World cup 2027. Were do Ireland go?

I'm seeing opinion that Scottish and Welsh Rugby are both on the verge of a lower standard as they don't have much quality coming true. Ireland seems to be in a bit of a better place right now in that regard at least.

Has there been any word on what tests are lined up for November actually?

I know hes very young and probably shouldn't say this but Hugo McLaughlin was the best player in the senior cup at fullback the last 2 years IMO. If he can continue to develop I think he has a shout of making it by 2027. Obviously a mile away yet but has to be considered when he was miles better than lads a year older than him in 5th year.

All our 12's are 30 and older, and the youngest of those 3 has a concerning injury profile for example. Dave Kilcoyne could probably do a job off the bench in the 6 nations but is he enough ahead of the players who will be around in 4 years time. Given he already lost his Munster starting place to Loughman last season, no. Murray's form has returned a bit, but also, 2 30 something 9's in 2024? Where there is a call to be made, it should favour development for the next 18 months

agree, for Dorris to have his worst game in green, and Van der Flier loss of form , you are going to struggle against any all Black team , especially one with Kane and Savea at ther best. Thats where the game was lost for me.

if ther was one player that should have been rested in the pool games it was van der Flier , he looked cooked, was ther a decent alternative, how Dan Leavy has been missed - anyway

We have to continue to evolve and change. We've lost Sexton. We're about a year off losing POM and Aki. The game plan will have to change with those three missing.

I'd imagine we're going to see 4 or 5 lads brought to SA for exposure, if not any significant game time similar to how Furlong and Bealham were blooded on the 2016 tour (and a few others who didn't work out ultimately).

We're also going to have to go away and look at our set piece. It was found wanting significantly in the two crunch games where we really struggled in both line out and scrum. Whilst there was general confidence in sorting it out and we did manage to resolve issues during games, it was a huge problem and likely cost us a semi final spot given the damage it did in the opening 30 minutes of Saturday.

I wouldn't be surprised if there was a coaching reshuffle similar to two years ago or a new coach brought in to supplement proceedings. I think it's important that they draw a line under this and very clearly create their new era. Meeting up in December/January with the same voices/message minus the biggest on field voice, will just lengthen the shadow cast over the last week.

Come the 6N, POC will be the shortest serving coach there at 3 years. There isn't really any other coaching team with the combined length of service as the Irish team given Easterby will have a decade next year and Farrell is there 8 years next year.

One Hugo is enough in the team for now!

You really think the likes of NZ and SA are going to dispense with anyone they think won't make 2027 straight after this World Cup ends? I don't think so.

It's probably between Aki and Jordie Barrett for best 12 in the world right now, I'd say; some others might say Danty, but I dunno...

There's a 6N game away to this formidable French team and you advocate just not picking a world class player? You can bring Jamie Osborne (who I view as the most likely long term 12) into the set up without dumping Aki.

I find the idea that Ireland immediately dump one of the players of the tournament odd as well.

In a situation like scrum half and loosehead, where two of our first 3 are 30+ and will be very borderline by the next WC, I think the way forward is to pick the best of the two for this year and replace the other with a prospect.

So for the 6N our scrum halves would be something like Casey, Doak and one of Murray or JGP (probably JGP).

For Loosehead, it's probably Porter, Loughman and Healy/Kilcoyne (tougher call with the age difference).

The difference being, I'd be giving as much of the bench minutes to the prospect as I could justify. Then hopefully the prospect grows into a capable replacement over the next two years, and another prospect can fight their way into contention.