Ireland and Wolfhounds

Have to agree that some of the Connacht lads should feel a little agrieved. There are maybe four looseheads ahead of Byrne and three hookers ahead of Tracy at Leinster. You could argue that's its am emerging Ireland side but that is countered with Macca, Keatley, Gilroy & Johne Murphy.

possible that JHW might have gone before shoulder knack. Delighted for Mick but along with Heff & Darragh, Bucks must be confused as with Dan as head coach, he surely should have had a better shout(unless injured) than lad not guaranteed place in Leinster A team. Might have brough Matt along too but backs places were at a pemium

Surely Schmidt is picking this team even if McFarland is coaching?

Fairly sure Schmidt picks them and McFarland gets to coach them. Forgot about Buckley as well when doing my gripes. Schmidt probably wanted a mixture but don't think he got it right. That said if guys are going over just to hold tackle bags then I'd rather they got a rest and recuperated.

Leader and Healy can feel hard done by.

On the other hand Heffernan has 2 starts and is still getting up-to-speed setpiece-wise. And as for Buckley - his form was generally good the second half of the season but there were horrible lapses of concentration like the try in the Glasgow away game, and he spent the first half of the season in the doghouse for going off the reservation last summer. The very anthithesis of a Joe Schmidt player I'd think.

I'm actually kinda relieved with the selection : AH YOu and Kearney needs international advice to progress, Griffin is none of our business anymore it's honorific for Connacht, and above all McSharry, Buckley, McKeon, Healy are all injury prone and will rest. Heff is our last fit hooker, so very good news we could keep him safe

Kearney has been improving slowly but surely, so should benefit from the trip away, I've always had a high opinion of McSharry he just needs a season of regular rugby and avoid the injuries, he's knowhere near ready for consideration for Ireland but he could be a suprise inclusion for the 2015 World Cup at centre. he's not a makeshift center like Henshaw or the multitude of other players tried. The only makeshift centre that i can see making the position his own is Jared Payne.

still can't understand the term 'Emerging' I mean McCarthy is not exactly an emerging talent and there's a few other players who have been playing senior rugby for more than a couple of years. My point is that surely Muldoon should be going, undoubtably our best forward this year.

The emerging part is possibly taken from the emerging springboks, the South African A team. Last year the wolfhounds were on tour (as it was a Lions year) and this georgian competition was started so a 'third' team had to be cobbled together for this event. Now it seems like it might become a yearly thing. Ironically the team the South Africans sent to Georgia last year was the President's XV.
The Tbilsi Cup was basically designed to give Georgia and Uruguay some game time against good but not top class opposition, and there won't be Ireland caps for it so that's why they're not called the wolfhounds. This time they're taking part in the IRB Nations Cup, a small distinction but they're two different competitions but with the same purpose.

Its actually reasonably interesting how many players were on the tour last year and are now lining up for Ireland or there abouts; D Kearney, Diack, Ruddock, Herring Jordi Murphy and Jack McGrath all featured. On the other hand Keatley, McKeon, TOH and Griffin were all there last year and now two are going back and O'Halloran and McKeon aren't even in the squad.

Henshaw ruled out of Argentina Tour with ligament damage to hand - a knock he's carried all season but it flared up during training this week and now requires surgery.

No decision on a replacement yet.

Very disappointed for RH but it might be better in the long run that it happened now, I.e. hopefully he will have recovered for the start of the season and can challenge for the the AIs. Imagine how bad it would be for his development if he had to have surgery during preseason or at the start of the season and miss connacht games and not be available fo4 selection for ireland

You're probably right Ger C. My only concern with Robbie missing out is that someone else will be given the chance to shine in the No. 13 jersey and then he'll be playing catch up. But as you say it is better for him to get the problem taken care of now so he'll be ready for the beginning of next season.

Ah You to make the Argentina tour as Moore is forced to withdraw

Great opportunity for him.

K Earls also out. Hopefully we will have 2 more internationals over the next few weeks