Your irish 22 for the 2015 rugby world cup

chupacabra

I know threads like this are utterly pointless but its fun to put our opinions up based on what we THINK we know now and then look back in years to come and see how right or how terribly wrong we were.

Here's mine assuming that by 2015 we have 23 man squads:

15. Felix Jones
14. Andrew Conway
13. Nevin Spence
12. Fergus McFadden
11. Keith Earls
10. Jonathan Sexton
9. Luke McGrath
8. Jamie Heaslip (c)
7. Dominic Ryan
6. Sean O'Brien
5. Dan Tuohy
4. Ian Nagle
3. Jamie Hagan
2. Richard Strauss
1. Cian Healy

16. Sean Cronin
17. Jack O'Connell
18. Stewart Maguire
19. Dave O'Callaghan
20. Rhys Ruddock
21. Conor Murray
22. JJ Hanrahan
23. Eoin Griffin

Honorable mentions or shouts for squad players: Tiernan O'Halloran, Paddy Butler, Peter O'Mahony, Paddy McAllister, Brendan Macken, Mike Sherry and too many more to name

MungBean

Earls wont be there, his place will be taken in the next two years. Theres too many excellent wingers coming through. Surprised you made no mention of Fionn Carr.

joshrogan

Why not murray at scrum half OP.

chupacabra

joshrogan wrote: »

Why not murray at scrum half OP.

Luke McGrath has such immense potential. I think it will be a horses for courses situation with an intelligent coach simply picking the form half back pairing for their province.

Kinger83

Plus Sean O'Brien is starting and subbing.. i know he's good but not that good surely...

chupacabra

Kinger83 wrote: »

Plus Sean O'Brien is starting and subbing.. i know he's good but not that good surely...

haha hangover brain fart

Cookiemunster

I'd say Tommy Bowe, Stephen Ferris, Rob Kearney and Luke Fitz might have something to say about your selection. They'll all still be around and in their prime in 4 years. (Well Bowe will be 31, but may ahve moved inside by then.

Malmedicine

chupacabra wrote: »

I know threads like this are utterly pointless but its fun to put our opinions up based on what we THINK we know now and then look back in years to come and see how right or how terribly wrong we were.

Here's mine assuming that by 2015 we have 23 man squads:

15. Felix Jones
14. Andrew Conway
13. Nevin Spence
12. Fergus McFadden
11. Keith Earls
10. Jonathan Sexton
9. Luke McGrath
8. Jamie Heaslip (c)
7. Dominic Ryan
6. Sean O'Brien
5. Dan Tuohy
4. Ian Nagle
3. Jamie Hagan
2. Richard Strauss
1. Cian Healy

16. Sean O'Brien
17. Jack O'Connell
18. Stewart Maguire
19. Dave O'Callaghan
20. Rhys Ruddock
21. Conor Murray
22. JJ Hanrahan
23. Eoin Griffin

Honorable mentions or shouts for squad players: Tiernan O'Halloran, Paddy Butler, Peter O'Mahony, Paddy McAllister, Brendan Macken, Mike Sherry and too many more to name

No Ferris, No Trimble, No Bowe, No Gilroy, No O'Malley if your opinion cool but there are players at this world cup who should be in their prime by the next one!

Malmedicine

Cookiemunster wrote: »

I'd say Tommy Bowe, Stephen Ferris, Rob Kearney and Luke Fitz might have something to say about your selection. They'll all still be around and in their prime in 4 years. (Well Bowe will be 31, but may ahve moved inside by then.

Damn you beat me to it!

sickpuppy

Cookiemunster wrote: »

I'd say Tommy Bowe, Stephen Ferris, Rob Kearney and Luke Fitz might have something to say about your selection. They'll all still be around and in their prime in 4 years. (Well Bowe will be 31, but may ahve moved inside by then.

With the injuries Ferris has had and lack of cartilage in one of his knees id be shocked if hes playing rugby for a living in 4 years.
Harrison Brewer is still a schoolboy but has huge potential in the backrow and is of good stock his father Mike Brewer was capped32 times by the all blacks and sacked from lots of jobs

Hype710

Sure its a bitta fun so why not. I predict a fairly young team at the next world cup, particularily if we have a new, less conservative coach.

R Kearney
A Conway
N Spence
L Marshall
C Gilroy
J Sexton
C Murray
J Heaslip (C)
D Ryan
S O' Brien
I Nagle
S Sykes
J Hagan
M Sherry
C Healy

R Strauss
P McAllister
S Archer
A Browne
P O' Mahony
L McGrath
I Keatley
D Kearney

SSK

I'm not an Ulster fan but Marshall, Jackson, Gilroy and MacAllister and possibly a few more should all play for Ireland over the next few years and are potentially a good bit better than some of the players you have listed.

who the fug

22. JJ Hanrahan

Is he really that good

bm1993

Kearney
Bowe
O'Malley
Fitzgerald
Earls
Sexton
Murray
Healy
Strauss
Hagan
Ferris
POC (maybe)
SOB
Dom Ryan
Heaslip

Reps
Cronin
?
Tuohy/Nagle
Ruddock
?
Madigan
McFadden

LK_Dave

but who will be team manager?

sickpuppy

LK_Dave wrote: »

but who will be team manager?

Eric Elwood after guiding Connacht to the heineken cup final in 2014 on a meagre budget

LK_Dave

sickpuppy wrote: »

Eric Elwood after guiding Connacht to the heineken cup final in 2014 on a meagre budget

you can always dream.

bm1993

LK_Dave wrote: »

but who will be team manager?

As long as it's not DK. Nick Mallett, Joe Schmidt or John Kirwan would be nice.

hsbc

O'Driscoll to come out of International retirement to guide us to WC glory?

Kayless

bm1993 wrote: »

As long as it's not DK. Nick Mallett, Joe Schmidt or John Kirwan would be nice.

hsbc wrote: »

O'Driscoll to come out of International retirement to guide us to WC glory?

O'Driscoll & POC to co manage!

theboss80

sickpuppy wrote: »

Eric Elwood after guiding Connacht to the heineken cup final in 2014 on a meagre budget

Ye would need to be sponsored by Carlsberg

Brendan97

Ireland Team 2015
Manager:Joe Schmidt

15.R Kearney
14.A Trimble
13.T Bowe
12.F McFadden
11.K Earls
10.J Sexton
9.C Murray
8.J Heaslip
7.D Ryan
6.S O'Brien
5.D Tuohy
4.S Ferris
3.J Hagan
2.S Cronin
1.C Healy

dtpc191991

15.Rob Kearney
14.Craig Gilroy
13. Eoin O'Malley
12. Nevin Spence
11. Luke Fitzgerald
10. Jonathan Sexton
09. Luke McGrath
08. Jamie Heaslip (Captain)
07. Dominic Ryan
06. Sean O'Brien
05. Dan Tuohy
04. Ian Nagle
03. Jamie Hagan
02. Mike Sherry
01. Cian Healey

23. Felix Jones
22. Paddy Jackson
21.Connor Murray
20.Stephen Ferris
19.Dave O'Callaghan
18.S.Archer
17. Paddy McAllister
16. Richard Strauss.

Hagz

1. Cian Healy
2. Richardt Strauss
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Mark Flanagan
5. Ian Nagle
6. Sean O'Brien
7. Dominic Ryan
8. Jamie Heaslip (c)
9. Luke McGrath
10. Jonathan Sexton
11. Craig Gilroy
12. Dave McSharry
13. Brendan Macken
14. Andrew Conway
15. Rob Kearney

16. Mike Sherry
17. Paddy McAllister
18. Dan Tuohy
19. Rhys Ruddock
20. Conor Murray
21. Luke Marshall
22. Keith Earls

Such an impossible task. McAllister, Tuohy, Spence, Marshall (Paul), Faloon, Trimble, O'Halloran, Kearney (Mick), Carr, Fitzgerald, McFadden, Morris, Keating, Moore, McGrath, Brewer, O'Malley, Kearney (Dave), Jones, Zebo, O'Mahony, Butler, Keatley. Sure how are you supposed to choose.

I just named a team I'd like to see.

dtpc191991

Has Strauss announced whether or not he'll be willing to play for Ireland once he's qualified?

Hagz

dtpc191991 wrote: »

Has Strauss announced whether or not he'll be willing to play for Ireland once he's qualified?

Don't open up that can of worms.

ambid

bm1993 wrote: »

As long as it's not DK. Nick Mallett, Joe Schmidt or John Kirwan would be nice.

Or Conor O'Shea or Mark McCall or Michael Cheika?

Keatley has only been mentioned once so far, but I expect him to figure (although I reeeeeally hope the Sexton-ROG debate isn't replaced by a Sexton-Keatley debate in four years!).

Superbus

Hagz wrote: »

1. Cian Healy
2. Richardt Strauss
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Mark Flanagan
5. Ian Nagle
6. Sean O'Brien
7. Dominic Ryan
8. Jamie Heaslip (c)
9. Luke McGrath
10. Jonathan Sexton
11. Craig Gilroy
12. Dave McSharry
13. Brendan Macken
14. Andrew Conway
15. Rob Kearney

16. Mike Sherry
17. Paddy McAllister
18. Dan Tuohy
19. Rhys Ruddock
20. Conor Murray
21. Luke Marshall
22. Keith Earls

2019 maybe.

nooner09

Hagz wrote: »

1. Cian Healy
2. Richardt Strauss
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Mark Flanagan
5. Ian Nagle
6. Sean O'Brien
7. Dominic Ryan
8. Jamie Heaslip (c)
9. Luke McGrath
10. Jonathan Sexton
11. Craig Gilroy
12. Dave McSharry
13. Brendan Macken
14. Andrew Conway
15. Rob Kearney

16. Mike Sherry
17. Paddy McAllister
18. Dan Tuohy
19. Rhys Ruddock
20. Conor Murray
21. Luke Marshall
22. Keith Earls

Such an impossible task. McAllister, Tuohy, Spence, Marshall (Paul), Faloon, Trimble, O'Halloran, Kearney (Mick), Carr, Fitzgerald, McFadden, Morris, Keating, Moore, McGrath, Brewer, O'Malley, Kearney (Dave), Jones, Zebo, O'Mahony, Butler, Keatley. Sure how are you supposed to choose.

I just named a team I'd like to see.

How did Nagle and Gilroy, like, sneak on there? Nagle's only hope would be as a total Kidney pet. Some guys with serious lock potential in Junior Cup this year and where's Fionn, the legend?

Hagz

Superbus wrote: »

2019 maybe.

4 years time.

Healy (28)
Strauss (28)
Furlong (22) Definitely a long shot. But he's proved himself to be quite the prodigy at age 18. Come 2015 he'll be 22.
Flanagan (25) - who else would you have? Tuohy will be 30 and I doubt he'll stay on top by then. Which leaves maybe Mick Kearney, and Flanagan has as much chance as Kearney.
Nagle (26)
SOB (28)
Ryan (25) - not much opensides tbh. Other than Faloon.
Heaslip (31)
McGrath (22) No doubt about it. He'll be getting a quality amount of games next season. Prodigy.
Sexton (30)
Gilroy (25) If he keeps up his strike-rate, I don't see why not. Earls is the only other person I can see. Fitz will/should move into the centre.
McSharry (26) - Marshall, Fitzgerald are the other options. I went with McSharry purely because he's a personal favorite.
Macken (25) By the time he's 25 I expect him to be physically massive. Other options are Spence, Cave, Barnes, EOM, Griffin, McFadden and Bowe.
Conway (25) No doubt about it. Another prodigy
Kearney (29)

The only guys who are seriously unlikely to have some caps under their belt by then are, McSharry, Macken and Furlong.

EDIT: Fionn Carr will be going on 30. If he still has the pace, then I guess he's an option, but tbh the only thing he's got going for him is his pace.

mayordenis

Earls will be there, I'll bet my bollocks on it.

nooner09

mayordenis wrote: »

Earls will be there, I'll bet my bollocks on it.

Not up to standards being set by prodigies in the schools.

Hopefully we'll have 13+2 selection rule by then ( 2 players from the regional sides ). Never again the absolute mare and shambles of 2011 with outright discrimination against some of the best guys in Europe and ( if dk would only pick them ) the world. Potential world beaters in academy ignored in favour of average guys who lucked it into Lions squad in 09.

Iron Hide

2015.
1.Cian Healy
2.Mike Sherry
3.Jamie Hagan
4.Dan Tuohy
5.Ian Nagle
6.Sean O'Brien
7.Willy Falloon
8.Jamie Heaslip
9.Conor Murray
10.Jonathan Sexton
11.Luke Fitzgerald
12.Fergus McFadden
13.Nevin Spence
14.Tommy Bowe
15.Felix Jones

16.Richardt Strauss
17.Stephen Archer
18.Paddy McAllister
19.Dave O'Callaghan
20.Stephen Ferris
21.Luke McGrath
22.Ian Keatley
23.Rob Kearney

Head Coach: Nick Mallet

Hype710

Hagz wrote: »

EDIT: Fionn Carr will be going on 30. If he still has the pace, then I guess he's an option

It's a good point, I can see guys like McFadden and Carr breaking into the Irish team soon and they may well even tour with the Lions in 2013, but I don't see them being mainstays in the side to guarantee they'll be starting for us in four years time, such is the talent coming through.

Iron Hide

Or If Declan Kidney is still in charge :P

1.Cian Healy (27)
2. Jerry Flannery (36)
3.Mike Ross (35)
4.DOC (36)
5.POC(35)
6.SOB (28)
7.David Wallace (39)
8.Jamie Heaslip (31)
9.TOL (31)
10.ROG (38)
11.Keith Earls (28)
12.Gordon D'Arcy (35)
13.BOD(36)
14.Tommy Bowe (31)
15.Rob Kearney (29)

16.Rory Best (33)
17.John Hayes (41)
18.Tony Buckley (35)
19.Random Munster 2nd row/Blind side (31)
20.Random Munster utility forward (33)
21.Peter Stringer (37)
22.David Humphreys (44)
23.Girvan Dempsey (39)

Press Release "I felt after our dismal showing 4 years ago we really needed some extra experience in the side, form is temporary class is permanent and whatnot. BOD is in flying form after his recent super-gluing back together, Humphreys has only gained two stone and is now able to kick from the 5m line and Random Munster Utility Forward has been known to throw, lift AND catch the same lineout, whilst also packing down on the openside"

profitius

I don't know what the team will be (injuries, retirements etc) but the squad will be much stronger than it is now. Skill level will be much higher and the average will be lower.

We'll have plenty of options at prop and hooker. There'll be loads of backrows and plenty of options at center and half backs. There's loads of young back 3 players around now too. Locks seem to be the area where we could be a little short but theres a few promising players who can play there.

Some players I've seen who look like they'll get Irish caps in the not too distant future include:
Tiernan O'Halloran, JJ Hanrahan, Luke Marshall, Conway, Tadhg Furlong, POM, Nagle, Sherry, Spence, Gilroy, Griffen, Dom Ryan, Madigan, Paddy McAllister.

There are others too that are highly rated like Luke McGrath but I can't comment until I see them myself.

Cpt_Blackbeard

nooner09 wrote: »

How did Nagle and Gilroy, like, sneak on there? Nagle's only hope would be as a total Kidney pet . Some guys with serious lock potential in Junior Cup this year and where's Fionn, the legend?

Well considering that he already has a MOM award against Australia, I think most posters would expect him to be around the Irish test team in 4 years.

Are you. honestly talking about School's Junior Cup players being in with a good chance of being starting international locks in 4 years? The majority of them won't even be locks in 4 years when other players have hit their growth spurt.

nooner09 wrote: »

Not up to standards being set by prodigies in the schools.

Earls was the prodigy at schools level (along with Fitzgerald). I've only seen Munster school's admittedly, but only JJ Hanrahan would be anywhere near the level Earls was at. Neither Simon Zebo or Danny Barnes were at the same level as Earls and they are both regulars for Munster now.

profitius

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Earls was the prodigy at schools level (along with Fitzgerald). I've only seen Munster school's admittedly, but only JJ Hanrahan would be anywhere near the level Earls was at. Neither Simon Zebo or Danny Barnes were at the same level as Earls and they are both regulars for Munster now.

Dairmuid McCarthy was another schools prodigy but he decided against a rugby career.

tolosenc

1. Healy
2. Strauss
3. Hagan
4. Ferris
5. Tuohy
6. Ruddock
7. Dom Ryan
8. O'Brien
9. McGrath
10. Sexton
11. Carr
12. Marshall
13. Spence
14. Kearney
15. Kearney

16. Varley
17. Archer
18. Ross
19. Sykes
20. Heaslip
21. Murray
22. Keatley
23. Bowe

ormond lad

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Earls was the prodigy at schools level (along with Fitzgerald). I've only seen Munster school's admittedly, but only JJ Hanrahan would be anywhere near the level Earls was at. Neither Simon Zebo or Danny Barnes were at the same level as Earls and they are both regulars for Munster now.

Danny barnes can hardly be considered a schools prodigy, he only played 1 year of schools rugby and that was the year after he had played irish youths

Chucky the tree

Surprised so many people are leaving Trimble out.

Cpt_Blackbeard

ormond lad wrote: »

Danny barnes can hardly be considered a schools prodigy, he only played 1 year of schools rugby and that was the year after he had played irish youths

I never called him a prodigy. I was saying that of the players I've seen, only JJ Hanrahan and Earls looked to be special/a prodigy if you will.

Barnes and Zebo are the two best examples off hand of players who didn't look like prodigies - they were both brilliant Senior Cup players though Despite this, they are now looking like being regulars for Munster this season. Conor Murray was another one who didn't look like something special and look where he is now.

Sorry for all the Munchins references but, as I'm at it...

Cpt_BlackBeard's Fun Fact of the Day:
St.Munchins College have more past-pupils at the WC than any other Irish school. 6 in total if you include Damien Varley and George Clancy.

tolosenc

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Surprised so many people are leaving Trimble out.

He'd be in the 30 anyway.

Who knows?!

nooner09

"Are you. honestly talking about School's Junior Cup players being in with a good chance of being starting international locks in 4 years? The majority of them won't even be locks in 4 years when other players have hit their growth spurt."

Yes. If they can handle Donnybrook in March, they'll be more than good enough for Kingsholm or Twickenham in October 2015.

If only dk could see that.

But anyway guys, my 2011 team follows. Because, like, we should be building the 2015 team today. It might not beat the ozzies but who in all honesty can and it's totally about squad development for 2015 and it couldn't do any worse than dk and his head in the sand selection.:eek:

Take off the blinkers, dec k.

15: Rob Kearney
14: Andrew Conway
13: Brendan Macken
12: Eoin O'Malley
11: Fionn Carr
10: Sexto
9: Luke McGrath

1: Cian Healy
2: Best
3: Jamie Hagan
4: Steven Ferris ( get a few games here before the knees pack it in )
5: Devin Toner
6: Sean O'Brien
7: Dominic Ryan
8: Jamie H CAPTAIN

Subs: Leo Cullen ( experienced head if game is tight, ferris can move into back row) ROG ( see before ) Jennings, M Ross, Cronin, Conor Murray, Tommy Bowe ( tough but his form just isn't up to it guys and Trimble is totally unlucky to lose out entirely. POC goes on too many spasmo charges, slowing the team down so only has self to blame for missing out.

siltirocker

15.R Kearney
14.A Trimble
13.T Bowe
12.F McFadden
11.K Earls
10.J Sexton
9.C Murray
8.J Heaslip
7.D Ryan
6.S O'Brien
5.I Nagle
4.D Tuohy
3.J Hagan
2.S Cronin
1.C Healy

16. D Varley
17. B Wilkinson
18. I Nagle
19. R Ruddock
20. T O'Leary
21. I Keatley
22. L Fitzgerald

Some of ye have named the 2019 team for heaven's sake. Maybe Spence, Griffen, Conway and Carr in the backs will be involved but that's it.

Malmedicine

nooner09 wrote: »

Yes. If they can handle Donnybrook in March, they'll be more than good enough for Kingsholm or Twickenham in October 2015.

.

Are you plaing Junior Cup yourself? I'll bet my house no current junior cup player will be playing international rugby in 4 years time.
Reasons: 1 Physical development 2 Physical Development we are a race that does not develop fully until late teens early twenties. In fact I'd wager very few would be on anything but development contracts maybe even none at all. Most playing under 20's with club sides a few very good ones starting AIL where they will either shine and go on or find their level!!!!

vinny chase

chupacabra wrote: »

Luke McGrath has such immense potential. I think it will be a horses for courses situation with an intelligent coach simply picking the form half back pairing for their province.

So your also predicting a change in management??

bamboozle

Iron Hide wrote: »

Or If Declan Kidney is still in charge :P

1.Cian Healy (27)
2. Jerry Flannery (36)
3.Mike Ross (35)
4.DOC (36)
5.POC(35)
6.SOB (28)
7.David Wallace (39)
8.Jamie Heaslip (31)
9.TOL (31)
10.ROG (38)
11.Keith Earls (28)
12.Gordon D'Arcy (35)
13.BOD(36)
14.Tommy Bowe (31)
15.Rob Kearney (29)

16.Rory Best (33)
17.John Hayes (41)
18.Tony Buckley (35)
19.Random Munster 2nd row/Blind side (31)
20.Random Munster utility forward (33)
21.Peter Stringer (37)
22.David Humphreys (44)
23.Girvan Dempsey (39)

Press Release "I felt after our dismal showing 4 years ago we really needed some extra experience in the side, form is temporary class is permanent and whatnot. BOD is in flying form after his recent super-gluing back together, Humphreys has only gained two stone and is now able to kick from the 5m line and Random Munster Utility Forward has been known to throw, lift AND catch the same lineout, whilst also packing down on the openside"

that brightened up my day!

bamboozle

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Well considering that he already has a MOM award against Australia, I think most posters would expect him to be around the Irish test team in 4 years.

Are you. honestly talking about School's Junior Cup players being in with a good chance of being starting international locks in 4 years? The majority of them won't even be locks in 4 years when other players have hit their growth spurt.



Earls was the prodigy at schools level (along with Fitzgerald). I've only seen Munster school's admittedly, but only JJ Hanrahan would be anywhere near the level Earls was at. Neither Simon Zebo or Danny Barnes were at the same level as Earls and they are both regulars for Munster now.

i've seen JJ Hanrahan play twice at AIL level and for the irish u20's, i'm not really getting the hype about him.

tolosenc

Cpt_Blackbeard wrote: »

Cpt_BlackBeard's Fun Fact of the Day:
St.Munchins College have more past-pupils at the WC than any other Irish school. 6 in total if you include Damien Varley and George Clancy.

Leinster, with 14, have more players at the World Cup than any other professional team. And that with a coach who doesn't rate Fitzgerald or McLaughlin, or Ruddock...

Cpt_Blackbeard

bamboozle wrote: »

i've seen JJ Hanrahan play twice at AIL level and for the irish u20's, i'm not really getting the hype about him.

I thought he was very good for the U20s when I saw him but, he really shone in the senior cup for Rockwell. Its not many (any really) players that get a Munster academy place in their first year out of school.