Celtic Cup 19/20

mildlyinterested · Post by **mildlyinterested** » July 16th, 2019, 6:58 pm

CELTIC CUP FIXTURES

Aug 23 – 25
Cardiff Blues v Leinster
Munster v Ospreys
Scarlets v Ulster
Connacht v Dragons

Aug 30 – Sep 1
Leinster v Scarlets
Dragons v Munster
Ulster v Cardiff Blues
Ospreys v Connacht

Sept 6 – 8
Munster v Leinster
Ulster v Connacht
Cardiff Blues v Dragons
Scarlets v Ospreys

Sept 13 – 15
Connacht v Munster
Leinster v Ulster
Dragons v Scarlets
Ospreys v Cardiff Blues

Sept 20 – 22
Ospreys v Leinster
Munster v Cardiff Blues
Dragons v Ulster
Connacht v Scarlets

  Sept 27 – 29
Leinster v Dragons
Scarlets v Munster
Ulster v Ospreys
Cardiff Blues v Connacht

Oct 4 – 6
 Connacht v Leinster
Ulster v Munster
Cardiff Blues v Scarlets
Dragons v Ospreys

Saturday, Oct 12  Final

Workhorse · Post by **Workhorse** » July 16th, 2019, 8:26 pm

Surely it would have made more sense to have this later in the season? AIL teams are going to be absolutely decimated. The Irish teams are going all be sub academy with a few academy lads.

Dundalk 1 · Post by **Dundalk 1** » July 16th, 2019, 10:26 pm

Workhorse wrote:Surely it would have made more sense to have this later in the season? AIL teams are going to be absolutely decimated. The Irish teams are going all be sub academy with a few academy lads.

Given that the Pro 14 season doesn’t start this year until near the end of September it could mean that these games are used for tuning up for that instead of friendlies so we may see stronger teams for the first few weeks

And even if it is guys down the pecking order that play it’s a great opportunity for them to put their hands up for selection

mildlyinterested · Post by **mildlyinterested** » July 17th, 2019, 8:20 am

So the first game occurs when the senior team is in canada, so I'd expect that team to be almost completely an under-20 side with possibly some JWC returnees.

Possible side:
1. Harry Noonan(Greystones/Old Wesley)
2. Bobby Sheehan(Clongowes/UCD)
3. Charlie Ward(Tullow/Clontarf)
4. Cian Prendergast(Newbridge/UCD)
5. Sean O'Brien(Blackrock/???)
6. Anthony Ryan(Clongowes/DUFC)
7. Mark Hernan(St. Michaels/???)
8. Ed Brennan(Blackrock/???)
9. Jack Connolly(Gonzaga/???)
10. Paddy McKenzie(Wicklow/Old Wesley)
11. Niall Comerford(Blackrock/???)
12. Mick O'Gara(Pres Bray/???)
13. Luis Faria(Wanderers/DUFC)
14. Andrew Smith(St. Michaels/???)
15. James Reynolds(CBC Monkstown/???)

rooster · Post by **rooster** » July 17th, 2019, 10:05 am

mildlyinterested wrote:So the first game occurs when the senior team is in canada, so I'd expect that team to be almost completely an under-20 side with possibly some JWC returnees.

Possible side:
1. Harry Noonan(Greystones/Old Wesley)
2. Bobby Sheehan(Clongowes/UCD)
3. Charlie Ward(Tullow/Clontarf)
4. Cian Prendergast(Newbridge/UCD)
5. Sean O'Brien(Blackrock/???)
6. Anthony Ryan(Clongowes/DUFC)
7. Mark Hernan(St. Michaels/???)
8. Ed Brennan(Blackrock/???)
9. Jack Connolly(Gonzaga/???)
10. Paddy McKenzie(Wicklow/Old Wesley)
11. Niall Comerford(Blackrock/???)
12. Mick O'Gara(Pres Bray/???)
13. Luis Faria(Wanderers/DUFC)
14. Andrew Smith(St. Michaels/???)
15. James Reynolds(CBC Monkstown/???)

From what I heard when this was being arranged it is only for A side and academy players anyway with no first team members allowed

mildlyinterested · Post by **mildlyinterested** » July 17th, 2019, 10:07 am

rooster wrote:From what I heard when this was being arranged it is only for A side and academy players anyway with no first team members allowed

well the senior squad traveling to Canada will consist of a lot of A/Academy players due to the world cup... meaning the A side for the celtic cup will be mostly 1st year academy players and sub-academy players.

leinsterforever · Post by **leinsterforever** » July 17th, 2019, 4:50 pm

How many will they take to Canada, though? Around 30 maybe? There could be a few senior squad or academy backs knocking around.

Even if there aren't would the likes of David Ryan and Adam la Grue not be more likely than O'Gara and Faria?

mildlyinterested · Post by **mildlyinterested** » July 18th, 2019, 7:52 am

leinsterforever wrote:How many will they take to Canada, though? Around 30 maybe? There could be a few senior squad or academy backs knocking around.

Even if there aren't would the likes of David Ryan and Adam la Grue not be more likely than O'Gara and Faria?

O'Gara and Faria are better prospects than Ryan, who chance has passed.

La Grue could be involved, it's unlikely to be a full under-20 team but the majority of it will be players U20 IMO.

rooster · Post by **rooster** » July 18th, 2019, 12:38 pm

mildlyinterested wrote:
leinsterforever wrote:How many will they take to Canada, though? Around 30 maybe? There could be a few senior squad or academy backs knocking around.

Even if there aren't would the likes of David Ryan and Adam la Grue not be more likely than O'Gara and Faria?
O'Gara and Faria are better prospects than Ryan, who chance has passed.

La Grue could be involved, it's unlikely to be a full under-20 team but the majority of it will be players U20 IMO.

That is the basis for this competition, it is to gain a higher level of rugby for young lads and see what they are made of, winning is not everything in it but performance and attitude is and that is what coaches will focus on.

leinsterforever · Post by **leinsterforever** » July 18th, 2019, 2:39 pm

Adam Byrne, David Kearney, Mick Kearney, Ian Nagle and Noel Reid played in it last time, so we could see some senior players if they need the gametime or maybe need to get used to a new position (Reid at 10 last year).

It would be interesting to see some of the 7s lads get a crack if they needed a few bodies. Billy Dardis, Ian Fitzpatrick and Mick McGrath as a back three, anyone? Probably unlikely, but I think one of the strengths of NZ rugby is that there's a path back to the top for guys maybe in their mid twenties who missed the boat for one reason or another earlier in their careers. That probably doesn't happen much in Ireland. Barry Daly broke the mould a bit.

What's Tommy O'Brien's injury status? It would be good for him to play in this.

mildlyinterested · Post by **mildlyinterested** » July 18th, 2019, 3:21 pm

TOB is healthy afaik.

Workhorse · Post by **Workhorse** » July 18th, 2019, 11:40 pm

leinsterforever wrote: It would be interesting to see some of the 7s lads get a crack if they needed a few bodies. Billy Dardis, Ian Fitzpatrick and Mick McGrath as a back three, anyone? Probably unlikely, but I think one of the strengths of NZ rugby is that there's a path back to the top for guys maybe in their mid twenties who missed the boat for one reason or another earlier in their careers. That probably doesn't happen much in Ireland. Barry Daly broke the mould a bit.

Would like to see Dardis at 9 actually, bit of a wildcard shout but it'd be interesting, especially with this 50/22 law coming it seems, him and Hughie can really have an advantage there.

Since they're on development contracts you'd hope that means there's some sort of route to 15s but that could just be the IRFU being cheap again.

mildlyinterested · Post by **mildlyinterested** » July 19th, 2019, 9:41 am

Workhorse wrote:
leinsterforever wrote: It would be interesting to see some of the 7s lads get a crack if they needed a few bodies. Billy Dardis, Ian Fitzpatrick and Mick McGrath as a back three, anyone? Probably unlikely, but I think one of the strengths of NZ rugby is that there's a path back to the top for guys maybe in their mid twenties who missed the boat for one reason or another earlier in their careers. That probably doesn't happen much in Ireland. Barry Daly broke the mould a bit.
Would like to see Dardis at 9 actually, bit of a wildcard shout but it'd be interesting, especially with this 50/22 law coming it seems, him and Hughie can really have an advantage there.

Since they're on development contracts you'd hope that means there's some sort of route to 15s but that could just be the IRFU being cheap again.

Why?

Playing 9 at 7's is different ball game to play 9 at 15's.

cormac · Post by **cormac** » July 19th, 2019, 11:13 am

Only just noticed that there's seven rounds this season instead of six last year.

johng · Post by **johng** » July 19th, 2019, 11:22 am

Yeah. All of the other conference and all of our own. I think last year we didn't get to play Connacht.

scentofgunpowder · Post by **scentofgunpowder** » July 19th, 2019, 11:59 am

mildlyinterested wrote:
Workhorse wrote:
leinsterforever wrote: It would be interesting to see some of the 7s lads get a crack if they needed a few bodies. Billy Dardis, Ian Fitzpatrick and Mick McGrath as a back three, anyone? Probably unlikely, but I think one of the strengths of NZ rugby is that there's a path back to the top for guys maybe in their mid twenties who missed the boat for one reason or another earlier in their careers. That probably doesn't happen much in Ireland. Barry Daly broke the mould a bit.
Would like to see Dardis at 9 actually, bit of a wildcard shout but it'd be interesting, especially with this 50/22 law coming it seems, him and Hughie can really have an advantage there.

Since they're on development contracts you'd hope that means there's some sort of route to 15s but that could just be the IRFU being cheap again.
Why?

Playing 9 at 7's is different ball game to play 9 at 15's.

Maybe he's assuming that teams will be using their 9s in the backfield to cover kicks.

Workhorse · Post by **Workhorse** » July 19th, 2019, 4:32 pm

mildlyinterested wrote:
Why?

Playing 9 at 7's is different ball game to play 9 at 15's.

Exactly as said below if you basically have two full backs with the is new law that's huge as it means you can have just two back instead of 2/3 and it also means that in theory your backfield cover is better as in theory fullbacks are better at it than wingers, and it's very different playing 9 in 15s and 7s yes but there are similarities and Dardis has said he would like to give it a try so why not give him some A games? If it doesn't work worst case scenario he goes to 15

mildlyinterested · Post by **mildlyinterested** » August 19th, 2019, 4:17 pm

Celtic Cup starts this weekend:

Connacht Eagles V Dragons A, Friday 2pm
Munster A V Ospreys A, Friday 7.30pm
Cardiff A V Leinster A, Saturday 2.30pm
Scarlets A v Ulster A, Saturday 2.30pm

LeinsterLeader · Post by **LeinsterLeader** » August 19th, 2019, 4:22 pm

mildlyinterested wrote:Celtic Cup starts this weekend:

Connacht Eagles V Dragons A, Friday 2pm
Munster A V Ospreys A, Friday 7.30pm
Cardiff A V Leinster A, Saturday 2.30pm
Scarlets A v Munster A, Saturday 2.30pm

I'm guessing one of them Munster teams is actually Ulster.

Otherwise that's just unfair

mildlyinterested · Post by **mildlyinterested** » August 19th, 2019, 4:29 pm

LeinsterLeader wrote:
mildlyinterested wrote:Celtic Cup starts this weekend:

Connacht Eagles V Dragons A, Friday 2pm
Munster A V Ospreys A, Friday 7.30pm
Cardiff A V Leinster A, Saturday 2.30pm
Scarlets A v Munster A, Saturday 2.30pm
I'm guessing one of them Munster teams is actually Ulster.

Otherwise that's just unfair

Babbling 'brook

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