15 Stuart Hogg
14 Louis Rees Zammit
13 Gael Fickou
12 Robbie Henshaw
11 Josh Adams
10 Dan Biggar
9 Gareth Davies
8 Toby Faletau
7 Hamish Watson
6 Tadgh Beirne
5 Alun Wyn Jones
4 Bernard Le Roux
3 Tadgh Furlong
2 Ken Owens
1 Wyn Jones
This is my 6 Nations team of 2021, huge congratulations to champions Wales and to Scotland who won in Paris for the 1st time since winning the Championship in 1999…
Maybe 3 or so years before I even thought I would writing a tribute to CJ Stander here I am, he has just announced his retirement from professional rugby when his current contract ends in June. He has made the decision to return to South Africa for personal reasons.
He has played over 150 times for Munster and will most likely win cap number 51 against England in Dublin this Saturday in the 6 Nations. He toured with the Lions in 2017 in New Zealand and was part of the squad in the drawn series.
He joined Munster back in 2012 aged 22, scoring a cracking try vs Glasgow in Limerick in the Pro 12 as it was then to really announce himself to the Munster faithful and has done every time he has pulled on the Munster shirt, Irish jersey and the Lions shirt in 2017.
He has shown incredible durability in the 9 years since he joined and has rarely not been involved in Munster squads since fully establishing himself when James Coughlan left to go to France.
He has played number 8 and also at Blindside Flanker number 6. The same consistency of selection has happened at national level with Ireland since his 1st cap in 2016. He has been a real leader for Munster and Ireland and has lead from the front for both teams in the past 9 years.
He can look back at his time in Ireland will real satisfaction and genuine fondness… He still has 3 months to go before he departs for South Africa. He will face Leinster in the RDS in another Pro 14 Final and then play Toulouse on April 3rd in Thomond Park in the last 16 of the Champions Cup injury permitting of course.
Time now to focus on England this weekend and then Leinster in the Pro 14 Final… Some big games ahead for CJ and his team mates…
Just a word to CJ and his family. I was fortunate to speak to Jean Marie CJ’s wife in 2016 about her own sporting career, her move to Limerick with CJ and more… Thanks to CJ for all the memories and let’s hope there is more to come before CJ departs the scene in June….
This season’s 6 Nations is still scheduled to kick off on February 6th but as we have seen things could change in the next few weeks. Ireland will face Wales hopefully in Cardiff on Sunday February 7th. Here is the squad I would select for the Championship.
Of course some of these players will be ruled out through injury and for other reasons over the course of the Championship.
Forwards :
Cian Healy, James Cronin, Peter Dooley, John Ryan, Tom O Toole, Andrew Porter.
Ronan Kelleher, Dave Heffernan, Rob Herring.
Tadgh Beirne, James Ryan, Ultan Dillane, Gavin Thornbury.
Peter O Mahony, Rhys Ruddock, Will Connors, CJ Stander, Gavin Coombes. (18)
Backs:
Craig Casey, John Cooney, Jamison Gibson Park.
Ross Byrne, Jack Carty, Ben Healy.
Robbie Henshaw, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki, James Hume.
Andrew Conway, Jordan Larmour, Jacob Stockdale, Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Keith Earls. (16)
Here is the squad of 34 I would select and of course there is room for others to come in and be part of the squad….
Here is the XV I would select injury permitting to face Wales in the Autumn Nations Cup in Dublin in just over 2 weeks time… Given that there no prize money and it won’t affect your World Cup seeding so for the Welsh game and the Georgian game I’d like to see Andy Farrell cast the net as wide as possible and see what he can come with regarding game plans and team selection.. They also play England but they will select a strong 23 to go to Twickenham on November 21st.
15 Shane Daly
14 James Lowe
13 Stuart Mc Closkey
12 Chris Farrell
11 Hugo Keenan
10 Ross Byrne
9 Craig Casey
8 Caelan Doris
7 Dan Leavy
6 Tadgh Beirne
5 James Ryan
4 Ryan Baird
3 Andrew Porter
2 Ronan Kelleher
1 Ed Byrne
–
16 Rob Herring
17 Cian Healy
18 John Ryan
19 Ultan Dillane
20 Rhys Ruddock
21 Luke Mc Grath
22 Billy Burns
23 Andrew Conway
I have selected this team as a side I’d like to see I know some selections just won’t happen but we can but hope !!
The 6 Nations returns this weekend with Ireland facing Italy in the Aviva Stadium in a game that was originally to be played in early March but that game was postponed owing to the global health crisis that has overtaken the world in 2020.
Andy Farrell has two games to finish this campaign, finishing next Saturday week in Paris on Super Saturday to finish the 2020 Championship well that is the plan currently but as we have seen things can change very quickly.
Farrell will then keep his squad together for the Autumn Nations Cup where they will play Wales, England and Georgia before hopefully make it through to the knock out phase of that competition.
Andy Farrell this afternoon selected a 23 with a number of uncapped men named like Ed Byrne and Hugo Keenan who have made the most of things since rugby restarted and have now earned the chance to make their debuts, Keenan from the start and Byrne from the bench.
Many have questioned the exclusion of Josh Van Der Flier from the 23 this weekend but I think the squad named to face Italy is one that is specifically named to take on Italy, Van Der Flier will come back into contention for the French game and by extension the Nations Cup.
Ireland are blessed to have many quality back rows in the 4 provinces, Both Caelan Doris and Will Connors would have started back in March and there form has been solid since the resumption of rugby.
It will be interesting to see what sort of game Ireland try and play this weekend, will they go out and attack Italy from the opening minute or will it be a more controlled in what they hope to do !!
The pack is full of running and raw power, they have mobility in the 2nd row with Tadgh Beirne alongside James Ryan add to that the qualities of messers Connors and Doris and we may see a game plan filled with pace and power…
The back line is along familiar lines with Sexton and Murray paired at 9 and 10 with Jamison Gibson Park and Ross Byrne on the bench to be sprung in the 2nd half.
Gibson Park will make his debut if he gets onto the field of play and his performance will be watched carefully given the Luke Mc Grath and John Cooney aren’t involved. Cooney wasn’t selected and Mc Grath has been pipped by Gibson Park. Bundee Aki and Gary Ringrose continue at 12 and 13 with Robbie Henshaw on the bench in the number 23 shirt.
The Ireland squad has many options in the centre and back three with Hugo Keenan given are real chance to shine on the wing rather than the full back slot where he broke into the Leinster team.
Keenan of course is a man who has played 7s for Ireland in recent seasons with the likes of Shane Daly both men now of course are heavily involved in their respective Provincial sides in the last while.
It is nice to see a pathway back to the 15s game for players who have been involved in the 7s programme that was restored as a way to keep players in the system if things don’t initially work out in the 15s game while also keeping the 7s programme strong.
It’s been good to have club rugby back since August but the return of the international game to Dublin will also be another small step forward…. Kick off Saturday is 3.30pm
My Ireland Squad for the 2020 Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup
Forwards :
Cian Healy, Eric O Sullivan, Denis Buckley, Jack Mc Grath. Loose Head Prop
John Ryan, Andrew Porter, Findlay Bealham, Tom O Toole. Tight Head Prop
James Ryan, Ultan Dillane, Ryan Baird, Iain Henderson, Gavin Thornbury. Locks
Josh Van Der Flier, Tadgh Beirne, Caelan Doris, Jack Conan, CJ Stander, Will Connors. Back Row/ Number 8
Ronan Kelleher, Dave Heffernan, Rob Herring. Hooker
Backs :
John Cooney, Luke Mc Grath, Conor Murray, Caelan Blade. Scrum Halves
Ross Byrne, Jack Carty, Billy Burns. Out Half
Andrew Conway, Jordan Larmour, James Lowe, Jacob Stockdale, Hugo Keenan. Wing/Full Back
Gary Ringrose, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki, Tom Farrell, Robbie Henshaw. Centre
Here is the squad I would select for the upcoming conclusion of the 2020 Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup.
With the World Cup Pool draw set for December 14th this period will allow for all nations to experiment as the results from this period will now not have any bearing on seeding for the draw in December.
Andy Farrell and his coaching staff will now have free reign during the Autumn Nations Cup while focusing on the Six Nations conclusion….
The Crusaders have won the recently set up Super Rugby competition in New Zealand involving all 5 New Zealand based franchises, Waikato Chiefs, Auckland Blues, Otago Highlanders and the Wellington Hurricanes.
Rugby in New Zealand came back before elsewhere across the World. It has been a fantastic competition with extremely close finishes with the Chiefs unfortunately coming out on the end of 9 defeats under new coach Warren Gatland. On a number of occasions the Chiefs were only beaten by less than 10 points.
Back to the Crusaders who had a bye in week one and then went on to win 8 of their next 9 games only being beaten by the Hurricanes. They face the Blues this weekend in the final round of the current competition with plenty of discussions ongoing as to the way rugby will look south of the equator in 2021.
Scott Robertson has been in charge over the last 4 years winning the Super Rugby title 2 times and now adding the Aoteroa title to the ever growing collection in his impressive CV. Mark Jones ex Wales and Scarlets wing has been added to the coaching team replacing Ronan O Gara who moved to take over at La Rochelle.
When Steve Hansen left the New Zealand job, Scott Robertson was surely in with a shout of taking the big job and did go through the interview process but Ian Foster signed a deal through to France 2023. Scott Robertson will hope to continue to build on the recent achievements and build a stronger squad for 2021 and beyond.
Looking at the strength of the first 23 names on their team sheet players like Bryn Hall, Jack Goodhue , Richie Mo’unga , Sevu Reece and Will Jordan there play a open brand of rugby based on solid forward play and strong defence and then you add their backs into the equation you have a receipt for success !!
They have one game left against the Blues this weekend and Scott Robertson has already told his squad he wants to end the year on a high note by beating the Blues but you can be sure that Beauden Barrett will want to end his first season with a win before he moves to play in the Top League in Japan with Suntory Sungoliath, he will still be free to play with New Zealand if called upon while playing in Japan.
There is always going to be questions as to who the best club side in the World is and on both sides of the equator many will vouch for their chosen side but it would be an interesting clash between current European Champions Saracens and Crusaders. Only time will tell as to whether there is a real appetite for a clash between the two best sides North or South of the equator….
Tyler Bleyendaal today confirmed his retirement from rugby after the battle to return from his latest injury proved futile.
This guy signed for Munster under Rob Penney and unfortunately he was injured while still on the books of Canterbury Crusaders and this injury meant his start with Munster was delayed by many months but when he was fit he played some cracking rugby be it at out half or inside centre where he stepped in many times in his 62 games in the red of Munster.
He won honours with New Zealand at under 20 level in 2009 and would have been right in the reckoning for higher honourers in New Zealand had it not been for a certain number 10 named Dan Carter, what happened to him I wonder !!
Looking at his greatest game in red, it has to be vs Glasgow in 2016 a week on from the death of Anthony Foley in the Champions Cup. He scored a try that will be long remembered by everyone there that day. The performance that day was driven by anger and a desire to win that is tough to match. He also landed a key conversion vs Edinburgh last year in the quarter final in Murrayfield.
These memories will last a life time and will be a great keepsake for Tyler who is still short of his 30th birthday in a few day’s time. Munster has lost two 10’s in the last few years prematurely with Johnny Holland having to retire before his 25th birthday in 2017. For Munster they will now have Joey Carbery, JJ Hanrahan, Jake Flannery and Jack Crowley to fight for the Munster 10 jersey when rugby returns.
Tyler I am sure will look back fondly on his time in red although injury did disrupt his 5 years with Munster. He may now look to get involved in coaching with Munster or at club level where he has worked with Garryowen in recent times.
The world is his oyster now and with a young family to look after you can be sure he will choose wisely is his next career move. From this author I’d like to wish Tyler and his family all the best with whatever is next in life !! Thank you for all your efforts in Red since your debut in 2015.
Hi Audrey, It’s a pleasure to get the chance to chat to you,
Hi Cian, lovely to chat to you too!
You are a Leinster Branch rugby referee, how did you start out on that journey ?
I began playing straight out of college as I had focused solely on studying for so long I found myself with very few enjoyable hobbies. So I began playing tag rugby, which turned into playing 15’s and then from there I found myself inching towards possibly refereeing. I studied law in Maynooth University so I already found myself well equipped for reciting laws, spotting infringements and figuring out the appropriate steps to take following. I saw Joy Neville at the World Rugby awards in 2017 she won Referee of the Year and I thought it was amazing. I then saw Leinster Rugby had advertised a workshop specifically for female referees so I went along and from there I began my journey.
Did you play the game before picking up the whistle ?
I played for 2 full seasons with Tallaght Rugby club. The women’s team is young but growing every year, and we played in a development league. It was great to be a part of a team and definitely tough to go from a team environment to refereeing and generally being on my own a lot.
What has been the reaction when you have turned up to referee games ?
Sometimes I get a few comments about being a female or my looks which I know my male counterparts wouldn’t receive, but other than that it’s been generally positive. I’ve learned that when people make comments about my gender that it doesn’t come from a place of malice, but rather they just aren’t used to seeing many female referees and it’s new to them.
What sort of support is available to you through the branch or IRFU to deal with tough situations ?
The support within the Leinster branch and IRFU is amazing. There’s always someone on the other end of the phone to call and chat through a match. If you’re feeling you made a bad decision or even if it’s something like not being able to get positioning right at the breakdown there are so many people to speak to who will help you through this step by step. When I first began refereeing I was approached by Su Carty, a fellow referee, and she took me under her wing. She’s been a fantastic support throughout my entire time refereeing. We have had hour long phone calls discussing plans for my next games and I feel so lucky to have someone like her as a mentor.
What prompted you to begin refereeing ?
When I saw Joy Neville winning Referee of the Year I was so inspired! I mentioned it to a couple of people from my rugby club in Tallaght and the mens head coach Tom Leigh told me to go for it and a few others told me about the female referee workshop!
What type of referee are you, by the book or do you referee each game on its merits ?
I like to take each match on it’s on merits but you need to have some sort of structure and refereeing style. My main aim for each match is to make sure that each player is safe and that there is a good competition. You want to be consistent as well as approachable on the pitch. It’s also important to enjoy yourself and let the players play in good spirits. If your attitude towards the players is negative or unapproachable then you might lose that game management and respect of the players, so I try to stay as positive as I can before, during and after each match.
Which referee if any would you watch the way he or she deals with players on the field of play ?
I love watching videos on Youtube of referees speaking with players! I think George Clancy is fantastic, and Ben Whitehouse speaking to John Muldoon in a Munster v Connacht game in 2015 was brilliant. There are so many examples I could give but I have definitely tried to adopt these mannerisms and soundbites into my own match if appropriate. There is always a nice way of saying thing’s to players or captains and I think it’s important to keep that standard up at all times.
Rugby seems to have an advantage over other sports in the way players speak to referee’s, what are your own personal feelings on this ?
Rugby is definitely one of the most progressive and forward thinking sports in the world and I think a big part of that is respect for the referee at every match. I don’t think I would have it in me to referee soccer or GAA as things can get quite heated on the pitch!
What do you hope to achieve as a referee, would you have aspirations to go as far as you can or would staying local suit you ?
I always say to aim high and you might just reach under that, so I will say that I want to referee a World Cup final, so if that means I referee AIL consistently for a number of years then I would consider that a major win! I am working towards being put on IPAS at the moment which is a 1-2 year period of refereeing in all 4 provinces and being assessed by the 4 provincial associations. If they’re happy with you, you can get put up to the national panel, and that’s my aim at the moment.
What sort of fitness level do need to maintain throughout the year ?
A lot of referees have different levels of fitness, and depending what level you want to referee at this can change. For the last 2 years I have trained with other referees in Terenure Rugby Club run by Paul Haycock twice a week. Then a match, possibly two matches, on the weekend. In between that you would still go to the gym or go for a walk, jog, run. During our training sessions in Terenure we would do a lot of long distance training, speed training, positioning and we would always discuss situations we found ourselves in in our matches from the weekend.
Lastly Audrey, what are your hopes for 2020 ?
My hopes for 2020 have had to be changed due to the pandemic but in general I just want to stay fit and healthy, eat well and look after my mental health too. I’m not sure when rugby will be back at a domestic level, but if it’s this year, I would hope that I can use my learning points from this season and work on them.
Thank you so much for taking the time out to chat with me…..
New Questions :
How are things for you and your family in the current situation during the COVID 19 Pandemic ?
We are all safe and healthy, fortunately. I am currently living with my boyfriend in his parents house to save for a deposit for a house so I can’t say I’m ever lonely! I miss my own family a lot during this, particularly my little sister who is immunocompromised and is cocooning at the moment. However, I know they’re home safe and I will see them all when things go back to normal!
How did your exams go ?
My exams have been postponed to August 2020 which is good as I was finding it difficult to get any study done when there’s a global pandemic. I am so grateful they have been moved to a later date and my heart goes out to those sitting their Leaving Cert’s this year, as well as one of my best friends who is currently sitting final year exams in Trinity College and I can see the stress she is under, no one could have ever predicted thing would be this way
How do you keep structure on your day’s ?
Well I’m working from home at the moment Monday to Friday so that helps a lot in keeping that structure. I think getting yourself dressed and putting on a pair of shoes, just to walk into a different room in the house to work really helps get you motivated and focused for the day. I’m also doing some home work outs a couple of times per week, there’s a lot of great content on Youtube and social media a the moment to help those at home all day. It’s strange because I always say that one of my favourite things to do is “to do nothing”, like just relax. I was always on the go, prior to the pandemic, with training, matches, workshops, area meetings etc. that I never get the opportunity to just sit and watch movies/TV shows or play the playstation, so I’m thinking of this as a positive, rather than a negative, in getting to enjoy simple pleasures.
Thanks Cian! Sorry for the delay!
My British and Irish Team from 2001 to 2017
15 Matt Perry
14 Tommy Bowe
13 Brian O Driscoll
12 Jamie Roberts
11 Jason Robinson
10 Jonathan Sexton
9 Rob Howley
8 Scott Quinnell
7 David Wallace
6 Richard Hill
5 Paul O Connell
4 Martin Johnson
3 Tadgh Furlong
2 Keith Wood
1 Tom Smith
Here is my British and Irish Lions team from 2001 in Australia up to the 2017 tour of New Zealand. I know I have left many big names out like Wilkinson but you can’t select 30 players on the field you can only pick 15…. It would be interesting to see what changes people would make !!!