Time to introduce our next provincial blogger who will select their best Irish team throughout the season…this week, Munster!
Click here for more on the feature, but basically the idea is to select an Ireland matchday 23 for a test to be played the following Saturday.
Click these links for the latest selections from our other bloggers : Connacht Leinster. (We introduce our Ulster selector next Tuesday)
Having endured probably the worst season in the modern era of the Irish international Rugby, I am going into the Autumn Series with renewed hope for Ireland. with the installation of Joe Schmidt as head coach
My hope is renewed by the fact what Joe brought to Leinster during his time there.
His success on and off the field will bring a renewed hope to the players and to us the supporters.
My first XV for the first test is based on who is available.
1 Cian Healy, no need to explain why he is first choice prop for Ireland and would have been for the Lions only for the injury.
2 Rory Best, he will have had a long long look at what he didn’t do during the last season and I have a feeling that won’t happen again.
3 Mike Ross, perhaps shades it over Tom Court, who happened to be in the right place at the right time for the Lions imo.
4 Paul O Connell No need to say anymore really
5 Donncha Ryan is my pick for the no.5 jersey strong powerful and will have learned a lot at the top level last season, and he will improve again this season.
6 Sean O Brien for me again no real contest against him.
7 Peter O Mahony, who will only get better but needs to keep his mouth firmly shut and keep off the refs radar, no problem with him being confrontational with the opposition.
8 Jamie Heaslip, a good end to the season with Ireland, Leinster and the Lions secures his spot.
9 Conor Murray, keeps the No. 9 spot ahead of the rest.
10 Ian Madigan for me, not that he is better then Johnny Sexton, but Ireland need to have at least two top level no. 10’s and this will give him the experience ahead of the 6N’s
11 Torn between Zebo and McFadden, going to go with Simon Zebo but it is a close call for me.
12 Luke Marshall class act who will get better and hopefully no more concussions.
13 Rob Henshaw super natural player, BOD will start if he wants to but for me we need to expose the younger players to this level, to develop them.
14 Craig Gilroy will improve and is a good finisher.
15 Rob Kearney is an easy pic for me over any other FB around.
Replacements
16 Sean Cronin
17 Tom Court
18 Stephen Archer
19 Mike McCarthy
20 Chris Henry
21 Eoin Reddan
22 Paddy Jackson
23 Fergus McFadden
Mick O’Brien (@mickobrien1) has played interpro for Munster U20 & U21 and is now Sales Director for Core 150 ™ The Athlete's Shaker™
