Leinster schools league/cup 2015/2016 senior&junior

RedemptionZ

Out of hospital today and finally got to watch the final. Not a great match, there was a gulf in class between the teams. The real final was Blackrock Belvo, although Michaels could very well have beaten Belvo too, the score didn't reflect the game.

JCT final on tomorrow, Blackrock favourites against a Michaels XV made up of just under 50% 2nd years. Would probably back Blackrock. They tend to have a psychological edge against Michaels, although more so at Senior Cup level. The size factor of Rock will get them over the line but Michaels are the better team IMO.

bradders90

RedemptionZ wrote: »

Out of hospital today and finally got to watch the final. Not a great match, there was a gulf in class between the teams. The real final was Blackrock Belvo, although Michaels could very well have beaten Belvo too, the score didn't reflect the game.

JCT final on tomorrow, Blackrock favourites against a Michaels XV made up of just under 50% 2nd years. Would probably back Blackrock. They tend to have a psychological edge against Michaels, although more so at Senior Cup level. The size factor of Rock will get them over the line but Michaels are the better team IMO.

how poor must michaels 3rd year be if half the team is 2nd year?? obviously the top 2nd years from each year usually play up. but having 1/2 team of second years is very surprising and says a lot about the current 3rd year crop at michaels.

FrannoFan

bradders90 wrote: »

how poor must michaels 3rd year be if half the team is 2nd year?? obviously the top 2nd years from each year usually play up. but having 1/2 team of second years is very surprising and says a lot about the current 3rd year crop at michaels.

Think it is more a case of Michaels have a sensational second year. Even with 12 playing JCT they have been beating all the other schools around Leinster. The fact they made a final with such a young team would indicate they are there on merit rather than just a poor third year.

RugbyRugby2016

FrannoFan wrote: »

Think it is more a case of Michaels have a sensational second year. Even with 12 playing JCT they have been beating all the other schools around Leinster. The fact they made a final with such a young team would indicate they are there on merit rather than just a poor third year.

Michaels second year is supposed to be very good. Having this many players involved this season will obviously bode well for them in next years tournament.

It's interesting that Blackrock's 3rd years this year is regarded as being very talented and yet I think only one player (the captain) was in the squad last season.

brokenhooker

bradders90 wrote: »

how poor must michaels 3rd year be if half the team is 2nd year?? obviously the top 2nd years from each year usually play up. but having 1/2 team of second years is very surprising and says a lot about the current 3rd year crop at michaels.

What? No.

Michael's 2nd year group is very talented, which is why they are in the final with 6 starters in 2nd year. They ran away with the u13 cup last year beating Blackrock by 30 points in the final.

Some good players in 3rd year too, Hernan, Smith and Dunne particularly.

brokenhooker

RugbyRugby2016 wrote: »

Michaels second year is supposed to be very good. Having this many players involved this season will obviously bode well for them in next years tournament.

It's interesting that Blackrock's 3rd years this year is regarded as being very talented and yet I think only one player (the captain) was in the squad last season.

Well they did win the JCT last year with that group of 3rd years so not that surprising.

RedemptionZ

bradders90 wrote: »

how poor must michaels 3rd year be if half the team is 2nd year?? obviously the top 2nd years from each year usually play up. but having 1/2 team of second years is very surprising and says a lot about the current 3rd year crop at michaels.

Bizarre statement considering they've made the final, beating teams full of 3rd years.

RedemptionZ

8-3 to Blackrock in second half.

brokenhooker

Blackrock JCT defeated previous opponents by 29(marys), 23(pres bray) & 32(belvo) and today they defeated Michaels by 5.

They also didn't allow a try and a conceded a total of 18 points in 4 games.

rughug

brokenhooker wrote: »

Blackrock JCT defeated previous opponents by 29(marys), 23(pres bray) & 32(belvo) and today they defeated Michaels by 5.

They also didn't allow a try and a conceded a total of 18 points in 4 games.

Pity their SCT hasn't played at the RDS since 2014. Meow. Meow.

brokenhooker

rughug wrote: »

Pity their SCT hasn't played at the RDS since 2014. Meow. Meow.

losing to the eventual champions in both seasons in very close games is hardly something be ashamed of.

Should be strong favourites next year, along with Michaels, Belvo & Clongowes.

zagmund

Does anyone know what the story was with the extended first half? The clock stopped at 30 minutes, but the ref played several more including a couple of set pieces. Then when Rock kicked the ball out (the clock had stopped several minutes earlier) he just played on and awarded a line out to Michaels.

Was it supposed to be 35-minute halves and the clock was set wrong?

z

The Lost Sheep

zagmund wrote: »

Does anyone know what the story was with the extended first half? The clock stopped at 30 minutes, but the ref played several more including a couple of set pieces. Then when Rock kicked the ball out (the clock had stopped several minutes earlier) he just played on and awarded a line out to Michaels.

Was it supposed to be 35-minute halves and the clock was set wrong?

Doubt the clock was running off same time as the refs and under 16s(Juniors) is only 30 minute halves not 35.

Was at both Connacht finals. Marist well deserved win in juniors winning 25-0.
The Jes won the senior by a point winning 16-15

Munster junior final gone to a replay after a 16-16 draw. Replay April 6th in Thomond Park

feargale

Why don't the four provincial champions play each other to determine the All-Ireland champions, as happens in GAA?

RugbyRugby2016

feargale wrote: »

Why don't the four provincial champions play each other to determine the All-Ireland champions, as happens in GAA?

It's been discussed on this thread a few days ago but the general reasoning for it is that the players have their exams in a couple of months and having an all Ireland would push the season into April

The Lost Sheep

feargale wrote: »

Why don't the four provincial champions play each other to determine the All-Ireland champions, as happens in GAA?

International games are generally on after schools cups are on and exams are an issue. Id prefer changes to cup formats and start cups earlier in the year and keep traditional Paddys Day finals.
This was discussed only a few days ago...

feargale

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

International games are generally on after schools cups are on and exams are an issue. Id prefer changes to cup formats and start cups earlier in the year and keep traditional Paddys Day finals.
This was discussed only a few days ago...

Sorry. I missed that. Exams always complicate school sports. Maybe the All-Ireland stuff could be after the exams and before the internationals, or even after them, even in September,

The Lost Sheep

feargale wrote: »

Sorry. I missed that. Exams always complicate school sports. Maybe the All-Ireland stuff could be after the exams and before the internationals, or even after them, even in September,

The internationals are on over Easter.
How could you have schools competitions based on 15/16 school year in the following school year???
An All Ireland schools competition with the provincial champions isn't going to happen unless either the cups are moved earlier in the season or its a league/cup played before the cups start in January and schools can choose to enter it..

OceanSixteen

U18 & U19 training camps occuring this weekend.

The Lost Sheep

Ulster Senior final result: RBAI 13 Campbell College 3

Tarf1234

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Ulster Senior final result: RBAI 13 Campbell College 3

Thought it was a very poor game. RBAI were heavily penalised and their yellow in particular was incredibly harsh.

brokenhooker

Blackrock players named in Ireland u18 squads:

5 Nations: Charlie Ryan(Lock), Caelan Doris(Backrow), Richard Dunne(Backrow), Conor Dean(Outhalf), Tommy O'Brien(Centre), Liam Turner(Centre/Wing)
Tri Nations: Stephen McLaughlin(Hooker), Andrew Murphy(Backrow)

2 Monkstown players named in u18 squads: Eoghan Clarke(Prop), Tommy O'Callaghan(Wing)
3 RBAI players named in u18 squads: Callum Reid(Prop), Rhys O'Donnell(Scrumhalf), James Hume(Centre)

Hard to see any school having more players than Blackrock in the upcoming squads.

gazump123

brokenhooker wrote: »

Blackrock players named in Ireland u18 squads:

5 Nations: Charlie Ryan(Lock), Caelan Doris(Backrow), Richard Dunne(Backrow), Conor Dean(Outhalf), Tommy O'Brien(Centre), Liam Turner(Centre/Wing)
Tri Nations: Stephen McLaughlin(Hooker), Andrew Murphy(Backrow)

2 Monkstown players named in u18 squads: Eoghan Clarke(Prop), Tommy O'Callaghan(Wing)
3 RBAI players named in u18 squads: Callum Reid(Prop), Rhys O'Donnell(Scrumhalf), James Hume(Centre)

Hard to see any school having more players than Blackrock in the upcoming squads.

Have the squads been named yet?

brokenhooker

gazump123 wrote: »

Has the squad been named yet?

Not officially but players have known for over a week.

There was camps over the weekend, 1st u18 game is thursday I believe. But may be earlier.

RugbyRugby2016

brokenhooker wrote: »

Blackrock players named in Ireland u18 squads:

5 Nations: Charlie Ryan(Lock), Caelan Doris(Backrow), Richard Dunne(Backrow), Conor Dean(Outhalf), Tommy O'Brien(Centre), Liam Turner(Centre/Wing)
Tri Nations: Stephen McLaughlin(Hooker), Andrew Murphy(Backrow)

2 Monkstown players named in u18 squads: Eoghan Clarke(Prop), Tommy O'Callaghan(Wing)
3 RBAI players named in u18 squads: Callum Reid(Prop), Rhys O'Donnell(Scrumhalf), James Hume(Centre)

Hard to see any school having more players than Blackrock in the upcoming squads.

Patterson not being involved is a bit of a surprise, although playing on the wing for the cup probably didn't do him any favours selection wise.

brokenhooker

RugbyRugby2016 wrote: »

Patterson not being involved is a bit of a surprise, although playing on the wing for the cup probably didn't do him any favours selection wise.

yeah it will be a blow for him alright. Both Leinster scrumhalves didn't player there so that can't have helped there chances.

Although Tommy O'Brien/Andrew Murphy didn't even play in the cup.

RugbyRugby2016

brokenhooker wrote: »

yeah it will be a blow for him alright. Both Leinster scrumhalves didn't player there so that can't have helped there chances.

Although Tommy O'Brien/Andrew Murphy didn't even play in the cup.

I can understand them picking O'Brien as he was injured and was one of Blackrock's best players in my opinion. Don't understand picking Murphy if he was healthy for the cup and still couldn't make the match day squad...

brokenhooker

RugbyRugby2016 wrote: »

I can understand them picking O'Brien as he was injured and was one of Blackrock's best players in my opinion. Don't understand picking Murphy if he was healthy for the cup and still couldn't make the match day squad...

They obviously have their reasons..
And who knows what was really going on with Murphy not making matchday squads for Blackrock. It's an odd situation.

brokenhooker

Dates of the games

24/3/16
England u18 v Ireland u18 A SGS College Gloucestershire
26/3/16
Ireland u18 B v France u18 Ashbourne
29/3/16
Ireland u18 A v Scotland u18 Wales
31/3/16
Ireland u19 v France u19 Dooradoyle
2/4/16
Ireland u18 A v Italy u18 Wales
Ireland u18 B v England Counties u18 Ashbourne
3/4/16
Ireland u19 v France u19 Dooradoyle

OceanSixteen

These two both involved in the Ireland U18s A's
Hugh O'Sullivan (Scrumhalf/Fullback)
David Hawkshaw (Outhalf)