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Ireland 2025

Got the announcement that there'll be a squad announcement there from tbe IRFU.

Expect Tom Ahern to break in and there'll have to be a new 9, likely Ben Murphy. Otherwise BAU.
 


This one will go down poorly.

I like the apprentices. McNabney is a bit of a left field pull but potential to offer something we don't have at 6.
 
Wonder when we'll get news on the A team. England have named their squad. Obviously we've named the coaching staff but that's it.

Wales match is the day beforehand. Possible reserves play but you wouldn't think so, that leaves roughly 10 lads from the squad so 13+ will have to be called up.
 
Presumably it'll just be a rejigged version of the 'Emerging Ireland' squad from last Autumn (obviously without Prendergast).
 
A lot of talk about our depth and age profile after yesterday. As usual following such a lot of it is over-dramatic imo but there is some fair critique there as well so thought I'd have a look at our probably/potential depth come 2027, which obviously like any crystal ball gazing exercise is fraught with danger.

Loosehead: Porter (29), Boyle (22, 23 tomorrow), P McCarthy (21) - these are the obvious three standouts. Boyle is being eased in but has looked excellent in the opportunities he's gotten and I expect him to take Healy's role as the sub loosehead now. McCarthy is far more projection but everything suggests he has it. Hopefully Milne's move to Munster can spark his career. Usanov another Leinster player that looks like he might have something but still u20. O'Toole has been trialled there recently but as we can see is far more needed at tighthead.

Hooker: Sheehan (26), Kelleher (27), Stewart (24), G McCarthy (21), McCormick (23) - I've no real concerns. Few other young guys I could have mentioned, Lee Barron another who might flourish with game time at Munster, although I think he's a bit underpowered despite his profile.

Tightehead: Furlong (32), Bealham (33), Clarkson (25), Jäger (29), O'Toole (26) - here's where things get dicey. Furlong's fitness has been an issue for a while, Bealham is massively underrated and was one of the few to perform yesterday but is definitely getting up there. He would most likely turn 36 at the WC and while he might have less mileage than others that's a big ask. Clarkson got some unfair criticism for Wales imo and locked down the scrum against France. He's been good when called on for Leinster this season and I think will ultimately be someone I'm not worried about in the lineup but he doesn't have the physical attributes to offer a huge amount around the pitch and test level. Hopefully Niall Smyth lives up to his billing and quickly.

Lock: Beirne (33), Ryan (28), McCarthy (23), Henderson (33), D Murray (23), E Edogbo (22) - obviously I've omitted Baird and Ahern who can and will play here as well. Would like to see Henderson phased out but I think we're in pretty good stead here. Especially if Edogbo comes back from his injuries well.

Blindside: Baird (25), Ahern (25), Izuchukwu (25), C Prendergast (25) - POM is a legend of Irish rugby and a loss but I'm excited by what this new breed of big athletic lads can bring and the options they open up. Obviously sliding Conan over is also an option and there's a number of others I haven't mentioned who could see game time. The biggest concern is the injury profile of the first three.

Openside: Van der Flier (31), Timoney (29), Hodnett (26), Kendellen (24) - think this is an area that we kind of gloss over. For whatever reason the Irish coaching staff don't seem to trust anyone beyond VDF and prefer sliding guys over. There's definitely talent there and guys like Quinn and Connors could be in the mix as well but it does have a feint question mark.

Number Eight: Doris (26), Conan (32), Coombes (27), Deegan (28), Culhane (22), Gleeson (21) - will likely have the last two Lions starting 8s so can't complain. Can slide Prendergast over as well. Last two are guys I'm very excited about and could easily have a break through with the right circumstances. Haven't even mentioned the likes of McNabney or McCann.

Overall in the grand scheme of things tighthead definitely a worry, loosehead is a bit of projection but should be fine, openside may be an issue but most likely fine but everywhere else is pretty rude health imo. Obviously we're never going to have the depth of countries with multiples of our population and playing numbers but given our circumstances we are getting a lot out of the system. Will look at the backs later.
 
Scrumhalf: Gibson-Park (33), Casey (25), Blade (30), Devine (23), Murphy (23), Gunne (21) - obviously everyone at the moment is a step down from JGP but then again he is the 2nd best 9 in the world. Murphy has got some recent plaudits but for my money Devine is the better prospect. Cautiously optimistic about Gunne as well but love the talent, fearful of Leinster's history developing 9s. Doak and maybe Foley could end up in squads but have different barriers stopping them.

Outhalf: Prendergast (22), Crowley (25), Frawley (27), H. Byrne (25) - first two put us in a really good position for the WC imo, obviously a drop off to Frawley and an even further drop off to HB, who had shown some of his early promise with Bristol before the usual injuries.

Inside centre: Aki (34), Henshaw (31), Osborne (23), McCloskey (32), Forde (23), Tector (22) - the top does skew older and I have concerns about Aki making the WC. His power is not something we can really replicate but the 3 younger lads do have some power as well as a better passing and kicking game.

Outside centre: Ringrose (30), Cooney (21), Postlewaite (22), Gavin (21) - Osborne and Henshaw also obviously live options here. Quite excited about the 3 younger lads lads, particularly Gavin but Cooney has shown recently his apprentice spot was an excellent…spot.

Wing: Lowe (32), Hansen (26), Nash (27), J O'Brien (28), Bolton (24), T O'Brien (26), Stockdale (28) - there's other names and a lot of JAGs honestly. Wing is typically a position where a player can have the fastest rise but with the way the game is at the minute we clearly lack speedsters compared to every other team. Lowe is the only one there who has shown any consistent ability to make tries out of nothing at international level. Bolton has looked very good with his recent opportunities and again looks like the right decision was made to fast track him. TOB is someone I've really liked but his injury profile is horrible. Hoping someone will have a sudden emergence.

Fullback: Keenan (28), Moore (25), Campbell (22), O'Connor (20) - looks a lot worse than it is since I'm not doubling up names there's probably 4 names I've already mentioned that would get a game before Moore. Not really an area I have a massive concern about. Generally a position we don't have an issue producing.
 

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