshall, BOD, Trimble, Kearney
Timble deserve his place ahead of Earls and Murray needs a bit of a push hes another one who's getting too comfortable.
Posted 09:29 04th March 2013
ronanmeagher says...
@irishzimbabwean and melkdave - Kidneys contract expires after the summer tour
Posted 09:00 04th March 2013
J_HDK says...
Trader2 - there are still club games happening at the same time as the 6N. If you are nor in the extended squad you are released back to your club in preparation for their weekend game
Posted 08:55 04th March 2013
irishzimbabwean says...
melkdave - correct me if I am wrong, but isn't Kidney's contract completed after this Six Nations?
Posted 08:47 04th March 2013
Irishzimbabwean says...
This forum should get lively today - very pleased to see Dan Tuohy back. He must start against France.
Posted 05:02 04th March 2013
Trader2 says...
Can anyone in the NH explain to me why you would name a 32 man squad for just one game 6 days out. Just curious. O'Gara has been a great servant to Irish rugby, after 128 caps it would be a shame to end it on someone else's terms.
Posted 02:33 04th March 2013
melkdave says...
A very sad end to a great international career,ROG if the article comes to pass should have kept to his guns ,and retired after the RWC as he wanted .Kidneys total inept handling of bring talant though,is his worst aspect as a manager imo.This is why i think he has to go But i dont think he will resign or the IRFU will sack him either ,His just left it to late to rebuild the team for the next RWC for anyone new.Also he /they will most probily be reling on the old guard still,to provide leadership,ect.That i dont think is going to be possible,already BOD has said he wont be there ,while the likes of POC and S.Ferris ect are suffering from injury after injury and Best is getting on too .While D'Arcys been crap for years and even R.Keaney is starting to pick up alot of injuries,and imo wont make it either. Kidney has 11-19 games to rebuild the team,sounds alot but take away the remaing ones for this year ,as they wil be worthless,with players missing in the summer on Lions duty,then resting afterwards ,so maybe not available in the aurtum either thats 8.Leaving just the games in 2014 to rebuild a team all 11 of them,as 2015 you would think is more about fine tuning the squad .So Kidney imo will continue because he hasnt done his job right,and no other coach in his right mind will take the job ,knowing he has just 1 yr to rebuild an entire team ,and its tatics/ gameplay..So D.Kidney will survie till 2015 ..Then just maybe Ireland may get the coach it deserves.
Posted 00:15 04th March 2013
turboboy says...
Thanks God - Ireland can now move forward
Posted 23:49 03rd March 2013
papachinzo says...
Madigan to start, Ireland wont win with Jackson there... I'd say McFadden will be on the win as well.
Posted 23:26 03rd March 2013
Spartacus says...
O'Gara is a bit of a legend. An annoying legend, but that was all part of the legend. I heard one about an opponent chasing him around a pitch until he had to be substituted for his own safety. He could still do a job for Ireland and the Lions as the NH doesnt have many great 10's.
Posted 23:14 03rd March 2013
cambiassio says...
Earls is still there though. so i wont be watching Deccie further ruining Irish rugby
Posted 23:07 03rd March 2013
sextons_on_fire says...
Should have happened years ago!!! LOL
Posted 21:43 03rd March 2013
Haldir says...
Well done Dec.
Posted 21:09 03rd March 2013