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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

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.ak

Hard to imagine Carr not making a squad by then... Even if he'd be getting on...

cgpg5

Would expect Connacht's Eoin Griffin to be in or around the squad at that stage! Smashing talent and will be playing Heineken Cup Rugby this season will bring him on greatly.

totallegend

TheHighRoad wrote: »

1.Healy 2.Strauss 3.Hagan 4.Touhy 5.Sykes 6.Ferris 7.O'Brien 8.Heaslip 9.McGrath 10.Sexton 11.Conway 12.Marshall 13.McFadden 14.Bowe 15.Kearney

16.Cronin 17.McAllister 18.Nagle 19.Dominic Ryan 20.Murray 21.Madigan 22.Fitzgerald/Earls

I worry about 13 to be honest....

The #13 at the 2015 World Cup will not be someone in the current squad; it won't be Earls as Kidney seems to think and I think McFadden is a little short of the top-level quality required; Spence, Cave and O'Malley most likely on evidence so far, Macken and possibly Barnes in the mix as well.

irishbucsfan

totallegend wrote: »

The #13 at the 2015 World Cup will not be someone in the current squad; it won't be Earls as Kidney seems to think and I think McFadden is a little short of the top-level quality required; Spence, Cave and O'Malley most likely on evidence so far, Macken and possibly Barnes in the mix as well.

I'd put Eoin Griffin above some of those guys as well. Certainly Macken and Barnes. He's so easy to forget but he's very talented.

Actually he outplayed Spence when they were in the 20s together and given that Spence seems to be ahead of Cave that would put him quite high up the list.

Fishooks12

Kearney
Bowe
O' Malley
Spence
Conway
Sexton
Murray
Heaslip
O Brien
O Mahoney
Nagle
Tuohy
Healy
Cronin
Hagan

Strauss/Sherry, couldn't call, couldn't call, P Butler, Mcgrath, Keatley, Earls

justsomebloke

can't see Cronin being in a world cup squad in 4 years, strauss is already ahead of him at leinster and if given the opportunity I'd say Jason Harris Wright will over take him at leinster as well

Fishooks12

justsomebloke wrote: »

can't see Cronin being in a world cup squad in 4 years, strauss is already ahead of him at leinster and if given the opportunity I'd say Jason Harris Wright will over take him at leinster as well

Cronin hasn't played at Leinster yet, if he sorts out his darts (which he seems to have done) he can be a top class hooker

The move to Leinster will do wonders for his game too

justsomebloke

Fishooks12 wrote: »

Cronin hasn't played at Leinster yet, if he sorts out his darts (which he seems to have done) he can be a top class hooker

The move to Leinster will do wonders for his game too

truthfully I don't understand why he moved to Leinster. He is moving to a team where he is going to be second choice (and by a good bit) so isn't going to be getting the game time he needs especially in big games and due to the WC probably won't see game time with Leinster now till after the first round of HC games.

That and I think JHW has more potential then Cronin, so Cronin could easily find himself battling for 2nd place hooker at Leinster which could be detrimental to his game

tolosenc

Schmidt is very good with squad rotation in bench use. Reddan and Boss is a prime example. Reddan plays 60, then Boss the last 20, then Boss starts the next game, then Reddan comes on for the last 20, and so on...

[Deleted User]

danthefan wrote: »

You left out Ferris.

Dunno if he'll be playing pro rugby in 4 years time tbh

[Deleted User]

justsomebloke wrote: »

truthfully I don't understand why he moved to Leinster. He is moving to a team where he is going to be second choice (and by a good bit) so isn't going to be getting the game time he needs especially in big games and due to the WC probably won't see game time with Leinster now till after the first round of HC games.

That and I think JHW has more potential then Cronin, so Cronin could easily find himself battling for 2nd place hooker at Leinster which could be detrimental to his game

JHW wont be playing for Leinster after Christmas. He's got the wrong head on his body.

ambid

There could potentially be quite a lot of Ulster lads in the squad then: McAlister, Best, Tuohy, Ferris (hopefully but unlikely), Jackson, Gilroy, Marshall, Spence, Cave. Jaco mentioned another young 10 who I can't remember now. It would be good to have less Munster & Leinster dominance.

Anybody know if Payne would ever qualify for Ireland or is he already tied in to New Zealand?

thomond2006

Payne can qualify AFAIK.

totallegend

thomond2006 wrote: »

Payne can qualify AFAIK.

Yep:
http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/18821.php

bamboozle

i'm very suprised 23 year old Luke Fitz is barely registering on most teams. rob Kearney is only 25. Plenty of rugby in lots of the current squad.

the likes of Keatley/Jackson to start making a move to replace ROG in the next few years.

Luke McGrath/Murray to replace Reddan.
Strauss, Cronin & Sherry to put pressure on Best.
O'Mahony, Dom Ryan, Ruddock, Jordan Coughlan, SOB & Heaslip in the backrow.
O'Malley, Fitz, Spence, Griffen, McFadden in center
Bowe, Fitz, Earls, Carr, Gilroy on wings
Kearney/Gilroy at 15
Hagan, Healy, McAllister & maybe Tadhg Furlong for props.
2nd row is where the questions are for me.

totallegend

bamboozle wrote: »

i'm very suprised 23 year old Luke Fitz is barely registering on most teams. rob Kearney is only 25. Plenty of rugby in lots of the current squad.

the likes of Keatley/Jackson to start making a move to replace ROG in the next few years.

Luke McGrath/Murray to replace Reddan.
Schmidt, Cronin & Sherry to put pressure on Best.
O'Mahony, Dom Ryan, Ruddock, Jordan Coughlan, SOB & Heaslip in the backrow.
O'Malley, Fitz, Spence, Griffen, McFadden in center
Bowe, Fitz, Earls, Carr, Gilroy on wings
Kearney/Gilroy at 15
Hagan, Healy, McAllister & maybe Tadhg Furlong for props.
2nd row is where the questions are for me.

That would be some comeback for Joe Schmidt at the age of 50! He'll have to dislodge Strauss first

pajunior

totallegend wrote: »

That would be some comeback for Joe Schmidt at the age of 50! He'll have to dislodge Strauss first

The rate the injuries are going for Leinster it's only a matter of time.

ambid

bamboozle wrote: »

i'm very suprised 23 year old Luke Fitz is barely registering on most teams. rob Kearney is only 25. Plenty of rugby in lots of the current squad.

the likes of Keatley/Jackson to start making a move to replace ROG in the next few years.

Luke McGrath/Murray to replace Reddan.
Schmidt, Cronin & Sherry to put pressure on Best.
O'Mahony, Dom Ryan, Ruddock, Jordan Coughlan, SOB & Heaslip in the backrow.
O'Malley, Fitz, Spence, Griffen, McFadden in center
Bowe, Fitz, Earls, Carr, Gilroy on wings
Kearney/Gilroy at 15
Hagan, Healy, McAllister & maybe Tadhg Furlong for props.
2nd row is where the questions are for me.

Good point. I guess everybody is excited thinking about new options rather than the current guys.

bamboozle

totallegend wrote: »

That would be some comeback for Joe Schmidt at the age of 50! He'll have to dislodge Strauss first

Not the first time i've called Strauss Schmidt either!

jacothelad

ambid wrote: »

There could potentially be quite a lot of Ulster lads in the squad then: McAlister, Best, Tuohy, Ferris (hopefully but unlikely), Jackson, Gilroy, Marshall, Spence, Cave. Jaco mentioned another young 10 who I can't remember now. It would be good to have less Munster & Leinster dominance.

Anybody know if Payne would ever qualify for Ireland or is he already tied in to New Zealand?

Other Ulster 10s are McKinney and Olding who looks a real prospect - though we have all seen these bite the dust over the years - and of course Luke Marshall's is a great 10. Payne is here by virtue of the 'project' signing allowed by the IRFU.

In terms of second rows coming through anywhere, there seems to be a shortage apart from at Munster. There is the ex-Ulster guy, Sandford at L.I. who is a good player, there is The Full 70 at Bath who is a really talented 4/5. He has great skills. is athletic and fearless but is a cretin. There is a very good 2nd row guy called Ian Henderson, 22, in the Ulster Academy. His problem is one of bulk. He is 6'5" and not hugely heavy. He might bulk up I suppose. He is very good rugby player but we need ballast and power in the engine room. I'm not sure if he will develop that way. Neil McComb IS 6'7" and big with it.

Ian Nagle, Dave Foley at Munster are the most recognisable possibilities. Their problem is the age old one of being behind 4 Irish second rows in POC, DOC, MOD, Ryan. When are they going to get experience?

ormond lad

This was an interesting thread at the start of the season and it will be interesting to see how much peoples opinions will have changed over this season if they have at all. Like obviously those who picked steven sykes can hang their heads in shame...
15. Rob Kearney
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Keith Earls
12. JJ Hanrahan
11. Andrew Conway
10. Jonathan Sexton
9. Conor Murray
8. Jamie Heaslip
7. Sean O Brien
6. Stephen Ferris
5. Donnacha Ryan
4. Dan Tuohy
3. Jamie Hagan
2. Sean Cronin
1. Cian Healy

16. Paddy McAllister
17. Mike Sherry
18. Ian Henderson
19. Dominic Ryan
20. Dave O Callaghan
21. Luke McGrath
22. Ian Madigan
23. Craig Gilroy

desertcircus

Interesting how the passage of time changes these things: almost everyone had O'Brien at six, and Dominic Ryan was selected by almost everyone. Only Thomond and Profitius named POM, as far as I can see; impressive foresight.

If Ryan can get a decent run in the Leinster team (but who would he displace?) then 2015 could see a flank pairing of two of O'Brien, POM and Ryan with the third coming off the bench...

bilston

ormond lad wrote: »

This was an interesting thread at the start of the season and it will be interesting to see how much peoples opinions will have changed over this season if they have at all. Like obviously those who picked steven sykes can hang their heads in shame...
15. Rob Kearney
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Keith Earls
12. JJ Hanrahan
11. Andrew Conway
10. Jonathan Sexton
9. Conor Murray
8. Jamie Heaslip
7. Sean O Brien
6. Stephen Ferris
5. Donnacha Ryan
4. Dan Tuohy
3. Jamie Hagan
2. Sean Cronin
1. Cian Healy

16. Paddy McAllister
17. Mike Sherry
18. Ian Henderson
19. Dominic Ryan
20. Dave O Callaghan
21. Luke McGrath
22. Ian Madigan
23. Craig Gilroy

It's funny I wasn't a member of Boards back in September so this is the first time I've come across this thread so naturally thought the OP was very recent initially. I thought the selection bizarre at first before realising it was posted in September. It goes to show how much can change in a season never mind 3 years. However it will be interesting to come back to it in a couple of years time!

As it stands maybe something like:

15 Kearney
14 Bowe
13 O'Driscoll
12 Cave
11 Earls
10 Sexton
9 McGrath
1 Healy
2 Best
3 Ross
4 Ryan
5 O'Connell
6 Ferris/O'Brien
7 O'Mahony/O'Brien
8 Heaslip/O'Brien

Bench
16 Strauss
17 McAlistair
18 Fitzpatrick
19 Henderson
20 Whoever from the above loses out
21 Murray
22 Madigan/Jackson
23 Conway

It depends on who the coach is but if it's Deccie I honestly just don't see the team changing that much. Personally I have a sneaky feeling that if the body is willing BOD and definitely POC will be there. Apart from ROG and possibly DOC I think any player that is going to retire before 2015 has already done so. I wouldn't be that surprised to see D'Arcy still involved in some way although that's probably less likely than BOD or POC.

There are maybe three young bolters that I could see breaking into the team in the next three years - Iain Henderson, Luke McGrath and Andrew Conway and even then Conway hasn't made the progress he'd have hoped this season, not helped by injury obviously.

TheKeenMachine

Interesting thread. I can see the line up being something like this:

15. Rob Kearney

14. Tommy Bowe
13. Keith Earls
12. Nevin Spence
11. Luke Fitzgerald

10. Jonny Sexton
9. Paul Marshall

8. Sean O'Brien
7. Dominic Ryan
6. Peter O'Mahony
5. Dan Tuohy
4. Donncha Ryan
3. Declan Fitzpatrick (really strugglling to think of options)
2. Richardt Strauss
1. Cian Healy

16. Sean Cronin
17. Brett Wilkinson
18. Jamie Hagan
19. Ian Nagle
20. Jamie Heaslip
21. Conor Murray
22. Ian Madigan
23. Fergus McFadden (still the utility back!!)

Squad members:
Paddy McAllister
Ian Henderson
Kevin McLaughlin
John Cooney
Paddy Jackson
Eoin O'Malley
Felix Jones

shuffol

15. Rob K
14. Bowe
13. Chris Farrell
12. Luke Marshall
11. O'Halloran
10. Sexton
9. Murray

1. Healy
2. Strauss
3. Hagan
4. Henderson
5. POC
6. POM
7. Conor Gilsenan
8. O'Brien

16. Mcgrath
17. Cronin
18. Moore
19. Tuohy
20. Heaslip
21. Cooney
22. Jackson
23. D. Kearney

Fishooks12

15 Rob K
14 Lukkkkeeeee
13 D Cave
12 JJ Hanrahan
11 Earls
10 Madigan
9 Murray
8 Heaslip (c)
7 Dominic Ryan
6 SOB/POM
5 D Tuohy
4 Nagle
3 Hagan
2 Strauss
1 Healy

Lot of that team is based on guys fulfilling potential

bilston

TheKeenMachine wrote: »

Interesting thread. I can see the line up being something like this:

15. Rob Kearney

14. Tommy Bowe
13. Keith Earls
12. Nevin Spence
11. Luke Fitzgerald

10. Jonny Sexton
9. Paul Marshall

8. Sean O'Brien
7. Dominic Ryan
6. Peter O'Mahony
5. Dan Tuohy
4. Donncha Ryan
3. Declan Fitzpatrick (really strugglling to think of options)
2. Richardt Strauss
1. Cian Healy

16. Sean Cronin
17. Brett Wilkinson
18. Jamie Hagan
19. Ian Nagle
20. Jamie Heaslip
21. Conor Murray
22. Ian Madigan
23. Fergus McFadden (still the utility back!!)

Squad members:
Paddy McAllister
Ian Henderson
Kevin McLaughlin
John Cooney
Paddy Jackson
Eoin O'Malley
Felix Jones

As an Ulster fan I promise you Paul Marshall won't be the Irish 9. I'd have my doubts about Nevin Spence but he could at least be in contention, but I doubt it at the moment.

Fishooks12

bilston wrote: »

As an Ulster fan I promise you Paul Marshall won't be the Irish 9. I'd have my doubts about Nevin Spence but he could at least be in contention, but I doubt it at the moment.

Agree Re Marshall. Why dya think Spence has lost his form this year? Injury

Had high hopes for him last year

profitius

bilston wrote: »

It's funny I wasn't a member of Boards back in September so this is the first time I've come across this thread so naturally thought the OP was very recent initially. I thought the selection bizarre at first before realising it was posted in September. It goes to show how much can change in a season never mind 3 years. However it will be interesting to come back to it in a couple of years time!

Indeed. There could be up to 10 changes to the starting team. When you think of the squad size for the next world cup the new coach will have many selection headaches and I'm sure there'll be many talking points. Some fringe players playing in the provinces now might be transformed eg Chris Henry.

Some young players who could very well be part of the squad or starting IMO would be.. Furlong, Moore, Henderson, Farrell, L. Marshall, Hanrahan etc. They along with the likes of Madigan, D Kearney, Gilroy etc

There are numerous players not even mentioned who will be well known in 3 years time. This time 4 years SOB wasn't well known. There'll also be one or two bolters not many people know about. A dark horse in Munster would be Cathal O'Flaherty.

TheKeenMachine

bilston wrote: »

As an Ulster fan I promise you Paul Marshall won't be the Irish 9. I'd have my doubts about Nevin Spence but he could at least be in contention, but I doubt it at the moment.

Really? I've always thought Marshall is a really good prospect. I could see him and Murray rotating in the same way Boss and Reddan do, one with a bigger physical presence, the other with a snappier pass.