It is nigh on impossible trying to second guess Joe Schmidt.
Sure, we may have called the selections of James Ryan, Jacob Stockdale and Kieran Treadwell – as well as Donnacha Ryan and Jamie Heaslip missing out – but we missed a few big selection calls.
Aside from Ryan and Heaslip missing out, Andrew Trimble and Rob Kearney have been given the summer off. There is also no place in the squad for one of Ireland’s most lethal finishers, Craig Gilroy.
Stuart McCloskey and Chris Farrell have not been included, nor has Leinster lock Ross Molony. Sean Reidy also misses out, as does veteran Munster lock Billy Holland.
Instead, Schmidt has gone for his least experienced senior squad yet. Only Simon Zebo [33], Devin Toner [47], Keith Earls [59] and Cian Healy [67] have over 30 caps.
Ireland name eight uncapped players in exciting summer squad https://t.co/Xm4EqW9u1E
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) May 16, 2017
Some of the exciting inclusions in the squad are James Ryan, Treadwell, Leinster prop Andrew Porter, Stockdale, Munster centre Rory Scannell and the versatile Leinster back Rory O’Loughlin. Ulster-bound scrum-half John Cooney is also included.
However, you can’t please everyone.
Almost as soon as the announcement was made, the names of two unfortunate players were mentioned time and again on Twitter.
Darren Sweetnam
Sweetnam unlucky not to make that squad but great to see Scannel in there. Take out the injury mid season and he would have traveled.
— Dave Reidy (@daveyreidy) May 16, 2017
How is Sweetnam not going on the Summer tour? Is he injured? @Munsterrugby @MRSC16
— Mark Breen (@mark_breen) May 16, 2017
Surely Sweetnam deserved a shot and no farewell for Donnacha either, Joe is cut-throat…. no doubt #IRFU
— Tony Barry (@tonybarry11) May 16, 2017
No Darren Sweetnam? Ahh ladss, what has a man gotta do. Top quality!!
— Peter Collins (@PeterCollins__) May 16, 2017
Adam Byrne
Where's Adam Byrne ?
— John B (@JCB7701) May 16, 2017
No Adam Byrne kind of boggles the mind. Had a fine season and could be a scary proposition at RWC 2019.
— Alex Shaw (@alexshawsport) May 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/SimonMurray2/status/864454707212947461
Exciting summer ahead, but very surprised by the omission of Adam Byrne on this list. https://t.co/ZejKO78cyr
— Mark (@TheMarkLynch) May 16, 2017
There were also Twitter lamentations about Gilroy, Niyi Adeolokun, Ross Molony, McCloskey and much, much more.
