15 for 10: London Irish - an all-decade XV
It’s been a tough decade for London Irish who, in addition to having spent a couple of seasons in the Greene King IPA Championship, have had to deal with a significant exodus of players, and that is represented in their 15 for 10 team.
Bath have become notorious for their plucking of the best talents from Irish and bringing them down the M4 to the Rec, although the club have haemorrhaged players in all directions, with the East Midlands and France also popular destinations for top-end players to emerge from the club’s productive academy.
The XV below leans heavily on the earlier part of the 2010’s, when there were still present a number of the members of the side that almost tasted Gallagher Premiership success in 2009. Let us know who you think we missed.
- Delon Armitage
It was a tough choice between Armitage and Tom Homer, with the latter having more predominately served the club over the past decade, though Armitage brought genuine game-changing ability to the full-back spot. Armitage had been establishing himself a regular in the England side during those last few years before he left for Toulon.
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- Topsy Ojo
There can be no debate here, with Ojo arguably having been the most dedicated and committed servant to Irish in the professional era. The wing made over 300 appearances for the club during his storied career and was unlucky not to add to the two England caps he won back in 2008. He scored tries for fun for Irish and following his retirement this past summer, the baton is ready to be handed over to Ben Loader.
- Jonathan Joseph
Perhaps the biggest of losses for Irish in their relatively recent exodus of players, Joseph may have cemented himself as an international at Bath, but he laid the foundations for those achievements at the Madejski Stadium. He sparkled earlier in the decade for the club and looked for all money to be the type of player that Irish needed to keep themselves competitive in the top half of the table.
- Seilala Mapusua
Mapusua’s time at Irish did roll on into the 2010’s and he ticks the box of a true cult hero for the club. His powerful carries up the middle kept defences honest and allowed the fleeter players, such as Ojo, Armitage and Joseph, to excel outside of him. Plenty of inside centres have come since, but none that matched Mapusua’s consistent impact on the field.
- Sailosi Tagicakibau
This was perhaps the toughest position to pick, with Ojo having so comfortably wrapped up the spot on the other wing. Marland Yarde was highly effective for Irish, as were Alex Lewington and Andrew Fenby, whilst Anthony Watson probably left the club too early in his career to warrant genuine consideration, despite incredible ability. Tagicakibau’s final four years with Irish all came in this decade and his offensive skills made him one of the most exciting players to watch in the Premiership over that period.
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- Stephen Myler
Myler is only a recent addition and he has arrived at the tail-end of his career, although he has helped Irish get out of the Championship and make a very impressive start to their 2019/20 Premiership campaign. Shane Geraghty’s time came in the 2000’s, Dan Bowden had his moments and both Jacob Atkins and Theo Brophy Clews will hope to feature more in the 2020’s, leaving this as Myler’s spot.
- Paul Hodgson
Along with Armitage and Ojo, Hodgson was one of the carryovers from the side that came so close to sealing the Premiership title in 2009. He was on the cusp of the England XV at the beginning of this decade and influenced games with his sniping runs, quick tempo and accurate distribution, all of which narrowly sees him pip Tomas O’Leary.
- Alex Corbisiero
Before he linked up with Northampton Saints and began to suffer the injuries that brought a premature end to his career, Corbisiero shone for Irish. He was rapidly on his way to becoming one of the most dominant scrummagers in European rugby and it is probably fair to say that since he departed in 2013, Irish have never had one of the top set-pieces in English rugby.
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- David Paice
Possibly the only player who can give Ojo a run for his money as the most dedicated servant of London Irish in the professional era, Paice made over 250 appearances for Irish from the coalface of the front row. He also bore the burden of captaincy for many of those appearances and was another to force his way into England contention thanks to his consistent performances at club level.
- Halani Aulika
There has been plenty of change at tighthead for Irish over the past 10 years and we have opted here for the most consistent performer, who locked down the position for the four years he spent at the club. There’s an honourable mention for Ben Franks, who impressed in flashes in a shorter spell, although arguably wasn’t as valuable to the club as Aulika.
- Bob Casey
Another cult hero of Irish, Casey finished his career with the club in 2012, after a final couple of years of excellent service. The physical lock was one part of a long-established double act in the Irish engine room that was one of the leading combinations in the Premiership at the time.
- Nick Kennedy
Speaking of that double act, Kennedy was Casey’s partner in the second row and the two forged a highly effective combination. The England international was one of the best lineout forwards in the Premiership at the time and was rewarded with a handful of England caps, before he made the move to Toulon in 2012, joining teammate Armitage in calling the south of France home.
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- Declan Danaher
Like Ojo, Danaher was another one-club man at Irish and amassed over 275 appearances in the green jersey, before finally calling it a day in 2014. He was a workhorse on the flank for the Exiles and in addition to the blood, sweat and tears he put into the jersey, he is now also influencing the club as its defence coach. Chris Hala’ufia warrants a very honourable mention, too.
- Blair Cowan
A tough competition between Cowan and Armitage, the latter of whom brought international-calibre ability to the table, although his departure earlier in the decade, in contrast to Cowan’s six years of service, sees the New Zealander just steal the spot. Wherever he has been deployed in the club’s back row, Cowan has provided go forward and influential breakdown ability.
- Ofisa Treviranus
Arguably the most iconic Irish player of the 2010’s, Treviranus’ trademark physicality as a ball-carrier has characterised Irish over the past 10 years. The Samoan has never taken a backward step for the club and had the team’s fortunes been better over that period of time, his stock as a player would have been treated with much more appreciation.
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Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments