nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread VIII - MOD NOTE POST #4781

Steve

Continuing on from the previous thread....

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

Bazzo

torqtorq wrote: »

Its beyond me why anyone would think that Aki has no equal as a 12.

The Ulster midfield has had Aki's number for the past 3 seasons.

In their most recent game Aki made all of 21 metres from 16 carries for an average of 1.3 m per carry.

McCloskey made 46 metres from 10 carries for an average of 4.6 m per carry.

That is 3.5 times further per carry!

As for offloading, McCloskey wins this hands down. His limbs are so long that he can reach round the corner of the defender and pass backwards as witnessed by some of Ulster's early season tries.

He can also reach over the top of most defenders and offload that way, something that the much shorter Aki cannot do.

Aki's Bosh game is actually not that effective against a good defending side and is certainly inferior to McCloskeys.

You've said this before and then blatantly ignored my response when I actually went back through the stats indicating that Bundee has been the most prominent attacking centre on the pitch in several of those encounters. Defensively he's already shown us what he's made of against South Africa, more tackles than anyone else on the pitch I believe and several of them very dominant.

Sephiral

Payne, if he manages to recover is probably a full back option now. He was a very good stop gap while we waited for options to develop. Personally, I think his ability as a second playmaker is such a boon that he will displace Kearney instantly.

Aki will probably end up being our best centre option if he can stand up in high pressure games. He has the most rounded skill set and sets players outside him free better than anyone else.

I think a backline of Stockdale-Aki-Henshaw/Ringrose-Earls-Payne is the best we have had in years and there are quality replacement options available too.

[Deleted User]

pickarooney wrote: »

Ugh. We have players like Ringrose and Carbery and you want to play Gattyball?

Maybe just once... Choo choo get out the way!

pickarooney

[Deleted User] wrote: »

We could let things get a bit silly and have a backline of Stockdale, McCloskey, Aki, Byrne and Henshaw.

Would be by a long way our largest ever backline with a lot of hard carriers yet still plenty of guile. It's a real shame if Adam Byrne can't develop his game because his size and ability to beat the first man would be so valuable on the international stage.

With a backline like that and with the pack coming along as they are we could really bully teams.

Ugh. We have players like Ringrose and Carbery and you want to play Gattyball?

Buer

Deleted User wrote: »

James Downey with a surprise recall...

[Deleted User]

pickarooney wrote: »

It's all a ruse. Play the 6N with beefy giants (Peter Robb to get a call up soon?) and spring Carbery at 12 for the world cup.

James Downey with a surprise recall...

pickarooney

Webbs wrote: »

It will be interesting come the world cup how Ireland set up as a lot of countries are now looking at a 10 -12 playmaker, something that Schmidt is not looking at with his selections to date. (the pairing for the Fiji game shows a clear marker being set down?)

It's all a ruse. Play the 6N with beefy giants (Peter Robb to get a call up soon?) and spring Carbery at 12 for the world cup.

Bridge93

Aki has work to do to push one of the other two out for the 6N (I’m leaving Payne out of this as there’s no word of him). As venjur said it’s great to have quality depth where everyone is kept on their toes

Former Former

Aki may well become the first centre to be picked, but he's not there yet. He's had one game against an incredibly weak SA team; he played well, serious work rate and tackled everything that moved. But there wasn't much in the way of attack, I don't really remember any big carries, line breaks or offloads. It was exactly the sort of performance that Henshaw has been putting in at 12 for the last three years...

It's going to be fascinating, especially if Payne comes back into the mix, you could pick any two from four and say "that's a great midfield", but no one is nailed on yet IMO.

[Deleted User]

D14Rugby wrote: »

While i think henshaw is a better 12 for Ireland i believe he was saying things henshaw does better than aki not implying he can't do other things well

Aki does everything better than Henshaw, Henshaw couldn't even get his own laptop back.

D14Rugby

irishfan9 wrote: »

henshaw can't tackle? can't pass? can't offload?

weird... how is he a professional rugby player?

While i think henshaw is a better 12 for Ireland i believe he was saying things henshaw does better than aki not implying he can't do other things well

[Deleted User]

Regardless of who plays centre, probably the most important thing is that there are enough guys now seriously pushing for jerseys that none of those involved can allow their game to drop at all. Competition is a very good motivator.

connachta

ronnoco13 wrote: »

12 aki , 13 ringrose , 15 henshaw. Henshaw hasn't played at 15 in years but he said it during an interview after he cam back from lions tour. It has a lot of potential if it works out would definitely be worth trying out for a few games

Agreeeeee!

torqtorq

Neil3030 wrote: »

I just can't see how anyone gets in at 12 ahead of Bundee. He can distribute as well as any, bosh it as well as any, and then there's his offloading game which I'm sure we'll build some moves around. He also fit seemlessly into defensive duties last week. Everyone else is fighting for the 13 shirt, imo.

Its beyond me why anyone would think that Aki has no equal as a 12.

The Ulster midfield has had Aki's number for the past 3 seasons.

In their most recent game Aki made all of 21 metres from 16 carries for an average of 1.3 m per carry.

McCloskey made 46 metres from 10 carries for an average of 4.6 m per carry.

That is 3.5 times further per carry!

As for offloading, McCloskey wins this hands down. His limbs are so long that he can reach round the corner of the defender and pass backwards as witnessed by some of Ulster's early season tries.

He can also reach over the top of most defenders and offload that way, something that the much shorter Aki cannot do.

Aki's Bosh game is actually not that effective against a good defending side and is certainly inferior to McCloskeys.

Neil3030

irishfan9 wrote: »

henshaw can't tackle? can't pass? can't offload?

weird... how is he a professional rugby player?

You phrased your question incorrectly. It's not a case of who can do x, and who can't. It's a case of who does it better. And across the range of skills needed for an inside centre, Bundee wins for me.

irishfan9

Neil3030 wrote: »

Pretty much everything; kicking may be Henshaws only edge on him.

henshaw can't tackle? can't pass? can't offload?

weird... how is he a professional rugby player?

Neil3030

ronnoco13 wrote: »

12 aki , 13 ringrose , 15 henshaw. Henshaw hasn't played at 15 in years but he said it during an interview after he cam back from lions tour. It has a lot of potential if it works out would definitely be worth trying out for a few games

Am I imagining this or did Henshaw once say in an interview that fullback was his favourite position to play?

[Deleted User]

ronnoco13 wrote: »

12 aki , 13 ringrose , 15 henshaw. Henshaw hasn't played at 15 in years but he said it during an interview after he cam back from lions tour. It has a lot of potential if it works out would definitely be worth trying out for a few games

We could let things get a bit silly and have a backline of Stockdale, McCloskey, Aki, Byrne and Henshaw.

Would be by a long way our largest ever backline with a lot of hard carriers yet still plenty of guile. It's a real shame if Adam Byrne can't develop his game because his size and ability to beat the first man would be so valuable on the international stage.

With a backline like that and with the pack coming along as they are we could really bully teams.

[Deleted User]

12 aki , 13 ringrose , 15 henshaw. Henshaw hasn't played at 15 in years but he said it during an interview after he cam back from lions tour. It has a lot of potential if it works out would definitely be worth trying out for a few games

Neil3030

irishfan9 wrote: »

what can aki do that henshaw can't?

Pretty much everything; kicking may be Henshaws only edge on him.

irishfan9

Neil3030 wrote: »

Who is the better inside centre? Oh and before you respond to this - you're wrong.

what can aki do that henshaw can't?

Neil3030

irishfan9 wrote: »

Bundee should never be the first name down.

Who is the better inside centre? Oh and before you respond to this - you're wrong.

irishfan9

Bundee should never be the first name down.

Neil3030

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Yeah from what I've seen of everyone so far I still think Ringrose is likely to be first choice out of all the centres.

Horses for courses and fitness will dictate Bundi or Henshaw at 12.

Interesting that Henshaw has a decent chance of getting gametime at fullback this weekend.

Still think McCloskey could force his way into contention with the way he is going this season.

I'd actually argue the opposite - Bundee is the first name down every time, then if we need more bulk we go with Henshaw at 13, or Ringrose otherwise.

Side note - the Aki-Ringrose partnership must, in all formal communication, be referred to as "KiRing"

Former Former

FellasFellas wrote: »

From the original squad named, is Adam Byrne the only player not to be in a 23 yet?

Yes (except the injured guys)

Neil3030

I just can't see how anyone gets in at 12 ahead of Bundee. He can distribute as well as any, bosh it as well as any, and then there's his offloading game which I'm sure we'll build some moves around. He also fit seemlessly into defensive duties last week. Everyone else is fighting for the 13 shirt, imo.

FellasFellas

From the original squad named, is Adam Byrne the only player not to be in a 23 yet?

[Deleted User]

Neil3030 wrote: »

Playmaky 12s need to play behind a monster pack. We're big enough but we don't bully top teams the way England do, for example. I'm not in love with the idea us going down the Wales route either, mind you, i.e., planets colliding in midfield. I think Bundee/Ringrose will have the best balance.

Yeah from what I've seen of everyone so far I still think Ringrose is likely to be first choice out of all the centres.

Horses for courses and fitness will dictate Bundi or Henshaw at 12.

Interesting that Henshaw has a decent chance of getting gametime at fullback this weekend.

Still think McCloskey could force his way into contention with the way he is going this season.

Neil3030

Playmaky 12s need to play behind a monster pack. We're big enough but we don't bully top teams the way England do, for example. I'm not in love with the idea us going down the Wales route either, mind you, i.e., planets colliding in midfield. I think Bundee/Ringrose will have the best balance.

[Deleted User]

Bazzo wrote: »

I ****ing knew that was coming

Would you believe I have no formal training in photoshop!