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Ireland name 2 uncapped players and recall Zebo after 4 years out

By Liam Heagney

20 Oct 2021

(Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Andy Farrell has named a 38-strong Ireland squad for next month’s international series, keeping veteran Johnny Sexton on as captain, recalling Simon Zebo from the international wilderness and including two uncapped players from Leinster in the guise of Ciaran Frawley and Dan Sheehan. Ireland begin their schedule versus Japan on November 6 and follow it with matches versus New Zealand and Argentina.

Aside from bringing in two untried players, Farrell has given a vote of confidence to what was seen during the July summer series as Robert Baloucoune, Harry Byrne, Gavin Coombes, James Hume, Tom O’Toole and Nick Timoney – who all won their debut caps – have been retained.

Six of the Ireland players who toured Lions during the summer – Bundee Aki, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Tadgh Furlong, Iain Henderson and Conor Murray – are also included as is Ronan Kelleher, who joined the squad mid-tour in South Africa. Robbie Henshaw, though, hasn’t been officially named in the squad due to a foot injury but he will continue his rehabilitation programme under the supervision of the Ireland medical team.

See Louis Rees-Zammit as you have never seen him before

Louis Rees-Zammit joins Marc, Max and Ryan this week to reveal all about being the youngest player on the Lions Tour to South Africa, taking care of Bill, fines, becoming a social media sensation, Gloucester initiations and lots more. We also cover all the weekly action, including Max’s incredible game against Harlequins, another W for Ryan against South African opposition and the potential fallout from the agents v clubs row in the premiership. Enjoy!

See Louis Rees-Zammit as you have never seen him before

The biggest development, though, was the inclusion of Zebo in an Ireland squad for the first time since summer 2017 when he won the last of his 35 caps on tour in Japan. On announcing that October that he would be leaving Munster for Racing in France at the end of the 2017/18 season, he was immediately excluded from national team selection by then-head coach Joe Schmidt.

While in the Top 14 Zebo regularly expressed his desire to play again for Ireland at some stage in the future and that ambition has now taken a massive step towards fruition with Farrell including the 31-year-old in his plans after the winger/full-back rejoined Munster in the recent off-season.

"I wouldn’t want to get into the political side of it but…"#Ireland #LondonIrish #PremRugby https://t.co/epzJWMal1Y

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 23, 2021

Farrell said: “It has been a short lead-in to this international window but that is the challenge, to get back up to speed quickly and build on the performances from the Six Nations and the summer Tests. This is the start of an exciting period for the group as we begin to build towards the World Cup in France.

“In September we got together and mapped out what was coming up in this window, the exciting fixtures that lay ahead in the next twelve months and beyond that the opportunities to improve as a group over the next five windows we will have together.”

IRELAND AUTUMN NATIONS SERIES SQUAD
Backs (18):
Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 31 caps
Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Enniskillen) 1 cap
Harry Byrne (Leinster/Lansdowne) 1 cap
Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 24 caps
Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 3 caps
Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 25 caps
Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 93 caps
Ciaran Frawley (Leinster/UCD)*
Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 10 caps
James Hume (Ulster/Banbridge) 1 cap
Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 13 caps
Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 30 caps
James Lowe (Leinster) 6 caps
Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 5 caps
Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 89 caps
Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 34 caps
Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 99 caps CAPTAIN
Simon Zebo (Munster/Cork Constitution) 35 caps

Forwards (20):
Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 5 caps
Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 16 caps
Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 22 caps
Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 20 caps
Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) 2 caps
Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 19 caps
Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 9 caps
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 49 caps
Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 109 caps
Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 63 caps
Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 22 caps
Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 13 caps
Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 45 caps
Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 76 caps
Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 1 cap
Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 37 caps
James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 37 caps
Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne)*
Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) 1 cap
Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 32 caps
*denotes uncapped player
Development Players
Thomas Ahern (Munster/Shannon)
Jamie Osborne (Leinster/Naas)

'Unfortunately, he [Erasmus] maybe has changed things & not for the better. He definitely questioned the whole respect the referee conversation that we are so proud of as a rugby community.' @BrianODriscoll talks to @heagneyl ??? #Springboks #urc #lions https://t.co/yJ7EyaZvXj

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 26, 2021

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Comments on RugbyPass

Bobby 1 minute ago

Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Did you watch the game.or just a sore loser

33 Go to comments

NB 6 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

He's tall for a LHP at 6'5 OM and remember the problems Angus Bell had with hingeing? Maybe they could develop him on the other side?

14 Go to comments

NB 7 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Oh there rest of the world made a lot of positive strides, arrogant to think otherwise ED. Don't you believe other nations develop? South Africa? Ireland? France? Come on!

Of those you mention, I recall the one who interested me most was Elliott Dixon. Whatever happened to him? He looked like he could be the next Kaino!

Dual playmakers were always a thing, you maybe didn't notice because guys like Nonu and the two Smiths were so multi-faceted. The ppl who replaced them could not multi-task as well, esp versus [legal] rush D!

14 Go to comments

Otagoman II 9 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Williams obviously stands out because of his huge frame and is a good ball carrier. His scrumming is getting better but it might not even be quite as good as Xavier Numia's at the moment. The current coaches are into picking really big men for props right now like Tosi.

14 Go to comments

CO 12 minutes ago

Wallace Sititi: 'I think I've found my rhythm'

It's got everything to do with a Irving order with Savea and Cane. Dalton is a far better athlete than Cane and won super this year but cannot seem to get selected ahead of Cane. Sititi and Hoskins are New Zealands best number eights and yet Savea gets all the minutes at eight and we are going to lose Sotutu to England. Sotutu will form part of a formidable loose trio in OZ RWC.

5 Go to comments

NB 12 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Will be taking a peek at th Munster game today OM!

Would also agree EDG has to be the #1 loosehead. Ppl keep touting Tamaiti to me but he still has an awful lot to learn!

14 Go to comments

NB 14 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Slipping is relative isn't it? The halo is bound to slip from 85% +, but that became the norm for AB supporters over the best part of a decade.

I don't see becoming the norm again. The ABs prob will continue to improve but will they do it as quickly as other nations like France of SA? Big question!

14 Go to comments

NB 17 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

ABs will rise we have a lot of new talent coming through. The NPC was the highest standard for years. The game is changing to suit the fast pace we like to play.

Isn't that part of the real point though Colin? The ABs are no faster than anyone else now, which is why they were dead last in fourth quarter points in the RC at minus 43. It's also why England have been able to fight them down to the wire over three matches in 2024.

Be real. England is third or even fourth ranked team in the 6N behind Ireland, France and poss Scotland too. Borthwick is only coaching at just over 50% right now. The ultimate test it is not.

14 Go to comments

Easy_Duzz-it 19 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

The world never caught up the All Blacks just went backwards . After 2015 they had a plan to build the team around 2 players . Sam Cane and Beauden Barrett , Cane was hailed as the next Mccaw and Barrett the next carter . Unfortunately Cane sustained too many injures and Barrett despite being a great ball runner didn't have a high enough conversion rate or the game management skills to control the team and the game . Then to make matters worst , the selections were so bad year after year the forward pack became shockingly weak .

New Zealand had so much talent wasted betwen 2016 - 2023 . Laumape , elliot dixon , ben tamefuna , pita gus , ben lam , vaea fifita and so many other in form players that never got a look or the time to develop into great All Blacks .

Then you have the dual playmaker system that never worked , but they kept using it . why ? cause some men cant admit when they're wrong . thats the All Blacks between 2016-2023 . wrong coaches with the wrong vision , going in the wrong direction . now it appears the world caught up . but like I said the world never caught up . then you add the obvious flawed referee calls that happen to go against us more often then for us now . the worst of which that never gets called is when the opposition use rush defence but have players offside . this has been going for years , but who cares ? .

anyway its almost 10 and i need to get some shut eye .

Go the might All Blacks !!!!

14 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 20 minutes ago

Stuart Hogg pleads guilty to domestic abuse

Come on then, if you’re going to make statements like that back it up! Let’s hear it…

9 Go to comments

Otagoman II 21 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

70% is pretty good if you are winning tournaments. The period of 86% dominance is an outlier as I can't see any side getting up there with the serious threat of many nations able to pull a big result out these days.

I would be thinking De Groot will be coming straight back in as loosehead against Ireland.

Did you catch the NZ XV Munster game NB? Not bad for a scratch side. The Irish commentators made my big hope Holland MOTM.

14 Go to comments

NB 22 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

I'd agree that 75% is a realistic aim given where the top teams are right now HH. At the same time I can esily see the rate falling as low as 65% and I'm not sure what that would do to the health of the game in the country?

14 Go to comments

AD 22 minutes ago

Wallace Sititi: 'I think I've found my rhythm'

It's nothing to do with a pecking order, it's to do with who's shown the most to be in the position. If Dalton starts getting better in training, maybe Cane is out. Sititis in already, Ardies in already.

5 Go to comments

NB 23 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

I don't know much about it but will take a look HHT - too preoccupied with France!

If that is true I'd be dead aganst it. I think the South Africans have provided huge filip to the European game and I doubt England would do the same. They would prob also insist on all 10 of their clubs being included which would make URC very unwieldy.

14 Go to comments

at 27 minutes ago

England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit

England are the real deal. We know this in NZ. Let's be honest they could've won it. And it shows the margins in the international game are small. Borthwick didn't err in taking Marcus Smith off: Ford missed a gimme. But that's international footy. And the game is great because it's competitive!

11 Go to comments

Head high tackle 33 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Nick Im hearing SA clubs may well be voted out of Europe as the Premiership looks to join with the URC. What are you hearing on this?

14 Go to comments

Head high tackle 36 minutes ago

Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Its interesting that many seem to judge the ABs on a once in a life time period of success. Their overall ( total of 648 Games all up ) win % is at 76% and thats probably a fair view of reality. Yes, Razor will probably end up short of that this year but I dont remember a year where many teams have played 7 games v top 5 opposition and particularly this tour where its V 5, V 1 in 6 days then V 4 a week later. As an older ABs fan Ive seen some pretty bad era's and some pretty good era's. I feel around 75% is not only possible but probable for Razor in the 4 year period he is signed for.