Transformer Boks v Irish Projects - Ireland's SA Tour 2016 - Series Decider
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Played 7, Won 7.<br> <br>South Africa, the Transformer nation are proud of their home record against Ireland, the Project Player nation. And determined to keep it that way. They're starting with a new coach, Coetzee, who was welcomed into his post by his Sport Minister with "if you can't beat the Irish, people are going to find out a lot of things about you that they never knew." <br> <br>Joe Schmidt, on the other hand, is well out of his honeymoon period and beginning to get a lot more scrutiny after Ireland's implosion against Argentina in the RWC, and poor performance in this year's Six Nations which has left him looking bereft of new ideas now that their kicking game has fallen flat.<br> <br>With Irish-born players dropping like flies with injury - Zebo, Kearney, Healy, O'Brien, van der Flier, Schmidt has an opportunity to field a truly international project test team:<br> <br>1. Finlay Bealham - Australian<br>2. <strike>Rory Best - British</strike> Rob Herring - South African<br>3. Nathan White - New Zealand<br>4. Mike McCarthy - English<br>5. Quinn Roux - South African<br>6. CJ Stander - South African<br>7. Jordi Murphy - Spanish<br>8. Jamie Heaslip - Israeli<br> <br>9. Kieran Marmion - English<br>10.Jonathan Sexton - Irish<br>11. <strike>Andrew Trimble - British</strike> Gerhard van den Heever - South African<br>12. Luke Marshall - British<br>13. Stuart Olding - British<br>14. Niyi Adeloukun - Nigerian<br>15. Jared Payne - New Zealand<br> <br>16. Richard Strauss - South Africa<br>17. Rodney Ah You - New Zealand<br>18. Michael Bent - New Zealand<br>19. Aly Muldowney - English<br>20.Robbie Diack - South African<br>21.Paul Marshall - British<br>22. Paddy Jackson - British<br>23. Shane O'Leary - Canadian<br> <br> <br>The bookies are all tipping the Transformers for the series, with some giving the Paddy Projects a chance of winning one test in the first match.<br> <br>Schmidt will name his 32-man project squad for the series, later today, Wed 25 May
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="582380" data-time="1464138336">
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<p>Is British those born in Northern Ireland? Still bloody Irish, no?</p>
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<p>Yes. Although I'd be fairly sure that none of those players would describe their nationality as Irish per se. Northern Irish or British more likely. ;)</p>
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<p>I put the list together especially for Jegga. :)</p> -
<p>Before Transformation took hold, wags might have said that Ireland had more black players in their squad than South Africa.</p>
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<p>Now it looks like Ireland might have more white South Africans in their squad than South Africa.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="582402" data-time="1464140150">
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<p>Where's Henshaw ? in the slammer for being a vigilante, injured or ineligible for being too irish ?</p>
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<p>Err, no, no, and no point since Aki is nearly there.....</p>
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<p>The actual Irish team to tour Eastern Europe will be announced next week.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Pot Hale" data-cid="582410" data-time="1464140993">
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<p>Err, no, no, and no point since Aki is nearly there.....</p>
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<p>The actual Irish team to tour Eastern Europe will be announced next week.</p>
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<p>I had to re edit after my initial post.</p>
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<p>Good player, should have that Lions 12 jersey firmly in his sights.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="582445" data-time="1464144128">
<p>I had to re edit after my initial post.<br>
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Good player, should have that Lions 12 jersey firmly in his sights.</p>
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Hmmm......</p>
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<p>Richie McCaw, a few weeks ago, said in an interview on Irish TV:<br><br>
“It would be quite good for him to come home because I always thought that when he left, if he’d carried on playing the way he is over here, he would have been knocking on the door as an All Black. I don’t think he was going to be that far off so we might have to knock on his door and get him back home.â€</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Pot Hale" data-cid="582458" data-time="1464144801">
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<p> <br>
Hmmm......</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Richie McCaw, a few weeks ago, said in an interview on Irish TV:<br><br>
“It would be quite good for him to come home because I always thought that when he left, if he’d carried on playing the way he is over here, he would have been knocking on the door as an All Black. I don’t think he was going to be that far off so we might have to knock on his door and get him back home.â€</p>
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<p>I meant Henshaw</p> -
<p>Thought this might be a good opportunity for Ireland to catch the Boks on the hop</p>
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<p>But, my ignorance aside, Ireland looks a bit underwhelming personnel wise.</p>
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<p>Will certainly watch with interest but can see SA defence and home crowd getting the job done. Expecting lots of crash ball, kicking and rolling mauls from a Coetzee team</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="582460" data-time="1464144913">
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<p>I meant Henshaw</p>
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<p>I'm sure he'll be in the squad announced today. And will travel assuming he doesn't get injured in the PRO12 final this weekend.</p>
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<p>Likely actual squad will possibly be:</p>
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<p>McGrath, Bealham, Furlong, Ross, Kilcoyne,</p>
<p>Best, Cronin, Strauss,</p>
<p>Toner, Dillane, Ryan, M Kearney, Henderson,</p>
<p>O'Donnell, Ruddock, Stander, Henry, Heaslip, Murphy,</p>
<p>Murray, Marmion, Reddan,</p>
<p>Sexton, Jackson,</p>
<p>Henshaw, Olding, Marshall,</p>
<p>Earls, Fitzgerald, Timble,</p>
<p>R Kearney, Payne.</p> -
<p>Ireland squad will have 2 main issues: no top-class openside flanker and potentially a bit of a "meh" back 3, although I see your squad doesn't include Dave Kearney...</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Pot Hale" data-cid="582458" data-time="1464144801">
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<p> <br>
Hmmm......</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Richie McCaw, a few weeks ago, said in an interview on Irish TV:<br><br>
“It would be quite good for him to come home because I always thought that when he left, if he’d carried on playing the way he is over here, he would have been knocking on the door as an All Black. I don’t think he was going to be that far off so we might have to knock on his door and get him back home.â€</p>
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<p>The anointed one</p> -
<p>Actual Ireland squad announced</p>
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<p><strong>Forwards (18)</strong><br>
Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht)<br>
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) (c)<br>
Sean Cronin (St Marys/Leinster)<br>
Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht)<br>
Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)<br>
Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) (vc)<br>
Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)<br>
David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster)<br>
Jack McGrath (St Marys/Leinster)<br>
Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)<br>
Sean Reidy (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)<br>
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)<br>
Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht)<br>
Rhys Ruddock (St Marys/Leinster)<br>
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)<br>
CJ Stander (Munster)<br>
Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)<br>
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)</p>
<p><strong>Backs (14)</strong><br>
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)<br>
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock/Leinster)<br>
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)<br>
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)<br>
David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)<br>
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)<br>
Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)<br>
Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)<br>
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)<br>
Stuart Olding (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)<br>
Jared Payne (Ulster)<br>
Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster)<br>
Jonathan Sexton (St Marys/Leinster)<br>
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)<br><br>
Roux selected as one of five Connacht players getting the nod after their whirlwind season. Roux moved from SA to Leinster on a one-year deal. He then got a two-year extension. In his second season, he was loaned out to Connacht for a few months to get some games. Then the loan was extended until end of season and end of his Leinster contract. Leinster didn't want to renew but Connacht offered him another two-year contract. He qualified on residency last year but wasn't considered. Now Schmidt has decided to give him the nod - maybe just to put a cap on his head.<br><br>
Finlay Bealham born in Australia went to Ireland at 19 to see if he could get pro contract after failing to make Brumbies academy. His mother's family is from Ireland and he started to play for local club, then got a chance with Ireland U20s, went to Ulster and then moved to Connacht. Capped in the Six Nations this year.<br><br>
Sean Reidy is a Kiwi who qualifies through Irish grandmother in Kerry. Played for Counties Manakau, then offered a one year contract with Ulster in 2014. It was renewed for a further two years.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="582695" data-time="1464178271"><p>Is McCloskey injured ?</p></blockquote>
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No. Just not selected. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Pot Hale" data-cid="582384" data-time="1464139098">
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<p>Yes. Although I'd be fairly sure that none of those players would describe their nationality as Irish per se. Northern Irish or British more likely. ;)</p>
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<p>I put the list together especially for Jegga. :)</p>
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<p>Cheers, looks like those "tacit agreements"are working well, speaking of which I see Jake Heenan has somewhat unsurprisingly declared himself available for Ireland.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="582984" data-time="1464244597">
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<p>Cheers, looks like those "tacit agreements"are working well, speaking of which I see Jake Heenan has somewhat unsurprisingly declared himself available for Ireland.</p>
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<p>There has to be more to this than meets the eye I reckon: NZU20 captain leaves without even trying his hand at Super Rugby, and 3 years later declares for Ireland?</p>
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<p>I find it strange...</p>
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<p>He seems decent enough, but injured 95% of the time.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="582984" data-time="1464244597"><p>
Cheers, looks like those "tacit agreements"are working well, speaking of which I see Jake Heenan has somewhat unsurprisingly declared himself available for Ireland.</p></blockquote>
Tacit agreements? Like the ones with Ben Te'o and Gerhard van den Heever?<br><br>
Didn't see Heenan's declaration. He's three years at the end of June and he's signed on for another two years with Connacht with the promise of Champions Cup in the offing. No one has been beating down his door to join them, though. <br><br>
"I guess I have to make up own mind whether I'll stay here or go home and try for the All Blacks, or try for England but international rugby is definitely on the agenda," he said a couple of years ago. <br><br>
After two years in the Auckland development squad, Heenan found himself not wanted for the Blues so he looked further afield. "I was 21 when I moved here. There were no good offers on the table for me back home. This was the best offer for me," he says. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="582484" data-time="1464148172">
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<p>Ireland squad will have 2 main issues: no top-class openside flanker and potentially a bit of a "meh" back 3, although I see your squad <strong>doesn't include Dave Kearney.</strong>..</p>
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<p>Err...... don't look now.....</p>
