London Irish's SUPERB starting XV if they'd kept their best players
Rugby NewsTuesday, 16 May 2017 at 11:20
RUCK.co.uk takes a look at what London Irish's team would have looked like if they hadn't lost their best players.
The Exiles youth system is a conveyor belt of talent. Rough diamonds are regularly polished beyond recognition but, unfortunately, not all of them go on to shine for the club that discovered or developed them.
‘Boo-hoo, life’s not fair, get over it,’ is what many of you may be thinking. But come on, show a little bit of sympathy.
The talent that has waved goodbye to London Irish is staggering. If big-name players hadn’t left for pastures new and were supplemented with the current squad, the side’s pursuit of Premiership survival or even a top six finish wouldn't be unthinkable.
Here’s a look at an entirely theoretical London Irish XV based on the best players they have had in the past few years.
Fullback: Sean Maitland
Wing: Marland Yarde
Centre: Jonathan Joseph
Centre: Delon Armitage
Wing: Anthony Watson
Fly-half: James O'Connor (Out of position to accommodate other backs)
Scrum-half: Brendan McKibbin
Prop: Alex Corbisiero
Hooker: Scott Lawson
Prop: Ben Franks
Lock: Bryn Evans
Lock Kieran Lowe
Flanker: Blair Cowan
Flanker: Juan Manuel Leguizamón
Number 8: Steffon Armitage
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