Classic Matches

[domhnallj]

The 2001 Celtic League Final between Leinster and Munster is on Eir at 7pm tonight.

That Horgan chap at 12 did ok. Wonder what happened to him?

[wixfjord]

Not a classic match, but a good watch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_YIHagG4o4

Some of Larmour's play from 15 this year has been sensational.

A good reminder of Jack Conan's big carrying ability in there too. I wonder how a back row with Conan, Leavy, Doris would perform. Lots of power in that.

[hugonaut]

Not a classic match, but a good watch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_YIHagG4o4

Some of Larmour's play from 15 this year has been sensational.

A good reminder of Jack Conan's big carrying ability in there too. I wonder how a back row with Conan, Leavy, Doris would perform. Lots of power in that.

I was thinking along those lines recently myself. We are stacked at No8 with Doris, Conan and Deegan, stacked at openside with Leavy, JVDF, Connors and Penny and then comparatively shallow at No6 with Ruddock and Josh Murphy.

I'm a fan of Josh Murphy and rate him as a blindside, but would I want to keep him and see one of Doris, Conan or Deegan leave? Nope. But I see that as almost inevitable if we have those three players competing for one No8 jersey. Lancaster and Cullen have obviously looked at Max as a blindside quite a bit, but his best position is No8. He's not as good a No6 as Murphy [in my opinion] but he's still a better all round player with a higher ceiling.

Then if you look at the age profile, Deegan is four years younger than Conan and Doris is six years younger, and both of them at this stage are ahead of where Conan was at the equivalent age. I think they project to be more rounded footballers than Conan is as well - again, just one man's opinion. But Conan has massive here-and-now abilities and is also the biggest and most explosive backrow we have in the squad.

He played a couple of Heineken Cup games for us at No6 in 2016-17 and put up massive numbers as a ball carrier.

vs Montpellier: https://www.espn.com/rugby/playerstats? ... gue=271937
@ Castres: https://www.espn.com/rugby/playerstats? ... ected=true

In my opinion, the six best and most proven players in the backrow includes all three No8s [Conan, Deegan & Doris], Leavy & JVDF and Ruddock. It makes so much sense to move one of the No8s to blindside quasi-permanently, and of the three I'd love to see Conan there, playing a simple, Ferris-esque role: big carries and big tackles.

[wixfjord]

He's a good lineout option too. Not the same as Murphy or Ruddock but still a solid option.

With Leavy/Doris in particular and their turnover thread I think that trio would be balanced enough.

But a trio of Conan, VDF, Deegan say doesn't work as well for me. You'd need a Rhys/Josh at 6 in a backrow like that.

[ronk]

Not a classic match, but a good watch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_YIHagG4o4

Some of Larmour's play from 15 this year has been sensational.

A good reminder of Jack Conan's big carrying ability in there too. I wonder how a back row with Conan, Leavy, Doris would perform. Lots of power in that.

I was thinking along those lines recently myself. We are stacked at No8 with Doris, Conan and Deegan, stacked at openside with Leavy, JVDF, Connors and Penny and then comparatively shallow at No6 with Ruddock and Josh Murphy.

I'm a fan of Josh Murphy and rate him as a blindside, but would I want to keep him and see one of Doris, Conan or Deegan leave? Nope. But I see that as almost inevitable if we have those three players competing for one No8 jersey. Lancaster and Cullen have obviously looked at Max as a blindside quite a bit, but his best position is No8. He's not as good a No6 as Murphy [in my opinion] but he's still a better all round player with a higher ceiling.

Then if you look at the age profile, Deegan is four years younger than Conan and Doris is six years younger, and both of them at this stage are ahead of where Conan was at the equivalent age. I think they project to be more rounded footballers than Conan is as well - again, just one man's opinion. But Conan has massive here-and-now abilities and is also the biggest and most explosive backrow we have in the squad.

He played a couple of Heineken Cup games for us at No6 in 2016-17 and put up massive numbers as a ball carrier.

vs Montpellier: https://www.espn.com/rugby/playerstats? ... gue=271937
@ Castres: https://www.espn.com/rugby/playerstats? ... ected=true

In my opinion, the six best and most proven players in the backrow includes all three No8s [Conan, Deegan & Doris], Leavy & JVDF and Ruddock. It makes so much sense to move one of the No8s to blindside quasi-permanently, and of the three I'd love to see Conan there, playing a simple, Ferris-esque role: big carries and big tackles.

6 is an option for a lock too, but it does seem to be the position where we don’t have a long term elite specialist. It will be interesting when everyone is fit but I also don’t think it’s likely. As Stander and POM age we could find those guys taking over more at international level (opening up opportunities).

I like Murphy but it looks at this stage that he is a squad player, which is okay because we need them too. He’s a good player too, and what you need for away trips to Wales and Scotland.

I hadn’t considered moving Conan to 6 because I have been thinking of him as our most natural 8. I don’t think he’s a fit for the Ferris role. An early criticism of Conan was that he did the flashy things but didn’t hit the work rate numbers so readily. I like hard working 8s as much as the next guy but it’s the one position in the pack (occasionally hooker) where you can give a guy a bit less piano shifting so they can go make an impact with the ball. The backrow have been apart so much that it’s a little hazy how they will gel without a full deck to select.

[Oldschoolsocks]

...
6 is an option for a lock too, but it does seem to be the position where we don’t have a long term elite specialist. It will be interesting when everyone is fit but I also don’t think it’s likely. As Stander and POM age we could find those guys taking over more at international level (opening up opportunities).

I like Murphy but it looks at this stage that he is a squad player, which is okay because we need them too. He’s a good player too, and what you need for away trips to Wales and Scotland.

I hadn’t considered moving Conan to 6 because I have been thinking of him as our most natural 8. I don’t think he’s a fit for the Ferris role. An early criticism of Conan was that he did the flashy things but didn’t hit the work rate numbers so readily. I like hard working 8s as much as the next guy but it’s the one position in the pack (occasionally hooker) where you can give a guy a bit less piano shifting so they can go make an impact with the ball. The backrow have been apart so much that it’s a little hazy how they will gel without a full deck to select.

Rhyss Ruddock is being overlooked a but here, no?

[ronk]

Not at all. He’s 29 and at his peak. Eventually someone will need to take his place. If he matures like Fardy he might outlast Murphy.

Murphy is 25, Deegan 23.

A future elite specialist 6 leaving school now has about a 10 year gap to Ruddock. All the more reason we probably won’t have one of them and should plan that way.

Irish rugby has often had versatile backrows. Ruddock is a specialist 6 who is versatile enough to play lock and anywhere in the backrow. He really is at home at 6 though.

But it also gives Murphy long term value within the squad.

[johng]

Fardy had a tiny percentage of the mileage on him at 29 that Rhys has though

[blockhead]

Fardy had a tiny percentage of the mileage on him at 29 that Rhys has though

Ruddock will rumble on for years yet. He looks like the type, no pace, cant lose it.

JLO signed last week, people only finding out now?

Oh. And lastly. A Leinster contract isn't worth wiping your arse with.

[mildlyinterested]

Not a classic match, but a good watch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_YIHagG4o4

Some of Larmour's play from 15 this year has been sensational.

A good reminder of Jack Conan's big carrying ability in there too. I wonder how a back row with Conan, Leavy, Doris would perform. Lots of power in that.

I was thinking along those lines recently myself. We are stacked at No8 with Doris, Conan and Deegan, stacked at openside with Leavy, JVDF, Connors and Penny and then comparatively shallow at No6 with Ruddock and Josh Murphy.

I'm a fan of Josh Murphy and rate him as a blindside, but would I want to keep him and see one of Doris, Conan or Deegan leave? Nope. But I see that as almost inevitable if we have those three players competing for one No8 jersey. Lancaster and Cullen have obviously looked at Max as a blindside quite a bit, but his best position is No8. He's not as good a No6 as Murphy [in my opinion] but he's still a better all round player with a higher ceiling.

Then if you look at the age profile, Deegan is four years younger than Conan and Doris is six years younger, and both of them at this stage are ahead of where Conan was at the equivalent age. I think they project to be more rounded footballers than Conan is as well - again, just one man's opinion. But Conan has massive here-and-now abilities and is also the biggest and most explosive backrow we have in the squad.

He played a couple of Heineken Cup games for us at No6 in 2016-17 and put up massive numbers as a ball carrier.

vs Montpellier: https://www.espn.com/rugby/playerstats? ... gue=271937
@ Castres: https://www.espn.com/rugby/playerstats? ... ected=true

In my opinion, the six best and most proven players in the backrow includes all three No8s [Conan, Deegan & Doris], Leavy & JVDF and Ruddock. It makes so much sense to move one of the No8s to blindside quasi-permanently, and of the three I'd love to see Conan there, playing a simple, Ferris-esque role: big carries and big tackles.

6 is an option for a lock too, but it does seem to be the position where we don’t have a long term elite specialist. It will be interesting when everyone is fit but I also don’t think it’s likely. As Stander and POM age we could find those guys taking over more at international level (opening up opportunities).

I like Murphy but it looks at this stage that he is a squad player, which is okay because we need them too. He’s a good player too, and what you need for away trips to Wales and Scotland.

I hadn’t considered moving Conan to 6 because I have been thinking of him as our most natural 8. I don’t think he’s a fit for the Ferris role. An early criticism of Conan was that he did the flashy things but didn’t hit the work rate numbers so readily. I like hard working 8s as much as the next guy but it’s the one position in the pack (occasionally hooker) where you can give a guy a bit less piano shifting so they can go make an impact with the ball. The backrow have been apart so much that it’s a little hazy how they will gel without a full deck to select.

Two potentially excellent specialist 6's joining the academy in SOB and Soroka.

Like the idea of Conan at 6, hopefully we see it.