Poll shows rugby fans want NINE Irish players in Lions starting XV
With just three months remaining until the first Test between the Lions and Australia, anticipation for the summer tour is gathering pace.
While the latter stages of the European rugby season still commands the attention of fans, focus will quickly switch to the make-up of the British and Irish Lions squad once the season ends.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell will name his Lions squad on May 8, and there should be solid Irish representation within the unit. Andy Farrell with his Assistant Coaches for the Lions Tour of Australia; John Dalziel (Scotland), Simon Easterby (Ireland), John Fogarty (Ireland), Andrew Goodman (Ireland) and Richard Wigglesworth (England) will all join the coaching team this summer. Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland
Farrell has already shown the green influence in selecting his coaching backroom, with Simon Easterby, Andrew Goodman and John Fogarty all coming into the fold and Johnny Sexton added latterly.
Competition for places on the plane will be considerable and debates over rival players fierce – but it appears most fans want an Irish majority running through the team when they pull on the red jersey.
Although Ireland missed out on Six Nations glory as France strode to glory in the spring, they are still expected to have a significant influence once the summer tour comes around. Ireland captain Caelan Doris. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Ireland captain Caelan Doris is right in the mix to be named as Lions captain, while the likes of Sam Prendergast will be on a push to get the nod as part of the out-half grouping.
According to a poll undertaken by Rugby Pass, a majority of fans would like to see a strong Irish majority when the squad is organised into its strongest 15 players.
Polling their Instagram following – totalling more than 2.2 million people – Rugby Pass looked for fans to select their preferred player for each position in the starting XV. Andrew Porter and Dan Sheehan both got the nod for inclusions in the Lions starting XV from fans. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Nine Irish players made the cut in all, with an all-Ireland front row of Andrew Porter at tighthead with Dan Sheehan at hooker and Tadhg Furlong completing the front three at loosehead.
Other Irish players selected in the pack were Tadhg Beirne in the second row, Josh van der Flier at openside flanker and reland captain Caelan Doris at No.8.
Jamison Gibson-Park gets the nod at scrum half, Bundee Aki is chosen inside centre and lastly James Lowe on the right wing.
Included from rival Six Nations countries were Scottish trio Finn Russell, Huw Jones and Duhan Van der Merwe.
England's Maro Itoje, Wales captain Jac Morgan complete the contingent but it remains to be seen what way Farrell will go when it comes to selecting his finest for the first Test on July 19 in Brisbane.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Hopes of significant UK funding allocation for Casement Park
The UK's Chanceller of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is to set out her spending review in the House of Commons later today. Many are hoping that a significant allocation towards the construction of Casement Park in west Belfast will be included. The stadium, the home of Antrim GAA, has been derelict for over a decade. It is estimated that the project will cost £260 million (€296.9 million), less than half of which is already in place. The Irish Government has pledged around £43 million (€51 million), the Stormont Executive £62.5 million (€74.2 million) and the GAA £15 million (€17.8 million). A shortfall of £140 million remains. It was hoped that the stadium could have been redeveloped for Euro 2028 but this did not come to pass. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said afterwards that he wanted an "alternative proposition". Many, including in the GAA, are quietly hopeful that a significant sum will be provided later today. However, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is facing huge spending demands from across Whitehall. Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, has been among cabinet members pushing for increased funding for his department, including money for Casement Park. However, Mr Benn has previously stated too that the UK government cannot plug the full £140 million gap. The Stormont Executive committed to redeveloping Casement Park in 2011 as part of a strategy to revamp football's Windsor Park and the rugby ground at Ravenhill. While the two other Belfast-based projects went ahead, the redevelopment of Casement was delayed. Intense lobbying efforts have been underway in recent times, with Ulster GAA visiting Westminster last week, to press politicians on the need to include a significant allocation in today's spending review. Last week Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill also called on the British government to provide substantial funding to help rebuild Casement Park. Taoiseach Micheál Martin stated last September that he would not rule out further money being provided by the Irish Government. The 34,500 capacity stadium has planning permission until July 2026 so it is hoped construction can start before then. This afternoon's Spending Review will be a pivotal moment for the UK government, as it maps out its day-to-day spending and investment plans for much of the remainder of the parliament. Defence, health and infrastructure are likely to be prioritised, in what is otherwise a constrained spending package.
The 42
2 hours ago
- The 42
'We are not happy with this performance' - Hallgrimsson concerned by Ireland's inconsistency
HEIMIR HALLGRIMSSON DID not sugar-coat Ireland's performance after they were held to a 0-0 draw away to Luxembourg, saying his side did not match the effort they put in against Senegal in Dublin last Friday. 'Let's be honest, we are not happy with this performance', the Irish manager told RTE. 'It's good to keep a clean sheet but we felt first half we were sloppy, the game was boring, all the good things we did against Senegal was missing: all the quick movements, the press, the ball speed. 'In the second half we had more tempo, we won more duels, but it was not good enough. We like getting answers to questions but this was a negative one.' Advertisement Ireland will begin World Cup qualifying in September with a home game against second seeds Hungary before travelling to play bottom-ranked Armenia, and Hallgrimsson put the difference in Ireland's performance levels in that context. 'This is something we must learn from, we must play the same way against everyone, whether it's a friendly at the end of the season or a group stage game, we need to play the same way all the time. 'This can teach us a lesson. It is understandable players are thinking, 'after this game we have a break for a long time', and there were a few injuries from fatigue, and maybe they were a little bit careful as they don't want to be injured at the end of the season. 'Even if we had won the game we would not have been happy with the performance.' Asked by RTÉ to acknowledge the positives, including debutant goalkeeper Max O'Leary's clean sheet, Hallgrimsson quickly veered back to the negative side. 'We can always find something positive and we will do that, first and foremost, the effort we put into this game was so much less than against Senegal.' Midfielder Jason Knight said there was much for Ireland to improve. 'Obviously it wasn't the most comprehensive performance by any means', said Knight. 'Loads to work on out there. But a lot of change, a lot of new lads into the squad. I think there's definitely things to improve, definitely from tonight. But overall a decent camp and now everyone's looking forward to September. 'We had the chances. And we limited them to very few. Obviously on another day we probably scored two or three, but that's what we've got to improve. But like I say, loads to improve on, but loads of good stuff as well.'
The 42
2 hours ago
- The 42
Ireland round out the season with dreary draw away to Luxembourg
Luxembourg 0 Republic of Ireland 0 THIS BORE, END-OF-SEASON draw was just about the most passive mutual offering from Ireland and Luxembourg since they designed their respective tax regimes. Acknowledging that June friendlies are hardly havens for confidence or rich feeling, Ireland were desperately poor in the first-half, with their passing ragged and their energy levels low. They were much better after half-time, though, and were unfortunate not to grab a late winner when substitute Jack Taylor smashed a shot off the underside of the crossbar. They ultimately had to settle for a goalless draw, one which extends their unbeaten run to four games and does not seriously check their momentum going into September's World Cup qualifying campaign. Ireland, though, will have to play much better than this if they are to take enough points from the opening games against Hungary and Armenia to maintain an active interest in qualifying through to the final games in November. Heimir Hallgrimsson decided to reward the oft-travelling, rarely-seen Max O'Leary with a first Irish start, giving Caoimhín Kelleher a break. Jake O'Brien replaced Matt Doherty at right-back with Killian Phillips making his full senior debut in midfield, with Ryan Manning benched. Evan Ferguson – whose sharpness in training had impressed his manager – earned a start having come close to doing so on Friday, while Troy Parrott returned to lead the line. Ireland's shape was that to which we have become accustomed: a 4-4-2 without the ball that morphed into a fancier, 3-4-2-1 with the ball. Phillips dropped into deep midfield alongside Jason Knight with Will Smallbone freed up to play further forward. Among Ireland's first-half problems: their evolving formation got stuck in its larval, two-banks-of-four phase, such was Luxembourg's dominance of the ball. O'Leary was sharp to dive to his left to push Danel Sinani's long-range shot around the post, a move whose genesis was a clumsy lay-off by Ferguson to Phillips. Advertisement Hallgrimsson, growing increasingly frustrated, swapped Phillips and Smallbone's positions. That move was tantamount to tinkering around a crash site. Ireland's passing was awful, with players remonstrating with one another as moves continually broke down. An ugly problem from Ireland's last few years also reared its head, with Knight, Phillips and Smallbone looking rushed and uncomfortable when they were pressed in midfield by their opposite number. Troy Parrott contributed Ireland's best moment from open play shortly before half-time, when he controlled the ball and spun away from his aggressive marker, Eldin Džogović, who responded by kicking him in the calf. It was a rare moment of conviction from any Irish player. Smallbone floated the resultant free-kick to Dara O'Shea at the back post, whose square header was met by Nathan Collins, who stooped and headed the ball against the post. Ireland mercifully improved after half-time. Kasey McAteer hinted at the severity of the half-time message by quickly closing down and opponent to rob possession and then pull a left-footed shot wide of the far post. McAteer should have remained so single-minded a few minutes later, but rather than go for goal himself, he instead directed a free header from Ryan Manning's terrific deep cross back across goal for Parrott, who handled the ball amid a miscued effort to try and force the ball over the line. Jack Taylor and Festy Ebosele were sprung from the bench within 10 minutes of the restart and both combined for another chance, only for Taylor to pull a shot wide having been smartly picked out by Ebosele on the edge of the box. Ireland finally managed an effort on target shortly after, as Parrott ran in behind to collect McAteer's pass before lifting the ball delightfully over the onrushing goalkeeper. Parrott, alas, was too eager in making his run and had strayed offside. McAteer, now shifted to an inside-left role as opposed to standing out on the right wing, grew far more influential, but was also guilty of over-enthusiasm in taking an over-the-shoulder volley too early having been picked out by a ball over the top. His shot was tame and easy for Luxembourg's teenage goalkeeper. But alas as many of the Irish players improved around him, Evan Ferguson visibly waned; his lack of match minutes across the season becoming painfully evident. He was caught too often on his heels, most gallingly when Dara O'Shea played a risky pass through midfield that was intended for Ferguson, but intercepted by the much more alert Tomas Moreira, whom Ferguson pursued and then fouled. He was booked, and eventually withdrawn for Adam Idah with 15 minutes remaining. Taylor came agonisingly close to winning the game as the clock ticked out. First Parrott wriggled brilliantly along the endline to pull the ball back for Idah, whose heavy touch ended with the ball running out to Taylor on the edge of the box, who smashed a shot off the underside of the crossbar John Patrick came off the bench for a late senior debut, and showed some very neat touches, most obviously on the edge of his own box after Matt Doherty recovered brilliantly to snuff out a late Luxembourg counter. The Spanish-born midfielder will be among a handful of people on earth to remember this game. While Ireland will have to be vastly improved in September, the context of this game is enough to avoid ringing any alarm bells. Already without the bulk of their Championship contingent, the squad were carrying an accumulated fatigue that will not exist in three months' time. This season, after all, has been long and, er, taxing. Luxembourg: Tiago Pereira; Eldin Džogović, Laurent Jans (Michael Pinto, 62′), Seid Korac, Dirk Carlson; Leandro Barreiro, Tomas Moreira, Danel Sinani; Florian Bohnert (Vincent Thill, 62′) , Gerson Rodrigues (Eric Veiga, 82′), Aiman Dardari (Alessio Curci, 76′) Republic of Ireland: Max O'Leary; Jake O'Brien, Nathan Collins (captain), Dara O'Shea, Robbie Brady (Ryan Manning, 20′); Kasey McAteer (Matt Doherty, 75′), Jason Knight (John Patrick,90′), Will Smallbone (Jack Taylor, 55′), Killian Phillips (Festy Ebosele, 55′); Evan Ferguson (Adam Idah, 75′), Troy Parrott Referee: Stefan Ebner (Austria)
