With three warm-up games down, Joe Schmidt will name the 31 names in his World Cup squad and submit it by the close of the 31st of August. The Blues Talk team have each picked what they think the squad will be. Two provisos – firstly, it is assumed that everyone in the squad is fit and secondly, these selections were made on Friday afternoon before the Wales game.
Jason’s Selection
Forwards |
Backs |
| Cian Healy | Conor Murray |
| Jack McGrath | Eoin Reddan |
| Mike Ross | Jonathan Sexton |
| Marty Moore | Paddy Jackson |
| Michael Bent | Ian Madigan |
| Richardt Strauss | Robbie Henshaw |
| Sean Cronin | Jared Payne |
| Rory Best | Darren Cave |
| Paul O’Connell | Keith Earls |
| Devin Toner | Luke Fitzgerald |
| Donnacha Ryan | Simon Zebo |
| Ian Henderson | Tommy Bowe |
| Peter O’Mahoney | Felix Jones |
| Sean O’Brien | Rob Kearney |
| Chris Henry | |
| Jordi Murphy | |
| Jamie Heaslip |
Jason thinks that Andy Trimble might go instead of Cave or Felix Jones, but he has played precious little rugby in last season. Dave Kearney has been getting good reviews in the papers so Jason thinks he might be a dark horse for inclusion. He alone went with the 2 scrum halves option but still thinks that Joe could easily bring Isaac Boss.
John’s Selection
Forwards |
Backs |
| Cian Healy | Conor Murray |
| Jack McGrath | Eoin Reddan |
| Mike Ross | Isaac Boss |
| Marty Moore | Jonathan Sexton |
| Michael Bent | Paddy Jackson |
| Richardt Strauss | Ian Madigan |
| Sean Cronin | Robbie Henshaw |
| Rory Best | Jared Payne |
| Paul O’Connell | Keith Earls |
| Devin Toner | Luke Fitzgerald |
| Donnacha Ryan | Simon Zebo |
| Ian Henderson | Tommy Bowe |
| Peter O’Mahoney | Andrew Trimble |
| Sean O’Brien | Rob Kearney |
| Chris Henry | |
| Jordi Murphy | |
| Jamie Heaslip |
Dave’s Selection
Forwards |
Backs |
| Cian Healy | Conor Murray |
| Jack McGrath | Eoin Reddan |
| Mike Ross | Isaac Boss |
| Marty Moore | Jonathan Sexton |
| Michael Bent | Paddy Jackson |
| Richardt Strauss | Ian Madigan |
| Sean Cronin | Robbie Henshaw |
| Rory Best | Jared Payne |
| Paul O’Connell | Keith Earls |
| Devin Toner | Luke Fitzgerald |
| Donnacha Ryan | Dave Kearney |
| Ian Henderson | Tommy Bowe |
| Peter O’Mahoney | Andrew Trimble |
| Sean O’Brien | Rob Kearney |
| Chris Henry | |
| Jordi Murphy | |
| Jamie Heaslip |
What all three selections show is how little variation there is in what those involved believe the squad will be. All three sets of forwards are identical and the only variation behind the scrum is where Jason thinks that there might be chance that Joe will take only two scrum halves and the last back position between Zebo, Jones, Trimble and Kearney minor.
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