The current pecking order for each position in the Irish team

A little over an hour after Ireland’s Guinness Series had concluded with a 28-19 victory over Argentina, Joe Schmidt was already mulling the 2018 Six Nations.

That, he insisted, must be Ireland’s priority rather than forward planning for the 2019 World Cup. Proper order too.

It is a realistic aim for this country to go after the next two Six Nations championships and head into the World Cup, in Japan, with an ingrained winning mentality. Go and win that too, Schmidt will tell them.

Following the Argentina game, Schmidt name-checked six players that will be in the selection mix for next year’s championship – Jamie Heaslip [back in early 2018, with any luck], Barry Daly, Niyi Adeolokun, Keith Earls, Craig Gilroy and Jared Payne.

Asked about experienced heads Heaslip and Payne, Schmidt replied, “I certainly wouldn’t discount it at the moment.”

As we previously noted, if Payne returns to full fitness and can steer reasonably clear of his troubling migraines, he will start at outside centre for Ireland in their championship opener against France. Just in case you doubt this, here’s Schmidt again:

“He’s incredibly influential when he plays for us. I think you saw that when he was on one leg against England, but he still made a difference. He would be another guy who would still be on the radar, for sure.”

Payne and Heaslip have too much class, and nous, to not be included in the conversation, if fit, while the likes of Niall Scannell, Andrew Trimble and Keith Earls will be hoping to get back in. Tyler Bleyendaal will be Irish qualified too.

Heading into 2018, here is the current pecking order for each of Ireland’s positions [with five men to choose from in the second row]. As you may note, there are some considerable changes to the pecking order from before the Guinness Series. A couple of versatile players are included in more than one position.

Loosehead

1. Cian Healy
2. Jack McGrath
3. Dave Kilcoyne

Hooker

1. Rory Best
2. Niall Scannell
3. James Tracy
4. Rob Herring

Tighthead

1. Tadhg Furlong
2. John Ryan
3. Andrew Porter
4. Finlay Bealham

Second row

1. Iain Henderson
2. Devin Toner
3. James Ryan
4. Ultan Dillane
5. Kieran Treadwell

Blindside

1. Peter O’Mahony
2. Rhys Ruddock
3. CJ Stander
4. Jordi Murphy
5. Iain Henderson

Openside

1. Sean O’Brien
2. Josh van der Flier
3. Dan Leavy
4. Rhys Ruddock

No.8

1. CJ Stander
2. Jamie Heaslip
3. Jack Conan
4. Jack O’Donoghue

Scrum-half

1. Conor Murray
2. Luke McGrath
3. Kieran Marmion

Out-half

1. Johnny Sexton
2. Joey Carbery
3. Ian Keatley
4. Tyler Bleyendaal

Left wing

1. Jacob Stockdale
2. Keith Earls
3. Andrew Trimble

Inside centre

1. Robbie Henshaw
2. Bundee Aki
3. Stuart McCloskey

Outside centre

1. Jared Payne
2. Garry Ringrose
3. Bundee Aki
4. Chris Farrell

Right wing

1. Keith Earls
2. Andrew Conway
3. Darren Sweetnam
4. Andrew Trimble

Fullback

1. Rob Kearney
2. Joey Carbery
3. Andrew Conway
4. Jared Payne
5. Tiernan O’Halloran

As for the team we believe Joe Schmidt will select to open up against France in Paris, on February 3…

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcC3EwCljXi/?taken-by=sportsjoedotie

We’d back those men to return home with a win.

The FootballJOE quiz: Were you paying attention? – episode 10