Kevin McLaughlin's big chance??

boschmaster

I rate Kevin a lot and think he's a fantastic player. More importantly, Schmidt has always spoken of how important Kev has been to Leinster's success and also thinks he's a standout player. With Deccie gone, does anyone think that Kev will get much of a look in with Schmidt now in charge? If we have a fully fit backrow, I'd say they would be ranked as follows:
Ferris, SOB, Jamie, Henry, POM, TOD, Kevin McLaughlin, Dominic Ryan and so on. I think he deserves a shot but I can't see it happening. Also, with a fully fit backrow, would you start a Ferris, SOB, Jamie combination or a Ferris, TOD, SOB combination???

Hagz

I wouldn't rule out McLaughlin getting ahead of O'Mahony now that Schmidt is coach. Although, I would think it unlikely. In my opinion, McLaughlin performed well down in New Zealand. He certainly showed that he can translate his form from club level to international level.

But when everyone's fit, McLaughlin isn't the player you want on the bench. You're more likely to see one of POM or Henry. Which is why I think it's unlikely he'll break into the squad.

Hagz

Also, I'd pick a Ferris/SOB/Heaslip combination no question.

Ruck Inspector

He is barely holding off Ruddock at Leinster, He is a solid player at HEC level but don't see him being any better than that at international level.

Henderson at 6 for me.

Podge_irl

Ruck Inspector wrote: »

He is barely holding off Ruddock at Leinster

Really? I don't see any evidence of that - he is still clearly part of the number 1 choice backrow at Leinster.

I'd be surprised if he ever collected more than a handful of caps though.

Ruck Inspector

Podge_irl wrote: »

Really? I don't see any evidence of that - he is still clearly part of the number 1 choice backrow at Leinster.

I'd be surprised if he ever collected more than a handful of caps though.

plenty of evidence on it on the field, little to no drop off.

Kayless

A Ferris, TOD, SOB combination would be unreal in terms of pure strength but I'm not sure how balanced a back row that would be. The problem ( and its a good one) for Ireland is that like the wing we have so many good players most of whom deserve a chance. I think Joe will chop and change for every match must like he's done with Leinster and depending on the team we are facing so for that reason I think guys like TOD and McLaughlin will get a chance. I could see Joe having a back row of POM-Henry-SOB against say Scotland and something like SOB-Henry-Heaslip against England again it just depends and this is what I like about Joe and out prospects under him, we could end up having some of our better players well rested for the big must win games while still giving the younger deserving guys a shot.

Fireball07

Think he was better last season tbh.


Good player, work rate is excellent but Ferris when fit is obviously ahead of him. Of course, Ferris isn't often fit, sadly. But POM is an excellent player and Henderson could be seen ahead of him now too.

Kayless

Fireball07 wrote: »

Think he was better last season tbh.


Good player, work rate is excellent but Ferris when fit is obviously ahead of him. Of course, Ferris isn't often fit, sadly. But POM is an excellent player and Henderson could be seen ahead of him now too.

I would love to how this would work out

Henderson
POC
SOB
Henry (TOD)
Heaslip

irishbucsfan

Locky is great. I think Ruddock could push him in the near future. And I think Joe will need a player like them or Henderson in his back row if he wants to translate the way Leinster play to international level.

Tox56

Kayless wrote: »

I would love to how this would work out

Henderson
POC
SOB
Henry (TOD)
Heaslip

I'd go a step further:

Henderson
POC
Ferris
SOB
Heaslip

That could be one of the best back 5s in the world.

Conas

He made a great break through in the 2009/2010 season if I remember correctly, and hence he got his first cap against Italy in the 2010 Six Nations. He was very quiet in that match, and when Ferris was fit he got dropped completely.

I think he's great in the lineout, and in defence, but his ball carrying wouldn't be of the same level as an O'Brien or Ferris. I'd personally like to see him in the second row a bit more, but I don't think that'll ever happen, not with Ireland anyway. If he was two or three inches taller, he would be one hell of a second rower.

trouttrout

Locky is great. One of my favorite players. So underrated but I'm still not sure if he would be as effective at international level

Deserves the chance to show us though

boschmaster

I'm a big fan of the traditional opensides, out and out groundhogs. Atm, TOD is our only genuine 7 with a serious amount of gametime this season. I think Dominic Ryan is our 7 who has the most potential to become world class. Leinster need to invest a lot more gametime into him but he is injury prone. If he gets a regular amount of games for leinster next season I could see him making the June tour squad and then breaking into the Six nations squad in 2015. Schmidt AnD gibbes told him he's played very well this season so it's up to MOC to pick him for next season. Jordi Murphy is a serious talent is could be a future iris player. Schmidt better give TOD a go and most importantly Kev

errlloyd

Thought the Glasgow game was the best performance of him in the loose I've seen in a while. Tbh I always thought his ability to make yards was pretty limited, but he had a decent amount of gainline successes.

Mahatma Geansai

He's a good club player, but he should be behind better options for Ireland. Joe selecting him ahead of better players would be similar to any of the contentious selections Kidney made.

Ruck Inspector

ah so you've begun

CIARAN_BOYLE

Good player, would be able to do a job at 6 and not let the team down.

I'd have him level with POM and just ahead of Henderson purely based on their abilities as a 6. POM however is slightly more valuable in a squad because he can play across the backrow while Henderson can play in the second row.

Hagz

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

He's a good club player, but he should be behind better options for Ireland. Joe selecting him ahead of better players would be similar to any of the contentious selections Kidney made.

Not sure I agree. He's definitely behind Ferris, but he can compete with the rest of the competition.

When you look at what O'Mahony brings to Ireland, the first thing that comes to mind is his line-out work. You look outside of that, things like defence, carrying ability, link play (bear in mind that I'm talking about his Irish performances), he's been solid, he hasn't been a stand out. He has been as impressive as McLaughlin was down under.

You look at what McLaughlin does for Leinster, and it's all about defensive commitment, intelligent carrying, good link play and good line-out work. Now I'm not saying that he's a better option that O'Mahony, but I don't think there's as much of a gap as people may think.

Bogota

I would say McLoughlin is better than POM. He has everything POM has and has a much higher work rate. POM is much younger though and has more potential. Henderson is better than both IMO.

trouttrout

Bogota wrote: »

I would say McLoughlin is better than POM. He has everything POM has and has a much higher work rate. POM is much younger though and has more potential. Henderson is better than both IMO.

That's not true. POM is a much better lineout operator and better on the deck

very different players though

Podge_irl

Much better lineout operator? I wouldn't agree with that at all.

POM ultimately has a level of physicality that McLaughlin will never have though.

Buer

trouttrout wrote: »

That's not true. POM is a much better lineout operator and better on the deck

Deck, most definitely, line out, not at all. McLaughlin is very much a line out specialist flanker also and has been the thorn in the side of plenty of sides.

trouttrout

Podge_irl wrote: »

Much better lineout operator? I wouldn't agree with that at all.

POM ultimately has a level of physicality that McLaughlin will never have though.

Sorry ya that's probably exaggerated, I would say he's much better on the deck though

Bogota

McLoughlin infinitely better in the lineout, probably the best of any backrower. You may have a point on the deck but overall McLaughlin is the stronger player in my opinion. POM is younger though.

CIARAN_BOYLE

trouttrout wrote: »

That's not true. POM is a much better lineout operator and better on the deck

very different players though

I'd agree that POM is a bit better deck but POM and McLaughlin are (along with Henderson) our best lineout options in the backrow. I wouldn't put much between them although I think McLaughlin is the better jumper on oposition ball.

One thing though is that I would rarely put POC and McLaughlin in the same pack. When carrying they are very similar they truck into contact and recycle the ball quickly. If you have too many players looking to do that you aren't going to get anywhere.

Its very much horses for courses depending on who is available in the rest of the pack and which boxes need to be ticked.

Bogota

Podge_irl wrote: »

Much better lineout operator? I wouldn't agree with that at all.

POM ultimately has a level of physicality that McLaughlin will never have though.

McLaughlin is IMO one of the most physical of all the backrowers. He is much more physical than POM!

This all depends on your definition of physicality? POM is more likely to get into off the ball stuff and play an enforcer type role whereas McLaughlin is more likely to be clearing out rucks, trucking up untidy ball and making more tackles which is what I take to mean physicality.

Hagz

I wouldn't say he's infinitely better in the line-out. I would say on par. O'Mahony was a very useful line-out option in the Autumn and has shown himself to be very good there in recent times for Munster. McLaughlin of course has been a brilliant line-out operator for Leinster for a long time now, but I don't think he's that far ahead of POM in that area.

trouttrout

Bogota wrote: »

McLoughlin infinitely better in the lineout, probably the best of any backrower. You may have a point on the deck but overall McLaughlin is the stronger player in my opinion. POM is younger though.

Infinitely no less! I was exaggerating saying POM was a good bit better but Locky is in no way that much better in the lineout

POM is a top quality lineout operator for a backrow forward. His last two performances for Munster are a testament to that. Not to mention he was very secure during the six nations when we had a malfunctioning lineout

Hagz

Bogota wrote: »

McLaughlin is IMO the most physical of all the backrowers. He is much more physical than POM!

This all depends on your definition of physicality? POM is more likely to get into off the ball stuff and play an enforcer type role whereas McLaughlin is more likely to be clearing out rucks, trucking up untidy ball and making more tackles which is what I take to mean physicality.

I'd say he's talking about ball carrying. McLaughlin is so good at turning static ball into go forward ball, but that's down to the angle of his runs and his footwork, rather than his physicality. O'Mahony is much more likely to make a line-break.

Bogota

I would, McLaughlin is on par with a lot of second rows. He is much, much more disruptive on opposition ball than POM and his consistency and timing unmatched by any other backrow.