awec wrote: » Sure there's uncertainty, but the only way players banging on the door are going to get any better or move up a level is if they get a real chance to do it. There's a tonne of uncertainty around picking Henshaw too by the way. I certainly would not be confident selecting him based on what he has offered recently.
molloyjh wrote: » I agree.
molloyjh wrote: » He has earned a call up to the squad to see how he fits in. Nothing else. We need to stop talking about selecting players for Ireland based on how they perform with a different team, beside different players, playing a different way at a different level. Players perform well and get a call up. Some perform so well that they push themselves into poll position for a jersey. Then the coaches see how guys fit the game plan, how they gel with one another etc. From those training camps they essentially make educated guesses about how a player will step up to Test rugby (assuming they havent before or at least in some time). That's why a lot of coaches around the world often stick with tried and trusted, because they know that these guys can play at that level and it takes a lot of the guesswork out of selection. .
sydthebeat wrote: » thats all fine and well when your longer into a coaches tenure, however this is Farrells first ever test competition as head coach so id say all cards are on the table, and previous test level performances will only get you so far. Form definitely gets you in the door, but to be honest, a good coach will dictate a way of playing to suit the best attributes of his players. Jamie Joseph didnt have the japanese playing bosh rugby.
awec wrote: » I guess my point is that right now, there is no incumbent 12 as far as I am concerned. I don't think Henshaw has any more claim to that jersey than Aki or McCloskey. McCloskey is certainly the form 12 right now, and surely the front runner, but he'll have to stay at that level for the next few weeks, show that he's got it in training then show that he's got it in a match if he gets selected. Henshaw I feel has a lot of ground to make up, and he's fast running out of time.
bilston wrote: » On the face of it a playmaker at 12 might be the way Ireland go based on the fact that that was exactly what Mike Catt was. I don't know that we have an obvious player to do that though. I agree Marshall was someone who a few years ago you'd have said had the quality to do it, but it hasn't worked out. Rory Scannell is the only other one I can think of but I don't think he is at test level. Therefore we probably have to go the less subtle route.
stephen_n wrote: » Mike Catt was a 10 who got shifted to 12 because of Wilkinson though. Maybe something else we can look at, though none of the 10’s come to mind as international 12’s either.
errlloyd wrote: » Catt played everywhere. He played a lot of his rugby for England at 15 too. Including when he got run over by Lomu!
aloooof wrote: » Sexton's probably the closest? (Tho that'll never happen, and nor should it, really).
awec wrote: » the only way players banging on the door are going to get any better or move up a level is if they get a real chance to do it.
stephen_n wrote: » Everyone seems to be going for Henshaw. With very little gametime recently to measure him by, it’s hard to tell. Felt he had a very mixed bag yesterday though. I would have Aki or McCloskey ahead of him at present.
The Rape of Lucretia wrote: » Is that really the case though ? Over the years, is it not the players who were really standing out at the level below international, and screaming for inclusion, that have gone on to be really international standard and successes ? How many players, looking so so for their provinces or knocking around at a similar level for a few years without shooting the lights out, have really shown to develop and move up a grade as a result of being 'given a chance', as the saying goes, at international level ?
Paul Smeenus wrote: » https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/1216811350543958017?s=19 Bobby "Naive Defence" Baloucoune
Deleted User wrote: » Touch of Dave Kearney about him.
theVersatile wrote: » How's McCloskeys breakdown game? Bundees rucking is probably the one thing that sets him apart from every other centre in Ireland.
The Rape of Lucretia wrote: » On a more serious note, the fact that Dave, Cooney, and Rudds are in the mix as potential starters for Ireland should be ringing the alarms bells all round. Not that they arent deserving of being in the conversation, or even all being the right choice. Its that they correcly are, is the really worrying bit. That three 30-ish, decent indeed club players, but really only some-caps-but-never-really-made-its on the international scene, being our best options, is a strong indication that our generally esteemed pipeline (all kneel for the Jesuits and Spiritans) isnt quite as rich as we might like to think. The lacuna seems to be on the Munster front, bringing little, or quite likely nothing (a Leinster refugee being their most likely canidate to be involved) to the party.
Former Former wrote: » Yeah it's maybe a bit harsh by Kinsella to point out his poor defensive read but I guess he has to call it as he sees it. Still, as Kinsella goes on to note, he did well to recover from the error. Thanks for sharing. Always good to see a poster admit his mistakes.
Paul Smeenus wrote: » Droll. Still, you've bounced back nicely from your (now deleted) meltdown. Good to see. I was genuinely worried for you.
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