Yeah dunno what that is about. Afaik Marmion could still declare for Wales which would be an absolute travesty. I obviously don't know him but I'd like to think he wants to play for Ireland, but between this announcement and the lack of gametime in the summer while with the squad Ireland are almost avoiding nailing him down. I doubt its an immediate worry but what if we go through the whole international season without Marmion getting a cap. I would hope that this is purely because they already know what they can expect from Marms but want to try Henshaw out in centre. However that doesn't even make sense since its just a training squad, they could always find room for one more if they needed. Confusion!

1 connacht player, henshaw! i feel sick seeing reddan and boss there instead of KM!
jackson over ian keatley, mmm! started 1 game = man of the match

The Ireland coaching staff have announced a squad of 42 players to assemble at Carton House for Sunday afternoon and Monday morning, to commence their preparations for the Guinness Series in November.
Ireland Coach Joe Schmidt spoke briefly about the selections and the objectives for the camp.
"Selection was difficult as it's the first time we have had to narrow our focus a bit and determine a cut off point for players. A number of selections were very tight which is positive.

The group is predominantly 'tried and proven' but with some newer faces as well. It's an opportunity to get to know the players as well as an opportunity to have a look ahead and start to get a little bit of organization done for the Guinness Series.

There are a number of players such as Tommy O'Donnell, Michael Bent, Stuart Olding, Andrew Trimble, Craig Gilroy and Felix Jones that were not considered due to injury but some of these players may well be involved in the autumn as they return to full fitness and resume playing.

There are also a few players who have not yet had many opportunities to make an impression and a few youngsters who have been impressive in the early rounds of the Pro 12 that we've left to keep working with their provinces.

There is no doubting the challenge that autumn presents but we're looking forward to get a little bit of a head start this weekend"

Tickets for the Guinness Series are on sale now on ticketmaster.ie

Ireland Training Squad (22-23 September)

Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster)
Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
James Coughlan (Dolphin/Munster)
Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon/Ulster)
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)
Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster)
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)
Shane Jennings (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemian/Munster)
Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster)
Mike McCarthy (Leinster)
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Niall Morris (Leicester Tigers)
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster)
Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92)
Mike Sherry (Garryowen/Munster)
Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Marshall was pretty lively when he came on against the US, added some impetus while the team was trying to hold on at the end. So unless Boss was to be dropped Marmion wasn't going to feature. I would have said he would have been better served with the emerging Irish side, but as much rugby as he played this past season he was probably better off as is. Getting the experience without having to log any more game time. Just hope they don't pull any player welfare with him and keep him out of Connacht's preseason.

Team vs Canada announced:

Ireland XV to play Canada: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Darren Cave, 12 James Downey, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Ian Madigan, 9 Isaac Boss, 1 Tom Court, 2 Richardt Strauss, 3 Mike Ross, 4 Dan Tuohy, 5 Devin Toner, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 7 Tommy O’Donnell, 8 Peter O’Mahony.

Replacements:16 Sean Cronin, 17 David Kilcoyne, 18 Declan Fitzpatrick, 19 Mike McCarthy, 20 Chris Henry, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 Robbie Henshaw.

Really delighted for Downey its a long time coming but gutted that Marmion didn't at least make the bench.

Didn't think it was as bad as the rest of you guys are making out but then I was half asleep. After watching countless A games I never expected us to be fluid. I don't think the heat etc helped but that's no excuse.

Our scrum was very good though but our line-out was dire. No great performances by anyone either from Ireland but we got a win. The Yanks were decent with Clever and Manoa putting in some fierce tackles. I expect better though against the Canadians.

Waited up to watch that and seriously regretted it. To say it was awful would be an understatement. Lucky just to emerge with any kind of win in the end. 6-3 loss in the 2nd half against basically an amateur team and up a player for 10 minutes is pathetic regardless of any excuses for first time playing together, heat etc. The fact Robbie Shaw was on the bench for US told you enough about their level, he played a game or two for Connacht when we were at our lowest ebb and looked out of his depth even at Connacht.

Robbie looked very nervous before the start but made a couple of good hits early on but after that his performance went the way of the rest of the team as we looked completely rudderless. The US never looked like scoring a try unless we gifted them one but we nearly did on a number of occasions. Worryingly Robbie's dropped ball aside we rarely threatened their line either.

Only when Paul Marshall came on did we get back to some kind of basics to edge us over the line. Big improvement needed or we'll be leaving Toronto with a defeat next weekend.

Joe Schmidt will have it all to do. The future doesn't look bright at the moment.

God that was a horrible game. Henshaw had some high profile cock ups but wasn't any better or worse than the rest of the backs, at least he went looking for work and things to do.

Sol_ie wrote: Robbie not having the best of games, must be said.

Very hard for a débutante when the senior players are playing like headless chickens, but he did do some good things too. Very disappointing team performance overall, it's like they didn't anticipate the intensity and hard hitting the Yanks would bring (like they ever do anything else). There was still a lot of experience out there compared to the USA, but no composure or clarity of thought shown...

Robbie not having the best of games, must be said.

connachtexile wrote: Is this being televised and if not is there a link?

tg4 (if thats any good to you) on saturday night 1.20 and KO 1.30 (as id call it but really sunday morning)

Is this being televised and if not is there a link?

But he is the only powerful player with Ngwenya, the video is quite realistic : it will be our XV against him!

Yeah Clever is a 7. Played well against Ireland in the WC.

RonanL wrote:

galway_gas wrote: Nice to see US media are not into corny stereotyping :sick:

OMG. I just threw up in my mouth a little.

Ah 'tis grand shure it is; begorrah, bit of fun. Lucky looks like the kinda guy whose last gig was promoting Mexican wrestling. It a living!

I was impressed with Todd Clever at last World Cup, lots of aggression and passion. He used to be with Hurricanes and must be getting good money to play in Japan. Surprised he did'nt come to Europe, type of player that could do well in Connacht. Think he is a 7.

galway_gas wrote: Nice to see US media are not into corny stereotyping :sick:

OMG. I just threw up in my mouth a little.

Nice to see US media are not into corny stereotyping :sick: