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Joe springs a few surprises for the Rugby World Cup

Joe Schmidt has finally revealed his 31 man squad for the 2015 World Cup.  The New Zealander's selec...
TodayFM
TodayFM

12:00 PM - 1 Sep 2015



Joe springs a few surprises fo...

Sport

Joe springs a few surprises for the Rugby World Cup

TodayFM
TodayFM

12:00 PM - 1 Sep 2015



Joe Schmidt has finally revealed his 31 man squad for the 2015 World Cup.  The New Zealander's selection has a backbone of the tried and tested, with enough surprises to keep everyone on their toes.   17 of the players will be making their first appearance at the World Cup. The other 14 were all involved in New Zealand in 2011. Rory Best, Eoin Reddan and Paul O'Connell were in France in 2007. It will be the Munster legend's 4th World Cup, as he was also in the squad in Australia in 2003.

There is also a 17-14 split in terms of forwards to backs. Joe has raised eyebrows in his decision to select just two loose head props and three tight heads, along with just two scrum halves.  The Irish management must be confident that Cian Healy is on the mend following shoulder surgery as he Jack McGrath are only options for the number 1 shirt.  Nathan White and Tadgh Furlong will provide back up to Mike Ross. Furlong  earned his first cap in the recent defeat to Wales. Marty Moore seems to have missed out due to injury.

Most coaches bring three scrum halves to the World Cup, but Conor Murray and Eoin Reddan share those duties, as Issac Boss and Keiran Marmion are left at home.

That seems to have freed up a space for Darren Cave in the centre. Few would have predicted that the Ulsterman would be heading to the World Cup when in 2013 frustrated by a lack of international opportunities Cave told a reporter that he felt his "face didn't fit in" in the Irish set up. An early morning phone call may have saved his international career two years ago. The fact that he is now selected while Andrew Trimble, Craig Gilroy and Luke Marshall remain in Belfast suggests that Cave now fills an important role in Joe's plans, even if it is just to provide cover to Robbie Henshaw and Jared Payne.

Dave Kearney is the big winner in the hotly contested outside backs. The 2014 Six Nations winner missed this year's tournament due to injury, but recent strong performances have been  enough to convince Joe to select him alongside his brother Rob, Tommy Bowe, Simon Zebo, Keith Earls and Luke Fitzgerald, who were all instrumental in helped Ireland retain the crown this year.  Fitzgerald will finally be making his first appearance at the World Cup.  He was tipped to be a surprise inclusion in Eddie O'Sullivan's squad in 2007, and was sensationally left out by Declan Kidney 4 years ago. Injuries hampered Andrew Trimble and Fergus McFadden's attempts to make the squad, while the omission of Felix Jones seems harsh considering he was on the bench in all the Six Nations games.

The injuries to Rhys Ruddock and Tommy O'Donnell made the back row selection straight forward. While Donnacha Ryan is suitable impressive to join Iain Henderson, Devin Toner and Paul O'Connell as the second rows, despite missing most of the Joe Schmidt era with injury.  

 

Forwards (17)
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 84
Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 45
Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 1
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 51
Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) 74
Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 19
Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster) 18
Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 19
Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 12
Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster) 36
Paul O'Connell (Young Munster) 103 captain
Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 31
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 51
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster) 30
Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster) 9
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 26
Nathan White (Connacht) 2
 
Backs (14)
Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 62
Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 9
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 41
Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster) 30
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht) 11
Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) 12
David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) 9
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 63
Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster) 20
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 36
Jared Payne (Ulster) 7
Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster) 63
Jonathan Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster) 52
Simon Zebo (Cork Con/Munster) 17
 

 

 



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