Ireland Team Talk XI: Team of nervoUS MOD warning Post 1

Former Former

Baloucoune has barely featured this season though?

stephen_n

Former Former wrote: »

Baloucoune has barely featured this season though?

Was that not injury related?

Paul Smeenus

Yeah - he played, I think, most of our European games last season. I'd have him and Stockdale on our wings.

bilston

Former Former wrote: »

Baloucoune has barely featured this season though?

He has been injured

Former Former

bilston wrote: »

He has been injured

I know, but if he hasnt been playing, how can he have impressed people.

No offence to Connacht but they were brutal the other night and looking good against them isn't worth much.

I know he's only a young guy but his defence was seriously suspect last year, I really hope he's improved. Hopefully he gets a run in Clermont.

Paul Smeenus

Former Former wrote: »

I know, but if he hasnt been playing, how can he have impressed people.

No offence to Connacht but they were brutal the other night and looking good against them isn't worth much.

I know he's only a young guy but his defence was seriously suspect last year, I really hope he's improved. Hopefully he gets a run in Clermont.

His defence was seriously suspect? Eh, what?

Paul Smeenus

Does Former Former know who Baloucoune is? Scored the winning try in our away game in Leicester in Europe, scored at home when we beat Racing, and played away in the RDS in a Euro quarter final, in his first season?

He has sixteen appearances - enough to have leapfrogged every winger bar Stockdale. He is actually known for having great defence for a lad who turned 22 at the start of this season.

bilston

Former Former wrote: »

I know, but if he hasnt been playing, how can he have impressed people.

No offence to Connacht but they were brutal the other night and looking good against them isn't worth much.

I know he's only a young guy but his defence was seriously suspect last year, I really hope he's improved. Hopefully he gets a run in Clermont.

His defence was suspect? You must be talking about someone else.

Former Former

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

Does Former Former know who Baloucoune is?

Do you have to be like this all the time?

Former Former

Former Former wrote: »

Do you have to be like this all the time?

So you're saying you don't know who Baloucoune is?

Former Former

bilston wrote: »

His defence was suspect? You must be talking about someone else.

Look, I don't see as much of him as the Ulster fans so I'll bow to your superior knowledge. Maybe I'm basing too much on a couple of dodgy reads.

But when push comes to shove, he's not the first choice. Edit: yet

Paul Smeenus

Ah, come on. I'm not like anything all the time. I'm just calling you out because he's literally known for having defensive nous beyond his years. I'm sure if I posted "POM - wish he'd offer something at the lineout", I'd get a similarly short shrift. It's fine if you don't know who young Ulster wingers are. It's okay for you not to really have an opinion.

Locke_Lamora

Baloucoune's defence has really been top notch for us, a couple of misreads but nowhere near enough to call it a problem or even a regular occurrence. Stockdale's been an open door in defence for a year now, but his international career pushes forward, and Larmour was very prone to bad defensive reads when he was called up - he's shored that up nicely though. Being first choice doesn't necessarily mean either much as I remember a lot of Stockdale's appearances coming from the bench before he was called up. Not trying to draw a comparison talent wise, but there you go. Will Connors isn't first choice for Leinster either and must only have about 5 caps against weakened pro 14 sides - has he even played in Europe yet? Doens't really matter imo, as everyone's circumstances are slightly different, and coaches might value different skillsets.

Former Former

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

Ah, come on. I'm not like anything all the time. I'm just calling you out because he's literally known for having defensive nous beyond his years. I'm sure if I posted "POM - wish he'd offer something at the lineout", I'd get a similarly short shrift. It's fine if you don't know who young Ulster wingers are. It's okay for you not to really have an opinion.

I do know who he is.

It's also ok for you not to be so obnoxious.

Paul Smeenus

Locke_Lamora wrote: »

Baloucoune's defence has really been top notch for us, a couple of misreads but nowhere near enough to call it a problem or even a regular occurrence. Stockdale's been an open door in defence for a year now, but his international career pushes forward, and Larmour was very prone to bad defensive reads when he was called up - he's shored that up nicely though. Being first choice doesn't necessarily mean either much as I remember a lot of Stockdale's appearances coming from the bench before he was called up. Not trying to draw a comparison talent wise, but there you go. Will Connors isn't first choice for Leinster either and must only have about 5 caps against weakened pro 14 sides - has he even played in Europe yet? Doens't really matter imo, as everyone's circumstances are slightly different, and coaches might value different skillsets.

True, but Connors would really want to get his tackle numbers up.

Paul Smeenus

Former Former wrote: »

I do know who he is.

It's also ok for you not to be so obnoxious.

Don't think I've been obnoxious, just gently mocked what I consider a crazily ill-informed opinion.

Paul Smeenus

Christ the night.

Richie_Rich89

Baloucoune's defence has been outstanding from the word go. On his debut last year he made a really good read and came up and pushed somebody into touch. Even when he slipped off a tackle on Porch at the weekend he'd made an excellent read and would have caught the Connacht guy behind the gainline if he'd stuck the tackle. He's one of the best defenders I've seen on the right wing. Love watching the guy do his thing.

Interested Observer

Former Former wrote: »

I do know who he is.

It's also ok for you not to be so obnoxious.

Any further thoughts on his defence?

Former Former

Interested Observer wrote: »

Any further thoughts on his defence?

Just that he's a typical young winger who maybe gets more excited and shoots up more often than he should. He's a big unit so I'm sure he can put in a hit. Question is whether he can gel it together or he becomes another Adam Byrne.

Maybe I'm being harsh. The Ulster lads seem to think he's the messiah and they should know, they've followed a few...

Paul Smeenus

Former Former wrote: »

Just that he's a typical young winger who maybe gets more excited and shoots up more often than he should. He's a big unit so I'm sure he can put in a hit. Question is whether he can gel it together or he becomes another Adam Byrne.

Maybe I'm being harsh. The Ulster lads seem to think he's the messiah and they should know, they've followed a few...

Someone's in better form this morning.

Stout Warrior

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

True, but Connors would really want to get his tackle numbers up.

Let me guess you're an Ulster supporter?

Paul Smeenus

Stout Warrior wrote: »

Let me guess you're an Ulster supporter?

That's. The. Joke.

The real test for Baloucoune and what will decide whether he gains international honors in the next few years is whether or not he is approached by Toulouse.

Dubinusa

I haven't seen much of Balacoune. But what I have seen I have been impressed. The comparisons I would make would not be A.B Balacoune is stronger defensively than A.B was at this point of his career.
Balacoune has size, speed and looks like he could be good defensively. He has really come from nowhere! It will be interesting to watch him as he progresses.
As far as becoming an international? Its early days yet. He could very well come into the reckoning, if he is a solid all rounder. He is quite a prospect and he is likely a mainstay for Ulster going forward. I think he's a better prospect than Lyttle, who is dynamic and very good, but is injury prone. Balacoune has great size and that could work in his favor. Either way, another gem in the backs for Ulstet.

Dubinusa

Dave Kearney in the 42 saying RK could add to his international caps! That would be the wrong direction imo. He's nowhere near the standard and he's behind Haley. Larmour and Addison at this point. I think Keenan may very well be preferred at Leinster, before too long.

Dave Kearney in defending brother shocker

salmocab

Dubinusa wrote: »

Dave Kearney in the 42 saying RK could add to his international caps! That would be the wrong direction imo. He's nowhere near the standard and he's behind Haley. Larmour and Addison at this point. I think Keenan may very well be preferred at Leinster, before too long.

A nothing story.

jacothelad

Former Former wrote: »

I know, but if he hasnt been playing, how can he have impressed people.

No offence to Connacht but they were brutal the other night and looking good against them isn't worth much.

I know he's only a young guy but his defence was seriously suspect last year, I really hope he's improved. Hopefully he gets a run in Clermont.

This is utter nonsense. His superb defence last season was remarkable for a novice player.