Irish RWC: Pick your Tightheads

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

Tightheads: Please vote for 3 players

Ross- Has played so many games in a row for Ireland at this stage, lost his place at Leinster in January but got the Irish 3 jersey for the Six Nations. Big scrummager and does lend wait to mauls, rucks less so.
Moore- Moore looked really good this year when playing but has been injured a few times and is recovering from surgery. He was a big part of the 6Nations and showed that he scrummages well and carries better. He does seem to miss a lot of tackles but that could be the same way that Henshaw does!
Furlong- Has come on so much this year. His physicality has been tested and come out the other end unscathed at pro12 and Challenge cup level. His scrummaging is going well and he can move and play the way Ross just simply can not.
Archer- Archer has got a lot of bad press from the old interweb and some of it is deserved. He does not having scrummaging excellence on his CV and he can't play rugby the way some of the other modern props can. He is an honest workhorse and doesn't have an issue with getting stuck in.
White- White is an excellent player who unfortunately has been injured way too much of this season. He brings leadership, big ruck emphasis and his scrummaging is very strong.


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.

Ross, Moore and Furlong. Not much competition here imo.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Archer- Archer has got a lot of bad press from the old interweb and some of it is deserved. He does not having scrummaging excellence on his CV and he can't play rugby the way some of the other modern props can. He is an honest workhorse and doesn't have an issue with getting stuck in.

Perhaps you might have mentioned that he is coming back from what could have been a career ending neck injury and has been used sparingly this season.

Ross and Moore nailed on,Furlong has come on leaps and bounds to probably grab the 3rd spot.He'll be starting for Leinster and Ireland within 3 years,2 if he keeps injury free and keeps improving like he has been.

Does nobody think that Nathan White is a really good option???

I agree that Moore and Ross are nailed on completely.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Does nobody think that Nathan White is a really good option???

I agree that Moore and Ross are nailed on completely.

I do*.. Uninjured, in my view, he would have ended being our 6 Nations starting TH.. but that didnt pan out. I think he would smash minnow scrums in the WC groups, and arguably be the best bench option in the larger games. If he's injury free I am very excited to see him in the warm ups.

*Note, having said all that, I still prefer not to use project players, and there will always be an astrix over him even if I love what he's brought to Connacht as a player.

Three Leinster men for me.

Just out of interest Don, why are you going for furlong over the others?

Don't have a vast amount of faith in Archer's ability or White's fitness. Willing to concede Archer's early rubbishness may be blinding me to recent improvements. But to be honest, I'd be antsy about any of the three coming on in an international game.

Did Bent start many games at TH last season? Is he genuinely ambipropsterous?

I don't think Bent has had any time at TH in the season just finished. He has played loosehead a bit but the depth at TH is not pretty strong in Leinster and I think he has to an extent given up on the TH/LH/ambipropsterous experiment.