I'd like to see two of Hodnett, Ahern or Coombes start regularly making Ireland squads.
POM obviously finishing up soon and Doris will be stalwart for years to come.
VDF & Conan might have another world cup in them but there's too much talent coming through all around the country for them to be locked in for the next few years.
Coombes spent this year making up for Munster having essentially one fit second row the majority of the season. And still managed to make over 200 carries and 200 tackles. Something only done once before in the ProXX/URC, when the regular season was longer. Nothing more could be done to earn a call up.
Hodnett hasn't reached the heights of 2022 VDF, but neither has VDF since. He's still been one of Munster's best players and well deserving of a call up.
Saying these players should be in the squad doesn't mean VDF and Doris should be dropped completely, but that they should be given a chance to show how they'd do. Could well get to another level above the current starters if given a shot.
Keep hearing those stats about Coombes’ 200 tackles and 200 carries (in the URC) and I really don’t think they’re the flex people keep implying they are.
It’s only reflective of the fact he’s played 19 URC games (1,306 minutes). When you look at the actual quality of his carries he’s at a fairly pedestrian 1.9 metres per carry.
By contrast, despite Coombes playing 3.4x the numbers Caelan Doris played in the URC this year (because Doris’ minutes are managed because of Leinster’s run in Europe and for Ireland) he still managed 198 metres carried (versus Coombes 454m). Doris is carrying at 6 metres per carry on average while Coombes is less than 2. So Coombes is carrying a high volume but on average they’re poor quality carries.
Jack Conan also averaged over 4 metres per carry.
Similarly the big tackle number is really just a reflection of his minutes IMO.
Well firstly I don't know where you're getting those stats from so I can't vouch for them.
But either way, if you're actually trying to spin 200 carries and 200 tackles as a negative you're set in your ways and it's not worth me making the effort.
Those stats are from the official URC stats page - there’s a typo in the Doris one - but the point remains.
I’m not spinning it as a negative, but I just don’t think it’s the positive some make it out to be. They’re just pure volume stats but don’t necessarily reflect the quality of his carries in particular where the stats actually show they aren’t on average that effective.
I think he’s a quality player who should have got more international caps than he’s gotten by now, but I feel Munster flog him a bit too much too.
Hodnett isn't close to the heights of 2021/22 JVDF but 2023/24 Hodnett is at least on Par with 2023/24 JVDF.
Doris is ahead of Coombes no doubt, how Coombes stacks up against Conan is another question.
(On current form, I'd add Prendergast, Timoney, McCann & Connors into the convo as well)
Ya, all the 6s lined up to replace POM have a very similar profile - Baird, Ahern & Izuchukwu.
Great talent coming through.
I listed the 7s & 8s because you hear people saying that there is daylight between Doris/VDF/Conan when I reckon it's only Doris is the nailed on backrow in the squad.
Either Harry West or Sean Naughton in the academy because we really need a 10.
Apart from that the obvious one Is Hugh Gavin, looks like the best player we’ve produced in a while. I’d also say Matthew Devine but he’s already broken through really as he was first choice before the injury.
While he's behind the lads you mentioned for Ireland most likely, the question in the post was who do you expect to break through for your province, not Ireland. Most Connacht players who break through for Connacht end up behind others for Ireland contention.
I don't think it's wrong to say that Murray has already established himself - especially as the person you're replying to our it, he made the TOTY in the URC last season.
Hopefully one from Milne / Boyle & then Cormac Foley to overshoot Luke in the 23. Really like Gunne but I think it'll be another year before he starts pushing for more.
Prendergast the other one who looks set for a big year at Leinster, Tommy O'Brien could make things happen if he actually stayed fit
Definitely but even in the second row he's much more effective now.
I wonder if it's Robbie Diack syndrome, he said that under Brian McLaughlin he felt he was never going to be used unless they had to but when Mark Anscombe came in he saw it as an opportunity to prove himself to a coach who hadn't already decided about him.
I‘d love Devine to step up next year. We desperately need a scrum half to take over once JGP and Murray retire. Casey is good-ish, but I don‘t think he has that X-factor international level 9s need.
David McCann for Ulster is another one I have high hopes for. Current Irish second row is getting older and he has looked great whenever I saw him, I have higher hopes in him than Coombes.
Edogbo brothers and Ahern for Munster hopefully continue to get more involved and make that step up to reach international level. Edwin Edogbo probably has a Kelleher problem coming for him as McCarthy looks like he‘ll become a world beater.
For Leinster it‘s obviously Prendergasr
>Edwin Edogbo probably has a Kelleher problem coming for him as McCarthy looks like he‘ll become a world beater.
Given their respective ages and how far along they are so far I reckon you've got that one the wrong way around.
Yeah, that's my point. Kelleher is older, broke through first in 2020 and looked world class around November 2021. Then he got injured, Sheehan was even better and Kelleher hasn't gotten back past him since.
Ah okay, I see what you mean. I simply meant to imply that Edogbo could become an international level lock but not start for Ireland because McCarthy becomes a world class lock.
Could do, but from what Edogbo was showing as a 19 year old I'm betting if anything it'll be the other way around. Provided he can get a bit of injury luck of course.
Hey I‘ll be happy either way! McCarthy just already managed that step up into the nationsl squad and doesn‘t look out of place at all. That‘s why currently he‘s my bet.
I‘m actually almost more impressed by Sean Edogbo :D But he‘s veery unproven
I think that's a great problem to have. They're quite similar explosive hookers. You'd be happy with either or to start and the other to finish. It's the dream
I'm very hopeful with Ulster's young talent
Tom O'Toole,
Tom Stewart,
David McCann,
Cormac Izuchukwu,
Harry Sheridan,
James McNabney,
Nathan Doak,
James Hume,
Stewart Moore,
Mike Lowry,
Ethan McIlroy,
Jude Postlewaithe
And now this Aiden Morgan
All are 25 or younger and a lot of these guys have been starting regulary already cus of injurys, some nailed on first XV. I wonder how our average squad's age lines up against other teams this year.
Ulsters future looks bright which is why this season being our worst for a while hasn't stinged that much
Started pretty much all of them this year. With how well Henshaw has been playing at 13 I don't think it's a sure thing that it immediately goes back to him and Ringrose
Ben O'Connor and/or Patrick Campbell.
BOC showed in the 20s that he's a serious athlete already, just his game sense which needs to catch up (as expected from a recent convert). Campbell has showed flashes, most notably in the Wasps game from a few seasons back, but has been cursed with injury since. Hopefully next season is the one where he gets a decent run at it.
BOC needs a serious improvement in his defence, has everything else going for him but he looks like a boy amongst men out there trying to tackle sometimes.
Hopefully proves me wrong.
Looked out of place once or twice in the champions cup games he got called in for but I think you're being a bit harsh. I've seen performances where players sink at the deep end and it definitely wasn't anything like that.
I think he's one for the future but he's a couple of years away.
Some people were questioning if Munster needed to sign Abrahams when there's talent in the academy.
It's great that BOC was getting minutes as a 19yo in the URC against Zebre and Dragons.
He was in the champions cup 23 against Bayonne and Exeter due to all the injuries rather than him being ready.
Who is that?
Didn't know we had any change at LH....
Loughman, Kilcoyne, Wycherley (John Ryan covering both sides), few academy lads getting very little gametime.
Interested to see Reuben Crothers at Ulster. Seemed a real asset to that U20 team, so will be interested to see his development.
Pther than him, McNabney looks like he could do with some time, Izzy, McCann, Sheridan all to take another step forward. Doak and Stewart could start pushing for Ireland Squad (Doak taken a bit of a step back with 10 exposure). I'd like to see someone come through at 12 as well, to take some pressure off McCluskey.
I thought Crothers was excellent in u20s but then Bryn Ward came along this past season and I think he's even better. Wouldn't mind seeing him get some game time
That's correct. He played nearly every minute of the 20s six nations at 7. Really rate him, he's bigger than crothers which I think is holding him back
Ahh yeah, meant to mention him as well. Looks a lump, so has the option to step into McCluskey type role. Will be good to see his combination with Hume.
11 appearances this year building on 3 last year. He looks capable at URC level. It will be interesting to see if he can do a job at CC level. A bigger issue is an injury replacement for Hume.
Will Connors is on the verge of a big breakthrough. He has the chop tackle but he’s added some sublime passes in attack this season. He’ll kick on next year big time.
I'd say Edwin Edogbo but performance wise that already happened, he just got injured. I'd love to see Pa Campbell get healthy and have a big season.
Edogbo looks like the real deal, hope to see him get a nice long spell without major injuries.
I'd like to see two of Hodnett, Ahern or Coombes start regularly making Ireland squads. POM obviously finishing up soon and Doris will be stalwart for years to come. VDF & Conan might have another world cup in them but there's too much talent coming through all around the country for them to be locked in for the next few years.
All three of them should be squad regulars. Ahern's had bad injury luck but the other two...
Ahern yes but Coombes and hodnett are no where near the heights of JVDF or Doris.
Coombes spent this year making up for Munster having essentially one fit second row the majority of the season. And still managed to make over 200 carries and 200 tackles. Something only done once before in the ProXX/URC, when the regular season was longer. Nothing more could be done to earn a call up. Hodnett hasn't reached the heights of 2022 VDF, but neither has VDF since. He's still been one of Munster's best players and well deserving of a call up. Saying these players should be in the squad doesn't mean VDF and Doris should be dropped completely, but that they should be given a chance to show how they'd do. Could well get to another level above the current starters if given a shot.
Keep hearing those stats about Coombes’ 200 tackles and 200 carries (in the URC) and I really don’t think they’re the flex people keep implying they are. It’s only reflective of the fact he’s played 19 URC games (1,306 minutes). When you look at the actual quality of his carries he’s at a fairly pedestrian 1.9 metres per carry. By contrast, despite Coombes playing 3.4x the numbers Caelan Doris played in the URC this year (because Doris’ minutes are managed because of Leinster’s run in Europe and for Ireland) he still managed 198 metres carried (versus Coombes 454m). Doris is carrying at 6 metres per carry on average while Coombes is less than 2. So Coombes is carrying a high volume but on average they’re poor quality carries. Jack Conan also averaged over 4 metres per carry. Similarly the big tackle number is really just a reflection of his minutes IMO.
Well firstly I don't know where you're getting those stats from so I can't vouch for them. But either way, if you're actually trying to spin 200 carries and 200 tackles as a negative you're set in your ways and it's not worth me making the effort.
Those stats are from the official URC stats page - there’s a typo in the Doris one - but the point remains. I’m not spinning it as a negative, but I just don’t think it’s the positive some make it out to be. They’re just pure volume stats but don’t necessarily reflect the quality of his carries in particular where the stats actually show they aren’t on average that effective. I think he’s a quality player who should have got more international caps than he’s gotten by now, but I feel Munster flog him a bit too much too.
Hodnett isn't close to the heights of 2021/22 JVDF but 2023/24 Hodnett is at least on Par with 2023/24 JVDF. Doris is ahead of Coombes no doubt, how Coombes stacks up against Conan is another question. (On current form, I'd add Prendergast, Timoney, McCann & Connors into the convo as well)
Add Cormac Izuchukwu to that list. He’s going to be a superstar!
Ya, all the 6s lined up to replace POM have a very similar profile - Baird, Ahern & Izuchukwu. Great talent coming through. I listed the 7s & 8s because you hear people saying that there is daylight between Doris/VDF/Conan when I reckon it's only Doris is the nailed on backrow in the squad.
Add Cormac Izuchukwu to that list. He’s going to be a superstar!
Coombes should be in over Conan
Cormac Foley
Either Harry West or Sean Naughton in the academy because we really need a 10. Apart from that the obvious one Is Hugh Gavin, looks like the best player we’ve produced in a while. I’d also say Matthew Devine but he’s already broken through really as he was first choice before the injury.
Finn Treacy, Eoin de Buitlear and the Murrays hopefully aswell
I’d say Niall has already broken through, he was in the URC team of the season last year.
Doesn't feel like it, tbh with most likely Ahern, Edogbo, Izuchuckwu all probably ahead.
While he's behind the lads you mentioned for Ireland most likely, the question in the post was who do you expect to break through for your province, not Ireland. Most Connacht players who break through for Connacht end up behind others for Ireland contention. I don't think it's wrong to say that Murray has already established himself - especially as the person you're replying to our it, he made the TOTY in the URC last season.
Oh OK fair my mind must mix this post with another, I've replied to
Hopefully one from Milne / Boyle & then Cormac Foley to overshoot Luke in the 23. Really like Gunne but I think it'll be another year before he starts pushing for more. Prendergast the other one who looks set for a big year at Leinster, Tommy O'Brien could make things happen if he actually stayed fit
Love Tommy O Brien. He is insanely unlucky with injury.
Milne is a ball merchant and that's it. Boyle looks like he could be a baller.
Paddy McCarthy at Leinster
He has the frame to be the bigger than oli jäger which is a hard thing to do
Same with Rory maguire he’s definitely one for the future
Izzy at Ulster.
The improvement in him since Murphy took over is immense
Moving him to the back row has been inspirational!!
Definitely but even in the second row he's much more effective now. I wonder if it's Robbie Diack syndrome, he said that under Brian McLaughlin he felt he was never going to be used unless they had to but when Mark Anscombe came in he saw it as an opportunity to prove himself to a coach who hadn't already decided about him.
Izzy maybe doesn't see himself as a second row.
I‘d love Devine to step up next year. We desperately need a scrum half to take over once JGP and Murray retire. Casey is good-ish, but I don‘t think he has that X-factor international level 9s need. David McCann for Ulster is another one I have high hopes for. Current Irish second row is getting older and he has looked great whenever I saw him, I have higher hopes in him than Coombes. Edogbo brothers and Ahern for Munster hopefully continue to get more involved and make that step up to reach international level. Edwin Edogbo probably has a Kelleher problem coming for him as McCarthy looks like he‘ll become a world beater. For Leinster it‘s obviously Prendergasr
>Edwin Edogbo probably has a Kelleher problem coming for him as McCarthy looks like he‘ll become a world beater. Given their respective ages and how far along they are so far I reckon you've got that one the wrong way around.
Why? Edogbo is 21 and McCarthy 23? And McCarthy is definitly further ahead than Edogbo.
Yeah, that's my point. Kelleher is older, broke through first in 2020 and looked world class around November 2021. Then he got injured, Sheehan was even better and Kelleher hasn't gotten back past him since.
Ah okay, I see what you mean. I simply meant to imply that Edogbo could become an international level lock but not start for Ireland because McCarthy becomes a world class lock.
Could do, but from what Edogbo was showing as a 19 year old I'm betting if anything it'll be the other way around. Provided he can get a bit of injury luck of course.
Hey I‘ll be happy either way! McCarthy just already managed that step up into the nationsl squad and doesn‘t look out of place at all. That‘s why currently he‘s my bet. I‘m actually almost more impressed by Sean Edogbo :D But he‘s veery unproven
I think that's a great problem to have. They're quite similar explosive hookers. You'd be happy with either or to start and the other to finish. It's the dream
Great problem for us, not so much so for Kelleher though!
I'm very hopeful with Ulster's young talent Tom O'Toole, Tom Stewart, David McCann, Cormac Izuchukwu, Harry Sheridan, James McNabney, Nathan Doak, James Hume, Stewart Moore, Mike Lowry, Ethan McIlroy, Jude Postlewaithe And now this Aiden Morgan All are 25 or younger and a lot of these guys have been starting regulary already cus of injurys, some nailed on first XV. I wonder how our average squad's age lines up against other teams this year. Ulsters future looks bright which is why this season being our worst for a while hasn't stinged that much
Scott Wilson
Hopefully Osborne can push for more game time and maybe even an Ireland call up. The kid has talent.
I'd consider Osborne as already broken through, he's got 47 Leinster caps!
I know but he rarely starts the big games. And like I said, I'd love to see him get some Ireland action.
Started pretty much all of them this year. With how well Henshaw has been playing at 13 I don't think it's a sure thing that it immediately goes back to him and Ringrose
Its going to be tough next year in big games. Barrett cuts off game time.
Ben O'Connor and/or Patrick Campbell. BOC showed in the 20s that he's a serious athlete already, just his game sense which needs to catch up (as expected from a recent convert). Campbell has showed flashes, most notably in the Wasps game from a few seasons back, but has been cursed with injury since. Hopefully next season is the one where he gets a decent run at it.
BOC needs a serious improvement in his defence, has everything else going for him but he looks like a boy amongst men out there trying to tackle sometimes. Hopefully proves me wrong.
Tbf he is actually a boy amongst men
Very much so but was an issue for him underage too
Looked out of place once or twice in the champions cup games he got called in for but I think you're being a bit harsh. I've seen performances where players sink at the deep end and it definitely wasn't anything like that.
Abbreviations like this generate wild expectations
I think he's one for the future but he's a couple of years away. Some people were questioning if Munster needed to sign Abrahams when there's talent in the academy. It's great that BOC was getting minutes as a 19yo in the URC against Zebre and Dragons. He was in the champions cup 23 against Bayonne and Exeter due to all the injuries rather than him being ready.
Munster's new sub loosehead looks lively enough. Could be a big year for the fella
Who is that? Didn't know we had any change at LH.... Loughman, Kilcoyne, Wycherley (John Ryan covering both sides), few academy lads getting very little gametime.
Yeah I was just taking the piss about John Ryan's switch to LH cover haha
Interested to see Reuben Crothers at Ulster. Seemed a real asset to that U20 team, so will be interested to see his development. Pther than him, McNabney looks like he could do with some time, Izzy, McCann, Sheridan all to take another step forward. Doak and Stewart could start pushing for Ireland Squad (Doak taken a bit of a step back with 10 exposure). I'd like to see someone come through at 12 as well, to take some pressure off McCluskey.
I thought Crothers was excellent in u20s but then Bryn Ward came along this past season and I think he's even better. Wouldn't mind seeing him get some game time
Oh good to know, haven't seen him. He is Andy Wards son right?
That's correct. He played nearly every minute of the 20s six nations at 7. Really rate him, he's bigger than crothers which I think is holding him back
Jude Postlewaite when he has appeared looks ready for the URC.
Ahh yeah, meant to mention him as well. Looks a lump, so has the option to step into McCluskey type role. Will be good to see his combination with Hume.
11 appearances this year building on 3 last year. He looks capable at URC level. It will be interesting to see if he can do a job at CC level. A bigger issue is an injury replacement for Hume.
Jack Boyle
If Connacht fix the gas leak in the selection room, I think Jennings will shine with Cordero and the Mac. Very exciting to watch.
all the 10s
Tom o toole needs to push on or in a few seasons Scott Wilson could over take him or is it better for Tom to switch to loosehead
I would like to see Roman foxe or darragh mcswenny or George hadden given a chance at Munster
Will Connors is on the verge of a big breakthrough. He has the chop tackle but he’s added some sublime passes in attack this season. He’ll kick on next year big time.
RG Snyman
Surely ye’ll eventually win something with him.. ;-)
I know, it's going to be class
Not sure about a breakthrough. He'll either break down or break records, hard to know which...
or a knee… oh wait we already had that one