A fearsome line-up.
Ireland go into World Cup battle on Saturday and will seek to win their first ever Webb Ellis trophy.
To do that, the must first get beyond a Euro-centric pool and go deeper into the competition than they have ever done in their history – semi finals and beyond.
In anticipation of the World Cup, we ran a series of polls in which we asked you to select Ireland’s Greatest XV of the Professional Era [1995 to 2015].
Over the past two months, approximately 10,000 votes have been cast and some tough calls have been made.
And here it is:
Interestingly, six of the current Ireland squad make the cut.
Tommy Bowe and Rob Kearney have two of the back three slots while Gordon D’Arcy – voted in at No.12 – is on Joe Schmidt’s long-list should injury strike. 37-year-old Peter Stringer is still playing and will line out for Sale Sharks this season.
The front row features present day props Cian Healy and Mike Ross, who narrowly beat John ‘The Bull’ Hayes to the tighthead spot. The Leinster lads pack down with living legend Keith Wood.
Donncha O’Callaghan edged out Malcolm O’Kelly for the second row. He partners the man we are choosing as captain – Paul O’Connell.
The back-row is a formidable unit – Stephen Ferris, David Wallace and current No.8 Jamie Heaslip.
Have we forgotten anyone?
Ah, yes, Denis Hickie, Ronan O’Gara and Brian O’Driscoll.
Not a bad line-up at all.
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