Samoa and Australia are up first at Lansdowne Road but the stand-out tie is the visit of New Zealand for a 24 November clash. There may be injuries and call-ups along the way and there were weekend injury scares for Paul O’Connell and Keith Earls.
However, based on Schmidt’s squad, our writers have selected the best Ireland XV they feel can capture their first Test over New Zealand in 28 attempts.
Sean Farrell
R Kearney, K Earls, BOD, L Marshall, T Bowe; J Sexton, C Murray: C Healy, R Best, M Ross; D Tuohy, P O’Connell; S O’Brien, C Henry, J Heaslip.
I don’t think there is much room for discussion with the back-line, Simon Zebo’s injury and the exclusion of Luke Fitzgerald, Craig Gilroy and Andrew Trimble make the back three a sure thing and Gordon D’Arcy’s form hasn’t been good enough to displace Luke Marshall in the centre.
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Luke Marshall tells Brian O’Driscoll what’s what. INPHO/Colm O’Neill
Second and back row are where the most difficult decision come: I’ve gone with Dan Tuohy to partner Paul O’Connell as he is in better form than his Leinster counterparts and also has that hard-edged mindset needed to take on NZ.
In the back row I’ve been extremely harsh in dropping Peter O’Mahony in favour of two and a half number 7s in the hope of fighting breakdown fire with fire.
Murray Kinsella
R Kearney, K Earls, BOD, L Marshall, T Bowe; J Sexton, C Murray: C Healy, R Best, M Ross; D Tuohy, P O’Connell; P O’Mahony, S O’Brien, J Heaslip.
I’d go for exactly the same selection as Sean, except O’Mahony gets the start at 6 in my team. Tuohy gets in just ahead of McCarthy for that aggressive edge he’s brought for Ulster this season. That’s the same reason O’Mahony’s in my team and his carrying does look to be stronger this season, which is another plus.
In the backs, Luke Marshall and BOD could create magic in the centre, while the back three picks itself in my eyes. Our halfback pairing is a real strength now and the hope is that they’ll guide Ireland to a first-ever win against the best team in the world.
Patrick McCarry
R Kearney, T Bowe, BOD, G D’Arcy, K Earls; J Sexton, C Murray: C Healy, R Best, M Ross; P O’Connell, M McCarthy; P O’Mahony, S O’Brien, J Heaslip.
I am going with the O’Driscoll-D’Arcy axis that has served Ireland so well over the past decade. Luke Marshall may change my mind if given the chance by Schmidt but D’Arcy has one fine international season left in him and was immense in the narrow second Test defeat to New Zealand in Christchurch last year.
The beard is a new touch but there is life in veteran centre D’Arcy yet. INPHO/Dan Sheridan
I am resisting Dan Tuohy’s claims, despite his great form of late, to go for Mike McCarthy as we will need his tenacious talents at the coalface. O’Brien has started off the season really well at openside so I’ll leave him there while hoping Rory Best can bring his provincial form to bear against the world’s finest team.
What do you think? What Irish team would you pick to take on the All Blacks?
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Time for Marshall me thinks , Pity Tommy O Donnell has got injured , he was playing really well
I hope Henshaw gets a game and Sean Cronin can have a decent impact ( has huge potential )
BOD said to beat NZ we need to be at their very best and NZ need to have a bad day. Its very true, Italy were beaten by France year on year, slowly narrowing the gap, eventually in Italy they caught France on a bad day and had the game of their lives and won. We don’t need to look too far for inspiration!
The best way to beat the All Blacks is to:
- beat them at the breakdown
The kiwi scrum is not that hot and so if you can gain supremacy you take away a crucial platform they launch so many attacks from. Then the breakdown which they are the undisputed masters of. Everyone of your forwards needs to monster theirs, literally beat them and mix in some dark arts if needs be. Slow down their ball and get yours away asap.
The AB’s never fail to get up for an ireland match, they are very proud of their 100% record against us. Ireland have a brillant backrow so if they gain supremacy and after a long season for the kiwis we might just finally do it
Lack of variation in teams shows how small our player pool is. Injuries on the first to games could be very costly by the time we get to the AB’s. BOD, Toss, POC, SOB, Best & Earls already doubtful with injuries. Murray could be in citing trouble. Add D Ryan, Zebo & Tommy O Donnell to the mix and we really are down to the bare bones already. Samoa up first will be incredibly difficult. Could be a long November!!
Yep.agree with kinsella team,defo Marshall with BOD,as i feel Darcy shoulda been dropped 3yrs ago,touhy defo partner o Connell,his bit of a beast real physical & Mahoney defo 6 another power-hose & everyone else wer are guarantee,was just those 3positions that wer up for grabs!
Think will be cracking game,but hate say it N.Z to win
For me,
1. Cian Healy
2. Sean Cronin / Rory Best
3. Mike Ross
4. Touhy
5. POC
6. POM
7. SOB
8. Heaslip
9. Murray (if available) Boss otherwise
10. Sexton
11. Earlsie (most in form winger at min)
12. Luke Marshall
13. BOD
14. Bowe
15. Kearney
That’s what I can see Schmidt going with provided everyone is fit
Any team with Rory Best throwing into the line out will never beat the All Blacks, his line out throwing has been found out on a number of occasions, it is not good enough at this level!!
Earls at full back against the AB’s as Kearney’s,one on one , last ditch defence is suspect, he invariably tackles high, ie above the waist instead of below and will be taken to the cleaners by the AB brilliant runners. A head-on tackle is beyond him.
McCarthy easily deserves a start.He works so hard for 80 minutes and carried connacht for long stretches of last season.Also,D’arcys influence may be fading but I’d still take him over Marshall in the centre
We probably need a specialist 7 Henry with o Brian as a 6 think boss should start to deal with the physicality of the blacks and Schmidt also liked him when leinster played french teams in Europe option move bod to 12 with bowie to 13
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Time for Marshall me thinks , Pity Tommy O Donnell has got injured , he was playing really well
I hope Henshaw gets a game and Sean Cronin can have a decent impact ( has huge potential )
BOD said to beat NZ we need to be at their very best and NZ need to have a bad day. Its very true, Italy were beaten by France year on year, slowly narrowing the gap, eventually in Italy they caught France on a bad day and had the game of their lives and won. We don’t need to look too far for inspiration!
Well they’ve done it twice in the past 2 games in Rome, so it’s not just a once off.
The best way to beat the All Blacks is to:
- beat them at the breakdown
The kiwi scrum is not that hot and so if you can gain supremacy you take away a crucial platform they launch so many attacks from. Then the breakdown which they are the undisputed masters of. Everyone of your forwards needs to monster theirs, literally beat them and mix in some dark arts if needs be. Slow down their ball and get yours away asap.
The AB’s never fail to get up for an ireland match, they are very proud of their 100% record against us. Ireland have a brillant backrow so if they gain supremacy and after a long season for the kiwis we might just finally do it
I agree with both teams bar Earls. He has been targeted by “big” teams before. The All blacks will eat him up for breakfast.
Lack of variation in teams shows how small our player pool is. Injuries on the first to games could be very costly by the time we get to the AB’s. BOD, Toss, POC, SOB, Best & Earls already doubtful with injuries. Murray could be in citing trouble. Add D Ryan, Zebo & Tommy O Donnell to the mix and we really are down to the bare bones already. Samoa up first will be incredibly difficult. Could be a long November!!
Yep.agree with kinsella team,defo Marshall with BOD,as i feel Darcy shoulda been dropped 3yrs ago,touhy defo partner o Connell,his bit of a beast real physical & Mahoney defo 6 another power-hose & everyone else wer are guarantee,was just those 3positions that wer up for grabs!
Think will be cracking game,but hate say it N.Z to win
What’s with the selection of earls , Trimble or Morris for me on the wing
Doesn’t matter who you put out the ABs will put 70 points on us!
Really? Sure cancel the game so, what’s the point in turning up?
As Gats put it “selection is a matter of opinion”
For me,
1. Cian Healy
2. Sean Cronin / Rory Best
3. Mike Ross
4. Touhy
5. POC
6. POM
7. SOB
8. Heaslip
9. Murray (if available) Boss otherwise
10. Sexton
11. Earlsie (most in form winger at min)
12. Luke Marshall
13. BOD
14. Bowe
15. Kearney
That’s what I can see Schmidt going with provided everyone is fit
He will not break up the sexton Darcy bod midfield defence for the alblacks game, maybe the other two games. It has stood him well for 3 seasons
Time to move on in the first centre, Darcy is over rated. 7 in tries in 73 games. But he will get picked.
Any team with Rory Best throwing into the line out will never beat the All Blacks, his line out throwing has been found out on a number of occasions, it is not good enough at this level!!
Earls at full back against the AB’s as Kearney’s,one on one , last ditch defence is suspect, he invariably tackles high, ie above the waist instead of below and will be taken to the cleaners by the AB brilliant runners. A head-on tackle is beyond him.
McCarthy easily deserves a start.He works so hard for 80 minutes and carried connacht for long stretches of last season.Also,D’arcys influence may be fading but I’d still take him over Marshall in the centre
We probably need a specialist 7 Henry with o Brian as a 6 think boss should start to deal with the physicality of the blacks and Schmidt also liked him when leinster played french teams in Europe option move bod to 12 with bowie to 13
Henry over o’mahony and best over Cronin, don’t think so
Earls on the wing darcy at 12