The Team Ireland Needs To Beat The All Blacks And Build Toward 2027

As Ireland prepares to face the All Blacks, a new generation takes center stage. This is the XV to win now and lay the foundation for 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Oct 9, 2025 by Philip Bendon

The Team Ireland Needs To Beat The All Blacks And Build Toward 2027

When the autumn winds blow in from the Atlantic, bristling through Europe and the British and Irish Isles, it can only mean one thing for rugby fans. The Autumn Test Series nearly is upon us.

Now two rounds down, the 2025-2026 BKT United Rugby Championship once again has proven to be the perfect appetizer for the main course that lies ahead.

In the case of Irish Rugby, 2025 is the first step in what, on paper, looks set to be a significant squad overhaul in the ramp-up to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Consistently one of the best teams in test rugby for the past decade, the Irish World Cup quarterfinal curse hangs heavy over the nation.

Unable to find the antidote to the kryptonite in 2023, despite playing their part in arguably the greatest World Cup clash of all time, Andy Farrell’s charges go again.

Away from the global showpiece, the Irish have swept all before them, winning a series in New Zealand, claiming multiple Six Nations titles, beating the world champion Springboks in South Africa and generally being exceptional year-round.

Yet, for all of this brilliance, playing on the final weekend of a World Cup remains the carrot they so desire.

Facing Farrell and company are several key personnel decisions that ultimately will be the deciding factor in how their time in Australia in 2027 is remembered.

Front and center is the debate at out-half, with two highly promising young contenders vying for one spot in Munster’s Jack Crowley and Leinster’s Sam Prendergast.

Two contrasting operators, Crowley is a physical specimen capable of dominating the contact point and with the big match temperament to drag his side over the line. Prendergast, with a silky-smooth skillset and renowned time on the ball, has piqued the interest of both his provincial and national coaches.

Elsewhere, the back-row and center combinations that have underpinned Irish success are in need of new blood.

How, and when, this transition begins clearly is up to Farrell, but one suspects he is acutely aware of the urgency to make a decision.

In the back three, a natural transition also feels imminent, with the ultra-physical James Lowe edging closer to the dreaded mid-30s twilight zone.

Thus, with this information in hand, we felt it necessary to take a stab at an Irish squad we believe would strike the balance between remaining competitive, while planning for the future.

First up, is a clash with a dreaded foe in Scott Robertson’s All Blacks at a happy hunting ground of Chicago’s Soldier Field.

Now just three URC fixtures away, here is the side we feel should take to one of the NFL’s most hallowed turfs:

Ireland Team To Face The All Blacks In Chicago

1. Andrew Porter (Leinster)

Locked and loaded as Ireland’s first choice loosehead, the Lions’ test starter gets through a mountain of work test after test and is a no-brainer in the No. 1 shirt.

Unlike seasons gone by, however, Ireland now has three locked-and-loaded young options to ease the load in Michael Milne, Jack Boyle and Paddy McCarthy.

2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster) - Captain

Quite clearly, the best hooker in professional rugby, Sheehan, is a key leader for the Irish pack.

His dynamic carrying game, pace and physicality will be key against an All Blacks side that has leaned into Scott Robertson’s up-tempo game plan.

3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster)

Back to his best on the Lions tour, Furlong needs to be managed heading into the 2027 World Cup, hence our selection of additional tightheads in this squad.

When fit and firing, he is still one of the best in the world and crucial to Ireland’s attacking structures and set pieces.

4. James Ryan (Leinster)

Another player who rediscovered his best form in Australia, Ryan’s willingness to do the unseen grunt work frees up the rest of the Irish pack to get on the ball.

At line-out time, his ability in the air will be key to rectifying an area that has been a concern since the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

5. Tadhg Beirne (Munster)

Another Tadhg who needs to be managed cautiously through to 2027.

He was utterly dominant on Lions duty and rightly named the player of the series. While he was exceptional in the back row in Australia, his best position is lock.

6. Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster)

Quickly becoming Ulster Rugby’s talisman in the pack, Izuchukwu has started the season on fire.

His ball-carrying ability, physicality in contact and line-out abilities make him a solid choice to replace the now retired Peter O’Mahony.

At 25-years-old, now is the time to back him.

7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster)

For now, the 32-year-old remains the best choice in the No. 7 shirt with his ability to be at least at 8 out of 10 every week.

In time, we can see the likes of Ruadhán Quinn and Sean Edogbo challenging him for the role, or perhaps a position switch for Caelan Doris?

8. Jack Conan (Leinster)

Slotting in at No. 8, working under the assumption that Caelan Doris will be unavailable through injury.

Ireland is blessed to have two world-class operators at the base of the scrum.

What people often underrate is Conan’s work rate and ability to link play, which opens up space for those around him.

9. Craig Casey (Munster)

Picking up where he left off in the summer, now is Casey’s time to kick on.

This selection is based on long-term planning, with Jamison Gibson-Park still being a quality operator. However, Casey’s upside is undeniable, and now is the time for him to captain with several experienced operators around him.

10. Jack Crowley (Munster)

Ireland’s form out-half, Crowley, has started this season spitting fire and gets the first crack at the No. 10 shirt.

His physicality, pace and big-match temperament make him the perfect conductor of the Irish attack.

Despite all the debate and conjecture that has entered this debate, the facts are that Ireland has won big matches with Crowley as the starter. Backing him now will instill further confidence in him and will take him to another level.

11. Jacob Stockdale (Ulster)

Massively unfortunate with injuries, there is little doubt that Stockdale is special when fit and firing.

By the time Chicago comes around, we expect him to be back to his best.

While it may seem harsh on James Lowe, the Irish backline has lacked pace recently, and this is something Stockdale brings in abundance.

12. Jamie Osborne (Leinster)

Arguably, one of the biggest dominoes to fall this November should be the Irish center combinations.

Blessed with three world-class operators for the best part of the decade at 12 in Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw and Stuart McCloskey, now is the time to back the highly impressive Leinster back in what is regarded as his favored position.

Throw into the mix his long kicking game and ability to win contestable kicks, and Ireland will unlock a new area in their attacking structures.

13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster)

We're working under the proviso that Ringrose will be back in action following his sustained injury run with a concussion.

The Leinster center still is a class above the other outside centers in Ireland and would have been a test Lion, had it not been for his concussion withdrawal.

Behind Ringrose, Connacht’s burgeoning star Hugh Gavin has the potential to be a live option come the end of the November series, as do Ulster’s Jude Postlethwaite and Leinster’s Hugh Cooney.

14. Tommy O’Brien (Leinster)

Pace to burn, a nasty attitude, in the best possible way, and a ferocity in contact that would be unfathomable for many outside backs in test rugby, Leinster’s most improved player has proven what a clean bill of health can do for him.

Facing competition from Calvin Nash, Zac Ward, Shayne Bolton, and perhaps in time, Robert Baloucoune for the No. 14 shirt, O’Brien gets the first crack at the whip.

15. Mack Hansen (Connacht)

Shifting to the fullback position due to Hugo Keenan’s absence, Connacht’s slippery playmaker could unlock a whole new dimension to the Irish attack with his distribution skills.

What he lacks in terms of Keenan’s positional work and kicking game, he more than makes up for with intelligent running lines and creativity.

Replacements

16. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), 17. Michael Milne (Munster), 18. Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), 19. Joe McCarthy (Leinster), 20. Cian Prendergast (Connacht) 21. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), 22. Sam Prendergast (Leinster), 23. Shayne Bolton (Connacht)

Wider Squad

Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Thomas Ahern (Munster), Ryan Baird (Leinster), Ruadhán Quinn (Munster), Brian Gleeson (Munster), Ben Murphy (Connacht), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Cathal Forde (Connacht), Hugh Gavin (Connacht), Calvin Nash (Munster), Zac Ward (Ulster), Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster)

The Unlucky Veterans

As ever with a squad naming, there are casualties, and most notable in ours is the dropping of Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw and Stuart McCloskey.

Now 35, 32 and 33 years old, respectively, the trio have been incredible players in the green shirt. Yet, with the World Cup two years away, it is tough to see the trio cracking the squad, and thus, they have entered the mold of progress stoppers.

Elsewhere in the back line, as noted above, incumbent left wing James Lowe (33) has begun to show glimpses of slowing down and, as such, misses out on our squad.

In the back row, an area of general strength for Irish Rugby, the same can be said for Ulster’s Nick Timoney (30) and Leinster’s Max Deegan (29). Both players are terrific operators, but in truth, there are some supremely talented younger options who now deserve opportunities.

At scrumhalf, Connacht’s Caolin Blade (31) also falls into the category of a player who, in the here and now, can contribute, but he is not a long-term option.

The Next Wave

Continuing this thought exercise, and to dispel the unfounded notion that Irish Rugby is lacking in depth, we took a look at the next wave of talent.

In positional order, here is our next group of players 25 and under who, come the Six Nations and next July’s test matches, are capable of being in the conversation for a spot in the Irish squad.

Tom Stewart (Hooker, Ulster)
Lee Barron (Hooker, Munster)
Paddy McCarthy (Loosehead, Leinster)
Sam Illo (Tighthead, Connacht)
Edwin Edogbo (Lock, Munster)
Evan O’Connell (Lock, Munster)
Charlie Irvin (Lock, Ulster)
Harry Sheridan (Utility Forward, Ulster)
Diarmuid Mangan (Utility Forward, Leinster)
Alex Soroka (Blindside, Leinster)
Alex Kendellen (Openside, Munster)
James Culhane (No. 8, Leinster)
Matthew Devine (Scrumhalf, Connacht)
Nathan Doak (Scrumhalf, Ulster)
Fintan Gunne (Scrumhalf, Leinster)
Jack Murphy (Fly-half, Ulster)
Caspar Gabriel (Fly-half, Leinster)
John Devine (Center, Connacht)
Cathal Forde (Center, Connacht)
Dan Kelly (Center, Munster)
Jude Postlethwaite (Center, Ulster)
Hugh Cooney (Center, Leinster)
Finn Treacy (Wing, Connacht)
Diarmuid Kilgallen (Munster)
Andrew Osborne (Wing, Leinster)
Shay McCarthy (Wing, Munster)
Ben O’Connor (Fullback, Munster)
Sean Naughton (Fullback, Connacht)
Chay Mullins (Fullback, Connacht)

In between this group, there are a host of top-quality provincial players who are capable of playing for the national side. However, with a long-term view, this group is the most likely to make an impact before 2027.

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