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Ireland Squad 2018/2019
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<blockquote data-quote="Leinster Fan" data-source="post: 972085" data-attributes="member: 76349"><p>I hate Eddie O'Sullivan and love Joe Schmidt but over the last 12+ months he's been guilty of some of the same 'undroppables' school of thought. We had our team for this WC picked the day the grand slam was won and no matter how terrible things got (and they got pretty terrible, multiple thrashings by England, a nightmare game against Wales, losing to Japan, even mediocre games against Argentina, Scotland, Italy) nothing could change that. The only real effort to change anything seemed to be to give Conan more time but that happened about two years too late and I doubt he'd have started the quarter final anyway. Other than that, we dropped a horribly out of form Jack McGrath and that's more or less it (Henshaw at fullback deserves points for invention but was a terrible idea from the start).</p><p></p><p>It's tempting to just throw the entire old guard out now and rebuild up from scratch but that would be the wrong move I think. Healy (in part because there's no one else), POM, Sexton and Kearney are all worth being involved in the Six Nations. The above other three are worth minor roles and showing others the ropes there's a lack of experience for other options in their positions. Not a fan of them potentially starting though. Best thing for Sexton's career lasting might be to focus solely on Leinster.</p><p></p><p>From the current squad the only players I'd never play for Ireland again are Earls (old, not worth the time, plenty of other options just as deserving) and Cronin (love the guy but it's time). I'd put Toner in that bracket as well, wouldn't recall him even if he tears it up with Leinster (would say I'm backing up most if the country on this one in fairness). Jack McGrath as well barring a serious return to form, shouldn't make even an extended squad really.</p><p></p><p>One thing I would do is make James Ryan captain, and make him captain now. Not a fan of the 'give it to someone else for a few years while he gets older' school of thought. The guy we want to be captain at the next world cup should be captain now, and if that isn't James Ryan I don't know who is. He'll get a chance to grow into the role if he gets it now, making him captain in 2021 or whatever leaves with he problem of taking it off whoever has it (who could be doing an exemplary job) and with the risk that he won't adapt to it in the short space of time we give him.</p><p></p><p>Potential 23 to start the Six Nations?</p><p></p><p>1) Healy (hard to look past him and Killer as the best options, reckon we could be serious stuck here in a few years, is there a single capped loosehead under the age of 29?)</p><p>2) Scannell (would hope somebody overtakes him but good enough to take on the shirt for a few years)</p><p>3) Furlong</p><p>4) Henderson</p><p>5) Ryan (captain)</p><p>6/8) Anyone's guess. Pick on form. No one deserves a guaranteed spot. If Deegan or whoever is playing well enough throw them in</p><p>7) Josh van der Flier (no other fit 7 is close to him)</p><p>9) Again, form. If Murray is the best performing scrumhalf between now and then start him, otherwise just pick the best option, be that Cooney, Marmion, McGrath or someone else</p><p>10) Carbery (he isn't Sexton and is the only one with enough caps to step in right away) would trust Ross Byrne to step up if asked</p><p>11) Stockdale if he finds some form, otherwise no.</p><p>12) Henshaw</p><p>13) Ringrose</p><p>14) Conway</p><p>15) Larmour (entire back theee with the caveat that we should really just pick whoever is looking good for their provinces), Carbery should be an option here as well</p><p></p><p>16) Herring (wouldn't hesitate to bring Kelleher in if he's playing well enough though)</p><p>17) Kilcoyne (see above, unless we see a big push from Ed Byrne or Eric O'Sullivan it's too early to change)</p><p>18) Porter</p><p>19) Beirne</p><p>20) see above</p><p>21) same</p><p>22) Sexton probably but wouldn't say no to Ross Byrne</p><p>23) not even worth trying</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Leinster Fan, post: 972085, member: 76349"] I hate Eddie O'Sullivan and love Joe Schmidt but over the last 12+ months he's been guilty of some of the same 'undroppables' school of thought. We had our team for this WC picked the day the grand slam was won and no matter how terrible things got (and they got pretty terrible, multiple thrashings by England, a nightmare game against Wales, losing to Japan, even mediocre games against Argentina, Scotland, Italy) nothing could change that. The only real effort to change anything seemed to be to give Conan more time but that happened about two years too late and I doubt he'd have started the quarter final anyway. Other than that, we dropped a horribly out of form Jack McGrath and that's more or less it (Henshaw at fullback deserves points for invention but was a terrible idea from the start). It's tempting to just throw the entire old guard out now and rebuild up from scratch but that would be the wrong move I think. Healy (in part because there's no one else), POM, Sexton and Kearney are all worth being involved in the Six Nations. The above other three are worth minor roles and showing others the ropes there's a lack of experience for other options in their positions. Not a fan of them potentially starting though. Best thing for Sexton's career lasting might be to focus solely on Leinster. From the current squad the only players I'd never play for Ireland again are Earls (old, not worth the time, plenty of other options just as deserving) and Cronin (love the guy but it's time). I'd put Toner in that bracket as well, wouldn't recall him even if he tears it up with Leinster (would say I'm backing up most if the country on this one in fairness). Jack McGrath as well barring a serious return to form, shouldn't make even an extended squad really. One thing I would do is make James Ryan captain, and make him captain now. Not a fan of the 'give it to someone else for a few years while he gets older' school of thought. The guy we want to be captain at the next world cup should be captain now, and if that isn't James Ryan I don't know who is. He'll get a chance to grow into the role if he gets it now, making him captain in 2021 or whatever leaves with he problem of taking it off whoever has it (who could be doing an exemplary job) and with the risk that he won't adapt to it in the short space of time we give him. Potential 23 to start the Six Nations? 1) Healy (hard to look past him and Killer as the best options, reckon we could be serious stuck here in a few years, is there a single capped loosehead under the age of 29?) 2) Scannell (would hope somebody overtakes him but good enough to take on the shirt for a few years) 3) Furlong 4) Henderson 5) Ryan (captain) 6/8) Anyone's guess. Pick on form. No one deserves a guaranteed spot. If Deegan or whoever is playing well enough throw them in 7) Josh van der Flier (no other fit 7 is close to him) 9) Again, form. If Murray is the best performing scrumhalf between now and then start him, otherwise just pick the best option, be that Cooney, Marmion, McGrath or someone else 10) Carbery (he isn't Sexton and is the only one with enough caps to step in right away) would trust Ross Byrne to step up if asked 11) Stockdale if he finds some form, otherwise no. 12) Henshaw 13) Ringrose 14) Conway 15) Larmour (entire back theee with the caveat that we should really just pick whoever is looking good for their provinces), Carbery should be an option here as well 16) Herring (wouldn't hesitate to bring Kelleher in if he's playing well enough though) 17) Kilcoyne (see above, unless we see a big push from Ed Byrne or Eric O'Sullivan it's too early to change) 18) Porter 19) Beirne 20) see above 21) same 22) Sexton probably but wouldn't say no to Ross Byrne 23) not even worth trying [/QUOTE]
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