End-of-tour Report

Rob Kearney

Played 2 Tests, + 1 rep v Maoris)

A tough gig, on the back foot for much of the time. He was prone to lapses, though performed better against the Wallabies. Physically, his ability beat an opponent in the collisions puts him above Murphy but this tour showed how he needs to develop link play in countering and when hitting the line.

Geordan Murphy

Played 3 (sub v NZ and Aust

Doesn’t have Kearney’s ballast in the collisions, and therefore was unluckiest to miss out on Test teams. Led side well v Maoris, countered and linked superbly at all times.

Tommy Bowe

Played 2 Tests. 1 try.

Kept on the periphery by the nature of both Tests, but maintained his standards. Was one of the few whose skills and physicality were up the All Blacks’ mark, and was under-used against the Wallabies. A class act.

Shane Horgan

Played 1 (v Maoris)

Hasn’t been right since injuring ankle in January and then pushed back v Clermont in March. On one leg since, and another who needs an overdue rest.

Brian O’Driscoll

Played 2 Tests. 1 try.

Stellar in defeat against the All Blacks, he became Ireland’s most capped player against the Aussies, albeit not with one of his most distinguished games. Looked weary, and may have lost a little of his pace but remains Ireland’s most important player and talisman for the next two seasons.

Gordon D’Arcy

Played 1. 1 try.

A tad harshly dropped against the Wallabies. Saw a groin specialist in Melbourne and looked careworn and in need of an operation and/or rest. Presumably will get one or both now.

Paddy Wallace

Played 2 (incl v Maoris). 1 try.

A pretty good tour. Forced his way into Test team against Wallabies on back of impressive outing against Maoris and is a skilful footballer who has something significant to offer.

Andrew Trimble

Played 2 Tests.

Has improved immeasurably in last couple of years, demonstrating his new-found footwork, offloading, passing and kicking skills in both Tests, though like Bowe, was under-used against Australia. One of the tour’s success stories.

Ronan O’Gara

Played 1. 6pts.

Two costly missed penalties to touch and yellow card against the All Blacks, whereupon he was an unused sub in last two games and must wait until November for that 100th cap.

Jonathan Sexton

Played 3 (sub v NZ). 25pts.

Did little wrong, though Wallabies were alert to the wraparound. With his physique and running game has added a real option going forward and he also put the place-kicking hiccups behind him with a return of 14 from 15, stats Matt Giteau would pay for.

Tomás O’Leary

Played 2 Tests.

Started both Tests but maintained curiously patchy form this season, which merely underlined how important he has become. Passing wobbled occasionally but defender-of-the-line heroics undimmed. Outstanding defence.

Eoin Reddan

Played 2 (rep v NZ, started v Maoris)

Came into tour on back of good form for Leinster but didn’t really put O’Leary under pressure, as he wasn’t quite at his sharpest to the breakdown against the Maoris.

Peter Stringer

(Played 1, rep v Maoris)

Still looks to have the quickest service of all but, curiously, travelled 12,000 miles for 17 minutes against the Maoris. No way to treat a legend.

Cian Healy

Played 2 Tests

A long drawn-out and energy-sapping rookie Test season for the young prop. Scrummaging was good, exposed in defence against the All Blacks but better against the Wallabies, this tour ought to have been an eye-opener.

Seán Cronin

Played 2 (started both Tests)

Thrown in at deep end in every sense against the ABs, with new lineout calls and a seven-man pack. Recovered manfully from his untypical fumble and came on a ton against Wallabies. Genuinely dynamic, has plenty more to offer.

John Fogarty

Played 2 (rep v NZ, start v Maoris)

One of the game’s nice guys and an excellent pro, he finally got that elusive first cap at 31 against the All Blacks, but then maybe let guard down and lost out to Damien Varley.

Damien Varley

Played 2 (rep v Maoris and Aust)

Came out as fourth choice, but had impressed Gert Smal when best of a beaten Munster pack v Leinster and grasped his chance sufficiently against Maoris to earn first cap v Australia. Couldn’t have done it without club game.

Jerry Flannery

Played 0

There in spirit if not quite in body. Probably pushed too hard too soon yet again v Baabaas but is still Ireland's best hooker. Needs the rest badly.

Tony Buckley

Played 2 Tests

John Hayes’ illness gave Buckley an overdue opportunity against the All Blacks and he grasped it impressively. Wondrous hands for a big man, an excellent ball-carrier, on him much of Ireland’s future hopes may rest.

John Hayes

Played 1 (rep v Maoris)

Came into tour with a virus and lacking rugby, and it showed in his only tour appearance, the second half, against the Maoris. All things considered, that’s probably no harm.

Tom Court

Played 3 (rep v NZ and Aust, started v Maoris)

At fault for last of All Blacks’ nine tries, in fairness he redeemed himself against Australia when, though more effective at loosehead, steadied scrum at tighthead.

Donncha O’Callaghan

Played 2 Tests (and sub v Maoris).

Ever-willing and honest as the day is long. Rose to the challenge of being Ireland’s most/only experienced campaigner by straining every sinew.

Mick O’Driscoll

Played 2 Tests

Recurring back/hamstring problems may well have contributed to a poor effort against the All Blacks but redemption came by way of hard-working and largely effective display last Saturday.

Dan Tuohy

Played 3 (rep v NZ and Aust)

Stunning Test arrival with try in first minute as replacement with first touch v All Blacks, his inexperience showed against Maoris at lineout time and when exposed looking for big hits in loose. A late developer with still much to learn.

Ed O’Donoghue

Played 1 (v Maoris)

Only granted one outing against the Maoris, when, like Tuohy, inexperience was exposed at lineout time. Like others, has a better idea of what he has to do now and will start doing so at Leinster.

John Muldoon

Played 1 Test.

A true Connacht warrior, probably the best defensive backrower in Ireland, he earned his spot against the All Blacks only for it to be cruelly cut short by a broken arm which will sideline him for the start of next season.

David Wallace

Played 1 Test (and sub v Maoris)

Remarkable durability at 33 in year after a Lions tour, he carried hard against the All Blacks before going home early to be with wife Aileen at birth of their second child. Still Ireland’s best forward ball carrier but needs a rest.

Jamie Heaslip

Played 1 Test

Only man to have played every minute for Ireland this season, whereupon he rashly ended his tour and Ireland’s hopes v All Blacks. May have been provoked by a previous ruck, according to Irish touchline fans, but will surely learn his lesson.

Chris Henry

Played 2 (v NZ and Maoris)

Earned his Ireland debut on pack of impressive outing against the Maoris, which must have been poignant for him less than two months after his father Willie passed away. His mother Deniece was flown out by the IRFU.

Niall Ronan

Played 2 (incl. 1 v Maoris).

Outstanding as influential link man in game against the Maoris, offset slightly by a couple of unlucky penalties against him, and manfully made best of number six job against the Wallabies, though a couple of defensive blips. Has something to offer.

Shane Jennings

Played 2 (rep v NZ, started v Aust)

The ultimate pro made best of a bad job as sub in beaten 14-man cause against the All Blacks, but will be furious for uncharacteristically slipping off a couple of tackles, one costly, against Australia.

Rhys Ruddock

Played 2 (started v Maoris, rep v Aust)

Aquitted himself very well after being called up at short notice