THE IMPROVED OUTING for Ireland’s rugby players at the weekend has not gone unnoticed Down Under.
Wallabies’ officials have once again taken to Facebook with their selection for British and Irish Lions Team of the Week.
Rory Best’s improvements at the lineout have been noted and he starts at hooker while Sean O’Brien gets the nod at blindside flanker.
The Tullow Tank have been shifted by the Aussies to accommodate Wales’ Sam Warburton – expect to see Warren Gatland follow suit this summer.
The May to December centre partnership of Brian O’Driscoll and Luke Marshall have both been selected in the best XV. The Irish duo are eager to play together against Italy but must pass IRB concussion protocols first.
Donnacha Ryan is also included by the Australians have placed his name beside a Welsh flag.
(Credit: Qantas Wallabies)
While Conor Murray may have won the man of the match accolade in Ireland’s 13-13 draw with France, Scotland’s Greig Laidlaw has been picked as starting scrum-half.
We were on a rugby-watching brief over the weekend and, although the Six Nations failed to excite in any great measure, there were some impressive individual performances.
TheScore.ie 6 Nations Team of the Week
15. Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), 14. Fergus McFadden (Ireland), 13. Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland), 12. Luke Marshall (Ireland), 11. Luke McLean (Italy), 10. Dan Biggar (Wales), 9. Conor Murray (Ireland).
Picamoles scores a late try for France. (©INPHO/Billy Stickland)
1. Thomas Domingo (France), 2. Rory Best (Ireland), 3. Adam Jones (Wales), 4. Joe Launchbury (England), 5. Donnacha Ryan (Ireland), 6. Alessandro Zanni (Italy), 7. Sean O’Brien (Ireland), 8. Louis Picamoles (France).
*What do you think? What Irish players would you select for the Lions tour this summer?
