Jackman: Ireland's World Cup XV as it stands

By Bernard Jackman

Joe Schmidt has a reputation for being a meticulous planner and for bringing huge attention to detail to any team he coaches.

While Joe will speak about the importance of the next match and having a short-term focus, you can be sure that his thought processes will be influenced this month and into the Six Nations by the Rugby World Cup.

Player selection is always a very personal thing and the criteria varies from coach to coach.

This was highlighted again for me when speaking with Ronan O'Gara on RTÉ Radio's 'Game On' during a discussion on Racing Metro's decision to let Dan Lydiate return to Wales with more than a season-and-a-half left on his contract.

Fundamentally, it turned on the fact that he is an excellent player who simply didn't fit into what the club is trying to do.

Lydiate's main strength is his defence and he always has a high tackle-count and excellent tackle-success rate, but the philosophy at Racing is based on having three lineout jumpers with the ability to carry the ball well in the back-row. For that reason, through no fault of Lydiate's own, his face never really fitted and for the sake of his career he has had to move on.

Things are slightly different at international level, not least because that option to move on is not there and players have to adapt. But fundamentally, that criteria of picking a team based on a core philosophy underpins everything.

With their provinces, the Irish players will be looking to do the things that Joe has told them he wants to see.

The left wing, where Simon Zebo and Andrew Trimble are the current leading contenders, is a great example of how it works.

In my view, Zebo has more natural talent but Trimble has obviously taken the feedback from the Irish coaching staff and shown what they want to see.

Remember that he was left out of the Ireland squad 12 months ago. Since then, he has convinced the Irish selectors he is a better bet to deliver consistently and gone on to play a hugely important role Ireland's Six Nations win.

That is just one position but across the board there are a number of fundamentals that Joe looks for in every player.

First and foremost, he values players who can implement the game plan he designs for each match. Rugby intelligence is hugely important.

He is also very collision focused and will try to have as many powerful ball carriers in his team as possible.

Thirdly, he will want a massively high work-rate across the team and his players will need to be incredibly fit.

Also and this is maybe an area that Joe is a little unique, he places huge emphasis on on-field discipline. That isn't totally unusual but what differentiates Joe is that he looks for 'outlaws' in every game he analyses.

'Outlaws' is the term he uses to describe the penalty offences that are not picked up by match officials but could be, especially in a Test match.

To him, the stray hand in the ruck or offside in midfield not penalised at provincial level is just as important as the one that is and frequent offenders end up with a question mark hanging over them.

In general terms, the goal over the next 12 months will be to continue to build the momentum and confidence that comes from winning Test matches.

Right now, Ireland are the Six Nations champions and are in a strong place and while our injury profile is not great, it is better to have these problems in November than at Six Nations time.

It means there is scope for continued experimentation on the back of what was an intense summer tour with a high workload for the squad. Hopefully, someone will use the opportunity to step up and stake a claim.

At this moment, these are the 15 players that I see being the first choice going into the biggest games at the Rugby World Cup a year from now.

1) In terms of depth, this is probably Ireland's strongest position. Cian Healy is the front-runner. A freak in the gym, he is able to transfer that power to the pitch and is a good scrummager, an excellent lifter, a solid defender and a brilliant ball carrier. For me, he would be a contender for any World XV. Jack McGrath, James Cronin and David Kilcoyne are all also capable of playing and being more than solid. Selection: Cian Healy

2) Rory Best offers a good set piece and is a very important leader in the group. He is like an extra back-row at the breakdown, though not as dynamic with the ball as Sean Cronin or, to a lesser extent, Richard Strauss. I know that Duncan Casey missed out on selection for this month's squad but he is building his experience and reputation steadily and could be a dark horse for the 30-man selection, as will Mike Sherry if he regains his fitness and form. Selection: Rory Best

3) I think this is one of the tightest calls. It is Mike Ross right now but Martin Moore could mount a major challenge over the next 12 months. In the end, I think Ross will get the nod. The scrum is vital to Ireland's backline attack and his expertise and experience will be crucial here. Ross is also better starting than coming off the bench. Connacht's Nathan White will give us another experienced option in the front row and I think he will edge out Stephen Archer and Rodney Ah You. Selection: Mike Ross

4) Joe Schmidt has overseen the development of Devin Toner from a player with potential into an international class lock. Toner is under pressure from Dave Foley, who has been excellent for Munster and, in truth, this is a position that the Irish management will be worried about. Behind him you are also looking at Iain Henderson, Donnacha Ryan, Dan Tuohy, Mike McCarthy and Mick Kearney. Selection: Devin Toner

5) All going well, Paul O'Connell will captain Ireland at the Rugby World Cup and is playing as well as ever. Having experienced disappointments at previous tournaments, he will leave no stone unturned in looking to be successful in what will be his last World Cup. Selection: Paul O'Connell

6) Peter O'Mahony brings the type of physicality and hard edge that every team needs and is a good lineout option who showed in last year's Six Nations that he can steal opposition ball at the ruck consistently. Rhys Ruddock is a strong man and good ball carrier and Robbie Diack is also a contender but if O'Mahony doesn't make it I think Sean O'Brien would move to six with Chris Henry going in at seven. Selection: Peter O'Mahony

7) Sean O'Brien is the complete package as a back-row and can play 6, 7 or 8. He is not the out-and-out ball winner on the deck that some teams like to have but is world class as a line-breaker and support player. The Irish back-row has a nice balance which sees Heaslip and O'Mahony do more of the dirty work, allowing Sean to carry. He is crucial to Ireland's chances but, if ruled out, Chris Henry is a different type of player and a decent alternative. Selection: Sean O'Brien

8) Jamie Heaslip is Mr Consistency and a certain starter if fit. He doesn't run over people but uses good footwork late to break defensive lines or find soft shoulders and get over the gain line and is a strong leader in the team also. Two players to watch out for as probable international eights in future are Leinster's Jack Conan and Munster's Jack O'Donoghue but their time will come post RWC 2015 I think. Selection: Jamie Heaslip

9) One player is head and shoulders above the others on current form: Conor Murray. He has a strong kicking game and is a threat as a runner close to the ruck, which holds space for Ireland's strike runners wider out. Eoin Reddan and Kieran Marmion will be the back ups. Selection: Conor Murray

10) Jonathan Sexton has committed his long-term future to Ireland and is the stand out ten available. He enjoys working under Schmidt and his drive and talent on and off the pitch are enormous. The back-up call is a tight one. Ian Keatley's game management has improved immensely this season but Ian Madigan's skills set always suited the way Leinster played under Schmidt and if Ireland start to play that type of rugby then he will be the second choice. Madigans goal kicking at the moment is a little more assured also. Selection: Jonathan Sexton

11) As I said above, Andrew Trimble is the player who has taken feedback and made himself one of those players who when a coach reviews that statistics post match is always high on actions and low on errors. Simon Zebo is definitely more talented and also has a big left-foot kicking game to offer. Zebo' s ability to create things from unorthodox situations is incredible but he can only challenge for a place of he ups his capacity to do all of the orthodox things well. Selection: Andrew Trimble

12) Gordon D'Arcy will be 35 when RWC 2015 rolls around. I think he is still the form centre despite his age and is the ideal man to help a new outside centre adapt and integrate. His understanding with Sexton is huge both in attack and defence and his health is crucial to Ireland's chances. Luke Marshall, Stuart Olding, Madigan and Noel Reid are other possibilities if Darcy was injured or forced into the 13 shirt. Selection: Gordon D'Arcy

13) This November will tell us a lot about Robbie Henshaw's ability to replace Brian O'Driscoll. He has been learning the role with Connacht and in my opinion has been playing better that Jared Payne. Robbie is a very physical player and is more direct than Payne and I think he has attributes that Schmidt will use very effectively. A dark horse is Grenoble's Chris Farrell, who is playing very well for us in the 13 jersey and if he continues to develop post Christmas he could be a bolter. Selection: Robbie Henshaw

14) Tommy Bowe is a top class finisher and footballer who has always produced his best rugby in the big games. Dave Kearney, Fergus McFadden Andrew Conway and Craig Gilroy are the other contenders. Selection: Tommy Bowe

15) Rob Kearney is a vital cog in this team with his big left boot giving balance to the kicking game and his ability under the high ball and on the counter also vital. If Jared Payne doesn't get the nod at 13 then he would be my preference as back up to Kearney at fullback. Simon Zebo and Felix Jones are capable of filling in here to as is Madigan though he would probably be called in off the bench. Selection: Rob Kearney

Bernard Jackman's Ireland Rugby World Cup 2015 XV

1) Cian Healy
2) Rory Best
3) Mike Ross
4) Devin Toner
5) Paul O'Connell
6) Peter O'Mahony
7) Sean O'Brien
8) Jamie Heaslip
9) Conor Murray
10) Jonathan Sexton
11) Andrew Trimble
12) Gordon D'Arcy
13) Robbie Henshaw
14) Tommy Bowe
15) Rob Kearney

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