We believe every Ireland rugby fan deserves a chance to step into Joe Schmidt’s shoes and pick the team. Or to put it another way…
There’s an unwritten rule online about team sports…for every “perfect team” a fan can list on the internet, there will always be someone who will come back with something like “I can’t believe you have X there instead of Y!”.
But once there’s an element of respect about it, we here at HoR believe that’s a good thing. And last season we ran a feature known as the “Lions Selector Panel” whereby one fan from each of the four Lions nations picked their ideal starting test XV every four weeks.
It went down so well that we have decided to re-invent it for the Irish team over the forthcoming season. We have four bloggers lined up, one from each province, all of them new to HoR. Starting next week they will take turns naming their Ireland lineup every Tuesday, and we get to see how their opinions change throughout the season.
The rules are simple…the blogger must select a matchday 23 based on available players (available in terms of fitness, not player protection of course!) for a competitive test match to be played the following weekend, whether there is one or not.
And of course we won’t let them away with simply naming their team either, they must give us a justification or two. Or indeed, twenty-three.
Then it’s over to you…is it a good team? A crazy team? Have they let their provincial loyalties rule their selection or are they going too far to hide them? The project won’t work without your two cents.
Over the next four weeks, we will introduce the four bloggers in question who will make their opening selections. Then the season will be in full swing and they will continue the rotation until the end of May.
We hope you’ll join us in letting the Schmidt hit the fan! JLP
15. Rob Kearney - Best 15 Ireland have.
ReplyDelete14. Tommy Bowe - No competition. One of the best finishers in the Northern Hemisphere.
13. BOD - No comment necessary
12. Luke Marshall - Showed serious potential last season, has to start under Schmidt.
11. Simon Zebo - Trimble and Gilroy push close for wing spots, but because of his silky skills, Zebo edges it for me.
10. Jonny Sexton - Best 10 in European rugby.
9. Conor Murray - I thought Murray developed a huge amount on the Lions tour.
8. Jamie Heaslip - Back to his best at the end of the season. Also my choice for captain. Kidney picked him, and I think under Schmidt, Heaslip plays like a leader. Could have a better impact on team this season.
7. Sean O'Brien - No words necessary. Chris Henry is unlucky.
6. Peter O'Mahoney - Pure agression, and commitment. Those qualities are needed in an Irish pack, that has moved to running the ball more in recent years.
5. Paul O'Connell/Mike McCarthy - POC if fit. POC, Heaslip, Sexton and BOD are the axis of the team for me for the season.
4. Donnacha Ryan - Like O'Mahoney, his commitment is excellent. Great in the lineout too. Has succeeded in replacing O'Callaghan for both Ireland and Munster
3. Mike Ross - Worrying times in the position I feel. Ross coming to the end of his career, and not much happening in terms of mid-20 year olds coming through the system. Great prospects at under-age level though. Need Ross fit for the big 3 games in Six Nations. Corbs and Adam Jones would wet their lips at seeing AN OTHER at tight-head for Ireland in the Spring.
2. Richardt Strauss - Best's form in Lions has moved him to the bench IMO. Big, big fan of Best but until he reproduces the form he's capable of, Strauss nudges it for me.
1. Cian Healy - Better than Kilcoyne, simple as.
Subs:
16. Dave Kilcoyne - Next best after Church
17. Rory Best - Returns to form, goes back to starting 2 for me.
18. Jamie Hagan - Best of a bad bunch
19. Iain Henderson - Offers back row protection too. Devin Toner doesn't cut it for me at international level. Touhy would be next in-line.
20. Chris Henry - Such a good player, just unlucky it's SOB competing for the same position
21. Isaac Boss - Different player to Murray, better than Marshall for me.
22. Ian Madigan - Older and a bit more experience than Paddy Jackson. Think my Leinster colours shone through on this one.
23. Craig Gilroy - Can be a toss up between Gilroy, Trimble, McFadden and Earls for this one. Earls would be my least favourite. Henshaw could well be in and around the 23 come November though.
Great idea Jeff really enjoyed the Lions selector feature from last season let the discussion begin
ReplyDeleteCan disagree too much with that selection other than having Reddan for Boss and finding a place for Darren Cave (see him as the long term successor for BOD as he is our next most natural outside centre)
ReplyDeleteOhhh, this will be interesting.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't disagree with much there. Earls is a good winger with a great strike rate but has suffered for his ability to play in a few spots (Like Luke Fitzgerald). I'd have him on the bench for Gilroy though. Two 2009 Lions who haven't kicked on. Boss is great but will he make it to 2015? At the risk of incurring some wrath, should BOD call it a day and move Tommie into the 13 slot....RWC is coming quick and we need a 13 in place.
ReplyDeleteJared Payne will be 13 by the time 2015 rolls around....
ReplyDelete