We picked our ultimate Ireland rugby U23 team

Some amount of talent!

Enjoy.

Front row

We had to get creative here by shifting Paddy McCarthy to tighthead.

While the Leinster youngster has not started there during his pro career, he lined out at No 3 for the Ireland U20s.

When fit, he might just be the best prop in the country.

Fitting in at looshead is Connacht's Billy Bohan, whose remarkable rise last year peaked with an Ireland debut against Japan.

Gus McCarthy slots in at hooker, with the Leinster and Ireland international primed for a battle with Ulster's Tom Stewart this season, to see who gets on the plane for the World Cup.

Honorable mentions: Alex Usanov, Sam Illo, Niall Smyth, Stephen Smyth.

Second row

Edwin Edogbo just about scrapes in, with his 24th birthday coming in December.

He is a shoo-in at lock, and it feels like he has already had a near full career, given how early he broke through at Munster, and the injury struggles he has had to overcome since.

Partnering him is his clubmate Evan O'Connell, who is quickly developing himself into the quintessential Munster lock.

Honorable mentions: Charlie Irvine, Conor O'Tighearnaigh, Alan Spicer.

Back row

Despite missing the entirety of last season with an ACL injury, James McNabney has looked near to full power in preseason and against Edinburgh in the URC.

His teammate, Bryn Ward, is a no-brainer (no-Bryner?), after making his Ireland debut alongside Bohan.

And shoring up the back five of the pack is the ever-abrasive Brian Gleeson.

Honorable mentions: Seán Edogbo, Josh Neill, Ruadhán Quinn, Josh Ericson.

Half-back

There are plethora of young scrum-halves chomping at the bit to get Ireland recognition, but only two - Fintan Gunne and Ben O'Donovan - are under 24.

Leinster's Gunne just sneaks it.

Sam Prendergast will not turn 24 until next year, so naturally, as Ireland's first choice, he slots in at out-half.

Honorable mentions: Ben O'Donovan, Casper Gabriel, Tom Wood, Charlie O'Shea, Jack Murphy.

Centre

Hugh Gavin's rise slowed considerably last season, and he is out until December at the earliest.

Nonetheless, he deserves his place in the XV.

Partnering him is Leinster's Hugh Cooney, who has enjoyed a bright start to the season thus far, in Leinster's mini tour of South Africa.

Honorable mentions: Eoghan Smyth.

Back-three

With what is one of the quickest Irish wing pairings ever put to paper, we're going with Connacht's Finn Treacy and Leinster's JJ Kenny.

Both men will be pushing hard to break into their respective first XVs this season.

Rounding out the team is Munster's Ben O'Connor, whose talent has fans eagerly anticipating another breakthrough season.

Ireland U23 team:

1. Billy Bohan
2. Gus McCarthy
3. Paddy McCarthy
4. Edwin Edogbo
5. Evan O'Connell
6. James McNabney
7. Bryn Ward
8. Brian Gleeson
9. Fintan Gunne
10. Sam Prendergast
11. Finn Treacy
12. Hugh Gavin
13. Hugh Cooney
14. JJ Kenny
15. Ben O'Connor

Subs: Stephen Smyth, Alex Usanov, Niall Smyth, Charlie Irvine, Seán Edogbo, Ruadhán Quinn, Ben O'Donovan, Jack Murphy.