Unsung Provincial Hero

While he's a ways off it's very easy to see him getting another 60 appearances for Connacht but 0 international caps.

Denis Buckley currently on 193 Connacht appearances. Still only 30

He's way down the list in terms of most provincial appearances but James Coughlan was quite unlucky to never get a cap.
https://www.munsterrugby.ie/player?PlayGuid=JC686574

thomond2006 wrote: »

He's way down the list in terms of most provincial appearances but James Coughlan was quite unlucky to never get a cap.
https://www.munsterrugby.ie/player?PlayGuid=JC686574

+1. Had a lovely run of form in his last couple of years at Munster too, it just arrived too late for him.

Zzippy wrote: »

Swifty is definitely the one for me. And sure, any excuse to post this gem again

https://youtu.be/n6VRs9ZN-A0

Always impressed with how good the pitch looked that evening.

Barry Daly was looking like he was gonna be a stellar provincial player for Leinster, not sure if he'd have broken into Ireland squads but for those couple of years he was around he wasn't brilliant.

In the current Leinster set up, Josh Murphy. He has been massive for Leinster this season. I'd give a nod to Molony too for how consistent he has been.

Murphy is 5th in the league in successful carries (despite being 35th in carries), 37th in metres made (considering he's a blindside who can cover lock), 95% tackle success rate. He has become an exceptionally effective and powerful carrier. He isn't dynamic like Baird (who is a similar size) but he's able to hammer into contact and grind out metres on the majority of carries, dragging defenders with him.

49 of his 66 carries have been beyond the gain line. To put that in context, Rhys Ruddock has been successful on 52 of his 104 carries in the league, Gavin Coombes has been successful on 63 of his 95 (which is a very good return in itself) and Marcell Coetzee has been successful on 65 of 128. He's fast becoming one of the best carriers in Irish rugby yet I'd wager almost nobody would name check him as such.

Buer wrote: »

In the current Leinster set up, Josh Murphy. He has been massive for Leinster this season. I'd give a nod to Molony too for how consistent he has been.

Murphy is 5th in the league in successful carries (despite being 35th in carries), 37th in metres made (considering he's a blindside who can cover lock), 95% tackle success rate. He has become an exceptionally effective and powerful carrier. He isn't dynamic like Baird (who is a similar size) but he's able to hammer into contact and grind out metres on the majority of carries, dragging defenders with him.

49 of his 66 carries have been beyond the gain line. To put that in context, Rhys Ruddock has been successful on 52 of his 104 carries in the league, Gavin Coombes has been successful on 63 of his 95 (which is a very good return in itself) and Marcell Coetzee has been successful on 65 of 128. He's fast becoming one of the best carriers in Irish rugby yet I'd wager almost nobody would name check him as such.

I love me a good collision stat Buer - where did you get yours?

arsebiscuits1 wrote: »

I love me a good collision stat Buer - where did you get yours?

Pro14 have a very comprehensive stats page listing the top 100 players in multiple metrics.

leakyboots wrote: »

Ger Earls is a great shout, widely regarded as one of the finest to come out of Limerick at a time when Limerick clubs were dominating AIL and he was criminally overlooked for national selection. He was on the Munster team that beat Australia and scored two tries in a final trial for Ireland that year for Possibles and Probables but was overlooked. There was a good interview with him a few years ago. I think he had a bit of a fallout with Kidney after not being offered one of the few pro contracts when they were being handed out which didn't do him any favours after that.

James Coughlan was another fine player in red, classy player who was deserving of national honours

Would agree about Ger Earls. Still played AIL up until he was 36 which is some going as well.

leakyboots wrote: »

Ger Earls is a great shout, widely regarded as one of the finest to come out of Limerick at a time when Limerick clubs were dominating AIL and he was criminally overlooked for national selection. He was on the Munster team that beat Australia and scored two tries in a final trial for Ireland that year for Possibles and Probables but was overlooked. There was a good interview with him a few years ago. I think he had a bit of a fallout with Kidney after not being offered one of the few pro contracts when they were being handed out which didn't do him any favours after that.

James Coughlan was another fine player in red, classy player who was deserving of national honours

Up until the early 90's your chances for international caps hinged upon whatever province it was who had the balance of power on the selection committee. This was your make or brake simply because senior rugby was centred on your province. As such there was no platform in Irish rugby to show what you could do bar the Inter Pro's (Which were waning by then.) and the end of season All Ireland Cup.

The exception to the rule were the few who were playing Division 1 in England and visible on Rugby Special on BBC2; ironic that you had to leave Ireland to be selected within the domestic game :pac: The formation of the AIL did a lot to address this anomaly and Irish rugby was the better for it.

If we have reached the point of including one cap internationals, must offer the great Roman Loughney, almost 200 caps for Connacht, the most important being in Murrayfield where he made 17 tackles in 60 odd minutes against Leinster in pro 12 final.

shaungil wrote: »

Roger Wilson 200 Ulster caps 117 for Northhampton. But 1 Irish cap!!!!

1 more than he should have got.