Irish Rugby’s first round of derby fixtures for the 2024/25 URC is in the books, with Leinster triumphing over Munster and Ulster edging Connacht.
Coming out hot in front of a record-breaking 83,000 fans at Croke Park, Leinster blitzed Munster inside the opening twenty minutes to emerge with a 26 – 12 victory. To their credit, the Munster men fought hard to close the deficit but were never in a realistic position to go on and win the match.
In Belfast, it was all tied up heading into the final ten minutes before a moment of madness from secondrow Josh Murphy as he hit an Ulster player off the ball, handed the initiative to the home side, who would emerge with a much-needed 32 – 27 bonus point win.
As ever, at this point in the season, the injury report is becoming rather extensive for Irish Rugby, with several front-line players already confirmed as being out for the November Internationals. In addition to the confirmed list, bundles more are carrying niggles which could well see them miss the full month of action. Taking this into account as well as form, here is an Irish 23 and squad that Andy Farrell could pick in what will be his final bit of duty before departing for his role with the British and Irish Lions.
*denotes uncapped player
STARTING XV:
1. Andrew Porter – Leinster
Despite his continued and worrying issues around scrum time which according to people far more qualified than us is done to Leinster’s aggressive scrum tactics, Porter remains the premier loosehead in Irish Rugby. In a majorly positive development, Munster man Jeremy Loughman has been superb through the opening rounds of the URC and looks like a viable option from the bench or as a viable alternative to Porter for a few fixtures.
2. Gus McCarthy* – Leinster
Given the injuries to the presumed top three choices of Dan Sheehan, Ronan Kelleher and Tom Stewart, Farrell could take the not-so-radical decision to blood the highly talented Leinster hooker. Given his pedigree as a former Ireland U20 captain and undoubted ability to mix it physically, the 21-year-old is ready for the big stage.
3. Tadhg Furlong – Leinster
Best tighthead in the world… Enough said.
4. Tadhg Beirne – Munster
Quite possibly the best turnover merchant in the professional game, the Munster skipper has led by example since taking the reigns from Peter O’Mahony. Playing in a pack that has been ravaged by injury, Beirne is still a statistical monster and will relish being back in a rock-solid squad.
5. James Ryan – Munster
Getting back to his very best, Ryan edges Joe McCarthy in our starting XV for a number of reasons. Focusing on his own play, Ryan has been impervious at line-out time and brings a huge level of physicality to proceedings. Throw into the mix his leadership qualities, albeit not as the direct point of contact for referees, and his return to the starting XV is a no-brainer.
6. Jack Conan – Leinster
Irish Rugby’s in-form backrow of that there is no doubt, Conan’s form coincides perfectly with rumours of a move to Racing 92 next season. For Leinster, the quality of backrows in their squad makes the decision to keep him a challenge, but given the form he is in, if they can keep him, it would be a huge signing.
7. Josh van der Flier – Leinster
Always under the radar, which is bizarre for a former World Player Of The Year, the Leinster backrow is still very much at the peak of his powers at 31-years-old. Getting through mountains of work in both the carry and defence, van der Flier is still quite clearly the best 7 in Ireland.
8. Caelan Doris (C) – Leinster
See above with Furlong; Doris is the best in the world in his position of there is no doubt. But just for fun, the presumed captain for the next five-plus years, the Leinster backrow, was playing a different sport to everyone else at Croke Park and, at just 26 years old, still has room to grow his game, which is a frightening prospect.
9. Jamison Gibson Park – Leinster
Still in world-class form, this November has the feeling of being his last as the undisputed starter with Craig Casey’s continued development and the rise of several young options, namely Ben Murphy. Playing the game at a cerebral level unlike just about any other nine save for Antoine Dupont, JGP will once again dictate the tempo of the Irish attack in November.
10. Jack Crowley – Munster
One bad performance does not define the otherwise superb Crowley, who, since taking over from Johnny Sexton, has gone to another level. When he links back up with a strong squad this November, expect him to go to another level as he looks to hold off the imminent threats of Ciaran Frawley and Sam Prendergast.
11. James Lowe – Leinster
Joining Gibson Park in the camp of heading towards the tail end of his career, the 32-year-old winger remains world-class but will face plenty of challenges for his shirt over the next twelve months. For now, he remains the undisputed kingpin on the left wing, and for a good reason, with his top-quality finishing, huge left boot and consistency.
12. Jamie Osborne – Leinster
Given the uncertainty around Robbie Henshaw and the lack of form from Bundee Aki, the Swiss army knife shifts back to his favoured position of inside centre for November. In short, Osborne is a generational talent and feels like the long-term option in the 12 shirt for both province and country.
13. Garry Ringrose – Leinster
Outside of Doris, Ringrose feels like just about the only player who is untouchable when fit and firing. Whilst Robbie Henshaw has done a sterling job when Ringrose has been unavailable, the 29-year-old brings an edge on both sides of the ball that opens up the Irish attack and shores up their defence.
14. Calvin Nash – Munster
Clearly buoyed by the backing he received in Mack Hansen’s absence, Nash remains the man in possession of the shirt and he will keep it throughout November. As one of the few Irish backs with truly elite pace, the Munster winger brings a different look to the backline whilst his work rate in defence is off the charts.
15. Hugo Keenan – Munster
Olympic 7s say what! Keenan hasn’t missed a beat since returning to the XV-a-side game, and whilst Osborne was exceptional in South Africa, Keenan is still the main man at the back. Adding some extra strength and somehow even more cardio fitness since playing 7s, the Rolls Royce fullback is still one of the very best in the world.
Replacements:
16. Diarmuid Barron* – Munster
A very tidy player with strong leadership qualities and a high work rate, the Munster man finally gets his chance with the raft of injuries, and he takes it. Whilst he lacks the dynamism of other players in the position, Barron’s ability to do everything efficiently makes him a perfect bench option to close out matches.
17. Jeremy Loughman – Munster
Now, clearly ahead of Cian Healy and nipping at the heels of Porter, the Munster loosehead is starting to realise his potential and is in perfect time for a run towards the 2027 World Cup.
18. Finlay Bealham – Connacht
Just edging Oli Jager here on account of the former Crusader’s inability to stay fit, Bealham has proven to be a more than reliable Robin to Furlong’s Batman. Around the park, his ability to carry and distribute fits in perfectly with the intricate Irish attack.
19. Joe McCarthy – Leinster
Irish rugby’s big bully lies in waiting for the poor, unsuspecting visitors to the Aviva Stadium this November. In reality he could well be starting, McCarthy’s outrageous power and physicality from the bench is the perfect weapon for Ireland to land the knockout blow on opponents.
20. Cian Prendergast – Connacht
Whilst his younger brother gathers headlines as the next flyhalf Messiah, the Connacht skipper is having a great season of his own and brings a different style to the backrow. Operating as a new-age Peter O’Mahony, with his confrontational style of play, Prendergast’s ability at line-out time and work rate in general play is the final jigsaw piece for the forwards on the bench.
21. Craig Casey – Munster
Having now nudged ahead of Conor Murray for both province and country, Casey has his eyes set on Gibson Park’s jersey, and by the end of November, the gap will be thin between the two. Adding a level of control to his previously helter-skelter, all-or-nothing approach, Casey is rounding into shape as a top-class nine.
22. Ciaran Frawley – Leinster
Now more of a 1B to Crowley’s 1A, Frawley must surely be the first choice at Leinster and as such a live option for Ireland. Mirroring his starting counterpart, Frawley is a big game player with the temperament to get Ireland over the line on the big stage.
23. Jacob Stockdale – Ulster
Before you phone your local parish and cry blasphemy, hear us out. Stockdale, for all of his detractors, has always been the shiny object that Farrell and co believe could return to his world-class level of 2018. Showing glimpses of this for Ulster already this season, and given Frawley’s versatility, the powerhouse winger will bring a level of x-factor to the Irish 23. Unlike just about any other player, Stockdale is a confidence player and if he gets the backing and succeeds then the sky is the limit.
SQUAD MEMBERS:
Lee Barron* (Leinster), David Heffernan (Connacht), Oli Jager (Munster), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Michael Milne* (Leinster), Ryan Baird (Leinster), Cormac Izuchukwu* (Ulster), Harry Sheridan* (Ulster), John Hodnett* (Munster), Gavin Coombes (Munster), Ben Murphy* (Connacht), Sam Prendergast* (Leinster), Cathal Forde* (Connacht), Bundee Aki (Connacht), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Mack Hansen (Connacht), Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster)
NOTABLE OMISSIONS
Peter O’Mahony (nobody is a bigger fan of POM than this write but it’s time), Iain Henderson (lack of form and injuries taking their toll), Caolon Blade (lost his place at Connacht), Cian Healy (same as POM), Ronan Kelleher (injury), Dan Sheehan (injury), Tom Stewart (injury), Conor Murray (same as POM and Healy), Ross. Byrne (clearly not at the level of the other flyhalves)
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