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
shrimps says...
@ PatrickH
i'd give you a better response, but you are considering only what you see on this article and you seem to have missed the point of what i have said here.
Posted 19:39 27th January 2013
PatrickH says...
Why did I just post on a dead thread??
Posted 18:09 24th January 2013
PatrickH says...
@shrimps
As an independent observer of the comments on THIS thread I think you're a bit out of order.
As far as SA fans & posters go carpelone is one of the most reasonable I've ever read.
And for the record, I'm Irish and I really enjoy watching the Italians play. I hope they continue to improve at the same rate so as a whole the 6N & NH rugby will improve also.
Posted 18:08 24th January 2013
shrimps says...
@ carpelone
it's a bit ironic when you tell me to get a life, then go on to explain yours when i didn't actually ask. i don't really care, i was just pointing out a bit of discrepancy (and that was 3 days and a few posts ago). my main point was obviously about your undue overconfidence. you ignored that and decided to write about yourself instead. certainly, it is you who needs to get a life.
Posted 13:24 22nd January 2013
carpelone says...
To be precise, born in Zimbabwe.
Posted 10:45 22nd January 2013
carpelone says...
I never argue with people I dislike.
For your information, I am a South African living in Rome.
I use to comment only on what I see directly.
I comment the most on South African related threads, then on Italian ones (since the majority of rugby games I get here are unfortunately related to matches involving Italian teams). This is why you read my posts there.
I cheer sometimes for Italy because I went quite a few times at the Stadio Flaminio and I had a tremendous time with my saffa friends and because I like supporting the underdogs. And yes, Italy is my second team.
Get a life, boet.
Posted 10:40 22nd January 2013
shrimps says...
@ carpelone
at least your smart enough not to argue about what i wrote. nice exchange. hope your words get backed up for a change this year, long overdue.
Posted 19:42 21st January 2013
99call says...
I think its the best squad we can put together at the moment with POC and Ferris out, you can all go on about Healsip and if he should be in the squad but hes the best 8 in Ireland at the minute unless of course you're a munster man then ofcourse youll have the balanced view that anyone in a red shirt is better and when I say balanced I mean a chip on both shoulders, and before you have pop Im an ulsterman but I do recognise out of the 3 no.8s in the provinces Heaslip is far better than Wilson and Couglan, the unfortunate thing for us all is the best 8 in Ireland happens to be a 20st Kiwi playing for Ulster but what can you do.
I do think ODonnell deserves to be added to the squad after his perfomance on Sunday, but the main problem for Kidney is getting the selection right in backrow and on the wings
No.8 is obvious but what is the best combo out of OMahony, OBrien, ODonnell and Henry. they all played very well at the weekend so its hard to chose, Personnally i think we start how we finished against the Pumas with OMahony and Henry with OBrien on the bench as an impact player. And lets make one thing clear OBrien cant play 8 that was tried and it didnt work so forget that thought.
As for the wings we've got 4 on good form so who do you chose from Zebo, Fitzgerald, Gilroy and Trimble. I could see the arguement for any combo so I'll let Kidney sort that one out
Posted 10:35 21st January 2013
99call says...
I think its the best squad we can put together at the moment with POC and Ferris out, you can all go on about Healsip and if he should be in the squad but hes the best 8 in Ireland at the minute unless of course you're a munster man then ofcourse youll have the balanced view that anyone in a red shirt is better and when I say balanced I mean a chip on both shoulders, and before you have pop Im an ulsterman but I do recognise out of the 3 no.8s in the provinces Heaslip is far better than Wilson and Couglan, the unfortunate thing for us all is the best 8 in Ireland happens to be a 20st Kiwi playing for Ulster but what can you do.
I do think ODonnell deserves to be added to the squad after his perfomance on Sunday, but the main problem for Kidney is getting the selection right in backrow and on the wings
No.8 is obvious but what is the best combo out of OMahony, OBrien, ODonnell and Henry. they all played very well at the weekend so its hard to chose, Personnally i think we start how we finished against th Pumas with OMahony and Henry with OBrien on the bench as an impact player
As for the wings we've got 4 on good form so who do you chose from Zebo, Fitzgerald, Gilroy and Trimble. I could see the arguement for any combo so I'll let Kidney sort that one out
Posted 10:33 21st January 2013
carpelone says...
Grandpa told me.
Shrimps are such a waste of time. He was right,
Posted 09:38 21st January 2013
shrimps says...
carpelone
i guess it's easier to write that than respond to an undeniable point about your obvious and undue overconfidence. lets hope you beat them this year, maybe then your insulting the irish and pumping yourselves up won't result with you having egg on your face.
Posted 12:29 20th January 2013
carpelone says...
Shrimps
What a load of tripe!
Do not post when you drink.
Posted 21:21 19th January 2013
shrimps says...
carpelone
im sure I've seen you say otherwise. you post as if you are italian. you also post much more on italian and 6n related articles than SA ones. doesn't matter too much in this case.
i understand that they target them. i agree they are the next team up, especially with england as they are now. but there's targeting the irish and then there's being overconfident and insulting them. my point is that you shouldnt really insult them or be so overconfident and if you are, at least wait til youve beaten them once. every year the italians get overconfident, say they'll beat the irish, etc. and they lose every year. target them and be confident, but don't be unduly arrogant. its embarrassing and its nice to see the teams of fans like you lose, its enjoyable knowing you have that type of attitude. maybe your attitude has come from years of repeatedly losing to them and is simply bitterness rather than overconfidance, in which case, i'd say even more reason to lose that sort of attitude. italy are always improving and a win is always getting more likely, but dont act like an ass.
Posted 12:53 19th January 2013
carpelone says...
I am a South African (SA means South Africa), living in Italy. Obviously, I follow Italian rugby.
I think you have a wrong picture of the Italians, if they target Ireland is because they know is the next level for them.
I am not convinced by the Irish pack, their backline could be to green if they play without D'Arcy and BOD. Sexton never performs when he plays with Murray, who seems the frontrunner scrumhalf. But you never know. They may just gel and have a fantastic tournament.
I expect a big bang from Scotland.
Posted 18:11 18th January 2013
shrimps says...
@ carpelone
yes well, whilst you may be right, but the italians always seem overconfident against the irish every year yet still have nothing to show. how about keeping the cockiness down until after the fact, for a change. year after year it's the same thing. maybe this is Italy's year. every year they get better and better and their odds improve but for once, maybe you shouldn't count your chickens before they hatch.
"abundance we have in SA" don't get what you mean. i've seen you say before that you are italian and an italian fan. regardless, i agree. heaslip is the worst number 8, he's more like a a cross between a 7 and second row who goes for the odd gallop, getting tackled more often than not and never passing when he makes a good break when he should. he can be painful to watch and i don't understand the irish obsession with the player.
ireland are not my team. they're the most interesting of the 6N though by a mile, not hard to be the most interesting from that bunch thgouh. huge amount of talent, always held back by one thing or another.
Posted 17:24 18th January 2013
Dolphinster says...
Kidney is right...Kidney is wrong.
He is right to change the Captain as BOD will retire after the lions and he can help with the handover to the new Captain. The obvious leader in the Irish team is Donnacha Ryan, he made all the calls in the November internationals. Kidney had to play politics to keep the Leinster girls (including Reggie Corrigan) happy
Posted 13:19 18th January 2013
damo says...
@Irishzimbabwean says...
No I totally disagree Heslip plays 8 and he doesn't run with the ball or hit up or break tackles or make space for 9/10/12 from the back of the scrum, Obrien is 100 times the player Heslip is. Heslip does tackle yes I agree but so did Paddy Wallace and Heslip has probably turned over the ball on average once every 2 games but he's not a fetcher hes an 8, he should watch Kieran Reed and learn from him
And your right about young talent in Ireland but there is one issue the manager can't pick a team properly and is inept at turfing out spent forces like Darcy/ROG/O Callaghan for young talent like Keately/Cave/Henderson despite people calling for it for over a year now
@carpelone says...
I totally agree Heaslip isn't fit to lace Picamoles/Falateau's/Parisse's boots as they play at number 8 and Heslip plays like a 13.5 as close to the wing as possible and as far away from contact, I am not 100% on who you are referring as the England 8 but if Ben Morgan he is an 8 so puts him in ahead of Heslip in my books, Denton is even better despite his lack of form also!!
Posted 10:35 18th January 2013
Iyhel says...
I'm tempted to laugh.
Well, who knows, maybe he's of the (rare) kind of guy that gets transcended by captaincy...
Posted 10:14 18th January 2013
carpelone says...
shrimps
I think that, unless the young Irish lads click, the risk is there. Italy's pack is as solid as ever and their backs are more involved under Brunel and Scotland will be a handful for everybody with that backline, I reckon. Ireland is in danger of loosing all the three away games and France seems out of reach. You should beat the poms to avoid the whitewash.
Maybe I am a bit spoiled by the abundance of talents in the back row we have in SA, but I rate Heaslip average as a player and less than average in terms of his leadership. He is by far the worst n8 of the Six Nations.
I am positive about the emergence of young talents in Ireland, however it may be a cycle too early for them in this 6N. I would pick more Ulstermen in the starting XV, especially the n7 of Ulster. Ireland back row lacks balance since David Wallace is no more in. Huge fan of him.
Posted 09:39 18th January 2013
connaughtabu says...
@Sincero says: Yes, some of us do go to rugby matches - I'll be at the Sportsground in Galway tonight for the Connacht vs Zebre match, offering verbal advice to the ref!
@BiggyFint: Isn't George Naoupu a natural wonder! No matter how big and ugly the opposition forwards are (e.g. the Harlequins lads) - he puts his head down and drives on regardless!
Connaught ab?!
Posted 09:03 18th January 2013