Keeping up with the Jones'

mr socco

Out of the as yet unestablished young players in provincial squads, who will make their mark this season?

Paul O'Donohoe stands out as one. Sean O'Brien as well will really make his mark I'm sure but he's already well established. (Another already established is Darren Cave who I am totally unconvinced about but really hope he proves me wrong this season). Any more Felix Jones' in the pipeline?

Stev_o

Id say the Ulster lads should make a massive impact during the season as long as the coaching doesn't go to crap

mr socco

Stev_o wrote: »

Id say the Ulster lads should make a massive impact during the season as long as the coaching doesn't go to crap

Which players do you mean Stev? Whitten? Haven't seen much of him so have no idea. Is he up to much? Hope Paddy Wallace keeps up the form, can really see him being involved with Ireland.

Stev_o

Whitten scored twice for Ireland in the NA tour, given how bad the team performed thats a good thing. Henry looks like a decent physical 8. Pollock, well everyones waiting for him to just explode with greatness the guy is clearly talented (captained the U21 GS) but we have yet to see what he is fully capable of yet so maybe we will. Mark McCrea on the wing is Horgan esque so hopefully he'll benefit from getting game time. They also have a fairly decent SH up there as well name begins with M but it's escapes me at the moment .

mr socco

Marshall. Saw him towards the end of the Magners and he was brutal, though decent in a few earlier games. Quite like Henry alright, could develop into a pretty good player. Whitten, didn't see the NA games unfortunately but have heard good things. No real stand out talents coming through though really...

thomond2006

Ian Humphreys is gone off the radar completely due to his "You are free to walk through me" defense.

This good be a big year for Donnacha Ryan. He'll get a good few ML games with the Lions being rested.

wixfjord

thomond2006 wrote: »

Ian Humphreys is gone off the radar completely due to his "You are free to walk through me" defense.

This good be a big year for Donnacha Ryan. He'll get a good few ML games with the Lions being rested.

Ryan is hardly an as yet unestablished young player though is he and its hard to see him starting a h cup game. He would do very well to move at this stage imo, would be a big hit in england or france.

I think fergus mcfadden might just have a big year, had a great churchill cup and will get plenty of games during the 6N and international breaks etc.
Would love to see O Donoghue getting a lot of games too as he is full of potential and looked great for Clontarf at the end of last season.

OldJay

thomond2006 wrote: »

This good be a big year for Donnacha Ryan. He'll get a good few ML games with the Lions being rested.

The players who went on the Lions won't be resting by the time the Magners League starts. In fact, they'll have already been in pre-season Ireland team camp.

thomond2006

Justind wrote: »

The players who went on the Lions won't be resting by the time the Magners League starts. In fact, they'll have already been in pre-season Ireland team camp.

I see.

Cheers.

What do you think of Humphs?

[Jackass]

Of all the young players around, I think Felix Jones will make the biggest impact this season, closely followed by Sean O'Brien. McFadden may well get a chance to shine also.

chupacabra

Not sure about Felix Jones yet, he looks the part but i want to see how he performs under high levels of pressure. If he comes anywhere close to Kearney's performance in the second Lions test... then we have a star in our province. This should really be Sean O'Brien's breakthrough year tho.

stephen_n

What about David Kearney?

anonymous_joe

stephen_n wrote: »

What about David Kearney?

I can see him lighting up the A's tournament this season.

stephen_n

anonymous_joe wrote: »

I can see him lighting up the A's tournament this season.

Was thinking more in terms of Provincial as with all the other players mentioned I don't see them breaking into the senior irish set-up as we have a fairly strong squad in place and i can't see Kidney messing with it too much outside of players like Earls and maybe O'Brien. Although yes he might make it up into the A's this season depending on game time with Leinster

[Jackass]

The sad truth is that Jones left for the very same reason that Dave Kearney wont have a break through season this year.

In the last 2 seasons, 4 players have played 4 back for Leinster. Rob Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald, Girvan Dempsey & Isa Nacewa.

That's a lot of top level players able to play full back, and in the case of Nacewa or Fitzgerald playing full-back, there's players to come onto the wing, such as Horgan or Keogh....so play Nacewa at FB and Horgan on wing, or play Nacewa on wing and Dave Kearney at full back ... they'd usually go for one of the wingers to full back and a top level wing comes in ... and all of that is under the circumstances of Rob Kearney and Girvan Dempsey not being available.

In the Leinster back 3, there's so much cover it's ridiculos...the Nacewa signing was a complete failure...not that I'm complaining, I really like him as a player and have chatted to him at OLSC events, and you couldn't meet a nicer fella, but I don't know why he was signed...he was either going to be blocking Sexton if he was signed as a 10 (which I think was the intention), or blocking players like Kearney and Jones if signed as a back 3...there's so much versatility also, that loads of top level players can cover all of the positions. I'm glad we have him, but in the grand scheme of things...is it wise?

Actually, I'd like to see Pollock, Caldwell and Cave make development this season, all very good players imo, and I hope O'Connor gets back on track, as he was looking like an amazing 10 and then went unbelievably poor for some reason.

mr socco

Agree with you on Nacewa, Jackass. Maybe Dave Kearney could move to Ulster. Bryn Cunningham can't go on forever. Also, would really like to see Eoin O'Malley come through, always looked the most accomplished player on the pitch in any underage matches I saw him play..A bolter for the World Cup. You heard it here first. Look forward to the back slapping.

anonymous_joe

[Jackass] wrote: »

The sad truth is that Jones left for the very same reason that Dave Kearney wont have a break through season this year.

In the last 2 seasons, 4 players have played 4 back for Leinster. Rob Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald, Girvan Dempsey & Isa Nacewa.

That's a lot of top level players able to play full back, and in the case of Nacewa or Fitzgerald playing full-back, there's players to come onto the wing, such as Horgan or Keogh....so play Nacewa at FB and Horgan on wing, or play Nacewa on wing and Dave Kearney at full back ... they'd usually go for one of the wingers to full back and a top level wing comes in ... and all of that is under the circumstances of Rob Kearney and Girvan Dempsey not being available.

In the Leinster back 3, there's so much cover it's ridiculos...the Nacewa signing was a complete failure...not that I'm complaining, I really like him as a player and have chatted to him at OLSC events, and you couldn't meet a nicer fella, but I don't know why he was signed...he was either going to be blocking Sexton if he was signed as a 10 (which I think was the intention), or blocking players like Kearney and Jones if signed as a back 3...there's so much versatility also, that loads of top level players can cover all of the positions. I'm glad we have him, but in the grand scheme of things...is it wise?

Actually, I'd like to see Pollock, Caldwell and Cave make development this season, all very good players imo, and I hope O'Connor gets back on track, as he was looking like an amazing 10 and then went unbelievably poor for some reason.

My original understanding of the Nacewa signing was that he was there to be a utility back who'd start most games - i.e. resting BOD, throw in Isa, Shaggy's injured, Nacewa on the wing, Kearney and Fitzgerald with Ireland, Horgan, Girve and Nacewa on the wings, and so on.

Why he was signed, I really don't know. Outhalf I reckon. Given that Cheika didn;t seem to like Sexton, and Contepomi's a world class 10 or 12, while D'Arcy and O'Driscoll cover the centres with McFadden, Tonetti and O'Malley behind them, while Shaggy, Kearney, Fitzgerald and Dempsey make up a back three which also found room for D'Arcy and Nacewa. Given the likes of Kearney, etc, also vying for those positions, it does seem that Nacewa was earmarked as a running full back type, designed to unleash the likes of D'Arcy and O'Driscoll.

On paper, then, it does make sense I guess...

bamboozle

mr socco wrote: »

Out of the as yet unestablished young players in provincial squads, who will make their mark this season?

Paul O'Donohoe stands out as one. Sean O'Brien as well will really make his mark I'm sure but he's already well established. (Another already established is Darren Cave who I am totally unconvinced about but really hope he proves me wrong this season). Any more Felix Jones' in the pipeline?

Fionn Carr was excellent last season and scored far more try's than dowling, Hurley, barry Murphy, hopefully he maintain's that standard and who know he may get International recognition.
Sean Cronin is nearly ready for the international break through.
Cian Healy will be starting the 6N games if fit.
Tom Court & Mike Ross have make or break seasons
Tony Buckley has to show what he's capable of.

my tip for season, shane jennings or Sean O'Brien to start 6N's at openside.

all provincial bias aside there are some top quality players coming through

Profiler

[Jackass] wrote: »

The sad truth is that Jones left for the very same reason that Dave Kearney wont have a break through season this year.

In the last 2 seasons, 4 players have played 4 back for Leinster. Rob Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald, Girvan Dempsey & Isa Nacewa.

As I understand it Girvan Dempsey is going back to Terenure for the start of this season.

It appears Dempsey's time with Leinster is over.