Ruckedtobits wrote:Sunday morning, turn on TV to get a quick Top14 'fix' before watching Wales 6N game and hear the commentator raving about a prop forward getting a tap tackle on a No 12 to aid his team's latest attempt to escape relegation. Stade Francais v Castres is the clue and sure enough the Prop doing the apparently impossible is Heinke Van de Merwe, our former seemingly indestructable LHP with no cartilege in either knee but an insatiable desire to win.
He looks as fit and hard as ever. Still one of my all time favourite, underrated, NIQ players for Leinster.
Chapeau Monsieur.
Saw that too and was wondering if you'd mention it
Couldn't believe it was him, he chased him down from a long way out and the Castres player was quick.
Jack O'Connell to Ealing. Surprised at this. I remember him being a seriously good player so him going there is a suprise. Was he any good or is my mind playing tricks on me?
He was very highly rated, certainly, and he looked really good for us whenever he played. But he was caught in a squeeze - Healy and McGrath ahead of him, Ed Byrne, Peter Dooley and (at that time a loosehead) Andrew Porter coming through in the academy/schools sytem
He was very highly rated, certainly, and he looked really good for us whenever he played. But he was caught in a squeeze - Healy and McGrath ahead of him, Ed Byrne, Peter Dooley and (at that time a loosehead) Andrew Porter coming through in the academy/schools sytem
That's why I'm surprised he' going to Ealing. No offense to Ealing but you'd think that a better club would br in for him. Ulster apparently made an offer for him to go up there but he picked Bristol instead for the money. I don't know if Ealing is a rich club but you'd think if he wanted money he could rock up to France and still play at a lot higher level than the First Division in England.
He was very highly rated, certainly, and he looked really good for us whenever he played. But he was caught in a squeeze - Healy and McGrath ahead of him, Ed Byrne, Peter Dooley and (at that time a loosehead) Andrew Porter coming through in the academy/schools sytem
That's why I'm surprised he' going to Ealing. No offense to Ealing but you'd think that a better club would br in for him. Ulster apparently made an offer for him to go up there but he picked Bristol instead for the money. I don't know if Ealing is a rich club but you'd think if he wanted money he could rock up to France and still play at a lot higher level than the First Division in England.
Ealing is the new London Wasps.
"The one thing we learn from History, is that we never learn from History".
He'd probably be worth picking up on a cheap last chance saloon contract actually. Not sure he has done anything to say he's better than what we already have, (particularly at 12 instead of Reid, which is a bit of a flawed comparison!) but we do lack a bit of physicality at 13 during international windows. I wonder has his tackling improved at all?
Macken may or may not be the answer but there is a question over our centre cover in next seasons squad. There does appear to be some potential coming through but I would like to see an older more experienced head in there to help guide the ship.
Fireworks wrote:Macken may or may not be the answer but there is a question over our centre cover in next seasons squad. There does appear to be some potential coming through but I would like to see an older more experienced head in there to help guide the ship.
Macken would be an upgrade on Daly for sure, Reid too IMO.
The academys record of developing centres, outside of Ringrose, is not great.
Fireworks wrote:Macken may or may not be the answer but there is a question over our centre cover in next seasons squad. There does appear to be some potential coming through but I would like to see an older more experienced head in there to help guide the ship.
Macken would be an upgrade on Daly for sure, Reid too IMO.
The academys record of developing centres, outside of Ringrose, is not great.
Very true. That's the result of having had 2 of the greatest Irish centers in history occupying the spot for a decade! Losing Isa's versatility is a huge issue.
LH Prop
Jack O'Connell(1990/Clongowes Wood College) - Ealing
Des Merrey(1992/King's Hospital) - Hartpury College
Denis Coulson(1995/St. Michaels College) - ?
Jeremy Loughman(1995/Blackrock College) - Munster
Eric O'Sullivan(1996/Templogue College) - Ulster Academy
TH Prop
Martin Moore(1991/Castleknock College) - Ulster & Ireland
Oisin Heffernan(1995/CC Roscrea) - Nottingham
Oliver Jager(1995/Blackrock College) - Crusaders
Hooker
Jay Harris Wright(/Blackrock College) - ?
Shane Delahunt(1994/Kilkenny College) - Connacht
Tadgh McElroy(1997/Dundalk RFC) - Saracens Academy
Eoghan Clarke(1998/CBC Monkstown) - Munster Academy
Second Row
Mark Flanagan(1989/Mullingar RFC) - Saracens
Tadgh Beirne(1992/Clongowes Wood College) - Munster
Alan O'Connor(1992/Skerries RFC) - Ulster
Jerry Sexton(1993/St. Marys College) - Jersey
Gavin Thornbury(1993/Blackrock College) - Connacht
Jack Regan(1997/Birr RFC) - Ulster Academy
Backrow
Robin Copeland(1987/Kilkenny College) - Connacht
Dominic Ryan(1990/Gonzaga College) -Worcester
Jordi Murphy(1991/Blackrock College) - Ulster
Conor Gilsenan(1992/Clongowes Wood College) - London Irish
Jordan Coghlan(1992/Clongowes Wood College) - Nottingham
James Connolly(1993/Newbridge College) - Connacht
Eoghan Masterson(1993/Portloaise RFC) - Connacht
Nick Timoney(1995/Blackrock College) - Ulster
Conor Oliver(1995/Blackrock College) - Munster
Greg Jones(1996/St. Andrews College) - Ulster Academy
Paul Boyle(1997/Gorey RFC) - Connacht Academy
Sean Masterson(1998/Portloaise RFC) - Connacht Academy
Patrick Ryan(1998/Newbridge College) - Nottingham Academy
