Ireland and Wolfhounds

Aki has started at 12 in nine of the eleven matches since he became eligible. He was rested for Fiji and missed the second Oz test due to injury. He played 80 in every one of those games bar the last 6N game against England.

Henshaw's only appearance at 12 this year (from 6 starts) was when Aki wasn't available. Henshaw and Ringrose have only been available for selection for the same international fixture once this season (the only game the Aki wasn't).

It's quite clear that Aki is first choice 12; Henshaw & Ringrose (and Farrell, potentially) are fighting for 13. The Henshaw/Ringrose first choice Ireland centre combination is brought to you by the same "journalists" that told us McGrath would travel to Oz instead of Marmion.

I see our old friend Wank@r Francis is at it again in the Indo this morning. Calling for everyone's pet Leinster scrum half Luke McGrath to be in the Irish squad ahead of Marmion and Cooney. What a dildo!

Great to see Marmion and Aki have good games last night and get a score each. Hopefully Both their ankle injuries are minor enough.

Just an interesting thing I've seen from different forums, many (I'm assuming Leinster fans) watched last weekends game and felt McGrath did well (and better than Marmion) when he came on, now it could be bias but I thought he was bang average, did well for his try but so did Marms in the first half. He made a couple of chronic kicks that got nowhere near touch and he picked and went then had to turn back on himself getting caught in posession. This myth that he's super quick from the ruck is bull, the ruck clearance improved in the 2nd half but don't think that had anything to do with him. I honestly hope that Cooney is at 21 instead of McGrath, I think he's the most overrated player in Irish rugby.

MulMan wrote: Just an interesting thing I've seen from different forums, many (I'm assuming Leinster fans) watched last weekends game and felt McGrath did well (and better than Marmion) when he came on, now it could be bias but I thought he was bang average, did well for his try but so did Marms in the first half. He made a couple of chronic kicks that got nowhere near touch and he picked and went then had to turn back on himself getting caught in posession. This myth that he's super quick from the ruck is bull, the ruck clearance improved in the 2nd half but don't think that had anything to do with him. I honestly hope that Cooney is at 21 instead of McGrath, I think he's the most overrated player in Irish rugby.

McGrath wasn't up to much, nicely taken try asides. Even the Leinster Pravda* boys in the independent described McGrath as having "a patchy performance" in their player ratings.

*Yes, Pravda, not Prada. Though that works too.

Luke McGrath is the poster boy of Leinster comedians such as Francis and O'Driscoll who can't seem to get their heads around the fact that their first choice Irish-qualified scrum half is (at best) the fifth best No9 in the country (after Murray, Marmion, Cooney, and Blade).

I like McGrath, he’s one of the toughest and bravest players in the country which I think deserves respect. He also runs great support lines which are borne out by his strike rate. When he’s on form his passing and kicking can be quite good, his problem being consistency. To suggest he’s inferior to Blade is nonsense.

Kieran played very well on Saturday I thought, and I would be amazed if he were dropped. A few times on The42 I’ve noticed they’ve slipped in lines about McGrath being the front runner to start such and such a game, despite there being no evidence to suggest so, it sticks in the throat a little.

Great to see Tom Farrell called up to train at Carton House this week.

Definitely great to see Tom involved, but how was Adam Byrne the next wing in line, surely CK, Matt or Niyi would have been better options based on form among our contingent, and Wootton, Gilroy, Lowry even Barry Daly are better choices from around the other provinces, Joe does so often baffle with these choices.

MulMan wrote: Definitely great to see Tom involved, but how was Adam Byrne the next wing in line, surely CK, Matt or Niyi would have been better options based on form among our contingent, and Wootton, Gilroy, Lowry even Barry Daly are better choices from around the other provinces, Joe does so often baffle with these choices.

Agree great to see Tom there but also depends who’s available in these situations. Even if joe wanted Niyi or CK sure they’ve being partying for the last week in Chicago so when the decision was made prob were not available not that I believe even if they were in Ireland they would have got the nod.

I really hope Tom is just brought in for training and not kept around for a token cap against USA that would rule him out for the S.A. tour.

Petty and and selfish I know

Would prefer to see Tom capped vs USA to be honest. We have Godwin and Griffin for centre duties in SA.

Tom is a huge step up on Griffin. And better than Godwin. We'd be seriously depleted for two winnable away games because of a glorified training session against the USA

saying that I don't expect it will happen!

I absolutely agree Carty in the USA, we definitely need the quality of Tom in SA if we are to have any chance of getting at least one win.

Tom Farrell is travelling to SA. Obviously for him would love to have seen him get capped against USA But from a Connacht point of view it’s great to have him for this trip (Source: Connacht Instagram)

Finlay will be severely missed though