A potential London Irish starting XV in season 2019/20
London Irish’s rebuild ahead of their potential re-entry into the Premiership is fast approaching a crescendo, with confirmation of the signing of British and Irish Lions backrow Sean O’Brien to the club today making waves across social media.
Nick Phipps, Curtis Rona and now O’Brien have Irish fans salivating at the a potential starting XV for next season. The club already announced new deals for Jacob Atkins, Rory Brand, Isaac Curtis-Harris, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Ben Loader, Tom Parton and Matt Williams, and they’re shaping up to have a potentially super competitive squad for a potential return into the Gallagher Premiership next season.
2019/20 signings so far:
• ?????????????
• 147 international caps
• Two British & Irish Lions touristsSo far so good. Stay tuned…#StatementOfIntent pic.twitter.com/gEFrsNyILX
— London Irish (@londonirish) February 11, 2019
Here RugbyPass talks a look at what a starting XV could look like if they land some more of their ‘most wanted’ stars.
15 Alivereti Veitokani
While it’s a tough call on the ex-England U20s fullback Tom Parton who has largely laid claimed to the position this season – the former Fijian Drua playmaker was key to his side’s National Rugby Championship success in 2018 and lit up the competition with his fast footwork, audacious offloads and strong support play. Not a household name but watch this space.
14 Luke McLean
Italian international McLean has the benefit of international experience and has become one of the first names on the teamsheet this season. The Aussie born wing can also slot in at fullback.
13 Curtis Rona
The powerful former NRL player has made a relatively seamless transition to union with the Waratahs and Wallbies respectively, and at 26, the 6’4, 102kg winger cum centre is in his prime. Rona made his name with NRL clubs North Queensland Cowboys and Canterbury Bulldogs before switching codes to join Western Force in 2016, where his performances were rewarded with a call-up into the 2017 Australian national squad.
12 Bryce Campbell
The hard-running American who had been playing his rugby at Colorado-based side Glendale Raptors before joining London Irish in the summer of 2018. The no-nonsense American is one a number of veteran centres in the squad, including Brendan Macken, Fergus Mulcrone, Ciaran Hearn and Terrence Hepetema.
11 Waisake Naholo
Could it really be true? RugbyPass understands that the All Black winger is now top of London Irish’s wishlist and that it is they – and not Wasps – who are leading the chase to sign the speedster. A devastating finisher who has done little wrong in an All Black jersey.
10 Paddy Jackson
While he may have to share the position with former England and Northampton Saints 10 Stephen Myler, there is no denying that Jackson is – at his best – a tremendous talent. He’s been dogged by off field controversey and has had a nightmare season with Perpignan, but if he does sign for London Irish fans can expect fireworks if his pack deliver him frontfoot ball.
9 Nick Phipps
70-cap Wallaby Phipps is another ‘statement of intent’ signing from the club. He will also bring no small amount of ‘craic’ with him. The Aussie is infamous for both his on and off-field antics – including disciplinary action taken against him for urinating against a public bar and pushing over a medic during a Rugby Championship match.
8 Steve Mafi
RugbyPass understands that Mafi is set to sign from French champions Castre. If he were to do so, he would add both experiences and dynamism around the park. He also offers utility as a player who can play across the back five of the scrum.
7 Sean O’Brien
The Tullow Tank is the club’s most high profile signing to date, and if they can keep the Leinsterman fit, he could be a devastating prospect in the Premiership. RugbyPass reported he will earning in region of £450,000, so the club will be eager to get the most out of the 31-year-old. Like Mafi, has the ability to play any position in the backrow.
2?? British & Irish Lions tours
5??4?? Ireland caps
4?? Champions Cup titles
1??2??2?? appearances for Leinster
4?? Pro 14 titles1?? Statement of intent.#OBrienSigns pic.twitter.com/jniV3PDLGu
— London Irish (@londonirish) February 11, 2019
6 TJ Ioane
TJ Ioane, who joined from Sale Sharks, is a current Samoan international back-rower, winning the most recent of his 17 caps during this summer’s Pacific Nations Cup and Rugby World Cup qualifiers.
5 Adam Coleman
Another massive potential signing for Irish, the giant Wallaby secondrow looks set to transfer from the Waratahs to London for next season. At 6’8 and 122kg the agressive Australian will certainly add bulk and experience to Declan Kidney’s side.
4 Franco van der Merwe
The big South African has become a mainstay at Irish since he arrived from Ulster in 2017. After making just under 200 appearances for South African side the Lions, van der Merwe made the switch to fellow Super Rugby outfit the Sharks in 2013 prior to joining PRO 14 club Ulster a year later.
3 Ollie Hoskins
Twenty-six-year-old Australian prop Ollie Hoskins joined London Irish from Western Force in the build up to the 2016/17 season. Hoskins has represented Australia at Under-20 level and made 26 Super Rugby appearances for the Force. He may not be a household name, but he has managed to hold onto the tighthead berth, with former Leicester Tigers prop Pat Cilliers in hot pursuit.
2 Saia Fainga’a
Wallaby Fainga’a made his Super Rugby debut for the Brumbies in 2006 and had a two-year stint with the Canberra-based club, before moving to Queensland Reds where he spent seven seasons. Has become an important part of the London Irish pack already.
1 Allan Dell
Capped 13 times by Scotland, the loosehead prop hails from South Africa and represented their U20s four times in 2012. The prop is currently ranked 11th in his position in the Six Nations by the RugbyPass Index, and 41st in the world with a score of 73.
Comments on RugbyPass
Big difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
29 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
29 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
29 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
29 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
29 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to comments