Fly-halves for Ireland...bird watch 2010/11.

[monkeypigeon]

So, a few weeks into the NH season now, and the first set of internationals coming up. What is the situation at outhalf?

1. The once Great Ronan O'Gara has been a varied between rubbish, average and really quiete rubbish in the last few years. He only has a few minutes under his belt this season, but nobody really cares anymore....or do they?

Declan Kidney still seems to think he's the second choice outhalf, maybe even first choice seeing as...

2. Jonathon Sexton is perma-injured since the end of last season. It's not surprising really. Look at the guy, he looks a bit like an alien, and as seen in games such as Gears of War and Halo, aliens are very easy to break.

We all hope to see him fighting for soon, because his country needs him and if he's not healthy, we may need to call on...

3. Paddy Wallace. Wallace by name, human being by nature. That much is obvious, but why he keeps on getting stuck at out-half, when he clearly is not an out-half baffles us all. Yet Dec - the Local Area Connection - Kidney, seems to think otherwise as he apparantly reequested that he starts outhalf for Ulster this weekend...don't ask where I heard that but...

4. Niall O'Connor is probably none too pleased. He's been starting this season for Ulser and though George Hook's Granny could probably hit the target with more ease, he has seemed a competent playmaker at 10 and with Ruan Peinaar coming soon, he may be happy to play the passing while the saffer does the kicking from Scrumhalf.

But as an Ireland out-half? Why bother when...

5. Ian Keatley can kick aswell as run, pass, run, pass, kick, run and pass. Under the tutorship of Eric 'the El' elwood he seems to have flourished. Running like Sexton (when he used do that) and passing like Paddy Wallace and kicking like O'Gara (when he used to be able to do that).

Is Keatley the saviour? Maybe, but lets just hope he gets into the Ireland sqauad at the very least. But will a foriegner get in instead, like perhaps...

6. Jeremy Staunton....hahahahahahahahahaha, what a joke, but...

7. Gareth Stevenson doesn't look half bad, and is a far better England based fella that we've seen for a while. And at 26 (I think), he's still an option.

Don't think I've forgotten anyone important. So....

Discuss​

 

[munstermuffin]

Well ROG is at wrong end of 30 and Wallace is too but apart from Sexton Keatley and Rog. Keatley included on form we have nothing but mediocre 10s and it is a slight worry

 

[Conal]

steenson for exeter has no running game or passing game (that i have seen)
wallace is far better at 12 but getting him game tme at ten will be good for the world cup squad depth
keatly should get a shot in the international squad been impressive this season
o'gara now... ronan i think it may be the time to well and truly let go of ronan o'gara but if he does pick up some form could be useful as world cup squad depth
staunton no way in hell
o'connor even though i love ulster so even withmy ulster bias i just dnt see him cutting the grade at international but he is still young could be good in a few years

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Can't ever remember seeing Staunton on any of his outings with Ireland, so I don't know how he did on that stage, but he's been doing very well at Tigers recently. However he's also the wrong side of 30 (just about), so bringing up a younger guy, and keeping O'Gara around as the old-head would probably be better in the long run

 

[squirrel]

anyone but rog, he shud have been axed after the last world cup, is there any halfback or fullback that could make the move to ten?

 

[Feicarsinn]

Sexyton
Keatley
Wally
O'Connor
Humphreys
Steenson
Staunton

Taht is all.

 

[durbutter]

anyone but rog, he shud have been axed after the last world cup, is there any halfback or fullback that could make the move to ten?

TBH we don't really have any 9's. Horror situation there unless TOL pulls up his socks.

 

[munstermuffin]

TOL is good and well Stringer and Reddan offer different types of play at 9 so we will be ok there but don't understand how people can say ROG shouldve been axes since last world cup when in that time he's guided munster to European success helped Ireland to a grand slam and made a lions tour.
Don't get me wrong Sexton deserves his starting role but if Aexton has a horror like he did at times in 6 nations then ROG is a fine back up to bring in.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Isaac Boss has looked pretty good since coming to Leinster. I'd have him in the Irish 22 at the moment and it wouldn't be all that difficult for him to take O'Leary's position.

 

[munstermuffin]

Boss has the game but well he won't be starting for Leinster and well Strings will hold 3rd choice role as he has long relationship with Deccie

 

[Feicarsinn]

Boss has the game but well he won't be starting for Leinster and well Strings will hold 3rd choice role as he has long relationship with Deccie

Very debatable. A proven international, on good form and playing inder a new coach which a bit of physicality in the backs. It's going to be a bloody great battle between himself and Reddan.

 

[munstermuffin]

I know it'll be a battle but chemistry is vital too and Reddans partnership with Sexton has been good

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

If Ireland were naming a squad in the morning, there's only 4 options at 10 that Declan Kidney would seriously consider. Ronan O'Gara and Jonathan Sexton are obviously 1 and 2 (in no particular order), Ian Keatley is moving up fast and he's likely neck and neck with Paddy Wallace as the 3rd and 4th options. Of the other established flyhalves, if Ireland had to pick Niall O'Connor, Ian Humphreys, Jeremy Staunton or Gareth Steenson, God help us.

Further down the line, it's great to see Ian Madigan get some game time but he's a long way (maybe 3 years) until he's of a high enough standard for regular European club never mind international rugby. Ian McKinley was highly rated by Michael Cheika (starting a couple of games while still a teenager) but has dropped back under Joe Schmidt- he's only 20 so he still has plenty of time. Ulster have a pair of fine prospects in James McKinney and Paddy Jackson (between them Ulster will finally have a worthy successor to David Humphreys) while I really like the look of Cathal Marsh who's Leinster u20 flyhalf.

 

[durbutter]

What about that young Kerryman J.J. Hanrahan is he not a10?

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

He plays at 12 for the Munster u20s. He's a terrific prospect

 

[Peat]

Paddy Wallace will always get the 3rd spot because he's only covering it and is a genuine contender for another position. No way will Kidney take 3 out and out fly-halves if Wallace is available and firing.

I'd heard both Hanrahan and Quinn-McDonagh could play fly-half and were big prospects although both have been playing elsewhere recently.

From Ulster's point of view - McKinney, Jackson and Marshall are all under 20 and all prospects at 10 - Marshall and McKinney have both already played there for the Ravens. But they won't come through for a while.

 

[coonor]

At the moment I don't think Ireland has a big problem is at ten. Sexton Is clearly Irelands best option, O'Gara is deffinatly no a bad back up and Keatley is really looking to be a great prospect.

 

[BjR]

Anyone know what happened to David Humphreys?

 

[durbutter]

He retired a couple of years ago. Think he's team manager or coach or something for Ulster now.

If you're talking about Ian, then i believe he's so inconstant and unreliable that he's fallen way behind an improving O'Conner at 10 for Ulster.

 

[munstermuffin]

Would Madigan not be pushed up now that he will be getting gametime due to Sexton been restricted and well he is young but this experience will help him