Ireland XV Depth Chart - 1 December 2018
[b]Fifth XV
6th XV
7th XV 8th XV [/b]
15.
D Leader* L Ludik*
M Haley* J Kelly*
14.
C Gilroy N Adelolokun
C Nash* H Keenan*
13.
L Marshall Tom O'Brien*
C Ronaldson* D Goggin*
12.
T Farrell* A Curtis*
D Cave Con O'Brien*
11.
A Woottam M Healy
R O'Mahony* R Lyttle*
10.
C Frawley* JJ Hanrahan*
B Burns* J Carty*
9.
C Blade* N McCarthy*
D Williams* D Shanahan*
8.
C Doris* M Deegan*
R Copeland E McKeon*
7.
J O'Donoghue C Oliver*
S Reidy S Penny*
6.
Da O'Callaghan* M Rea*
Josh Murphy* E Masterson*
5.
K Treadwell* R Molony*
M Kearney* R Baird*
4.
D O'Shea* J Cannon*
B Holland F Wyncherley*
3.
M Moore M Bent
S Archer T O'Toole*
2.
J Treacy D Heffernan
S Delahunt* K O'Byrne*
1.
P Dooley* J Cronin
D Buckley* E O'Sullivan*
(*) Uncapped player
CommentaryIn preparing the Depth Chart for the fifth to eight ranked teams, I was particularly struck that these players are almost exclusively the produce of the various Provincial Coaching Teams. Well as we are served at National level with our Coaching group, I do not believe we have every been as well served by the four Provincial Coaching Teams. Four excellent Head Coaches and high-quality specialist Coaches, none of whom seems to be excessively egotistical, although all are obviously ambitious for the success of the players under their control and the teams which they serve. So hats off to David Nucifora and those others at Provincial level who have selected the current Coaching teams.
Reviewing my earliest attempts at a National Depth Chart from the Season 2010-11, it is almost miraculous to see the emergence of so many quality players in our game. The standards are rising each year and there is little doubt that the concept of "internal competition" as the real driver of improved performance is being borne out in the Irish Rugby environment. Eight teams totals 120 professional players and there are close to 220 players earning some form of income within the four Provincial set-ups (the €8,000 p.a. to Academy players is hardly a living wage). But the reality is, that in addition to the eight teams listed, there are a further 25-30 players who could yet progress towards international level before RWC2023. Ireland's depth has never been stronger and it is still improving.
It's also fair to say that I've seen less of the play of many of the players in this group, simply because of coverage of the games they've played. However, it is probable that many of them will get competitive game time in the upcoming inter-provincials and at this point I hope to provide an update on all eight teams prior to the commencement of the 6N Tournament, following the completion of the last round of Pool Games of the European competitions.
No 15There are four highly talented players listed at full-back.
Darragh Leader is a big footballer for full-back, but his Gaelic-football background give him excellent fielding skills and his long-loping stride generates pace, if not acute acceleration. A good tackler also, his first target is to by-pass the rarely-favoured O'Halloran for the Connacht jersey.
Louis Ludik has had the duel challenges since arrival on these shores of injury and completing his qualification period. Since his Irish qualification in 2018, he suffered injury but has looked a very good attacker, whether as wing or full-back, and his fielding is immaculate. He is also a good back-field organiser.
Haley, the former Sale man, has been the preference of the Coach thus far in Munster's big games. Kelly captained the Leinster A team to win the Celtic Cup, but has not been dominant as a defender. Both players like the ball in hand and have good attacking skills, but neither has inspired total confidence under the high-ball or in confrontational tackles
[b]No 14Two experienced and capped practitioners
Gilroy and Adelolokun compete with two of the sharp young contenders
Calvin Nash & Hugo Keenan. Nash has real pace and Keenan has honed his skills with the Irish Sevens Squad and has also performed well at full-back for Leinster at Pro14. Schmidt seemed to like Gilroy's style a couple of years ago but injury and the odd defensive flaw have pushed him down the pecking order. Adelolkun was particularly unlucky with the dip in Connacht performances over the past two years and has not quite regained the consistency he showed under Pat Lam. The relative ranking of these four may change from competition in upcoming Inter-provincials unfolds.
No 13Luke Marshall tends to start Seasons well and finish them in the same style, but often with a couple of catastrophes along the way. No game time yet under McFarland as he recovers from a nasty ACL injury last April,
Marshall was in the starting Irish mid-field under Schmidt in South Africa a couple of seasons ago and if he fully recovers, could still do a job at that level.
Craig Ronaldson may complete his career with the 'moniker' of journey-man as a regular appendage. However his contributions for Connacht are vital and he has demonstrated time and again, his ability to "finish" games in tight circumstances.
Tommy O'Brien produced excellent Irish U.20 performances in captaining the team and playing in three positions. Outside-centre just might be the position he blossoms in at senior level under the guidance of Lancester & Conteponi in Leinster.
Dan Goggin is another youngster who may get chances and development under Felix Jones and Johann Van Gramm in Munster. A good temperament and a fierce competitor.
No 12Tom Farrell got a lot more media coverage last season than many of his colleagues in the Connacht back-line. And he deserved it. Playing in a lack-lustre unit, he topped the Pro14 Stats in two categories and showed that, whilst others floundered and complained, he learned from Coach Kieran Keane and became a better player in arduous circumstances.
Curtis and Conor O'Brien are two of the brightest prospects for Irish mid-field play for a few years. At U.20 level, both players were at their best facing the stiffest competition and they have stepped up to Pro14 level with hardly a move out of place. Two real prospects for the 2023 RWC. What more can be said about
Darren Cave. Cave is almost a folk-hero in Ravenhill and with more than 200 caps for his Province is still producing important performances in big games. He also has a really good reputation for helping the newbees, so don't be surprised if he ends up on the Coaching ticket. At age 31, his 11-year career may not last too much longer but he will continue to contribute whenever selected.
No 11Twelve months ago
Alex Woottam was in the Irish squad and wearing the green jersey in the Guinness Series in November. He and
Matt Healy are two players whose attacking skills probably out-shine their defensive attributes. Both could do with plenty of opportunities in the Inter-provincial Series to bring their skills to the attention of those who count.
Rob Lyttle had a meteoric rise in an Ulster jersey in 2017-18 and despite his diminutive stature scored some great tries. He has been less fortunate with selection this Season, but he has real attacking ability and a good football brain. Another in the same category is
Ronan O'Mahony. From his perspective, his name has appeared too often in the AIL score-sheets when he could be that doing in the red of Munster. Another player with all-round rugby skills and rare pace.
No 10The Quarterback Expansion programme. I heard the phrase from one of the USA backroom team during the recent Autumn international. Of Irish extraction, he was bemoaning the sheer depth (compared to USA) of the Irish out-half factory and compared it to the Welsh production line of the 1970's. Certainly, it's likely that any of the four contenders listed here
Frawley, Hanrahan, Burns or Carty would be first choice for the USA and possibly up to seven other RWC qualified nations. Frawley is the one who excites me most as a Leinster supporter. In his few appearances for the Province he has look talented, relaxed and in control. He has all the skills and place-kicking, which even Sexton must admire. Hanrahan has drawn the short-straw of Carbery's noisy arrival in Munster as ordained at high levels. JJ has a great set of skills and with confidence and opportunity, he can still progress to steer the Munster ship to the best ports. Carty started the Season in magnificent form but ran aground in one game against the Ospreys. His new Coach
Andy Friend has however been supportive and Connacht's recent form may give him more opportunities to show his progress in the coming weeks and months.
No 9Still the position which causes the greatest concern in Irish rugby. Each of the four contenders have progressed well in the current Season and each has made important contributions to their Provincial causes.
Blade has impressed me most and he has become a fierce competitor, who prioritises service to his out-half above his running instincts.
McCarthy has announced his intention to move south to Munster, but not before demonstrating to Leinster fans that they will miss a player in the ascendancy.
Duncan Willams shored up the Munster cause in the early-season absence of Murray and, in doing so, showed the value of a run of games in building confidence. The recruitment, and immediate selection of former NZ player, Alby Matheson was not the greatest show of faith, but Williams kept supporting the cause and looked the better player for it.
No 8Doris, Deegan, Copeland and McKeon are the contenders to ultimately fill the jersey worn by Heaslip and CJ. Big shoes to fill and the position still holds particular affection for Irish supporters.
Doris has definitely stolen a march on
Deegan at Leinster and has been selected in the absence of Jack Conan on international duty. More abrasive than his counterpart, he is an aggressive ball carrier and a good line-out option, who also relishes the defensive side of the game. Largely based on his outstanding U.20 performances,
Deegan is viewed as having a higher "ceiling" but to achieve his ultimate goal, his appetite for the 'hard yards' and 'black arts' will have to improve markedly.
Copeland has probably now seen as much of the green jersey as he is going to. However, he still has unique talents and if Connacht get close to challenging for trophies, this man can product performances that few in the country can equal.
McKeon is a player who may deprive Copeland of further big opportunities. Alongside Boyle in the Connacht backrow, they have looked like a hungry twosome who can compete with the biggest opposition with awesome tackling and aggressive ball carrying.
No 7Another position beloved of Irish rugby fans and with no hang-up about size among the contenders.
Oliver and Penny are the smaller, hard-tackling, all-action, pocket-battleships from Munster and Leinster respectively. Penny has taken to the professional game to the manner born and his try-scoring rivals that of Stockdale. Oliver has thrown down the mantle at Tommy O'Donnell's feet and delivered performances reminiscent of Neil Back.
Jack O'Donoghue is more in the South African mould of No 7. A classy No 8 at underage levels, he has suffered injury this season but may well mature into the sort of flanker that Johann Van Grann will remember from his days with the winning Bulls.
Sean Reidy[b] has largely seen off the challenge of Timoney for the No 7 jersey in Ulster . He is a fierce competitor and ball-carrier or tackler and his contributions are vital if Ulster are to continue to progress this Season.
[b][b]No 6 [/b]
The contenders at blind-side flanker may not quicken the pulse like those elsewhere but
O'Callaghan, Rea, Murphy and Masterson are all the sort of players you would want in the your pack during the months of November through February, going to play an important away game against strong opposition. Rea and Murphy may have the higher 'ceilings', but none of them can be ruled out of future contention at high levels.
Nos 4 and 5I've not made distinctions between tight-head and loose-head second-rows, largely because I've not seen enough of all the contenders in those different roles. Firstly the real young guys,
Baird and Wyncherley come from opposite ends of the spectrum of second-row body shapes. Baird is a ridiculously talented sportsman, possibly with as much talent for the position as James Ryan and certainly with the same physical attributes. Has he the same cold-minded bottle and desire? Thats the big question. Wyncherley comes from the Mick Galwey / Billy Holland stable of second-rows and certainly has the heart and hardness to follow in their steps. Only time and fortune will tell.
Treadwell, O'Shea, Molony and Cannon are core incumbents of their provincial squads and may not progress higher because of the ages of those ahead of them in the pecking order.
Holland and Kearney have already been capped and both of them have demonstrated this Season once again their ability to make big contributions in European games. Great depth and a couple of outstanding prospects.
No 3Tight-head is certainly a position where the Irish depth has been developed in an unrecognisable way in less than 5 years. Gone (hopefully forever) are the days where the injury or illness of Hayes or Ross, spelt a disaster for the entire Irish team.
Marty Moore looks like one of the few players in these four teams that could claim a slot on the plane to Japan, if he continues his progress so far this Season. A player who first emerges under Greg Feek in Leinster, he retains the loyalty of his old scrum Coach. He has harnessed that with the expertise of his new Head Coach, McFarland and also the wiles of Aaron Dunden, the ex-Leinster hooker who is now Ulster Scrum Coach. The quality of that Coaching ticket is proven by the emergence of an even younger Ulster tight-head in
Tom O'Toole who first learned the position in Queensland before making his way to the Ulster Academy and then the Ulster senior Squad.
Michael Bent and Stephen Archer will both wear Squad numbers this season in big European games for their Provinces. Further proof of real depth.
No 2The four young contenders all recognise that once Rory retires, there is no automatic successor at present. Herring and Cronin will continue, but probably not through to 2023. Scannell is in with a shout to be the successor, but with no guarantees.
Treacy, Heffernan, Delahunt and O'Byrne will also be in Squads during the respective European challenges in the coming months. All have flaws in their games, but each has particular attributes which may be attractive to future Head Coach Farrell, or his Scrum Coach post-2019. Getting the darts right, is perhaps the only common objective that these four share.
No 1Loose-head prop is a position that McFarland, Aaron Dundon, Jimmy Duffy, John Fogarty and Jerry Flannery, all scrum Coaches, recognise as one of the bell-weather positions on the every winning team. All five coaches, who participated the National Scrum Programme initiated in 2011 by the IRFU, would be contributors to the view that if the your scrum is going well, you will see the No 1 jersey contributing all around the pitch. If you scrum is under pressure, so is your loose-head and his contribution everywhere else will be minuscule.
Dooley, Cronin, Buckley and O'Sullivan represent further proof of the depth of our game.
Dooley is an excellent ball-player and great tackler who would play an awful lot more senior rugby if he played outside Leinster.
Cronin is a tough, nuggety operator who can concede too many penalties, but can tame the toughest tight-heads in European rugby.
Buckley was a great contributor to the years of Connacht success and probably has been unlucky not to be higher up the pecking order.
Eoin O'Sullivan is the latest young Leinster exile to make an impression amongst the Red-Hand people. IMO, Dooley and O'Sullivan, if their continue to progress and avoid serious injury, will be serious contenders by the time RWC 21023 comes around.
Overall SummaryEverybody interested in the state of world rugby knows that Ireland has a superb Coaching Team and most now acknowledge that Ireland has amongst the strongest Squads that will travel to compete for the Webb Ellis Trophy next October and November. Few outside Ireland realise that this is unlikely to be a
"temporary little arrangement". Ireland now has a depth of professional rugby strength which should facilitate future Head Coach Farrell and his colleagues continuing the level of Irish success, almost seamlessly, up to at least 2023.
Irish rugby has never been in that position before. Good strategic planning and organised implementation of good management of resources, have been the hallmarks of getting where we are. Those making such decisions within the IRFU, now largely employees rather than Committee men, deserve the gratitude of Irish rugby supporters. The next 12 months for Irish Rugby could provide more great days. If they don't, it will not because we lacked for talent.