Ireland Rugby Greatest XV of All Time

In this video we take a look at the greatest Rugby players to play for Ireland and select the 15 players who would deserve a place in an Irish All-Time team.

[leeroylita]

I think Sean O'brien had the highest peak of any forward, insane player in his prime.

[larry]

South African here. The loose trio is a tough one, a real tough one. Theres guys like david wallace, cj stander and the current active players coming through wich just show the great players the country has produced along the years. Look at the world class locks the current roster has, even nmr 9 has plenty to talk about. I love this team ive been cheering them on for more than a decade as my favorite team up north.

[Keeks]

I'd definitely give a shout out to Robbie Henshaw in the center. He's like the O'Mahony of the backs, an inspiring big game player who plays well even when Ireland lose.

[elzorroof]

Father Stone level of delivery. Impressive.

[brianmoran]

I Live in Australia and work with a lot of New Zelanders, The older Guys reckon Mike Gibson was one of the best players they ever saw.

[BarryLyons-hv]

Paul Wallace was top class and runs Furlong very close .About 15 years back Irish front row was Claw, Wood, Wallace and they were a very good trio .Recency bias is huge, Ginger Mcloughlin was a lion like Wallace and deserves a mention .

[LeeMack]

Keith Wood's skillset was ahead of it's time

[Farzocalypse]

Good list, but this cannot be considered the best irish XV of "All time" There is a bias towards more recent players. The following are missing of at least a mention:

Mike Gibson - generally considered in the pantheon of greatest centres, 12 BI lions caps and a hall of fame inductee.
David Wallace - 72 Ireland caps, 3 lions caps across two tours, driving force in Munster's two Heineken cup wins.
Simon Geoghan - At a time when Ireland were perennial whipping boys, he could tear teams apart on his own. Injured for the 97 lions tour, the management tried to keep a spot open for him until the last possible minute in case he recovered.
Jack Kyle - Captain of Irelands only grand slam until 2009, 6 lions caps and hall of fame inductee.

These are just the ones off the top of my head. Just my opinion.

[sage]

Mike Gibson, Tony ward Tony o'rielly

[derekmahony]

Mike Gibson and Fergus Slattery have to be on this team!
D'Arcy ahead of Gibson no way

[seanfriel]

Good pics. Keith Woods as captain. He was the guy that kicked off the modern Irish rugby 🏉

[Svain]

Mike Gibson is the most obvious omission here.

[fawltyoldboybasil.]

With respect, how did you come to omitting Cameron Michael Gibson? I am a Leinster fan for almost 40 years and a big admirer of the D'Arcy - O'Driscoll combo BUT, Gordon D'Arcy is on the bench when it comes to where Mike Gibson plays. I would also have Andrew Trimble in the squad. One other name springs to mind - Ray MacLoughlin. One of the best tightheads to ever play - career cut short by injury.

[alcoyne]

Thanks great to see a good honest video about our own players 👍

[johnoconnell]

If it's "of all time", you have to consider all players, and for a start the players listed below may have been as good as, or greater than, the great Johnny Sexton .
You then need to take a similar approach to all of the other positions. Ireland's most talented ever no 8 may well have been Ken Goodall, but many fans today wouldn't even recognise his name.
Ollie Campbell.
Mike Gibson- though I'd select him at 12. (Do you know that Barry John nominated Mike, not Gareth Edwards, as the best player he played with?)
Jack Kyle.
Louis Magee.

[fredschmidt]

I like your list. Though I'd shift Darcy for Gibson in a flash, for my choices. And one-dimensional Kearney has been totally userped by Keenan. '
The most complete FB Ireland has ever seen. And hes only just starting...

[mikemcder]

I would also think that in the back-row, honourable mentions could go to Ferguson Slattery and Mike Gibson in the centre

[burkegerry]

Can't be Ireland'd best team if Mike Gibson and Fergus Slattery are not even considered.It looks like it was picked late at night in the club bar.

[alcoyne]

Im so happy to see Healy in here . Even this year all the talk in about Johnny sextons age and his last season. BUT Healy just in the background doing great work quietly as always...

[dkstewy]

Hmm, would have to join the sceptics chorus questioning the choice of D'Arcy over Gibson. We are probably all well retired! Gibson was a fantastic fly-half before settling at centre; selected for 5 tours with the Lions, last international aged 36 ...not even a mention! Of his play in the greatest ever Lions back line in NZ in 1971, Colin Meads, the NZ captain, paid Gibson the highest compliment by saying: “Gibson’s presence in the Lions back-line was the most frustrating influence of all.”