Incredible.
Ireland beat USA comprehensively. Jordan scores again out sprinting Carlin Isles, complete star. Now in semis.

Ireland Sevens qualifies for Cup competition tomorrow at London Sevens. Hard to progress further as it’s USA next, but have done very well to get this far. Jordan Conroy fast becoming a star with 4 tries.

Why Bealham should be in his home Australia ahead of John Ryan
www.the42.ie/opta-pro14-team-of-the-season-4049163-Jun2018/

Of all people, Cooney as one of best players in the league this year must go.
Francis just another columnist who courts controversy to raise his own profile. A wannabe Southsoide Dunphy or Free State Brolly,

" I can't, for the life of me, understand how Kieran Marmion and John Cooney get to go to Australia ahead of him. Sometimes even Joe gets it wrong."

He's some ballbag

I see the schmuck Neil Francis at it again in the Indo today where he said McGrath should be travelling to Oz before Marmion or Cooney. The prick will only be happy when one day there are no Connacht, Munster, or Ulster players in a squad.

columoc wrote: Lam is amazing and the unity of the BBs was extraordinary.

Pat Lam in charge of a Lions Tour would be alot of fun

Looks like Carbery to Munster is a done deal. Shame they didn't possess this newfound persuasiveness last time they "tried" to convince a player to choose a province.

Three Connacht lads did very well as Baa Bass whipped England. Ultan had a great game, up to standard of 2016. Lam is amazing and the unity of the BBs was extraordinary.

And not having Ashton in English squad is crazy.

more interesting game than Irish ones on a Connacht POV
Thank you Pat!!

Denis, Ultan and Niyi all start for the Barbarians on Sunday.

The comment about Joe not watching was a joke, I know sarcasm doesn't come off well in the written word, roux has been playing well when he's featured for Ireland in particular last summer when he got the chance, I'm delighted he's got in, I understand Ruddock was unlucky with injuries but I personally would have like to see him in there

Decent chance Finlay will be in Aus for a holiday anyway, so maybe they're just going to call him up late and save the IRFU an airfare

MulMan wrote: Not from a Connacht point of view but in general I think Ruddock is very hard done by, I think he has a bit of versatility that would be crucial for a tour with what isn't a huge squad, can't understand Ryan getting in, there;s a reason he's struggled for starts with Munster, he's not very mobile or active around the field, would have accepted Finlay being left out for Archer, or even if they'd decided to bring 3 LH and gone with Kilcoyne ahead of Buckley, for once though I agree with most calls, surprised to see Cooney and Marmion selected, as I thought Joe would surely go with McGrath, delighted he didn't though, other have also said Roux is lucky to get in, he was giving away a lot of penalties for us of late which surely wouldn't have gone down well with Joe, then again maybe that's proof Joe doesn't bother watching us. A fourth centre would not have gone amiss either, let it be Farrell or Scannell. All in all though a good squad and hope they do the business.

Ah God, if joe drops Connacht players he’s biased against us, if he retains them he doesn’t watch our games. I’d say it’s more that he trusts Quinn as he’s never let him down before. Which begs the question, how does he put in disciplined performances for Ireland then give away 4 penalties in his first game back for us, but I digress.

Ruddock was just unlucky with the timing of his injury, was the standout back row in Leinster before that.

Ryan over Bealham is a sop to the Munster mafia. Ryan will see 0 minutes action in AUS unless we win the first two tests in which case he'll get 10mins off the bench in the final dead rubber. Schmidt could be glad of Bealham's availability yet in the event of either Furlong or Porter shipping a knock this weekend.

John Ryan ahead of Bealham is just an utterly bizzare call. Scrummaging there's not much between them, but Connacht's scrum has been dominant every time Munster and Connacht have met over the past couple of seasons. Around the park it's not even close to a contest, Bealham is far more useful.

Schmidt is clearly a very stubborn man with favourites. Roux is actually a good example of this but at least in is case he's not taking a spot off somebody who deserves it more as Dillane has been a bit up and down with form.

Glad Marmion was picked ahead of McGrath. He's been consistently good-excellent over a much longer period and if nothing else I might also get to see a few smug smiles wiped off faces.