Who will be starting at 12 for Ireland at the next World Cup?

goreyguy

Much like BOD, Darcy is on his way out. Great player in his day but its obvious he won't be starting at the next RWC.

Under that assumption who do you think will be starting at 12 at the next RWC?

ScissorPaperRock

I suppose for Hanrahan it depends on whether he's played at 10 or 12 by munster.

Podge_irl

Marshall or McSharry I would think. The former has the advantage of not being at connacht.

Grimebox

Who do I want? Or who do I think will be picked? Very different questions really.

I think it will be McFadden at 12 but I hope Hanrahan will be there at that stage

jamiedav2011

Huge amount of variables here, but I'd think/hope that we'll see Marshall, McSharry or Hanrahan in there. Preference would be Hanrahan with Sexton at 10.

bilston

Luke Marshall. I'd like to see JJ Hanrahan tried at 13 personally.

goreyguy

bilston wrote: »

Luke Marshall. I'd like to see JJ Hanrahan tried at 13 personally.

Doesn't have the pace. IMO

I think its clear JJ is Munster's next OH and possibly Ireland's but there is a lot more competition at 10 than 12.

jamiedav2011

goreyguy wrote: »

Doesn't have the pace. IMO

I think its clear JJ is Munster's next OH and possibly Ireland's but there is a lot more competition at 10 than 12.

Don't know about that now, Paddy Jackson will have a lot to say!

goreyguy

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

Don't know about that now, Paddy Jackson will have a lot to say!

That was my point, don't see Jackson as a 12. Think JJ can play both positions.

Quint2010

Jordan Coughlan? Chris Farrell?

jamiedav2011

goreyguy wrote: »

That was my point, don't see Jackson as a 12. Think JJ can play both positions.

But you said that Hanrahan was it's pretty clear that Jackson possibly Ireland's next 10 meaning he's ahead of Jackson in that area. Can't agree with that. Both going up against each other at 10 isn't Hanrahan's battle to lose, and it's certainly Jackson in the driving seat atm.

goreyguy

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

But you said that Hanrahan was it's pretty clear that Jackson possibly Ireland's next 10 meaning he's ahead of Jackson in that area. Can't agree with that. Both going up against each other at 10 isn't Hanrahan's battle to lose, and it's certainly Jackson in the driving seat atm.

not sure what your trying to say here.

My point:
its clear he is Munster's next OH and therefore possibly be Irelands. But right now Jackson has that position safely. Its possible he might not in a few years time and it might be JJ.

yohan the great

What age is Hanrahan. Would he be near starting at 10 for Munster next season

goreyguy

yohan the great wrote: »

What age is Hanrahan. Would he be near starting at 10 for Munster next season

20 and he should be but won't with ROG still around

shuffol

Hanrahans a great talent but I'm still unconvinced whether he has the full skillset to excel at the very highest level at either 10 or 12, my bets are that he'll ultimately make a better 10, he's a great skillset for the so called 2nd 5/8s but such a player doesnt fit into every sides style of play. He has a loose style for a 10 which you dont often see at test level either, especially here where a more conservative style of play prevails.

If Chris Farrell reaches his full potential nobody will touch him IMO, big, quick, good feet, can pass and has a rangy frame which allows him to get his hands free in contact.

Glass Prison 1214

Its very hard to judge on guys who havnt properly broken through into their provincial teams, so for me its too early so say if Hanrahan and Farrell will be good enough for Ireland, both talented though.

padser

The thread seems to have morphed into a discussion re 10 and 12. I'm slightly more interested in 10.

There are 4 candidates for 10 in my opinion (maybe 5 but I don't think Keatley has shown enough and is a good bit older than the other "contenders").

Sexton is obviously the front runner and the smart money has him still out in front in 2.5 yrs time. If he gets the lions 10 shirt this yr it will be difficult for someone to overtake him in 2 yrs, unless he has a real drop in form or someone really makes a huge improvement (tommy Bowe like maybe).

The three main contenders for me are Jackson, Madigan and Hanrahan (I think in that order).

Jackson has to be the front runner of the "cotenders". Looks to be the nailed on 10 at Ulster, a team which (it pains me to admit as a Leinster fan) is fast mounting a claim to be the top Irish side. Additionally he is the one who has been in the squad, played in the AIs etc.

Madigan for me is the next most likely. Lots of game time at Leinster and has addressed any questions over his kicking this season. Has a great skillet and bizarrely for me may be the most likely to actually take Sextons spot (although Jackson is probably favourite for the bench spot). My reasoning here is that Madigan could usurp Sexton at club level which in may ways is easier than getting someone's place on the national side due to the limited game time (ie if Jackson is a slightly better player than sexton, sexton has the advantage of being the incumbent in the national side whereas at club level you would expect the slightly better player to eventially get the nod because it can be a more gradual process).

Hanrahan - must be the outside bet. Not yet established with any real game time with Munster. Needs to firstly establish himself with Munster and may also need Munster to start closing the gap on Leinster / Ulster.

Obviously all of the above assumes DK is gone. Otherwise we will see a 10,12,13 of Sexton, Darcy, BOD with ROG on the bench :-)

goreyguy

I don't think Madigan has shot in the short to medium term(2015) to overtake Sexton barring a huge improvement

dtpc191991

If Marshall gets significant gametime over the next season I would say he could be the incumbent 12 come the 2014 six nations. There are alot of Centers in Ulster I could see Farrel going to Leinster where there seems to be a weakness at 12. As for Hanrahan its too early. McSharry is still worth a shot.

tolosenc

By all accounts, Coghlan's switch to 12 has gone quite well. If we want to start playing a crash ball 12, he might be an option. Think Darce is done now, and it's a toss up between Marshall and McFadden once Kidney goes (as he seems to think that McFadden is a winger only, for some bizarre reason).

jamiedav2011

padser wrote: »

Madigan for me is the next most likely. Lots of game time at Leinster and has addressed any questions over his kicking this season. Has a great skillet and bizarrely for me may be the most likely to actually take Sextons spot (although Jackson is probably favourite for the bench spot). My reasoning here is that Madigan could usurp Sexton at club level which in may ways is easier than getting someone's place on the national side due to the limited game time (ie if Jackson is a slightly better player than sexton, sexton has the advantage of being the incumbent in the national side whereas at club level you would expect the slightly better player to eventially get the nod because it can be a more gradual process).

Certainly can't agree with that. He's been ok from the tee, but his kicking from hand is generally dire, which is a huge thing for a NH international 10.

He's nowhere near challenging Sexton for either shirt at the moment, though as we also saw with Johnny, that doesn't mean he won't be in a few years.

leonard7

it would appear that the contenders for the backline for 2015 look a little like this...

9. Murray, Marshall, Marmion, Reddan
10. Sexton, Jackson, Madigan
11. Gilroy, Earls, Trimble
12. McFadden, Marshall
13. Cave, Earls
14. Bowe, Zebo
15. Kearney

i reckon the backline will be made up of 7 of those 16 players

Glass Prison 1214

leonard7 wrote: »

it would appear that the contenders for the backline for 2015 look a little like this...

9. Murray, Marshall, Marmion, Reddan
10. Sexton, Jackson, Madigan
11. Gilroy, Earls, Trimble
12. McFadden, Marshall
13. Cave, Earls
14. Bowe, Zebo
15. Kearney

i reckon the backline will be made up of 7 of those 16 players

i certainly dont think Reddan will be in with a shout, he will be too old.

leonard7

what age is he? just out of interest

Glass Prison 1214

leonard7 wrote: »

what age is he? just out of interest

He turned 32 during the week.

Glass Prison 1214

leonard7 wrote: »

it would appear that the contenders for the backline for 2015 look a little like this...

9. Murray, Marshall, Marmion, Reddan
10. Sexton, Jackson, Madigan
11. Gilroy, Earls, Trimble
12. McFadden, Marshall
13. Cave, Earls
14. Bowe, Zebo
15. Kearney

i reckon the backline will be made up of 7 of those 16 players

I also reckon there will be a lot more players in contention, Payne, McSharry, Dave Kearney, Fitzgerald, possibly Henshaw also, just to name a few.

Monty Burnz

On a positive note, I can't remember any time in history when we had so many good young players coming through.

Glass Prison 1214

Monty Burnz wrote: »

On a positive note, I can't remember any time in history when we had so many good young players coming through.

Agreed, i think both the acadamy set ups and the IRFU deserve credit for the way we are managing to develop so many potentially international standard players. Also think this is possibly another golden generation.

leonard7

looks like we'll have a strong woolfhounds team for quite some time then

Beery Eyed

I'm really looking forward to the North American summer tour next year to see what sort of squad travels. Lions will be away & any older players who won't make the next WC should certainly not travel (possibly one or two to help maintain the balance of experience/youth, and instill the right squad atmosphere, etc.).

Obviously depending on form & fitness by the end of the season, I'd love to see people like Marshall/Marmion & Jackson/Madigan being given a go with various combinations in the half-backs. While at 12/13 it'll be great to see McSharry/Marshall/Griffen/McFadden/Hanrahan, etc. Someone like Henshaw may also come into the reckoning at 13 if he gets more gametime there, but from what I've seen of him he's an excellent 15 and looks comfortable there.

Since it's a NH summer tour, hopefully the conditions will be good and the young guys will have the opportunity to really cut loose and show what they can do with a dry ball!

ionadnapokot

FMcFadden hasnt been given a real opportunity at 12 for Ireland. In comparison to all the other contenders he is streets ahead at the moment. By the time of RWC 2015 i still think BO'D will be around (HCup games & 6nations). If so, BO'D and McFadden.