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Top young opensides in Ireland

  • 05-02-2021 10:28am
    #1
    bayern
    Registered Users Posts: 1,024 ✭✭✭


    Top young opensides in Ireland, 23 and under:

    1. Scott Penny(21/Leinster)
    2. John Hodnett(22/Munster)
    3. Marcus Rea(23/Ulster)
    4. Martin Moloney(21/Leinster)
    5. Sean O'Brien(20/Leinster)

    Penny and Hodnett are both dealing with serious injuries but are already proven at pro 14 level, while Rea has looked good in limited opportunities for Ulster. Moloney can't stay healthy and O'Brien has looked flashed a lot of potential in limited game time this season for Leinster A.


Comments

  • #2
    Paul Smeenus
    Registered Users Posts: 4,270 ✭✭✭Paul Smeenus


    bayern wrote: »
    Top young opensides in Ireland, 23 and under:

    1. Scott Penny(21/Leinster)
    2. John Hodnett(22/Munster)
    3. Marcus Rea(23/Ulster)
    4. Martin Moloney(21/Leinster)
    5. Sean O'Brien(20/Leinster)

    Penny and Hodnett are both dealing with serious injuries but are already proven at pro 14 level, while Rea has looked good in limited opportunities for Ulster. Moloney can't stay healthy and O'Brien has looked flashed a lot of potential in limited game time this season for Leinster A.

    Not sure why Marcus hasn't appeared for us more, especially with Reidy injured. But I think he was maybe more of an eight, and is being remoulded into a seven. Am hoping that's why it's taking him a while to break through. Otherwise, I'd be concerned there's something McFarland wants him to develop that he hasn't got in his arsenal yet. A run of games would be great towards the end of the season.

    He's a distance off the first two, anyway.


  • #3
    arsebiscuits1
    Registered Users Posts: 3,510 ✭✭✭arsebiscuits1


    Mad to see how much further Penny is in his development than the others given they're from similar age grades. He really is a prodigious talent. I hope his size doesn't work against him too much


  • #4
    bayern
    Registered Users Posts: 1,024 ✭✭✭bayern


    Penny has had double shoulder surgery and now a neck injury.. hopefully he isn't being pushed too quickly physically.


  • #5
    UAEguy2020
    Registered Users Posts: 2,098 ✭✭✭UAEguy2020


    arsebiscuits1 wrote: »
    Mad to see how much further Penny is in his development than the others given they're from similar age grades. He really is a prodigious talent. I hope his size doesn't work against him too much

    He’s hard as nails, I wouldn’t worry about him physically.


  • #6
    arsebiscuits1
    Registered Users Posts: 3,510 ✭✭✭arsebiscuits1


    UAEguy2020 wrote: »
    He’s hard as nails, I wouldn’t worry about him physically.

    No doubt about his toughness. I've often compared him to Hooper as they're the same size. But Hooper would have been an exception at international level in recent years.

    I wonder will international opportunities come by for Scott.


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  • #7
    bayern
    Registered Users Posts: 1,024 ✭✭✭bayern


    UAEguy2020 wrote: »
    He’s hard as nails, I wouldn’t worry about him physically.

    not a question of toughness, but rather his body holding up.


  • #8
    shaungil
    Registered Users Posts: 1,014 ✭✭✭shaungil


    I was very disappointed in Penney and the Leinster backrow versus Connacht.

    I felt Masterson squared and Oliver were much stronger than Baird Leavy and Penney which was a big surprise based on the expectation around the Leinster three.

    One off game with lots of other things going on but was suprising.


  • #9
    Dubinusa
    Registered Users Posts: 8,019 ✭✭✭Dubinusa


    Penny does look like a future international. Really impressive skillset. His size may be an issue. He may move in order to get more game time.
    Hodnett also looks fantastic. Really impressive as a u'20.


  • #10
    bayern
    Registered Users Posts: 1,024 ✭✭✭bayern


    Dubinusa wrote: »
    Penny does look like a future international. Really impressive skillset. His size may be an issue. He may move in order to get more game time.
    Hodnett also looks fantastic. Really impressive as a u'20.

    player who has 20 senior caps for his province at 21, will have to move province for more game time. :rolleyes:


  • #11
    Clegg
    Registered Users Posts: 16,603 ✭✭✭✭Clegg


    bayern wrote: »
    player who has 20 senior caps for his province at 21, will have to move province for more game time. :rolleyes:

    Tbf that could well happen. Openside flanker is probably Leinsters greatest position in terms of strength in depth. Penney is fourth choice behind three different test capped players. They're all in their 20's too. Still have plenty of years ahead of them.


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