2011 Rugby World Cup

LeinsterMagic

Looking forward to the 2011 Rugby World Cup Irish Rugby’s strength in dept is looking very promising. I’ve selected what I think will be the starting line-up for 2011 and the team they should start with for this years six nations. The players age listed below is there age in 2011...

Probables:
TONY BUCKLEY 31, JERRY FLANNERY 33, CIAN HEALY 24, DONNCHA O'CALLAGHAN 32, PAUL O'CONNELL © 32, STEPHEN FERRIS 26, SEAN O'BRIEN 24, JAMIE HEASLIP 28, EOIN REDDAN 31, JOHNNY SEXTON 26, KEITH EARLS 24, FERGUS MCFADDEN 25, LUKE FITZGERALD 25, ROB KEARNEY 25, TOMMY BOWE 27.
Subs:
BRIAN O'DRISCOLL 32
V

Possibles:
MIKE ROSS 32, RORY BEST 29, MARCUS HORAN 34, Devin Toner 25, Leo Cullen © 33, DENIS LEAMY 30, Niall Ronan 29, CHRIS HENRY 27, TOMAS O'LEARY 28, RONAN O'GARA 34, DARREN CAVE 24, GORDON D'ARCY 31, Felix Jones 24, GEORDAN MURPHY 33, Frank Murphy 30..

ScrubsfanChris

Kind of harsh keeping TOMAS O'LEARY, BRIAN O'DRISCOLL, out of the starting 15. Is that your squad for the 6 nations or the 2011 RWC. I still don't see why Johnny Sexton should start an international this year off the back of two games unless our first six nations was against Italy or mabey Scotland.

LeinsterMagic

The Squad is for the Six Nations and RWC 2011 i think you need to start building towards the 2011 world cup as soon as possible and give your up and coming players game time.

danthefan

LeinsterMagic wrote: »

The Squad is for the Six Nations and RWC 2011 i think you need to start building towards the 2011 world cup as soon as possible and give your up and coming players game time.

TOL is 3 years younger than Reddan or so.

Otacon

LeinsterMagic wrote: »

The Squad is for the Six Nations and RWC 2011 i think you need to start building towards the 2011 world cup as soon as possible and give your up and coming players game time.

We want to blood players... and win. So wholesale changes are possibly not the best way to go.

LeinsterMagic

EOIN REDDAN in my opinion is a better player that Thomas O'Leary. Reddan has pace will make lots of breaks and is a better passer of the ball than O'Leary and he will prove himself when playing for leinster this year.

Deedsie

LeinsterMagic wrote: »

EOIN REDDAN in my opinion is a better player that Thomas O'Leary. Reddan has pace will make lots of breaks and is a better passer of the ball than O'Leary and he will prove himself when playing for leinster this year.

I respectfully disagree.

Tomás O'leary has improved every year since he switched codes.

Great player, mentally tough. Would have been the lions SH this year if it wasnt for injury. Reddan has fallen along way back. Will be lucky to make it to NZ

Blured

Have to say - really looking forward to the AI's and the six nations. In the half backs - I think its great that we will now be able to change the combinations rather than just single players - i.e. TOL and ROG start, not working out too well so bring in Reddan and Sexton

I think both combinations will flourish this season by getting some serious game time together in the provinces.

On another note - looking forward to the emergence of some of the young talent in Ireland this year - Earls, Healy, O'Brien and maybe some of the Ulster lads - should be a good year for Ireland, maybe not from the results point of view, but from a development stand point

chupacabra

Its impossible to say what shape the irish squad will be in 2 seasons time. Especially with the sheer depth in quality we have coming through the academies at the moment and of course the fact that form comes and goes.

stephen_n

Don't really see Sexton being the starting outhalf by that stage nor could I honestly see BOD and Darcy on the bench thin O'Leary will probably be there ahead of Reddan too even though I far prefer Reddan for his passing ability but as we saw this season that is not the most important attribute to Kidney!

As for the forwards yeah probably would be that pack alright although not sure about Buckley as this season will be a huge one for him if he is to stake a place on the team!

LeinsterMagic

BOD is world class but he's lost his pace along with D'Arcy we need the new young talent to be given a chance i think FERGUS MCFADDEN will prove himself to be a class player

stephen_n

LeinsterMagic wrote: »

BOD is world class but he's lost his pace along with D'Arcy we need the new young talent to be given a chance i think FERGUS MCFADDEN will prove himself to be a class player

Long term yes but I think it would be a bit extreme to think BOD won't still be a way better option in 2 years time since he is looking like a good contender for world player of the year this year!

LeinsterMagic

Two more long hard seasons and you just don't know how his body will react! We need to give the young talent a change to prove themselves at international level. Rest BOD during this years six nations put him on the bench what an impact sub to have available if needed. If he is still playing as well come the next work cup then of course he starts without a doubt but if he doesn't make it we need a backup and now is the time to be trying it out not a few months before the world cup starts...

anonymous_joe

Bit of a fool's errand this in some ways.

There's two years of injuries, emerging players, tactical evolutions etc, to come.

Nigh on impossible to pick a team now.

Two years ago, would you have picked Tommy Bowe to start in the Lions? What about Rob Kearney? You'd quite possibly have had the likes of D'Arcy, Geordan Murphy and Shaggy starting, and in two years, for all we know, they could be starting for Ireland again.

Samurai

I'd still pick murphy to start for the lions

Stev_o

As long as no one says we have a chance of winning and we are completely written off by all the papers we should be fine.

Gelio

I'm a Leinster fan and I have disagree With Reddan Before TOL, in my opinion TOL is a far better player than Reddan and Strings

thomond2006

Hey OP: BOD on the bench???

That's like the Cats without Shefflin.

ALH-06

Deedsie wrote: »

I respectfully disagree.

Tomás O'leary has improved every year since he switched codes.

Great player, mentally tough. Would have been the lions SH this year if it wasnt for injury. Reddan has fallen along way back. Will be lucky to make it to NZ

Did O'Leary play league? He's a better option at the moment - his tackling is immense and he's deceptively quick. But to write off Reddan at this stage is stupid. Under two years ago he was the best Irish SH. He's lost form recently but will of course get the opportunity to regain it before the WC. I'm really looking forward to seeing him playing in blue (navy) this year...

LeinsterMagic wrote: »

Two more long hard seasons and you just don't know how his body will react! We need to give the young talent a change to prove themselves at international level. Rest BOD during this years six nations put him on the bench what an impact sub to have available if needed. If he is still playing as well come the next work cup then of course he starts without a doubt but if he doesn't make it we need a backup and now is the time to be trying it out not a few months before the world cup starts...

To suggest that the best Irish player, in the form of his life and in perfect shape (mild concussion aside), should 'sit out' the 6N is pure and absolute lunacy.

I want to see McFadden and younger players being given a chance, but they must start at provincial level first of course. I'm confident that he, Jones etc will get some serious game time this year at Magners level.

LeeroyJones

It is ridiculas to be suggesting the starting 15 24 months from now!!! I'm sure kidney has 35 , give or take, players in his head and from these he will/should give international experience to over the next 2 seasons. If I was in his position the players I would be keeping in mind would be

Props:
Horan, Ross, Healy, Court, T Ryan(im not going to pretent i know much about the front row but should be worth keeping an eye on Ryan down in France this year)

Hookers:
Flannery, Cronin, Best

2nd Rows:
POC, DOC, Ryan, Toner, Caldwell

Back Rows:
Ferris, Heaslip, Jennings, SOB, Ronan, Wallace(just about within age)

Scrum Halves:
TOL, Reddan, Boss

Out Halves:
ROG, Sexton, Keatley

Centres:
D'arcy, BOD, McFadden, Cave, Trimble

Wings/Full Backs:
Fitzgerald, Bowe, Kearney, G Murphy, J Murphy, Earls

thomond2006

You just wait, we'll be dragging John Hayes off the farm in Cappamore to play in RWC2011.

thebaz

thomond2006 wrote: »

You just wait, we'll be dragging John Hayes off the farm in Cappamore to play in RWC2011.

I agree , his scrummaging is getting better each year - and we would need BOD playing , hes not a sub - should still be captain
GreAT ARENA FOR THE bULL AND bod TO GO

wingnut

thomond2006 wrote: »

You just wait, we'll be dragging John Hayes off the farm in Cappamore to play in RWC2011.

+1 John Hayes has at lest 10 years left in him.

twinytwo

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

Kind of harsh keeping TOMAS O'LEARY, BRIAN O'DRISCOLL, out of the starting 15. Is that your squad for the 6 nations or the 2011 RWC. I still don't see why Johnny Sexton should start an international this year off the back of two games unless our first six nations was against Italy or mabey Scotland.

exactly...even at 32 i like to see anyone including Earls outplay him...I dont see it happening.. O Driscoll to start every game playing 60+ mins.... also i wouldnt be surprised to see the bull line out

anonymous_joe

thomond2006 wrote: »

Hey OP: BOD on the bench???

That's like the Cats without Shefflin.

If we had someone better, which we don't and won't have he'd be some player to have on the bench.

Superhands

Bowe Kearney and Fitzgerald - looks like that could be our good back line for a long time

Amabokke

You will find it difficult to exclude a guy like BOD from the starting team. You need someone who can inspire those around him and with his experience and captaincy skills and past WC history he will probably be the first one to get selected.

Also, I just don't believe ROG should start in the next WC. As we've seen from past WC's he struggled in those tough pressurised environments and is not cut out for it.

This is by no means a ROG thread/bash.

chupacabra

Amabokke wrote: »

You will find it difficult to exclude a guy like BOD from the starting team. You need someone who can inspire those around him and with his experience and captaincy skills and past WC history he will probably be the first one to get selected.

Also, I just don't believe ROG should start in the next WC. As we've seen from past WC's he struggled in those tough pressurised environments and is not cut out for it.

This is by no means a ROG thread/bash.

But the pressure that was on him was more than any rugby player would ever have to deal with. With the press basically attacking him and about his so called gambling addiction and debts and problems with his marriage. Rodge has been under the heaviest kind of pressure in many match situations before and has always come up with the goods. Remember the 2006 HC final when they showed O'Connell St. on the screen while he was preparing to take his kick?

premierstone

Amabokke wrote: »

You will find it difficult to exclude a guy like BOD from the starting team. You need someone who can inspire those around him and with his experience and captaincy skills and past WC history he will probably be the first one to get selected.

Also, I just don't believe ROG should start in the next WC. As we've seen from past WC's he struggled in those tough pressurised environments and is not cut out for it.

This is by no means a ROG thread/bash.

Its a fair point Amabokke, but in fairness to him the team as a whole were underperforming and when that happens in RU it is usually the OH who looks the worst.

siltirocker

LeeroyJones wrote: »

It is ridiculas to be suggesting the starting 15 24 months from now!!! I'm sure kidney has 35 , give or take, players in his head and from these he will/should give international experience to over the next 2 seasons. If I was in his position the players I would be keeping in mind would be

Props:
Horan, Ross, Healy, Court, T Ryan(im not going to pretent i know much about the front row but should be worth keeping an eye on Ryan down in France this year)

Hookers:
Flannery, Cronin, Best

2nd Rows:
POC, DOC, Ryan, Toner, Caldwell

Back Rows:
Ferris, Heaslip, Jennings, SOB, Ronan, Wallace(just about within age)

Scrum Halves:
TOL, Reddan, Boss

Out Halves:
ROG, Sexton, Keatley

Centres:
D'arcy, BOD, McFadden, Cave, Trimble

Wings/Full Backs:
Fitzgerald, Bowe, Kearney, G Murphy, J Murphy, Earls

What about Hayes, Neil Best, Leamy, Muldoon, Stringer, Paddy Wallace, Fionn Carr:cool: or Jones. Surely all worth a mention.

thehighground

ALH-06 wrote: »

Did O'Leary play league?

No, he played hurling to a fairly high level - Captaining the Cork Minors to an All-Ireland. (His father Seanie would have been quite a well decorated hurler as well for Cork with a couple of All Irelands/All Stars to his name).

Probably why Kidney didn't have a problem giving O'Leary his first Ireland cap against the ABs in Croke Park. O'Leary had been there before for a big day.

EDIT:

But to write off Reddan at this stage is stupid. Under two years ago he was the best Irish SH. He's lost form recently but will of course get the opportunity to regain it before the WC. I'm really looking forward to seeing him playing in blue (navy) this year...

I wouldn't write him off just yet either - Wasps wouldn't have been the best place to be for the last year.

If O'Leary can get him back to his previous form prior to his injury, Reddan is going to have to work very hard to catch him.

danthefan

TOL was capped in Argentina before the RWC.

thehighground

danthefan wrote: »

TOL was capped in Argentina before the RWC.

OK, his first starting cap was against the ABs in Croke Park.

Did he play for more than 10 mins against Argentina?

danthefan

thehighground wrote: »

Did he play for more than 10 mins against Argentina?

No.

davyjose

LeinsterMagic wrote: »

The Squad is for the Six Nations and RWC 2011 i think you need to start building towards the 2011 world cup as soon as possible and give your up and coming players game time.

You still have to play your best players though. Absolutely no chance O'Driscoll will be a sub. Lets be honest - it's two years away, not five. And I think if he thought he wouldn't be playing in the WC, he'd have hung up his international boots after that match in Wales.

twinytwo

davyjose wrote: »

You still have to play your best players though. Absolutely no chance O'Driscoll will be a sub. Lets be honest - it's two years away, not five. And I think if he thought he wouldn't be playing in the WC, he'd have hung up his international boots after that match in Wales.

Apparently he wants to retire international after the wc

Size=everything

These type of threads are pointless because so much changes in 2 years. I think if you were going to make a quess based on current developing players it would look like :

1.Healy
2.Best
3.Ross
4.Toner
5.O'Connell
6.Ferris
7.Jennings
8.Heaslip
9.TOL
10.Sexton
11.Fitzgerald
12.D'arcy/McFadden
13.O'Driscoll
14.Bowe
15.Kearney

ozt9vdujny3srf

Eddie O'Sullivan had his World Cup team already picked 2 years before the tournament, you saw how that worked out.