Opinion: Picking Ireland’s 33-man squad to go to the Rugby World Cup

Colin Newboult
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Ireland head coach Andy Farrell named a 42-man wider training squad ahead of their Rugby World Cup preparations, but who will be going to France?

Planet Rugby selects the 33 players we think Farrell will be taking into the global tournament as they look to lift their first Webb Ellis Cup.

Back three

On the plane: Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, James Lowe, Jimmy O’Brien, Jacob Stockdale

Keenan, Hansen and Lowe, having starred in the recent Grand Slam triumph, rather pick themselves, while O’Brien is not far away from the XV and has impressed for Leinster. That leaves three people competing for one spot and we reckon Stockdale could just sneak in. Although his form has been mediocre for Ulster, the 27-year-old has an outstanding try-scoring record at Test level and offers something slightly different to the other wings.

Book your family holidays: Calvin Nash, Keith Earls

Nash is the form player after impressing for this season, while Earls offers reliability and experience, but they may just miss out. It’s particularly tough on the younger Munster wing, but his time may come from 2024 onwards.

Centres

On the plane: Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, Garry Ringrose

Should be quite an easy decision for Farrell with all four of these players showing up well at international level over the past year. It is inside centre dominant, with Aki, McCloskey and Henshaw all first choice 12s at their provinces, but the Leinsterman can play 13 if required.

Book your family holidays: Jamie Osborne

Osborne has experience at 13 but has generally played his best rugby at 12 and, due to the plethora of inside centres at Ireland’s disposal, he is set to miss out. Impressive performances in the warm-up matches could see him sneak in over McCloskey or Aki, but it is unlikely.

Fly-half

On the plane: Johnny Sexton, Ross Byrne, Jack Crowley

Sexton is the Irishmen’s most important player while Byrne is pretty much guaranteed to go, despite Leinster’s trophyless season. The other spot is up for grabs but we think he will go for form. Crowley was excellent for Munster in their URC title run and can also play at 12, giving Farrell that playmaking option at inside centre.

Book your family holidays: Ciaran Frawley

Like Crowley, Frawley can feature at 12 but a lack of game time, especially in the big matches, counts against him. In total, he’s started just one encounter each at fly-half and inside centre, so he would have to impress significantly in training if he is to go to France.

Scrum-half

On the plane: Jamison Gibson-Park, Conor Murray, Craig Casey

These were the scrum-halves that featured in the Six Nations and nothing has changed since then for that not to be the case in France. In fact, the recent international tournament helped Murray to regain his form and he has gone from strength to strength following that Grand Slam success.

Book your family holidays: Caolin Blade

Consistently excellent for Connacht throughout the season and he is a livewire around the fringes, but scrum-half position is pretty much set in stone. There is a possibility that Farrell will only take two nines to open up a place elsewhere, but we can’t see that happening here.

Back-row

On the plane: Caelan Doris, Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Peter O’Mahony, Cian Prendergast

Once again, the first four names in this list are easy and after that it is a toss up between Prendergast and Coombes. In the end, we’ve gone for the Connacht man as he offers something slightly different to the other back-rowers in the squad.

Book your family holidays: Gavin Coombes

We are big fans of Coombes but, judging by his lack of action for Ireland this season, we are not sure the coaches share the same enthusiasm. Ultimately, having three number eights in the group seems unnecessary, especially with Prendergast able to play there if desperately needed.

Lock

On the plane: James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird, Kieran Treadwell

Baird, Ryan and Beirne are, injury depending, certain to go, while Henderson’s experience, power and experience means he takes the next slot. The issue is that he, alongside Beirne and Baird generally pack down at four, which means that Treadwell is selected to provide balance.

Book your family holidays: Joe McCarthy

The Leinster youngster is a big talent but he has not played much rugby this season, starting only three matches in total. A player to invest in after the World Cup.

Hooker

On the plane: Dan Sheehan, Ronan Kelleher, Tom Stewart

Ireland are very well set with Sheehan and Kelleher, which leaves the other two battling for one spot. Rob Herring and Stewart have interchanged for Ulster throughout the campaign, but the 22-year-old could well be the bolter.

Book your family holidays: Rob Herring

Herring never lets you down but, as intimated, his younger provincial team-mate has a bit more star power about him. With Sheehan and Kelleher proven international performers, it gives the coaches an opportunity to take more of a risk on the third option.

Prop

On the plane: Andrew Porter, Cian Healy, Dave Kilcoyne, Tadhg Furlong, Finlay Bealham

Six props were selected in the initial 42-man group, which means that Farrell could conceivably take them all, but we think that the head coach will want to drop one to give him more options elsewhere, even it if would be a risk. With Healy and Porter both able to cover tighthead, they do have cover in that position.

Book your family holidays: Tom O’Toole

Very tough on the talented Ulsterman, who made a real impression during the Six Nations, but he may pay the price for Porter’s and Healy’s versatility. Equally, with two of the looseheads in their mid-30s, they probably need the extra cover in that slot.

Planet Rugby’s 33-man Ireland squad

Backs: Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, James Lowe, Jimmy O’Brien, Jacob Stockdale, Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, Garry Ringrose, Johnny Sexton, Ross Byrne, Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Conor Murray, Craig Casey

Forwards: Caelan Doris, Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Peter O’Mahony, Cian Prendergast James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird, Kieran Treadwell, Dan Sheehan, Ronan Kelleher, Tom Stewart, Andrew Porter, Cian Healy, Dave Kilcoyne, Tadhg Furlong, Finlay Bealham

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