Your irish 22 for the 2015 rugby world cup

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

"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.

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!!!!

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!

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...

I could see it being

1. Cian Healy
2. Richardt Strauss
3. Jamie Hagan
4. Ian Nagle
5. Steven Sykes
6. Stephen Ferris
7. Sean O'Brien
8. Jamie Heaslip

9. Conor Murray
10. Johnathan Sexton
11. Fionn Carr
12. Luke Fitzgerald
13. Nevin Spence
14. Craig Gilroy
15. Rob Kearney

16. Mike Sherry
17. Jack McGrath
18. Devin Toner
19. Dominic Ryan
20. Paul Marshall
21. James McKinney
22. Fergus McFadden

(And if they swap it to 23 man squads, extra prop could be)
23. Paddy McAllister

wixfjord wrote: »

Surprised by the amount of people picking Marshall.
Surely there's better coming through in that position?

I can't see anyone and it's far too early to predict how Luke McGrath will develop

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)

Its possible that in 2015 only a handful of those will be first choice players. I think Bowe, SOB and Healy. Ferris will be too IF he sorts out his knee problem but its not looking good for him.

.ak wrote: »

Bitta craic!

20. Cooney
21. Keatley/Madigan (I'd edge Magidan.. but he's more of a utility... but Keatley is incredibly weak in defense. So hard to make that call now, gotta see what they're like in a few seasons)
22. Trimble

center?

Simply not true. Keatley's defence is the number one aspect of his game. The best defensive out half in the Home Nations bar Wilkinson and Henson. But as we've seen with sénor O'Gara, it's not necessarily the most important attribute for an outside half back. Probably why he is being played at inside centre a lot since he's bulked up in his twenties.

His defense for Connacht was simple amazing. Anyone remember him in a static position putting down Elsom one on one by the try line 2 years back? Or his UFC-esqe pick up, run and throw of Jerry Collin to touch?