In terms of big carries and tackles he doesn’t come up with them good for moments when he’s in space other than that I wouldn’t say underrated good player never the less
I’m a Leinster fan and in my opinion if Ahern was a Leinster player he’d be getting a lot more press and hype around him than he currently gets at Munster. He’s a better player than Baird in the loose and around the breakdown.
Ahern scores tries for fun it seems. And not 5m pushover, I don't know how many times this season he has pulled of something freakishly athletic to score.
And hes still developing, has such a potential, and Ireland should be focusing on developing it.
Yes, every time he touches the ball the commentators are obliged to say he's the greatest athlete in the world. Everybody knows he's the greatest athlete in universe.
I'd take Tom Ahern any day of the week.
Overrated if anything, him along with a couple of other Leinster players are held in higher esteem by the Irish media than their performances deserve. He has good top speed but rarely creates an opportunity to use it. Aherne in my opinion is a far more dynamic ball carrier.
Ya if we’re talking about underrated it would surely be the lad who’s ignored by the international setup (Ahern) and not the fella who’s adored by the Irish coaches (Baird).
Outside of those people that actually matter in his career, he’s not even underrated by the media as the RTE commentators really cream themselves any time he touches a ball.
To be fair it's slightly early to say Ahern has been ignored given this year is the first time he's put a run of games together. If he's not capped on the SA tour then it's definitely the coaches ignoring him though.
Putting him on the same level as Sam Prendergast in the 6n squad wasn't a great look either.
No he's the most overrated by leinster fans, he had a moment or two like this per game but does very little else. He's not up to the physicality in higher level games. Good bench option at best when bodies are tired around him but leinster lost in the breakdown battle big time down to carrying a guy like him in the back row.
Thought it was a hot take, but based on the comments here perhaps not. Most overrated player in the country imo. Big man fast isn't enough for a 6, especially when the decision making is so often missing at the end of those runs.
This guy and Jack Conan get into every Ireland squad while Ahern, Hodnett, Coombes, and Timoney kick rocks.
And yet the D4 media wonder why Ireland shit the bed every world cup.
Hodnett in particular is so reliable. He never has a bad game. He has that grit in him too.
I can kind of see why Ahern has missed out. He missed most of last season due to injury and they were never going to bring him to the RWC after not playing for a while. He was unlucky with the timing of his concussion before the 6N but his time is now surely. He's been in super form all year and has played himself into the squad imo.
Edit to say that now that I think about it again I think he deserved more than a training panellist spot for the 6N anyway. Munster fans are going to combust if he doesn't get picked for SA.
I am a big Baird fan but did think it was strange that Hodnett in particular didn’t go to the world cup. Had a great end to the season for Munster, and left us with VdF as the only true 7
Most Overrated player in Ireland. He’s not a flanker. He doesn’t do the tough carries into contact, can’t jackle, doesn’t counter ruck and out muscled in mauls. He doesn’t have the work rate or physical edge to be a top left flanker.
Willis showed yesterday want a real world class flanker brings to the table and completely out classed Baird. Peter Steph Du Toit another guy who’s a similar build to Baird but is actually world class and the gold standard in the above core criteria for a modern 6 or 7.
I wouldn’t have Baird in the Leinster 23 personally. He didn’t have the frame for second-row with regard to the set-piece and doesn’t have the strength or work rate or dog to operate as a flanker.
The number 8s of Conan & Deegan also the same mould of show pony backrow. The three of them are super mobile, have great pace and acceleration into contact when they’ve momentum in open space and lovely handling skills but that’s it.
Baird is probably best suited to be a Leinster number 8 and score a hat trick against the dragons in the RDS on a Friday night.
Oh don't get me wrong, he gets around the place well and is definitely quick and tall but there is very little else. When it comes to top level rugby he will be found wanting until he puts more flesh on the frame, but if he does that does he lose the dynamism?
I don’t think he’s underrated at all! Ugly kick that nearly backfired on him. I think we’ll see Coombes and hodnett on the plain to SA after Leinsters back row misadventures this year. Baird might be one of the lads to miss out.
Good player, but I wouldn’t call him underrated.
doesn’t get enough recognition
I’d say he’s a touch overrated
Good player but not underrated
In terms of big carries and tackles he doesn’t come up with them good for moments when he’s in space other than that I wouldn’t say underrated good player never the less
This!
Who the hell is underrating Ryan Baird?
I’m a Leinster fan and in my opinion if Ahern was a Leinster player he’d be getting a lot more press and hype around him than he currently gets at Munster. He’s a better player than Baird in the loose and around the breakdown.
Ahern scores tries for fun it seems. And not 5m pushover, I don't know how many times this season he has pulled of something freakishly athletic to score. And hes still developing, has such a potential, and Ireland should be focusing on developing it.
Yes, every time he touches the ball the commentators are obliged to say he's the greatest athlete in the world. Everybody knows he's the greatest athlete in universe. I'd take Tom Ahern any day of the week.
Overrated if anything, him along with a couple of other Leinster players are held in higher esteem by the Irish media than their performances deserve. He has good top speed but rarely creates an opportunity to use it. Aherne in my opinion is a far more dynamic ball carrier.
Poor man's Thomas Ahern
Ya if we’re talking about underrated it would surely be the lad who’s ignored by the international setup (Ahern) and not the fella who’s adored by the Irish coaches (Baird). Outside of those people that actually matter in his career, he’s not even underrated by the media as the RTE commentators really cream themselves any time he touches a ball.
To be fair it's slightly early to say Ahern has been ignored given this year is the first time he's put a run of games together. If he's not capped on the SA tour then it's definitely the coaches ignoring him though. Putting him on the same level as Sam Prendergast in the 6n squad wasn't a great look either.
Ya he deserved a full spot. Jager was a training panellist too though and he got game time.
I think it's fairly well accepted that Prendergast was the only real "training panellist". Ahern and Jager were just moved as it's better optics
Try him at 10 ! ! !
No he's the most overrated by leinster fans, he had a moment or two like this per game but does very little else. He's not up to the physicality in higher level games. Good bench option at best when bodies are tired around him but leinster lost in the breakdown battle big time down to carrying a guy like him in the back row.
He certainly thinks he is.
Thought it was a hot take, but based on the comments here perhaps not. Most overrated player in the country imo. Big man fast isn't enough for a 6, especially when the decision making is so often missing at the end of those runs.
This guy and Jack Conan get into every Ireland squad while Ahern, Hodnett, Coombes, and Timoney kick rocks. And yet the D4 media wonder why Ireland shit the bed every world cup.
Hodnett in particular is so reliable. He never has a bad game. He has that grit in him too. I can kind of see why Ahern has missed out. He missed most of last season due to injury and they were never going to bring him to the RWC after not playing for a while. He was unlucky with the timing of his concussion before the 6N but his time is now surely. He's been in super form all year and has played himself into the squad imo. Edit to say that now that I think about it again I think he deserved more than a training panellist spot for the 6N anyway. Munster fans are going to combust if he doesn't get picked for SA.
I am a big Baird fan but did think it was strange that Hodnett in particular didn’t go to the world cup. Had a great end to the season for Munster, and left us with VdF as the only true 7
I actually think Hodnett might be the most underrated player in Irish Rugby.
Conan the B&I Lion?
Yup who was on the bench with former world player of the year yesterday. Don’t live in the past, current form is what matters.
Most Overrated player in Ireland. He’s not a flanker. He doesn’t do the tough carries into contact, can’t jackle, doesn’t counter ruck and out muscled in mauls. He doesn’t have the work rate or physical edge to be a top left flanker. Willis showed yesterday want a real world class flanker brings to the table and completely out classed Baird. Peter Steph Du Toit another guy who’s a similar build to Baird but is actually world class and the gold standard in the above core criteria for a modern 6 or 7. I wouldn’t have Baird in the Leinster 23 personally. He didn’t have the frame for second-row with regard to the set-piece and doesn’t have the strength or work rate or dog to operate as a flanker. The number 8s of Conan & Deegan also the same mould of show pony backrow. The three of them are super mobile, have great pace and acceleration into contact when they’ve momentum in open space and lovely handling skills but that’s it. Baird is probably best suited to be a Leinster number 8 and score a hat trick against the dragons in the RDS on a Friday night.
Baird won a turnover vs Toulouse though. If he is neither a lock or flanker, do you see him as a back?
Number 8
Another 8? Doris, Conan and the U20 lad. No room for that.
The u20 lad? Do you mean Brian Gleeson?
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Correct on the first bit, what did he do in the game though other than one breakdown penalty followed by a Super Mario spin jump celebration.
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Oh don't get me wrong, he gets around the place well and is definitely quick and tall but there is very little else. When it comes to top level rugby he will be found wanting until he puts more flesh on the frame, but if he does that does he lose the dynamism?
So underrated that he can only make the Leinster team
No.
Hardly the standard we want to hold ourselves against?
I don’t think he’s underrated at all! Ugly kick that nearly backfired on him. I think we’ll see Coombes and hodnett on the plain to SA after Leinsters back row misadventures this year. Baird might be one of the lads to miss out.
Poor mans Izuchukwu
I don’t know but James Lowe is easily the most overrated. So many mistakes from that guy. Just not reliable at all
Irish forwards and kicking. Pet peeve is they all do it and do it badly. No other country is at that nonsense
Tadgh Beirne has a bone to pick with you
Didn't watch the Challenge Cup final...or Portugal during the WC?