From champions to a team in transition. It has been a rough few months.
Today is the last day we’re allowed feel sorry for ourselves. We have great memories of 2014 and 2015 glory and, in the coming months, we’ll play Southern Hemisphere giants on his occasions.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has suggested that he may bring in even more young players now that the Six Nations championship has slipped away.
On Saturday, Stuart McCloskey, Josh van der Flier and Ultan Dillane gave us reason to hope. We have two eminently winnable games against Italy and Scotland next on the calendar.
It is time to have a cut off these nations and give the Irish fans something to cling onto as we plot the downfalls of Springboks, Wallabies and All Blacks.
This is the team we feel Schmidt should start against Italy on March 12.
FRONT ROW
You could easily switch in Cian Healy here to give McGrath a rest but we say persist with the 26-year-old workaholic. Rory Best to start again but how about Sean Cronin in reserve and more than a 10-minute cameo. The man is a line-breaker. Mike Ross on the bench for the final push but get Tadhg Furlong some big Test experience.
SECOND ROW
Devin Toner fell off another couple of tackles at the weekend and was eclipsed by his partner, Donnacha Ryan. As Ryan is a line-out leader himself, we are retaining him. Ultan Dillane in from the start. He looked fantastic in his substitute outing against England so give him his head against the Azzurri.
BACK ROW
We don’t have Billy Vunipola but we do have CJ Stander. Stick the Munster captain at the back of the pack, in place of Jamie Heaslip, and let him cut loose. Bring in Rhys Ruddock at blindside to accommodate Stander’s switch. Josh van der Flier deserves another go, or 50, in the No.7 jersey.
HALF BACKS
With so many other changes going on, we would be more than happy for Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton continue their partnership. On the bench, however, it is time for Kieran Marmion and Paddy Jackson. If they do well in 25/30-minute roles, they could even start against the Scots.
MIDFIELD
Stick with the Robbie Henshaw and Stuart McCloskey partnership that looked extremely promising. The Ulster man did not seem at all out of place in the Twickenham cauldron while Henshaw is better suited to the outside channel.
BACK THREE
If his hamstring is mended, stick Jared Payne back here for the final two games so we can have a proper look at him. Simon Zebo offered some attacking zeal, off the bench, against England while Keith Earls was muted. There are calls for game-breakers like Craig Gilroy and Matt Healy but Trimble is a class act.
SportsJOE’s IRELAND XV
15. Jared Payne
14. Andrew Trimble
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Simon Zebo
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray
1. Jack McGrath
2. Rory Best
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Donnacha Ryan
5. Ultan Dillane
6. Rhys Ruddock
7. Josh van der Flier
8. CJ Stander
Replacements: S Cronin, Healy, Ross, Foley, O’Donnell, Marmion, Jackson, Earls.
