Irish RWC: Pick your Looseheads

Hi all,

Haven't posted here in a long time tbh but I did this for the last world cup and thought it would be good to do again.
I want to get a sense of what the Irish (and non-Irish) 606ers think the Irish squad should be.

I am taking it as near guaranteed that there will be a 17-14 split
6 props
3 hookers
4 locks
4 backrow

3 scrumhalves
2 flyhalves
3 centres
6 outside backs

Looseheads: Please vote for 3 players

Healy- Been injured a lot of this year. Has carried well and his scrummaging is very strong. Could be argued that last year he was the best loosehead in the world, maybe not quite at that level right now.
McGrath- Has deputised well this year for Healy and his work rate is insanely high. He does seem to give away a few silly penalties at times but his workrate makes up for it and his scrummaging is similarly strong to Healy's.
Kilcoyne- A lot was made of his ball carrying in past years. He seems to have stalled slightly this year. He seems very comfortable at pro12 level but finds subsequent step ups difficult.
Cronin- Has impressed a lot early in the season but ended the season behind Kilcoyne. Has been brought in to Irish camps already and is on the radar.
Buckley- Has been noticed a lot for his work on the deck at Connacht where he has impressed at Challenge Cup level in the serious stages. He has been brought in to camps as well but the world cup perhaps is too early for him.
Court- The forgotten man at London Irish has been having a good season. He's been a regular choice for them and has been doing well. Don't think we can count him as a tighthead versatile option.
Bent- Bent is another who is supposed to be a guy who can play 1 and 3. He had a nightmare first season but has been getting more effective in his scrummaging and is definitely adding some aggression to his carrying and work at the breakdown.


Please discuss your reasons for voting before you vote as I have not put vote cancelling on and somebody's point of view may sway your decision.

Healy and McGrath nailed on but most be tight for the 3rd choice between the Buckley, Kilcoyne and Ah You. Gone for Buckley.

Bent has had a great season at LH. Cant have 3 of Leinsters LHs going though so went for Kilkoyne

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:

Looseheads: Please vote for 3 players

Healy- Been injured a lot of this year. Has carried well and his scrummaging is very strong. Could be argued that last year he was the best loosehead in the world, maybe not quite at that level right now.

Seems to be very injury prone now. Not the sharpest tool in the box.

McGrath- Has deputised well this year for Healy and his work rate is insanely high. He does seem to give away a few silly penalties at times but his workrate makes up for it and his scrummaging is similarly strong to Healy's.

Nothing makes up for giving away stupid penalties.

Kilcoyne- A lot was made of his ball carrying in past years. He seems to have stalled slightly this year. He seems very comfortable at pro12 level but finds subsequent step ups difficult.

You must have missed that he was injured in early Dec (v Clermont) and missed most the Champs Cup games this season. Maybe that is why you think he is finding the step up difficult?

Cronin- Has impressed a lot early in the season but ended the season behind Kilcoyne. Has been brought in to Irish camps already and is on the radar.

He is being converted to a TH (process stalled this season because of Kilcoyne's injuries). I doubt if he will be going to the world cup, least of all as a loosehead.

Didn't Cronin play LH for the Emerging Ireland side the other day?

Golden wrote:Didn't Cronin play LH for the Emerging Ireland side the other day?

Sure. Messed around again by Ireland. Munster only have BJ until after the world cup, then Munster are down to Archer.

Healy and McGrath are certainties,Kilcoyne gets the 3rd spot for me.He's a decent scrummager and can be very good in the loose.Buckley is really staking a claim but I think we need to see him at a higher level before he could get a WC spot.

I think Buckley is the kind of guy who we really should spend some time watching in the warm up games. I think he is the kind of guy who could be similar to Best regarding his ability to spoil opposition ball, maybe not steal but really slow things down.

I think having another ball carrier like Kilcoyne could be a great shout and it may come down to the balance of the forwards. For instance if Henry was playing I'd prefer to chose Kilcoyne as they compliment each other better. If Murphy was playing then I'd be more keen for Buckley

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:I think Buckley is the kind of guy who we really should spend some time watching in the warm up games. I think he is the kind of guy who could be similar to Best regarding his ability to spoil opposition ball, maybe not steal but really slow things down.

I think having another ball carrier like Kilcoyne could be a great shout and it may come down to the balance of the forwards. For instance if Henry was playing I'd prefer to chose Kilcoyne as they compliment each other better. If Murphy was playing then I'd be more keen for Buckley

That's a good point,I'd kind of forgotten that we'll get to see a few of the warm up matches before the squad is picked.There is an opportunity there for guys like Buckley to put some performances in and get in the squad.

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:I think Buckley is the kind of guy who we really should spend some time watching in the warm up games. I think he is the kind of guy who could be similar to Best regarding his ability to spoil opposition ball, maybe not steal but really slow things down.

I think having another ball carrier like Kilcoyne could be a great shout and it may come down to the balance of the forwards. For instance if Henry was playing I'd prefer to chose Kilcoyne as they compliment each other better. If Murphy was playing then I'd be more keen for Buckley

That's a good point,I'd kind of forgotten that we'll get to see a few of the warm up matches before the squad is picked.There is an opportunity there for guys like Buckley to put some performances in and get in the squad.

Placing expectations on a prop called Buckley? #ivebeenhurtbefore

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:I think Buckley is the kind of guy who we really should spend some time watching in the warm up games. I think he is the kind of guy who could be similar to Best regarding his ability to spoil opposition ball, maybe not steal but really slow things down.

I think having another ball carrier like Kilcoyne could be a great shout and it may come down to the balance of the forwards. For instance if Henry was playing I'd prefer to chose Kilcoyne as they compliment each other better. If Murphy was playing then I'd be more keen for Buckley

That's a good point,I'd kind of forgotten that we'll get to see a few of the warm up matches before the squad is picked.There is an opportunity there for guys like Buckley to put some performances in and get in the squad.

Yeah there's a few guys in that boat I think. Guys like Marmion, TOD/Murhy, Ryan/Tuohy, Herring/Strauss, Madigan, Gilroy. I think these fellas have to make a really big play in whatever chance they get in these games.

I've gone for Kilcoyne but would like to see Buckley given a shot in the warm-ups.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:I think Buckley is the kind of guy who we really should spend some time watching in the warm up games. I think he is the kind of guy who could be similar to Best regarding his ability to spoil opposition ball, maybe not steal but really slow things down.

I think having another ball carrier like Kilcoyne could be a great shout and it may come down to the balance of the forwards. For instance if Henry was playing I'd prefer to chose Kilcoyne as they compliment each other better. If Murphy was playing then I'd be more keen for Buckley

That's a good point,I'd kind of forgotten that we'll get to see a few of the warm up matches before the squad is picked.There is an opportunity there for guys like Buckley to put some performances in and get in the squad.

Yeah there's a few guys in that boat I think. Guys like Marmion, TOD/Murhy, Ryan/Tuohy, Herring/Strauss, Madigan, Gilroy. I think these fellas have to make a really big play in whatever chance they get in these games.

there is an issue though, as we often see in Wolfhound games - players trying too hard to shine, and so the collective looks Poopie. Hope thats not true, I mean its important to win some of the warmups for mental state if nothing else.

rodders wrote:Healy and McGrath nailed on but most be tight for the 3rd choice between the Buckley, Kilcoyne and Ah You. Gone for Buckley.

Also went for Buckley - he's been very good whenever I've seen him this season.

That's where I stand on Buckley. Any time I've seen him he's been one of the best players on the pitch

I don't think Schmidt is a great fan of Kilcoyne from some reason - not sure why, maybe something in training or doesn't follow instructions.

Best LH in the country this year was Buckley, hands down. I'd have him as the 3rd spot after some warm-up games, he has big potential. Healy for me hasn't been the force he was, the prime example being that headless carry and knock on against Wales when he had tons of lads outside him.

rodders wrote:I don't think Schmidt is a great fan of Kilcoyne from some reason - not sure why, maybe something in training or doesn't follow instructions.

No, you are mixing him up with Henderson. It Henderson who doesn't do his homework and likes to do his own thing

Marshes wrote:Best LH in the country this year was Buckley, hands down. I'd have him as the 3rd spot after some warm-up games, he has big potential. Healy for me hasn't been the force he was, the prime example being that headless carry and knock on against Wales when he had tons of lads outside him.

I think I agree with this but think that McGrath might have been better than Buckley considering the levels they played at.
Healy has definitely gone down a level this year. When you couple that with SOB going down a level too that makes Ireland and Leinster significantly weaker.