The Irish players that are the best in the world in their position | BRIAN O'DRISCOLL

[@GDSweeney]

I can tell BOD is very excited about this Ireland team. It’s probably the best I’ve ever seen. As good as Doris, VDF, Keenan, Sheehan and Ringrose are….I don’t think we need to get too ahead of ourselves though. France will bring their ‘A’ game on Saturday. Let’s see how we deal with them. Farrell is key to Ireland’s mental fortitude going forward. He’s been great!

[@geansai333]

BOD and co do this after every big win. Usually precedes a hiding.

[@behindtheseeyesiseewhatyou8953]

What a time to be an American with Irish linage who fell for Rugby in 2006… Im fascinated with the game and as I’m 46 and can’t compete in my Sport of Judo anymore… I wish I’d have found Serious Rugby back when I was young. 6’3” 270 and nimble. I’m sure I’d find a place in the team :) Let’s go and take down Le’ Pew Pew this weekend!

[@fomofud9479]

That's ok mate, just be like the rest of us, sit back, relax, crack open a frosty and enjoy the rugby. As a Bok fan I'm blown away at how good Irish rugby is at the moment. This will be their best opportunity yet to win a RWC and if it's not against the Boks or Scotland I'll support them 100%.

[@shane-irish]

🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@jaypea7760]

You have your own rugby team, why not support that. Oh yes, you're American, only the best in the World for you, I forgot for a moment. And yes, if you'd played, you'd probably have been an international, perhaps one of the best in the World, because, after all, you're an American.

[@behindtheseeyesiseewhatyou8953]

@@jaypea7760 As an American…. Support my own team huh? Shall I just stop supporting the Irish Team because I was born in the USA? Nothing at all about my family on both sides coming from Ireland. The fact that my mom and dad were both 1st generation Irish. Wait… I’m lying, My great Grand father on my moms side was of Irish Parents but was born in Scotland. Being American is not something I am ashamed of. The silent majority of this country are loving, passionate and god fearing. USA is not the place it once was. In fact Ireland and it’s people (including my family) used USA to flee when the famine was in effect. It’s why Boston, Chicago, DC and Philly have huge Irish influences to this day. Yes, I was a great athlete younger. I would have made a great tight head… but I’m humbled by the boys who play Rugby. I don’t watch American ball sports. I did not just start liking Ireland Rugby because they win. I fell in Love with the sport I’m Dublin at a Heineken cup semi Munster/Leinster game. I supported the team through the last world cups and watch and support Munster. It’s sad to think people would show so much hate to a person who advocates and spreads the word about this great sport Amongst countrymen who could care less about Rugby….. If I offended you, it wasn’t the case. I’m 46 and need double hip replacement and I’m currently suffering with a MRSA infection. I’m in no way able to play again ever.

[@kobusdutoitbosman6240]

Great to listen to comfortable, knowledgable and well informed conversation which is SO colourful, descriptive and says just about everything in every direction ~ MOST intriguing⁉️ Great show…thnx.👊🔥

[@yorkymc]

Great stuff Brian listen to you all day

[@anthonylennon8331]

He covered some serious ground to put in the try saving touch down.

[@TupacTilliDDie]

Welsh fan - , fair play to Ireland, very very good team. If you keep Sexton fit, I think you will win the WC never mind the 6Nations!!

[@johnmc3862]

They look good alright. They may go in as favourites. NZ and SA are serious propositions in the WC though!

[@drdecco1]

You are getting carried away like our BOD is - let’s see how 6N goes first

[@Steipp]

Appreciate the compliment, but I seriously doubt we will win the RWC (if ever). The reason being, as you have correctly identified, in some areas we really lack depth. Sexton is a fantastic rugby player (although, I think other 6N teams tens are better in their positions), but if he's injured, we're knackered. Hopefully a 6N/Northern Hemisphere team can lift it for once! :)

[@batwings80]

So much hype about Jonny Sexton. We'll see. That was a weak Wales, sorry to say.

[@Mark76556]

It feels different this time coming into the world cup. It's like we genuinely can go all the way with no one to really fear. Of course we can get beat but I fancy our chances this time around

[@pgdsfcv5552]

February 2023: Ireland are the best team in the world with world class players. November 2023: Out in the quarter-finals

[@tosh_thedude]

Cry harder mate

[@paulbarnes8]

Sounds about right

[@DarrenOConnor3]

Every four years like clockwork...

[@angusarnell2467]

Wallabies fan - B O’D All Class as usual. Ireland - DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES GET ARROGANT! It’s even cost the ABs a few Cups. It can be easy to forget, Coaches all the way through to alicadoos, please stay humble, there is a job to be done

[@indochinaconnex4308]

This is probably the next Irish team I can remember but I do feel the Boks losing the close games to Ireland and France (with 14 men) was the best thing to happen for them and I think the Irish forget they could of easily lost that game too. The boks will be well prepared I think.

[@bryanellis459]

Furlong getting injured at this stage mightn't be a bad thing looking to the word cup. Bealham hasn't really started any big games that I can remember, so builds some depth. France will be a big test for him, but the Connacht scrum has been relatively solid all season and penalty we gave away against Wales was on the other side.

[@shane-irish]

We have o toole as well porter can go to number 3 so all good

[@neilcooper9508]

I wood think rugby in irland is becoming there number 1 sport iv allways thourt it's sort of sport thay shoud be good at all the best irland Neil england

[@MrLukeyhym]

Doris growing into best back-rower in the world for sure. Keenan best 15 without question (if Jordan gets his shot at the AB’s watch out). Sheehan right up there at Hooker. Sexton, hard to argue. JVDF up there. Porter better than Kitshoff or Baille? Nope.

[@joshsmith3598]

Porter gave up 6 pens. He had some great moments but overall that is not good enough. He is not getting away with that pen count v better teams. Sheehan is good but Marx is in a class by himself. Then Marchand then Sheehan.

[@craigharrington437]

I agree would all apart from Porter. Very good player but John Ryan has destroyed him at scrum time multiple times. That's hardly best prop in the world conversation

[@BenBen-bi5vn]

Agree with most of that. But I disagree with Keenan. He's ONE of the best, but not THE best.

[@shane-irish]

Yes so many world class players we have now

[@shane-irish]

Porter is better than kitshoff or Baille much better

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Saffa here … I think Kearney has to be the best full back ever. Random comment I had to throw in.

[@Si-ni1wk]

Can anybody tell me why the full video of this review of the weekend between Joe Molloy and Brian O’Driscoll - from which this clip is taken - doesn’t appear among the Off The Ball videos? I caught the first 20 minutes of it live yesterday and was looking forward to watching the rest later but couldn’t find it.

[@Moneybags891]

They have put the full rugby podcasts like odriscell, mnr, and wnr on the off the ball app. They only put little clips on youtube now.

[@Si-ni1wk]

@@Moneybags891 Thanks, that's good to know.

[@shane-irish]

This is the full interview i taught

[@shane-irish]

So many world class players porter sheehan furlong ryan dorris beirne jvf sexton ringrose lowe all world class

[@papachinizo]

To be "THE Best player in a position", you'd want to be consistently miles ahead of the next guy and I don't think anyone in the world is... but I'd definitely say Ireland have a number of guys who are in an "un-ordered top 5" in their position - guys like Doris, JVDF, Furlong, Sheehan, Ringrose and Sexton for sure - potentially even Keenan, Porter, Lowe, Beirne and Ryan too !

[@dadofchampions]

No, Ireland does have best in position right now in Doris, Van Der Flier, Furlong, Porter (and 2nd or 3rd best in that front row). Reiko just shades Ringrose though - but there is daylight between them and the rest. WHY? Pundits tend to measure a 13's 'time on ball' but not the work they do off it and Reiko and Ringrose's work-rate off the ball is unparalleled. Their ability to cover 2-3 attackers with their speed forces attackers to second guess planned moves and their defence just saves games. Never in the last 2 yrs have there been tries scored down Ireland and NZ's outside channels from set plays. SA fans will berate me but Lukanyo Arn's defence and off the ball work rate is average. He got shown up by Reiko last year in both tests as well Rees Zammit early in the year vs Wales and you can always find defensive errors every game he plays. Sure he does some magic when the ball is in his hands but ..... thats all he brings. Sorry but Sexton is just the driver of a well tuned Maserati right now in the Ireland pack and game-plan for him to feature as best in position. You gotta measure that role against what a 10 does when he's under pressure, on the back foot and when teams do stifle Irelands and Leinsters relentless attack in games, Sexton is invisible.

[@joshsmith3598]

Porter is not in top 5 of his position. It is like people didn't watch that entire game. Porter had real issues in the scrum and discipline in general was poor. He gave up 6 penalties. Ryan isn't in top either. I can think of 7 or 8 Locks I'd take before him. Lowe ....no. There is a whole slew of better wingers. Lowe fits well in Ireland's system but he not a top winger. Keenan is the best FB in the world has been for near on 2 years. I think hype around Steward got out of hand. Meanwhile Keenan kept performing.

[@dadofchampions]

@@joshsmith3598 Will Jordan plays all his provincial and club (and school) rugby at 15. He is on par with Keenan BUT Fosters insistence to have Beauden Barrett starting (at 15) every test just does not see the best of what Jordan can do when playing 14

[@hdg0pc70]

All of the comments I agree with. BUT, If Sexton gets injured......the replacement is some way off. But this is true for France & Scotland.

[@Onyx5021]

Strongly disagree, ntamack gets injured Jalibert comes in, that guy is a starter in every other team

[@shane-irish]

Ross byrne hasjoined the chat

[@johntiswell7599]

Nooooooooo. Joe and Brian done this exact segment before the last World Cup and we ended up flopping

[@shane-irish]

This has aged well

[@BruceMacgregorCampbell]

Well this aged well......

[@tombrady6633]

Well, 'the world' is a little misleading given the numbers participating globally

[@BenBen-bi5vn]

Irelands biggest problem is their depth. Brilliant starting XV, obviously, but after that, I'm not so sure. You need depth in every position to win a WC.

[@conorstagg8888]

We're well resourced in a number of positions, I'd worry if we lost Sexton obviously or Keenan. But we have debt in the squad. Sexton can be replaced with a solid outhalf, but nobody can make the team click like him. Then we've had quite a few injuries recently and done fine, I mean our 5th choice centre had an amazing game against SA.

[@BenBen-bi5vn]

@@conorstagg8888 Ireland have depth, agreed, but not even close to the likes of NZ and SA, which I think is why they always perform well at World Cups. SA for example played most of 2022 without De Jager, Du Toit, Vermeulen, Pollard, Am, and Kolbe, and still put together a team that could beat almost any team on their day. And NZ, well they're just a conveyor belt of talent.

[@benkay1390]

Great team but saying they are all best players in their position is a massive call and presents as arrogant/glib. Let’s be honest, Dupont, Savea and probably Will Jordan would make the Ireland team hands down, same with Brodie Retallick or Eben Ezebeth

[@sdgmrs]

Quarter final exit again im afraid..we have a horror draw

[@patman142]

Why do we constantly do this? Save it until after the World Cup if we achieve something

[@benkay1390]

Completely agree mate. Great team, but get past a QF and then make statements like this

[@AngryDaddoesDecath5260]

I love you Brian O'Driscoll, if you were Caroline Corrs I'd marry you.

[@geansai333]

'jump step' 'unmarkable' . . . hmm

[@harryocallaghan8082]

Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Beirne, Doris, VDF, Sexton, Ringrose, Keenan would all be in my world 15.

[@getridofneocons]

Irish fans,well I would have world cup winners Marx,kitshoff,Am,Kolisi,Etzebeth,,De Jager,Arendse,Kolbe

[@thomas_corbet]

Marchand, Savea.

[@harryocallaghan8082]

@@getridofneocons Except Ireland beat South Africa 3 months ago 😂

[@harryocallaghan8082]

@@Mark76556 Furlong is a tighthead. Kitshoff is a loosehead bro. And JVDF is the best player in the world. Kolisi is lucky he is even in the South African team.

[@getridofneocons]

@@Mark76556 kitshoff different position malherbe stronger scrummager than furlong

[@foxyboiiyt3332]

BOD thinks Leinster players are world class shocker.

[@daithipol]

They are

[@grahamshaw3802]

Every other pundit does 2

[@DM-rp9ik]

Yeah he knows stuff about rugby at the highest level shocker

[@harryocallaghan8082]

Person who hates Leinster & has a chip on his shoulder because he’s jealous of Leinster success complains about his dislike for Leinster, shocker.

[@johnmc3862]

Munster supporter gets his Leinster dig in shocker.

[@johndanter7834]

Jesus christ. Totally gone to your heads 🤣

[@BarryHawk]

Porter? Mmmhhh...

[@johnmc3862]

Scored 2 tires against NZ away, not too shabby.

[@lewisthornton3]

@John Mc I'm a massive fan of Porter and leinster, but porters biggest weakness is his scrummaging everything else he excles at tbh it depends on the game but a good tighthead prop can easily destroy him his scrummaging was always better at tighthead

[@joshsmith3598]

@@johnmc3862 He gave 6 pens in game everyone is getting carried away praising him. His scrummaging is not great.

[@shane-irish]

Ya best number 1 in the world

[@drdecco1]

BOD wud you take off the blue tinted glasses p-leeazz! It’s getting embarrassing - all the players name checked were Leinsters….lol World class players in pretty much all the 6N teams just not as cohesive or well drilled as the Irish are presently.

[@LeMerch]

Leinster are currently sitting clear at the top of the URC and were in the final of the Champions cup last year. Perhaps he’s a bit OTT with his excitement, but he’s not wrong.

[@antonphelan964]

Sure what would BOD know

[@hughjanus2020]

Take it seriously for goodness sake

[@foxyboiiyt3332]

If a Munster pundit did even remotely similar the D4 crowd would melt down....

[@mikeschwarz9344]

@@foxyboiiyt3332 compare munster to leinster and then you know why…

[@darrenchristian141]

It's an irrelevant question . 15 man game . Must remember Wales rarely win first game up .. if they do usually do well in...tournament...RWC in France will be interesting, and unless complete disaster hits Ireland they will without doubt break their qtr final hoodoo .. Can honestly see a 6N team lift if for only 2nd time ..prob Ire or France . But a Scottish team who can build on win v England will be interesting .RWC groups are usually easy..ish to read ..BUT one group always throws spanner in works for somebody .. Hope one of 3 teams mentioned can win this ear . Wales and Eng need too much work . Said same 2011 but cant see it again . Good luck to NH teams as need balance redressing lol

[@fazertace6837]

Won NOTHING since 2018. Every time i see an Irish rugby show you all say how wonderful your team is but the truth is youve won nothing in the last few years. Anyone but Ireland for the 6 nations AND the World Cup.

[@tosh_thedude]

Sour grapes much? 🤣

[@michaelflynn5123]

Leinster man loose head that can’t scrum best in the world 😭

[@lewisthornton3]

Other then the scrummaging he's a fast built prop who can step and got 4 turnovers in a leinster game

[@CD-603]

@@lewisthornton3 other than the scrummaging