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Rugby World Cup Depth Chart - Ireland
Despite their ham-fisted attempt in defending their 2018 Grand Slam, Ireland’s World Cup depth chart offers up far more reasons for cheer than their scratchy 2019 form.
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The upside to their third-place finish was that injury gave more players than usual game time in the championship and that could prove invaluable in preparations for the world finals in Japan.
Joe Schmidt likes planning with large numbers. Ireland’s addition this week of Will Addison to their squad means that of the half-dozen Six Nations countries, they are preparing for Japan with the largest panel at their disposal, 45 compared to Scotland and Italy’s 44, Wales’ 42, England’s 38 and France’s 37.
Trimming that down to the required 31 by early September will be intriguing in certain positions, none more so than half-back. In 2015, Schmidt travelled to the finals with three out-halves and two scrum-halves, a punt that didn’t pay off.
Ian Madigan couldn’t shoulder the burden of starting for the injured Johnny Sexton in the quarter-final loss to Argentina, while having just two nines meant Conor Murray had to tog out for all five matches without rest.
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With a likely split of 17 forwards and 14 backs expected, the squeeze will be noticeable at half-back as Schmidt is currently looking at eight players and three weeks of collective training so far has only added to that conundrum.
“I’m thinking it’s wrecking my head. I’m really not sure,” he said on Friday following Ireland’s public training session in Galway. “We had a coaches meeting this morning and we were throwing combinations around and we certainly haven’t got the answer yet.
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“During this pre-season players will get the opportunity to put their hands up. We have been really impressed with all four scrum-halves and all four our-halves. It’s going to be a tough conundrum and I can’t answer it as I don’t know.”
Ireland have already had an injury scare in this department, Sexton spraining a thumb when it crashed into Dave Kilcoyne’s heel in training last month. How John Cooney fares will be pivotal in the eventual selection outcome as he has the ability to cover both No9 and 10 positions.
In terms of a big name casualty, prop is the area to watch. Schmidt only took two looseheads to England 2015 and if a squad was picked now on form so far in 2019, it would see Kilcoyne ahead of 2017 Lions tourist Jack McGrath in the pecking order behind first choice Cian Healy.
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Sean Cronin and Niall Scannell would expect to be ahead of Rob Herring in providing cover for skipper Rory Best at hooker, but John Ryan has a battle holding off Finlay Bealham for the third tighthead spot.
Second row has already witnessed a tough selection. Despite being Ireland’s second busiest lock last term, Quinn Roux wasn’t one of the half dozen chosen in a training squad that instead included his fellow South African Jean Kleyn who recently became Irish-eligible under residency.
Two players will lose out here, as likely will two of the seven back rows currently in training, a sector of the team that is missing the long-term injured Sean O’Brien and Dan Leavy.
“There are groups that are impressing,” insisted Schmidt after week three’s collective training finished. “The whole back row are really pushing each other.
There were smiles and frowns when Joe Schmidt unveiled the 44 @IrishRugby players he wants to prepare for @rugbyworldcup 🌍 ✈️
https://t.co/Nq5090k3fK— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 28, 2019
“And the second rows as a group, Dev (Toner) is back in full training now so we have got all of them really competing against each other and we know the volume of work James Ryan gets through.
“Everyone is trying to demonstrate that they are up for the same sort of volume of work. Across the board, it’s going to throw up some very tough decisions.”
Four years ago, Schmidt brought nine centres, wingers and full-backs and he is now running the rule over 13 possibilities.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzsnoXiA7Ic/
Dave Kearney, Rory Scannell, Addison, and the uncapped Mike Haley are the fringe players looking to make the cut by impressing if they get a chance in the August matches versus Italy, England or Wales.
By the time the Irish face the Welsh for a second time on September 7, the selection die will have been cast for Japan and the identity of the 14 not travelling will be known.
WATCH: Part one of the two-part RugbyPass documentary on the many adventures that fans experience in Japan at this year’s World Cup
Comments on RugbyPass
Jacobsen will definitely be in the 23
2 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
2 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
5 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
5 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
4 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
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