Ulster Team Talk Thread IV... Go On My Henderson...

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123962317#Comment_123962317

206 capped Munster player Rory scannel says hi.

Gordon Darcy was a fantastic footballing inside center.

Up in Ulster paddy Wallace had a wonderful career switching from 10 / 15 to 12.

Connacht currently have some excellent football centers getting great game time such as forde.

And I certainly don't need to mention Michael Kieran, Brendan Mullin or Mike Gibson do I ?

Irish rugby had never shyed away from playing "footballing" 12s when there are there to be played.

bilston

The one thing about footballing 12s is that they tend to get shifted around a lot. We saw it with Wallace, we have seen it with Moore at Ulster and we see it now with Osborne and Frawley at Leinster. The fact they are good footballers means they can usually play 15 and 10 so it's harder for them to consistent runs at 12.

Postlethwaite is an interesting one to me. He is a big guy but he has great footballing ability as well, he is a very good passer and kicker.

Pete_Cavan

It's clear Ireland need to be looking at developing other options at 13 and Ulster lads look like the best candidates. Hume is the more natural 13 and Farrell has looked at him before. With the injury he was out of sight, out of mind but has come back strong. Postlethwaite should be considered too and I'd like to see him play 13 against Spain this weekend.

One of them should then be part of the main squad for the final two games. Even if they don't play, it is the first step to at least having them in contention for the 6N.

ionadnapóca

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123962720#Comment_123962720

Exactly. They have made a hames of it with Frawley and are well on their way with Osborne.

I didnt know that about Postlethwaite. Is he right footed?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123962651#Comment_123962651

Munster turned Scannell into more of a bosher. I'll have to offer a different opinion on Dorce - Snow And Rope! Wallace obviously the closest to a 'footballing' 12 from your list.

No you didnt need to mention the greatest Irish player of all time!! But fair enough! I was talking recent history and how not focusing /developing that second five-eighths type in Irish rugby is manifesting itself in the type of centres coming into the the provinces and ultimately the test team.

The lads of the 80s you mentioned I think were really just shoe horned into those positions. As in they played there to get the best players on the pitch. Which is what im getting at. Mike Kiernan was actually a winger who shifted between 12 and 13. Dean was an outhalf who had to shift to 12 and Mullins was a pure 13.

Good point on Forde at Connacht. Really looking forward to seeing what Lancaster can do with him and Gavin.

I've heard this for manys a year "That '75 side had our greatest ever footballers.
Billy "The Kid" McCombe, Mike Gibson and Dick Milliken."

RuPi

Postlethwaite has a huge left boot, to be honest it is a part of his game that I feel has been under utilised.

bilston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123965443#Comment_123965443

Thank you for answering that, I was trying to work out if he was left or right footed, I was leaning towards left but wasn't confident enough to shout it out!

ionadnapóca

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123965443#Comment_123965443

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123965449#Comment_123965449

Probably why we weren't sure what foot he kicked with. Nice to have another left footed option.

Is he an Osborne type or more Henshaw type of centre?

big-al

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123967382#Comment_123967382

he is more skillfull than both.