Ya I know but Porter still is the cover as 3rd Loosehead too, as he covers both sides like Bealham and Ryan, ya that's what I feel too unfortunately although I think Buckley has better potential than Cronin, ah ya obviously lots of people prefer Earls he's just one of my least favourite Irish players

MulMan wrote: I agree with ya there Bazzo, but that may not be the way Joe views it, I think Denis is better at the minute than Andrew Porter but Joe doesn't agree unfortunately, I agree Dobby I'm astounded that Gilroy didn't get in, I really fail to see exactly what is seen in Earls too, he's had a good season but I feel Gilroy could offer more if given the same chances

Porter has moved to tighthead so he is not being selected ahead of Buckley, if one of the looseheads got injured I assume it would be between Denis and James Cronin and I gave a feeling JS would select the latter.
I think selecting Earls ahead of Gilroy is a no brainier Earks is constistently an all round better footballer than Gilroy less the pace and also an option at centre.

I agree with ya there Bazzo, but that may not be the way Joe views it, I think Denis is better at the minute than Andrew Porter but Joe doesn't agree unfortunately, I agree Dobby I'm astounded that Gilroy didn't get in, I really fail to see exactly what is seen in Earls too, he's had a good season but I feel Gilroy could offer more if given the same chances

Obviously would like to have seen a few more Connacht lads in there but given our recent form we haven't too many arguments to make. I think its not a bad squad. Japan are going to be very competitive, it'll be a good test as to how much depth we actually have.

The one positive of this is that hopefully we get the core of the group together for a big chunk of pre-season. Obviously Kieran Keane won't be there but hopefully the other coaches can get to work and we can look to make a fast start while the other teams are drip-feeding players back into their squads.

chops123 wrote: Ireland Squad Summer Tour 2017 - USA & Japan

Forwards
Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht) 6 caps
Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 1 cap
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 67 caps
Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers)*
Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 17 caps
Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster) 2 caps
Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) 12 caps
Jack O'Donoghue (UL Bohemians/Munster) 1 cap

Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)*
Rhys Ruddock (St Mary's College/Leinster) 13 caps
James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)*
John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 6 caps
Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) 4 caps
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 47 caps
James Tracy (UCD/Leinster) 2 caps
Kieran Treadwell (Ballymena/Ulster)*
Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 7 caps

Backs
Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster) 3 caps
Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) 1 cap
John Cooney (Connacht)*
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 59 caps
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) 23 caps
Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 13 caps
Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster) 9 caps
Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 1 cap
Tiernan O'Halloran (Buccaneers/Connacht) 3 caps
Rory O'Loughlin (Old Belvedere/Leinster)*
Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 8 caps
Rory Scannell (Dolphin/Munster)*
Jacob Stockdale (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)*
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster) 33 caps

*Denotes uncapped

Have to admit I am astounded by this selection. No Trimble, no Gilroy, and here I am astounded because its a real shift from the norm. And then there was always going to be players disappointed like Adam Byrne, Sweetnam. To be honest I am impressed that TOH made the cut. Fair play to him when you consider who didn't make the cut. And then Joe throws a real clanger. Dave Heff. Dave absolutely deserves it. Has being playing great stuff. I'm just simply impressed that Joe noticed.

MulMan wrote: Unfortunately for Buckley even if Healy was left out, he may have missed out to James Cronin, I suppose with Healy though he's thinking he may be still around come RWC 2019, the talk is there's still one place to be announced and that could well be Dillane as there's only 3 locks named at the minute, Joe may be waiting to see if he proves himself fit

To be honest leaving Buckley out for Cronin would be a sham. Kilcoyne has had a great season(though Buckley was better than him for the last 2) so you can see why he's there, but even though Denis has had a fairly quiet season(which still makes him miles better than anybody else we have) he's been better than Cronin.

Really happy for Heffernan, have always liked him and he is the sort of dynamic ball carrying player in the loose that we like to see, hopefully a tour can add to his overall game.

Obviously disappointed for Buckley but as said he hasn't had his best season, Healy and Kilcoyne are the only experienced props on the tour, this isn't supposed to be a wolfhounds team, it needs to have a good blend of experience and youth. I would reserve any criticism until after the tour and we see how much time these less experienced players get. At the same time I wouldn't be surprised if one or two of the uncapped players are on the tour in an apprentice/observer category and are not expected to play unless they really excel.

Joe is often criticised for conservatism, but to be fair, 22 out of the total squad have 10 caps or less each. Very exciting.

Unfortunately for Buckley even if Healy was left out, he may have missed out to James Cronin, I suppose with Healy though he's thinking he may be still around come RWC 2019, the talk is there's still one place to be announced and that could well be Dillane as there's only 3 locks named at the minute, Joe may be waiting to see if he proves himself fit

At this stage, what more in the name of jaysus, can we hope to learn about Cian Healy? At this stage of his career will help benefit more from a summer tour or a few weeks r&r given his injury history the last few years.

Albeit he's been better than Denis this season I just don't think his inclusion at Buckleys expense does anyone any good.

As has been said above, if I were Bucks I'd be seriously considering my options abroad to make a few quid since international recognition is clearly not on the cards.

Really did not expect Heffernan to be called up, from outside Connacht great to see Stockdale get the call but where in the name of god is Gilroy

wp_rathead wrote: From a Connacht fan POV it's a shame Buckley, Roux and SOB didn't get called for the tour
But from an Irish fan POV it is a really exciting squad - bit light at second row though with only 3 locks traveling

Don't you think Roux has a decent chance to be the last name announced after this week-end, then?

From a Connacht fan POV it's a shame Buckley, Roux and SOB didn't get called for the tour
But from an Irish fan POV it is a really exciting squad - bit light at second row though with only 3 locks traveling

Congratulations to Heffernan and Cooney

connachta wrote: Healy instead of Denis, Treadwell/Ryan for Roux, Porter for Bealham, Kearney for TOH, Sweetnam for Healy/Niyi/Kelleher.
What a move backward if it happens as such...
Get rid of Marmion and IRFU will enjoy the good old "3 provinces" team again:angry:

Healy and Kilcoyne have both had better seasons than Denis.

Roux has been ok but if you remove provincial bias I think most people would rather top young prospects travel on tours like this rather than decent enough older lads.

Sweetnam has been better than all of those lads and didn't make it. Same with Adam Byrne.

Congrats to the lads that made it, I hope we see Tiernan given at least 2 starts. Think Heffernan will do really well, great to see him picked think he's been our best forward this year.

Ireland Squad Summer Tour 2017 - USA & Japan

Forwards
Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht) 6 caps
Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 1 cap
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 67 caps
Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers)*
Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 17 caps
Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster) 2 caps
Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) 12 caps
Jack O'Donoghue (UL Bohemians/Munster) 1 cap

Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)*
Rhys Ruddock (St Mary's College/Leinster) 13 caps
James Ryan (UCD/Leinster)*
John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 6 caps
Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) 4 caps
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 47 caps
James Tracy (UCD/Leinster) 2 caps
Kieran Treadwell (Ballymena/Ulster)*
Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 7 caps

Backs
Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster) 3 caps
Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) 1 cap
John Cooney (Connacht)*
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 59 caps
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) 23 caps
Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 13 caps
Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster) 9 caps
Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 1 cap
Tiernan O'Halloran (Buccaneers/Connacht) 3 caps
Rory O'Loughlin (Old Belvedere/Leinster)*
Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 8 caps
Rory Scannell (Dolphin/Munster)*
Jacob Stockdale (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)*
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster) 33 caps

*Denotes uncapped

Heffernan the surprise addition which is great.
No Buckley again. I know he hasn't had the best season but he deserves to travel. I'm just thinking it might be hard to hold onto him if other clubs in Europe come sniffing. He's not going to play for ireland so why not go for the money and weather.