Anyone selling an outhalf factory?

Amazotheamazing

Just asking cuase I reckon the IRFU might be tempted to buy.

So now we've no real back-up to O'Gara, who is himself an ordinary outhalf by international standards. We have a winger/fullback, Murphy, poised to step into a role he hasn't really played since schools (if I'm not mistaken) except for a brief experiment that Leicester quickly realised wasn't working.

Apart from that we've the aged Humphries, who frankly, is past it. Then we've Staunton, who has had a mixed season in the GP, looks to be improving but not ready/trusted by EOS. We have Wallace, who rarely plays outhalf for Ulster, we have McHugh, who didn't make the A tour, we have a few unknowns at Leinster who seem to be miles from any serious rugby for their province, Munster are playing an injury-prone (sad but true) NZ'er as back-up to O'Gara and both Dunne and Humphries (jnr) seem to have been swallowed by the GP.

So where do we go from here?

O'Gara's abilities, and limitations, are well known, who can put pressure on him, and can the IRFU find the keys to the outhalf factory before O'Gara retires?

CJhaughey

eh! I think that you will find that Jeremy Manning will be Irish qualified by the time the next RWC rolls around, and probably also pushing ROG.
BTW Isaac Boss is also a Kiwi playing for Ireland now and hopefully putting a bit of pressure on Stringer, these days ya just have to take what ya can get and unfortunately until the next lot of number 10's come through thats all there is.

daveirl

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Amazotheamazing

I've seen Manning play a few times this season, out of 4 games (I think) he had to leave injured in 3 of them for Munster, broke his arm playing for UCC and sadly has a history of injuries.

He's a talented player, hugely talented in fact, but I genuinely worry he won't be physically able for the pro game.

Amazotheamazing

daveirl wrote:

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Steenson is playing Div1 in England next year, it'll be good experience but not good enough to get a player near Int standard.

Prior to yesterday's annoucement I would have bet on Staunton coming through, hopefully EOS will feel he's up to speed for next weeks match squad.

suppafly

I most certainly don't think Jeremy Manning is any great shakes really. I've seen him play along side my brother in a number of UCC matches that i went along to watch i must say i don't rate him at all. I thought he was very avaerage in Munsters last CL game against Cardiff. He has a long, long way to go.

daveirl

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EdgarAllenPoo

How about David Delaney.