Let The Schmidt Hit The Fan - Rd 10 (ULS)

Since the start of the season four bloggers, one representing each province, have taken turns selecting their ideal Irish matchday 23 for a test match to take place the following weekend (so current injury status must be taken into account).

Much like the careers of legends like Brian O’Driscoll, Leo Cullen & Johann Muller, all good things must come to an end and that sadly includes this feature!

Last but certainly not least offering her final opinion ahead of the Argentina tour, it’s Ulster blogger Laura Johnston.

Click this link for her previous selection and these for the latest from Connacht, Munster & Leinster.

I have been given the honour of bringing the ‘Let the Schmidt hit the fan’ series to a close. Since my last blog the greatest centre of all time has retired and Leinster won yet more silverware (please share it with us), and the squad has been announced for the tour to Argentina.

As Leinster played in the Rabo final last week and as some people have pointed out, the English players who played in the Aviva final are getting a week off . I thought I would give as many first team Leinster boys as possible a week off too. Sorry Leinster fans there won’t be too many boys in blue in my team.

I am also going to base my Ireland team on the squad that is currently on the plane to Argentina. A squad that has already lost Paddy Jackson, Robbie Henshaw, Keith Earls and Marty Moore to injury.

My Front Row consists of Jack McGrath, Rory Best and Mike Ross. I think this is the best front row Ireland has to offer on tour, with Cian Healy being given a rest and Marty Moore being injured, as I would have picked Marty over Mike ,if fit, to give Mike a rest.

1. Jack McGrath

2. Rory Best

3. Mike Ross

16. Damien Varley

17. David Kilcoyne

18. Rodney Ah You

My second row is made up of Paul O’Connell and Iain Henderson. Devin Toner is on the bench as I am giving him a rest, after last week’s final also think it will be good experience for Henderson, playing alongside O’Connell.

4. Iain Henderson

5. Paul O’Connell

19. Devin Toner

My back row is Rhys Ruddock, Chris Henry and Jamie Heaslip with Robbie Diack on the bench.

6. Rhys Ruddock

7. Chris Henry

8. Jamie Heaslip

20. Robbie Diack

My half back partnership is again unchanged and my replacements are Kieran Marmion and Ian Madigan.

9. Conor Murray

10. Jonny Sexton

21, Kieran Marmion

22.Ian Madigan.

I am sticking with Ireland and Ulster player of the year Andrew Trimble on one wing and Simon Zebo is on the other. Unfortunately Dave Kearney picked up a nasty injury against Ulster and is unable to travel. Speedy recovery Dave 

My centre partnership is Ulster Centres Luke Marshall and Darren Cave. Cave has continued to impress with Ulster and in my option deserves his chance in the Ireland no 13 shirt. Rob Kearney is still my first choice Ireland full-back but as he played in the Rabo final last week, I am going to start with Felix Jones and give Rob a rest on the bench.

11. Simon Zebo

12. Luke Marshall

13. Darren Cave

14. Andrew Trimble

15. Felix Jones

23. Rob Kearney

Ireland team for 1^st Pumas Test

1. Jack McGrath

2. Rory Best

3. Mike Ross

4. Iain Henderson

5. Paul O’Connell

6. Rhys Ruddock

7. Chris Henry

8. Jamie Heaslip

9. Conor Murray

10. Jonny Sexton

11. Simon Zebo

12. Luke Marshall

13. Darren Cave

14. Andrew Trimble

15. Felix Jones

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16. Damien Varley

17. Dave Kilcoyne

18. Rodney Ah You

19. Devin Toner

20. Robbie Diack

21. Kieran Marmion

22. Ian Madigan

23. Rob Kearney

@LauraJ2803 is a Ulster rugby season ticket holder and has been for the past 7 years, she has been there through the highs and the lows and is hoping there are plenty more highs to come

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Many thanks to Laura and also Connachtman, Iain and Kate for all their excellent contributions to this project throughout the season.

The makeup of any team will always be the subject of debate among fans but to actually put your name to your opinions and have them published throughout the season takes a great deal of courage so bravo to all four of them.

Sadly this is not the only HarpinOnRugby feature to come to a close, more on that tomorrow…

Let The Schmidt Hit The Fan - Rd 10 (MUN)

Since the start of the season four bloggers, one representing each province, have taken turns selecting their ideal Irish matchday 23 for a test match to take place the following weekend (so current injury status must be taken into account).

This week it is the turn of Munster blogger Kate McEvoy to give her final selection.

Click this link for her last selection and these for the latest from Connacht, Ulster & Leinster.

This is my last hurrah as supreme overlord of the Irish rugby team, or at least a hastily appointed substitute for whoever dropped out in the first place. So we'll look forward to the first test in the rather splendidly-named Resistancia on June 7th. This is actually one of the easier squads to pull together as I have a definite pool to draw from from. Bar the intense emotion of it all of course.

1. Jack McGrath

2. Rory Best

3. Marty Moore

I'm a bit baffled as to why Mike Ross is on the road again but I suppose he's like my friend's retro car, you have to turn the engine over on a regular basis or it won't start. He's probably bigger than Peanut but they're both distinctly limited on the speed front. I'm starting Rory Best as one would imagine he'll be fresher having recently returned from injury and alas, not to be taking to the field this weekend. Plus his leadership and level head will be important in between the young front row in the Estadio Centenario. Of course, this all depends on who comes through this weekend's clash with Glasgow unscathed.

4. Iain Henderson

5. Paul O'Connell

We're quite thin at lock, but one would imagine that's to fit in as many contenders for our competitive back row as possible. On the bench, my player of the season, Devin Toner, not a phrase I thought I'd use, despite not being quite as tough on him in the past as various denizens of the North Stand (you know who you are). I felt Henderson didn't kick on as much as I would like during the 6 Nations but was seldom less than competent and apparently put in a big shift in Ulster's semi final loss to Leinster. I say apparently not because I doubt the veracity of this, but because I was ploughing through prosecco at my school reunion at the time. He's paired with Paulie, who is no doubt looking forward to hunting some Pumas to take the frustration of two semi final losses out on.

6. Robbie Diack

7. Chris Henry

8. Jamie Heaslip

There will be ballads written about the durability of Jamie Heaslip – my love is as deep as the ocean, as strong as the foundations of the earth and as consistent as Jetboot's fitness levels. I've probably doomed him now to come a cropper in short order but it has to be said that it really is extraordinary. After an impressive 6 Nations campaign Henry's back in harness alongside Ulster compatriot Robbie Diack. Even with some high profile absences, O'Mahony, O'Brien and wee Stephen Ferris, it's still a mighty scrap in Ireland's backrow with Munster pair O'Donnell and Dougall unlucky to miss out, on past glories and recent form respectively.

9. Conor Murray

10. Jonny Sexton

Despite a long and punishing season Jonny Sexton boards the plane to Argentina. After dragging Racing into the semi finals of the Top 14 only to be bested by Toulon, he should fit right in with the majority of the squad who have come up against a similar road block this season. He and Conor Murray form their established axis and what is currently our starting World Cup pairing. Expect Sexton to boss it even more than usual in BOD's absence and put any young pretenders through their paces.

11. Simon Zebo

12. Luke Marshall

13. Darren Cave

14. Andrew Trimble

15. Robbie Henshaw

There will be tears of joy in the streets of Cork as Zebo dons the green once more. However all gazes will be centrewards as the auditions for a new centre pairing rapidly move towards opening night, with one of the more obvious choices first up. Payne has failed to convince at 13 and despite Cave's feeling his face doesn't fit in the Irish set up, a good tour could influence his subsequent season at Ulster as well as his national prospects. Henshaw and Trimble fill the remaining berths, bringing a plethora of seasonal decorations with them. Still would have gone for Jack McGrath for young player of the year but I can't be supreme overlord of everything.

16. Damien Varley

17. Dave Kilcoyne

18. Mike Ross

19. Devin Toner

20. Jordi Murphy

21. Kieran Marmion

22. Ian Madigan

23. Keith Earls

The bench consists of big boys in the forwards and hopefully a spark of magic in the backs. After a season of bad luck, some of his own making, Madigan shone in the last chance saloon and has been given another chance to show what he can do at test level. Much like Madigan, Resistancia is perched on the edge of the wilderness so hopefully it'll inspire something in him. Then onto the Argentinian rugby hotspot of Tucumán and hopefully further glory for all concerned.

Finally just a quick note to say thanks to Jeff for as ever being a gracious host and to everyone who read and commented on my flights of fancy across various portals, particularly to all my family members who stumbled across this by accident. Yes, this is what I do with my spare time. I doubt many of you were particularly surprised. It's been a pretty special season with this national side and it's been great to be a tiny part of all the chatter. Until next time, gracias pour todos. ¡Viva Resistancia!

Kate McEvoy : Munster fan in a sea of Leinster blue. Raised on a strict diet of Bective Rangers. Earliest childhood memory is stud marks in the muck. Former hooker for a father & a mother with an eye for a forward pass bordering on freakish . Best rugby memory, Toulouse main square, May 24, 2008. Epitaph will read “Knew a lot about rugby for a girl.” Can be found tweeting optimistically at @ImKateMc

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MANY THANKS KATE!  NEXT WEEK ON LET THE SCHMIDT HIT THE FAN…

THE SERIES COMES TO A CONCLUSION AS OUR ULSTER BLOGGER LAURA JOHNSTON GIVES HER OWN FINAL SELECTION

Let The Schmidt Hit The Fan - Rd 10 (LEIN)

Since the start of the season four bloggers, one representing each province, have taken turns selecting their ideal Irish matchday 23 for a test match to take place the following weekend (so current injury status must be taken into account).

This week it’s the turn of our Leinster representative Iain O'Connor to offer his matchday 23. 

Click this link for his last selection and these for the latest from Connacht, Ulster & Munster.

So what kind of year has it been? 6 Nations Champs. Leinster can salvage what is a disappointing season in the Rabo final, Munster had a few good results but on the whole disappointed, Ulster will probably feel they were cheated in the H Cup and underperformed slightly on where they should be and Connaught showed some spark but didn’t do much. Oh and we almost beat the All Blacks and some centre retired.

So basically a bloody good year for the green. A lot of bloody good youngsters stood up, Henry and Toner to name just 2, and some of the old heads showed why they shouldn’t be written out just yet, Best and Darcy spring to mind making selections for this bloody near impossible most months. I have decided to make it slightly easier this time; Joe has picked his squad for Argentina and I am picking the team. I disagree with a lot of his squad, one centre/wing/tragedy in particular, but I will pick within it for this.

I have gone with a mix of experience and youth in the starting team and on the bench. I am not guaranteeing a win against the Pumas, those are hard to come by lately, but I would say the W doesn’t matter. This comes down to performance at the expense of results.

1. J McGrath – Has had a good season. Needs game time on the big stage and this is his chance. Healy gets a well earned rest

2. R Best – Some experience wedged in the middle of a young front 3.

3. M Moore – Along the same lines as McGrath. Very few will argue with his inclusion and will go well for the experience.

4. D Toner – Seems like he has been around for a while but could do with bulking up his cap count. Last years tour was about him standing up and being noticed. This year it is all about others following his example.

5. P O’Connell – Personally would have left him at home. He will pass on some bits to the younger lads but I think he could better do with a rest. Still if he is there you gotta play him.

6. R Ruddock – Next seasons Chris Henry. Given the chance he will do serious things.

7. C Henry – This seasons Chris Henry. As with Dev T needs to up his cap count. Diack to feature heavily too.

8. J Heaslip – Again I would have left him at home as I think Murphy could do with the game time. He is going so I would play him half and half with Jordi.

9. K Marmion – Is he the next big thing? Maybe, maybe not. Give him a few games and see what happens. He can’t be worse than whats there at the moment

10. J Sexton - Leads a very young back line for me. Solid head to guide the others through. With Jacksons back issue Madigan plays understudy and I expect him to feature a lot. Expect lots of “Sexton Wrecked by being in France and having to deal with currency exchange” headlines if it doesn’t go our way.

11. A Trimble – Would have left him at home as he had a big season. Zebo will be given a chance to get over hyped and do comparatively very little by Joe but I don’t think he is good enough. If anybody mentions “x factor” or “spark” here I swear I will shove a flaming Simon Cowell up their nose.

12. L Marshall – Could do with uninterrupted game time. Needs to stay fit and concussion free for both tests.

13. R Henshaw – And first to try and fill his shoes is…. Looking forward to seeing what he can do. Has decided to stay put in Conn for a while longer and hopefully it is the right decision for Ireland and himself.

14. F Mc Fadden – Can move into centre if the inevitable happens to Marshall. Very worthy of a spot. Often overlooked.

15. R Kearney – Last bit of experience in the team. Would be nice to see him take a role as a leader more often.

16. D Varley

17. M Ross

18. D Kilcoyne

19. R Diack

20. D CAve

21. C Murray

22. P Jackson

With this being my last one of these I would like to say thanks to Harpin for giving me the space and you people for reading. I will also point out that during this I have been called Pro Leinster, Anti Leinster, Anti Ulster, Pro Ulster, Anti Munster and Pro Connaught. That doesn’t really sum it up. I am just Pro Ireland. I am not really anti anybody to be honest. Well… other than Keith Earls.

Iain O’Connor (@iain_not_ian) is a Leinster fan who should have retired from playing bad standard rugby years ago. Part time stand up comedian and full time radio person he is the presenter and creator of Heave, a schools rugby show on Dublin South FM. He also likes rugby league and names Alisona Taumalolo as his hero.

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Many thanks again to Iain for all the selections throughout the season! 

Next week it’s the turn of Munster fan Kate McEvoy…