RugbyRebels

IRELAND XV:

Shane Daly (Cork Constitution FC/Munster);
Joshua Kenny (Terenure College RFC/Leinster),
James Hume (Instonians RFC/Ulster),
Dan Kelly (Munster),
Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster);
Ciarán Frawley (UCD RFC/Leinster),
Fintan Gunne (Terenure College RFC/Leinster);

Billy Bohan (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht),
Gus McCarthy (UCD RFC/Leinster),
Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster),
Charlie Irvine (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster),
Fineen Wycherley (Young Munster RFC/Munster),
Max Deegan (Lansdowne FC/Leinster) (capt),
Bryn Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster),
Brian Gleeson (Garryowen FC/Munster).

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron (Garryowen FC/Munster), Sam Crean (Ulster), Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht), Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster), Paul Boyle (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht), Matthew Devine (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Cathal Forde (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Sean Jansen (Connacht).

6-2 split. Mixed bag of a side. Dan Kelly playing against England, oh what could have been.

FKAS wrote: ↑Fri Feb 06, 2026 2:06 pmDan Kelly playing against England, oh what could have been.

You mean he could've been turning in a pointless A-game appearance, that will never lead to anything more than an occasional cap while the first XV are away with the Lions, for England instead?

I don't know he was ever as good as people hoped he was.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Fri Feb 06, 2026 5:50 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Fri Feb 06, 2026 2:06 pmDan Kelly playing against England, oh what could have been.

You mean he could've been turning in a pointless A-game appearance, that will never lead to anything more than an occasional cap while the first XV are away with the Lions, for England instead?

I don't know he was ever as good as people hoped he was.

Puja

Never been the same since injury. Pre injury he was everything we wanted in a 12. Tackled like a flanker, could whip a pass away and could carry through contact. Never had the same intensity after his hammy issues.

2 8s starting and 2 on the bench for Ireland

Roots playing in his own match here

Sounds like a massacre.

52-14
The Irish team not the strongest but putting 50 pts on them over there is no mean feat.

fivepointer wrote: ↑Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:44 pm 52-14
Irish team not the strongest but putting 50 pts on them over there is no mean feat.

I’m not sure they could have put out a much better side TBH? A good few capped players in there and there were a lot of calls for Kenny and Zac Ward to make the full squad.

Anyone know who got motm?

Randall was MOTM. He was decent but he had a really good platform.

I thought Roots was excellent- he looks a much better player than he did when he was first capped. Since we seem to like a workhorse lineout option profile at 6, I would think he’s next in line after Pepper and Curry.

Dombrandt also showed up well I thought.

Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Sat Feb 07, 2026 9:46 am Randall was MOTM. He was decent but he had a really good platform.

I thought Roots was excellent- he looks a much better player than he did when he was first capped. Since we seem to like a workhorse lineout option profile at 6, I would think he’s next in line after Pepper and Curry.

Dombrandt also showed up well I thought.

Roots has had a belting season for Exeter this year as well, so I'm not surprised he showed up well. I think he's traduced a touch unfairly on here - not the most exciting option, but in a one-off game, I think I'd probably prefer to see him at 6 for England than 2026!CCS.

Puja

It’s quite funny after all the chat about the value of these fixtures that Roots, Dombrandt and Randall end up being the stars, when basically nobody wants to see them for the first team again.

I’m not sure what you take away from that, but hopefully it was a useful run out for some of the youngsters. Sounds like Fasogban was fired up at least.

Where is Carpenter in the pecking order?

I like Carpenter but he’s not really got a stand out quality, just solid to good at everything.

I would guess he’s 5th choice for full back behind Steward, Furbank, Daly and Smith.

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Sat Feb 07, 2026 10:41 am It’s quite funny after all the chat about the value of these fixtures that Roots, Dombrandt and Randall end up being the stars, when basically nobody wants to see them for the first team again.

I’m not sure what you take away from that, but hopefully it was a useful run out for some of the youngsters. Sounds like Fasogban was fired up at least.

Where is Carpenter in the pecking order?

Not really surprising in bad conditions that Searle put the team in the right areas and the big pack beat Ireland up. Exactly the sort of game you expect Roots to be good.

I think the argument around Roots and Dombrandt was, why both. Just one of the pair and younger option would have been preferable.

Solid win. Be interesting to see if this advances or not any claims to full squad inclusion.

Carpenter I suspect is probably fourth choice behind Furbank, Steward and M Smith. His injury issues this season probably haven't helped.

Puja wrote: ↑Sat Feb 07, 2026 9:49 am

Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Sat Feb 07, 2026 9:46 am Randall was MOTM. He was decent but he had a really good platform.

I thought Roots was excellent- he looks a much better player than he did when he was first capped. Since we seem to like a workhorse lineout option profile at 6, I would think he’s next in line after Pepper and Curry.

Dombrandt also showed up well I thought.

Roots has had a belting season for Exeter this year as well, so I'm not surprised he showed up well. I think he's traduced a touch unfairly on here - not the most exciting option, but in a one-off game, I think I'd probably prefer to see him at 6 for England than 2026!CCS.

Puja

Yeah, I can’t disagree with that.

How did Fasogbon do? Looked like Kloska kind of stole his thunder.

Both tightheads went ok. We’re pretty well set if we are saying 6th and 7th choice.