(Skip to 3.10 to watch McGeady’s goal)
AIDEN MCGEADY CONTINUED his fine run of form in the Championship today, as he rescued a point for Preston against Blackburn.
The Ireland international’s composed finish deep into stoppage time earned a 2-2 draw for his side at Ewood Park.
McGeady has been a revelation since going on loan to Simon Grayson’s side. The player’s excellent performances were recognised recently, as he was named Championship player of the month recently.
The 30-year-old’s progress is good news for Martin O’Neill and Ireland, ahead of Friday’s vital World Cup qualifier against Wales.
There were plenty of other Irish players in action. Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams completed 90 minutes for the hosts, while Andy Boyle, Daryl Horgan and Greg Cunningham featured for Preston, and Alan Browne was an unused sub.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Healy, McGrath, Kilcoyne. Ross, Moore, White. Best, Cronin, Strauss. POC, Toner, Ryan. SOB, POM, Murphy, Henry, Henderson. Heaslip. Sefton, Madigan, Jackson. Murray, Reddan, Marmion. Zebo, Bowe, Trimble, Earls. Henshaw, Payne. Kearney.
That’s the squad right here
Paul, you have a 18/13 split in your squad. Not gonna happen.
Drop a forward and pick a back. Pretty much destabilizes your squad..
I didn’t see where Joe clarified that it’s a 17/14 split. I’ll have to rethink it again.
Bent in for Kilcoyne and White.
And pick a back from Fitzy, D. Kearney and Cave.
Drop Jordi Murphy and bring in Fitzgerald
This is where the problem lies because we are traveling with Healy and Moore but are unsure if their fitness, that’s why I picked 6 props. Bent is our utility prop, at loosehead he’s fine but tighthead is the problem, especially if Moore is deemed not fit enough and Bent is on the bench, Ross will struggle to do 80 minutes. Cave had been solid and no harm having another recognized centre. Fitzgerald is playing his way out of the squad, 2011 all over again, but his versatility is a bonus. Dave Kearney is looking sharp, need to see more of him. I’m still stuck on this 17/14 split.
@Paul Kennedy:
the props question is a huge one, and the lack of fitness/match fitness for Healy and Moore is a worry. I agree that Bent has really struggled in the past as a tighthead, but he did look solid against Shit Wales.
Ross will, as you say, struggle to do 80 – but not international prop really does any more. I’d worry about Bent at tighhead against France, NZ, etc but think he’d be fine against Romania and Canada.
Cave looked good against Shit Wales, but who didn’t? I’d rather have Madigan to cover 12 and Fitzgerald (Earls in a squeeze) to cover 13.
DK did look sharp, and has apparently been awesome in training. He’s head to head with Zebo and Jones, you would think: for both, their secondary position is 15. I think Zeebs might have clinched that one on Saturday.
Totally agree re 17/14: Joe has said as much.
I think if there’s a real question about Healy and moore’s fitness come the 31st then they won’t be travelling. Kilcoyne and White will take their place.
That’s my point, Ross won’t do 80 so Bent would get game time. That would make me worry against France and Argentina, if we meet them, not so much New Zealand though, I think we’d get parity at scrum, even with Bent.
Joe said 17/14
DK really came out of the blocks against Scotland and looks like he has beefed up as well. Must have bee hitting the gym like a boss!
Earls? Are you having a laugh
Take Healy leave bent heart says take Fitz bud head says leave him
Spot on.
He wasn’t cheating. Ross was locking the scrum expertly on the tight head side and Kilcoyne was beating his man on his side. The meant the Irish scrum was wheeling to the right when the pressure was coming on, which is what you would expect. The ref’s interpretation was incorrect in my view and Kilcoyne should not have been penalised.
Lonestar, I agree. Kilcoyne is well behind Healy and McGrath and I’d have Bent, because of his ability to cover both sides, ahead of him also.
Fitz is too good not to make the plane. People are judging Fitz on the Scotland game, his first game since April!! Schmidt is a big fan of Fitz, knows what he is capable of and I think he will travel.
Fitz is very over rated and too much of a liability both in terms of injury threat and the threat that he might do some thing really stupid on the pitch. Also his try scoring record for Ireland is horrendous.
The try on Saturday was only his third for Ireland. For as many caps as he has, for a winger, that’s awful!
He’s shite
One of the few indications that Joe has given is that it will be a 17/14 split. That means 5 props, with one of them being an ambi-prop, and an extra space in the outside backs. This makes sense to me: at the last two RWCs our secondary props hardly played in key games (Buckley only played in the “easy” matches last time, same with Bryan Young in RWC ’07) – although this is the first RWC with 8-man benches.
Assuming everyone being fit:
LH: Healy, McGrath
TH: Ross, Moore,
Ambi-prop: Bent (Kilcoyne, Furlong and White are probably all better props, but he is the best cover for the both sides)
Hooker: Best, Cronin, Strauss
Lock: POC, Toner, Ryan, Henderson
Back row: POM, SOB, Heaslip, Murphy, Henry
SH: Murray, Reddan, Marmion
OH: Sexton, Jackson
Centres: Henshaw, Payne, Madigan (covers 10, and 15 in an emergency)
Outside Backs: Bowe, Trimble, Rob Kearney, Earls, Zebo, Fitzgerald
I think that is all pretty uncontroversial until we get to the outside backs. Bowe, Trimble & RK are fairly safe, I’d think. Earls is such a good finisher and has a spark. Zebo edges Felix Jones for me: I like Felix, feel that he is underrated, but Zebo had his famous x-factor on show this weekend. Fitzgerald is one that many will disagree on, and I admit that I’m giving him a major benefit of the doubt here. The talent is there – the gamble is on whether he can bring it out consistently.
Unlucky to miss out in this hypothetical squad: McFadden, Dave K, Gilroy. The later is an example of Joe wanting the best guy for the system, rather than necessarily the most talented individual. Again, I think this is where he likes Luke. Zebo has had to earn that trust around fitting the system, but seems to have nailed it.
i’d bring Darcy before Fitz or whoever is the last bback 3 option.
I’d have to disagree with Fitzgerald, he just isn’t there. Whether or not he’ll get to that point, I don’t know.
I think bringing him instead of Jones based on the past two weeks is an unnecessary risk. Jones is an out and out fullback, who can play the wings. Fitzgerald is a winger, who didn’t play particularly well on the wing. Given that didn’t find touch with his only clearance kick of the game, he doesn’t look like he’d cover 15 well.
I would have said before Saturday that Dave Kearney wasn’t going to make the 31 either, but he really impressed me.
Chris Henry didn’t look as sharp as he has been either. I think its much tighter between himself and Conan than people would have assumed before the weekend. Jordi has to go, his versatlility is key
the 6th back 3 player s not likely to get game time. Most of the options, (Bowe, Zebo, kearney, Earls, Jones, Fitz) have played both wing and full back at international level. The only 12′s are Henshaw and Madigan, unless there is someone I am missing?
@John Kidney
Fitzgerald missed touch was a very bad mistake – one of the worst of the game – and led (after some more missed tackles) to a Scottish try. I see him as a winger who can cover centre well, but don’t know how much I’d trust him at FB.
Zebo was good at FB – bar one bad missed tackle that led to a try – and is clearly an excellent wing. Earls is a brilliant wing, a decent full back and a reasonable backup centre option.
I agree that DK looked excellent, and he can do a job at FB as well.
I like Felix Jones, and would be confident that he would do well if picked (at FB or wing).
Don’t think that Henry is up against Conan: Henry is a 7, Conan is an 8 who covers 6 – that role is covered. Conan did well, but I’d say the back row is picked: Heaslip, POM, SOB, Murphy, Henry
@Ciaran – I think Henshaw and Madigan is enough quality at 12. I disagree about game time: some won’t play in the big games, for sure, but the “second” team will get a run out in the first two games.
I think people are overlooking one vital element here. The tournament is as good as a home tournament. In the case of an injury a replacement can be had within a day. There’s a 5 day lag between calling a player up and when he can start. I reckon there will be a few players left behind who will be told to keep their bags packed.
Cian that logic suggests bent would go as for training purpose during the WC he can cover either side if someone is carrying a knock. If Ross or Healy were ruled out bam call in white or kilcoyne/McGrath
He’d be there to cover rather than play while the props left behind get game time for their clubs and should join match fit.
Does this make sense?
It does but it doesn’t.
One argument would say why have a guy in the squad as cover for loose and tight head if you are not confident to play him in a big match in either position.
The other argument is to bring Bent and play him at both prop positions against Canada and Romania thereby reducing the work load for the front liners of Healy and Ross.
Then if injury struck either of the starters before the Italian or France game Mc Grath could deputise for Healy and as you said White could be flown in to potentially start at tight head.
It wouldn’t be very fair on Bent if this happened. And does make a bit of a mockery of the initial 31 man squad.
Personally I would like potential starters to be with the squad from the beginning to build up the rapport within the team.
Some tough decisions to be made!
Oran it’s a numbers game. If just say Healy and McGrath go as loose and Ross and Moore go as tight head ideally you’d have kilcoyne and White aswell but if you can only bring one who is it. Equally considering that Moore and Healy are both not yet fit if expect training would be limited.
As for been fair on bent, he’s third choice prop both sides for his club so to be apart of a World Cup squad should be enough. How many players went to the past two world cups and never got game time.
Yeah you are probably right Chris.
It’s a pity that we are not playing England next.
If Bent started at tight head in a warm up match against England and put in a solid shift then that would answer the question.
We could play him at tight head against Wales but I’m not sure that the Welsh scrum is up to much.
I think we need to see more of Bent at tight head in the warm ups.
Has White ever played at loose head?
We’re VERY light at 12 if something happened to Henshaw, which is why I think Cave & D’Arcy might be closer than people think
I would rather cave than darcy or even madigan darcy has been a great player for Ireland but there are better options
I think we saw Gordon D’Arcy’s final Ireland appearance last weekend. What a wonderful career he has had!
Forwards – Healy, McGrath, Best, Cronin, Strauss, Ross, Moore, Kilcoyne, Toner, Ryan, O’Connell, Henderson, O’Brien, O’Mahony, Murphy, Henry, Heaslip
Backs – Murray, Reddan, Sexton, Jackson, Bowe, Zebo, Madigan, Henshaw, Payne, Earls, Trimble, Fitzgerald, R Kearney, Jones
17-14 split. Couple of people I’d love to have in there, but that’s the numbers we’re limited to. Couple of names I’d be really delighted to see in there if this is the way the squad is made up. And please god, no injuries.
Good squad. I just feel we need an extra scrumhalf, just being cautious. Jones doesn’t offer enough and we have adequate cover at full back, even if they are not specialists.
Nailed on backs
Sexton, Murray, Henshaw, Payne, R. Kearney, Bowe (6 – 8 spots open)
Front Runners backs
Trimble, Earls, Zeebo, Madigan, Reddan, Cave (I think we should bring at least one specialist centre for cover)
Fighting for the last 2 spots
Jackson, Marmion, Fitzgerald, D. Kearney
Better luck next time
McFadden, Boss, Gilroy, D’arcy, Jones (just not versatile enough)
Nailed on forwards
O’Connell, Toner, Ross, Best, Mcgrath, O’Brien, Heaslip, O’Mahony (8 – 9 spots open)
Front runners
Henderson, Henry, Strauss, Moore (if fit), Healy (if fit), Murphy, Ryan
Fighting for last 2 spots
Kilcoyne, Bent, Cronin, White,
Better luck next time
Furlong, Tuohy
He’ll bring 3 hookers, 3 dummy’s n 3 10′s
Better luck next time for D’Arcy!
Think White will make a very strong case for back up tight head. he’s no spring chick but that might not be a terrible thing for a tight head. Moore was made look a pup by Debaty last year (to be fair, what an animal!), that won’t have disappeared from Schmidt’s mind. 5 props with Bent as 5th. Kilcoyne in for Healy if unfit. 2ndrow and back row takes care of itself, NZ, Wales, and England are the only other teams to have a comparable 4-8, including back up, and considering our front row I think we have the best pack in the world atm. So well balanced.
Think Boss & D’Arcy played themselves off the ferry. But Marmion is viewed as Reddan 2.0, so Boss, having seemingly different strengths might still be backed. All 3 outhalves are gonna make it, and deservedly so I think, though Jackson’s kicking still gets me very nervous.
Henshaw, Payne, Bowe, Trimble, Kearney and Zebo are all certs at this stage I reckon. I’m worried he will then also take Fitz and Jones, but I think he SHOULD take Earls and Cave.
Props: Healy, McGrath, Ross, Moore, Bent (Kilcoyne if Healy is not fit)
Hookers: Best, Cronin, Strauss
Second Rows: O’Connell, Toner, Ryan,
Back Rows: Heaslip, O’Brien, O’Mahony, Henderson, Murphy, Henry
Half Backs: Murray, Reddan, Marmion, Sexton, Jackson, Madigan
Outside Backs: Henshaw, Payne, Earls, Trimble, Bowe, Zebo, R Kearney, Fitzgerald
Harsh on D Kearney but Bowe’s, Earl’s, Fitz’s and Trimble’s ability to cover the centres will be important. A shocker from one of them in the coming weeks might change things.
@Humphrey – agree exactly with your squad, and your caveat. I also think Felix Jones would be very unlucky to miss out. There just happens to be a huge amount of competition at outside back
From the squad I picked above, and again assuming no injuries, here’s my First & Second XVs. I doubt it will play out this black and white: some players will inevitably have knocks, some will need game time, etc. but for argument’s sake:
XV v France, maybe Italy, and knockout games
1. Healy
2. Best
3. Ross
4. Toner
5. POC
6. POM
7. SOB
8. Heaslip
9. Murray
10. Sexton
11. Trimble
12. Henshaw
13. Payne
14. Bowe
15. R Kearney
Reserves: McGrath, Moore, Cronin, Henderson, Reddan, Madigan, Earls/Fitzgerald (tough call: Earls is a better winger, Fitzgerald is a better centre, both can cover 15 but neither is particularly great at it)
Second XV, v Canada & Romania
1. McGrath
2. Cronin
3. Moore
4. Toner
5. Ryan
6. Henderson
7. Henry
8. Murphy
9. Reddan
10. Jackson
11. Earls
12. Madigan
13. Fitzgerald
14. Bowe
15. Zebo
Reserves: Healy, Bent, Strauss, POC, Marmion, Henshaw, R Kearney
I think I’d switch Henderson to lock in place of Toner for one of those “softer” games, with one of the first choice back row coming in (probably the indestructible Heaslip). Likewise, I’d probably want to rest Bowe for one game, with RK coming in at 15, Zebo switching to the wing.
I know many people are not in favour of Fitzgerald going, but I think he is our best auxiliary centre. Probably not a starter in the big games.
Fitzgerald isn’t a international centre
I would have earls in that final bench spot. I know its unlikely to happen but I would move Payne to 15 if Kearney got injured
I’m surprised, to be honest, that there are 7 Leinster front rowers in contention for a place on the plane, given their patchy performance against the other provinces this year. I think White and Kilcoyne should have done enough – but we’ll see. As for the back row, I thought Conan had a shaky start but then a very good game – I wonder if he mightn’t have done enough. Tuohy and Toner were an interesting combination for me which didn’t work but did show that Toner is off his best at the moment. I’d rather Henderson or Ryan in the second row for the big games. If anyone saw the French game at the weekend, their offloading was pretty impressive – just as Scotland showed our defence against this kind of play is wanting. I think Henderson or Ryan would live with it better – and I suspect they’ll be our starting combination come the 6Ns. For similar reasons I think we’ll be looking for proven and aggressive defenders across the park for the French game. Hello Trimble.
Toner is almost as nailed on a starter as POC for the big games. POC and the other 3 alternative 2nd rows are not particularly tall for that position, Toner grants serious amounts of security at line outs. add to that his 20 odd stone of heft at scrum time, he’s an important player. We have had some of the meanest defence around over the last two 6Ns and autumn series why is he suddenly not good enough? I do think he needs POC beside him though, to the point that if POC can’t play then i would have Henderson and Ryan on together.
I think he’s got weight rather than strength. And line out height can be a disadvantage at scrum time when it comes to balance. Also the way he tackles and hits rucks is more to lie on top of them – whereas Henderson and Ryan hit them. The question at line out isn’t whether our ball is secure on our throw – it will be even without Toner although he makes it that much more secure – but are we able to steal opposition ball. Toner’s stats aren’t that impressive given his height – because, as you say, he weighs 20 stone.
God forbid I should challenge the unchallengeable but did anyone else think POC was unimpressive when he came on? Missed tackle aside, he seemed slow and out of sinc. Maybe a good time for him to go to Toulon – a bit like BOD and ROG who played on a few games too many perhaps.
Despite being a Connacht fan, I can’t see Joe bringing Marmion. I think he’s going to go with Boss. He’s knows him better. Even though he didn’t play well against Scotland. And I think it’s a shame because Marmion is a much more exciting player.
As regards the outside backs, I think felix will miss out because of the number of players we have who can cover 15 (some albeit at a push). Payne, Henshaw and Zebo have all played plenty of rugby there. Earls, Fitzgerald and madigan are also options if needed.
And 13 is well covered by all of the above (except Zebo). Even Trimble played 13 for years. My worry is that Henshaw and Madigan are the only realistic options at 12, and both play a very different style of game. I can’t imagine madigan crashing it up on Nonu.
Not that I know anything about props, but I think it will be the obvious 4 plus bent.
Just re read that. I obviously don’t mean madigan can cover 13.
Loosehead Props
Cian Healy
Jack McGrath
Dave Kilcoyne
Hookers
Rory Best
Sean Cronin
Richard Strauss
Tighthead Props
Mike Ross
Martin Moore
Tadhg Furlong
Second Rows
Paul O’Connell
Devin Toner
Ian Henderson
Donnacha Ryan
Flankers & Number 8s
Peter O’Mahony
Sean O’Brien
Jamie Heaslip
Chris Henry
Jordi Murphy
Scrum Halfs
Conor Murray
Eoin Redden
Isaac Boss
Out-Halves
Johnny Sexton
Ian Madigan *
Paddy Jackson
Centres
Jared Payne
Robbie Henshaw
Ian Madigan *
Wings & Fullbacks
Tommy Bowe
Andrew Trimble / Luke Fitzgerald ( if Trimble unfit )
Simon Zebo
Keith Earls
Rob Kearney
Madigan 2nd choice 10 & would be seen as such & given the 22 jersey but just put under centre due to lack of spaces.
Alternative Squad
Loosehead Props
Cian Healy
Jack McGrath
Michael Bent
Hookers
Rory Best
Sean Cronin
Richard Strauss
Tighthead Props
Mike Ross
Martin Moore
Second Rows
Paul O’Connell
Devin Toner
Ian Henderson
Donnacha Ryan
Flankers & Number 8s
Peter O’Mahony
Sean O’Brien
Jamie Heaslip
Chris Henry
Jordi Murphy
Scrum Halfs
Conor Murray
Eoin Redden
Isaac Boss
Out-Halves
Johnny Sexton
Ian Madigan
Paddy Jackson
Centres
Jared Payne
Robbie Henshaw
Keith Earls
Wings & Fullbacks
Tommy Bowe
Dave Kearney ( Trimble if fit )
Simon Zebo
Luke Fitzgerald
Rob Kearney
Agree with you first selection John, with Dave Kearney instead of Luke Fitzgerald.
I don’t know who is Michael Bent’s PR agent, but he is doing a miraculous job. The guy isn’t Pro 12 standard, let alone international.
I know the poll is open now but to be fair, a lot of the players on Saturday looked particularly rusty ( Fitz taking some deserved flak here but I thought Tommy was actually the poorer wing)- it will be interesting to revisit some of these lists after the Wales game. Fwiw- with the 17/14 split I think Henderson will be used (not just selected) as a back rower as well as lock
Am I mad to think there is a conspiracy silencing the selection of Irelands best winger last year? Gilroy needs to get his chance to prove he should be in that squad.
defensively our best winger?
He is obviously not showing enough in training to get selected
Is there room in the squad for dave Kearney or will Fergus and zebo get in ahead of him
Fergus McFadden won’t be near the squad. Wholehearted player but there are too many ahead of him.
Healy
Mc Grath
Best
Cronin
Strauss
Ross
Moore
Bent
O Connell
Toner
Henderson
Ryan
O Mahony
O Brien
Henry
Heaslip
Murphy
Murray
Reddan
Marmion
Sexton
Madigan
Henshaw
Payne
Earls
Fitzgerald
Bowe
Trimble
Kearney
Kearney
Zebo
Doubts:
1. Number of props.
2. Healy’s fitness.
3. Experience for the camp vs squad deep: D’Arcy vs Cave/Fitz and Boss vs Marmion
I reckon Jones is definitely on the plane. He may be not as versatile as other players but he is a no-brainer for Joe. He spent the las Six Nations on the bench despite not being the best option cover any position apart from 15.
There are the following who are nailed on and have to put in catastrophic performances (or get/remain injured) to not be in the 31:
Healy, McGrath, Best, Cronin, Strauss, Ross, Moore, O’Connell, Toner, Henderson, O’Mahony, O’Brien, Heaslip, Henry, Murray, Reddan, Sexton, Madigan, Jackson, Trimble, Bowe, Henshaw, Payne, Kearney.
That leaves 7 spots: 1 prop, 1 second row (likely Ryan), 1 back row (likely Murphy), 1 scrum half, 3 backs.
I’d take Bent, Marmion, Fitzgerald, Zebo and then it’s 60:40 for Earls vs McFadden for the 31st spot.
FORWARDS:
Healy,
Mcgrath,
Ross,
Moore,
Bent,
Best,
Cronin,
Strauss,
POC,
Toner,
Henderson,
Ryan,
Heaslip,
SOB,
POM,
Murphy,
Henry.
BACKS:
Murray,
Reddan,
Marmion,
Madigan,
Jackson,
Sexton,
Henshaw,
Payne,
R.Kearney,
Earls,
Zebo,
Bowe,
Trimble,
D.Kearney
Props: Healy, McGrath, Ross, Moore; Kilcoyne; Hookers: Best, Cronin, Strauss; Second row: POC, Toner, Ryan; back row: SOB, POM, Murphy, Henry, Henderson, Heaslip; scrumhalves: Murray, Reddan, Marmion; outhalves: Sexton, Madigan, Jackson; back 5: Zebo, Bowe, Fitzgerald, Earls, Henshaw, Payne, Kearney, D Kearney or Trimble (if he gets more game-time). Maybe Cave – if he decides to bring only two scrumhalves.
Earls needed as cover for 13/Zebo for full-back. Poor cover for 12 with Fitzgerald as cover but D’arcy isn’t up to pace unfortunately (poorest performance of the 29 picked so far) -Fitzgerald has better chance of getting up to speed before WC. Unlucky on McFadden and Trimble or D Kearney. However good news is if there is an injury, back-up is only an hour’s flight away. All players still in the training camp will be fully aware of the calls by end of August.
However I think Schmidt will pick D kearney ahead of Zebo and Boss ahead of Marmion and Bent ahead of Kilcoyne though.
Rob,
I would be having a careful look at McFadden, he covers center as well as wings. But we need another kicker, I am sorry but I am worried if we have to rely on Jackson and Madigan from the ground. I think this is about cover, McFadden is out contention because he got injured for most of last year.
Zebo is going. Boss will be ahead of Marmion which is a shame as Marmion could be a great player in more open game.
Can we seriously bring Bent?
Take Madigan, take Trimble, take Kilcoyne leave Healy, he’s not worth the risk.
So your saying leave one of the best, if the not the best, loose head prop in the world at home because he is not worth the risk. And instead bring a prop who is unable to do his main job, scrummaging.
I would take a 17/14 split with Bent as the fifth prop, Boss ahead of Marmion, and both Madigan and Jackson going.
The outside backs is where the debate is at. I would take Zebo, Henshaw, Earls, Payne, Trimble and Rob Kearney, which leaves two spaces between Bowe, Fitzgerald, Cave, McFadden, Darcy, Jones and Dave Kearney. I don’t think Darcy is really in the frame, and I’d see Jones as being surplus to requirements since Zebo can play FB well. Bowe is probably in direct competition with D. Kearney. It could be Cave and Fitzgerald/McFadden, or McFadden (covering 11 and 12) and one of Kearney and Bowe. I suppose it could also be Cave and Dave Kearney if Joe figures the latter can cover 11 as well as 14. I don’t think Joe sees Madigan as a 12, which means that we need someone else who can fill in for Henshaw if needs be
Hard to imagine Bowe not going (and probably starting). He looked very rusty at the weekend, but he has been a phenomenally consistent high performer for several years now.
Props: Healy, Mcgrath, Ross, Moore and Bent Hookers: Best, Cronin and Strauss Locks: O’Connell, Toner, Henderson & Ryan Backrow: O’Brien, O’Mahony, Heaslip, Henry & Murphy Scrumhalves: Murray & Redden Out halves: Sexton, Madigan and Jackson Centres: Payne, Henshaw, Earls and Fitzgerald Wingers: Bowe, Trimble and D. Kearney Fullbacks: R. Kearney and Zebo only bringing 2 Scrumhalves as I feel that it is not an over demanding position that Madigan or Jackson could cover in emergency situation. All of the backs can cover a couple of positions which gives us more versatility
Forwards (17)
Props: Healy, McGrath, Moore, Ross, Kilcoyne
Hookers: Best, Cronin, Strauss
Second rows: O’Connell, Toner, Ryan, Henderson
Backrow: O’Mahony, O’Brien, Heaslip, Henry, Murphy
Backs (14)
Scrum-Halves: Murray, Reddan, Marmion
Outhalfs: Sexton, Jackson
Centres: Henshaw, Payne, Madigan, Cave
Back 2: Bowe, Kearney, Earls, Zebo, Trimble