Backseat Drivers: Picking the Irish Rugby World Cup Squad

Posted on Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 05:10 AM

Larger Text

E-mail

3 Comments

RSS

Archives

+ 2013 archives
+ 2012 archives
+ 2011 archives
+ 2010 archives
- December 2010 (14 entries)

The Irish rugby squad is all set to be announced tomorrow and there are sure to be some surprises in Declan Kidney's selection for his final 30 man squad.

While I'm not going to try to predict what Kidney will do, I will pick a squad based on my own observations and evaluations.

Here is my Irish squad for the Rugby World Cup of 2011.

Forwards:
Cian Healy—Healy is one of the better starters in an area of weakness for the team.
Jerry Flannery—May not be 100% healthy but he is still the most talented hooker on the team.
Tom Court—Court will likely take the other starting place across from Healy.
Rory Best—Best should be the starter depending on Flannery's fitness.
Tony Buckley—Would be useful off the bench in an impact role.
Paul O'Connell—Will be looked to as pack leader in New Zealand.
Donnacha O'Callaghan—His partnership with O'Connell will be as crucial as always for possession.
Leo Cullen—Cullen brings a wealth of experience as well as being quality depth.
Sean O'Brien—O'Brien's barreling running will see him be a crucial member of this team.
David Wallace—He may be an old head at this stage but Wallace hasn't looked like slowing down.
Jamie Heaslip—One of the most dynamic forwards in the world, Ireland's backrow should be stellar.
Stephen Ferris—An injury risk yes, but a fully healthy Ferris is a difference maker.
Sean Cronin—Cronin is a talent but will only feature with injuries.
Shane Jennings—Health is a concern but Jennings offers a true openside backup.
Mike Ross—You have to bring at least seven front row forwards, Ross is the seventh.
Donnacha Ryan—Ryan's ability to play in the back or second row wins him this spot.

Backs:
Tomas O'Leary—O'Leary's experience could see him win the starting job.
Eoin Reddan—Reddan is reliable but lacks the explosion of O'Leary.
Ronan O'Gara—O'Gara may have lost his starting place but he's still a vital member of the squad.
Johnathan Sexton—It's time for Sexton to announce himself to the southern hemisphere.
Brian O'Driscoll—It's his last world cup, how motivated do you think number 13 is?
Keith Earls—In this squad, Earls would be a center and be much better for it.
Andrew Trimble—Trimble has been impressive for Ulster and with Ireland recently.
Rob Kearney—Kearney is a key player who brings great stability to the full back position.
Tommy Bowe—Ireland will look to Bowe to wrap up the top try scorer award.
Geordan Murphy—He may have missed the six nations through injury but that heightened his value.
Fergus McFadden—McFadden beats out Gordon D'Arcy who hasn't impressed in a long time.
Luke Fitzgerald—Should be the starting winger across from Bowe.
Connor Murray—A third scrum half may not be crucial but Murray is big enough and talented enough.
Felix Jones—Providing he's not out through injury, Jones will be in my squad for his dynamism.

www.twitter.com/Cianaf

E-mail

3 Comments

See all comments

davidm05 | Aug 22, 2011, 06:07 PM EDT

themurphia, grow up, bringing politics into anything to do with the team why should anyone have to sing anything to please the likes of you? they are all playing for Ireland not the republic and not the north. Im not decided on the O' Gara/Sexton thing, we're lucky to have two excellent fly halves, but O'G is not the complete player you make out, his tackling is average at best, and him playing puts pressure on the back row to cover, which fortunately they are good enough to do so. Earls was completely at fault for that ball, the player coming onto it that calls should take it, he didn't need to jump the french weren't there, they don't just jump because you think its cool, you really haven't a clue, Earls had a shocking game, O'leary obviously was poor and in a world cup year has paid the ultimate price. Im betting your a munster man.

Report abuse

Jamcelt | Aug 21, 2011, 01:31 PM EDT

Mike Ross has been the saviour of the front row this year. He is the starting tight head. O'Leary was atrocious, and has almost certainly played himself out of contention, as has Fitzgerald. Tony Buckley always amazes me in that such a gargantuan man can scrum like a little girl. We may actually do worse than last time.

Report abuse

themurphia | Aug 21, 2011, 07:38 AM EDT

O'Leary was rubbish and threw a pass that cost a try...Sexton wasn't much better and tried to blame Earls for missing the ball he didn't jump for..costing another score...O'Gara when he was eventually called on too late reduced the deficit already from double scores...Wha does he have to do to be picked...sing the poxy excuse for an anthem...?If the NIrish players want to play for Ireland..then sing the NATIONAL anthem otherwise form a rubbish rugby team to match your useless football team or get selected for I-N-G-E-R-L-A-N-D...you whingeing load of bloody crybabies...Ireland...SORT IT OUT...!

Report abuse