TRC please lad, don’t be listening to that blasted media, their filling your mind with dwaddle.
Just because someone disagrees with your opinion doesn't mean they've arrived at that conclusion because "that blasted media, filling your mind with dwaddle." any more than you have….
one player is in his prime (unless injured) and the other has probably been declining for the past 18months.
that doesn’t mean he’s a bad player, he is clearly still quality.
You're capable of real insight and nuance, Bart.
When it comes to context around Leinster players' non- selection.
The other factor to consider is Farrell likes having a big strong player at 7. Realistically VDF has always been an exception to the rule and, if anything, has been an indication of how good he is that he’s continued to be picked at 7 despite not fitting the bill of what Farrell likes in a 7
The problem with this argument is that you've also claimed Hansen is just plain better than his alternatives, whilst also acknowledging that Farrell prefers a winger who gets involved more.
In the VdF case you're arguing "it's Farrell's preference", in the Hansen case you're arguing "Hansen is just better and anyone who disagrees is blinded by the media"
You can't have it both ways, chief.
Ringrose has long been a selfish carrier. Remember the massive overlap he blew in the CC final against Saracens? That's par for the course when it comes to his distribution.
His defensive reads have been a consistent issue lately. I'm not talking about a system where he's rushing up as part of the line to cut off the outside channel, and misses the tackle but forces a runner inside. He's been giving away doglegs like crazy, disconnected from the rest of defense.
"We" doing some heavy (and questionable) carrying there.
So was “established” tbh…
You must be blinded by hatred for stockdale? You probably didnt watch the game but it was simple numbers on the edge with a man up. Spacing was wrong by Ulster defence but it was certainly not a stockdale error. Try watching it again without a target on stockdale
I did watch the game. I thought he made a very poor attempt of a tackle on Tracey. I’m sure he won’t be rewatching it thinking he made a good effort. He was also the one who put the ball out on the full to give Connacht the lineout possession the try came from. He had some lovely passes in the game to give him some credit.
You can’t judge a player or his performance just by looking at individual moments.
Both Stockdale and Lowe are gifted players who are highly prone to defensive lapses and brain farts. If you sit down to watch a game looking for reasons why they’re not good enough, even on their best days they’ll both give you plenty of ammo. If you watch them over the course of 80 minutes or even -gasp- multiple games, you’ll see plenty of reasons why they are good enough. It’s a matter of perspective.
This x 100. Very fair summary.
Stockdale isn't even the best winger at Ulster.
of course he is.
He’s also the best fullback, and with Lowry out injured he has to allot in there.
I'd Baloucoune over him every day of the week. Rather Kok too, and Ward has better potential imo.
Madigan on Indo Sports made a good point that Toulouse are bucking the trend with their attacking rugby as they’re constantly offloading instead of going to ground and trying to hold onto the ball that way. Makes sense considering how difficult it is to go through the phases with rucks.
Who are Ireland’s best off loaders? McCloskey, Lowe and McCarthy? Crowley is quite good at getting his hands free on the gain line as is Osborne. Coombes is another who’s got good hands in contact.
Toulouse also have players with pace, to threaten breaks, particularly in the 10 12 13 channel. We're so slow across the board, we really struggle at the moment. McCloskey has been great, but guys weren't reading him to take advantage of those half breaks.
Not sure I can separate the four of them either. They’re all in the same bracket for me. But I’d still want someone in there who can kick.
Stockdale can.
Baloucoune and Stockdale cannot play the same position. It’s like saying I’d have Clarkson ahead of Porter.
A winger playing on the opposite side is completely different to a prop scrummaging on the other side. Hence why you see one pretty often, and the other very rarely. Not the same thing whatsoever.
I see this stated, and I can appreciated the value of "footedness" as it pertains to the positions, but I can't buy that that it's some drastically different prospect to play on the other wing. We see wingers tracking across in attack all the time, doesn't seem to inhibit them unduly.
From memory, Earls used appear at 11 or 14 for club and country... did Dave Kearney too or am I misremembering?
Pretty sure Trimble played both sides as well.
But then Horgan and Bowe played the vast majority of their Ireland games at 14 and Hickie the same at 11. And going back to the original point I struggle to remember Stockdale ever playing 14.
I think Zebo used to swap over too at times.
Is that not what Leinster said before moving AP to LH?
Porter was always a loosehead, the move was to TH. That he was able to do it so successfully (and then go back again) was an amazing achievement but he’s the exception, not the rule. The original point was about Stockdale who never plays right and Baloucoune who never plays left, the majority of modern wings are one or the other.
These days, England seem spoiled for choice in the back three compared to us, especially at wing. So many young prospects are coming through.
900 professional players versus 160.
You'd really expect England to have much more choice per position than Ireland.
Yet we almost always punch above our weight in international rugby.
I'd argue that there are some good prospects coming through the provinces right now, albeit they've arrived through non-traditional pathways. Shayne Bolton looks the pick of them right now. He's a IQ power winger in the mould of Lowe, but is just 25 and is far quicker than the latter now. Doesn't have the passing or kicking game but is a good finisher. Capped twice for Ireland and I hope to see him get plenty more.
Zac Ward looks a promising player as well. He's a bit older at 27 and from the Sevens circuit. Very unorthodox and whenever I watch him I've no idea what he's going to do next. But so entertaining to watch.
JJ Kenny at Leinster looks like he might have something about him too. He's another Sevens convert who was offered an academy spot after impressing there and in the AIL. He's only 22 and has plenty of time for improvement. Made an encouraging start with 5 tries in 4 appearances to date. Looks to have usurped a few more heralded Leinster academy graduates.
Not sure you get the point of my post.
England can be "spoiled for choice" (for their 23) because they have 22 professional players starting every weekend in every position, whereas we have 4 players.
So it's absolutely no surprise that they see more options coming through in every position.
The best 23 for every country can only be 23 players, regardless of playing numbers.
