Ireland 15

[calculon]

Never before has the national team had such a duality of Leinster and Munster.
Munster: The best team in the Magners league and very consistent;

Leinster: The Heineken Cup champions - on a high and full of strength, class, and character.

The 2 main club teams are no.1, and 2 of all Celtic teams and easily 2 of the best club teams in the world, certainly Europe..



I strongly believe that Ireland as a rugby team misses a unique opportunity to excel if they do not lean towards one of the club panels 1st. 15 as the basis for the Ireland 15. This may sound outlandish at first but is it?



Is it unprecedented in sport?

Absolutely not.


In football (the round ball kind), Marcello Lippi had a conflict of interest, and he wasn't afraid of it. In fact he used it to his advantage. He knew that at the time he was manager of Italy, very few of naturalised Italian Seria-A players played their game together. With so many foreign players in Seria A, he could only rely on a Juventus dominated first 11. At that time, Juventus was the only big team with mainly Italian players (albeit this was partly because Lippi himself used to manage Juve and selected mainly Italian players, many of who remained there after his departure to manage the national side). This Juve-dominated first team meant the players knew each others game. In 2006, Lippi won the world cup with Italy thanks to this philosopy[1]. Players that know each others game at club level, know each others game at international level.



While it's a big ask, and it would still be challenging for Ireland to win a rugby world cup in this manner, it's an approach that I think makes sense. No other country benefits from groups of players that click and perform like Ireland. The best teams in the other home nations have many foreign players or are simply not performing as well as Leinster or Munster are currently. For this reason, I believe it's in Ireland's interest to select either A) a Munster dominated 30 with Leinster, Ulster, and Connaught reserves or B) a Leinster dominated 30 with Munster, Ulster, and Connaught reserves.





[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcello_Lippi

 

[Leinster+]

Never before has the national team had such a duality of Leinster and Munster. Munster: The best team in the Magners league and very consistent;Leinster: The Heineken Cup champions - on a high and full of strength, class, and character.The 2 main club teams are no.1, and 2 of all Celtic teams and easily 2 of the best club teams in the world, certainly Europe..I strongly believe that Ireland as a rugby team misses a unique opportunity to excel if they do not lean towards one of the club panels 1st. 15 as the basis for the Ireland 15. This may sound outlandish at first but is it?Is it unprecedented in sport? Absolutely not.In football (the round ball kind), Marcello Lippi had a conflict of interest, and he wasn't afraid of it. In fact he used it to his advantage. He knew that at the time he was manager of Italy, very few of naturalised Italian Seria-A players played their game together. With so many foreign players in Seria A, he could only rely on a Juventus dominated first 11. At that time, Juventus was the only big team with mainly Italian players (albeit this was partly because Lippi himself used to manage Juve and selected mainly Italian players, many of who remained there after his departure to manage the national side). This Juve-dominated first team meant the players knew each others game. In 2006, Lippi won the world cup with Italy thanks to this philosopy[1]. Players that know each others game at club level, know each others game at international level.While it's a big ask, and it would still be challenging for Ireland to win a rugby world cup in this manner, it's an approach that I think makes sense. No other country benefits from groups of players that click and perform like Ireland. The best teams in the other home nations have many foreign players or are simply not performing as well as Leinster or Munster are currently. For this reason, I believe it's in Ireland's interest to select either A) a Munster dominated 30 with Leinster, Ulster, and Connaught reserves or B) a Leinster dominated 30 with Munster, Ulster, and Connaught reserves. [1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcello_Lippi

Get rid of every Munster player other than Paulie and Flannery. Munster can only win ugly and most of the time don't deserve to win their matches. Ireland have the ability to play a fast, running game if they play their Leinster players. You agree????

 

[raziel_eire]

It's Connacht....

And I have to say I don't agree with your idea... the best players should get picked regardless of province or team. They're centrally contracted to give them the needed time together to gel as an "Ireland" unit.

Are you also advocating the use of the selected provinces coaching team aswell, be it Munster or Leinster? ...sure why not, would same a few euro's in these austere times!

 

[Leinster+]

Look at Montpelier. They didn't have a great pool of players to choose from but they had one of the best coaches you can get and they almost won the top 14. Basically send in Schmidt and we will win the world cup

 

[calculon]

It's Connacht....

And I have to say I don't agree with your idea... the best players should get picked regardless of province or team. They're centrally contracted to give them the needed time together to gel as an "Ireland" unit.

Are you also advocating the use of the selected provinces coaching team aswell, be it Munster or Leinster? ...sure why not, would same a few euro's in these austere times!

No, I wasn't advocating that kind of austerity lol.
Well, he's picked now and it's a pretty good selection of players. Form players with a nice mix of younger and more experienced players.