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Published 13:02 2 Feb 2022 GMT
Updated 14:37 2 Feb 2022 GMT
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"Rónan is just going from strength to strength. He's big, 6-foot-2. He is a monster, actually, when you're standing up beside him. Really good in those wide channels, as Ireland have been showing, of late. An incredibly good scrummager and his darts have improved considerably over the last couple of years."The second row sees O'Brien pair up Maro Itoje and Paul Willemse, while there are no Irish players in his back row. He has chosen Jamie Ritchie for his "massive work-rate", "Mr Consistency" Gregory Alldritt and a player backed to shine in the championship, Tom Curry. O'Brien wants his team to be a run-and-gun attacking unit, hence his half-back picks of Antoine Dupont and Marcus Smith. For centres, both he and Goode agreed on teaming up Virimi Vakatawa and Robbie Henshaw. Finally, the O'Brien back three features one of his favourite players to watch, Monty Ioane, "danger-man" Damian Penaud and Hugo Keenan. "The last two years," he says, "Hugo has taken his game to a whole new level... he has all the bits and pieces, now, to be the complete fullback." Before Welsh rugby Twitter goes into complete meltdown, O'Brien did strongly consider Wyn Jones and Josh Adams before he ultimately went for Baille and Penaud. Fuel for the fire ahead of Ireland vs. Wales.
15. Hugo Keenan (Ireland) 14. Damian Penaud (France) 13. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland) 12. Virimi Vakatawa (France) 11. Monty Ioane (Italy) 10. Marcus Smith (England) 9. Antoine Dupont (France) 1. Cyril Baille (France) 2. Rónan Kelleher (Ireland) 3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland) 4. Maro Itoje (England) 5. Paul Willemse (France) 6. Jamie Ritchie (Scotland) 7. Tom Curry (England) 8. Gregory Alldritt (France)CHECK OUT THE FULL VIDEO HERE:
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