Your irish 22 for the 2015 rugby world cup

irishbucsfan

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

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

irishbucsfan

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

profitius

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.

Did you see him against England in the U20s? It was my first time seeing him and he looks the real deal. He'll be in the 2015 squad.

.ak

Bitta craic!

15. Kearney
14. Bowe (another old WC squad?)
13. J. Murphy
12. McFadden
11. Carr
10. Sexton
09. Murray
08. Heaslip
07. Ryan
06. SOB
05. Dan Touhy
04. Ian Nagle
03. Hagen
02. Strauss
01. Healy

16. Sherry
17. Wright
18. Lock ??
19. Ferris
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

Also in the squad: Spence, D. Kearney, Ross, Cronin, McAllister, Conway, F. Jones, Ruddock...

I think I'm missing a few forwards there.. But that's because I honestly can't think of any up and comers that've impressed me yet.

Edit: Leo Auva'a in there too? He'd be 29 and possibly Irish qualified? It'd help our depth.. But would be be playing at in the backrow or center?

profitius

There'll be other players who'll come through like SOB has since the last world cup.

profitius

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.

donfers

surely people did this after the debacle of 2007, anyone care to search for an equivalent thread to this one from four years ago to see how right/wrong people were?

siltirocker

.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?

irishbucsfan

donfers wrote: »

surely people did this after the debacle of 2007, anyone care to search for an equivalent thread to this one from four years ago to see how right/wrong people were?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=54542127

Closest thing I can find is people projecting the next 6 Nations. Some people talking about 2011

Amazotheamazing

In the spirit of the thread...

Healy, Sherry, Considine
Nagle, Foley
POM, Dom Ryan, Butler
Murray
Keatley
Earls,
Hanrahan
McFadden
Gilroy
Jones

profitius

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

In the spirit of the thread...

Healy, Sherry, Considine
Nagle, Foley
POM, Dom Ryan, Butler
Murray
Keatley
Earls,
Hanrahan
McFadden
Gilroy
Jones

Have you seen much of Considine? I saw him destroy the Cork Con scrum last season which included a few Munster players.

Amazotheamazing

profitius wrote: »

Have you seen much of Considine? I saw him destroy the Cork Con scrum last season which included a few Munster players.

Nope, think Ormond rates him.

twinytwo

LK_Dave wrote: »

but who will be team manager?

conor o shea

twinytwo

profitius wrote: »

There'll be other players who'll come through like SOB has since the last world cup.

we hope:(

Cypher_sounds

O'Brien will be captain anyway, ill take bets on that.

decisions

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"

TBH I wouldn't be too surprised if this is the case :pac:

wixfjord

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

In the spirit of the thread...

Healy, Sherry, Considine
Nagle, Foley
POM, Dom Ryan, Butler
Murray
Keatley
Earls,
Hanrahan
McFadden
Gilroy
Jones

Eh?! In four years?!

porterbelly

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

In the spirit of the thread...

Healy, Sherry, Considine
Nagle, Foley
POM, Dom Ryan, Butler
Murray
Keatley
Earls,
Hanrahan
McFadden
Gilroy
Jones

2015, not 3015

Amazotheamazing

wixfjord wrote: »

Eh?! In four years?!

Well, everyone else was taking the piss...

ormond lad

profitius wrote: »

Have you seen much of Considine? I saw him destroy the Cork Con scrum last season which included a few Munster players.

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

Nope, think Ormond rates him.

I do and he is a very good prospect, only barely 19 and played and done quite well in the front row in AIL div 1 at 18 against much older more experienced players

Ciaran-Irl

Not one person think O'Connell (35) will play at the next world cup, but four people think Sykes (who has looked rubbish so far, and is South African) will play.

irishbucsfan

Ciaran-Irl wrote: »

Not one person think O'Connell (35) will play at the next world cup, but four people think Sykes (who has looked rubbish so far, and is South African) will play.

Sykes is 5 years younger than him.

When exactly did you think he looked rubbish?

Iron Hide

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Sykes is 5 years younger than him.

When exactly did you think he looked rubbish?

Sykes looks like he could be a very handy player, idk about playing for Ireland though he has played for the Springbok A team but i'm not sure if that disqualifies him.

irishbucsfan

Iron Hide wrote: »

Sykes looks like he could be a very handy player, idk about playing for Ireland though he has played for the Springbok A team but i'm not sure if that disqualifies him.

http://www.examiner.ie/sport/rugby/new-blue-sykes-wants-to-play-for-ireland-149646.html

Iron Hide

irishbucsfan wrote: »

http://www.examiner.ie/sport/rugby/new-blue-sykes-wants-to-play-for-ireland-149646.html

Question answered and excellent news too. Sykes is only gonna be 30-31 by the next world cup and will be a great option in the short term at least i reckon!

.ak

siltirocker wrote: »

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?

I'll take your word on it as I never saw him do what you said with Connacht, but I did see him play against Connacht in the Irish XV in Donnybrook in August, and he was tested in defense at 12.. And he was bounced around all day.

Hype710

POC probably will make it, but thats more an indictment of the lack of locks coming through than anything. I'd say he'll start for the Lions too.

totallegend

Hype710 wrote: »

POC probably will make it, but thats more an indictment of the lack of locks coming through than anything. I'd say he'll start for the Lions too.

Very possibly; given that his current rivals (DOC, Cullen) are no spring chickens either. As for starting for the Lions, that's possibly stretching it, especially if Richie Gray and Courtney Lawes keep up their current rate of progress.

Overall, I think people are over-estimating the amount of changes we'll see between now and 2015; Best, Cronin, Healy, Ryan, SOB, Ferris, Heaslip, Murray, Sexton, Bowe, Earls, Trimble, McFadden and Kearney will all still be of rugby-playing age come the next World Cup, as well as Fitzgerald, Jones, McLaughlin and O'Leary (:eek:) - then you might have guys like O'Driscoll and O'Connell limping towards one last hurrah...

wixfjord

totallegend wrote: »

Very possibly; given that his current rivals (DOC, Cullen) are no spring chickens either. As for starting for the Lions, that's possibly stretching it, especially if Richie Gray and Courtney Lawes keep up their current rate of progress.

Overall, I think people are over-estimating the amount of changes we'll see between now and 2015; Best, Cronin, Healy, Ryan, SOB, Ferris, Heaslip, Murray, Sexton, Bowe, Earls, Trimble, McFadden and Kearney will all still be of rugby-playing age come the next World Cup, as well as Fitzgerald, Jones, McLaughlin and O'Leary (:eek:) - then you might have guys like O'Driscoll and O'Connell limping towards one last hurrah...

Agreed, I think there'll be only a few breakthroughs.
Sherry, Spence, Hagan, Conway, Gilroy, Nagle, Ruddock, and perhaps Ryan and Keatley or an Ulster 10.
Luke McGrath to be a bolter, you heard it here first!

Hype710

totallegend wrote: »

Very possibly; given that his current rivals (DOC, Cullen) are no spring chickens either. As for starting for the Lions, that's possibly stretching it, especially if Richie Gray and Courtney Lawes keep up their current rate of progress.

Overall, I think people are over-estimating the amount of changes we'll see between now and 2015; Best, Cronin, Healy, Ryan, SOB, Ferris, Heaslip, Murray, Sexton, Bowe, Earls, Trimble, McFadden and Kearney will all still be of rugby-playing age come the next World Cup, as well as Fitzgerald, Jones, McLaughlin and O'Leary (:eek:) - then you might have guys like O'Driscoll and O'Connell limping towards one last hurrah...

Not really, I can't see Lawes and Gray running a successful line out so it will be one of the two and the other off the bench I'd say. I think people feel if given a chance, guys like Gilroy who will be 24 will be a better option than the likes of Bowe, at 31, but you do need experience in a side also.

totallegend

Hype710 wrote: »

Not really, I can't see Lawes and Gray running a successful line out so it will be one of the two and the other off the bench I'd say. I think people feel if given a chance, guys like Gilroy who will be 24 will be a better option than the likes of Bowe, at 31, but you do need experience in a side also.

The amount of people writing off guys who will be 30/31 is making me feel very old

bamboozle

Hype710 wrote: »

POC probably will make it, but thats more an indictment of the lack of locks coming through than anything. I'd say he'll start for the Lions too.

apart from his lineout work the game seems to be accelerating beyond POC's skillset at a rate of knots.

he wont be around in 4 years time, Nagle, Touhy, Tonar, Mick Kearney, Sykes, McLaughlin & Donncadh Ryan will be jostling for 2nd row berths.

pajunior

Iron Hide wrote: »

Sykes looks like he could be a very handy player, idk about playing for Ireland though he has played for the Springbok A team but i'm not sure if that disqualifies him.

I'm almost certain that he cna become IQ, he even mentioned it in a press release when his signing was announced, whether he should be is a debate in itself.

Edit: Just saw above so it is definite he can.

profitius

Hype710 wrote: »

. I think people feel if given a chance, guys like Gilroy who will be 24 will be a better option than the likes of Bowe, at 31, but you do need experience in a side also.

I hope Bowe will be in the 2015 squad. Hes a world class winger and one of the smartest players in the country. He always seems to make the right decision and comes in off his wing alot to give more attacking options.

Hes a player I'd like to see move into coaching when he retires.

Ciaran-Irl

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Ciaran-Irl wrote: »

Not one person think O'Connell (35) will play at the next world cup, but four people think Sykes (who has looked rubbish so far, and is South African) will play.

Sykes is 5 years younger than him.

When exactly did you think he looked rubbish?

Both warm up games. The don't count for much, but he has obviously done absolutely nothing to deserve predicted Irish honours. And yes, I have watched him in Super 15, and has done nothing to suggest international honours there either. Countless people ahead of him for his actual country.

Shaw is playing for England at 38. Why couldn't O'Connell do it at 35?

thomond2006

Healy, Sherry, Hagan, Nagle, Tuohy, O'Mahony, O'Brien, Heaslip;
Murray, Sexton, Earls, McFadden, Spence, Bowe, Kearney

Bench: Cronin, McAllister, Foley, Ruddock, P Marshall, Keatley, Fitzgerald/Zebo

astonaidan

sickpuppy wrote: »

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

Itll be sad after winning it in 2012 hell have to wait another 2 years

TheHighRoad

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....

danthefan

thomond2006 wrote: »

Healy, Sherry, Hagan, Nagle, Tuohy, O'Mahony, O'Brien, Heaslip;
Murray, Sexton, Earls, McFadden, Spence, Bowe, Kearney

Bench: Cronin, McAllister, Foley, Ruddock, P Marshall, Keatley, Fitzgerald/Zebo

You left out Ferris.

.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...

danthefan

danthefan wrote: »

You left out Ferris.

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