The IRISH RUGBY thread

[deiseach]

You are obviously a real expert and no opinion that isn't along the lines of your own can possibly be considered so why don't you just 'ignore' me and immunise yourself from the lowly opinions of unworthy others?

The first step is admitting there's a problem. Good for you, muppet!

[Bord na Mona man]

You said: 'but that same youth wasn't much good for us on Saturday."

You also asked what youth is out there.

Assuming you are suggesting that there is no decent young Irish players then do we play next years Autumn Internationals with the same team only a year older? Or is there any hope at all of finding even 1 player that might bring that average age down?

I asked who specifically are those young players, in the guts of 100 words you haven't named one. Is it really that f**king hard to come up with a name or two considering you think you've discovered the saving grace of Irish rugby.

I mean we could all fart on here about what needs to be done with all the old cliches. I mean I could say, Schmidt needs to work on his defence, he needs to add depth to front row, he needs to add inventiveness to the backs, or the old chestnut, he needs to unearth some new talent. But that's all a load of piss that could be spouted by any arsehole with a passing knowledge of rugby terminology. I mean every nation in world rugby needs to "unearth some new talent", so what's the point of stating that the blindingly obvious.

If it is so obvious why are you disagreeing with it? Just to have a rant?

I listed the ages of the players and the average age of the team to make my point. I also pointed out that in this scenario in the past Irish coaches stuck with the old players which in my view is a mistake. I am curious to see what Schmidt does in this regard. You don't say whether you disagree with this or not, you just hurl a load of insults via the cliched route you so despise.

You are obviously a real expert and no opinion that isn't along the lines of your own can possibly be considered so why don't you just 'ignore' me and immunise yourself from the lowly opinions of unworthy others?

Nobody loves a rant like trileacman.

Is he trying to fill a swearbox for charity!

[rosnarun]

Who is the Last genuinely youthful player to play for Ireland . Citing youth as an excuse for marshall is a Bit rich . hes 22  thats older than George north or stuart Hogg
Mcfadden is 27 so is  Toner these are hardly risks more like pee or get off the pot for them

[rodney trotter]

Suppose in the summer tour of North America, Robbie Henshaw was 19. With the Lions players away it gave him the chance to shine. Great talent.

[Applesisapples]

It was some day, but it looks like Brian O'Driscoll has had his. Be afraid, be very afraid...

BOD is now a shadow of his former self, I'm afraid to say and now we've to fill gaps with inexperience players like Luke Marshall, Paddy Jackson and Madigan who in their own time may come good, but we're going to have to wait a year or two on that to happen.

As much as Ross was poor, I thought POC was terrible too, his handling was awful, not sure about Toner either, but I suppose if you're going to break lads in then the Autumn internationals is the time to do it.

Watching the All Blacks is always good, but you've got to fear for this Ireland team as Sexton will obviously be out and the rear guard defence will need to be good for very long periods of time.
Murray will start for sure.

What about Ferris, is he ballaxed altogether?

100%...even in his twilight though, still offers far more than any of those mentioned. Will be interesting to see how the next lock of years turn out under JS. Damage limitation this coming weekend, will be an exciting 6 nations ahead

I haven't seen anything of France this autumn but England look like they will be very hard to beat.

France did very well against the All Blacks, England have enough to see off Irealnd, Scotland and probably Wales. Between them and France for the 6 Nations. Time to buckle up and blood new players with the world cup in mind. The All Blacks just have that extra gear. Against both France and England hey could have won by more had the been in the mood.

[johnneycool]

Is the influx of southern hemisphere average Joe's into the provinces stifling the opportunities of young Irish talent like the JJ Hanrahan, even Madigan only gets runs out in the Rabo direct so far this year?

[Applesisapples]

Is the influx of southern hemisphere average Joe's into the provinces stifling the opportunities of young Irish talent like the JJ Hanrahan, even Madigan only gets runs out in the Rabo direct so far this year?

likely, but it is also annoying to see the raft of them being naturalised by European countries.

[rodney trotter]

Shows the talent of the Australian Squad when James O Connor had his contact terminated,(through no fault of his own) and not miss him. Awesome player. He might settle down a bit playing for London Irish.

[johnneycool]

Is the influx of southern hemisphere average Joe's into the provinces stifling the opportunities of young Irish talent like the JJ Hanrahan, even Madigan only gets runs out in the Rabo direct so far this year?

likely, but it is also annoying to see the raft of them being naturalised by European countries.

Who? Like Manu Tuilagi, English to the very bone that lad.

[Walter Cronc]

Is the influx of southern hemisphere average Joe's into the provinces stifling the opportunities of young Irish talent like the JJ Hanrahan, even Madigan only gets runs out in the Rabo direct so far this year?

likely, but it is also annoying to see the raft of them being naturalised by European countries.

Who? Like Manu Tuilagi, English to the very bone that lad.

In fairness to Manu he moved to England when he was 10 or something.

[johnneycool]

Is the influx of southern hemisphere average Joe's into the provinces stifling the opportunities of young Irish talent like the JJ Hanrahan, even Madigan only gets runs out in the Rabo direct so far this year?

likely, but it is also annoying to see the raft of them being naturalised by European countries.

Who? Like Manu Tuilagi, English to the very bone that lad.

In fairness to Manu he moved to England when he was 10 or something.

13 and illegally allegedly. I'd say his rugby credentials saved him from deportation.

The naturalisation thing is hardly new, we've had a few ourselves in Andy Ward, but the Scots took it to another level with their kilted Kiwis' a while ago for the good that it did them.

[muppet]

Who is the Last genuinely youthful player to play for Ireland . Citing youth as an excuse for marshall is a Bit rich . hes 22  thats older than George north or stuart Hogg
Mcfadden is 27 so is  Toner these are hardly risks more like pee or get off the pot for them

i was going to point to Donncha Ryan as an example of a young player who took his chance when presented. But when I looked up the facts, firstly he is already 29. He was capped in November 2008 but as far as the 6N is concerned he made no appearances in 2009, only made two appearances as a sub in 2010, didn't appear in 2011 and when he made his 1st 6N start in 2012, he was MOTM.

I know earlier on this thread, a few years ago, I was defending Donncha O'Callaghan's selection for a while, but there is a happy medium somewhere.

Looking at the age profile of the current starters it can only end in tears.

There is no point in wholesale changes for the All Blacks, but certainly a few undroppables need to be demoted to focus the minds. I would start with putting Heaslip on the bench and would leave Reddan out of the squad altogether.

Surely the 4 provinces can offer one young scrum half with some potential? But, just as an example, if you look at Leinster Johhny Cooney (23) is number 3 behind Reddan & Boss, while the promising Luke McGrath (20) is behind Cooney. How is McGrath supposed to be developed?

The number 2 scrum halves at Ulster and Munster are Paul Marshall (28) and Duncan Williams (27) who aren't going to do much internationally given their ages.

Thankfully Conor Murray broke through when he did.

[Geoff Tipps]

Who is the Last genuinely youthful player to play for Ireland . Citing youth as an excuse for marshall is a Bit rich . hes 22  thats older than George north or stuart Hogg
Mcfadden is 27 so is  Toner these are hardly risks more like pee or get off the pot for them

i was going to point to Donncha Ryan as an example of a young player who took his chance when presented. But when I looked up the facts, firstly he is already 29. He was capped in November 2008 but as far as the 6N is concerned he made no appearances in 2009, only made two appearances as a sub in 2010, didn't appear in 2011 and when he made his 1st 6N start in 2012, he was MOTM.

I know earlier on this thread, a few years ago, I was defending Donncha O'Callaghan's selection for a while, but there is a happy medium somewhere.

Looking at the age profile of the current starters it can only end in tears.

There is no point in wholesale changes for the All Blacks, but certainly a few undroppables need to be demoted to focus the minds. I would start with putting Heaslip on the bench and would leave Reddan out of the squad altogether.

Surely the 4 provinces can offer one young scrum half with some potential? But, just as an example, if you look at Leinster Johhny Cooney (23) is number 3 behind Reddan & Boss, while the promising Luke McGrath (20) is behind Cooney. How is McGrath supposed to be developed?

The number 2 scrum halves at Ulster and Munster are Paul Marshall (28) and Duncan Williams (27) who aren't going to do much internationally given their ages.

Thankfully Conor Murray broke through when he did.

You have omitted the form scrum half on the Irish scene at the moment - Kieran Marmion.

[deiseach]

Does a player have to be under 23 to merit consideration? Maybe there are a few players in their mid-20's who never got a chance until now because the incumbent in a sport full of specialist positions was so dominant. Had the Australian cricket selectors insisted on picking only young fellas, Adam Gilchrist would never gotten a Test cap.

Of course, there may not even be players in their mid-20's up to scratch, in which case . . .

[muppet]

Who is the Last genuinely youthful player to play for Ireland . Citing youth as an excuse for marshall is a Bit rich . hes 22  thats older than George north or stuart Hogg
Mcfadden is 27 so is  Toner these are hardly risks more like pee or get off the pot for them

i was going to point to Donncha Ryan as an example of a young player who took his chance when presented. But when I looked up the facts, firstly he is already 29. He was capped in November 2008 but as far as the 6N is concerned he made no appearances in 2009, only made two appearances as a sub in 2010, didn't appear in 2011 and when he made his 1st 6N start in 2012, he was MOTM.

I know earlier on this thread, a few years ago, I was defending Donncha O'Callaghan's selection for a while, but there is a happy medium somewhere.

Looking at the age profile of the current starters it can only end in tears.

There is no point in wholesale changes for the All Blacks, but certainly a few undroppables need to be demoted to focus the minds. I would start with putting Heaslip on the bench and would leave Reddan out of the squad altogether.

Surely the 4 provinces can offer one young scrum half with some potential? But, just as an example, if you look at Leinster Johhny Cooney (23) is number 3 behind Reddan & Boss, while the promising Luke McGrath (20) is behind Cooney. How is McGrath supposed to be developed?

The number 2 scrum halves at Ulster and Munster are Paul Marshall (28) and Duncan Williams (27) who aren't going to do much internationally given their ages.

Thankfully Conor Murray broke through when he did.

You have omitted the form scrum half on the Irish scene at the moment - Kieran Marmion.

I thought he was Welsh but if he wants to play for Ireland, you are right he should be considered.