Now we’re into the thick of it.
The Guinness PRO14 season provided plenty of storylines, shocks and strong Irish performances in the first month of the season. October always sees the ante upped and so it has proved again.
The first inter-provincial ties of the season saw Leinster and Ulster emerge with the spoils and the opening weekend of Champions and Challenge Cup action finished with three Irish wins to go with Munster’s draw away to Castres.
Many of the country’s top players have now been filtered back into play and most are up to full match speed. Young players that got their chance over the summer, such as Andrew Porter, James Ryan and Jacob Stockdale, are kicking on while Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton hit the ground running after their second stints as Lions.
A Twitter thread on Friday night, about a form Ireland XV, got a decent response and, on our drive back from Ulster versus Wasps in Belfast, got us thinking.
This is purely subjective, mind, so feel free to disagree with us and make your own ‘Ireland XV’ suggestions [on our social media channels].
Starting in the front row, Dave Kilcoyne is in top nick for Munster and looked good against Castres at the weekend. He would need to keep that up to dislodge Jack McGrath and Cian Healy in the loosehead pecking order but it is encouraging to see him doing well. Rory Best will be pushing it to return for the Springboks but, if he does not make it, James Tracy is currently shading Munster’s Niall Scannell. At tighthead, Tadhg Furlong is looking good.
Iain Henderson is one if our second row options and, were Joe Schmidt to surprise us, he is partnered by Scarlets’ lock Tadhg Beirne – a man in sensational form. If Schmidt were to make Beirne wait until next year, Connacht’s Ultan Dillane is worth a place.
The big calls in our back row – with Josh van der Flier at openside – are both blue-tinted but based on form. Rhys Ruddock captained Ireland very well over the summer and has done excellently, of late, for Leinster. Ruddock is in at blindside and Jack Conan is No.8. It is likely that Schmidt would still go with Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander against the Springboks.
The half backs are Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton. John Cooney is surely pushing for November squad inclusion while Luke McGrath has been slick and solid for Leinster. We are still no clearer on who will back up Sexton next month.
There can be few arguments about our wingers as both men are flying it. Keith Earls [14] and Jacob Stockdale [11] are teamed up with Joey Carbery, who rebounded after a slow start to perform well against Montpellier.
In midfield, Robbie Henshaw is a certainty and may get a run in the 13 jersey. Alongside him, we’re going for Ulster’s Stuart McCloskey ahead of Rory Scannell. Bundee Aki will hope to be in the selection mix too but Connacht’s faltering form is helping few of their top players.
IRELAND
15. Joey Carbery
14. Keith Earls
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray
1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. James Tracy
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Iain Henderson
5. Tadhg Beirne
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jack Conan
