Advertisement

The42's international rugby dream team for 2015

Unfortunately no Irishmen make the cut.

ANOTHER YEAR OF international rugby has come to an end so there is no better time to unveil The42′s best XV of the last 12 months.

Obviously in a World Cup year more weight was given to performances in the autumn showpiece but we took the Six Nations and the Rugby Championship into account too.

Just a word of warning: many All Blacks feature.

15. Ben Smith

Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2015 - Semi Final - South Africa v New Zealand - Twickenham Stadium PA WIRE PA WIRE

14. Santiago Cordero

Britain Rugby WCup Argentina Australia Associated Press Associated Press

13. Jonathan Joseph

Rugby Union - 2015 RBS 6 Nations - England v Scotland - Twickenham Mike Egerton Mike Egerton

12. Ma’a Nonu

Britain Rugby WCup New Zealand Australia Tim Ireland Tim Ireland

11. Julian Savea

Britain Rugby WCup New Zealand Georgia Associated Press Associated Press

10. Dan Carter

Rugby Union - Dan Carter File Photo David Davies David Davies

9. Aaron Smith

Britain Rugby WCup South Africa New Zealand Associated Press Associated Press

1. Marcos Ayerza

Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2015 - Quarter Final - Ireland v Argentina - Millennium Stadium Andrew Matthews Andrew Matthews

2. Dane Coles

Rugby Union - Team File Photos David Davies David Davies

3. Sekope Kepu

France Rugby Australia Associated Press Associated Press

4. Alun-Wyn Jones

Britain Rugby WCup South Africa Wales Matt Dunham Matt Dunham

5. Brodie Retallick

Britain Rugby WCup New Zealand France Christophe Ena Christophe Ena

6. Schalk Burger

Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2015 - Bronze Medal Match - South Africa v Argentina - Olympic Stadium PA WIRE PA WIRE

7. Richie McCaw

Richie McCaw Retirement File Photo PA WIRE PA WIRE

8. David Pocock

Britain Wales Australia Rugby Associated Press Associated Press

Who would be in your XV?

‘Most of what I do as a coach is what I’ve learned since being a player’

O’Leary hopes to be in ‘the shake-up for the green jersey’ as the clock ticks down

Close
24 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Mallon
    Favourite Paul Mallon
    Report
    Mar 21st 2023, 10:02 AM

    Eddie’s just disappointed his profits are taking a hit.

    89
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Dunne
    Favourite Brian Dunne
    Report
    Mar 21st 2023, 10:22 AM

    @Paul Mallon: he is a business man in all fairness.

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute P M
    Favourite P M
    Report
    Mar 21st 2023, 10:46 AM

    Weird that music promotors seem to make plenty of money all the time in Croker, Hearn just chancing his arm looking to make more money. Ringside tickets will cost a few hundred minimum so he would stand to make more than any music concert plus he would be able to have Hill 16 open which you wouldn’t get at a gig.

    66
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Quinlan
    Favourite Tom Quinlan
    Report
    Mar 21st 2023, 9:45 AM

    Because the GAA are trying to milk it. Hearn can’t milk it. As he says himself that’s business

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall Stone
    Favourite Niall Stone
    Report
    Mar 21st 2023, 10:13 AM

    So it’s gone from twice as expensive to three times as expensive. Negotiations are going well.
    So we have CP at a risky 80K and his option at 8K. Has he looked outside of these options, that’s all we have here 8K or 80K. What about 50K at the Aviva? 45K at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
    There are more options in Ireland between 8 and 80K capacity.

    I think this man just wants PPV, and or to get KT a fight, any fight at home. I don’t imagine it’s what she really imagined or deserved but it looks like he’d rather blame CP than list some other options.

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute baz dunne
    Favourite baz dunne
    Report
    Mar 21st 2023, 12:24 PM

    @Niall Stone: Aviva will be hosting the Heineken cup final that evening so that’s a non starter.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall Stone
    Favourite Niall Stone
    Report
    Mar 22nd 2023, 2:20 AM

    @baz dunne: Point is there must be other options. He switched a fighter, switch the date

    As he says it is a risk as it’s a less attractive fight now. Would this fight attract 80K? His second fight option would be less likely to attract a full house and he knows it, cold feet.

    Steve Collins got good crowds in Cork, or select a different night.

    In my opinion, he wants to go for safe PPV money, minimally meet KTs desire to fight in Ireland, hold the Amanda Serrano fight somewhere else all the while blaming the GAA. He could do more, be proactive rather than keep churning out the same sad story about CP.
    He’s like a guy arguing with a bouncer to get into a nightclub, move on, go somewhere else.

    8K tickets for KTs home match is underwhelming. She deserves more, he’s her agent not the GAA.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute baz dunne
    Favourite baz dunne
    Report
    Mar 21st 2023, 9:36 AM

    No doubt he’s right, The grab all association were always going to try and milk this for all its worth and more.

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerry Campbell
    Favourite Gerry Campbell
    Report
    Mar 21st 2023, 10:55 AM

    @baz dunne: Ah here,I’m not beyond having a go at the GAA,but Eddie Hearne,please…The GAA were dead right and its up the price should go,bye Eddie don’t let the door hit you in the Arse.

    108
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute baz dunne
    Favourite baz dunne
    Report
    Mar 21st 2023, 12:22 PM

    @Gerry Campbell: In fairness you’re not wrong. There’s the pair of them in it.

    8
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mcr
    Favourite mcr
    Report
    Mar 21st 2023, 2:14 PM

    @baz dunne: was wondering how long before some anti gaa gobdaw would come up with the ‘grab all association’ line… When has no knowledge of numbers involved. All we need now is a brilliant original Father Ted line…

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lad
    Favourite Lad
    Report
    Mar 21st 2023, 4:06 PM

    @baz dunne: he didn’t say the pair of them were at it..

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Zim Zimma
    Favourite Zim Zimma
    Report
    Mar 21st 2023, 10:21 AM

    As much as I don’t like Hearn I have no doubt he’s telling the truth. As my Granda used to say and the older I’ve got the more I’ve seen the truth in it in politics, institutions and pretty much every facet of life, he said, Ireland will never get anywhere, because it is a nation run by gombeen men, they’d sell their own mothers if you offered them the right price, but if you were dying of thirst they wouldn’t give you a drop of water unless there was something in it for them.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Kennedy
    Favourite Joe Kennedy
    Report
    Mar 21st 2023, 8:08 PM

    @Zim Zimma: we see what we want to see. Try looking at things more positively than your Granda did, and you might see things differently!

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Geary
    Favourite John Geary
    Report
    Mar 21st 2023, 11:27 AM

    Tell Eddie, we saw how Wembley operated during the Euro’s final a couple of years back. Absolute chaos with the level of security & policing they put on. I wouldn’t be using them as a good example.. He’s also looking to schedule same wkend as the European rugby final in the Aviva. Just go for a night in August or Sept when nothings clashing with it.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Sheehan
    Favourite Mark Sheehan
    Report
    Mar 21st 2023, 12:26 PM

    @John Geary: if fans want to behave as they did last summer at Wembley or Lansdowne Rd years ago no amount of security or policing will suffice. Also much the scheduling of bouts is determined by training regimes.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim Moran
    Favourite Jim Moran
    Report
    Mar 21st 2023, 11:49 AM

    The only lad to complain about the cost of holding an event in Croke Park. It sure is a bad taste he has left.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robert Frazier
    Favourite Robert Frazier
    Report
    Mar 21st 2023, 10:22 AM

    How much are gardai getting paid?

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kev Coburn
    Favourite Kev Coburn
    Report
    Mar 21st 2023, 6:30 PM

    To be fair to him, it costs an absolute fortune to insure and police big-time Boxing events in Ireland. The amount of rival criminal gang members that would invariably show up would increase the likelihood of a Regency shooting style incident occurring. Despite their willingness to push other events through, and the high esteem in which Katie Taylor is held, I cannot see the Irish government wanting anything to do with assisting something that could potentially be associated with such negative publicity. Regular, large scale, professional Boxing events, on these shores, are a thing of the past. With or without star drawing power.

    6
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.