Joe Schmidt has named the team to take on Italy in Rome this weekend.
15. Rob Kearney
14. Keith Earls
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Simon Zebo
10. Paddy Jackson
9. Conor Murray
1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best (captain)
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Donnacha Ryan
5. Devin Toner
6. CJ Stander
7. Sean O’Brien
8. Jamie Heaslip
Replacements
16. Niall Scannell
17. Jack McGrath
18. John Ryan
19. Ultan Dillane
20. Josh van der Flier
21. Kieran Marmion
22. Ian Keatley
23. Craig Gilroy
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
Hi, great to see all the comments on the English team here. As an Ireland fan I don’t get to see enough of the club rugby to know enough about some of the new players.
I’m interested in views about the Irish team selection, a lot of chatter here about Kearney selected again when maybe we should be giving experience to a new player? And Bowe sent home too…
Your thoughts?
I’m not too bothered about Kearney – he has a few years left in him yet and I still think he’s the best option. With some more minutes under the belt he’ll be grand. As for Bowe, I think he’s finished internationally, and it brings me no joy to say so, as I have always been, and remain a big fan. Sometimes though, you just have to acknowledge the way things are and how out gracefully. Time for him to focus on keeping fit for Ulster.
Kearney is still the best fullback available but for italy it would have been nice to see Tiernan O’Halloran given some game time (even off the bench) as he is clearly the future. The big question is will be the best player by 2019 or will he only take over after the next RWC