Ireland under 20s 6 Nations thread

[lucky number 7]

I'm a bit ****ed off with how little ball Horan got.. He's bloody electric with it in hand..

From what I saw he got the ball only a handful of times.

I'm really looking forward Furlong coming back from injury.

 

[Peat]

England are always quality at this level. Always seem to be a few inches taller and a stone or two heavier than Ireland or Wales. That makes a difference at U20 level where sheer strength can win you games, although it's advantages diminish at seniour level where things even out.

I don't see this Welsh team doing much this year. Seems to be a lack of quality in important positions. If I think back a few years, when we had the likes of Warburton, Halfpenny, Turnbull, Jon Davies, Biggar, Tovey etc. all in the same U20 team.

Yup, no doubt the fact English kids hit professionalism earlier makes a big difference, plus the fact they get first team experience earlier, plus the population base thing gets magnified at this level - however I do think we have a very special set of backs this year, some of whom look like they can actually think for themselves. I don't think I've seen an England age-grade side do that sort of thing to anyone before.

That Welsh team were really rancid - but then, as far as I understand, a lot of players like Morgan were missing; Ireland had about 5 missing at most. So they might do better when they're back.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Ireland had about 5 missing at most. So they might do better when they're back.

Yeah, there were a few absentees. Mike Sherlock played fullback last season and was out injured. Peter Nelson has enormous potential and he too was missing from the backline. In the pack, Tadhg Furlong and Shane Buckley, each of whom played on last years team, were out also. Of those four, I rate Nelson and Furlong as having future international potential.

I agree with whoever said Ireland were the better of two bad teams. It doesn't really bother me though if 5 or 6 of the team show they can go on and play at a higher level.

 

[Peat]

Jonny Murphy also played hooker as an injury replacement for Annett at last year's JWC, and is also young enough to return, but is also believed to be injured (nobody I ask seems sure), hence me saying 5 (not trying to boost the potential Ulster contingent at all ).

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

How many players were Wales missing? Off the top of my head, George North, Tom Prydie and Matthew Morgan would have made a huge difference to their backline yesterday.

 

[big ginger 8]

Duffy, O'Halloran and...?

Ulster played Gilroy, Jackson, Marshall et al in their first year at the academy. If you're good enough, you're old enough, and I reckon there's a fine chance he's old enough.

I was saying in the 22 yesterday actually 4 missed 1 all starting Layden, Marmion, Qualter and Coneely.

I think Layden has played for Connacht. He came on against Leinster in the RDS unless I'm mistaken.

Looked on the website and couldn't see any caps for him but looking closer at it today Connacht don't seem to list appearances so maybe he has.

 

[Peat]

How many players were Wales missing? Off the top of my head, George North, Tom Prydie and Matthew Morgan would have made a huge difference to their backline yesterday.

Robinson, a couple of other wingers, a lock from Cardiff and a few others I think.

I was saying in the 22 yesterday actually 4 missed 1 all starting Layden, Marmion, Qualter and Coneely.

Ahh with you now. They had roughly the same last year actually, good sustained progress. If I were a Connacht fan I'd be annoyed there wasn't more of them actually what with the U20 victory; you could certainly make a case for their wingers to be involved in place of Daly.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Apart from their wingers, which Connacht under 20 players can feel aggrieved at not being selected? I'll freely admit, I know nothing about their front row so maybe their tighthead and hooker should have had a shot. Conor Kindregan was good in the interpros and the warm ups but he can hardly be considered ahead of Iain Henderson. In the backrow there's nobody. Their scrumhalf Kieran Marmion was lucky to be picked ahead of Luke McGrath. Jack Carty is a good talent at 10 but he's not in the same league as either Paddy Jackson (supposedly) or Cathal Marsh. Maybe Tadhg Leader was unlucky not to start at 13 but I'd say that Christopher Farrell was even more unlucky not to get selected.

Connacht deservedly won the interpros but I'm guessing that they had the second best player in all positions (out of the four provinces) rather than a few standout players and complete muck making up the rest of their team. Shane Layden is the exception since he looks really good- I'd say that was his Leinster schooling playing a part though!

 

[big ginger 8]

Apart from their wingers, which Connacht under 20 players can feel aggrieved at not being selected? I'll freely admit, I know nothing about their front row so maybe their tighthead and hooker should have had a shot. Conor Kindregan was good in the interpros and the warm ups but he can hardly be considered ahead of Iain Henderson. In the backrow there's nobody. Their scrumhalf Kieran Marmion was lucky to be picked ahead of Luke McGrath. Jack Carty is a good talent at 10 but he's not in the same league as either Paddy Jackson (supposedly) or Cathal Marsh. Maybe Tadhg Leader was unlucky not to start at 13 but I'd say that Christopher Farrell was even more unlucky not to get selected.

Connacht deservedly won the interpros but I'm guessing that they had the second best player in all positions (out of the four provinces) rather than a few standout players and complete muck making up the rest of their team. Shane Layden is the exception since he looks really good- I'd say that was his Leinster schooling playing a part though!

What school was Layden in?

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Roscrea along with other Connacht under 20 players Tadhg Leader and, I think Conor Finn.

 

[big ginger 8]

Ah Roscrea's a bit of a strange one right on the Offaly Tipperary border but get's a lot of people from Galway.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

A good few Connacht guys went there. Gavin Duffy and Tiernan O'Halloran were also in school down that direction. Duffy was ridiculously good, making the Ireland schools team as a 4th year. He played flyhalf and centre more in those days.

 

[big ginger 8]

A good few Connacht guys went there. Gavin Duffy and Tiernan O'Halloran were also in school down that direction. Duffy was ridiculously good, making the Ireland schools team as a 4th year. He played flyhalf and centre more in those days.

Bloody hell and I thought I'd done well enough for a 4th year. Amazing some of the freaks that come through like Dan Leavy playing in a Leinster senior cup final at 15 hard to believe he's still only 17 as I said freak of nature.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

There's another freak in Castleknock College. Jack O'Neill, a flanker, and he too was Ireland schools (under 18s) as a 4th year. He's in 5th year now.

 

[big ginger 8]

Know him I'm in Marys and obviously he played in the team that beat us but everyone on the pitch said he was way overrated our 7 made more turnovers than him. The 13 Farrall was a class act though.

 

[Peat]

Apart from their wingers, which Connacht under 20 players can feel aggrieved at not being selected? I'll freely admit, I know nothing about their front row so maybe their tighthead and hooker should have had a shot. Conor Kindregan was good in the interpros and the warm ups but he can hardly be considered ahead of Iain Henderson. In the backrow there's nobody. Their scrumhalf Kieran Marmion was lucky to be picked ahead of Luke McGrath. Jack Carty is a good talent at 10 but he's not in the same league as either Paddy Jackson (supposedly) or Cathal Marsh. Maybe Tadhg Leader was unlucky not to start at 13 but I'd say that Christopher Farrell was even more unlucky not to get selected.

Connacht deservedly won the interpros but I'm guessing that they had the second best player in all positions (out of the four provinces) rather than a few standout players and complete muck making up the rest of their team. Shane Layden is the exception since he looks really good- I'd say that was his Leinster schooling playing a part though!

I'm not really the person to make the argument, as I'm neither a Connacht fan or a man who watched the Interpros - but might Kindregan have been considered ahead of Beirne? O'Higgins ahead of whoever the reserve tighthead was (I'm totally just looking at the trial selection here). Carty and Leader are unlucky to be playing in the positions with the most quality; Henshaw might consider himself unlucky not to be in the mix at centre, but probably will be next year and as noted, position of strength.

But I don't know. Maybe Connacht did have the better team and not the better players; they spent a massive amount of time together preparing for it. Maybe a JWC squad would contain a large amount of Connacht players, but they're not in the first XV. All I can say is I know a few Connacht fans are annoyed, and from a short look its not hard to see why. Time will tell as we see who makes it and who doesn't.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Know him I'm in Marys and obviously he played in the team that beat us but everyone on the pitch said he was way overrated our 7 made more turnovers than him. The 13 Farrall was a class act though.

Farrell is an Ireland under 19 player as far as I know. So is one of their wingers, Mike Mellett I think is his name. They could give Clongowes a game next time out but Clongowes are just insanely good. Those Byrne brothers are awesome prospects.

 

[Peat]

What's the odds of a Farrell-Farrell centre partnership next year?

 

[big ginger 8]

Farrell is an Ireland under 19 player as far as I know. So is one of their wingers, Mike Mellett I think is his name. They could give Clongowes a game next time out but Clongowes are just insanely good. Those Byrne brothers are awesome prospects.

Yeah Mellet had been playing 12 a lot recently apparently but played wing against us absolutely massive looks like a second row but more the Malzieu type than the Banahan type.


And the Byrne brothers I mean the pure size of them massive.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Ireland Under - 20 Team (v France Under - 20, RBS 6 Nations, Stade Des Alpes, Grenoble - February 11th, 14.15 GMT)
15 Shane Layden (Buccaneers - Connacht)
14 Conor Finn (Buccaneers - Connacht)
13 Chris Farrell (Dungannon - Ulster)
12 JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemian - Munster)
11 Sam Coghlan - Murray (UCD - Leinster)
10 Paddy Jackson (Dungannon - Ulster) (C)
9 Luke McGrath (UCD - Leinster)
1 Kyle McCall (Ballynahinch - Ulster)
2 Niall Scannell (Dolphin - Munster)
3 Peter Reilly (Lansdowne - Leinster)
4 Iain Henderson (QUB - Ulster)
5 Daniel Qualter (Buccaneers - Connacht)
6 Conor Gilsenan (UCD - Leinster)
8 Jack Conan (Old Belvedere - Leinster)
7 Aaron Conneely (Corinthians - Connacht)
Replacements:
16 Des Merrey (Clontarf - Leinster)
17 James Rael (Garryowen - Munster)
18 Diarmuid Higgins (Buccaneers - Connacht)
19 Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne - Leinster)
20 Jordan Coughlan (UCD - Leinster)
21 Kieran Marmion (Corinthians - Connacht)
22 Cathal Marsh (Dublin University - Leinster)
23 Foster Horan (Lansdowne - Leinster)

McGrath and Farrell are in for the dropped Marmion and Horan. Finn comes into the team for the injured Daly while Higgins takes his spot on the bench for the injured Cawley.