If Ireland had a sevens squad...

yimrsg

If Ireland had a "dream team" sevens squad where all players playing at present are eligible for selection who would be in your squad?

For me Ferris is a no brainer, his pace and power would make him horrible to stop. Likewise Heaslip. Final forward, would be Healy, he might not have the stamina to last 80 mins but I'd say the less intense scrums would mean he has enough in the tank and still be mobile enough in the loose.

I'd have Earls and Carr in there too, both have bags of pace and are accomplished try scorers. BOD would probably get a run out simply because his reading of the game is so good, I'd throw him in at scrum half. Finally I'd go for Sexton just, he breaks better than O'Gara and is more physical and might just edge O'Gara in drop goals whilst maybe O'Gara might be better from the tee.

I'm sure people would love to see an Irish sevens team (I know I would) but it's difficult to choose a starting squad of seven. I know I only picked some of our best players but players like O'Leary, Cave, Tuohy and Fitzgerald crossed my mind. Who would be on yours?

I'd hope people take this in a light hearted semi-serious manner and leave any grudges at the door. Apologies to the mods if this is a bit too provacative/irrelevant a topic.

Mr.Applepie

I've only watched a few sevens games but it seems to be that it's about speed, speed, pace and acceleration. With that in mind I'd have:

Ronan, Heaslip, Ferris, Sub:McLaughlin, SOB

TOL, Fitzy, Earls, Carr Sub: Bowe

Sevens games aren't 80 mins are they?

JustinDee

Mr.Applepie wrote: »

Sevens games aren't 80 mins are they?

7 minutes per half with a two-minute changeover.
10 minutes for finals in some comps.

Mr.Applepie

JustinDee wrote: »

7 minutes per half with a two-minute changeover.
10 minutes for finals in some comps.

Yeah I had about 15mins per game in my head. Was just making sure I didn't black out for 60 odd minutes during the games i watched

Dougalicious

Ronan,Heaslip,Ferris.Sub: Cronin,Wallace

BOD,Carr,Earls,Fitz Sub: Bowe

Legion2008

Somebody like Conroy with out and out pace would do very well in this format, possibly a few of the other younger players as well like Zebo ....

I'd like Ireland to use the sevens format as a means of developing players for the full international squad, the games are very different I accept that but it could be used to develop the line breaking mentality, develop the ability to 'spot the gap' as it were.

I think the interesting question is who, outside of the usual matchday 22 squad, would benefit from being put into a 7's environment to assist in developing their game skills.

Diom

BOD on a sevens squad!

No.

pappyodaniel

Cronin, Heaslip, Ferris, Boss, Bowe, Earls, Carr

ormondprop

didn't they have one before with youngerlads on it like eoghan grace

yep they did
http://www.irishrugby.ie/16065_16068.php

CIARAN_BOYLE

If we do put together a team (for the Olympics) I doubt they would include established internationals. Instead they would put a focus on young talent.

d'Oracle

Stick Felix in there if he can get himself better.....

danthefan

Mr.Applepie wrote: »

I've only watched a few sevens games but it seems to be that it's about speed, speed, pace and acceleration. With that in mind I'd have:

Ronan, Heaslip, Ferris, Sub:McLaughlin, SOB

TOL, Fitzy, Earls, Carr Sub: Bowe

Sevens games aren't 80 mins are they?

Fitz wouldn't be quick enough I reckon. Agree on the other 6.

nosco

danthefan wrote: »

Fitz wouldn't be quick enough I reckon. Agree on the other 6.

Wha????!! Of course he'd be quick enough. Faster than TOL for a start.(no need for a specialist scrum half in sevens)

Think you could also get more creative with the pack. You don't need forwards in sevens really. Bigger backs, e.g. horgan/hurley can slot in there.

danthefan

nosco wrote: »

Wha????!! Of course he'd be quick enough. Faster than TOL for a start.(no need for a specialist scrum half in sevens)

Think you could also get more creative with the pack. You don't need forwards in sevens really. Bigger backs, e.g. horgan/hurley can slot in there.

I reckon TOL is quicker than Fitz, I'd be certain of it tbh. Fitz really isn't that quick.

nosco

danthefan wrote: »

I reckon TOL is quicker than Fitz, I'd be certain of it tbh. Fitz really isn't that quick.

wrong I'm afraid. One of the quickest in testing at Leinster. Quicker than people think.

danthefan

nosco wrote: »

wrong I'm afraid. One of the quickest in testing at Leinster. Quicker than people think.

Over long distances? He can accelerate but I just don't believe he'd be quicker than TOL over 50 or 60m, the kinds of distances important in 7s.

jugger0

Wish we had more 7's here, alot more fun then the 15 man game IMO.

outwest

ireland should consider starting a 7 teams,

they might get a weekend in the aviva for the series

Amazotheamazing

nosco wrote: »

wrong I'm afraid. One of the quickest in testing at Leinster. Quicker than people think.

Have you ever seen TOL in a flat out sprint? He's incredibly fast, winger fast. It's a pity his actual rugby skills are crap. Fitz on the otherhand has all the skills but isn't very fast.

Next time you see TOL play live keep an eye out for how fast he is. It's actually weird to see, never comes as all that fast on tv.

durkadurka

Diom wrote: »

BOD on a sevens squad!

No.

Yep he doesn't have the legs anymore. I'd like to see kearney, and hickie from ten years ago.trimble maybe.
heaslip would be brilliant.boss maybe?

twinytwo

Dougalicious wrote: »

Ronan,Heaslip,Ferris.Sub: Cronin,Wallace

BOD,Carr,Earls,Fitz Sub: Bowe

Back in the day maybe but now he would just get burned:(

I think ferris,heaslip and wallace together would be deadly for 7's

plus earls,carr,fitz and bowe

Mr.Applepie

danthefan wrote: »

I reckon TOL is quicker than Fitz, I'd be certain of it tbh. Fitz really isn't that quick.

nosco wrote: »

wrong I'm afraid. One of the quickest in testing at Leinster. Quicker than people think.

Apple and Oranges here.

The reason I picked Fitzy was because of his acceleration and ability to turn without losing pace.

TOL is actually very fast and I'd say is in the top 3 in the Irish setup. I'd say people's view of him is tainted by his speed, or lack there of, at getting the ball out of a ruck

[Jackass]

Carr
Earls
Fitzgerald
Bowe
O'Driscoll
Heaslip
Ferris

Awesome team for 7's!

yimrsg

Waisale Serevi hadn't blistering pace yet was a massively important player for Fiji even in his late 30's, he could see and make things that others couldn't and could read the game very well. That's why I chose BOD in there, if it was based solely on speed then no, he wouldn't be there. There is enough pace in other players so BOD's pace shouldn't be critical.

Can't believe I forgot Bowe in my original selection, might have to drop Sexton even if we'd be useless at the conversions.

CantGetNoSleep

Was TOL not a junior sprinting champion in Cork?

munster_mafia

Dont worry about the conversions, try scorer takes them.

Goodluck2me

nosco wrote: »

wrong I'm afraid. One of the quickest in testing at Leinster. Quicker than people think.

O'Leary is the second fastest after Carr in the Ireland training camp tests according to a friend involved. (over100)