AS THE DUST settled on Ireland’s successful November campaign, our friends at Whiff of Cordite started the countdown clock for meaningful minutes before the World Cup.
The clock was set on 400 minutes, the length of five games in the Six Nations Championship. Now that time is up and players based on the fringe of Team Ireland have a job on their hands to get back in before September.
Despite being back-to-back Six Nations Champions (I don’t think we’ll ever get sick of saying those words), Joe Schmidt will have areas in mind that need reinforcement before taking the Joe Show on to the World Stage.
Below, our writers have made their selections based on expected fitness and form over the Six Nations and November internationals. They agree on most points, but there are a few of the 31 available spots left undecided in The42 war room.
Will Slattery (17/14 split)
Props: Cian Healy, Jack McGrath, Marty Moore, Mike Ross, Tadhg Furlong.
Hookers: Rory Best, Sean Cronin and Richardt Strauss.
Second Rows: Paul O’Connell, Devin Toner, Iain Henderson, Dan Tuohy.
Back Rows: Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony, Jordi Murphy, Tommy O’Donnell.
After another 6 Nations success, who would you like to see in Ireland's World Cup squad?
AS THE DUST settled on Ireland’s successful November campaign, our friends at Whiff of Cordite started the countdown clock for meaningful minutes before the World Cup.
The clock was set on 400 minutes, the length of five games in the Six Nations Championship. Now that time is up and players based on the fringe of Team Ireland have a job on their hands to get back in before September.
Despite being back-to-back Six Nations Champions (I don’t think we’ll ever get sick of saying those words), Joe Schmidt will have areas in mind that need reinforcement before taking the Joe Show on to the World Stage.
Below, our writers have made their selections based on expected fitness and form over the Six Nations and November internationals. They agree on most points, but there are a few of the 31 available spots left undecided in The42 war room.
Will Slattery (17/14 split)
Props: Cian Healy, Jack McGrath, Marty Moore, Mike Ross, Tadhg Furlong.
Hookers: Rory Best, Sean Cronin and Richardt Strauss.
Second Rows: Paul O’Connell, Devin Toner, Iain Henderson, Dan Tuohy.
Back Rows: Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony, Jordi Murphy, Tommy O’Donnell.
Scrum-Halves: Conor Murray, Eoin Reddan, Kieran Marmion.
Out-halves: Jonathan Sexton, Ian Madigan.
Centres: Robbie Henshaw, Jared Payne, Keith Earls.
Wings: Tommy Bowe, Luke Fitzgerald, Simon Zebo, Andrew Trimble.
Fullbacks: Rob Kearney, Felix Jones.
Sean Farrell (17/14 split)
Props: Cian Healy, Jack McGrath. Stephen Archer, Mike Ross, Marty Moore.
Hookers: Rory Best, Sean Cronin, Richardt Strauss.
Second rows: Paul O’Connell, Devin Toner, Dan Tuohy, Iain Henderson
Back rows: Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip, Rhys Ruddock, Tommy O’Donnell (if Chris Henry not fit).
Scrum-halves: Conor Murray, Eoin Reddan.
Out-halves: Jonathan Sexton, Paddy Jackson, Ian Madigan.
Centres: Robbie Henshaw, Jared Payne, Luke Fitzgerald.
Wings: Tommy Bowe, Simon Zebo, Andrew Trimble, Keith Earls.
Fullbacks: Rob Kearney, Felix Jones.
Murray Kinsella (18/13 split)
Props: Cian Healy, Jack McGrath, Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Ross, Marty Moore, Nathan White.
Hookers: Rory Best, Sean Cronin, Richardt Strauss.
Locks: Paul O’Connell, Devin Toner, Iain Henderson, Dave Foley.
Back rows: Sean O’Brien, Peter O’Mahony, Jamie Heaslip, Jordi Murphy (if Chris Henry’s not fit), Rhys Ruddock.
Scrum-halves: Conor Murray, Eoin Reddan, Kieran Marmion.
Out-halves: Johnny Sexton, Ian Madigan.
Centres: Robbie Henshaw, Jared Payne, Keith Earls.
Wings: Tommy Bowe, Luke Fitzgerald, Andrew Trimble.
Full backs: Rob Kearney, Felix Jones.
Who would you pick in the squad to face Romania, Canada, Italy, France and who knows who else?
‘He studies the game unbelievably hard’ – Ireland’s players laud Schmidt
Zebo’s slam and Keatley’s composure: 4 underrated things that helped Ireland win the 6 Nations
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