Heaslip will only be 31 in 2015 - he’ll be involved barring some complete disaster. Dominik Ryan looks every bit as good a prospect as Sean O’Brien did but seems quite injury prone.
You have it nearly all covered chewey. I’ll come back with a team later. Its very hard to pick really.
Hagan is the only option at the moment. Archer is coming along nicely. Tadgh Furlong will be a man for the future as well.
Up to 12 months ago I would have had him as BOD’s replacement as captain when he calls it a day. His form has tailed off a bit alright. Like I said he will be hard to get out of the side and a class act when on form, but O’Brien is developing into an animal of a backrow player and I have the feeling he may well end up at 8 in the medium term, but again I suppose it will depend on the development of the likes of Ryan and Ruddock and the form of the likes of Heaslip and McLaughlin at Leinster as to where he is utilised
Not sure if I posted this already on here but Heaslip seems to thrive when he’s the “go to” man or the main ball carrier. Since O’Brien has arrived properly on the scene Heaslip has regressed slightly. In fairness to him he was playing at such a high level for a few years that his form was going to dip at some point. Not sure if the red card down under last summer has impacted him in some way. Either way, I don’t doubt that he’ll return to his previous levels of performance in the near future at some point.
O’Brien is just a beast. However, similar to what happened to your mate Keith Wood, I’d be worried about how much punishment his body can take. If he keeps going as he is he’ll do well to be able to play past 30. He could do with a being a bit cuter and protecting himself a bit better - something O’Driscoll developed in the last 5 odd years.
Ruddock looks to have plenty of talent and is being given plenty of opportunity so hopefully he can take it a fulfill his potential.
For what it’s worth, this is the U20 team that played in the final match of the Grand Slam win in 2007
Felix Jones (Seapoint/Leinster); Shane Monahan (Dublin University/Leinster), Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Aidan Wynne (Buccaneers/Connacht), Keith Earls (Thomond/Munster); Ian Keatley (UCD/Leinster), Paul O’Donohoe (UCD/Leinster); Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Richard Sweeney (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Jamie Hagan (Greystones/Leinster), Conor McInerney (UCD/Leinster), Andrew Browne (Galwegians/Connacht), Thomas Anderson (Dungannon/Ulster), Kevin Sheahan (UCD/Leinster), David Pollock (QUB/Ulster) (capt).
Replacements: Ger Slattery (Young Munster/Munster), Ruaidhri Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Neilus Keogh (UCC/Munster), Eoghan Grace (Shannon/Munster), David Drake (Ballymena/Ulster), Niall O’Connor (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Kyle Tonetti (Blackrock College/Leinster).
My back row would be 6 Ferris 7 Ryan 8 SOB. Heaslip is not untouchable and could lose his place for Leinster never mind Ireland SOB is going to be a better number 8 than 6 in the future. Peter O’Mahony with Munster will be thereabouts as well. He is turning into an outstanding prospect. Willie Faloon is the only other, who I think will challenge for a place.
Rumoured team for Russia, nearly the team I was expecting. Kearney on the wing is interesting. I taught he might have went with Murray, O’Gara combo, but it would have been harsh on Boss and Wallace. Every player getting a start, which is nice to see. Good for morale.
TEAM v Russia
15: Murphy
14: Trimble
13: Earls
12: Mc Fadden
11: Kearney
10: Wallace
9: Boss
1: Court
2: Cronin
3: Buckley
4: Cullen ©
5: Ryan
6: Ferris
7: Jennings
8: Leamy
16: Varley
17: Ross
18: O’Callaghan
19: Heaslip/O’Brien
20: Murray
21: O’Gara
22: Bowe
Would they not rest Ferris?
I was thinking the same, I suppose SOB and Heaslip must be in worse shape. I taught this would be the ideal game for Heaslip to get his confidence back, no Ferris or SOB to upstage him.
Probably assuming too many injuries/retirements from current squad but anyways.
Conway
Gilroy
O’Malley
Spence
Earls
Sexton
Marshall
Heaslip
Faloon
O’Brien
Tuohy
Nagle
Healy
Strauss
McAllister
According to ferris, he reckons he’s at 90%, and could do with the game. It’s still only 1 game a week for us, unlike the poor Russians who have to turn it around in 5 days. Personally I’d wrap him in cotton wool, but if he can stay injury free the game will stand to him. Probably only get 50 mins anyway.
Surprised to see Wallace at 10, dancarter I believe tipped it up after the Oz game, Thought he would put him in the centre with McFadden but I suppose he wants to give McFadden time at 12 as opposed to 13
What do people make of Tonga -5 V Japan tomorrow?
From that 20s team, cave, jones and o’donohue are the ones I’d love to see get an extended run of games in the magners.
O’donohue looks like he could be better than any scrumhalf at Leinster, and is already better than the new guys they’ve tried out this season.
Cave seems to be in spence’s shadow at the moment, will hopefully come good yet, we could do with a 13 and he seems the most natural replacement.
Jones could be a Lion yet if he loses the injuries. I really hope it’s dougie howlett that’s coaching him, but have a feeling he’s relying on whatever talent he brought with him from Leinster.
Saw O’Donoghue play a couple of times in the AIL for Clontarf and he has looked a class above. Didn’t he join Connaught or did it fall through?
The Minnows have really struggled after a bright start in all the opening games, I’d fear for the “brave blossoms” * in this one, despite tonga’s limited gameplan.
- I’m guessing this one loses something in translation.
Think you’re right, probably a good move for him, could easily skip ahead of Murphy there. Boss and reddan were always going to split the big games between them as long as they’re in the Ireland squad.
I really think it would be pretty foolhardy to start Ferris. He can only play one way so chances of him picking up an injury are relatively high. If Wallace is starting at 10 he can probably kiss his chances of playing again in the World Cup goodbye as 12 is where we are more lacking. ROG could probably do with at least 30 minutes off bench in this as he is quite short on game time. What are chances of D’arcy being fit for Italy? A 10, 12 of ROG and Sexton from the off would be interesting.
If that’s the team that’s picked I’d be delighted win it. Gives mcFadden a chance at 12.
[quote=“chewy louie, post: 589482”]
Saw O’Donoghue play a couple of times in the AIL for Clontarf and he has looked a class above. Didn’t he join Connaught or did it fall through?[/quote]
IMO he is lacking the one vital ingredient that can’t be coached , pace. Seen him in action a fair bit and in the flesh he looks to be dog slow. Has all the other tools alright
Artemyev the Russian winger went to school in Blackrock and represented Ireland Under 19. He was a sensation in the Leinster Senior Cup.