Compiled by GAVIN CUMMISKEY
15 Geordan Murphy
Age: 32. Height: 6ft 1in
Weight: 86kg (13st 7lbs). Caps: 68
Injury has presented a massive opportunity for the veteran, who seems to have improved glaring weaknesses in his game since becoming the Leicester Tigers club captain. His spatial awareness and ability to offload are established strengths that Ireland require right now.
14 Tommy Bowe
Age: 26. Height: 6ft 3in
Weight: 96kg (15st 2lbs) Caps: 35
Forgettable past few weeks for the thoroughbred. Bowe needs go-forward ball and it is the responsibility of the 10-13 axis to find him at every opportunity. Otherwise, what’s the point in having such a brilliant winger?
13 Brian O’Driscoll
Age: 31. Height: 5ft 10in.
Weight: 95kg (15st) Caps: 106
For a player supposedly “long past his best” that was some pick up, some amount of tackles and some enthusiasm to create something out of nothing. He is finished alright, the finished article. Providing the shoulder holds up, more of the same please.
12 Gordon D’Arcy
Age: 30. Height: 5ft 11in.
Weight: 93kg (14st 8lbs) Caps: 51.
For a player once lauded primarily for his attacking traits, the industry of his defensive work last week was awesome. There will be a more obvious chinks tomorrow for his squat frame to power over the gainline.
11 Andrew Trimble
Age: 26. Height: 6ft 2in.
Weight: 98kg (15st 6lbs) Caps: 30
Another to profit from injuries, Trimble must reproduce the electric form seen earlier in 2010, particularly in Australia, to become a viable alternative to Luke Fitzgerald but, like Bowe, must be brought off his wing and put into space.
10 Jonathan Sexton
Age: 25. Height: 6ft 2in.
Weight: 92kg (14st 6lbs) Caps: 10
The understudy no more, matched up admirably to Dan Carter and must be relishing this duel with former master Felipe Contepomi. The game plan must continue to develop around his command and that means giving him early ball.
9 Peter Stringer
Age: 32. Height: 5ft 7in.
Weight: 71kg (11st 3lbs) Caps: 94
The meandering winter of his career reaches another fork in the road tomorrow. If, as many suspect, the new rules are ideally suited to his laser delivery and rapid tempo then he will remain an essential member of the Irish 22.
1 Cian Healy
Age: 23. Height: 6’.
Weight: 110kg (17st 4lbs) Caps: 12
“Church” must be nearing national hero status after flatly refusing to back down against New Zealand. His brutal smash tackling made even Jerome Kaino wince and for that we can be grateful. Wind him up and send him back out there.
2 Sean Cronin
Age: 24. Height: 6’.
Weight: 105kg (16st 7lbs) Caps: 6
A player of genuine potential in what is currently a troubled position. We know he will carry with force so a marked improvement in lineout throwing would mean any lingering long term concerns at hooker could be alleviated.
3 Tony Buckley
Age: 30. Height: 6ft 5in.
Weight: 135kg (21st 5lbs) Caps: 20
Only his third time starting an international on Irish soil, he rarely completes 80 minutes at any level. Clearly the Irish management believe his overall contribution is significantly more beneficial than the scrummaging prowess of Mike Ross. The public crave some proof.
4 Donncha O’Callaghan
Age: 31. Height: 6ft 6in.
Weight: 112kg (17st 8lbs) Caps: 66
To ask more of this man seems almost unfair as he never shirks individual responsibility or a physical contest yet the most capped Irish forward must stand out if Ireland are to gain parity up front.
5 Mick O’Driscoll
Age: 32. Height: 6ft 5in.
Weight: 113kg (17st 10lbs) Caps: 21
Presumably worked assiduously on timing Sexton restarts and gathering opposition high kicks this week. His commitment and courage remain unquestioned but the lineout is not providing an acceptable attacking platform.
6 Stephen Ferris
Age: 25. Height: 6ft 4in.
Weight: 109 (17st 2lbs) Caps: 23
His immense physicality becomes even more vital this week to ensure the removal of slouching Pumas over the grounded Irish ball-carrier. Another required to play a selfless link role in attack. Bust it up and give it back quickly.
7 David Wallace
Age: 34. Height: 6ft 2in.
Weight: 105kgs (16st 7lbs) Caps: 65
The coaching staff retain their faith in him despite Seán O’Brien’s long-term future and little indication against the All Blacks that he is holding off Father Times advances. The hope is that he remains as an integral building block in Ireland’s continuity game.
8 Jamie Heaslip
Age: 26. Height: 6ft 3in
Weight: 109kgs (17st 2lb) Caps: 30
Another opportunity to emphasise his world class credentials against a cracking number eight in Fernandez Lobbe, the key now is to clock up substantial yardage to enable others to garner the plaudits.
