Ireland's 2013 Six Nations, a coroner's inquest, part 2

Here is a look back in anger at our forwards. It should be remembered that Ireland were handicapped by the absence of talisman Paul O'Connell and big Stephen Ferris. The stage was therefore set for others to stake a claim for a prolonged stint in the Ireland team. Here is my two cents about our scrummagers and maulers.

Cian Healy: In my opinion he should have been banned for about four months after the horrible stamping on Dan Cole. It was a career-threatening foul and was almost as sinister as the eye gouging of our Luke Fitzgerald on the last Lions tour. Otherwise, Healy remains an average scrummer, but he is a powerful, rampaging prop. Consequently, his ball-carrying talents will ensure him selection for the British and Irish Lions this summer.
Tom Court: Tom was desperate to make amends for the Twickenham debacle of last year. In mitigation, he was required to prop on the 'wrong side' against the accomplished Corbisiero. However, there were no such excuses this time around when Court deputised for Healy against Scotland. Ireland's scrum was woeful that day, confirming my belief that this prop is merely eighteen stones of puppy fat.
Mike Ross: Mike has been a renowned scrummager over the last few years and a cornerstone of our pack. However, his own scrummaging was less than impressive this time, and the selectors need to start thinking in terms of a long-term replacement.
Rory Best: Jonathan Davies raved about the excellence of Rory's performance against Wales, but unfortunately Best's efforts were erratic thereafter. His loose play is considerable, but he has an annoying tendency to throw inaccurately to the back of the line out, thereby conceding cheap possession.
Mike McCarthy: He is merely keeping the seat warm until big Paul returns. For all his industry, McCarthy was not a great understudy. He is not a force at the line out and even his ball carrying is mediocre. He is not international class.
Donnacha Ryan: He is a decent line out forward, although he was targeted by the Italians who more than disrupted his efforts in Rome. Ryan is a useful asset in the loose, although he is always liable to infringe and retaliate when provoked.
Donncha O'Callaghan: He is now just an average second row. I never understood why Best ignores him so much at the line out, as big O'Callaghan has always been reliable in that particular sphere. Regrettably, he is a poor ball carrier and is easily shoved back in the tackle.
Peter O'Mahony: He put in a great shift against England and is a decent outlet at the back of the line out. When Ferris returns, one hopes that both he and Ferris can play as wing forwards, while O'Brien is shunted around to number eight, in favour of the misfiring Heaslip.
Sean O'Brien: O'Brien was arguably Ireland's most impressive player in the most recent Six Nations. Line breaks are his speciality, although Philip Matthews wisely observed that O'Brien has a habit of deliberately seeking to go into contact rather than avoid it. Clearly, tackling is no problem for him either. O'Brien remains a frustrating player however, because in his anxiety to retrieve the ball, he is liable to be penalised, a condition that afflicts several of our impatient and unintelligent forwards.
Jamie Heaslip: His ball-carrying prowess of yesteryear has all but deserted him. He does remain useful in the line out, and yes his tackling is almost second to none. However, when Ferris returns, the selectors need to have the courage to oust the current captain. There are better candidates for the captaincy, namely Best and O'Connell. Heaslip should not be the scapegoat for Ireland's recent failings, but he is definitely part of the problem. Perhaps a demotion to the bench would be the equivalent of inserting a rocket up his big, complacent, but talented backside.