Don't agree at all for giving the spot to a 4th choice instead of JHW 1st choice who has played serious european rugby. Hope it's because of his injury.

Interesting choice as Nigel Brady has now unoffically retired he will be third choice next year for Ulster and with Best going to be rested because of the Lions he will be getting some serious gametime for Ulster next season (injury and form permitting). As he's a former U20 Irish captain and meant to be highly rated I think it's a good choice. I had a go at Kiss on the other topic picking POM as captain over Chris Henry but I think this is a shrewd choice.

It went to... None of the Above!

Niall Annett is going

Hope so... if not, it will be between Varley (not really an "emerging" player at 30) and Henry, which is good for us too, giving gametime to him!

Has JHW recovered from injury that kept him out of last couple of games?

Surely Cronin for USA and JHW for Georgia now that Hartley (idiot!) is out?

3 changes in the georgian squad
Mikheil Nariashvili, Shalva Mamukashvili and Beka Bitsadze out
Anton Peikrishvili (Castres), Simon Maisuradze (Bagnères) and Vakhtang Maisuradze (Albi) in

Uruguay
Props: Mario Sagario (RC Massy - 24 caps), Alejo Corral (San Isidro Club - 19 caps), Juan Rombys (Trébol - 16 caps), Rodolfo De Mula (PSG - 11 caps)
Hookers: Arturo Avalo (Carrasco Polo - 13 caps), Nicolás Klappenbach (Champagnat - 21 caps)
Locks: Mathias Palomeque (Trévol - 6 caps), Cristofer Soares de Lima (MVCC - 10 caps), Mateo Sanguinetti (Los Cuervos - 2 caps), Diego Magno (MVCC - 24 caps)
Back row: Franco Lamanna (Carrasco Polo), Agustín Alonso (MVCC - 2 caps), Juan Gaminara (Old Boys - 5 caps), Fernando Bascou (PSG - 8 caps), Rodrigo Espiga (Old Christians - 1 cap)
Scrum halves: Alejo Durán (Trébol - 8 caps)
Fly halves: Rodrigo Silva (Carrasco Polo - 3 caps)
Centres: Juan De Freitas (Champagnat - 15 caps), Joaquín Prada (Los Cuervos), Santiago Core (Old Boys), Alberto Román (PSG - 11 caps)
Wings: Santiago Gibernau (Carrasco Polo - 12 caps), Leandro Leivas (Old Christians - 16 caps), Francisco Bulanti (Trébol - 13 caps)
Full backs: Jerónimo Etcheverry (Valpolicella Rugby - 18 caps)

Yes, Andrew has had an ongoing Achilles problem and surgery was the best option at this stage. Super player -hopefully he'll be flying again by the start of next season.

toh could probably have done with a break tbh, been injured half the season and played on it making things worse. Looked like he might have tweaked something against glasgow too? I'm not really that enamoured by these summer tours in general, players need a chance to catch their breath.

rossie wrote: croket- i see you are a perpignon supporter(congrats on hec qualification). what are the french views on the ongoing Hec negotiations? what are the big issues for a new agreement from the french perspective?
we have the english view forced on us regularly and they keep stating that its the anglo french position so id interested to hear your views and what the media/clubs say over there.

it could be that the French support the english proposal :dry:

croket- i see you are a perpignon supporter(congrats on hec qualification). what are the french views on the ongoing Hec negotiations? what are the big issues for a new agreement from the french perspective?
we have the english view forced on us regularly and they keep stating that its the anglo french position so id interested to hear your views and what the media/clubs say over there.

SA President's XV
Props: Martin Dreyer (Leopards), Ivann Espag (Pumas), Vincent Koch (Pumas), Khwezilokusa Mkhafu (Border Bulldogs)
Hookers: Ashton Constant (Boland Cavaliers), Frank Herne (Pumas)
Locks: Marius Coetzer (Pumas), Giant Mtyanda (SWD Eagles), Brendon Snyman (Leopards)
Back row: Renaldo Bothma (Pumas), Jaco Bouwer (Pumas), Uzair Cassiem (Pumas), Vincent Gwavu (Valke), Zandré Jordaan (Boland Cavaliers), Brian Shabangu (Border Bulldogs)
Scrum halves: Ntando Kebe (Boland Cavaliers), Inus Kritzinger (Griffons), Sinovuyo Nyoka (Border Bulldogs)
Fly halves: Carl Bezuidenhout (Pumas), Ricardo Croy (Boland Cavaliers)
Centres: Adriaan Engelbrecht (Leopards), Wilmaure Louw (Pumas), Jerome Pretorius (Pumas)
Wings: Alshaun Bock (SWD Eagles), Joe Seerane (Border Bulldogs)
Full backs: Jacquin Jansen (Boland Cavaliers), Hoffman Maritz (Leopards), Rosco Speckman (Pumas)

Only 2 players with Super Rugby experience (Wilmaure Louw et Marius Coetzer)

Glad to see Niall Morris hasn't being ignored. He's had some serious form for the Tigers this season.

Pretty strong squad! A shame Georgia play without some key players, including prop Zirakashvili (played tighthead yesterday for Clermont), Toulouse players Kakovin (loosehead) and Bregvadze (hooker) and Montpellier's captain Mamuka Gorgodze (back row)

I think whats really interesting is the presence of bent and cronin in this squad. Its a big backward step in both players career paths. Same applies to loughney. The arrival of white has really hindered his progress. He was probably the 2nd best and most consistant irish qualified th last season in both hec and league. He has struggled this season. I rem reading an article about bj before when he stated that he needed 3-4 vames to be match ready performance wise and that he hated coming off bench for same reason. Judging by posters here hagan is similar and ronan too. You can see it with archer too. He played more this year as a starter and improved ackordingly.