Irish "Provincial" XV

DonkeyPokerTour

Ok the season is now over so let’s see what people think of this. Select your Irish “Provincial” XV (well 22 actually but hey hey). Here are the rules:
1. The only players eligible are those playing for Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connaught. Foreign players playing for these teams are eligible
2. You must select at least 1 player from each of the 4 provinces in your starting 15.
3. A player who is currently injured may still be selected (i.e. O’Leary, Contepomi etc)

Your selections should be based over the whole of the season and not just the last few weeks. To start the ball rolling here is my 22:

1. Cian Healy (Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Ulster)
3. John Hayes (Munster)
4. Donnacha O’Callaghan (Munster)
5. Paul O’Connell (Munster)
6. Rocky Elsom (Leinster)
7. David Wallace (Munster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

9. Tomas O’Leary (Munster)
10. Ronan O’Gara (Munster)
11. Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster)
12. Lifeimi Mafi (Munster)
13. Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster)
14. Fionn Carr (Connaught)
15. Rob Kearney (Leinster)

16. Jerry Flannery (Munster)
17. Stan Wright (Leinster)
18. Leo Cullen (Leinster)
19. Stephen Ferris (Ulster)
20. Peter Stringer (Munster)
21. Paul Warwick (Munster)
22. Doug Howlett (Munster)

Not Considered: CJ Van Der Linde (Spent too much time on the treatment table and not on the pitch. More time on the pitch and he was a definite), Gordon Darcy (Similar to CJ, only played the last few months of the season, more game time and he could have taken the 12 spot). Jonathan Sexton (Despite immense performances in the Semi-final and final, Sexton did not play enough this year to get a place in the team)

People who were very unfortunate to miss out include Isa Nacewa & Felipe Contepomi. Nacewa was great at full back for the first 3-4 games he played with Leinster, and in the ERC semi-final and final, however the middle section was a bit flat when they threw him from out half to wing to centre etc. Contepomi was a tough call. I picked Mafi ahead of him at 12 because conters spent most of his time at 10 for Leinster. He then misses out on the subs bench because I feel Warwick had an exceptional season for Munster and just barely edges out Contepomi for the subs spot.

Rory Best edges out Jerry Flannery as I only had 2 Ulster players in my 22 and despite Ferris playing very well there is no way he could be in the 15 ahead of Rocky. Fionn Carr is the sole representative from Connaught. Scoring 8 tries for a team that were the whipping boys in the Magners league is a great achievement.

So the Final Breakdowns:
Provincial:
Munster: 11
Leinster: 8
Ulster: 2
Connaught: 1

National Side:
Ireland: 17
Australia: 2
New Zealand: 1
Cook Islands: 1
Tonga: 1

anonymous_joe

1. Healy
2. Can't choose - Flannery or Best, with Jackman not being that far behind 'em
3. Stan
4. Argh, DOC or Leo? Someone pick for me
5. POC
6. Rocky
7. Jennings
8. Heaslip

9. O'Leary
10. O'Gara
11. Fitzgerald
12. Paddy Wallace (I can't pick between D'Arcy or Mafi, both aren't entirely convincing me at the moment)
13. BOD
14. Doug Howlett
15. Kearney (if fully fit)

16. Whoever didn't make it at hooker
17. Botha
18. Ferris
19. Leo/DOC
20. Whitaker (he's frustrating, there are times when he's so slow, then there are games like the semi-final when you realise that he's an astonishing player)
21. Fionn Carr/Shane Horgan
22. Warwick

chupacabra

1. Cian Healy
2. Jerry Flannery
3. BJ Botha
4. Leo Cullen
5. POC
6. Rocky Elsom
7. Shane Jennings
8. David Wallace

9. Tomas O'Leary
10. Ronan O'Gara
11. Luke Fitz
12. Filipe Contepomi
13. Brian O'Driscoll
14. Dougie Howlett
15. Paul Warwick

EDIT (forgot the rest):

16. Rory Best
17. John Hayes
18. DOC
19. Jamie Heaslip
20. Chris Whitaker
21. Jonny Sexton
22. Rob Kearney

Pretty formidable outfit i have to say..

1. Cian Healy (Leinster)
2. Jerry Flannery (Munster)
3. Bj Botha (Ulster)
4. Leo Cullen (leinster)
5. Paul O’Connell (Munster)
6. Rocky Elsom (Leinster)
7. Shane Jennings (Leinster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

9. Tomas O’Leary (Munster)
10. Ian Keatley (Connacht)
11. Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster)
12. Gordan Darcy (Leinster)
13. Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster)
14. Fionn Carr (Connaught)
15. Isa Nacewa (Leinster)

16. Rory best (Ulster)
17. John Hayes (Munster)
18. Donnacha O'Callahan (Munster)
19. Stephen Ferris (Ulster)
20. Peter Stringer (Munster)
21. Paul Warwick (Munster)
22. Leifimi Mafi(Munster)

Chucky the tree

Quality goose, loving it. :pac:

Amazotheamazing

Odd that Earls, in his first season, scoring 10 tries and making the Lions, can't get a look in around here. Would push him out to the wing if needs be (or BOD to 12 and Earls to 13), but you'd have to find space for him.

Chucky the tree

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Odd that Earls, in his first season, scoring 10 tries and making the Lions, can't get a look in around here. Would push him out to the wing if needs be (or BOD to 12 and Earls to 13), but you'd have to find space for him.

I dont think so. I'm sure if mafi and Howlett were available for the Lions they would be on the plane. I also think Fitzgerald is ahead of him.

chupacabra

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Odd that Earls, in his first season, scoring 10 tries and making the Lions, can't get a look in around here. Would push him out to the wing if needs be (or BOD to 12 and Earls to 13), but you'd have to find space for him.

Earls wouldnt even make my 2nd choice center pairing to be honest.

keystone

Chucky the tree wrote: »

I dont think so. I'm sure if mafi and Howlett were available for the Lions they would be on the plane. I also think Fitzgerald is ahead of him.

Agreed....but I'd have him in the 22.

1. Cian Healy (Leinster)
2. Jerry Flannery (Munster)
3. John Hayes (Munster)
4. Leo Cullen (Leinster)
5. Paul O’Connell (Munster)
6. Rocky Elsom (Leinster)
7. David Wallace (Munster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

9. Tomas O’Leary (Munster)
10. Ronan O’Gara (Munster)
11. Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster)
12. Keith Earls (Munster)
13. Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster)
14. Doug Howlett (Munster)
15. Rob Kearney (Leinster)

16. Rory Best (Ulster)
17. Stan Wright (Leinster)
14. Donnacha O’Callaghan (Munster)
19. Stephen Ferris (Ulster)
20. Peter Stringer (Munster)
21. Paul Warwick (Munster)
22. Lifeimi Mafi (Munster)

After the last two days out, Johnny Sexton is almost impossible to drop but I cant put him in ahead of Warwick yet....even after the drop goal...ask me next year.

I can see no Connaught player to make the 22. Fionn Carr has been good but his best games have been from Full Back I believe. BJ Botha is not as destructive as Stan. Sean Cronin looks decent also albeit young.

Robbo

keystone wrote: »

I can see no Connaught player to make the 22. Fionn Carr has been good but his best games have been from Full Back I believe. BJ Botha is not as destructive as Stan. Sean Cronin looks decent also albeit young.

Carr started 3 games in the league at full back. The rest were on the wing.

danthefan

Healy
Flannery
Hayes (Stan Wright is very close)
Cullen
POC
Elsom
Jennings
Heaslip

TOL
ROG
Fitz
Earls
BOD
Kearney
Nacewa


Can't be bothered to think of subs. David Wallace is the only notable absentee imo, he's a class played but the Leinster backrow has just been an incredible unit. Nacewa from fullback has been a revalation too, the Munster game alone gets him in.