probably learnt that Stockdale is now significantly better than James Lowe.
Stockdale played like a man possessed tonight. He won't have done his chances of 6Ns selection any harm at all, but then he was playing 15 for most of it.
James Lowe has been useless for a year now
Still a favourite of Farrell's and that's all that counts
MOD EDIT
Lowe is playing fine, maybe past his peak but still our best left wing, if people want to pretend otherwise to take potshots at Farrell that’s OK.
Stockdale was very good last night, especially in the air and in contact. With Hansen out and Keenan unknown, could be an option at 15 for the 6N.
Stewart really impressed and should get back ahead of McCarthy soon enough. McCloskey should be our starting 12 come February.
After that, not sure we learned much last night about Ireland pecking orders, other than that the argument for Frawley as a utility back is getting weaker by the game.
Yeah, Stockdale seems to have found some consistency this season which is very welcome from an Ireland pov. Great to have some competition on the wings.
The argument for Frawley full stop genuinely baffles me. He's shown very little for the last 2 or 3 seasons to suggest he deserves a proper go.
Is there one? I don't think anyone wants him there.
The argument is mostly around Frawley for 10 which I think is equally misguided.
I do not think Lowe is still our best left wing and if he is we are in trouble.
What does the data say about Sheehan’s lineout throwing for club and country and what is the fairest metric to use to focus on the hooker’s performance specifically?
You can only blame the hooker if you actually know where the ball was supposed to go, for crooked or foul throws.
Stockdale has been great at URC level for a while. Gets a shot at Ireland and is dreadful and/or gets injured. At 30 at the end of this years 6 nations aswell it’s probably better to just look past him. 2018 is a long time ago since he was good in green. Lowe isn’t is good form but I’d have him any day over Stockdale still.
TOB/Kilgallen/Bolton/Kenny are the wingers I’d be putting time into moving forward (assuming Hansen is a given in squads).
Is there any point comparing them to the other hooker on the team?
Let's say the jumper/lifters get it wrong twice, how can you compare those 2 throws against the throws where they get it spot on.
I'm not saying the thrower has zero responsibility but they're not always to blame either
When it goes wrong, it's the hoker's fault. When it goes right, it's the jumper's skill. Lifters are just ignored
Fair enough. Who is our best left wing?
Think Zac Ward is playing better than a number of those mentioned and has put in some fantastic performances against teams like Bordeaux-Begles. Has also been in Ireland training camp. Would love to see him get a shot.
I hate suggesting players from Connacht should be given starts for Ireland but I think Shayne Bolton is the best option for the left wing.
A winger with no pace is not worth much. At this stage the tectonic plates move quicker.
Stockdale probably, albeit he is mostly playing at 15 at the moment. I'd take TOB also.
Lowe is simply making too many errors and his upsides don't compensate for his lack of pace anymore. I don't really know what positives he brings now - he still has a big boot but that seems about it. We are not seeing him come inside much, he doesn't seem to be able to overpower people on the wing much anymore. Our change in playstyle absolutely does not play to his strengths.
Stockdale hasn't been dreadful for Ireland in his latest games. He's been unlucky with injuries for sure but thats not a reason to select him. The idea he is too old as well doesn't make sense. If he's too old for selection then you're dropping half the team then that are older than him. 29 is not old, particularly in the Irish system where game time is tightly controlled.
No idea if he is the best option, as others have mentioned Zac Ward looks a quality prospect and JJ Kenny is an interesting prospect (although maybe he is a right wing?), but there is something about Bolton alright that makes me think he could play test rugby so it will be interesting to see how he goes over the next few months. I think we've more options emerging on the wing that we probably realised not so long ago, same in the midfield as well with Postlethwaite, Gavin, Forde, Hume and Cooney etc.
I don’t actually think he’s too old and me saying he’s 30 soon is probably pointless to be fair. But I do think if I was to give minutes to wingers it would be from the group I mentioned. I think Stockdale is an excellent URC player, but not sure if it translates into test rugby anymore. As I said 2018 is now 7 years ago and I personally couldn’t name a really good game he’s had for Ireland since that season.
Stockdale played 11 for Ireland last month, he didn’t seize his opportunity to impress. While we all hope he’ll get back to his 2018 level, hope is what it is.
TOB is in the conversation only if you think left and right wingers are interchangeable (which most coaches do not). I’m sure he’d do a job but it’s completely hypothetical because he has never played there.
Both are options but neither is clearly better. If we’re “in trouble” it’s not because Lowe is declining but because there is one else who is better.
Mack Hansen
There are a few good options at 14
Yeah that’s what I’d like to see. We have at least three decent right wingers so moving Hansen could be the best call.
He is unlikely to feature in the 6N however so Lowe remains the best option.
TOB with Hansen is what I meant but it is silly to talk about not seizing opportunities and then defaulting to Lowe who has not impressed in about a year at wing for Leinster or Ireland.
Some players need to immediately be brilliant on their first cap (or their first cap back after injury) or they haven't siezed their opportunity. Other players need a string of games to play themselves back into form or get up to speed. There's a long list of rugby cliches to justify any selection call you want.
TOB has started at 11,12,13 and 14 for Leinster, but has been singularly 14 for the last three seasons. Probably because he's predominantly right footed.
