shootermacg wrote: » Sorry bud, but you literally know nothing about Coombes. He's been knocking over players like skittles off the base of the scrum. He's the type of player Leinster are missing when it comes to playing the bigger teams as we've witnessed again this season. Dorris is a very good player, but the best 8s in rugby are the ones that punch holes. If you want a linkman with "a step" you're probably thinking of a openside. And maybe that's where you see Dorris then.
shootermacg wrote: » I'll just leave this here:
TRC10 wrote: » Phenomenal player Nobody is debating that. I think his position will be 6 at international level.
shootermacg wrote: » Maybe you're right, Billy Vunipola really missed a trick. He definitely should have been a 6, he has all of your attributes.
TRC10 wrote: » https://youtu.be/IBG7XZXeHLA 30 seconds in. I've yet to see Coombes do stuff like this Vunipola is so much more than a bulldozer
shootermacg wrote: » I even supplied a video for you to watch. What is wrong with you?
TRC10 wrote: » I've watched the video and probably every minute he's played this season.
shootermacg wrote: » Sorry but it's pointless making a case for some people.
irishbucsfan wrote: » It really doesn't matter whether he plays 6 or 8. It's relevant for a few scrums a game and then totally irrelevant for the rest of the game.
TRC10 wrote: » For the balance of the back row, it does matter. If he plays 8 then you loose the footballing and link play of Conan or Doris, but you gain more power therefore you need more mobility from your flankers. If he plays 6 it allows Doris or Conan to operate as the "wide forward" that Farrell likes to use. It's more about personnel than what numbers they wear.
Clegg wrote: » I don't think the role of no 8 has primarily been about punching holes in defence for quite a while now. Coaches seem to place more value in intelligent running and good hands these days. Not saying Coombes doesn't have that, but rather the likes of Billy Vunipola are actually a rarity at the top level. Look at some of the best 8's over the last 10/15 years. Heaslip, Parisse, Read, Faletau, Harinordoquy etc. All good carriers, but none of them were wrecking balls.
theVersatile wrote: » Forgot to quote but this is in response to Molloy on "why are people getting so defensive" The problem isn't the fact he said Coombes should be a six - it's that his critique of him was fundamentally wrong. Footwork into contact is one of Coombes strengths, last week he literally side stepped somebody from five metres out on a pick and go. He's so much more than a CJ "running directly at the tackler's centre of mass" carrier. His link play and offloading has been exceptional this season too - I just think the poster took a very lazy approach to his opinion. Again, no problem with the general idea of moving him to six, nor the idea we should see how he goes at test level first before crowning him the messiah (the calls from the opposite side to make him 8 for the next ten years are equally daft). Another poster above highlighted a valid criticism of his missed tackle count (assuming the stats are accurate) - which is fair - but I don't see how he can claim to have watched every minute Coombes has played and say he hasn't the ball handling ability or the mobility / footwork to potentially play 8 at the highest level.
TRC10 wrote: » But for me, he's quick, but I don't see the mobility, footwork and offloading ability that an 8 would ideally have. Farrell has shown he's keen to move away from the one dimensional no.8 like Stander, and I'd have Coombes in that category too.
theVersatile wrote: » Yeah in fairness you did clarify that afterwards, but it's easy to see how the misinterpretation was made when you take the original post at face value. But anyways, moving on, Coombes could play loosehead lock and I think most people would just be delighted to see him in green regardless. The development of the back five over Autumn and into next year's 6N is going to be very interesting.
Richie_Rich89 wrote: » I actually seem to remember Coombes doing something very similar to that in one game. I think it's a a bit strange to say Coombes doesn't have enough handling/footballing/awareness. These are strengths of his. It would be like making the same claims about Conan because he likes running at the 10 off the base of scrums.
shootermacg wrote: » yes:1;08 on the video I supplied.
Shaka Hislop wrote: » Stephen Ferris calling for Kendelen to be fast-tracked to the Irish senior side very quickly.
Clegg wrote: » I think he looks good, but maybe not to the level where he should be fast tracked. The forwards who've been brought in immediately from underage level have all been a level of two above in physicality and skill. Don't think Kendellan is quite there yet. Penny was tipped for fast tracking after an excellent U20 championship where Ireland won the Grand Slam. But he hasn't had a sniff despite impressing for Leinster.
shootermacg wrote: » Kendelen is small, about 6 foot, if the stats are to be believed. Penny is smaller?
