Fionn Carr

siltirocker

What do people reckon his chances of international recognition are? Kidney doesn't seem to be a fan.

Top try scorer in the league last year even though at the lowest try scoring team in the league. And so far this season (including European games) he has scored 7 tries in 6 games. Granted his defense isn't great but its better than Hurley and Dowling.

Stev_o

siltirocker wrote: »

What do people reckon his chances of international recognition are? Kidney doesn't seem to be a fan.

Top try scorer in the league last year even though at the lowest try scoring team in the league. And so far this season (including European games) he has scored 7 tries in 6 games. Granted his defense isn't great but its better than Hurley and Dowling.

He'll make the A squad and then we will see what happens.

Chucky the tree

Needs to be playing HEC rugby to have any kind of chance.

anonymous_joe

Deserves a shot in the Fiji game I'd suggest.

siltirocker

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Needs to be playing HEC rugby to have any kind of chance.

So from that statment no Connacht player in the professional era ever deserved an international cap?

Diabhal Beag

siltirocker wrote: »

So from that statment no Connacht player in the professional era ever deserved an international cap?

He probably means to be picked by Kidney regularly he must playing Heineken Cup rugby. I agree that we should wait and see what happens from his Ireland A performances.

DonkeyPokerTour

siltirocker wrote: »

Granted his defense isn't great but its better than Hurley and Dowling.

While I'm a big Fionn Carr fan, How can you say his defense is better than Dowling when its the thing that Ian Dowling is most famous for. He may not be the fastest winger but he is a monster in defense.

Its tough to know what to do with the Fiji game. Do you just play a second string 15 and treat it as a sort of A game and risk losing the game or Field a full team and whop them to get the confidence up before the SA game, or do you do something in between. If they start the full team then Carr won't get a look in, if they go half and half I don't think he'll get a look in. If they go for the A team then he will probably start.

siltirocker

DonkeyPokerTour wrote: »

While I'm a big Fionn Carr fan, How can you say his defense is better than Dowling when its the thing that Ian Dowling is most famous for. He may not be the fastest winger but he is a monster in defense.

That he is, i was thinkin' of Murphy. Always mixing those two.

Im not saying he deserves a place in the 22, but maybe a spot on the training squads.

g5fd6ow0hseima

siltirocker wrote: »

So from that statment no Connacht player in the professional era ever deserved an international cap?

If im correct, I remember Ciaran Fitzgerald once saying 'it was always a thing that a connacht player had to be twice as good as his provincial rival to gain an Irish place', and I think he was taking about Simon Geoghegan or Eric Elwood, although the former wasnt at connacht for long....

Chucky the tree

siltirocker wrote: »

So from that statment no Connacht player in the professional era ever deserved an international cap?

The odd token cap against the pacfic islands is fine, but I don't think they should be getting anything more.

siltirocker

Chucky the tree wrote: »

The odd token cap against the pacfic islands is fine, but I don't think they should be getting anything more.

Jim Staples
Simon Geoghegan
Eric Elwood
Victor Costello


Pure ****e the lot of them!

About 9 players involved in the seniors that have made appearance in the last year play or have played for Connacht. They might disagree.

Narrow minded sh1te.

Chucky the tree

siltirocker wrote: »

Jim Staples
Simon Geoghegan
Eric Elwood
Victor Costello


Pure ****e the lot of them!

About 9 players involved in the seniors that have made appearance in the last year play or have played for Connacht. They might disagree.

Narrow minded sh1te.

lol. Only one of them was can be considered to be from the professional era and didn't he earn most of his caps when playing for Leinster? I think the fact they aren't regulars in the Irish set up means they really shouldn't disagree.

siltirocker

Chucky the tree wrote: »

lol. Only one of them was can be considered to be from the professional era and didn't he earn most of his caps when playing for Leinster? I think the fact they aren't regulars in the Irish set up means they really shouldn't disagree.

Geoghegan and Elwood. Pro era stalwards in the Irish side.

You're are entitled to your opinion of course but c'mon they would hardly agree that Connacht players due to their lack of HC rugby should only get a token cap against Pacific Islands. That's ridiculous.
At that statment the French should drop Parra, Trinh-Duc, Chabel, Domingo & Martin. And English should probably forget such Challenge Cup minnows like Wilkinson, Tait, Cueto, Payne, Sheridan, Vickery, Borthwick, Shaw, Rees, Worsley etc.

Chucky the tree

siltirocker wrote: »

Geoghegan and Elwood. Pro era stalwards in the Irish side.

You're are entitled to your opinion of course but c'mon they would hardly agree that Connacht players due to their lack of HC rugby should only get a token cap against Pacific Islands. That's ridiculous.
At that statment the French should drop Parra, Trinh-Duc, Chabel, Domingo & Martin. And English should probably forget such Challenge Cup minnows like Wilkinson, Tait, Cueto, Payne, Sheridan, Vickery, Borthwick, Shaw, Rees, Worsley etc.

Geoghan last cap for Ireland was in 2006 wasn't it and pro era started in 2005. Fair enough Elwood last until the early 2000's. How is it ridiculous? The fact Connacht have only produced 3(at the very most) internation quality players in 14 years says it all. What current players do you think are even close to an international 22 with no injury worries? As for you're list of players, Chabel played how many years previously in the HEC? Trinh-duc has 3 caps to his name so he's hardly a regular yet. Sale shakrs are in the HEC this year, and again wasps and all there players have played in the HEC about 3 or 4 years previous. Not to mention none of those players play for a team who consistently finish down the bottom of their league.

siltirocker

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Geoghan last cap for Ireland was in 1996 wasn't it and pro era started in 1995.Fair enough Elwood last until the early 2000's.

FYP. Geoghegan finished due to injury but was the best attacking player on that team.

Chucky the tree wrote: »

How is it ridiculous? The fact Connacht have only produced 3(at the very most) internation quality players in 14 years says it all. .

What i said was, that i think its ridiculous that you think Connacht players should only be given caps against invitational teams like Pacific Islands because at club level they represent a team that competes in the Challenge Cup instead of the Heineken Cup.

As regards 3 players,I disagree and im sure many other posters will agree with me on that.
And why do you think that should be a reason Keatley, Cronin, Muldoon and Wilkinson shouldn't be given a chance at Senior level.

Chucky the tree wrote: »

What current players do you think are even close to an international 22 with no injury worries?

None. Maybe Wilkinson, Cronin and Keatley in a year or two but i never made this point in the first place chucky.

Chucky the tree wrote: »

As for you're list of players, Chabel played how many years previously in the HEC? Trinh-duc has 3 caps to his name so he's hardly a regular yet. Sale shakrs are in the HEC this year, and again wasps and all there players have played in the HEC about 3 or 4 years previous. Not to mention none of those players play for a team who consistently finish down the bottom of their league.

I feel foolish for including Sale:o. Sorry!

Trinh-Duc has just 3 caps, which he earn instead/ahead of Dupuy, Michalak, Baby, Skerla, and Bosch.

As regards player's with previous HC exp. Im still pretty sure Duffy & O'Connor will still disagree.

Last in the table eh? You can have a word with Cusiter & Danielli on that one too.

siltirocker

btw Connacht have only finished last twice in the competition's 8 years so far.

Sangre

Any player from Connacht who is of international standard won't be at Connacht for very long.

I'll always go for a big club player over a similar skilled player from a team that isn't in the HEC. Lets take for example Keatley and Sexton, both talented up and coming but I'd pick Sexton any day of the week as he has shown his talent and sustained the pressure at the highest club level.

Chucky the tree

siltirocker wrote: »

FYP. Geoghegan finished due to injury but was the best attacking player on that team.

ha, muddled there. Geoghan still wasn't part of the pro era though. But even if you include him that 2 players(how caps did Costello get at caonnacht for Ireland? I'd say most of them were for Leinster). Sums up why the chances of seeing another Connacht player become a regular in the Irish team. Even Elwood was pushed out by better players like ROG and Humphries.

What i said was, that i think its ridiculous that you think Connacht players should only be given caps against invitational teams like Pacific Islands because at club level they represent a team that competes in the Challenge Cup instead of the Heineken Cup.

You're perfectly entitled to think it's ridiculous but as Sangre pointed out I'd much rather see a player who experienced big pressure games at the highest level possible(before international level) rather then a player who been slumming it at the bottom end of the league for last god knows how many years. The fact we don't even have relegation makes it worse because they can coast through a season where as in the top 14 or GP players will have the experience of a big pressure field relegation situation.

As regards 3 players,I disagree and im sure many other posters will agree with me on that.
And why do you think that should be a reason Keatley, Cronin, Muldoon and Wilkinson shouldn't be given a chance at Senior level. None. Maybe Wilkinson, Cronin and Keatley in a year or two but i never made this point in the first place chucky.

Keatley is 4th choice OH behind Humphries, ROG and Sexton. He's never shown he can perform on a big level and handle the pressure. Infact I've seen him miss easy enough kicks in the summer tour and against Munster this year. While ROG is doing the same he's shown he can do it on the big stage. Sexton and Humphries are frankly a good distance ahead of keatley.

As for the other players you've listed there are better, more experienced players ahead of them. Even players who might not be better like the Fogarty brothers are getting a chance to play a much better standard of rugby a develop quicker. Basically if the players are good enough to make the Irish team they should be good enough to player for one of the other 3 provinces who play top level rugby consistently. Then I see no reason for them to turn down the chance to improve there game by staying at connacht.

I feel foolish for including Sale:o. Sorry!

Trinh-Duc has just 3 caps, which he earn instead/ahead of Dupuy, Michalak, Baby, Skerla, and Bosch.

As regards player's with previous HC exp. Im still pretty sure Duffy & O'Connor will still disagree.

Last in the table eh? You can have a word with Cusiter & Danielli on that one too.

We'll see if he can stick down a regular spot ahead of guys who play in the HEC. I'm not to sure he will or else he won't be at montpellier long. I meant finish towards the bottom, they've finished last or second last in the past 6years or so. When Irish rugby goes back to the day of challenging Italy and Scotland for the wooden spoon in the 6nations then I'm sure we'll see more connacht players included.

outwest

fionn carr has to get a look in, he is the only irish winger that can finish trys off. when is the last time an irish winger went to france and got 2 try's

some of the stuff on this site is pure snobery,( is tat even a word). connacht player arent good enugh to play for ireland because they dont play in heino cup.

the last post mentions that when ireland starts challenging for wooden spoons agian then their will be plenty of conacht lads on the team,

2012 six natinos ireland will be avoiding the wooden sppon because all these old players will retire after the world cup and like england after 2003 we will have a team of players that have little experience.

conacht player wont get a look in to irish squad becuse it become more about politics when it comes to the irish team. their should be atleast 4 irish players in the trainning squad for the summer. carr. croinin, wilko, muldoon. keatly not there because the others are better then him

[Jackass]

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Needs to be playing HEC rugby to have any kind of chance.

Johnny Wilkinson will be involved in his first ever Heineken Cup campaign this season.

Carr plays in an area where we have a lot of talent and depth, but I agree he desrves a shot in the AI's against Fiji at least.

siltirocker

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Even Elwood was pushed out by better players like ROG and Humphries.

Dude got old simply as like what's going to happen to ROG over the next year or two.

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Keatley is 4th choice OH behind Humphries, ROG and Sexton...

ATM yes this time last year, he was second in the minds of many posters here. When Leinster fans wanted rid of Sexton and Humphries couldn't drop a deuce let alone a goal. And his form is on the up MOM in his last 3 appearances.

Chucky the tree wrote: »

He's never shown he can perform on a big level and handle the pressure...

I personally thought when he put in man of match performances against Leinster (owning Rocky) and Munster (Indo's Sports star award for that) last year he handled the pressure.

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Infact I've seen him miss easy enough kicks in the summer tour and against Munster this year. While ROG is doing the same he's shown he can do it on the big stage. Sexton and Humphries are frankly a good distance ahead of keatley..

Keatley hit 7/11 in the summer that's hardly sh1te. ROG hasn't played well in a big game for some time, England, Scotland, SA etc. IMO.

Chucky the tree wrote: »

As for the other players you've listed there are better, more experienced players ahead of them. Even players who might not be better like the Fogarty brothers are getting a chance to play a much better standard of rugby a develop quicker. Basically if the players are good enough to make the Irish team they should be good enough to player for one of the other 3 provinces who play top level rugby consistently. Then I see no reason for them to turn down the chance to improve there game by staying at connacht.

Thank God Clive Woodward never had the same philosophy as you cause then Johnny Wilkinson would only have 3 caps (One against Canada, one against Pacific Islands and maybe if he's lucky a test cap aginst Romania)

I agree that players i listed shouldn't make a 22. The only point i am (on the grand scale) disagreing with you on is that because they the team they represent at prov. level compete in the Challenge Cup instead of HC no player representing Connacht in the past 14 years deserves a cap or place in the squad no matter how well they play. That i disagree with completey. And find insulting to many top pros in our country.

Chucky the tree wrote: »

We'll see if he can stick down a regular spot ahead of guys who play in the HEC. I'm not to sure he will or else he won't be at montpellier long.

He did hold a regular spot ahead of Michalak, Skrela, etc. (granted when Beauxais is fit he'll be on the bench). And he's just started a new deal w/ Montpellier.

siltirocker

[Jackass] wrote: »

Johnny Wilkinson will be involved in his first ever Heineken Cup campaign this season.

Carr plays in an area where we have a lot of talent and depth, but I agree he desrves a shot in the AI's against Fiji at least.

AFAIK Johnny Wilkinson has never played Heineken Cup rugby, this year he is with Toulon in the Challenge Cup.

[Jackass]

siltirocker wrote: »

AFAIK Johnny Wilkinson has never played Heineken Cup rugby, this year he is with Toulon in the Challenge Cup.

My bad, you're right, Toloun are in Challenge cup, so he's never played a Heineken Cup match in his life.

Chucky the tree

siltirocker wrote: »

ATM yes this time last year, he was second in the minds of many posters here. When Leinster fans wanted rid of Sexton and Humphries couldn't drop a deuce let alone a goal. And his form is on the up MOM in his last 3 appearances.

I personally thought when he put in man of match performances against Leinster (owning Rocky) and Munster (Indo's Sports star award for that) last year he handled the pressure.

second but no where close to challenging, and now he's still nowhere close to challenging. Handled the pressure of what? It was a match that meant nothing to Connacht apart from pirde. It's not like their season was on the line. Winning or losing made no difference to them in that match, to me that a no pressure situation.

Keatley hit 7/11 in the summer that's hardly sh1te. ROG hasn't played well in a big game for some time, England, Scotland, SA etc. IMO.

It is **** when someone of them should be scored. There was atleast 2 that were relatively straight forward and he missed.

Thank God Clive Woodward never had the same philosophy as you cause then Johnny Wilkinson would only have 3 caps (One against Canada, one against Pacific Islands and maybe if he's lucky a test cap aginst Romania)

Wilkinson is a once is a lifetime talent, if one of those ever comes out of connacht and decides to stay at connacht I might change my mind but I doubt it will happen.

I agree that players i listed shouldn't make a 22. The only point i am (on the grand scale) disagreing with you on is that because they the team they represent at prov. level compete in the Challenge Cup instead of HC no player representing Connacht in the past 14 years deserves a cap or place in the squad no matter how well they play. That i disagree with completey. And find insulting to many top pros in our country.



He did hold a regular spot ahead of Michalak, Skrela, etc. (granted when Beauxais is fit he'll be on the bench). And he's just started a new deal w/ Montpellier.

Well history doesn't well for them if you look at the last 14 years. I'd be very surprised if we get another 2 in the next 14 years.

Chucky the tree

[Jackass] wrote: »

My bad, you're right, Toloun are in Challenge cup, so he's never played a Heineken Cup match in his life.

Yes he has. He did his cruiciate against perpigan in 2005. That the year Newcastle made it to the 1/4 finals of the HEC. Also, Johnny wilkinson got his english debut in 1998 the year Newcastle won the league, bit different to a connacht who are continuously down the bottom of the league. 1998-1999 was the year English teams didn't play the HEC.

siltirocker

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Johnny wilkinson got his english debut in 1998 the year Newcastle won the league, bit different to a connacht who are continuously down the bottom of the league.

11 years ago hardly matters now, sure Connacht have reached the Celtic League semi twice since it started, the CC semis twice (to Newcastle's once) and have won the Inter-Pro twice too when it was the equal comp. to the english prem back in the late 90's. So really past is past. Like Connacht beating Newcastle on their last meeting.

siltirocker

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Winning or losing made no difference to them in that match, to me that a no pressure situation.

You'd get slapped around by 15 men who played their socks off days if they heard you say something like that about those games meant to Connacht players and supporters.
So you believe that Connacht rugby has never played a meaningful game then ever? Seeing as there Connacht biggest games of the season.

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Well history doesn't well for them if you look at the last 14 years. I'd be very surprised if we get another 2 in the next 14 years.

Naturally if things continue the way things go west of the Shannon i agree, all their decent players with international prospects will be Irish squad regulars over the next ten years but with Munster and Leinster when they eventually head there.

RoughBag

I don't see how he could be considered Irish material.
He needs to learn how to tackle, catch a ball in the air and present the ball when taking a tackle.
He has taken some great tries but some of them, a 12 year old would have scored.
As long as he gives away more tries by missing tackles than he scores, he doesn't deserve an Irish place.

siltirocker

RoughBag wrote: »

I don't see how he could be considered Irish material.
He needs to learn how to tackle, catch a ball in the air and present the ball when taking a tackle.
He has taken some great tries but some of them, a 12 year old would have scored.

As long as he gives away more tries by missing tackles than he scores, he doesn't deserve an Irish place.

I don't think that's a fair assesment at all of him, Connacht don't score easy tries, he very rarely picks them up in the 22 either so i'll have to disagree with the '12 year old' bit. Also i find the high ball was certainly true of him two years back but that flaw has essentially disappeared from his game, without doubt.

I have to say his offload is sh1te, so is his defensive positioning and his tackle how ever much it has improved isn't as good as it should be.

I sincerly doubt he gives more away than scores, Connacht are usually pushed over the line not ran through.

anonymous_joe

Ten years ago, he'd definitely be starting.

But defensively, he's still a little bit shaky, and teams won't tolerate that anymore. The winger who might score two tries but will concede one is gone now. The Ian Dowling who'll never let you down, but won't ever score a try a game is the way of things now.

Were he to work on his defense, he'd definitely have a chance of breaking into the Ireland set up, but Tommy Bowe, Luke Fitzgerald, Shane Horgan and even the likes of Geordan Murphy, Andrew Trimble and Keith Earls would presumably be ahead of him in the pecking order.

Chucky the tree

siltirocker wrote: »

11 years ago hardly matters now, sure Connacht have reached the Celtic League semi twice since it started, the CC semis twice (to Newcastle's once) and have won the Inter-Pro twice too when it was the equal comp. to the english prem back in the late 90's. So really past is past. Like Connacht beating Newcastle on their last meeting.

My point was Wilkinson got into the English team off his team finishing top of the league. If Newcastle finished bottom or 2nd from bottom he would of found it a lot harder to make the team. There's no denying that players who play in worse teams find it harder to make International squads.

siltirocker wrote: »

You'd get slapped around by 15 men who played their socks off days if they heard you say something like that about those games meant to Connacht players and supporters.
So you believe that Connacht rugby has never played a meaningful game then ever? Seeing as there Connacht biggest games of the season.


Naturally if things continue the way things go west of the Shannon i agree, all their decent players with international prospects will be Irish squad regulars over the next ten years but with Munster and Leinster when they eventually head there.

Maybe those same 15 men should get their finger out for the other 16 or so matches and they might not finished so poorly season after season. They'd played a few pressure games in the challenge cup alright, but that's it. In fact the matches against Munster & leinster are the complete opposite of pressure matches as they go into those as massive underdogs and the pressure is completely off them.

siltirocker

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Maybe those same 15 men should get their finger out for the other 16 or so matches and they might not finished so poorly season after season.

Great point.

bamboozle

siltirocker wrote: »

Great point.

or maybe the coach should have a consistent selection policy

siltirocker

bamboozle wrote: »

or maybe the coach should have a consistent selection policy

eh? he does. Bradley plays the same 22 week in - week out (w/o injuries of course), replacements brought on at the same time and everything week in - week out.

Hyperbullet

Is this not a catch 22 situation for Connacht? Sure Fionn Carr deserves a chance, will probably get it against Fiji, but if you put him into the international squad thats Connacht fecked then surely? There's no one there to replace him....

RugbyFanatic

Hyperbullet wrote: »

Is this not a catch 22 situation for Connacht? Sure Fionn Carr deserves a chance, will probably get it against Fiji, but if you put him into the international squad thats Connacht fecked then surely? There's no one there to replace him....

Not a spectacular player or anything but wouldn't mind seeing Tiernan O'Halloran get a shot, I think he'd hold his own but its a risk.

Goodluck2me

I think with decent players around him Carr could be a serious prospect with decent go forward ball, and his defence really isnt as bad as some people might think.

RugbyFanatic

Fionn Carr could also suffer from a big fish in a small pond type scenario making him look a lot better than he is.

How many of his tries last season and this season have been when the opposing team have the game well wrapped up and as such have let down their guard or sprung their bench etc.

siltirocker

RugbyFanatic wrote: »

Fionn Carr could also suffer from a big fish in a small pond type scenario making him look a lot better than he is.

How many of his tries last season and this season have been when the opposing team have the game well wrapped up and as such have let down their guard or sprung their bench etc.

The only one i can think off is the one this year against Edinburgh. Remember 90% of the time Connacht are in contention then fall off the wagon after 60 mins or so. So not many at all.

However big fish could be the case, but he playing against the same opposition as everyone else! So i can't see how it applies that strongly.

anonymous_joe

siltirocker wrote: »

The only one i can think off is the one this year against Edinburgh. Remember 90% of the time Connacht are in contention then fall off the wagon after 60 mins or so. So not many at all.

However big fish could be the case, but he playing against the same opposition as everyone else! So i can't see how it applies that strongly.

Because (and keep in mind I've absolutely no malice whatsoever towards Connacht) in playing at an average standard for a shíte team, he might look like a good player, only to be found out to be merely average at a bigger team.

What I mean by this is simple - right now, Leinster, Carr's home province have Shaggy and Luke Fitzgerald (with Kearney, Nacewa, D'Arcy and a whole host of others behind 'em), Ulster have Nagusa and Danielli, (both good) and Munster have Hurley Howlett Dowling and Earls.

Looking at those teams, he'd not have much chance of starting for anyone but Munster, and even then, that'd rely on Earls going centre, and his defensive game improving enough to overtake Hurley and Dowling.

If rugby relied more on attacking than defensive wings atm, he'd definitely be the second or third best wing in Ireland, but for right now, it's not the case. As such he remains 'average.'

Zzippy

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Because (and keep in mind I've absolutely no malice whatsoever towards Connacht) in playing at an average standard for a shíte team, he might look like a good player, only to be found out to be merely average at a bigger team.

If he's playing for a "shite" team, then surely they wouldn't be good enough to set up those tries that he keeps scoring - a winger very rarely creates and scores tries all on his own. Its just the first time in a while that we've actually had a decent fast winger with a finishing instinct and who runs the right lines in support. If anything, playing in a "shite"team and scoring so many tries would suggest that he is a lot better than you think, and might score a lot more were he playing for a really good team, no?

Having said all that, I'm kinda glad he's not getting recognised, as otherwise we would lose him a lot more, or he would be snapped up by Leinster/Munster.

Goodluck2me

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Because (and keep in mind I've absolutely no malice whatsoever towards Connacht) in playing at an average standard for a shíte team, he might look like a good player, only to be found out to be merely average at a bigger team.

What I mean by this is simple - right now, Leinster, Carr's home province have Shaggy and Luke Fitzgerald (with Kearney, Nacewa, D'Arcy and a whole host of others behind 'em), Ulster have Nagusa and Danielli, (both good) and Munster have Hurley Howlett Dowling and Earls.

Looking at those teams, he'd not have much chance of starting for anyone but Munster, and even then, that'd rely on Earls going centre, and his defensive game improving enough to overtake Hurley and Dowling.

If rugby relied more on attacking than defensive wings atm, he'd definitely be the second or third best wing in Ireland, but for right now, it's not the case. As such he remains 'average.'

That's rubbish, wingers more so than any other position on the pitch rely on a good support around them. I mean for all the hammering's that Munster and LEinster gave out in the magners league last year no other player never mind winger scored more tries than Carr.
If he scored that amount for Leinster he would be straight into the Ireland team going by the hype that surrounds them.
HE is easily better than Dowling and Hurley, and given an opportunity he could really prove to be an excellent player.
Also being a shining light is MUCH tougher in a ****e team as you don't have the ball as much, don't create as many tries and simply don't get the press that bigger teams do. So in my opinion that point doesn't count.

Zzippy wrote: »

If he's playing for a "shite" team, then surely they wouldn't be good enough to set up those tries that he keeps scoring - a winger very rarely creates and scores tries all on his own. Its just the first time in a while that we've actually had a decent fast winger with a finishing instinct and who runs the right lines in support. If anything, playing in a "shite"team and scoring so many tries would suggest that he is a lot better than you think, and might score a lot more were he playing for a really good team, no?

Having said all that, I'm kinda glad he's not getting recognised, as otherwise we would lose him a lot more, or he would be snapped up by Leinster/Munster.

Agree completely with this. Himself and Fitzgerald in the wings would provide real pace on the flanks that Ireland haven;t had in years.
It wasn't that long ago people on here were bemoaning the lack of out and out speedsters in the Irish set up, we have one now and noone wants to know!

Size=everything

Goodluck2me wrote: »

Agree completely with this. Himself and Fitzgerald in the wings would provide real pace on the flanks that Ireland haven;t had in years.
It wasn't that long ago people on here were bemoaning the lack of out and out speedsters in the Irish set up, we have one now and noone wants to know!

So you want to drop Bowe?? To be honest if there is going to be a new winger coming into the 22 then Earls has to be ahead of Carr

outwest

got love the fact that the form player in ireland wont be getting picked for ireland this year. carr is the in form winger in ireland and deserves his shot.

when was the last time an ireland 15 was picked on player past form and not their present form.

bowe did a good job at centre the last day. kearney luke and carr back 3 could be a lethal back 3

Digifriendly

siltirocker wrote: »

11 years ago hardly matters now, sure Connacht have reached the Celtic League semi twice since it started, the CC semis twice (to Newcastle's once) and have won the Inter-Pro twice too when it was the equal comp. to the english prem back in the late 90's. So really past is past. Like Connacht beating Newcastle on their last meeting.

Out of interest when exactly did Connacht win the Inter-Pro championship as I can't remember? As regards Celtic league Connacht only reached quarter -finals in 2001-2 (losing to Glasgow) and 2002-3 ( losing to eventual winners Munster). After latter season Celtic League went into a full league format with no knockout stages. You may be thinking of now defunct Celtic Cup as regards Connacht reaching semi-finals. Also Connacht did not beat Newcastle in their last meeting as that was the return ECC pool game at Kingston Park which Newcastle won. It was the previous encounter at the Sportsground that Connacht famously triumphed.

RugbyFanatic

outwest wrote: »

got love the fact that the form player in ireland wont be getting picked for ireland this year. carr is the in form winger in ireland and deserves his shot.

when was the last time an ireland 15 was picked on player past form and not their present form.

bowe did a good job at centre the last day. kearney luke and carr back 3 could be a lethal back 3

Well hold on a minute, Carr isn't currently going to get picked ahead of 2 Lions wingers who are both playing very well. Even then he'll have some serious competition from both Earls and Horgan. It's not all about tries, Leinster as a team didn't score many last season but Fitzgerald was still considered good enough for the Lions. In today's game being a winger is a lot more than just being able to score tries. Defensively they have to be solid, good under high ball, field kicking etc.

outwest

all im saying is he should get a look in at some stage of the AI, horgan is playing well but he had his chance in green, we know what he can do, earls is playing is not playing well, one of irelnads problems at the last world cup was we had the 1st 22, and that was it. we need to be able to take an squad with caps. or it wil lbe de ja vu all over again

RugbyFanatic

outwest wrote: »

all im saying is he should get a look in at some stage of the AI, horgan is playing well but he had his chance in green, we know what he can do, earls is playing is not playing well, one of irelnads problems at the last world cup was we had the 1st 22, and that was it. we need to be able to take an squad with caps. or it wil lbe de ja vu all over again

Perhaps something like this against Fiji?

1.Healy
2.Cronin
3.Ross
4.Cullen
5.Casey
6.Best
7.Jennings/Wallace
8.Heaslip
9.Reddan
10.Sexton
11.Earls
12.Wallace
13.Bowe
14.Carr
15.Kearney

? Nice mix of experience and youth

Zzippy

Size=everything wrote: »

So you want to drop Bowe?? To be honest if there is going to be a new winger coming into the 22 then Earls has to be ahead of Carr

Agreed. I don't think Carr is at the stage of being picked for Ireland yet. But he hasn't even been picked for any extended training squads, which is a joke. Denis Hurley in training squads ahead of Carr is a farce. He deserves the recognition and opportunity to train with the Ireland squad, and show what he can do there. Not saying he deserves a place on the 22 even, but at least call him into training squads FFS.

RugbyFanatic

Zzippy wrote: »

Agreed. I don't think Carr is at the stage of being picked for Ireland yet. But he hasn't even been picked for any extended training squads, which is a joke. Denis Hurley in training squads ahead of Carr is a farce. He deserves the recognition and opportunity to train with the Ireland squad, and show what he can do there. Not saying he deserves a place on the 22 even, but at least call him into training squads FFS.

I would agree there the likes of Hurley and Dowling certainly should be behind Carr in the pecking order!

Amazotheamazing

Zzippy wrote: »

Agreed. I don't think Carr is at the stage of being picked for Ireland yet. But he hasn't even been picked for any extended training squads, which is a joke. Denis Hurley in training squads ahead of Carr is a farce. He deserves the recognition and opportunity to train with the Ireland squad, and show what he can do there. Not saying he deserves a place on the 22 even, but at least call him into training squads FFS.

Hmm, Declan Kidney, 2 HEC's, Triple Crown, Grand Slam.

Internet guy called Zippy.

I'm struggling to decide who's opinion on Carr i should trust more.