6 Nations
Ireland: 6 Nations Predicted Matchday 23
Our predicted team to face England. Tough choices in the backrow
Ireland will open their Six Nations campaign in Dublin on February 2nd, against an English side on a redemption mission. While most of the squad is nailed down, there are spots up for grabs, particularly on the bench
Front Row
Cian Healy seems to have overtaken Jack McGrath again, after a few years of backing up his Leinster team-mate. Captain Rory Best is a dead cert for the number two jersey. The Ulsterman has not played an awful lot of club rugby lately, but generally saves his best performances for the green jersey. Tighthead prop is a no brainer; Tadhg Furlong. The Wexford man is by some distance the best in the world in his position
Second Row
James Ryan and Devin Toner are in pole position for the engine room. Toner is basically undroppable for Joe Schmidt, there is no better lineout operator in the country. We saw this against Argentina in the autumn; a misfiring lineout righted itself as soon as Toner arrived on the scene. James Ryan is incredible, in a word. Already one of the best in the world in his position at only 22, he always puts up ridiculous numbers in defence and attack, Ryan will carry and tackle all day long. Iain Henderson and Tadhg Beirne may feature at some point, injury permitting.
Back Row
Two spots here are dead certs: Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander. O’Mahony is a future Ireland captain, and is a brilliant leader in the pack, while Stander will carry ball all day. Openside is up in the air, given the timely return of Sean O’Brien. Josh Van Der Flier has been in amazing form for Leinster, and Dan Leavy looks likely to be fit in time to feature. Dan Leavy is a very good ball carrier as well as his breakdown ability, while Van Der Flier will tackle everything that moves, and Sean O’Brien when he’s on song, is the best in the world. Josh Van Der Flier will probably start to begin with, Sean O’Brien might take the 20 jersey, given that he has been playing number 8 a lot for Leinster, and is probably the most versatile bench option. Jordi Murphy has been flying for Ulster and will probably feature off the bench.
Half-Backs
Very little to discuss here. Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton. The only pairing in the world that rivals Smith and Barrett. Irish fans will be praying there will be no injuries.
Embed from Getty ImagesCentres
Robbie Henshaw has returned at just the right time. The Athlone man looked to be straight back to his best against Wasps at the weekend, and should start against England. Garry Ringrose has maintained his high standards performing for Leinster, and is a dead cert for 13, Bundee Aki, and both Farrells (Tom and Chris) will be waiting in the wings should there be any injuries
Embed from Getty ImagesBack Three
Jacob Stockdale, Rob Kearney, and Keith Earls will almost definitely be the three chosen. Earls has been in outstanding form for Munster and is well deserving of a spot. Stockdale has been in great try scoring form Ulster and will hopefully build on his great performances in the last year November. Rob Kearney has been struggling for fitness lately but will come into the team as soon as he is fit. Kearney has wonderful fielding ability, and covers the entirety of the backfield himself, an integral part of Andy Farrell’s defensive system. Will Addison is the most likely candidate to come in should there be any injuries. Jordan Larmour is also in contention, but Addison has the edge defensively.
Embed from Getty ImagesBench
Sean Cronin has his
Bench backrower will probably be Sean O’Brien. He covers each position to an incredibly high standard. Replacement scrum half should go to John Cooney. Caoilin Blade is in contention, but aside from injury probably will not get any gametime. Joey Carbery has been in flying form for Munster, his move south having proved incredibly beneficial. He has made his last 20 kicks at goal in a row, since Munster’s loss to Castres in the Champion’s Cup, proving his worth as Johnny Sexton’s deputy. The 23 jersey should be Will Addison’s. The English-born Ulsterman covers 11-15 to an international standard
Embed from Getty ImagesPredicted Match Day 23:
- Cian Healy
- Rory Best
- Tadhg Furlong
- James Ryan
- Devin Toner
- Peter O’Mahony
- Josh Van Der Flier
- CJ Stander
- Conor Murray
- Johnny Sexton
- Jacob Stockdale
- Robbie Henshaw
- Garry Ringrose
- Keith Earls
- Rob Kearney
16. Sean Cronin
17. Jack McGrath
18. Andrew Porter
19. Quinn Roux
20. Sean O’Brien
21. John Cooney
22, Joey Carbery
23. Will Addison
Let us know if you would make any changes
Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm contract extensions for Conor Murray and Jack Daly with Brian Gleeson to be promoted from the Academy to the senior squad next season.
Murray and Daly have signed one-year extensions with Gleeson moving up to the senior squad on a two-year deal.
Gleeson is one of five Academy players moving up to the senior squad next year with Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan, Mark Donnelly and Edwin Edogbo also signing two-year deals.
Conor Murray is one of the most decorated scrum-halfs in world rugby with 116 Ireland caps and three British & Irish Lions tours to his name.
A former St Munchin’s College student, the Garryowen man won his fifth 6 Nations title with Ireland last month and earned his second league title with Munster last season.
The 34-year-old has made 185 Munster appearances and scored 34 tries for the province to date and was named on World Rugby’s Team of the Decade in 2019.
25-year-old flanker Jack Daly came up through the ranks at Castleisland RFC and made his Munster debut against Zebre in 2020.
Daly joined the Academy in 2018, moved up to the senior squad in 2021 and plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen. A former Ireland U20 international, he made his Champions Cup debut against Toulouse in the quarter-final at the Aviva Stadium in 2022.
Try-scoring number 8 Brian Gleeson leads the charge for the Ireland Under-20s against France ©INPHO/Evan Treacy
20-year-old Gleeson moves up to the senior squad after just one year in the Academy that has seen him score one try in nine senior appearances.
Currently out of action with an ankle injury, he had already made three Champions Cup appearances before turning 20.
The powerful back-row forward was a Grand Slam winner with the Ireland U20s last year. plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen and came up through the ranks at Thurles RFC and Rockwell College.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against Scotland at Aviva Stadium (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Ireland – currently sitting top of the Six Nations table heading into Super Saturday – can clinch back-to-back Championship titles with victory over Scotland in Dublin.
Farrell has named an unchanged starting XV for the Round 5 clash, as Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash and James Lowe continue in the Ireland back three. Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki are once again selected in midfield, with Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park the starting half-backs.
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong pack down in the front row, with Joe McCarthy partnering Tadhg Beirne – who is set to win his 50th Test cap for Ireland – in the engine room.
Captain Peter O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have opted for a 5-3 split on the bench, with Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan providing the reinforcements up front, and Conor Murray, Harry Byrne and the fit-again Garry Ringrose the backline options.
Saturday’s match is live on Virgin Media One and ITV, with live radio coverage available on RTE Radio 1.
Ireland Team & Replacements (v Scotland, Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Saturday, March 16, 4.45pm)
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(39)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(5)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(71)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(55)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(30)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(13)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(34)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(63)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(25)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(75)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(9)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(49)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(104)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(61)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(40)
Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(30)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(128)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(39)
19. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(19)
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(45)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(115)
22. Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster)(3)
23. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(57).
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Peter O’Mahony captains Ireland for the Round 4 visit to London, with Hugo Keenan returning to the starting XV after recovering from injury.
Keenan joins Calvin Nash and James Lowe in the Ireland back three, with Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw continuing their midfield partnership.
Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park are retained as the half-back pairing.
In the pack, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are in the front row, with Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne named in the engine room. Captain O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have selected a 6-2 split on the bench, as Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan provide the reinforcements in the pack.
Backs Conor Murray and Ciaran Frawley complete Ireland’s Match Day 23 to face England.
Saturday’s match is live on RTÉ2 and ITV.
Ireland:
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(38)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(4)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(70)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(54)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(29)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(12)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(33)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(62)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(24)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(74)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(8)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(48)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(103)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(60)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(39)
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(29)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(127)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(38)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(80)
20. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(18)
21. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(44)
22. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(114)
23. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(3)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
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