Dubinusa wrote: » Blackrock is usually the best school team?
arsebiscuits1 wrote: » Historically yes. In recent years less so. Especially not with the metric of producing Leinster players. Have been significantly eclipsed by Michaels.
sydthebeat wrote: » whats the definition of a top athlete outside back?? over 6' 2" and can run 100m in under 12 seconds? the obvious answer is that Adam Byrne hasnt really worked out. he has all the attributes but been bedevilled by injury. Barry Daly is another who would fit that bill but injury called a halt to that. you could argue Conor o brien fits that bill as well as he played a bit of wing / full back in his development and is very athletic at 6' 3" and fast.
realhorrorshow wrote: » Jordan Larmour is a top class athlete.
Paul Smeenus wrote: » Ironically, I thought the difference between the two backlines in the A game looked to be not height and size, but the top two inches.
theVersatile wrote: » Didn't know tall people had to exclusively join the schools... The two best back prospects in Leinster at the moment, two clubs players, are both over 6'2 (Jamie Osborne and Karl Martin). I don't think there's any dearth of height or natural athleticism in Leinster (mind a declaration of "natural athlete" based on height alone is silly in its own right. Genetic specimen, maybe, but we know well genetic specimens don't automatically make great rugby players).
UAEguy2020 wrote: » As good as the schools are I don’t think they are quite able to make someone taller.
luke9311 wrote: » That Osborne anyway related to trinity’s rowan Osborne do you know? Funny this was mention as outside backs and their size stats etc... based on last years cup run newbridges LBN looked a good prospect for academy spot although he has another year in a school I think but almost certain looking at him to be well under Bayern’s 6ft mark he’s on about. That kelly fella on the wing (can’t think of first name off my top my head) for Michael’s last year also looked a good prospect and again don’t know the stats etc for him but looking at him looked 6ft or over it. Haven’t heard of him since he left school tho as to where he’s playing or what he’s doing...
bayern wrote: » Ed Kelly, didn't make the leinster sub-academy. LBN will struggle given his size, he has a lot of talent but it will be an uphill battle at pro level.. he has all the skills to be an excellent scrumhalf. But that would require far too much creative thinking to likely happen.
realhorrorshow wrote: » Honestly it's not even that creative to take an extremely talented but small footballer and try him at 9. In fairness, sometimes players can be extremely bullish about playing a certain position (not saying that's the case here).
theVersatile wrote: » At least from a Munster POV, that's complete BS. Our two academy back three players atm are Jonathan Wren and Sean French. Wren is probably 5'10. French on the other hand wasn't chosen because of his height, but because he was one of the best players in that age grade with a rediculous highlight reel. In the sub academy, the next winger is Aaron Leahy who again isn't close to 6ft. Also, we've just spent the last couple of pages discussing all of Leinsters small players yet now we're saying they aren't interested if they aren't tall enough? Paradoxical. Would love to hear Connacht and Ulster POVs.
bayern wrote: » Only Ulster have big fast wings consistently coming through their system.
Locke_Lamora wrote: » There are some good athletes there but McIlroy is playing ahead of the other back three academy players, and he's not as big or fast as any of them. Baloucoune may be a very good athlete but he wouldn't have got nearly as much game time if his defending hadn't been so great from the start. We may have good athletes coming through but it's clear we value skill more.
bayern wrote: » just because they are big fast athletes doesn't mean they lack skill, in fact if they are in the academy or senior squad then a high base level of skill can be assumed I would have thought.
