that would be the way to go imo. unfortunately i dont think JS would be too accommodating to the idea of sitting on the bench
Sexton would be a perfect Morne Steyn type 10 for the WC, but building a gameplan around him would be a massive gamble.
Let's be fair - they don't need to hit the heights of arguably our greatest ever 10 at his peak.
That they can't hit the heights of a 36 year old Sexton is more the problem.
I don't think that it's that they haven't risen high enough. The heights they've risen to is as far as they can go!! I'd say none of them are close to Sexton's level and unfortunately we're going to face a future where we don't have a 10 who is truly world class.
Most of them will do a job for Ireland but they'll never reach the heights that sexton did at his peak.
Conor Fitzgerald is an intriguing option. He turns 24 next month and will hopefully nail down the starting job at Connacht from an Ireland perspective.
Pretty much agree though Burns has shown flashes of talent and ability.....if only he could do it more often. Carbery seems very fragile.
I’m hopeful that a full pre-season for Carbery and an injury-free run for Harry Byrne will see them both push on this season. Sexton is clearly still our best 10, but with his injury profile, he’ll be managed more, which in turn will open more opportunities for HB. Potential win/win there.
30+ posts about why young player X is/isn't the future on a week where there is no rugby to be played. Great to see that the site migration hasn't permanently killed the rugby form and we are slowly returning to the good old days 😂
Jack Carty is in the mix.
He's even the most purely talented option.
If he fixes his regular errors, and that's a big if, there's room to slot in
Sexton is not playing in the next world cup.
Carbery is quite obviously "the plan" but has been injured. Neither Ross Byrne or Billy Burns are particularly great at international level so meh, install them ahead of Sexton now and as like as not they will be usurped before the next world cup anyway.
Well, they just rested Sexton for the last two tests.
The problem with your 'active plan' is that you need someone good enough to come in and be the successor. With Carbery injured there wasn't anyone.
Hopefully Carbery improves, hopefully Harry Byrne turns out to be good. If not, then Sexton probably will be our best option at the RWC
His signature "Sexton Loop" that some would say we over-used required significant wheels to be remotely useful. He may not have been top tier, but he was absolutely leagues ahead of Ross Byrne.
I don't really see it with Burns and Ross Byrne against quality opposition at Test level. And Sexton at the next World Cup? You can already imagine the post mortems after another quarter-final loss - or even pool stage exit.
I think Harry Byrne is probably the best bet for 2023, with Carbery and one of Frawley, Healy and Crowley also in the squad. Unless they get Jackson back in there by having him wear blackface again or something.
Yeah the plan is to either find someone to replace Sexton or play sexton at the WC. there isn't a focused plan to develop one or 2 options, it's to give 5 players a couple of games each and if they don't oust Sexton based on those couple of games then sexton wins by default.
I don't see it as entirely their fault as there isn't an obvious heir apparent. But they are sleepwalking into playing sexton at the WC when his injury and age profile indicate it will most likely a damp squib.
"absence of a plan"??
We've given 5 different out halves their debut in the last 5 years. From every province.
Its their responsibility to oust Sexton, and eventually they will... But you absolutely cannot claim their had been no attempt to find his replacement when their patently has been. Its not the IRFUs fault that none of them have risen high enough yet, they have been given every chance
Yeah I have a sneaking suspicion this could be the case. But its seriously hedging our bets. Maybe Sexton has another good / middling season this year and then all of a sudden we're only a year out and hes signed another one year contract. But if he suddenly gets injured then we're screwed.
The arument is that no one has taken the jersey off him and thats just the case unfortunately. I think it's a gamble if we stick with him and hope he makes it to the WC. But its also a gamble if we just park him and go all in on giving Joey /Billy /Carty /Ross the starting spot with a view to them finding their feet and pushing on.
Personally I'd like to se Joey get the starting jersey in green. I think we should be going all in on him at this stage.
Of course "very important distinctions" can cut both ways........we should all remember that.
I think the plan is very much to have Sexton play at the WC. They're not actively planning to replace him. An active plan to replace him would involve playing another 10 who is not as good as Sexton but banking that he will develop through game time and Sexton will decline through age, to the point that they will be the better option by the time the WC comes around.
There are a number of factors at play which I think will mean Sexton is the first choice in the WC. First, here isn't san obvious heir apparent. They're flitting around between Byrne, Burns, Carty and Carbery. So they're not investing an any one player who can use the consistent time to develop. and secondly, Sexton is probably the best player we have when he plays well. When he carried the ball in the 6N he was very dangerous and kept the defence from fanning out as quickly.
I think the current plan (or maybe the absence of a plan) will lead to Sexton being the best option at the next WC. I think Early can be replaced with less difficulty and I'm not sure about Healy. Porter switching to LH might dislodge Healy but I don't see the obvious replacement for Healy either.
Reminds me of an exchange in Unforgiven after Gene Hackman beats up Clint Eastwood.
Strawberry Alice: You just kicked the **** out of an innocent man.
Little Bill Daggett: Innocent? Innocent of what?
We'll have to disagree there so. Sure Ross doesn't take it to the line like Sexton does, but in terms of kicking and finding space I think theres some similarities there. Sexton was hardly known for his wheels evenm in his prime.
Jesus. For starters, if your bar is not being a criminal its a pretty low bar. But being found not guilty isn't staying a belief no criminal activity happened. Its saying they can't prove beyond doubt that it did. Much and all as many people don't want to acknowledge that there is a very important distinction, there is a very important distinction.
im fine for 'calming down' to be honest, my post was a bit of a joke, take it or leave it.
lots of people are talking him up as the answer to all of irelands problems, suggesting ross gets passed over completely (along with billy burns) and harry is installed as the next long term FH.
he may well be a better player than ross, id be delighted if he is because ross is a fantastic player himself. if he does get more exposure in europe and does well, then of course he should be an option
for the moment, id suggest we all 'calm down' about him until then
Ross Byrne is not in the "Sexton mould" - he might have the athleticism of a 36 year old Sexton but that's about it.
By and large agree with you with the exception of Healy.
I think there is a very real possibility he plays at the next world cup if we wants it.
I know people are lamenting he's not the force of old etc etc regarding his carrying. But the fact remains he's the best scrummaging loosehead in Ireland and at present it's not close to second place.
World Rugby is littered with examples of props playing to a high standard well into their 30s.
Yes Healy will turn 36 during the next world cup. But I don't have many doubts that he's up to it.
He arrived with a great splash and he certainly looked like he would be the next big thing. But his injury profile means he hasn't been able to develop into the next big thing yet. He might be able to develop this year, but he hasn't done it yet. And Frawley has arrived in the meantime and has had similar terrible luck with injury. I'm just happy to wait and see how he develops rather than presume he's going to be brilliant. Sexton will only be available occasionally from now on so he will probably have plenty of opportunities if he stays fit.
It will be interesting to see if that happens. People said the same about Joey, yet he was the one who ended up packing his bags. I think Leo likes Ross as his second pick, hes a player in the sexton mold, clever around the park, good decisions but not fancy a runner.
As a Leinster fan I obviously want Harry to be the second coming, but for me hes a little over hyped. Hopefully he quiets me down over the coming season.
Calm down lad.
Nobody is saying any of this.
Maybe he was 3rd choice last season, but he picked up a lot of niggles. I'm telling you now, he's a better player than Ross and injury permitting, will see plenty of game time in Europe next season.
He should 100% be in the conversation.
He has the ability, as I said. But he's never done it in green, and he's had a fair few chances.
Harry will overtake Ross next season. He's a better rugby player. He just needs to stay injury free.
He has the temperament but not the ability. He has clearly tried to take the ball to the line more in his play but he is simply too slow.
stop this now, HB is going to becomes ireland's next 10 for the next two or three decades, fix the health service and unite all world religions.........
absolute sense spoken i have to say. hes a good player in fairness and he has great potential, but the talk of him being the second coming is a bit early tbh. if he ousts his brother or JS then maybe he should be in the conversation, but all the hype is a bit much when its about a player who is currently 3rd choice (at best) at leinster
