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Looking ahead at the potential Irish team/bench/squad/backup for RWC27

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Comments

  • #62
    ShineyShiney
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 565 ✭✭✭ShineyShiney


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123700880#Comment_123700880

    I don't get it. It's rare that players on cc contracts are omitted because they are our best players and we don't have depth. Isn't that exactly the same as what I said?

    Players with cc will travel. I'm not being argumentative, I'm genuinely perplexed at what the difference is.



  • #63
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 30,437 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123710362#Comment_123710362

    "Regardless of form, age or public opinon" is not true. Well regardless of public opinion is cause no successful coach picks on that basis.

    CC players have been left out of squads due to form. It is rare because they are only given to the best players and it is obviously incredibly unusual to go from the best player in a position to the 3rd or 4th best and thus left out of a squad - especially given we only have 4 teams to pick from.

    They travel cause they are our best players, not cause they are on central contracts.



  • #64
    The Parish King
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 172 ✭✭The Parish King


    I must admit I didn’t watch a tonne of Connacht in the second half of last season, so I was just wondering how good is Hugh Gavin at the moment?

    I know he was a big prospect at u20s and must be highly rated to have made the Irish summer tour, but I’m trying to get a sense of how far along in his development is he, and whether or not he’s a viable candidate for the first choice 23?

    On a similar note, Cathal Forde has really impressed me on a few occasions but doesn’t seem to be held in the same esteem - does he have any particular shortcomings which are holding him back?



  • #65
    ShineyShiney
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 565 ✭✭✭ShineyShiney


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123710367#Comment_123710367

    You have a very unusual style of agreeing with people 🤣

    I replied to a thread that was asking about potential squad for th next world cup. I said it will the cc holders plus. You even explained why my post was right in your answer. Number of teams, best players.I absolutely never implied they weren't our best players, I totally think they are.



  • #66
    ShineyShiney
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 565 ✭✭✭ShineyShiney


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123710509#Comment_123710509

    I like Gavin, big and physical decent skills but I'm not convinced he's got the defensive abilities at 13 yet. I would think he's a 12 but Bundi and Forde are very high quality 12's and the coaches obviously see a path to him being a good 13.

    Cathal Forde was excellent for Connacht last season, not flash but consistently high quality, good enough that Bundi isn't missed much when he's not there and that Gavin has to play 13. There's a lot of quality in Irish rugby at 12 but I wouldn't bet against Forde being in or around the Irish squad in years to come.



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