Irelands Future

[mulldog]

Read an intresting piece by Tony Ward today. In it he suggests a potenital rugby squad for world cup 2015!

Full-backs: Rob Kearney, Felix Jones WINGS: http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Tommy_BoweTommy Bowe, Andrew Trimble, Fionn Carr, Andrew Conway

Centres: Luke Fitzgerald, Keith Earls, Fergus McFadden, Nevin Spence

Out-halves: Jonny Sexton, Paddy Jackson
Scrum-halves: Conor Murray, Tomas O'Leary
Props: Brett Wilkinson, Cian Healy, Mike Ross, Jamie Hagan

Hookers: Rory Best, Sean Cronin, Damien Varley

Second-rows: Paul O'Connell, Devin Toner, Ian Nagle, Donnacha Ryan
Back-rows: Stephen Ferris, Sean O'Brien, Rhys Ruddock, Peter O'Mahony, Jamie Heaslip.

Quite a few names missing: Keatley, Madigan, O'Malley, Tuhoy, Gilroy, Barnes............e.t.c

We all now the next RWC is ages away, but what do you think? Is he on the money or way of?

 

[dangandan]

Not so sure about Jackson or O'Leary and the midfield looks fairly lightweight except for Spence who i don't rate at all. I been watching Danny Barnes play recently and he reminds me slightly of Conrad Smith. Obviously not as good at the moment but he has a similar physique, running style, good hands and doesn't shy from or miss a tackle much.

 

[coonor]

I find it almost impossible to even think about what the 2015 squad will be. Of course I have a few names who I think could be in contention but I all depends on form. How many people at the start of the season would have predicted Murray to be first choice?

Lets take this one step at a time with clear objectives and goals. We had a successful world cup but just lost to a brilliant Welsh team on the day. We are playing well but it is time to bring some fresh spark into our team but lets be patient.

 

[Peat]

Well he's off in that no one's going with only 2 scrum-halves and 2 fly-halves, that's for certain...

 

[King_D'Arcy]

A few pretty rubbish shouts from Ward there. There is not a hope in hell O'Leary will be anywhere near the Irish team come 2015. I predict Murray, Williams, Luke McGrath and probably 1 or 2 more current academy scrum halves to be ahead of him. He's currently 4th choice at Munster. Unless there is some monstrous improvement in his form O'Leary's international days are over.

I think the teams pretty much just a stab in the dark. If we're going on current form you'd put Gilroy in ahead of Conway and Dominic Ryan ahead of O'Mahony. It'll be a dark day for Irish rugby when Devin Toner becoems a member of a fully fit squad. I'd put Tuohy and Kev McLaughlin in ahead of him. Sherry or Strauss (if he plays for Ireland) would be in ahead of Varley.

In all honesty it's way too early to say. In 2007 we wouldn;t have predicted Bowe to be one of our best players and most people would've predicted Fitzgerald to be one of our star players by now. Most people wouldn't have heard of O'Brien and nobody would have heard of Conor Murray

 

[munstermuffin]

Alot will happen between now and then. I find it hard to see Ross going at that stage and think someone like Archer would have a better chance as Ross will be 35/36 at that stage.
Mike Sherry will be ahead of Varley at Munster at the rate things are going and well Keith Earls has proved in this RWC that he is a deadly finisher and worldclass threat on the left wing but in the centre his defense isn't good enought at the moment and well we aren't using him to the max effectiveness at 13.
Keatley I think will be battling and well I have my doubts about Nagle and Toner. I also think I'd have Domnic Ryan ahead of Ruddock and Ferris is a doubt as his knee can go anytime.
And in that backrow SOB is only 1 who can play 7 (it's the worst of his 3 positions) so I think overall Ward is way off.

 

[munstermuffin]

A few pretty rubbish shouts from Ward there. There is not a hope in hell O'Leary will be anywhere near the Irish team come 2015. I predict Murray, Williams, Luke McGrath and probably 1 or 2 more current academy scrum halves to be ahead of him. He's currently 4th choice at Munster. Unless there is some monstrous improvement in his form O'Leary's international days are over.

I think the teams pretty much just a stab in the dark. If we're going on current form you'd put Gilroy in ahead of Conway and Dominic Ryan ahead of O'Mahony. It'll be a dark day for Irish rugby when Devin Toner becoems a member of a fully fit squad. I'd put Tuohy and Kev McLaughlin in ahead of him. Sherry or Strauss (if he plays for Ireland) would be in ahead of Varley.

In all honesty it's way too early to say. In 2007 we wouldn;t have predicted Bowe to be one of our best players and most people would've predicted Fitzgerald to be one of our star players by now. Most people wouldn't have heard of O'Brien and nobody would have heard of Conor Murray

Can agree with alot of this but King O'Mahony is in superb form for Munster and close to probably starting in HEC cup. And this may be an area that let's Domnic Ryan and Ruddock down in that O'Brien, McLaughlin and Heaslip are all going to be around a while and well that means others won't be getting alot of gametime in HEC games

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Can agree with alot of this but King O'Mahony is in superb form for Munster and close to probably starting in HEC cup. And this may be an area that let's Domnic Ryan and Ruddock down in that O'Brien, McLaughlin and Heaslip are all going to be around a while and well that means others won't be getting alot of gametime in HEC games

In that case I would imagine Ryan will miss out as the Irish management seem very keen on Ruddock. I think both Jennings and McLaughlin mite be behind Ruddock in the backrow pecking roder this year. I hope McLaughlin moves to 2nd row permanently. I don't fancy Toner being in the team

 

[Peat]

In that case I would imagine Ryan will miss out as the Irish management seem very keen on Ruddock. I think both Jennings and McLaughlin mite be behind Ruddock in the backrow pecking roder this year. I hope McLaughlin moves to 2nd row permanently. I don't fancy Toner being in the team

I can't see Leinster ignoring Jennings and Ryan, who seem more natural opensides, to pick Ruddock/SOB/Heaslip in some variation. Unless I'm mistaken, the IRFU can't dictate where the players will play as only Heaslip's on a central contract.

Although I noticed Ruddock was played at 7 in Leinster's last game. But thats with Ryan just returned to fitness.

 

[big ginger 8]

Did you not see Toners try against Connacht. Never have I seen him score a try let alone bosh someone. Conway, Macken and O'Malley all look lightweight to me quite skillful players but I'd be worried if they don't bulk up.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Ward is just taking a stab in the dark. I can criticize his selection all I want but chances are a 30 man squad I'd select right now would be just as far off. I won't attempt to pick a 30 man squad but here are a bunch of likely candidates by position:

Full Back
Rob Kearney will still be around. Felix Jones could be an option if he ever stays fit. Jared Payne will be Ireland qualified and while I don't like the rule, he'll come into consideration if he plays well over the next few seasons. An outsider could be Peter Nelson who's a seriously gifted young Ulsterman.

Wing
Tommy Bowe, Keith Earls and Andrew Trimble will all still be around. Luke Fitzgerald will come back into contention. Craig Gilroy, Andrew Conway and Tiernan O'Halloran seem a good bet too.

Centre
There'll be a massive amount of change here. Fergus McFadden is the only centre who went to the World Cup who'll still be in contention. I like Darren Cave, Nevin Spence (if he rounds out his skill set), Luke Marshall, Brendan Macken and JJ Hanrahan.

Flyhalf
Johnny Sexton will probably go as will Ian Keatley. Paddy Jackson and Ian Madigan appear to be next in line but will probably miss out due to lack of versatility (if Marshall and Hanrahan can cover 10, they'll be the 3rd flyhalf).

Scrumhalf
Help. Murray and somebody else. Hopefully Luke McGrath comes good.

Prop
I'd be confident that Cian Healy, Paddy McAllister and Jamie Hagan will travel. Beyond that, we're hoping one of Stephen Archer, Declan Fitzpatrick or Stewart Maguire comes good. An outside bet could be Jack McGrath of Leinster who covers both sides of the scrum. Will Tadhg Furlong have a meteoric rise?

Hooker
Take your pick from Rory Best, Richardt Strauss, Mike Sherry, Sean Cronin, Damien Varley, Niall Annett................we're well set here.

Second Row
Donnacha Ryan is well placed. Devin Toner has been capped so stands a chance. Dan Tuohy is a good player. If Ryan Caldwell ever gets his ass in gear, he could be an option. Ian Nagle and Dave Foley in Munster are possibilities. Paul O'Connell may be wrapped in cotton wool in the hope that he can make it in four years time. This will be the weakest area of the Ireland team.

Backrow
Where to start? Stephen Ferris and Jamie Heaslip will be in their prime. Sean O'Brien should be even better. Peter O'Mahoney could well be captain. Rhys Ruddock, Dominic Ryan, Paddy Butler, a couple of awesome schools prospects. This will once again be an area of strength.

 

[coonor]

The second row is a worry especially since it has been such a solid area for Ireland over the decade with some really world class players in the team. Nagle has real talent and I'm a big fan hopefully he will bulk up. When in form Touhy could be a very useful weapon but he needs to be more consistent and improve his disciple. Toner is average but could be used to steady the lineout.

 

[munstermuffin]

Add in lads there probably a lad or 2 who are sitting exams this year that are unheard of and have a shot. Snoop on Madigan - If he continues to progress at current rate it'll be great news. And well for 1st time in a long time I see alot of Irish 10's that could step up.
But lads we always have a bolter or 2. Murray, Donnacha Ryan and McFadden this year so there will be a shock or 2 along the way.

 

[coonor]

Add in lads there probably a lad or 2 who are sitting exams this year that are unheard of and have a shot. Snoop on Madigan - If he continues to progress at current rate it'll be great news. And well for 1st time in a long time I see alot of Irish 10's that could step up.
But lads we always have a bolter or 2. Murray, Donnacha Ryan and McFadden this year so there will be a shock or 2 along the way.

I agree with you on the shock rapid potential step ups but I wouldn't consider Ryan as a "bolter". He fully deserved his place in the WC ahead of McLaughlin and has had a very good end to the season but he hasn't really set the world alight. He was already capped and around the Irish squad.

 

[Peat]

Add in lads there probably a lad or 2 who are sitting exams this year that are unheard of and have a shot. Snoop on Madigan - If he continues to progress at current rate it'll be great news. And well for 1st time in a long time I see alot of Irish 10's that could step up.
But lads we always have a bolter or 2. Murray, Donnacha Ryan and McFadden this year so there will be a shock or 2 along the way.

Likelihood is anyone who'll make the squad as a bolter has played U18s this year - they'll be 22 in 4 years time, which would have made them the joint youngest member of the Ireland squad this time round. Which means they're not unknown. People are already looking at Luke McGrath and predicting he'll be there. There's a few other lads who I think could well be there or there abouts - Dan Leavy looks a serious prospect, while Chris Farrell is a 6'4" centre with proper skills and gas (playing wing for Dungannon atm), if he fulfils his potential he will offer something no other Irish centre does. It's hard to know who will have potential, but I don't think there will be any names there in 2015 that people who read the under age team sheets won't have heard of.

Anyway, I'll just add Eoin Griffin of Connacht to snoopy's list of potential centres. And point out that older props than Mike Ross in four years time have made it to World Cups. Plus, Adam Macklin does actually appear to be able to scrummage after all. He also looks tidy in the loose. Its a little early, but the potential is there. Certainly more likely than Declan Fitzpatrick/Maguire... although having mentioned Connacht, Rodney Ah You could be poached, and is a beast. If he keeps improving...

Also, 4 years of, plenty of time for Jackson to edge ahead of Keatley and indeed Sexton. The ginger messiah will not be denied.

 

[mulldog]

Some good thoughts lads, i firmly believe ireland should try bowe or trimble in the centre! and perhaps look at the likes of ferris or mclaughlin in the second row! This will help plug a few gaps in the lack of depth in these positions at the minute and help pave the the way for some younger players getting game time. However I seriously doubt kidney will take risks like this. Our real problems as always lie in the lack of depth in the front row, it is absolulty vital that the provinces invest game time in some of the younger guys such as hagan, wilkinson, mcallister, sherry, archer................on an other note is sykes of leinster eligable for ireland in a few years? could be a useful asset!

 

[mulldog]

Likelihood is anyone who'll make the squad as a bolter has played U18s this year - they'll be 22 in 4 years time, which would have made them the joint youngest member of the Ireland squad this time round. Which means they're not unknown. People are already looking at Luke McGrath and predicting he'll be there. There's a few other lads who I think could well be there or there abouts - Dan Leavy looks a serious prospect, while Chris Farrell is a 6'4" centre with proper skills and gas (playing wing for Dungannon atm), if he fulfils his potential he will offer something no other Irish centre does. It's hard to know who will have potential, but I don't think there will be any names there in 2015 that people who read the under age team sheets won't have heard of.

Anyway, I'll just add Eoin Griffin of Connacht to snoopy's list of potential centres. And point out that older props than Mike Ross in four years time have made it to World Cups. Plus, Adam Macklin does actually appear to be able to scrummage after all. He also looks tidy in the loose. Its a little early, but the potential is there. Certainly more likely than Declan Fitzpatrick/Maguire... although having mentioned Connacht, Rodney Ah You could be poached, and is a beast. If he keeps improving...

Also, 4 years of, plenty of time for Jackson to edge ahead of Keatley and indeed Sexton. The ginger messiah will not be denied.

I have heard good things of Chris Farrell, he is exactly the type of player the modern game demands at the minute (a big tank of a centre who breaks the game line), too long we have lumbered along content with the likes of d'arcy and paddy wallace! It may seem a bit harsh and I don't doubt the effort and time a player such as d'arcy stature has given to his country and province's cause, but they just aren't good enough anymore!