Personally I think criticism of his pace is over blown, if he was as slow as some allude to theres no way he wouldn't have been completely found out at 15.
I accept he's not a speedster but we saw him run some beautiful lines in the centre and finish well, I'd take that over top end pace at 13 tbh.
That's a great team. I think I'd go for Clarkson or O'Toole ahead of Bealham at this stage. Really hope Baird can come back playing at the level he was before his injury. He will add so much to the team.
Rob Baloucoune has no luck
https://www.rte.ie/sport/united-rugby-championship/2026/0319/1564144-baloucoune-could-miss-rest-of-season-with-elbow-injury/
Not the worst injury though. Shite for Ulster
Fit and in form needs to be the criteria, and the likes of Mac (to a greater extent) or Keenan (to a lesser extent) need to demonstrate that in order to displace the likes of TOB and Osborne. If Keenan does come back in, perhaps might be time to drop Ringrose.
Same with Baird. Should be settled on McCarthy (if his form doesn't dip again), Ryan, and Beirne at 6. Lineout is going well and Ryan doesn't come out of the XV easily.
I think it could be horses for courses going forward.
We've now seen a bigger body of work from Osbourne & what Hansen brought v Aus.
For me he absolutely deserves to go back in provided his club form backs it up on his return from injury.
Its not inconceivable to see Osbourne at 15 with 2 v pacey wingers against certain opposition, we've seen the physical attributes that Osbourne has brought when running lines off Stu Mc this past few weeks..Keenan doesnt have that level of physicality imo.
We are in a far better position option wise at 15 now than we have been since Rob K retired.
He has enough credit in the bank at the minute but I wouldnt be throwing the toys out if he didnt start specific games either
I highly disagree with your assessment of Keenan's physicality and it just goes to show that some have very short memories. He's an excellent athlete as well as a superb footballer. He can run those lines you speak of as well as act as another playmaker, beit as first or second receiver. It's no surprise that Ireland's attack isn't the same when he isn't in the team.
There's this crazy thing with Irish sports fans (not just confined to rugby). A shiny new toy shows he's capable of stepping up to the plate when needed and suddenly the incumbant, despite being a superior player in almost every metric, doesn't come back when he's available.
It used to happen with Sexton all the time. There was a clamouring for another 10 to play, be it Carbery, Jackson or whoever. They'd come in, play well, and the narrative was 'ThE jErSeY iSn'T sExToN's AnYmOrE'. It's the very definition of biting off your nose to spite your face, and it stems from this attitude in Ireland that people can't be getting above their station and have to be kept honest.
You wouldn't have this conversation about one of the best players in the world anywhere else. Could you imagine French fans saying this about Dupont when he was injured?
https://www.ruck.co.uk/irelands-five-highest-earners-ranked-5-1/2/?callback=in&code=ZMFIOGY2MZETYZCXYI0ZZJU3LWEZNDETODZMMJE3NJM0OGMW&state=cfae6356ad7f4739a5280f5838dcfe75
According to this (probably nonsense), JGP isn't in the top 5 best paid Irish players
Its in no way comparable to Sexton, what we have at 15 are viable options & now wing thankfully due to the injuries.
No player should be deemed irreplaceable, we developed 2 viable options, I'm fully aware of what HK brings to the team
Lets see where his form is post injury before sowing the 15 jersey on his back now tbat there are alternatives.
It is comparable, because you’re looking for reasons why someone other than Keenan plays, even to go as far as making up things about his physicality.
There is zero aspect to Osborne’s game which is better than Keenan’s at this point in time. All we know is that we have a more than able replacement for Keenan if he’s unavailable which, as you said earlier, is a good place to be in. However let’s not mistake that for thinking Osborne is at Keenan’s level.
So you can see Keenan having the physicality to slot in at centre if he had to?
This implies that Osborne plays centre because of his physicality. But that’s not his game. He’s a tall guy yes but there are far more physical centres than him. McCloskey and Aki being examples. Osbornes strengths as a centre are his running lines, distribution and kicking. He’s a very different type of 12 to Aki or McCloskey.
Keenan doesn’t lack for physicality. The notion that he does is ridiculous IMO
So thats a no then.
I was responding to a post of making things up re Keenans physicality
It isn’t really
Physicality isn't a word that springs to mind when I think of Keenan. Elusive, IQ, positioning, timing, running lines would be how I think of him. Tackle evader rather than tackle buster.
And that is in no way saying he shirks the tough stuff. He's a good and brave tackler. He has no issue carrying into contact but that's not a major strength of his game and it's not what he's picked for.
I also wouldn't call him a second playmaker like Lowe or Hansen but he picks great lines off those guys. And can draw a man before throwing a good pass.
Keenan isn't as physical overall as Osborne but he's a fullback so who cares?
He is as physical in the areas he needs to be - contesting kick catches and tackling.
Yes, I can. Especially if it's a support line off 12 that you're looking for, or are you shifting the goalposts on that one too?
It comes up because he's played very little rugby for a long time now and he's turning 30 soon. Will he get back to the same level he was at? None of us know the answer and when you see a guy suddenly start getting injured it has a habit of continuing.
Keenan has some of the best tackle technique in Ireland. Physicality is largely irrelevant to his game. I don't recall him ever being turned over on the ground and he rarely misses a tackle. Absolutely fantastic to have discovered Osbourne as an able backup. Hansen and Frawley also makes a decent fist at 15 so its one area we've gone from being very weak depth wise to a position where we are well covered to a. very high level.
Not moving any goalpost
I initially said Osbourne is more physical type of player..thats just an opinion of mine, you don't agree thats grand too.
I could never see Keenan as a centre..thats also just my opinion.
Keenan is a super athlete & covers the backline excellently.
I just gave an alternative to starting someone else in certain type games.
We are not in a Johnny Sexton situation at fullback now where for example at RWC27 Keenan is not required to start every game as we have developed alternatives.
Didn't realise to suggest otherwise was such a hot topic for some
Anyone who recalls Keenan's line against France in attack and his tackle on DVDM in defence for just two examples would not be placing Osborne anywhere near his level.
I don't think anybody is putting him near the level Keenan was at. He's been praised for doing a great job in his absence.
Pundits pushing for otoole to play loose head for ulster, where does leave him for TH cover for Ireland if ulster move him across?
Keenan for 13 shirt. There, I said it. And its not so mad when you think about it. A worthy Ringrose 13 looks unlikely to appear before RWC. Why not give Keenan a run at 13 in a few tour games, just to see how well he goes.
yes well said the ‘shiny new toy’ syndrome applies now to 9 also , Casey still well ahead of alternatives although still a big fall off in capability from JGP but no surprise there given he is currently Ireland’s most important player
It really is mad the more you think about it.
because he’s one of the top 15’s in the world
Or we could just play Osborne there, where he's done well before.
He better do what you say tommybojangles. I'm of the belief that he must and I believe that he believes he must. So let's see. First he needs to start playing team rugby at Connacht, and when I say team I mean playing as a team member.
Literally the question I responded to which started this discussion was "Does Keenan walk back into the team?"
The answer is yes. Every day of the week and twice on Sundays. Anyone who thinks otherwise is lying, or has no concept of what an outstanding footballer he is.
Keenan would do a fine job at 13 the same way Osborne has done a fine job at 15.
Seems madness to me to move one of the best 15s in the world out of position out of some stupid hypothetical to try and make a point but this is the level of nonsense we're at right now.
