Irish RWC: Pick your Backrow

Hi all,

Haven't posted here in a long time tbh but I did this for the last world cup and thought it would be good to do again.
I want to get a sense of what the Irish (and non-Irish) 606ers think the Irish squad should be.

I am taking it as near guaranteed that there will be a 18-13 split
6 props
3 hookers
4 locks
5 backrow

3 scrumhalves
2 flyhalves
3 centres
5 outside backs

Backrow: PICK 4 (bare in mind Ryan/Henderson/Tuohy are all locks with experience at 6.)

Heaslip- One of the few specialist 8s in Ireland. His workrate is up there with O'Connell's and his rugby brain is very sharp. He alters his game to become the cog that is needed in that particular matchday. He has a strong breakdown game, defensive game, a good short/medium carrier.
O'Brien- Has been in odd form for the last while. We are not seeing him bosh through tackles the way he used to. Maybe he draws in more defenders maybe he doesn't? His work on the deck is not much more traditional 7. He is very effective here. On top of that his defensive workrate is strong.
Murphy- Here is a genuine cover man. He can cover all backrow positions. He has proven himself athletic but with a tough streak when he covered excellently in the 6Nations. He is a lineout option and a willing ball carrier with good breakdown skills. Jack of all trades?
O'Mahony- The Munster captain had a very strong 6Nations I felt and has continued in that vain of form. His breakdown work is a serious asset and when SOB, Henry, Heaslip out at various points he guided Murphy/TOD well. His lineout skills are vital for us and his dog and aggression too.
O'Donnell- TOD did well when called upon in the 6Nations. He proved a very effective ball carrier in open play and very quick around the park and to breakdowns. He lost out to Murphy when others returned but has done well at Munster since then until injury.
Butler- Probably out of the RWC selection picture considering the competition in the backrow. Crazy that there are only 4 places! He has done well at Munster and they will miss his carrying and open field aggression next year. He is also a leader in most playing groups.
Henry- Miraculous recovery from heart surgery. He has looked good since his return where he has shown that ruck nous and great discipline. He is not the most effective carrier or lineout operator but in defense and in the ruck there are few who can match him.
Diack- Probably out of the RWC selection picture too but JS is a fan and Diack is one who can play lock and backrow offering great versatility across 5 positions. His form has taken a dive in the last few years. If called into the training squad he will need to do a lot to get picked.
Wilson- Wilson is another on the periphery. He has been a part of the Ulster backrow but with many not performing and being injured. He is a grafter but needs to up his carrying and make more of a dent in opposition attacks with his tackling and rucking.


Please discuss your reasons for voting before you vote as I have not put vote cancelling on and somebody's point of view may sway your decision.

Diack's form has taken a dive over the last few years? A few years ago he was languishing under McLaughlin, uninterested and unfocused. Under Anscomb he became a cornerstone of our pack, calling the lineouts and captaining. This last season he wasn't as prominent, but then Hendo has been a revelation at six.

It's not massively pertinent to the discussion - he's deservedly not too high up the food chain - but it's just such a weirdly counter-factual observation.

Anyway, SOB, POM, Heaslip and Henry for me, on the understanding Henderson can do an excellent job at blindside.

I will say, SOB is coasting on former glories. Wouldn't do without him, but he needs to up his game if he can.

Totally agree. Got the time line wrong on diack.
But he is nowhere near what he was to ulster, not even making match day 23s.

Agree that sob is a shadow of what he was. He needs to up it big time.

Have to take at least 5 backrows (plus Henderson). Having only four doesn't allow for any real rotation in the pool games with three on the pitch and one on the bench.
POM, SOB and Heaslip are nailed on. I'd take Henry for the games Ireland need a genuine 7 and Murphy because he can realistically cover the whole backrow.

I think Doak has knocked Diack's confidence, bumping him for Roger at six in the first part of the season. Hopefully, he'll get a run during the RWC and get back to his best. Which, in fairness, only puts him on the very outer fringes of the Ireland squad at most. I'd have him at eight again ahead of Williams. None of which is pertinent to this thread... is Ruddock confirmed gone, then? Massive loss.

There will definitely be 5 back rows. Thats why I've voted for Heaslip, O'Brien, Henry, O'Mahony AND Murphy. There's not a chance that there will only be 4 in the squad.

If five, I'd go with Murphy as well.

It will be an 18-13 spilt with just 5 outside backs, not 6.

Diack suffered from minor knocks last season, but he is an intelligent player and makes few mistakes. I think he is a lot higher on Joe's radar because he could easily start any of the first three games, is a great lineout jumper and can cover lock as well. I think it could be between him and Murphy as the utility forward in the squad.

All true, but God he cannot carry.

I was wondering that about the split too will change the figures around when I get a chance

Sterling work Pete

When you do the backs, it will be a lot harder because of the overlaps of players being able to play more than one position, especially with only 13 of them.

What's the reason for SOB's drop-off? He had some strong performance against Scotland in the 6N, but struggled with Wales. One thing about him is he has the hands and vision to see an offload that some others in the team don't have

SoB,PoM,Heaslip,Henry and I went for Murphy in the last spot since he covers more positions than ToD.I don't think either of them will be getting ahead of both SoB and Henry at 7 so Murphys versatility will be more useful imo.

Is Ruddock definitely out of the WC.If he is fit for the warm-ups he would be in the reckoning.

Sounds like Ruddock is done tbh. He'd be doing well to get back and then fit enough for the warm up matches. Big shame

Will be really harsh on TOD if he doesn't make it. His 6Nations performances were awesome!

Still a relatively brittle line at 8 once you discount Heaslip but generally speaking what an outstanding array of talent Ireland has in the loose forward stable.

Jordi Murphy did really well there during the 6Nations against England. He was awesome in a few facets of the game.

Heaslip, SOB, POM are nailed on imo.

Henderson(and SOB) covers 6 so cover at 7/8 is needed.

Henry pips O'Donnell as an extra openside option and Murphy's versatility and ability to play 8 probably makes him frontrunner for the final spot.

Disappointed for Ruddock but think Schmidt would have taken Murphy anyway.

Heaslip 8, Henry 7, SOB 6. Thats Ireland's best backrow for my money. POM on the bench for impact.

I think Ruddock would have been a shoe in. I think he is a level up from Murphy and he can play all through the backrow as well.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Will be really harsh on TOD if he doesn't make it. His 6Nations performances were awesome!

He played well albeit only in two matches, one as an early sub. Personally I think Chris Henry had a much better six nations the year before and TOD is definitely going to replace SOB so as a specialist 7 it doesnt look good for him does it?

GunsGerms wrote:

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Will be really harsh on TOD if he doesn't make it. His 6Nations performances were awesome!

He played well albeit only in two matches, one as an early sub. Personally I think Chris Henry had a much better six nations the year before and TOD is definitely going to replace SOB so as a specialist 7 it doesnt look good for him does it?

When Chris Henry starts, the mix in the forwards has to change because Ireland basically lose a ball carrier when SOB isn't playing. You need to be starting ball carriers like Cronin then, though you really need better ball carriers in the tight.

A mix of Henderson, Henry & Heaslip would work well in that case.

Sure all Ireland do is kick the ball away, what would we need ball carriers for?

rodders wrote:Sure all Ireland do is kick the ball away, what would we need ball carriers for?

True. Andrew Trimble can forget making the squad then

Would I be right in thinking that TOD will be first backrow on standby?

2 votes a piece for Butler and Wilson... someone's not taking this very seriously