6 Nations
Ireland: 6 Nations Predicted Matchday 23
Our predicted team to face England. Tough choices in the backrow
Ireland will open their Six Nations campaign in Dublin on February 2nd, against an English side on a redemption mission. While most of the squad is nailed down, there are spots up for grabs, particularly on the bench
Front Row
Cian Healy seems to have overtaken Jack McGrath again, after a few years of backing up his Leinster team-mate. Captain Rory Best is a dead cert for the number two jersey. The Ulsterman has not played an awful lot of club rugby lately, but generally saves his best performances for the green jersey. Tighthead prop is a no brainer; Tadhg Furlong. The Wexford man is by some distance the best in the world in his position
Second Row
James Ryan and Devin Toner are in pole position for the engine room. Toner is basically undroppable for Joe Schmidt, there is no better lineout operator in the country. We saw this against Argentina in the autumn; a misfiring lineout righted itself as soon as Toner arrived on the scene. James Ryan is incredible, in a word. Already one of the best in the world in his position at only 22, he always puts up ridiculous numbers in defence and attack, Ryan will carry and tackle all day long. Iain Henderson and Tadhg Beirne may feature at some point, injury permitting.
Back Row
Two spots here are dead certs: Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander. O’Mahony is a future Ireland captain, and is a brilliant leader in the pack, while Stander will carry ball all day. Openside is up in the air, given the timely return of Sean O’Brien. Josh Van Der Flier has been in amazing form for Leinster, and Dan Leavy looks likely to be fit in time to feature. Dan Leavy is a very good ball carrier as well as his breakdown ability, while Van Der Flier will tackle everything that moves, and Sean O’Brien when he’s on song, is the best in the world. Josh Van Der Flier will probably start to begin with, Sean O’Brien might take the 20 jersey, given that he has been playing number 8 a lot for Leinster, and is probably the most versatile bench option. Jordi Murphy has been flying for Ulster and will probably feature off the bench.
Half-Backs
Very little to discuss here. Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton. The only pairing in the world that rivals Smith and Barrett. Irish fans will be praying there will be no injuries.
Embed from Getty ImagesCentres
Robbie Henshaw has returned at just the right time. The Athlone man looked to be straight back to his best against Wasps at the weekend, and should start against England. Garry Ringrose has maintained his high standards performing for Leinster, and is a dead cert for 13, Bundee Aki, and both Farrells (Tom and Chris) will be waiting in the wings should there be any injuries
Embed from Getty ImagesBack Three
Jacob Stockdale, Rob Kearney, and Keith Earls will almost definitely be the three chosen. Earls has been in outstanding form for Munster and is well deserving of a spot. Stockdale has been in great try scoring form Ulster and will hopefully build on his great performances in the last year November. Rob Kearney has been struggling for fitness lately but will come into the team as soon as he is fit. Kearney has wonderful fielding ability, and covers the entirety of the backfield himself, an integral part of Andy Farrell’s defensive system. Will Addison is the most likely candidate to come in should there be any injuries. Jordan Larmour is also in contention, but Addison has the edge defensively.
Embed from Getty ImagesBench
Sean Cronin has his
Bench backrower will probably be Sean O’Brien. He covers each position to an incredibly high standard. Replacement scrum half should go to John Cooney. Caoilin Blade is in contention, but aside from injury probably will not get any gametime. Joey Carbery has been in flying form for Munster, his move south having proved incredibly beneficial. He has made his last 20 kicks at goal in a row, since Munster’s loss to Castres in the Champion’s Cup, proving his worth as Johnny Sexton’s deputy. The 23 jersey should be Will Addison’s. The English-born Ulsterman covers 11-15 to an international standard
Embed from Getty ImagesPredicted Match Day 23:
- Cian Healy
- Rory Best
- Tadhg Furlong
- James Ryan
- Devin Toner
- Peter O’Mahony
- Josh Van Der Flier
- CJ Stander
- Conor Murray
- Johnny Sexton
- Jacob Stockdale
- Robbie Henshaw
- Garry Ringrose
- Keith Earls
- Rob Kearney
16. Sean Cronin
17. Jack McGrath
18. Andrew Porter
19. Quinn Roux
20. Sean O’Brien
21. John Cooney
22, Joey Carbery
23. Will Addison
Let us know if you would make any changes
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is delighted to announce the return of the ‘A’ Interprovincial Men’s Championship which will kick off next month.
The times and dates of the opening three rounds of the Championship before Christmas have been confirmed, with a similar points-scoring system as used in the URC. A Championship winner will be declared after the final round of matches in May and the IRFU will be commissioning a legacy trophy to mark the 150th anniversary celebrations.
Welcoming the news, IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys commented:
“We’re delighted to kick-start the Men’s ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship which will provide a host of players with a further means of developing in a meaningful competition. With the success of the Emerging Ireland Tours, coupled with the return of an ‘A’ international against England next year, it is vital that we continue to provide players at provincial and Club levels with opportunities to impress outside of the traditional URC and EPCR fixture windows.
“Discussions have been ongoing for some time to provide players with meaningful games and all four provinces are unanimously supportive of this competition. It is also great to see provinces taking matches around their local Clubs.
“It is anticipated that as the competition progresses over the coming seasons these fixtures won’t clash with Energia All-Ireland League fixtures for the most part, thus potentially also offering players from the Club game with an opportunity to impress.
“This competition will form another important part of the representative pathway from Energia AIL to URC levels for Academy players upwards over the coming seasons.”
The dates for the post-Christmas fixtures will be confirmed in due course. Ticket details will be confirmed via the respective provinces.
IRFU 150 Interprovincial ‘A’ Championship Fixtures:
Saturday, 16th November:
Connacht Eagles v Leinster ‘A’ (Creggs RFC, 1pm)
Friday, 22nd November:
Ulster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ballymacaran Park, 3pm), Leinster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (Lakelands, 5pm)
Friday, 29th November:
Munster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (New Ormond Park, 3pm)
Friday, 20th December:
Ulster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (tbc, 3pm)
Saturday, 21st December:
Leinster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ollie Campbell Park, 2pm)
Weekend of 28/29 December:
Connacht Eagles v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc), Munster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 9/10 May:
Connacht Eagles v Munster ‘A’ (tbc), Leinster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 16/17 May:
Munster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (tbc), Ulster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
The Emerging Ireland team to face the Cheetahs in the final game of the three-match series in Bloemfontein on Wednesday evening (kick off 6pm Irish time, 7pm local time) has been named.
Leinster’s James Culhane will lead the team and he forms a new back-row alongside Harry Sheridan and Sean Edogbo, who makes his first start of the tour having come on as a replacement in the 29-24 win over Western Force on Sunday afternoon. Former Ireland Under-20 captain Evan O’Connell locks down with Darragh Murray, who featured in the opening 36-24 victory over the Pumas, with Alex Usanov named in the front row alongside hooker Stephen Smyth and Jack Aungier.
Darragh Murray of Emerging Ireland scores his sides second try – Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart
In the backline, Sam Prendergast starts his third game of the tour at out-half and he will be partnered by Cormac Foley, who featured as a second half replacements against the Australian Super Rugby side last time out. Connacht’s Hugh Gavin forms a midfield partnership with Hugh Cooney, with Ulster’s Zac Ward named in an exciting back tree alongside the returning Ben O’Connor at full-back and Andrew Osborne who moves to the right wing.
Munster loosehead prop George Hadden, who was called up to the squad last weekend, is set to make his first appearance after being named on the bench alongside Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Alex Soroka who started Sunday’s win. Hadden’s provincial team-mate Danny Sheahan provides cover once more at hooker, while Scott Wilson and Charlie Tector are also named on the bench for the Toyota Stadium clash alongside out-half Jack Murphy.
Looking ahead to the game, Emerging Ireland Head Coach Simon Easterby said: “When we set out at the beginning of our pre-camp in Dublin, we knew about the challenge of facing three sides in a week and we knew that every player in the group would have the opportunity to play his part. To a man each player has given his all so far and we are aiming to finish off the series with another positive performance on Wednesday.
The Cheetahs are a fiercely proud and strong side and it should be a lively game with a vocal home support behind them. It has been a fruitful past few weeks to date and we have learned a lot. While our performances haven’t been perfect, the players have embraced the challenge and played some brilliant rugby at times. The action has come thick and fast and we know that we have to be clinical in our execution. We will need to go up another level on Wednesday to get the performance we want and hopefully finish the tour on a high.”
Wednesday’s game will be broadcast once more on IrishRugby+ – click here.
Emerging Ireland (v The Cheetahs, Wednesday, October 9, 7pm local time, 6pm Irish time)
15: Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
14: Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)
13: Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
12: Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
11: Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens)
10: Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
9: Cormac Foley (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
1: Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
2: Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
3: Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
4: Evan O’Connell (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
5: Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
6: Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
7: Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
8: James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster) (captain)
Replacements:
16: Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
17: George Hadden (Garryowen FC/Munster)
18: Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
19: Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
20: Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
21: Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
22: Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)
23: Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Following Emerging Ireland’s 29-24 victory over Western Force in Bloemfontein on Sunday three players, Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Sean O’Brien (Munster) and Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster) will return to their provinces.
The trio will leave South Africa on Monday afternoon and will be available for selection for their respective URC fixtures this weekend.
The squad will visit Heidedal Township this afternoon and will conclude the three-match series on Wednesday evening against The Cheetahs (kick off 7pm local, 6pm Irish time). That match will be live on irishrugby+
Watch the full match back here on irishrugby+
Check out the highlights from the win against Western Force below.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Jordan signs for Bristol Bears
IRFU Announces Return Of ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship
