Brian O'Driscoll & Keith Wood select their Greatest Ireland XV of the 21st Century

[@ronantv]

Kearney's performance in the 2nd Lions Test in Pretoria is one of the greatest FB perfomances ever.

[@Tdownunder]

Loved the faces on the other two when Keith said ROG.

[@DaSkonk]

Outstanding; they were absolutely sickened - worth watching, just for that!

[@davidbarrett2916]

43:20

[@Fredders88]

Brillant, BOD decides to not judge the 10, so Wood goes OK, I'll choose ROG then.....

[@rugbygareth1612]

There was no way this conversation was only going to last half an hour! We could still be talking about it now. Love hearing from Woody and BOD!

[@rossgeller5672]

Mike Ross is already becoming a forgotten legend, what a player and servant he was to Irish rugby

[@robertpirsig5011]

My 15; 1.Reggie Corrigan 2. Best 3. The Bull 4. Mick O'Driscoll 5. Toner 6. Johnny O'Conor, 7. O' Brien, 8. Victor Costello 9. Isacc Boss, 10. Andy Dunne 11. D Kearney 12. Paddy Jackson 13. Bowe 14. Horgan 15. Lamour

[@JD-lz2uq]

Brilliant 🤣🤣 A troll 15

[@kevinosullivan2220]

Going with my XV. And subs lol Cian Healy Keith Wood Tadgh Furlong James Ryan Paul O'Connell Stephen Ferris Sean O'Brien Jamie Heaslip Conor Murray Johnny Sexton Keith Earls Gordon D'Arcy Brian O'Driscoll (c) Tommy Bowe Rob Kearney Subs: Rory Best Jack Mc Grath John Hayes Donnacha O'Callaghan Peter O'Mahony Peter Stringer Ronan O'Gara Denis Hickie

[@neverever345]

That's a great list. I'd only disagree with 2 choices. Mal Kelly for Ryan. ROG for Sexto.

[@neverever345]

Sorry for bothering you, again. Should be Sexto starting.

[@amye702]

I think an interesting distinction for me with ROG and Sexton is that there was always more joy on the field with ROG running things at 10. More smiles, more pats on the back, the friendship and playing combo between O'Driscoll and ROG was always a fascinating watch. I think they are so different it's hard to choose as Sexton definitely has more attacking play which is a big plus for a 10 (Wilkinson and Farrel come to mind) but I like an underdog...haha....so I'd go ROG.

[@Iansguitarstuff]

I am a Munster fan but to me Sexton over ROG is a no brainer. He has won more trophies playing a pivotal position, world player of the year etc.

[@YTPundit]

Sexton less caps more trophies, starting Lion, winning Lion. Three European Cups (2011 final carried the team), has more domestic medals than ROG. Sexton better tackler and better running with ball. World player of the year and beaten AB's. ROG more points for Ireland, better place kicker and kicking out of hand and more caps but that I think works against him as Sexton has done more in green jersey with less caps. ROG is of his time and a great servant to Ireland. I dont understand how this is even a discussion, Sexton is a country mile ahead as a player. ROG is for the romantics.

[@stxdm15m63]

@@YTPundit It's four European cups to date but yeah both great players but not a contest.

[@YTPundit]

@@stxdm15m63 how did I forget? 😀

[@jbrennan9929]

Sexton has 3 6Ns and a world player of the year trophy. No brainer correct and right.

[@ashleysoudah]

Surprised there was no talk of Ian Henderson in second row

[@eamoman651]

Strings has to be the No:9. Would always have him on my team..

[@celtic333ful]

O Gara selection is the only one that is off. I think if you asked any New Zealand coach over the past 2 decades who they would rather be at out half when playing Ireland they would say ROG.

[@conormurray6227]

James Ryan is a nice POC.

[@johnmartin7370]

just on a note @ Perfecto Productions Inc. , Ciaran Fitzgerald was Captain in 1985. He has never played this Century.

[@strawberrykicker2]

O Gara's goalkicking improved as his career went on, unfortunately sexton's has seemingly gotten much worse

[@seanlennon5986]

I'd suggest you check his stats...

[@strawberrykicker2]

@@seanlennon5986 I'm talking anecdotally obviously. Scotland and England this year, Scotland in the world cup (the world cup in general), Wales in 2018 were all games that sexton had very very poor kicking displays and missed a number of very easy kicks, just to name a few. O gara largely improved as his career went on, save for a month or two in late 2009. Since sexton changed his technique his accuracy has been a bit more hit and miss as the way he kicks now leaves much less room for error

[@strawberrykicker2]

@wildebest agree with you about the lack of world class 10s at the moment (when finn russell is being touted as a lions test starter is a sad state of affairs), disagree with pretty much everything else though im afraid. at times both sexton (2018) and o gara (first half of 2007) were arguably the best 10s in the world. o gara was far more than just a kicker too. his passing game was fantastic (slightly better than sexton's) and while he wasn't a devastating attacker with ball in hand, he was pretty good at times - the aforementioned 2007 six nations he was pretty good seeing as he was joint top try scorer. conversely sexton is/was a better at playing the territory game than he gets credit for, its just the gameplan with ireland over the last few years didn't really allow him to kick for position that much. like i said in my original post, sexton seems to have become less reliable in his placekicking in the last few years, but other than that i think theyre two pretty evenly matched players

[@strawberrykicker2]

@wildebest well Rugby World had him as no.2 in 2007, and he was voted the most important player of the first 15 years of european rugby, so your argument doesnt really hold up. as for taking him out of munster, i would say the exact opposite for 2006, munster were a largely average team with one or two great players but o gara was a very large part of why they won the H Cup. Wilkinson was great up to a point, fantastic goalkicker obviously, about equal to o gara in attacking threat, limited passing game, great defence, absolute glory-hog, but post 2004 o gara was definitely at least equal to him overall. Jones was a great attacking player but was an average goalkicker and his game-management was average enough, o gara definitely should have started for the lions in 2009 (jones was very poor in the first test but improved as the series went on in fairness) and 2005 was such a shambles it doesnt even count (mainly since hodgson was the best 10 on the tour). Farrell is most definitely a 10 it just suits england better to have him at 12 since they wont start slade for some reason. cooper on the other hand is definitely a 12 since he could never manage a game

[@kevinheaney9177]

@wildebest i thought i was the only person on the internet to also think this. ROG was an embarassment of an athlete, couldn't run and couldn't defend. He was very effective at club level playing behind 7/8s of the Irish pack where he had to kick the corners, but had far more bad games for Ireland than good, and was terrible at 3 world cups and 3 lions tours. 1 Six Nations championship in 13 years is nothing to shout about. Just not up to it. Sexton has more to his game (great defender, takes the ball to the line) but is still the most overrated player of his age. Won World Player of the Year when he was probably the 6th best player on his own team. Can never be relied upon with kicks at goal either.

[@barryryan14]

All Leinster 15 I'd say.

[@leosmith3033]

ROG has over a thousand points for Ireland and Sextom does not hav a thousand points for Ireland

[@philipegar]

That’s not a true measure of which was the better player, just goal kicking ability and longevity.

[@martinodea1292]

Funny thing is you can agree with this. But as Joe was pushing towards. If you had players on their best day (obviously the two here are the best 2 players Ireland have had so should be in) aside from.those two if it was actual players at their peak it would be quite different. Flannery for best undoubtedly (of course now we have kelleher and sheeran...and while very very close with peak healy I think.porter and kelleher would.join furlong. Ferris on his peak one of first names. Argument that you keep Wallace at 7 and play o brien at 8 (again for one game explosive team. Sexton....Rog there is a nonsense. Geordan murphy and peak luke fitz

[@kevinosiochain7663]

Future 15 for the next world cup anyone???

[@Michael-hk6dj]

I would still have Stringer over Murray but it's really close. Both great 9s but I never had much time for O'Leary.

[@josephmanuel5600]

Definitely Murray, was arguably the best 9 in the world (though I thought Smith was better) at a time when there were alot of good 9s, not sure if you could ever make that argument for Stringer...

[@DaSkonk]

@wildebest what absolute twaddle - you clearly not only have a serious issue with Murray, but you also clearly don't have a clue what you're talking about; get lost!

[@DaSkonk]

@wildebest oh, so you have an issue with Irish rugby in general, too; as well as not having a clue what you're talking about - nice to know. Like I said, get lost - no-one's interested in your blindly ignorant prejudice, you clown!

[@andrewconroy9588]

My Team 1.Healy 2.Wood 3.Furlong 4.O'Connell 5.Ryan 6.Ferris 7.Leavy 8.O'Brien 9.Murray 10.Sexton 11.Earls/Hickie 12.Fitzgerald 13.O'Driscol 14.No Clue 15.Kearney

[@daviiidoff]

Earls 😂😂😂😂😂

[@robertpirsig5011]

​@@daviiidoff lol what? Earls is in our top 3 try scorers ever. Super longevity and consistency. And a fantastic defender. He had a bit if everything. Stupid to think he doesn't deserve a place in the conversation.

[@daviiidoff]

@@robertpirsig5011 he’s absolutely useless “ fantastic defender “ 😂 yeah that’s why England under Eddie jones always targeted him on his wing and got great success , classic Munster clown he’s rubbish he can’t even make the Munster bench anymore 🤡😂

[@JD-lz2uq]

Fitzgerald at 12…..in an all time Ireland team….where he played at best a handful of times for Ireland 🤣

[@bentuber1]

O'Driscoll bottled it. Sexton all day long. Had so much more to his game.

[@kevinspencer3672]

Content is too tight to mention

[@danielbrowne3596]

Zero mention of aki pretends to be shocked connacht player sure who cares about them lot

[@strawberrykicker2]

aki has been very poor for ireland post 2018 (most have in fairness)

[@jackobrien663]

Aki 🤣🤣

[@bentuber1]

Healy Flannery Furlong O'Connell Ryan Ferris O'Brien Heaslip Murray Sexton Hickie D'arcy Ringrose Horgan Kearney

[@roxanneandrews9139]

Greatest Ireland XV of the 21st century,that has never even won a World cup knockout match.

[@jackobrien663]

Never played together

[@davykins]

clown

[@johnstan007]

Yawn. As original as the wheel

[@stxdm15m63]

Healy Wood Furlong O'Connell Ryan Feris O'Brien Heaslip Murray Sexton Stockdale D'arcy O'Driscoll Bowe Kearney

[@JD-lz2uq]

Stockdale is the most hilarious selection on this entire page. Utterly ridiculous

[@MikaelFlyer]

Murray is over rated big time. Botha is the real deal.

[@ColourSmartSolutions]

That’s great champ, but Botha’s neither Irish nor did he play for them between 2000 and now. An irreverent point.