Ireland V Wales a combined line up

I was basically trying to come up with a line up that would reflect where the balance of power lay for the upcoming Six Nations match. This is a line up acknowledging the form of certain players and the injuries to Alun Wyn Jones and Brian O'Driscoll.

15. Rob Kearney
14: Tommy Bowe
13: Jamie Roberts
12: Ashley Beck
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Mike Phillips
8: Toby Faletau
7: Sean O'Brien
6: Stephen Ferris
5: Paul O'Connell
4: Donncha O' Callaghan
3: Mike Ross
2: Matthew Rees
1: Cian Healy

15. Rob Kearney
14: George North
13: Jonathon Davies
12: Jamie Roberts
11: Luke Fitzgerald
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Mike Phillips
8: Jamie Heaslip
7: Sam Warburton
6: Stephen Ferris
5: Paul O'Connell
4: Luke Charteris
3: Adam Jones
2: Rory Best
1: Cian Healy

It's always going to be hard to pick this sort of side and put aside your own allegainces and the players you see week in week out, but I think you've done a good job. I would only really argue for change in your team for Adam Jones at tighthead as I think he's right up there in the world. Maybe George North over Luke Fitzgerald, but Fitzgerald has been playing really well recently for Leinster so why not. I may switch Roberts to 12 and, if you're struggling for another Irish 13, then Jonathan Davies would be a shout.

Sorry but we will never agree on this, whilst liking the looks of both teams Faleatu has to be in at No8 at the moment and even an argument for Lydiate.

Out of our back row if any of them are off form its Warburton and I would have Bowe on the wing

Oops shouldn't criticise others without putting my own up so here goes

Kearney
Bowe
JD2
Roberts
North

Sexton
Phillips

Lydiate
Faletau
SOB
POC
DOC
A Jones
Rees
Healy

Heaslip is back on form. He wasn't right at the World Cup. I think he hadn't fully recovered from an injury because he was way below par for quite a while. Since returning from his break after the World Cup he's been coming back to his best and won a few man of the match awards.

When back to his best he's still better than Faletau.

FR,

Not got a problem with a an all Irish or all Welsh back row as think both combos are brilliant, which is why you will never get everyone to agree with each other.

This is the main battle ground for me come the first game in Dublin, match will be won (by us) or lost here.

Ah its only a bit of craic I know but why the flip are people picking O'Callaghan?! Bowe is playing like a drain too these days...he's been in Wales too long I think....

From an englishman, so not biased. Maybe wrong, but not biased!

Healy
?
Jones
Charteris
POC
SOB
Ferris
Faletau

Murray
Sexton
Fitz
Beck
Roberts
North
Kearney

Hmmm, pretending for a moment that you can play against yourself, I'd say if NeverMySoul's side turned out against Rodder's one. Roddersm's side would take the win.

But they'd know they had a game and so would their medical team.

15.L.Halfpenny
14.G.North
13.J.Davies
12.J.Roberts
11.L.Fitzgerald
10.J.Sexton
9. M.Phillips

8.T.Faletau
7.S.warburton
6.S.Ferris
5.P.O'connell
4.I.Evans
3.A.Jones
2.R.Best
1.C.Healy

I'd have Ferris, Heaslip and Warburton in the back row. Could be the next Lions one. Has anyone else noticed that Ferris has been absolutely on fire non-stop since he returned from the long injury layoff? Can't wait to see him get his teeth into Leicester Tigers. He lifts the whole Ravenhill crowd and the team feed off it. Warburton is just a class act. Better 7 than O'Brien.

North and Roberts are huge assets to have in the backs, as Ireland found out in the RWC. Kearney and Fitzgerald are playing the best rugby of their lives at the moment. Throw in Phillips and Sexton and it'd be a potent backline. Threats everywhere.

Here's my team, and remember I'm wearing Leinster and Ireland blue/green tinted glasses.

01. Healy
02. Best
03. Jones
04. Charteris
05. O'Connell
06. Ferris
07. Warburton
08. Heaslip
09. Phillips
10. Sexton
11. Fitzgerald
12. Roberts
13. Davies
14. North
15. Kearney

13 is probably the position with the least standout players. No point considering BOD since he won't be playing for Ireland this 6 Nations.

Feckless Rogue wrote:Has anyone else noticed that Ferris has been absolutely on fire non-stop since he returned from the long injury layoff?

Yup! Too awesome for words....

Hey isn't your team just the same as mine?! ....

Oh yeah. So it is. Great minds think alike.

Yeah, the back row is so hard to call, all 6 are awesome. Gunna be a real selection headache for the lions if they are all fit and on form...

My 15 would be the same as Rods and Feckless with a bench of

Cronin
Jenkins- he's fit right?
Ian Evans
SOB- some impact off the bench!
Murray
Priestland
Earls

15 Kearney
14 Tommy Bowe
13 Brian O'Driscoll (I'd still pick him form or not)
12 Jamie Roberts
11 George North
10 Ronan O'Gara - yes he's retired but he gives Wales nightmares, it would be nice to have him on my side for once!
9 Dwayne Peel - actually playing brilliantly for Sale at the moment, form Welsh scrum half.
8 Toby Faletau / sorry but no way is Heaslip getting in ahead of Faletau, Faletau is on fire for the Dragons at the moment.
7 Sam Warburton
6 Ferris
5 Alun-Wyn Jones
4 Paul O'Connell
3 Adam Jones
2 Best
1 Healy

O'Gara didn't retire yet. Anyway no complaints from me if you prefer Faletau. He had a brilliant World Cup and Heaslip had quite a poor one. And Faletau is still playing great now. Heaslip just wasn't close to his best for ages after his injury last year. Ankle I think.

But now he's doing everything brilliantly again. Pilfering ball like the best opensides. Doing the grunt work. But is also bursting through tackles again and going on those rampaging runs, instead of being knocked backwards. I'm delighted for him. He was off colour for ages.