“I’ve tried to steer clear of your tried and tested big names.”
2018 brought Irish rugby fans a Grand Slam, a winning tour to Australia and another win over the All Blacks. Munster also reached a Champions Cup semi final while Leinster went on to win that competition and claim the Guinness PRO14 title too. They were heady days indeed and World Rugby awarded us Team of the Year, Coach of the Year (Joe Schmidt) and Player of the Year (Johnny Sexton).
2019 was a bit of a come-down for Irish rugby but there were still plenty of players that had outstanding years and that needs to be recognised.
As part of their end of year awards, on Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby [from 14:00 below], Andrew Trimble – with help from Barry Murphy and Jerry Flannery – selected his 1 to 15 Team of the Year. He used it as an opportunity to shine a light on players that may not be grabbing all the headlines but who are doing themselves proud.
There are 10 players on Trimble’s XV that lined out for the national team in 2019 but the former Ulster and Ireland winger centred his selections around provincial form.
He also wanted to highlight the performances of some players that may not grab all the limelight. To that end, James Ryan and Player of the Year Garry Ringrose, sit out from this particular selection so others can have their moment in the sun.
Trimble’s front row – Eric O’Sullivan, Sean Cronin and Andrew Porter – and second row of Scott Fardy and Tadhg Beirne raised no quibbles from Murphy or Flannery. When it came to the back row, Flannery successfully argued that Marcell Coetzee should be in at No.8 alongside Trimble’s flanker picks of Peter O’Mahony and Colby Fainga’a. That saw Leinster and Ireland star Jack Conan bumped out.
John Cooney was the resounding scrumhalf selection while Jack Carty, who ended last season in sensational form for Connacht, nudged out Ross Byrne. Munster’s Keith Earls and Andrew Conway took the wing berths while Trimble opted for Stuart McCloskey and Tom Farrell in his midfield. Flannery did argue for Farrell at inside centre with Ringrose in the 13 jersey while Murphy praised Munster’s Rory Scannell.
That left one spot in the XV at it went to a long-time favourite of the show, and a Rolls Royce player. Who else but Will Addison of Ulster, who narrowly missed out on World Cup selection after battling his way back from a back injury.
Baz & Andrew’s Team of the Year
15. Will Addison (Ulster and Ireland)
14. Andrew Conway (Munster and Ireland)
13. Tom Farrell (Connacht)
12. Stuart McCloskey (Ulster and Ireland)
11. Keith Earls (Munster and Ireland)
10. Jack Carty (Connacht and Ireland)
9. John Cooney (Ulster and Ireland)1. Eric O’Sullivan (Ulster)
2. Sean Cronin (Leinster and Ireland)
3. Andrew Porter (Leinster and Ireland)
4. Scott Fardy (Leinster)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Munster and Ireland)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster and Ireland)
7. Colby Fainga’a (Connacht)
8. Marcell Coetzee (Ulster)
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Barry Murphy, Andrew Trimble, and Jerry Flannery look back on the past year in Irish rugby and the world game, dole out some awards – to Garry Ringrose, Eric O’Sullivan and more – while Producer Pat has also put together a ‘Best Of’ compilation from 2019.
